Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pediatrics for February 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.
AMA: Key Steps for Minimizing Liability Risk in Telemedicine
FRIDAY, Feb. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Key steps should be taken to minimize the potential risk of liability resulting from use of telemedicine, according to an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Incidence of Viral Pneumonia Up in Young Children
THURSDAY, Feb. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Young children are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill with pneumonia — but unlike in years past, the cause is usually a respiratory virus, according to a study published in the Feb. 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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~4 Percent Increase in Primary Care Visits Expected With ACA
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The greater number of Americans with health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will lead to only a slight increase in the use of medical services, and the health system can cope with the added demand, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.
Essential Role for Pediatricians in Care of Sexual Exploitation Victims
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pediatricians have a role to play in identification and treatment of victims of child sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), according to a clinical report published online Feb. 23 in Pediatrics.
SNP Linked to Vincristine-Related Neuropathy in ALL
TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the CEP72 gene, which encodes a centrosomal protein involved in microtubule formation, correlates with risk and severity of vincristine-related peripheral neuropathy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to a study published in the Feb. 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Remote Patient Monitoring Sector Increasing Rapidly
TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The remote patient monitoring sector is growing rapidly and could have a considerable impact on health care, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Water Used to Mix Baby Formula Plays Role in Arsenic Level
TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The water used to mix baby formula plays the biggest role in whether formula-fed babies are exposed to increased levels of arsenic, according to a new study. The findings were reported online Feb. 23 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
Centralized Reminder System Could Increase Vaccination Rates
TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A centralized statewide reminder system for immunizations may be a more reliable way to increase overall vaccination rates than reminders from a doctor’s office, according to a report published online Feb. 23 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Dishwasher Use May Increase Risk of Allergies in Children
MONDAY, Feb. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hand washing dishes instead of using a machine to wash dishes may reduce children’s risk of developing allergic conditions, such as asthma or eczema, according to a new study. The findings were published online Feb. 23 in Pediatrics.
New AAP Diet Recommendations Stress ‘Whole Food’ Diet
MONDAY, Feb. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize the importance of introducing children to a wide variety of whole foods — from fruits and vegetables, to whole grains and nuts, to fish and low-fat dairy. And to do that, parents need to make the foods palatable, according to the authors of a policy statement published online Feb. 23 in Pediatrics.
Variation in Clinical Practice Guidelines for Febrile Infants
MONDAY, Feb. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Emergency department clinical practice guideline (CPG) recommendations contribute to observed practice variation in febrile infants, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Patterns of Childhood Growth May Trigger Type 2 Diabetes
FRIDAY, Feb. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Certain trajectories of body mass index (BMI) during childhood may increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) later in life, according to research published online Feb. 14 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Patients Say Cost Matters Greatly in Choosing Doctor
FRIDAY, Feb. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number one determining factor for selecting a doctor is whether the physician is in-network, according to a report published by Vitals.
Measles Can Lead to Ophthalmic Complications
FRIDAY, Feb. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In the midst of the current resurgence of measles across the United States, ophthalmologists are warning that even before the telltale skin rash appears, the infection typically shows up in the eyes. In rare cases, measles can trigger long-term vision problems and even blindness.
FDA: People With Peanut Allergy Should Avoid Cumin Products
FRIDAY, Feb. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A huge recall of products that contain cumin spice possibly contaminated with peanut has been ongoing in the United States since December, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people with peanut allergy to avoid cumin and all products that contain cumin.
Phthalates in First Trimester May Affect Male Fertility
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When expectant mothers are exposed to phthalates during the first trimester, their male offspring may have a greater risk of infertility later in life, a new study suggests. The report was published online Feb. 18 in Human Reproduction.
Propranolol Effective for Infantile Hemangioma
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Propranolol (Inderal) appears to be effective in treating infantile hemangiomas, according to research published in the Feb. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Unhealthy Outpacing Healthy Eating in Most World Regions
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although people around the world are eating more healthy foods, that positive trend has been outpaced by a rising consumption of unhealthy foods, according to research published in the March issue of The Lancet Global Health.
‘Remission’ Replaces ‘Functional Cure’ in HIV Case
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — All babies born with HIV should receive the same rapid medical response as the young Mississippi girl born with the virus who suffered a disappointing relapse last July, despite the fact that the virus later reappeared, according to a letter published in the Feb. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Doctors, Pharmacists Least Likely Health Pros to Divorce
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Doctors appear less likely to get divorced than most other health care professionals, according to research published online Feb. 18 in The BMJ.
