Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in OBGYN & Women’s Health for April 2016. 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.
Wide Variation in Health Care Costs Across the U.S.
FRIDAY, April 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Health care prices vary widely across the United States, even within the same state, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
First Commercial Zika Test Approved by FDA
FRIDAY, April 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The first commercial test to diagnose Zika virus was approved Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Article Discusses Workplace Violence in Health Care
THURSDAY, April 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There is a lack of data relating to the prevalence of workplace violence in health care and how to address it, according to a review article published in the April 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Review Compares Metformin, OCPs for Teens With PCOS
THURSDAY, April 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), treatment with metformin and oral contraceptive pills can be beneficial, although evidence is limited, according to a review published online April 28 in Pediatrics.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
MAGED2 Mutation Causes Antenatal Bartter’s Syndrome
THURSDAY, April 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A mutation has been identified in MAGED2 that causes transient antenatal Bartter’s syndrome, according to a study published online April 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CDC: Births of Triplets, Quadruplets on Decline in U.S.
THURSDAY, April 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Since 1998, births of three or more babies at once have fallen by more than 40 percent in the United States, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) published in the April issue of the NCHS Data Brief.
Full Text
U.S. Health Report Card Finds Racial, Ethnic Disparities Persist
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An update on Americans’ health finds that racial and ethnic disparities persist, with significant gaps in obesity, cesarean births, and dental care. But advances have been made in some important areas, including infant mortality rates, women smokers, and numbers of uninsured, according to the new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Mindfulness Therapy May Help Ease Recurrent Depression
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may help reduce the risk of repeated episodes of depression, according to a study published online April 27 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Doctors Have a Only a Few Weeks Left to Review Financial Data
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, physicians have only a few weeks left to review and report disputes relating to their financial ties to drug and medical device manufacturers, according to the American Medical Association.
Some Primary Care Physician Finances Are Improving
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The financial outlook for primary care practices is improving, but not all practices are experiencing the same improvements, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
FDA: Fluconazole Linked to Increased Miscarriage Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Health care professionals should use caution when prescribing the oral antifungal drug fluconazole (Diflucan) during pregnancy because it may raise the risk of miscarriage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Certain Nutraceuticals May Augment Antidepressant Effects
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Certain nutritional supplements may improve the effectiveness of antidepressants, according to research published online April 26 in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Coronary Heart Disease Risk Up for Women Working Night Shifts
TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women who work rotating night shifts may face a slightly increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a report published in the April 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Influenza Vaccination Timing Appears to Affect Efficacy
TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Influenza vaccination may be more effective when people receive it in the morning than in the afternoon, according to a study published online April 26 in Vaccine.
Full Text
Tomosynthesis Beneficial for Dense, Nondense Breasts
TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The addition of tomosynthesis to mammography is beneficial for women with dense and nondense breasts, and the readability of dense breast notifications (DBNs) vary by state, according to two research letters published in the April 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Full Text – Rafferty (subscription or payment may be required)
Full Text – Kressin (subscription or payment may be required)
Detergent Packets a Growing Poison Danger to Children
TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A growing number of small children are getting their hands and mouths on colorful detergent packets, with serious and sometimes fatal consequences, according to a report published online April 25 in Pediatrics.
Full Text
Direct Primary Care Is Emerging Business Model
TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Direct primary care, where doctors bypass insurance companies, is an emerging business model, according to an article published in The Boston Globe.
Full Text
AAP: ALTE Now Termed ‘Brief Resolved Unexplained Events’
MONDAY, April 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The new term, “brief resolved unexplained events” (BRUE), replaces the previous term, “apparent life-threatening events” (ALTE), per an expert panel from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The new AAP clinical guideline was published online April 25 in Pediatrics.
Full Text
A Doctor’s View: EHRs Impair Physician-Patient Relationship
MONDAY, April 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health records (EHRs) may be impairing the physician-patient relationship, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
No Link for Smoking Cessation Meds, Mental Health Issues
MONDAY, April 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) don’t appear to raise the risk of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, according to a new study published online April 22 in The Lancet.
CDC, OSHA Issue Guidance on Occupational Exposure to Zika
FRIDAY, April 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Summer, mosquito season, and the threat of Zika virus transmission is approaching, and federal health experts on Friday issued guidelines to help protect American workers from infection.
CDC: Suicide Rate Up 24 Percent in the United States Since 1999
FRIDAY, April 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Suicide rates in the United States rose 24 percent between 1999 and 2014, with young girls and middle-aged men accounting for the largest increases, according to an April data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Physicians Can Get Involved in Developing Payment Models
FRIDAY, April 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Doctors can be involved in developing new payment models for their practices, according to the American Medical Association.
Full Text
How One Health System Is Shifting From Volume to Value
FRIDAY, April 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — ACCESS Health System, which operates 36 health centers, is transitioning to a patient-centered, physician-friendly health system that provides a continuum of care to underserved populations, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Aromatase Inhibitors Won’t Raise Odds of Most Fatal CVD Events
FRIDAY, April 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with aromatase inhibitors doesn’t raise the risk of the most fatal cardiovascular disease events among breast cancer survivors, according to research published online April 21 in JAMA Oncology.
