Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for April 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Investigational MenB Vaccine Can Protect Individuals in Outbreak
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An investigational serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine seems to have protected vaccinated individuals from the disease during an outbreak, according to a study published online April 27 in Pediatrics.
Sodium Nitrate, Citric Acid Effective for Anogenital Warts
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with anogenital warts, high-dose topical treatment (sodium nitrite, 6 percent, with citric acid, 9 percent) is more effective than placebo, according to a study published online April 29 in JAMA Dermatology.
Two New Lung Cancer Meds Show Promise in Advanced Disease
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two experimental drugs may help patients whose lung cancer has become resistant to the latest available treatments, according to separate studies published in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Intensive T1DM Control Greatly Lowers Odds of Ocular Surgery
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Intensive management of type 1 diabetes can reduce the risk of having a diabetes-related ocular surgery by nearly 50 percent, according to a new report. Results of the study were published in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Age-, Sex-Specific Thresholds Should Guide Statin Therapy
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of age- and sex-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk thresholds could improve the sensitivity and specificity of statin treatment recommendations, according to a study published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Vena Cava Retrievable Filters No Help in Pulmonary Embolism
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute, symptomatic pulmonary embolism, the use of retrievable vena cava filters with anticoagulation does not offer any benefit over anticoagulation alone, according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
FDA Approves Kybella for Reducing Submental Fat
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Kybella (deoxycholic acid) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat moderate-to-severe submental fat.
Most Adult Acne Antibiotic Course Durations Follow Guidelines
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The majority of oral antibiotic course durations for adult acne follow guidelines, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
FDA Approves First Generic Abilify
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The first generic versions of the atypical antipsychotic drug Abilify (aripiprazole) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Buprenorphine Given in ER Benefits Opioid Dependent
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A comparison of three treatments for opioid dependence indicates that patients given buprenorphine in the emergency department do better than those given only referrals. The research was published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hydroxyurea Underutilized for Patients With Sickle Cell
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Less than one-quarter of sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients who should have been taking hydroxyurea within a year of their last pain crisis actually were taking the medication, according to research from a national database. These findings were published in a research letter in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Genetic Variations Could Hold Keys to Rheumatoid Arthritis Care
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Genetic variations may hold clues to rheumatoid arthritis — suggesting not only who will develop the condition, but also predicting its severity and a patient’s mortality risk, according to new research published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
WHO Offers Evidence-Based Folate Concentration Guidelines
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Evidence-based folate concentration guidelines for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs) have been developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a report published in the April 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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AAP: Guidelines Updated for Lice Infestation Among Children
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Outbreaks of head lice in children can be effectively treated without banning infected children from school, new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say. The guidelines were published online April 27 in Pediatrics.
Lasting Mortality Risk Increase With Hyperglycemic Crises
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — During the first six years of follow-up, geriatric patients with diabetes have a higher mortality risk after hyperglycemic crisis episode (HCE), according to a study published in the May issue of Diabetes Care.
PCSK9 Inhibitors Cut LDL Cholesterol, CVD Risk
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new class of cholesterol medication could sharply cut low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients who don’t fare well on statins, a new research review confirms. The findings were published online April 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
CDC: Surveillance System Can Help Reduce Health Care Injuries
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A surveillance system for health care facilities can be used to identify and help reduce the number of preventable injuries among health care personnel, according to research published in the April 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Cost of Multiple Sclerosis Rx Soaring, Even for Older Meds
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The cost of multiple sclerosis (MS) medications in the United States is rising five to seven times faster than the normal rate of drug inflation, according to a study published online April 24 in Neurology.
Early Benefits for Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine in Canadian Teens
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccination for young girls is associated with reduced incidence of dysplasia and anogenital warts (AGW), according to a study published online April 27 in Pediatrics.
