Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for April 2017. 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.
AMA Urges Doctors to Talk About Safe Opioid Storage, Disposal
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should take three essential steps to reduce the amount of unwanted, unused, and expired medications in an effort to avoid non-medical uses of the drugs, according to a new recommendation from the American Medical Association (AMA) Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse.
Enzyme Replacement Drug OK’d for Form of Batten Disease
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Brineura (cerliponase alfa) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a specific form of Batten disease, a rare set of genetic disorders that typically begin between ages 2 and 4, the agency said in a news release.
FDA Approves Kinase Inhibitor for Treatment of AML
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Rydapt (midostaurin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in combination with chemotherapy, to treat adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have the FLT3 mutation, the agency said in a news release.
Algorithm Integrated Into App Forecasts Glucose Levels
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A mechanistic model based on Gaussian process models and data assimilation can produce a personalized, nutrition-based glucose forecast for individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online April 27 in PLOS Computational Biology.
Combo Rx for Fibromyalgia Tied to Higher Adherence
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medication adherence is better for combination prescription initiators with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), although expenditures for total health care are higher with combination prescriptions, according to a study published online April 18 in Pain Practice.
Rx Errors Up With Generic Propranolol for Hemangioma
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians prescribing propranolol in a single concentration of 4.28 mg/mL for infantile hemangioma (IH) report fewer prescribing errors than those prescribing generic propranolol, according to a research letter published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
States With Medical Marijuana Laws See Drop in Prescriptions
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana laws are associated with a decline in the number of prescriptions filled for Medicaid enrollees, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
Older Women Show Limited Understanding of Osteoporosis
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many older women have low awareness about osteoporosis and its contribution to fracture risk and a lack of understanding about the benefits of osteoporosis pharmacotherapy, according to a study published April 19 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Three Anti-VEGF Treatments Effective for Diabetic Retinopathy
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Three anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatments are associated with low rates of diabetic retinopathy (DR) worsening, according to a study published online April 27 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Regorafenib Approved for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the kinase inhibitor regorafenib (Stivarga) has been expanded to include hepatocellular carcinoma, the agency said Thursday in a news release.
Single-Payer Health System Bill Moves Forward in California
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A proposal to replace private insurance with government-funded health care for all moved forward in California on Wednesday as Democrats on the Senate Health Committee voted to advance the measure.
Early RA Treatment Important for Long-Term Outcomes
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is important for long-term outcomes, and there has been a decrease in mortality rates attributable to RA, according to two studies published online April 20 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
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MTX + Adalimumab Beneficial in JIA-Associated Uveitis
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with adalimumab plus methotrexate is effective in children and adolescents with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated (JIA-associated) uveitis, according to a study published online April 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
EHR Documentation May Help in Harm Reduction Initiatives
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health record (EHR) documentation can be used to reduce preventable harm in hospitals, according to a study published online April 27 in Pediatrics.
Illicit Marijuana Use Up in States With Legal Medical Use
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Illicit cannabis use increased significantly more in states that passed medical marijuana laws than in other states, according to a study published online April 26 in JAMA Psychiatry.
CDC: Opioid-Related Mortality Rate Might Be Underestimated
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The prescription drug abuse epidemic in the United States might be associated with a higher mortality rate than has been reported previously, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented April 24 at the Epidemic Intelligence Service conference in Atlanta.
FDA Warns Companies Selling Fraudulent Cancer Treatments
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday posted warning letters to 14 companies that are illegally selling more than 65 unproven cancer treatments.
Fatal Case of Suspected Propofol-Induced Pancreatitis Described
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A fatal case of propofol-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis has been described in a case report published online April 10 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Postbiotic Could Lower Glucose, Inflammation in Obesity
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The bacterial cell wall-derived muramyl dipeptide (MDP) postbiotic lowers adipose inflammation and reduces glucose intolerance in obese mice, according to an experimental study published online April 20 in Cell Metabolism.
Many Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease Discontinue AChEIs
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Discontinuation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is common, with adverse effects and cost cited as major factors, according to a study published recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Plasma Uric Acid Lowering Tied to Drop in Systolic BP in T1DM
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Lowering of plasma uric acid (PUA) with febuxostat (FBX) is associated with a modest reduction in systolic blood pressure (BP) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), according to a study published online April 13 in Diabetes.
T2DM Risk Cut by Variant in Sulfonylurea Receptor Encoder
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A common missense variant in the gene encoding a component of the sulfonylurea receptor (ABCC8 p.A1369S), which promotes closure of the target channel of sulfonylurea therapy, mimicking the effects of therapy, is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, according to a study published online April 14 in Diabetes.
