Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for June 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.
Three Issues to Consider Before Selecting EHR
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Work flow, features and functionality, and technical infrastructure should all be considered in advance of selecting an electronic heath record (EHR) system, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
New Naloxone Capsule Safe for Opioid-Induced Constipation
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new naloxone sustained release (NSR) capsule appears to be safe and efficacious for opioid-induced constipation (OIC), according to a study published online June 24 in Pain Medicine.
Too Few Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Active Surveillance
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A majority of U.S. men with low-risk prostate cancer who are eligible for active surveillance still undergo treatment, according to a new report published online June 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Patients Want Online Access to Physicians, Health Records
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Internet-savvy Americans would like to add their doctors to their group of Facebook friends or e-mail contacts, according to a study published online June 24 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Robotic Sx Viable for Morbidly Obese With Endometrial Cancer
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Robotic surgery is safe and feasible for the surgical management of morbidly obese patients with endometrial cancer, according to research published in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
AHA/ASA: Guidelines Support Endovascular Tx in Stroke
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Endovascular treatment should be used to treat certain stroke victims, according to new guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. The guidelines were published online June 29 in Stroke.
Citrus Consumption Linked to Increased Risk of Melanoma
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Individuals who regularly consume orange juice or grapefruit may have a higher risk of developing melanoma, according to research published online June 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
AMA Discusses Pre-Retirement Evaluation for Aging Doctors
MONDAY, June 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Issues relating to physician retirement and evaluation of aging physicians before retirement are discussed in a Council on Medical Education report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Blood, Saliva Tests May Help ID Head and Neck Cancers Early
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Scientists report they’ve detected DNA from head and neck cancer tumors in patients’ blood and saliva samples, a development that potentially could lead to early diagnosis of these malignancies. The finding was published in the June 24 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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SCOTUS Upholds Subsidies for Affordable Care Act
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld on Thursday the legality of tax subsidies for millions of Americans who signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Glypican-1 Protein May Help Identify Pancreatic Cancer Early
THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A cell surface proteoglycan, glypican-1 (GPC1), on circulating exosomes may serve as a potential noninvasive diagnostic and screening tool to detect early stages of pancreatic cancer, according to research published online June 24 in Nature.
Pharmacist-Managed Warfarin Therapy Beats Usual Care
THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacist-managed warfarin therapy (PMWT) is superior to a usual medical care (UMC) model for management of warfarin therapy, according to a systematic review published online June 22 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Global Public Awareness of Venous Thromboembolism Is Low
THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Global public awareness about thrombosis, venous thromboembolism in particular, is low, according to a study published online June 18 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Viagra, Other ED Meds Don’t Raise Melanoma Risk
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new review of data involving over 20,000 men does find a slightly higher risk of melanoma in men who took erectile dysfunction (ED) medications versus those who didn’t; however, the increased risk is tied to lifestyle factors rather than the medications themselves. The findings were published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Age-Adjusted Comorbidity Score Stratifies Mortality in Prostate CA
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An age-adjusted prostate cancer-specific comorbidity index (PCCI) can stratify the risk of long-term nonprostate cancer-related mortality, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of Urology.
Review: Colposcopy Linked to Adverse Psychological Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women with abnormal cervical cytology, colposcopy and related procedures are associated with adverse psychological outcomes, especially anxiety, according to a systematic review published online June 22 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Yearly CT May Adequately Monitor Non-Solid Lung Nodules
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with non-solid lung nodules of any size, annual computed tomography (CT) scans may be all that’s needed to monitor their condition, a new study suggests. The report was published online June 23 in Radiology.
Edible Cannabis Products Often Mislabeled
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most edible cannabis products sampled in three major U.S. cities are mislabeled, often containing more or less active ingredient than indicated on the packaging, according to a report published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Moderate-Quality Evidence for Marijuana Rx for Pain, Spasticity
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana may be useful in treating chronic pain and spasticity, but less effective for other conditions, according to the results of a review published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
FDA Approves New Antiplatelet Drug for Patients Undergoing PCI
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Kengreal (cangrelor) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent blood clots from forming during angioplasty.