Over Half of Middle-Age, Older Americans Take Daily Aspirin
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Slightly more than half of middle-aged adults and seniors in the United States take aspirin daily, with most taking it for primary prevention, according to survey findings published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Hemoglobin Glycation Index IDs Harms, Benefits of T2DM Tx
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The effect of intensive versus standard type 2 diabetes treatment varies according to the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI: observed hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] − predicted HbA1c), according to a study published online April 17 in Diabetes Care.
CDC: Expanding EMS Naloxone Use Will Save Lives
FRIDAY, April 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Allowing more emergency medical service (EMS) workers to administer the prescription drug naloxone could reduce the number of overdose deaths caused by opioids, according to research published online April 23 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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National Health Alert Issued Over HIV Outbreak in Indiana
FRIDAY, April 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — With opioid abuse now linked to 142 cases of HIV in rural Indiana, U.S. health officials are alerting other states to watch for clusters of HIV and hepatitis C among injection drug users.
Global Variation in Antibiotic Rx Practices After Eyelid Sx
FRIDAY, April 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable worldwide variation in antibiotic prescribing practices following eyelid surgery, according to a study published online April 23 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Antibiotic Choice Affects Infection Rate After Head and Neck Sx
FRIDAY, April 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction, the choice of antibiotic impacts postoperative infection rate, according to a study published online April 23 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
SAMHSA: Heroin Use Stabilizing in U.S., but Still Too High
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Levels of heroin use in the United States have stabilized but are still high, according to an April 23 report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Prednisolone, Pentoxifylline Little Use in Alcoholic Hepatitis
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Prednisolone and pentoxifylline are associated with limited and no benefits, respectively, for severe alcoholic hepatitis, according to a study published in the April 23 issue of the The New England Journal of Medicine.
Gene Tx May Benefit Children, Teens With Wiskott-Aldrich Sx
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gene therapy may benefit children and teens with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the WAS gene, according to a small new study published in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on child health.
Abridged Standards of Care for Diabetes Developed for PCPs
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An abridged version of the 2015 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes has been produced for primary care physicians. The condensed guidelines were published in the April issue of Clinical Diabetes.
Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Asthma Meds Ups ER Use
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of asthma medications is associated with increased emergency department utilization among commercially insured patients, according to a study published online April 16 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Concomitant Metformin, GERD Meds Up Vitamin B12 Depletion
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Concomitant use of metformin and histamine H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors has the potential to induce vitamin B12 depletion and neuropathy, according to research published in the April issue of Clinical Diabetes.
ACP Supports Ban on Flavoring, Ads for E-Cigarettes
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should ban flavorings and television advertisements for e-cigarettes, according to a position paper released by the American College of Physicians (ACP) and published in the April 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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EHR Data Mining Helps With Quality Improvement
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health records (EHRs) are a valuable source of data that can be mined to help practices with quality improvement performance, according to a study published in Medical Economics.
Mindfulness-Based CBT Found As Effective As Antidepressants
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is as effective as antidepressant medication in preventing a recurrence of depression over a two-year period, according to research published online April 20 in The Lancet.
More Reassurance Against MMR-Autism Link
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Yet another study finds no evidence that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine raises the risk of autism — even among children who are at increased genetic risk. The latest research was reported in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on child health.
High-Dose Oral Insulin Promising for Prevention of T1DM
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a small, preliminary study, high-dose insulin capsules safely induced what appears to be a protective immune response in children at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The study findings were published in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on child health.
Changing Opioid Rx Formulations May Help Curb Abuse
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Opioids that have features that make them hard to abuse may be linked to a drop in both the number of prescriptions and overdoses of these drugs, according to a new study published online April 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Strategies Successful for Helping Children Swallow Meds
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — At least five different strategies may help children swallow pills and capsules more easily, according to research published online April 20 in Pediatrics.
Statins Tenuously Cost-Effective for Primary Prevention in Seniors
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. adults aged 75 to 94 years, primary prevention with statins appears to be cost-effective, but even small increases in geriatric-specific adverse effects could offset the cardiovascular benefit, according to a study published in the April 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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FDA: Counterfeit Botox Found in the United States
MONDAY, April 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Counterfeit Botox may have been distributed to doctors’ offices and medical clinics across the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Wide Variation in NICU Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns
MONDAY, April 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotics appear to be overused in many neonatal intensive care units, new research suggests. The findings were published online April 20 in Pediatrics.
