Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Radiology for July 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 Wants Doctor Input on EHRs, Meaningful Use
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging clinicians to share their perspectives on electronic heath records (EHRs) and the meaningful use program.
Accuracy, Timing of Pre-Op Lung CA Evaluation Can Be Improved
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For suspected lung cancer patients, the thoroughness, accuracy, and timeliness of preoperative evaluation could be improved, according to research published online July 30 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Test Set Performance Indicators Correlate Well With Clinical Audit
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some performance indicators for mammography test sets are associated with aspects of clinical audit parameters, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
U.S. Health Spending Projected to Rise 5.8 Percent By 2024
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2024, U.S. health spending growth is projected to increase by about 6 percent, according to a report published online July 28 in Health Affairs.
Patients Report Improved Care Access, Better Health With ACA
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions more Americans have affordable health insurance, access to a personal doctor, and feel they are in better health following the first two open-enrollment periods of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new analysis shows. The results are published in the July 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Delays Noted in the Reporting of Serious Patient Harms to FDA
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 10 percent of cases where a drug does serious harm are not reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the required 15-day period, according to a new analysis published online July 27 as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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No Need for More Propofol for MRI Sedation in ADHD
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) undergoing sedation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do not have a higher dose requirement for propofol, according to a study published online July 22 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
Expansion of High-Deductible Plans to Impact Physician Care
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As a result of the increasing popularity of high-deductible health care plans, patients now have more financial responsibility for medical services, which is impacting physician practices, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Evidence of Cellular Damage From Computed Tomography
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cellular damage occurs when people undergo computed tomography (CT) scans, but whether or not this causes cancer or any other health problems is unclear, according to a study published online July 22 in the JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Nodal Radiation Doesn’t Impact Early Breast Cancer Survival
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some women who have surgery for early-stage breast cancer may benefit from additional radiation to nearby lymph nodes, although there is no clear advantage in overall survival, two new clinical trials suggest. The studies were published in the July 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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ASCO Guidelines: Biomarker Use in Metastatic Breast CA Treatment
TUESDAY, July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Biomarkers can be used to guide decisions on systemic therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline published online July 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Article Answers Reader Questions About Coding
MONDAY, July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Reader questions about coding a new evaluation and management (E/M) with modifier 25 and codes for three-dimensional (3D) mammograms are answered in an article published in Medical Economics.
More Radiation Doesn’t Up Survival in Low-Risk Prostate CA
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Higher doses of radiation may improve survival in men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancers, but it does not do the same for those with low-risk disease, according to a study published online July 16 in JAMA Oncology.
Clinicians May Harbor Biases About Sexual Orientation
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians may be biased when it comes to the sexual orientation of patients, new research suggests. The study was published online July 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Channel Length Key in Percutaneous Thrombin Injection
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 15 percent of patients with post-catheterization femoral pseudoaneurysm who undergo sonographic-guided percutaneous thrombin injection have complications, mainly arterial microembolization, according to a study published online July 14 in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
Coronary Artery Calcium Score Has Long-Term Prognostic Utility
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A zero coronary artery calcium (CAC) score has long-term prognostic utility, with CAC presence an independent predictor of mortality, according to a study published online July 15 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Choosing Wisely: How to Implement in Clinical Practice
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Strategies should be adopted to help with implementation of the Choosing Wisely program, which was designed to address the problem of medical overuse, according to an article published in the July/August issue of Family Practice Management.
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Considerable Burden for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The annual incidence of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization is 24.8 cases per 10,000 adults, according to a study published online July 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Stimulant Addiction May Affect Brains Differently by Gender
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women formerly addicted to stimulant drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, may have a smaller amount of gray matter in the brain, according to research published online July 14 in Radiology.
Progress in Reporting Conflict of Interest Among IRB Members
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among institutional review board (IRB) members, there has been positive progress in the reporting and management of conflicts of interest, according to a study published online July 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Arts Observation Curriculum May Be Beneficial for Medical Students
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of an arts observation curriculum can help students learn to observe objectively and articulate their observations, which are important traits for clinical practice, according to an article published online July 3 in Academic Medicine.
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ASCO Endorses ASTRO Guidelines for Endometrial Cancer
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has endorsed postoperative radiation therapy guidelines for endometrial cancer, according to a report published online July 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Coronary Artery Calcification Predicts 15-Year Mortality
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients without symptoms of coronary artery disease, the extent of coronary artery calcification (CAC) predicts 15-year mortality, according to research published in the July 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Very Small Brain Lesions Linked to Risk of Stroke, Death
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Very small subclinical cerebral lesions are associated with increased risks of stroke and death, according to a study published in the July 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Court Upholds Medical Liability Damages Cap
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The non-economic damages cap under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) has been upheld again in a California court of appeal, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
CDC: BBQ Grill Brush Wires Can Cause Serious GI Injury
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Wire bristles from grill brushes can snap off, land on the grate, and find their way into grilled meats, public health experts warn. If ingested, these bristles can perforate a person’s throat and digestive tract, causing potentially life-threatening injuries.
Regular Mammograms May Lead to Widespread Overdiagnosis
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Increased numbers of small cancers and precancerous lesions are found in geographical areas where more mammograms take place; however, the higher screening rates are not associated with reduced breast cancer mortality, according to a study published online July 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Split-Dose Better Than Day-Before Colonoscopy Prep
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Split-dose regimens increase the quality of colon cleansing compared to day-before colonoscopy preparation, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
Recurrent Major Depression May Damage Hippocampus
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Smaller hippocampal volumes are seen in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and the association appears to be moderated by age of onset and first episode versus recurrent episode status, according to new research published online June 30 in Molecular Psychiatry.
Public Opinion Sought on New Licensure for Assistant Physicians
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New classification of licensure for assistant physicians has been created, and public opinion is being sought by the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts prior to filing these rules with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
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