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Fear of Discrimination Keeps Many LGBT Med Students Silent
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fear of discrimination is a major reason why about one-third of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) medical students stay “in the closet,” new research finds. The study was published online Feb. 16 in Academic Medicine.
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Research Finds No Cancer Link With Pimecrolimus
THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pimecrolimus (Elidel) cream used to treat eczema in children does not appear to increase the risk of cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in JAMA Dermatology.
New Sleep Guidelines Issued by National Sleep Foundation
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For the youngest and oldest, the National Sleep Foundation has new guidelines on what constitutes a good night’s rest. The new guidelines were developed by a panel of 12 experts who examined the findings of 320 studies, and were published online in Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation.
Article Emphasizes Importance of Apology in Medical Error
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Apology laws, which prohibit certain statements or expressions of sympathy by a physician from being admissible in a lawsuit, are unnecessary if physicians understand the importance of saying sorry and offering accountability after an error, according to an article published Feb. 4 in Medical Economics.
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Data Lacking to Support Childhood Naps Above Age 2
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children over 2 years old who nap during the day tend to go to bed later and get less sleep than those who give up napping, according to research findings published online Feb. 17 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
CDC: Biggest Rise in Recent Measles Cases in Illinois
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of measles cases in the United States has reached 141 patients in 17 states and the District of Columbia, federal health officials reported Tuesday.
Young Adult Sore Throat Could Be Due to F. Necrophorum
TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fusobacterium necrophorum is responsible for one in five sore throats in young adults, a new study suggests. The report was published in the Feb. 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Certain Macrolides Linked With Higher Risk of Pyloric Stenosis
MONDAY, Feb. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New research supports previous findings that erythromycin can increase the risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). The research also indicates that azithromycin is associated with a higher risk of IHPS when given to infants under 6 weeks old. The findings were published online Feb. 16 in the Pediatrics.
Medical Journals Should Not Be Swayed by Fear of Libel Lawsuits
MONDAY, Feb. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fear of corporate defamation lawsuits should not prevent medical journals from investigating corporate products, according to a perspective piece published online Feb. 16 in Pediatrics.
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High Deductible Plans Factor Into Physician-Patient Relationship
MONDAY, Feb. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In an environment where patients are increasingly aware of the costs of health care, physicians need to be prepared to address these issues with their patients, according to an article published Feb. 4 in Medical Economics.
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Milk Protein Detected in Some ‘Cow’s Milk-Free’ Baked Goods
MONDAY, Feb. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some bakery products sold as free of cow’s milk may not be safe for those with milk allergies because they still contain milk protein, according to research published online Feb. 4 in Allergy.
Picky Eating Usually Transient Among Preschool Children
FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Picky eating is usually a transient behavior in early childhood, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Patients Tend to Prefer Formal Physician Attire
FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients often prefer physicians with formal attire and white coats, according to a systematic review published online Jan. 19 in BMJ Open.
Electronic Beats Paper Record in Peds Trauma Resuscitations
FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Electronic documentation produces more complete records of pediatric trauma resuscitations than paper documentation, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Latino Physician Shortage Has Worsened Since 1980
FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 1980 to 2010 the Latino physician shortage worsened, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Academic Medicine.
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Maternal Smoking Linked to Shorter Fetal Telomere Length
THURSDAY, Feb. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Prenatal exposure to tobacco is associated with shorter fetal telomere length, according to research published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Human Breast Milk Effective for Infants With Atopic Dermatitis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For infants with atopic dermatitis, topical application of human breast milk has the same efficacy as hydrocortisone 1 percent ointment, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Seven Tips Help Doctors Prepare for Meaningful Use Audits
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Given that physicians are chosen for meaningful use (MU) audits at random, the best way to prepare is for a physician to assume they will be audited, according to an article published Jan. 28 in Medical Economics.
Risk of Psychiatric Disorders Up for Children With T1DM
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, especially in the six months after diagnosis, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in Diabetes Care.