Antibiotic-Glucocorticoid Eardrops Found Superior in Acute Otorrhea
MONDAY, April 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For children with tympanostomy tubes who develop otorrhea, antibiotic-glucocorticoid eardrops are clinically superior and cost less than oral antibiotics or initial observation, according to a study published online April 20 in Pediatrics.
Attending Physicians, Residents Similar in Opioid Rx Monitoring
MONDAY, April 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Both residents and attending physicians are only partly compliant with national opioid prescribing and monitoring guidelines, according to a study published in the March issue of Pain Medicine.
Synthetic Pot Sends Hundreds to ERs in Past Month
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In the past month, more than 300 people in Alabama and Mississippi have sought emergency care after using synthetic marijuana, according to health officials.
Recent Substance Abuse Found in Nearly One in 10 Workers
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one in 10 full-time workers in the United States have had a recent substance abuse problem, according to an April 16 report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Allergy Season Predicted to Be One of the Worst, but Shorter
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Experts are predicting that this allergy season may be one of the worst in years.
Apremilast Effective for Oral Ulcers in Behçet’s Syndrome
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with Behçet’s syndrome, the oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor apremilast is effective for treating oral ulcers, according to a study published in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Review Explores Challenges of Ocular Antioxidants for Cataracts
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Delivery of antioxidants to the eye may be a therapeutic option for cataracts, but considerable challenges need to be resolved, according to a review published in the April issue of the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.
Suboptimal Prescribing Attitudes Could Signal Personal Distress
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical students in personal distress may be more likely to have suboptimal attitudes about self-prescribing and personal responsibility for reporting impaired colleagues, according to a study published in the April issue of Academic Medicine.
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Hydroxychloroquine May Reduce Hyperlipidemia Risk in Early RA
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hydroxychloroquine appears to be associated with lower risk of hyperlipidemia in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published in the April issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
FDA: Generic Copaxone Approved for Multiple Sclerosis
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The first U.S. generic version of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat multiple sclerosis.
FDA Approves Corlanor for Chronic Heart Failure
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Corlanor (ivabradine) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic heart failure, the agency said in a news release.
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Apple HealthKit App Facilitates Doctor-Patient Communication
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The latest version of Apple’s operating system iOS 8 allows physicians to connect with patients in many ways using the HealthKit app that collects user health and fitness data, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
More Evidence Implicates Inflammation in Lyme Neuro Dz
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Anti-inflammatories may help prevent many neuropathologic effects of Lyme neuroborreliosis, according to an experimental study published online April 16 in The American Journal of Pathology.
Synthetic Drug ‘Flakka’ Causes Hallucinations, Fits of Rage
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A potent new designer drug called “flakka” is making headlines across the United States, driving many users into fits of screaming rage accompanied by vivid hallucinations.
Aerosolized Measles Vaccine Inferior to Subcutaneous Vaccine
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — With respect to seropositivity, aerosolized vaccination against measles is inferior to the subcutaneous vaccine, according to a study published in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Modified Timolol Agent Effective for Infantile Hemangiomas
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new modified timolol-based cream seems effective for infantile hemangiomas (IHs), according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Dermatology.
Ethical Implications for Looking Up Applicants on Facebook
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Looking up students on Facebook and other social networking sites (SNS) is associated with ethical concerns, according to a perspective piece published in the March issue of the Journal of Graduate Medical Education.