HBV Reactivation Is Concern With DAA Tx in HBV-HCV Coinfection
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation (HBV-R) is a safety concern for patients with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection receiving direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), according to a study published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Mortality Up for Opioid Addicts Not Treated in Addiction Clinics
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Opioid addicts who get their medical care in settings such as primary care offices and hospitals, rather than addiction centers, are twice as likely to die as opioid addicts treated in addiction clinics, according to a study published online April 20 in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
ERs Administering More Medications Intranasally
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A growing number of U.S. emergency departments are giving patients medication through the nose instead of via injections or intravenously, according to a study published recently in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Cherokee Nation Sues Retailers, Distributors Over Opioid Crisis
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A lawsuit has been filed by an Indian nation against six of the top drug distributors and pharmacies in the United States for harm done by prescription pain medications.
Doctors Encouraged to Assess Driving Risks for T1DM Patients
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — New research offers a checklist that helps determine whether it is safe for patients with type 1 diabetes to drive. The findings were published online April 12 in Diabetes Care.
FDA Warns Against Children Taking Codeine, Tramadol
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Children should not be given any medications containing codeine or tramadol due to risk of life-threatening breathing difficulties, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday.
Trump Administration Offers Grants to Fight Opioid Crisis
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half a billion dollars promised by the Obama administration for opioid abuse prevention and treatment programs will be handed out by the Trump administration.
NYC to Raise Cigarette Prices to Highest in the United States
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A proposal to boost the base price of a pack of cigarettes from $10.50 to $13.00 would make cigarettes in New York City the most expensive in the country.
1-g IV Acetaminophen Dose May Be Insufficient in Multiple Trauma
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A dosage of 1 g intravenous acetaminophen every six hours yields serum concentrations below 10 µg/mL for critically ill multiple-trauma patients, according to a study published online April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Case Report Describes Adverse Reaction to Clindamycin
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In a case report published online April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis secondary to clindamycin therapy is described.
Early Glycemic Control With Metformin Cuts CVD Events
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes who initiate metformin, early achievement of low hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is associated with a reduction in the subsequent risk of cardiovascular events or death, according to a study published online April 12 in Diabetes Care.
More Wrong-Patient Orders in NICU Versus Non-NICU Ped Units
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The risk of wrong-patient orders is higher in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) versus non-NICU pediatric units, and the risk of errors can be reduced with interventions, according to a study published online April 21 in Pediatrics.
Antipsychotic Medication Use Can Be Reduced in Dementia Patients
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Hoping to cut the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing home residents, researchers tried training staff on new ways to meet the needs of residents with dementia. Their findings were published online April 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
FDA OKs Vagus Nerve Stimulator to Treat Cluster Headaches
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new noninvasive device, gammaCore, which works to reduce cluster headache pain by transmitting mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the skin on the neck, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Just Over Half of MI Patients Taking Statins As Recommended
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many myocardial infarction patients aren’t taking statins as recommended, according to a brief report published online April 19 in JAMA Cardiology.
Electronic Drug Administration Record App Cuts Errors
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Use of an electronic medication administration record (eMAR) application can reduce the rate of medication errors in medication administration recording (ME-MAR), according to a study published online April 18 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Nurse-Led Intervention Helps With Diabetes Control
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nurse-led interventions including education and cognitive behavioral therapy can improve hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) control, according to a study published online April 11 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
QI Intervention Aids Medication Safety for Elderly in ER
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A quality improvement initiative that combines education, electronic clinical decision support, and individual provider feedback can positively influence prescribing behavior and improve medication safety for older adults in the emergency department, according to a study published online April 7 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Dexamethasone Found to Be of Little Benefit in Acute Sore Throat
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A single dose of oral dexamethasone only offers modest benefit in the treatment of acute sore throat, according a study published in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Differing Statin Guidelines Leave Many Clinicians Uncertain
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — If all clinicians followed U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines for prescription of a statin, nine million fewer adults would be taking such medication versus adherence to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association recommendations, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
No Proof Azithromycin Ups Odds of Ventricular Arrhythmia
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Azithromycin doesn’t appear to increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia, according to a study published online April 18 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Link Between Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy, Autism Challenged
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Taking antidepressants during pregnancy doesn’t appear to raise a child’s risk of autism, once other factors that could influence the risk are taken into account, according to two studies published in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Glucose Variation Doesn’t Affect Microvascular Complications
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Measures of glycemic variability in type 1 diabetes, based on complete quarterly 7-point glucose profiles, fail to provide evidence that glycemic variability contributes to the risk of development or progression of microvascular complications beyond the influence of mean glucose levels, according to a study published online April 12 in Diabetes Care.
Marijuana Use Higher in Pregnant Teens Than Nonpregnant Peers
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More than twice as many pregnant 12- to 17-year-olds use marijuana as their nonpregnant peers, and significantly more use the drug than pregnant women in their 20s, according to a letter published online April 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Various Diagnostic Tools Available for Ocular Allergy
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There are currently various tools available for diagnosing ocular allergy, although several unmet needs remain, according to a position paper published online April 7 in Allergy.
