Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Otolaryngology for December 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.
Pneumatic Compression Promising for Lymphedema
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — One treatment session with advanced pneumatic compression is associated with reduced cancer-related head and neck lymphedema, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in Head & Neck.
Reducing Tx May Harm Safety in Early HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)+ stage I or II oropharyngeal cancer, deintensification of treatment from chemoradiotherapy to one modality may compromise safety, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in Cancer.
Preoperative G-Tube Placement Associated With Cost Savings
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative placement of gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) in patients with head and neck cancer yields cost savings, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in Head & Neck.
GERD Linked to Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancers
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with a higher risk of cancer in the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) among the elderly population in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Early-Stage Cancer Diagnoses Up With ACA’s Medicaid Expansions
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In their first year, the 2014 Medicaid expansions, facilitated by the Affordable Care Act, were associated with an increase in cancer diagnoses, particularly at the early stage, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in the American Journal of Public Health.
Oral Care Guidelines Can Improve Quality of Oral Health Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Development and implementation of standardized oral care treatment and referral guidelines can improve the overall quality of oral health practice for older sub-acute patients, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics Best for Children With Acute RTIs
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For children with acute respiratory tract infections, broad-spectrum antibiotics are not associated with better clinical or patient-centered outcomes compared with narrow-spectrum antibiotics, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Male U.S. Doctors Receive Higher Values of Industry Payments
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Male physicians in the United States received higher values of general payments from industry than females in 2015, according to a research letter published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Probiotics, Chewing Gum Found Ineffective for Pharyngitis
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Neither probiotics nor xylitol-based chewing gum cuts the severity of symptoms associated with pharyngitis, according to a study published in the Dec. 18 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Year One Results Out for Value-Based Payment Modifier Program
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Almost 30 percent of eligible practices failed to register and report data in the first year of the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier program, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Doctors Must Report on at Least 1 Patient, 1 Measure for MACRA
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In order to meet the 2017 Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) participation reporting deadline and avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019, physicians must report on at least one patient and one measure by Dec. 31, and submit to Medicare no later than Feb. 28, 2018, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Flu Vaccine Expected to Protect Against Most U.S. H3N2 Viruses
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A novel bioinformatics approach can predict vaccine effectiveness for the influenza season, and indicates that the current vaccines are likely to be effective against H3N2 flu viruses in the U.S. 2017/2018 flu season, according to research published online Nov. 29 in F1000 Research.
Functional Limitations Ongoing With Congenital Zika
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Severe functional limitations are reported among children with microcephaly and laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection in infancy, according to research published in the Dec. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Cordotomy by Coblation Viable for Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cordotomy by coblation is safe and efficient for treating bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI), according to a study published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Vermilionectomy Has Good Long-Term Outcome for Lip Lesions
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Vermilionectomy is effective for treatment of actinic cheilitis (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lower lip, according to a research letter published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Making Insurers Participate in Marketplace Could Cut Volatility
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Requiring insurers that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to also participate in Marketplaces in the same geographic area could improve access to insurance, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Day-Care Centers Have More Allergens Than Homes
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mite, mouse, cat, and dog allergens are higher in day-care centers (DCCs) than in homes, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in Allergy.
Amount of Opioids Prescribed After Hospital Discharge Varies
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For postoperative patients there is considerable variation in the amount of opioids prescribed at hospital discharge, according to research published online Dec. 13 in JAMA Surgery.
Deceleration in Health Care Spending Growth in 2016
MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care spending growth slowed in 2016 following faster growth in 2014 and 2015, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
Influenza Picking Up in U.S., Predominantly A(H3N2)
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Influenza activity was low during October 2017 but started increasing in November, with influenza A, predominantly A(H3N2), most commonly identified, according to research published in the Dec. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Thyroidectomy-Specific Quality Improvement Measures ID’d
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing thyroidectomy, hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury may be useful quality improvement measures, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Surgery.
Lymph Node Density Predicts Thyroid Cancer Outcomes
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Lymph node density (LND) can help predict outcomes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery .
CVS-Aetna Merger Has Implications for Doctors’ Offices
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — CVS Health’s planned purchase of insurance giant Aetna, a $69 billion deal, was announced Sunday.
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Relevant Health Care Price Info Hard to Find Online
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 17 percent of websites provide geographically relevant health care price estimates relating to specific interventions, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Oral Microbiome Composition Linked to Esophageal Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Oral microbiome composition is associated with the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), according to a study published online Dec. 1 in Cancer Research.
Risk of Persistent Opioid Use a Concern for Youth After Surgery
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Adolescents and young adults are at risk for persistent opioid use after surgery, and this represents an important pathway to consider in the epidemic of prescription opioid misuse, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Pediatrics.
Study IDs Clinical Factors Tied to Free Tissue Transfer Reoperation
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Certain clinical factors, including wound complications, are associated with reoperation and prolonged hospitalization in patients undergoing free tissue transfer (FTT) for reconstruction related to head and neck cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
>40% of Cancers, Cancer Deaths Due to Modifiable Risk Factors
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 42.0 percent of all incident cancers and 45.1 percent of cancer deaths in the United States are attributed to potentially modifiable risk factors, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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