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Medicare Spending Down in Year One of Pioneer ACO
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medicare spending is down in year one of the Pioneer accountable care organization (ACO) program, according to a study published online April 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Prolonged ADT Ups Diabetes, CVD Risk for Older Men
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For men diagnosed with prostate cancer aged older than 70 years, prolonged androgen deprivation therapy is associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially among those with comorbidities, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Fish Oil Supplementation Tied to Lower Atherothrombotic Risk
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fish oil supplementation (FOS) is associated with atherothrombotic risk reduction in suspected coronary artery disease (sCAD), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Acetaminophen Appears to Blunt Emotional Response
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acetaminophen may do more than simply dull pain — it may also dull positive and negative emotions, new research indicates. The study was published online April 10 in Psychological Science.
AMA Announces End of Sustainable Growth Rate Formula
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Recently adopted legislation has repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Statin Use Inversely Linked to Pancreatic Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Statin use is inversely associated with pancreatic cancer risk, with evidence of a sex-specific risk reduction, according to a study published in the April 15 issue of Cancer.
Anticoagulation Both Over- and Under-Prescribed in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As many as one-quarter of people with atrial fibrillation who have a low risk of stroke are prescribed anticoagulation unnecessarily, a new study contends. The findings were published in a research letter online April 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Lansoprazole Worsens Asthma Control in Poor Metabolizers
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with poor metabolizer phenotype based on CYP2C19 have worse asthma control after six months of lansoprazole treatment, according to a study published online April 6 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Concomitant, Sequential Tx Similar for H. pylori Eradication
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, concomitant therapy (CT) is equivalent to sequential therapy (ST), and hybrid therapy offers similar efficacy to CT, according to research published online April 13 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Survey Looks at Patient Attitudes Regarding Informed Consent
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most U.S. adults would prefer to be asked for permission to participate in studies assessing usual medical practices, according to a study published online April 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Pharmacist Support Boosts Anticoagulation Adherence
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The intervention of a local pharmacist could help improve adherence to newer anticoagulants, according to research published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Security Breaches of Health Records Up Over Past Decade
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Breaches in data security exposed more than 29 million health records to potential criminal misuse between 2010 and 2013, according to a new study. Security breaches involving hacking have nearly doubled in recent years, rising to 8.7 percent in 2013 compared with 4.7 percent in 2010, according to the study, published as a research letter in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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CDC: Ebola Vaccine Trial Launches in Sierra Leone
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine has been launched in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
Placebo Response May Depend on Individual DNA
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The strength of the placebo effect may depend on particular DNA, according to a report published online April 13 in Trends in Molecular Medicine.
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Aspirin Use Not Found to Benefit Prostate Cancer Mortality
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Aspirin use does not appear to reduce the risk of mortality associated with prostate cancer, according to research published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Effects of n-3 PUFAs on Insulin Sensitivity Unclear
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), do not appear to have clinically meaningful effects on peripheral or hepatic insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant adults without diabetes, according to research published online April 7 in Diabetes Care.
Single-Dose Injection Rx Ups Bone Density in Frail Elderly
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Frail, older women may only need a single dose of the osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid (Reclast) to build bone strength, a new study suggests. But greater bone density did not translate into fewer fractures among these high-risk women, who were living in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities during the study. The research was published online April 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
HPV4 Vaccine Cost-Effective for OPC Prevention in Teen Boys
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV4) vaccine appears to be cost-effective for the prevention of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) among 12-year-old males, according to a study published online April 13 in Cancer.
NSAID-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Prevalent With Asthma
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among people with asthma, the prevalence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) is about 9 percent, and asthma morbidity is increased among those with NERD, according to a review published online April 8 in Allergy.
Mortality Up With Spontaneous Bleeding After PCI
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), spontaneous bleeding is associated with increased risk of death, comparable to that associated with myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Study Highlights Third-Line Treatment Options for T2DM
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Treatment escalation options have different efficacy following failure of exenatide or glimepiride added to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a study published online April 1 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Children With Neuro Disorders Need Flu Vaccine, May Not Get It
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with neurological disorders such as epilepsy or cerebral palsy are at increased risk for complications from the flu, but are no more likely to receive a flu vaccine than other children are, a new U.S. study shows. The study, published online March 30 in Vaccine, was conducted with researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Medical Debt Burden Higher in Texas, Florida
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Significantly more adults in Florida and Texas struggle to pay medical bills or pay off medical debt over time compared with residents of New York and California, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report released Friday.