Retail Medical Sites Expanding to Provide Primary Care
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacy chains are continuing to develop primary care venues within their stores, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
ASCO Updates Recs on Potentially Curable Pancreatic Cancer
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines relating to the appropriate adjuvant regimen for patients with pancreatic cancer have been updated in light of new evidence, according to a special article published online April 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Major Bleeding Risk From Drugs Similar in Elderly
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The risk of major bleeding is similar for older patients with atrial fibrillation taking either antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, according to a review published online April 10 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
One in Five Post-Op Patients Need Unscheduled Help
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A sizable minority of patients need to make contact with health services after outpatient surgery, most often due to inadequate pain management, according to a study published online April 10 in Anesthesiology.
Vaccine-Chemotherapy Combo Promising in Glioblastoma
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An experimental vaccine therapy shows promise in treating glioblastoma, according to a study published online April 14 in Clinical Cancer Research.
AAFP: Educational Videos Created to Boost Adult Vaccine Uptake
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A series of short videos focusing on increasing influenza, zoster, and pneumococcal vaccine uptake among adults have been created, according to a report from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Fast-Acting Insulin Aspart Ups Glycemic Control in T1DM
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fast-acting insulin aspart improves glycemic control in type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online April 11 in Diabetes Care.
Iodide Supplementation No Benefit for Preemies
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For preterm infants, iodide supplementation is not associated with neurodevelopmental benefit at age 2 years, according to a study published online April 14 in Pediatrics.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Safe, Effective for Skin Rejuvenation
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Autologous platelet-rich plasma is safe and effective for skin rejuvenation, according to a study published online April 5 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Favorable Physiological Effect for Ularitide in Acute Heart Failure
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Ularitide has a favorable physiological effect in patients with acute heart failure, according to a study published online April 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Accurate Diagnosis of Endocrine Hypertension Important
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An accurate diagnosis of endocrine hypertension allows clinicians to provide effective treatment, including a surgical cure or to achieve an optimal response with specific pharmacologic therapy, according to a scientific statement published online April 5 in Endocrine Reviews.
Surgery Often the Starting Point for Opioid Addiction
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Certain surgery patients prescribed opioids for postoperative pain relief may face a higher risk for developing a persistent opioid addiction, according to research published online April 12 in JAMA Surgery.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Improves Quality of Life in T1DM
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) contributes to significant improvements in diabetes-specific quality of life (QOL) measures among adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), according to a study published online April 7 in Diabetes Care.
FDA Approves First Drug for Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Ingrezza (valbenazine), the first drug to treat adults with tardive dyskinesia, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Depressive Disorders Up With Antimuscarinics for OAB
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Women with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome treated with antimuscarinics have increased subsequent risk of depressive disorder, according to a study published online April 5 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Specific Factors Influence First-Line Biologic Rx for Psoriasis
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The presence of psoriatic arthritis, patient weight, registration country, employment status, and disease severity are the main factors influencing first-line biologic treatment selection for patients with psoriasis, according to a study published online April 7 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Recreational Drug ‘Poppers’ Linked to Retinal Damage
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Use of inhaled “poppers” — volatile alkyl nitrite compounds inhaled for their psychoactive effects such as transient euphoria and sexual arousal — might pose a danger to the user’s vision, according to a study published online April 10 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
AHA: Patients Lack Confidence in Managing Their Cholesterol
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many patients report lack of confidence or knowledge in keeping cholesterol under control, a new American Heart Association survey shows.
Botulinum Toxin Promising for Burning Mouth Syndrome
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Botulinum toxin can provide benefit for patients with burning mouth syndrome, according to a research letter published online April 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Metformin Use Does Not Increase Prostate Cancer Survival
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Metformin use in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy does not significantly improve survival in patients with diabetes and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Insecticide Resistance Thwarting Fight Against Bed Bugs
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Some bed bugs are showing early signs of resistance to two widely used insecticides, according to a study published online April 10 in the Journal of Economic Entomology.
Direct-Acting Antivirals Approved for Children 12+ With HCV
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children aged 12 and older.
Integrated E-Prescribing Can Cut Prescribing, Dispensing Errors
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An integrated electronic medication prescribing (e-prescribing) and dispensing system can reduce prescribing and dispensing errors, according to a study published online March 30 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Benzodiazepines May Up Risk of Pneumonia in Alzheimer’s Disease
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with Alzheimer’s disease who use benzodiazepines may have an increased risk for pneumonia, according to a study published in the April 10 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Review Explores Botulinum Toxin in Overactive Bladder Treatment
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Intradetrusor injection of onabotulinumtoxin A is safe and effective for bladder chemodenervation in overactive bladder, with new approaches being developed to increase toxin permeability and avoid intradetrusor injections, according to a review published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Mindfulness Practice Reduces Cortisol Blunting During Chemo
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness practice during chemotherapy can reduce the blunting of neuroendocrine profiles typically observed in cancer patients, according to a study published online April 7 in Cancer.