Anthracyclines May Not Trigger ‘Chemo Brain’
FRIDAY, April 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anthracyclines are not related to “chemo brain,” according to a research letter published online April 21 in JAMA Oncology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Stomach CA Risk Up With Alcohol, Processed Meat Consumption
THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Alcohol, processed meats — such as hot dogs, ham, and bacon — and excess weight all may raise a person’s risk of stomach cancer, according to a new review released by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund International.
Improved Survival for Certain Cancers With Low-Dose Aspirin
THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with colorectal, breast, or prostate cancers may have better survival odds if they are on a low-dose aspirin regimen, according to a review published online April 20 in PLOS ONE.
Full Text
Ongoing Education Betters Mammography Interpretation
THURSDAY, April 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Regular education can improve radiologists’ performance in detection of breast cancer from mammography, according to a study published online April 6 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
BRCA1 Mutation May Reduce Women’s Fertility
WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The BRCA1 gene mutation may also be tied to potential fertility issues, according to a report published online April 20 in Human Reproduction.
In Breast CA, Cardiotoxicity Up With Trastuzumab-Based Chemo
WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For adult women with breast cancer, trastuzumab-based regimens are associated with increased risk of cardiotoxicity, according to a study published online April 18 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Review: Paroxetine Reduces Vasomotor Symptoms
TUESDAY, April 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, paroxetine reduces vasomotor symptoms, according to a review and meta-analysis published online April 7 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Suboptimal Guideline Adherence for Hematuria After Menopause
TUESDAY, April 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of urinary tract malignancy is low among postmenopausal women evaluated for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Article Offers Ways to Address Overlooked Details in Practice
MONDAY, April 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Looking at a family medicine practice with fresh eyes can help address unsightly issues that patients notice, according to an article published in Family Practice Management.
Full Text
Vitamin D Supplementation Cuts Aeroallergen Sensitization
MONDAY, April 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy may reduce aeroallergen sensitization in children, according to a study published online April 6 in Allergy.
Doctors, Midwives Struggle With Guilt After Traumatic Childbirth
MONDAY, April 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Most Danish obstetricians and midwives report having been involved in a traumatic childbirth, and frequently have inner struggles with guilt and existential considerations, according to research published online April 13 in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
ACOG Responds to CDC Update on Zika Causing Microcephaly
MONDAY, April 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has referred to Zika virus as causing microcephaly and other birth defects, according to a report published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
Metformin May Reduce Cancer Mortality Risk
FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Metformin may reduce the risk of dying from some cancers for postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the April 15 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
2016 Match Marks Record Highs for Registrants, Matching
FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The 2016 Match was the largest ever recorded by the National Resident Matching Program, with a higher match rate that 2015, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
Decrease in Medicare Spending for 2012 ACO Entrants
FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Early reductions in Medicare spending were seen for the first full year of Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) contracts for 2012 Accountable Care Organization (ACO) entrants, according to a study published online April 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Tied to Chronic Kidney Disease
FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients who regularly use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, according to research published online April 14 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Telephone Follow-Up Effective for Stage I Endometrial Cancer
FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women treated for stage I endometrial cancer, telephone follow-up (TFU) is noninferior to hospital-based follow-up (HFU), according to a study published online April 7 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Neratinib Not Superior to Trastuzumab in ERBB2-Breast CA
FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Neratinib-paclitaxel is no better than trastuzumab-paclitaxel for progression-free survival in recurrent and/or metastatic ERBB2-positive breast cancer, although it may delay the onset and reduce the frequency of central nervous system progression, according to a study published online April 14 in JAMA Oncology.