ACEi/ARB Use Lowers Incidence of Appropriate ICD Shock
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with cardiomyopathy, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) is associated with significantly lower incidence of appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) shocks, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Art Program Hones Med Students’ Visual Observation Skills
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An innovative interdisciplinary program, Art Rounds, is effective for improving medical and nursing students’ physical observation skills, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Nursing Education.
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Statin Use Found Beneficial in Hepatitis C Treatment
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), statin therapy is associated with improved virologic response rates, as well as decreased liver fibrosis progression and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence, according to a study published online April 6 in Hepatology.
Three-Drug Combo Cream Effective for Melasma
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A cream formula containing 4 percent hydroquinone, 10 percent glycolic acid, and 0.01 percent hyaluronic acid is very effective in the treatment of melasma, according to a study published online April 6 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Agomelatine Cuts Ocular Pressure With Glaucoma
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Oral systemic agomelatine has a hypotonising effect that decreases intraocular pressure (IOP) in both eyes of treatment-resistant primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, according to a study published in the March issue of Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.
Migraine Medication Linked to Eating Disorders in Teens
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Topiramate (Topamax) used for migraine headaches has been linked to increased odds of eating disorders in some teens. The report was published online April 6 in Pediatrics.
Pharmacists Raise Concerns for Patient Access to Generic Drugs
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly all pharmacists have experienced upswings in the acquisition costs of generic drugs, with price spikes reported to be worse since 2013, according to a report published by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
Candy Twists Alternative to Glucola Drink for GDM Screening
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Candy twists can be used as an alternative to glucola beverage in gestational diabetes mellitus screening, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Single-Dose Ebola Vaccine Effective in Nonhuman Primates
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A quick-acting, single-dose Ebola vaccine is safe and effective in nonhuman primates, and may lead to a new human vaccine, U.S. researchers reported Wednesday. The study was published online April 8 in Nature.
Dimethyl Fumarate Linked to Development of PML
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An active ingredient in some psoriasis and multiple sclerosis medications, dimethyl fumarate, has been linked to two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), according to two letters published in the April 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Older Blood May Be an Option for Cardiac Surgery Patients
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing cardiac surgery, using transfused red blood cells stored for 21 days or more is as good as using blood cells stored for 10 days or less, according to research findings reported in the April 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Potent HIV-1-Specific Antibody Shown to Suppress Virus
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Therapy with a human antibody appears to reduce levels of HIV in the blood for at least a month, preliminary research suggests. The findings were published in a research letter online April 8 in Nature.
Inexpensive Antihistamine Repurposed to Focus on HCV
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Preliminary lab research suggests the antihistamine chlorcyclizine HCl that costs about 50 cents a pill has the potential to treat hepatitis C, offering an alternative to the newer medications that can sell for $1,000 a dose. The study appears in the April 8 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
One Extra Stroke Risk Factor Ups Risk in Nonvalvular A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The presence of one additional stroke risk factor is associated with a significant increase in event rates among nonanticoagulated low-risk patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (CHA2DS2-VASc = 0 [male], 1 [female]), according to a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Higher Costs of Cancer Care Seen for Uninsured Patients
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Uninsured patients may be charged anywhere from two to 43 times what private insurance plans or Medicare pay for chemotherapy medications, a new study estimates. Researchers said the findings, reported in the April issue of Health Affairs, highlight a fundamental inequity.
CDC: Long-Acting Contraceptive Use Rising Among U.S. Teens
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The use of long-acting, reversible forms of contraception remains low among sexually active teen girls, though that trend seems to be changing, according to research published in the April 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Ivermectin Tops Metronidazole for Papulopustular Rosacea
TUESDAY, April 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with papulopustular rosacea (PPR), once-daily ivermectin 1 percent cream (IVM 1 percent) is superior to twice-daily metronidazole (MTZ 0.75 percent) cream, according to a study published in the April issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.