Mask With Myoinositol/Trehalose Aids Adult Female Acne
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A ready-to-use peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes results in clinically detectable improvements in adult female acne (AFA), according to a study published online March 25 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Lower Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding for Apixaban
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients receiving direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) agents for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, apixaban is associated with a lower risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding than rivaroxaban or dabigatran, according to a study published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.
Multivitamin Use Does Not Benefit Cardiovascular Health in Men
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A daily multivitamin doesn’t benefit cardiovascular health in men, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Cardiology.
pH-Balanced Vaginal Gel Doesn’t Improve Dyspareunia
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For breast cancer survivors who are premenopausal at diagnosis, a pH-balanced vaginal gel is no better than placebo for improving dyspareunia and overall sexual function, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
SGA Prescribing Higher for Veterans With PTSD/Dementia
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Elderly veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with dementia have increased odds of being prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) compared with those with PTSD alone, according to a study published online April 3 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Combo Rx Plus Stem-Cell Tx Ups PFS in Multiple Myeloma
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Combination therapy with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVD) plus stem-cell transplantation is associated with longer progression-free survival than RVD alone for adults with multiple myeloma, according to a study published in the April 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Antenatal Betamethasone Doesn’t Impact Pediatric Bone Mass
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to repeat doses of antenatal betamethasone is not associated with alterations in bone mass in mid-childhood compared with a single course of glucocorticoids, according to a study published online April 7 in Pediatrics.
FDA OKs Marketing of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Risk Tests
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first home genetic tests for 10 diseases or conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and late-onset Alzheimer’s.
Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Bests Injections in T2DM
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >8 percent following multiple daily injections (MDI), continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is associated with a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c than MDI, according to a study published online April 4 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Prevalence of Metformin Use 0.7 Percent in Prediabetes
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. adults with prediabetes, the prevalence of metformin use is 0.7 percent, according to a study published online April 3 in Diabetes Care.
Risk Adjustment, Reinsurance Transfer Offer Financial Benefit
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Risk adjustment and reinsurance transfer programs seem to have been effective for increasing revenues at the expense of claims costs, according to research published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
No CVD Protection Seen With Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Taking high doses of vitamin D once a month won’t lower the risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Cardiology.
Long-Term Antibiotic Use May Up Risk of Colorectal Adenomas
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Taking antibiotics for an extended period in early to middle adulthood might increase risk for colorectal adenomas, according to a report published online April 4 in Gut.
Physicians Finding Ways to Work Around Cost of Rx Medications
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to mitigate the increasing cost of prescription medications, some physicians are creating novel workaround solutions, according to an article published by Kaiser Health News.
Ruling Out Penicillin Allergy by Testing Inpatients Saves Money
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inpatient penicillin allergy testing is effective for ruling out penicillin allergy, and results in increased prescription of penicillin and cephalosporin, according to a review published online March 29 in Allergy.
Bone, Basal Metabolism Link Depends on Vitamin D Level
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DMPW), the correlation between bone metabolism and basal metabolism seems to be dependent on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels, according to a study published online March 31 in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation.
Hydrocortisone Tx Doesn’t Impair Neurodevelopment in Preemies
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For extremely preterm infants, early hydrocortisone therapy is not associated with neurodevelopmental impairment at age 2 years, according to a study published in the April 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
New Antibiotic Tx Beneficial After Acute Lung Function Decline in CF
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — New antibiotic therapy, especially inpatient treatment, is associated with greater likelihood of recovery after acute lung function decline in children with cystic fibrosis, according to a study published online March 21 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Maternal Pertussis Vaccination Reduces Risk for Newborns
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Infants are far less likely to develop pertussis if their mother received a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster vaccination while pregnant, according to research published online April 3 in Pediatrics.
Geographic Variation in Admission for Opioid Tx Programs
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is geographic variation in treatment admissions among opioid treatment programs that accept Medicaid, according to a study published online March 27 in Health Services Research.
Variation in Occupational Influenza Vaccination Coverage
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is variation in influenza vaccination coverage by industry and occupation, including among health care personnel and other occupational groups who may have first priority to receive influenza vaccination during a pandemic (tier 1), according to a study published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Mylan Issues Voluntary Recall of Some EpiPen Auto-Injectors
MONDAY, April 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mylan, the maker of EpiPen, says it is recalling select lots of EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. due to a defect that might render it difficult to activate in an emergency.
Vaccination Tied to Reduced Risk of Flu-Linked Pediatric Death
MONDAY, April 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Influenza vaccination is associated with reduced risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated death in children, with overall vaccine effectiveness of 65 percent, according to research published online April 3 in Pediatrics.
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