Embryo Cryopreservation Feasible for Women With Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women with breast cancer, embryo cryopreservation after aromatase inhibitor treatment and ovarian stimulation preserves fertility, according to a study published online June 22 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Lung Disease Under Radar for Many Long-Term Smokers
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions of long-term smokers may have undiagnosed lung disease, according to a study published online June 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Glucocorticoids, 3-Ketosteroids Adversely Affect Breast Cancer
MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Glucocorticoids and other 3-ketosteroids may adversely affect patients with mixed estrogen receptor (ER) α-positive/cytokeratin-5 (CK5) breast cancer, according to a study published online June 22 in Oncogene.
Yoga, Meditation Aid Menopausal Symptoms After Breast Cancer
MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For breast cancer survivors, a yoga and meditation intervention is associated with improvement in menopausal symptoms, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Cancer.
Medical Identity Theft Incidents Increasing
MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical identity theft is on the rise, costly to consumers, and challenging to resolve, according to the fifth annual report published by the Ponemon Institute.
Caution in Social Media Age: Self-Promotion Can Backfire
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a series of experiments, researchers found that people who self-promote often offend others. The study was published in the June issue of Psychological Science.
One-Day Workshop Ups Stress Recovery for Cancer Care Workers
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For cancer care workers, a one-day interventional workshop can improve recovery from job stress, according to a study published online June 10 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
FDA Cracks Down on Online Sale of Illegal Medical Products
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with international partners, moved this week against more than 1,050 websites that sell potentially dangerous counterfeit medicines and medical devices, the agency said Thursday.
Risk of Copper Deficiency Linked to Zinc Supplements
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Zinc deficiency is often misdiagnosed based on low plasma zinc concentrations, and those prescribed high doses of zinc are at risk for copper deficiency, according to a study published online June 17 in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
Hundreds Arrested Nationwide for Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hundreds of people have been charged after health care fraud sweeps were made across the United States, the federal government said Thursday.
Health Highlights: June 19, 2015
Virtual Credit Card Fees Amount to 3 to 5 Percent of Payments
THURSDAY, June 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Payment with virtual credit cards (VCCs) is associated with considerable fees, although physicians are often unaware of these charges, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
MRI Scoring System IDs Metastatic Vertebral Fractures
THURSDAY, June 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system can differentiate between osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) and metastatic vertebral fractures (MVFs), according to a study published in the July 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Breast-Conserving Therapy Rates on the Rise
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The percentage of women with early-stage breast cancer who undergo breast-conserving therapy (BCT) has risen slowly in recent years, new research shows. The study was published online June 17 in JAMA Surgery.
Net Savings for Higher-Quality Colonoscopy
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Higher-quality colonoscopies are associated with a 50 to 60 percent lower risk for colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer fatalities over a patient’s lifetime, according to research published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers also note that higher-quality screenings did not translate into more expensive screenings.
Meta-Analysis: Oral Sex Is Not Risk Factor for Oral Cancer
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Oral sex is not an independent risk factor for oral cancer, according to a meta-analysis published online June 11 in the Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine.
Prenatal DDT Exposure Tied to Higher Breast Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was banned in the United States in 1972, women exposed to the chemical in utero may be more likely to develop breast cancer than women who had less exposure, according to a study published online June 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Direct Messaging Not Yet Widely Adopted by Physicians
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct secure messaging (Direct), which is a standardized protocol for exchanging clinical messages and attachments, has not been widely adopted by physicians, despite its potential for improving care coordination, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Cancer-Specific Mortality Up in HIV-Infected Cancer Patients
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — HIV-infected patients with cancer have increased cancer-specific mortality, according to a study published online June 15 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Review Examines Inappropriate Prescribing of IV Fluids
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Inappropriate prescribing of intravenous (IV) fluids most often involves incorrect volumes and types of IV fluids prescribed, according to a review published online June 11 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Article Weighs Paying Off Student Loans Versus Investment
MONDAY, June 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newly-minted physicians should consider the issues relating to paying off their loans versus investing for retirement, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Half of Cancer Deaths Due to Past, Current Smoking
MONDAY, June 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About half of U.S. deaths caused by certain cancers — including lung, colorectum, and pancreatic tumors — can be attributed to smoking, a new American Cancer Society study estimates. The report was published online June 15 as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Vessel Boost Tied to Improved Surgical Resection Rate
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (BRPAC) and locally-advanced PAC (LAPAC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACRT), dose escalation with a vessel boost (VB) correlates with a trend toward improvement in the surgical resection rate. These findings were published online June 12 in Practical Radiation Oncology.