More Expensive Breast Cancer Tx Tied to Improved Survival
TUESDAY, April 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More expensive breast cancer treatments are linked to a greater chance of survival, new research suggests. The study was published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
Youth Guidelines Would Significantly Up Statin Rates
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — If all physicians followed new cholesterol guidelines aimed at children, almost half a million Americans aged 17 to 21 would be prescribed a statin, new research predicts. The study was published online April 6 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Online Human Milk Samples May Contain Cow’s Milk
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 10 percent of online human milk samples tested were contaminated with cow’s milk in a recent study published online April 6 in Pediatrics.
DPP-4 Inhibitors Not Tied to Pneumonia Hospitalizations
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is not associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia, according to a study published in the April issue of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Three-Quarters of Children With ADHD Take Meds
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most children with special health care needs (CSHCN) with current attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) receive medication treatment or behavioral therapy, according to a study published online March 31 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
New Guidelines Could Up Care Access for Millions in Africa
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newborns and young infants in developing nations who have suspected severe bacterial infections can be effectively treated outside a hospital, three new studies suggest. The new studies were published online April 1 in The Lancet and The Lancet Global Health.
Review: Opioids Reduce Breathlessness in COPD
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), opioids can improve breathlessness, but not exercise capacity, according to a review published online March 24 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Botulinum Toxin-A Beneficial in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) appears to be beneficial for painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), according to a meta-analysis published online March 20 in Pain Medicine.
Early Research Proving Hopeful for Melanoma Vaccine
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A highly personalized vaccine can spur an immune response in people with advanced melanoma, according to a study published online April 2 in Science.
CDC: Multidrug-Resistant Shigellosis Spreading in U.S.
THURSDAY, April 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Travelers are bringing a drug-resistant strain of the Shigella sonnei bacteria to the United States and spreading it to other people, federal health officials warned Thursday. The report is published in the April 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Fish Oil Could Possibly Interfere With Chemotherapy
THURSDAY, April 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fish oil supplements, and even certain fish, may hinder the effectiveness of chemotherapy, according to new research published online April 2 in JAMA Oncology.
Patients May Be Modifying Meds Due to Trouble Swallowing
THURSDAY, April 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some patients experience difficulties swallowing and modify medication dosage forms, without necessarily consulting health professionals, according to research published in the March issue of the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Misuse of Prescribed Opioids in One-Quarter
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Almost a quarter of opioids that are prescribed for chronic pain are misused, and the rate of addiction among patients hovers near 10 percent, according to a new review published in the April issue of PAIN.
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Methotrexate, Cyclosporine Least Costly Meds for Psoriasis
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Methotrexate and cyclosporine have the lowest monthly cost for treating psoriasis, according to a systematic review published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Association of Dermatology.
Acetaminophen Appears Lacking in Low Back Pain
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acetaminophen does not appear to help ease lower back pain and offers little relief for the most common form of arthritis, according to a new report. The findings were published March 31 in The BMJ.
New Guidelines Issued for BP Mgmt in Coronary Artery Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Three leading groups of heart experts have issued updated guidelines that set blood pressure goals for people with coronary artery disease. The updated guidelines, from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Society of Hypertension, were published online March 31 in Hypertension.
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Outcomes No Worse for Macrolide-Resistant Pneumonia
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, macrolide-resistance is not associated with worse outcomes, according to a study published online March 25 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Amiodarone Linked to Lowest Risk of Hospitalization in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For younger patients with atrial fibrillation, amiodarone is associated with the lowest risk of atrial fibrillation hospitalization, while dronedarone has the greatest risk, according to a study published online March 31 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Serious Adverse Drug Reactions Still Occur With Bromocriptine
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can occur after bromocriptine use in lactation inhibition, most of which could be avoided, according to a study published online March 11 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Metformin Use Associated With Less CRC Risk in U.S. Population
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetes in the United States, metformin use is associated with reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published in the April 1 issue of Cancer.
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