Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for March 2016. 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.
Genetic Factors Associated With Cannabis Dependence Identified
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Specific cannabis dependence risk alleles have been identified, according to a study published online March 30 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Stillbirth Less Likely for Women Receiving Trivalent Flu Vaccine
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women receiving trivalent influenza vaccination are less likely to experience a stillbirth, especially for births occurring just after influenza season, according to a study published online March 30 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Guidelines Updated on Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Tx in CAD
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines has updated the recommendations regarding duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The updated practice guideline was published online March 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Pioglitazone Linked to Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes newly treated with antidiabetic drugs, use of pioglitazone is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, with duration-response and dose-response correlations, according to a study published online March 30 in The BMJ.
Omalizumab Effective for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Omalizumab is effective in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) symptoms and angioedema unresponsive to high doses of antihistamine treatment, according to a study published online March 24 in Allergy.
Early Menopause Estradiol Tx Cuts Atherosclerosis Advance
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Oral estradiol therapy is associated with less progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women when therapy is initiated early in menopause, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Baricitinib Superior to Placebo in Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Baricitinib, an oral Janus kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor, is superior to placebo in refractory rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FDA Approves First Tx for Disease Linked to Stem Cell Transplant
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Defitelio (defibrotide sodium) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare, but usually fatal, liver disease that affects some patients who have had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Naltrexone ER Injection Cuts Opioid Relapse Rate in Inmates
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Extended-release naltrexone is associated with a lower rate of opioid relapse than usual treatment among criminal justice offenders, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
No Benefit for Longer-Term Antibiotic Tx in Lyme Disease
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Longer-term antibiotic treatment does not improve health-related quality of life compared with shorter-term treatment among patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Improper Prescribing Common at Hospital Discharge of Seniors
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — More than one in three older adults are given at least one potentially inappropriate prescription (PIP) at the time of hospital discharge, according to a study published March 21 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Tool Guides Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After PCI
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A new prediction rule may inform which patients will see a benefit or harm from dual antiplatelet therapy beyond one year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online March 29 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Tocilizumab Treats Rheumatoid Arthritis After Non-TNFi Failure
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a first non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, treatment with tocilizumab seems more efficacious than abatacept or rituximab, according to a study published online March 27 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Antipsychotics Not Effective for Delirium in Hospitalized Patients
TUESDAY, March 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Antipsychotic medications do not appear to be effective for preventing or treating delirium in adult medical or surgical inpatients, according to a review published online March 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
ACP Addresses Skyrocketing Costs of Prescription Medications
TUESDAY, March 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed recommendations in order to address the escalating cost of prescription drugs, according to a position paper published online March 29 in the Annals in Internal Medicine.
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Many Doctors Prescribe Opioids for Longer Than CDC Advises
FRIDAY, March 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — When doctors in the United States prescribe opioids for their patients, 99 percent of them hand out prescriptions that exceed the federally recommended three-day dosage limit, new research suggests.
Medicare May Soon Cover Diabetes Prevention Program
FRIDAY, March 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Medicare could soon pay for a program aimed at diabetes prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced this week.
FDA Wants Generic Opioids to Be Abuse-Deterrent
FRIDAY, March 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Continuing their push to combat the nation’s epidemic of opioid abuse, U.S. officials on Thursday urged generic drug makers to take steps to redesign drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone to make them harder to abuse.
Diet High in Vitamin C May Help Delay Cataract Formation
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — High intake of dietary vitamin C may help delay the onset of cataracts, according to research published online March 23 in Ophthalmology.
Esophageal Rupture Described After Drinking PEG Solution
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Esophageal rupture can occur in association with colonoscopy preparation, according to a letter to the editor published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
β-Carotene, Lycopene Prevent Dermatitis in Murine Model
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Oral administration of β-carotene or lycopene prevents atopic dermatitis (AD)-like dermatitis in HR-1 hairless mice, according to an experimental study published online March 19 in the Journal of Dermatology.
Incretin-Based Drugs Don’t Up Heart Failure Hospitalization Risk
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Incretin-based drugs are not associated with increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure, according to a study published in the March 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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ASCO Endorses European Guideline on Bladder Cancer
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has endorsed the European Association of Urology (EAU) guideline on muscle-invasive (MIBC) and metastatic bladder cancer, according to a special article published online March 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Total Medical Costs of $16K for IFN-Based Antiviral Tx for HCV
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The total medical costs associated with interferon (IFN)-based antiviral treatment among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection average €14,559, with a mean cost of €38,514 per sustained virological response (SVR), according to a study published online March 18 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
SSRIs Do Not Appear to Increase Cardiovascular Risk
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) don’t appear to raise cardiovascular risk among young and middle-age patients, according to research published online March 22 in The BMJ.
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FDA Approves Cinqair for Severe Asthma
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Cinqair (reslizumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat severe asthma among adults 18 and older.