Tattoos Can Mimic Metastasis on PET-CT in Cervical Cancer
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with cervical cancer, extensive tattoos could mimic metastasis on positron emission tomography (PET) fused with computed tomography (CT) imaging, according to a case report published online June 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Some Graduating Seniors Not Matching to Residency Positions
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than 250 of this year’s graduating seniors from U.S. medical schools did not match to a residency position, according to the American Medical Association.
Higher Breast CA Risk Seen for Obese Postmenopausal Women
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk for breast cancer among obese women may be up to 58 percent higher than for normal-weight postmenopausal women, according to a report published online June 11 in JAMA Oncology.
Genome-Wide Data Can Classify Gliomas Into Subtypes
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Genome-wide data can help classify subtypes of gliomas, according to two studies published online June 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Venous Thromboembolism Rates Low After Colorectal Surgery
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing colorectal surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates are generally low, according to a study published online June 10 in JAMA Surgery.
Report Offers Guidance on Medical Ethics Education
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An analysis of the current state of medical ethics education in the United States has been published in the June issue of Academic Medicine. The article, the Romanell Report, also offers guidance to assist medial ethics educators in meeting expectations.
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Geographic Location Most Important for Residents
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For residents, the most important element in a future practice is geographic location, with lifestyle, adequate call hours and personal time, and a good financial package also cited as being important, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Extra Time During MCAT Linked to Less Success in Med School
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical school applicants with Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores obtained with extra test administration time have lower rates of success in medical schools, according to a study published in the June 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
One Vaccine Dose May Adequately Protect Against HPV
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — One dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Cervarix could prevent as many cases of cervical cancer as the current two- and three-dose schedules, a new study contends. The findings were published online June 9 in The Lancet Oncology.
Cardiac Dysfunction in Childhood Cancer Survivors Examined
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For long-term childhood cancer survivors, abnormal global longitudinal strain and diastolic function are more prevalent than reduced three dimensional (3D) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), according to a study published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Analysis Targets U.S. Hospitals With Highest Markups
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 50 U.S. hospitals with the highest charge-to-cost ratio have markups approximately 10 times the Medicare-allowable costs, and most of these hospitals are for profit, according to a study published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
Anticoagulation Appears Safe for Patients With Brain Mets
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Therapeutic anticoagulation is safe for treating venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer that has metastasized to the brain, according to new research. The study was published online May 18 in Blood.
AMA Offers Guidance for Physician-Hospital Relationships
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New guidelines can enable successful physician hospital relationships and integrated leadership, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Most ER Patients With Low-Risk PE Eligible for Outpatient Tx
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The majority of adults presenting to the emergency department with low-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) are eligible for outpatient treatment, but relative contraindications to outpatient management are associated with increased frequency of adverse events at 30 days, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Rise in CRC Screening Rates After ACA Implementation
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act may have helped boost rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among lower income Americans, a new study suggests. The findings were published online June 4 in Cancer.
Surgery Deemed Fitting for Some Stage IIIB NSCLC Patients
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with stage IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could live longer by undergoing surgical resection, instead of receiving only chemotherapy and radiation, according to research published in the June issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Limited Evidence for Screening Mammography for Women in 40s
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adding to the debate about the benefits of mammography screening before age 50, a new research review finds limited evidence that screening prevents breast cancer deaths among women in their 40s. The report, published in the June 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, reflects a longstanding debate.
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Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Formed
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nine states have enacted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact law, with the seventh state’s enactment triggering formation of a commission to administer a process for physicians seeking licensure in multiple states, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Model Including CRC Risk Alleles Ups Risk Discrimination
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Incorporation of a genetic risk score can improve the accuracy of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk determination, according to a study published in the June issue of Gastroenterology.
Metabolic Syndrome Up With ADT in Prostate Cancer
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy there are increases in components of metabolic syndrome and in the prevalence of full metabolic syndrome, according to a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Urology.
CMS: Hospital Charges for Common Procedures Up
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The prices hospitals charge patients for a number of common procedures rose more than 10 percent between 2011 and 2013, more than twice the rate of inflation, according to data released by the federal government Monday.
Surgery for Low-Grade DCIS May Not Improve Survival
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Surgery for low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) does not significantly improve outcomes for patients, according to research that raises questions about the overuse of surgery for the condition. The study was published online June 3 in JAMA Surgery.
Breastfeeding Tied to Lower Odds of Childhood Leukemia
TUESDAY, June 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of childhood leukemia compared to the risk for children who were never breastfed, according to research published online June 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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