Low Childhood Vitamin D Levels May Up Adult CVD Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adults who had low vitamin D levels as children and teens may be more likely to have atherosclerosis, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Americans’ Complementary Health Approaches Changing
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Yoga is increasingly popular among U.S. adults and children, two new government surveys reveal. Both surveys, which were published Feb. 10 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), looked at the overall use of alternative or complementary medicine among Americans.
Report – Adults
Report – Children
Research Misconduct ID’d by FDA Often Unreported in Literature
TUESDAY, Feb. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection reports between 1998 and 2013 revealed 57 clinical trials in which regulators had uncovered violations serious enough to earn the agency’s most severe classification — “official action indicated,” or OAI. The findings were published online Feb. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Oxytocin in Labor Not Linked With Later ADHD in Child
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Augmentation of labor with the medication oxytocin does not seem to raise the risk of having a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Pediatrics.
HPV Vaccination Does Not Seem to Promote Unsafe Sex in Teens
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Getting vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) does not appear to increase unsafe sexual practices among teen girls, according to a new study published online Feb. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Confidence Not Accurate Measure of Prescribing Competence
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For medical students, self-reported confidence in prescribing only weakly correlates with actual competence, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
One-Quarter of Adnexal Masses in Youth Are Malignant
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For children and adolescents with an adnexal mass, about 25 percent of masses are malignant, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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AMA Provides Key Messages for Patients About Vaccination
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should be prepared for questions about the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA has offered advice for answering patient questions on vaccination.
Elevated Risk of Psychiatric Dx in Adults Born Very Premature
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People who were born very preterm may be at higher risk of anxiety disorders and certain other mental health issues, even into their 30s, a new study suggests. The findings, published online Feb. 9 in Pediatrics, give a picture of how preemies fare as they move through adulthood.
Residential Program Cuts CVD Risk Factors in Obese Youth
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Extremely obese adolescents in an intensive 10-month residential treatment program lost more weight than their counterparts, and appeared to reverse endothelial dysfunction that could lead to atherosclerosis, according to a new study published online Feb. 9 in Pediatrics.
Review: Some Nonpharmacologic Tx Effective in Peds GI Disorders
MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Certain nonpharmacologic treatments are effective in pediatric abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs), according to a review published online Feb. 9 in Pediatrics.
Measles Diagnosis for Five Infants at Illinois Day Care
FRIDAY, Feb. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of measles cases in the United States continues to climb, with Illinois health officials saying five infants who attend a suburban Chicago day care center are infected.
Perspective on Dr. Davidson: ‘Be Like Mike’
THURSDAY, Feb. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The tragic shooting of surgeon Michael Davidson can be used as an opportunity to find meaning in tragedy, according to a perspective piece published online Feb. 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Contraception Info Given With Isotretinoin Rx Ups Safe Use
THURSDAY, Feb. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say giving birth control information to women visiting dermatology clinics can help promote the safe use of isotretinoin. The study was published online Feb. 4 in JAMA Dermatology.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure Down But Still Too High
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although fewer Americans are smoking and more communities have smoke-free laws, 58 million nonsmokers are still being exposed to secondhand smoke, U.S. health officials said Tuesday. Findings from the new study were published in the Feb. 3 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Pregnancy Outcomes Similar for Adult, Child Kidney Transplant
TUESDAY, Feb. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pregnancy outcomes are similar for women who have received a kidney transplant, whether they were a child or an adult when they got their transplant, according to a new study published in the February issue of JAMA Pediatrics.
Patient Engagement Can Cut Costs, Improve Outcomes
MONDAY, Feb. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patient engagement initiatives can decrease costs without sacrificing quality care, according to an article published Jan. 22 in Medical Economics.
Estrogen May Lessen Cognitive Effects of Lead Exposure
MONDAY, Feb. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Estrogen and estradiol may help protect against lead’s harmful effects on the frontal areas of the brain, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Environmental Health.
Few Newborns Have Early Well-Child Visit
MONDAY, Feb. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Only 15 percent of newborns with an estimated gestational age of ≥34 weeks have a well-child visit (WCV) within the recommended time frame, and these visits correlate with a reduction in the rate of readmissions, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics.
Medication Issues Behind One in 12 Pediatric ER Visits
MONDAY, Feb. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — At one Canadian children’s hospital, medication-related problems accounted for one in 12 emergency department visits over a year. And about two-thirds of those incidents were preventable, the researchers concluded. The findings have been published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics.
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