Home Nephrology August 2017 Briefing – Nephrology

August 2017 Briefing – Nephrology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Nephrology for August 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.

Minimal Evidence for Electronic Communication Guidelines

THURSDAY, Aug. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Minimal evidence is available for guidelines for electronic communication between patients and providers, according to research published online Aug. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Retinal Emboli Linked to Cardiac Risk Factors, Kidney Disease

THURSDAY, Aug. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Retinal emboli are associated with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, stroke, and chronic kidney disease, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Proactive Approach Encouraged for Online Patient Reviews

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Most patients are using online reviews as a first step to finding a new doctor, with 65 percent forming an opinion from reading one to six reviews, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

Intensive BP Treatment Appears Safe, Well Tolerated

THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, intensive blood pressure control may be just as safe as standard treatment, and is likely cost-effective, according to research published in the Aug. 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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No Increase in Acute Kidney Injury Risk for SGLT2 Users

THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) is not increased for new sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor users, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Diabetes Care.

Collaborative Communication Could Improve HTN Rx Adherence

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care providers can help boost patient adherence to antihypertensive medications by communicating more collaboratively with patients, and including discussion of socioeconomic challenges, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Nurse-, System-Related Factors Analyzed in Wrong-Patient Events

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Greater focus is needed on correct identification processes in order to prevent wrong-patient medication administration incidents, and system supports for nurses are critical, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Tablet Use Encourages Patients to Explore Diabetes Risk

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The multispecialty San Bernardino Medical Group has replaced magazines with digital devices in waiting rooms, which can help patients learn about their risk of diabetes and take preventive action, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Hours Worked Impacted by Kids for Female, Not Male Doctors

MONDAY, Aug. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For women, but not men, in dual-physician couples, weekly hours worked are lower for those with versus those without children, according to a research letter published online Aug. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Geriatric Consults Remain Rare in Kidney Cancer Care

MONDAY, Aug. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Use of geriatric consultation remains sparse among older patients undergoing surgery for kidney cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Higher Odds of Infection With Reduced Kidney Function

FRIDAY, Aug. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — As kidney function declines, infection risk rises, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

’07 to ’14 Saw Drop in Proportion Needing Dialysis After TAVI

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2014 there was a decrease in the proportion of patients needing dialysis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), according to a study published online Aug. 2 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Studies Used for FDA Approval of Device Changes Often Low Quality

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many studies used to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of high-risk medical device modifications are not controlled; and efficacy of drugs granted accelerated approval is often confirmed three years after approval, according to two studies published in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Specialist Access No Better With Adoption of Access Standards

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Adoption of specialty access standards does not improve access to specialists, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Graft Survival Similar for Kidneys From Octogenarians

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Graft survival is similar for recipients of kidneys from >80-year-old donors and donors aged ≤60 years, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in the American Journal of Transplantation.

Multigene Panel Tests Can ID Hereditary Kidney Cancer

FRIDAY, Aug. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients who lack distinguishing clinical characteristics of known hereditary kidney cancer syndromes, panel testing may be useful for identifying hereditary cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in Cancer.

Reduced eGFR, Increased UACR Linked to Incident A-Fib

FRIDAY, Aug. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and elevated urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) are associated with increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research published online Aug. 10 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

CPAP Doesn’t Alter Renal Function in Coexisting OSA, CVD

FRIDAY, Aug. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with coexisting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular disease, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) does not alter renal function, according to a study published online July 25 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Guidance Provided for Preventing Practice Billing Errors

MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can help to prevent medical practice billing errors, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

Factors Unrelated to Allograft Quality Tied to Organ Turndown

MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Characteristics unrelated to allograft quality are associated with later acceptance in the deceased donor kidney match-run, including holiday or weekend procurement and shorter donor stature, according to a study published online July 31 in the American Journal of Transplantation.

Loss of Smell May Affect Nutrition in Patients With Renal Disease

FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have lower mean odor identification scores, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

IgG-Degrading Enzyme Allows HLA-Incompatible Transplant

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The immunoglobulin G (IgG)-degrading enzyme derived from Streptococcus pyogenes (IdeS) reduces or eliminates donor-specific antibodies, allowing human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-incompatible kidney transplantation, according to the combined results of two phase 1-2 studies published in the Aug. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Revenue Exceeds Expenditures for Many ABMS Member Boards

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Overall revenue exceeds expenditures for many American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Methylprednisolone Ups Adverse Events in IgA Nephropathy

TUESDAY, Aug. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Oral methylprednisolone is associated with increased risk of serious adverse events among patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and proteinuria of greater than 1 g/day, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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