FDA: Makers of Corn Masa Flour Can Fortify With Folic Acid
THURSDAY, April 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Makers of corn masa flour can voluntarily add up to 0.7 mg of folic acid per pound of corn masa flour under a new approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Health Care Workers Skip Hand Washing One-Third of the Time
THURSDAY, April 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Staff at many outpatient health care facilities in New Mexico failed to follow recommendations for hand hygiene more than one-third of the time, according to findings published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
CDC: Zika Link to Microcephaly, Brain Damage Confirmed
THURSDAY, April 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Zika virus is a definite and direct cause of microcephaly and other brain-related birth defects, health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday. The CDC made its announcement following an evidence review published online April 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Special Report
Correspondence
CDC Media Statement
Progress Made in Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative
THURSDAY, April 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Two years into the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, practices have made progress toward transforming delivery of primary care but have not yet shown savings in expenditures, according to a study published online April 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Consumption of Fast Food Linked to Greater Exposure to Phthalates
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — People with high intake of fast food may have levels of phthalates in their urine that are 24 to 40 percent higher than people who rarely eat fast food, according to research published online April 13 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
Potentially Inappropriate Meds Use Common With OAB Tx
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For older adults starting antimuscarinic treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is highly prevalent and associated with greater total costs, according to a study published online April 5 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Review: Low Risk of Birth Defects With Ondansetron Exposure
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The offspring of women using ondansetron early in pregnancy for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy or hyperemesis gravidarum may be at risk for cardiac abnormalities, although the overall risk of birth defects associated with exposure appears low, according to a review published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Low Fruit, Vegetable Intake Linked to Hip Fracture Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, daily intake of no more than one serving of fruit and vegetables is associated with increased risk of hip fracture relative to moderate intake, according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Parental Hip Fracture Independently Ups Offspring Risk
TUESDAY, April 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Parental hip fracture (HF) is independently associated with increased risk of offspring major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and HF, according to research published online April 8 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Doctors Can Be Misled About FDA ‘Breakthrough’ Drug Designation
TUESDAY, April 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of the word “breakthrough” in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s expedited approval process could mislead doctors about the new drugs’ actual benefits, according to a research letter published in the April 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Early Warning Trigger Tool Could Help Reduce Maternal Morbidity
TUESDAY, April 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of a clinical pathway-specific Maternal Early Warning Trigger (MEWT) tool can reduce maternal morbidity, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
ASCO Presents Guidelines for Increasing HPV Vaccine Uptake
TUESDAY, April 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake, according to an American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) special article published online April 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
USPSTF: Aspirin Recommended for Some Aged 50 to 69 Years
MONDAY, April 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) in certain adults aged 50 to 69 years, but not in younger or older adults. These findings form the basis of a recommendation statement, published online April 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Recommendation Statement
Evidence Review 1 (subscription or payment may be required)
Evidence Review 2 (subscription or payment may be required)
Decision Analysis (subscription or payment may be required)
Vitamin D Supplementation Doesn’t Change Lean Mass, BMD
MONDAY, April 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women with vitamin D insufficiency completing a structured weight-loss program, vitamin D3 supplementation is not associated with changes in lean mass or bone mineral density (BMD), according to a study published online April 5 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
VA Commission on Care: Eliminate VA Medical Centers
MONDAY, April 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A radical proposal has been suggested for eliminating all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and outpatient facilities in the next 20 years, floated by seven of 15 members of the VA Commission on Care, according to an article published in the Military Times.
Progesterone Attenuates Drug-Induced QT Interval Lengthening
MONDAY, April 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For healthy females, oral progesterone administration attenuates drug-induced QT interval lengthening, according to a study published online April 6 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Definition of Prolonged Third-Stage Labor May Be Outdated
MONDAY, April 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Postpartum hemorrhage risk is significantly elevated with a third-stage labor duration of 20 minutes or more, according to research published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Hormone Tx No Harm After Nonserous Epithelial Ovarian CA
FRIDAY, April 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women with nonserous epithelial ovarian cancer, hormone therapy (HT) after treatment does not reduce survival, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA OKs System for Certain Lap Power Morcellator Procedures
THURSDAY, April 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it would permit limited use of a “tissue containment system” in conjunction with laparoscopic power morcellators.
New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Issued for 2015-2020
THURSDAY, April 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — New U.S. dietary guidelines have been released for 2015 to 2020, according to a health policy brief published online March 31 in Health Affairs.
Full Text
Daily Fresh Fruit Intake May Improve Cardiovascular Health
THURSDAY, April 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Eating fresh fruit regularly may help prevent heart attacks and strokes, according to a study published in the April 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Lamotrigine in Pregnancy Not Linked to Certain Birth Defects
THURSDAY, April 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Despite initial concern from early studies, taking the epilepsy drug lamotrigine during pregnancy may not raise the risk for certain birth defects, according to a study published online April 6 in Neurology.
Since 1980, Diabetes Cases Have Quadrupled Globally
WEDNESDAY, April 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The number of adults worldwide with diabetes has quadrupled in the past 35 years, according to a report published online April 6 in The Lancet.
More Risky Drinking Behaviors for Women With Eating Disorders
TUESDAY, April 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women with eating disorders more often exhibit risky drinking behaviors than their unaffected peers, according to a study published online April 1 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Cancer Care and Fertility Program Improves Patient Satisfaction
TUESDAY, April 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A cancer and fertility program, which provides resources, clinician education, and fertility clinical nurse specialist consultation, is associated with improvement in patient satisfaction with information received, according to research published online April 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
CDC Hosts Zika Action Plan Summit
MONDAY, April 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — More than 300 public health experts attended the Zika Action Plan Summit, hosted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta on Friday. The summit was held to help ensure a coordinated response to the mosquito-borne illness.
New Utah State Law Requires Anesthesia During Abortion
MONDAY, April 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Utah is the first state to require anesthesia for women having an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later.
Are Guidelines Needed to Assess Competence of Aging Physicians?
FRIDAY, April 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The question of whether national guidelines need to be developed for assessing the competence of aging physicians was discussed during a recent meeting of key stakeholders, according to a news release from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Chances of Meeting 2025 Global Obesity Target Near Zero
FRIDAY, April 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Since 1975, the mean body mass index (BMI) of men and women has increased and trends in obesity have been increasing worldwide, according to a study published in the April 2 issue of The Lancet.
Copyright © 2016 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