Antipsychotics May Up Early Mortality Risk in Parkinson’s
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Parkinson’s disease patients who are given antipsychotics to treat dementia and psychosis may be more likely to die early, according to research published online March 21 in JAMA Neurology.
FDA Orders Enhanced Warning Labels on Opioid Pain Medications
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that immediate-release opioid pain medications will get new boxed warnings about the dangers of misuse.
Drug Combo Reduces Polyps in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), treatment with a combination of sulindac and erlotinib is associated with significant reductions in the number and diameter of polyps, according to a study published in the March 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Number of Seniors Mixing Medications, Supplements Rising
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — More seniors than ever are taking supplements alongside their medications, a practice that puts them at risk for dangerous drug interactions, according to research published online March 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Sweat-Sensing Device Designed to Regulate Glucose Levels
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An experimental device uses a patch to monitor blood glucose levels via sweat, and delivers metformin through the skin with microneedles, according to findings published online March 21 in Nature Nanotechnology.
AANA: Men Should Avoid Erectile Dysfunction Meds Prior to Surgery
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is recommending that men avoid erectile dysfunction medications before surgery.
FDA Approves Anthim for Treating Inhalation Anthrax
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anthim (obiltoxaximab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat inhalational anthrax.
FDA: Most Powdered Medical Gloves Should Be Banned in U.S.
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to ban most powdered medical gloves, saying they pose serious health risks to patients and health care providers alike.
Physicians Respond to New CDC Opioid Guidelines
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have responded to the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s clinical guidelines for prescribing opioids, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Intra-Arterial Chemo Promising for Intraocular Retinoblastoma
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Intra-arterial chemotherapy appears to be promising for intraocular retinoblastoma, according to a review published online March 17 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Acetaminophen May Not Be the Best Choice for Arthritis Pain
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Acetaminophen isn’t an effective choice for osteoarthritis pain in the hip or knee, or for improving joint function, according to a report published online March 17 in The Lancet.
Millions in Health Costs Will Be Saved by Generic Gleevec
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Using the generic version of the cancer drug Gleevec could save patients and insurers millions of dollars, according to a study published online March 4 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Bevacizumab Use in Preemies Associated With Disabilities
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Bevacizumab (Avastin) used to treat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may be linked to serious disabilities such as cerebral palsy and hearing loss, according to a study published online March 17 in Pediatrics.
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Case Report: Ceftriaxone-Linked Renal Toxicity in Adult Male
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A case of ceftriaxone-associated renal toxicity in an adult has been documented in a case report published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Propranolol for Hemangiomas Doesn’t Impair Infant Growth
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For infantile hemangiomas, systemic propranolol appears safe and does not impair physical growth, according to a study published online March 6 in the Journal of Dermatology.
Drop in S. aureus Carriage Rate With Antibiotic Tx of Acne
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Treatment of acne with antibiotics is associated with a significant decrease in the rate of Staphylococcus aureus carriage, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Rate of Transmission of Clostridium difficile Quantified
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalized patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) transmit C. difficile at a much higher rate than that of asymptomatic carriers and community sources, according to a report published in the April issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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Leave-On Facial Products Linked to Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Leave-on facial skin care products seem to be associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), according to a study published online March 14 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Intraoperative Administration of OTO-201 Safe in Tube Placement
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Intraoperative administration of an otic suspension of ciprofloxacin (OTO-201) appears to be safe and effective for children requiring tympanostomy tube placement (TTP), according to research published online March 17 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Hydroxychloroquine Doesn’t Alter Inner Retina Thickness
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Inner retina thickness does not change with short- or long-term hydroxychloroquine use, according to research published online March 17 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Non-HIV-Related Kaposi Sarcoma in BRAFi-Treated Patient
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In a case report published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, researchers document non-HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma in a male patient with myasthenia gravis and metastatic melanoma treated with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib.
Meditation-Induced Analgesia Not Mediated by Endogenous Opioids
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness meditation-induced analgesia does not rely on opioidergic mechanisms, according to a study published in the March 16 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
Diabetes Management Program Doesn’t Cut Disparities in Care
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A telephone-based disease management program delivered by a disease management vendor is ineffective in reducing racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes care, according to a study published online March 10 in Diabetes Care.
Vitamin D May Help Avert Early Onset of Insulin Resistance
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Early intervention with vitamin D in deficient individuals may help ward off early onset of insulin resistance, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Spending on Prescription Meds Up About 5 Percent in 2015
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Spending on prescription medications for insured Americans increased about 5 percent in 2015, with the increase half of that seen in 2014, the Associated Press reported.
Free Training Being Offered for Substance Use Disorder Tx
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Free training is being offered to physicians in medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines use of medication with counseling and other support for patients with substance use disorders, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
Antibiotic Resistance in Pediatric UTIs Up Globally
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many children who develop urinary tract infections (UTIs) tied to the Escherichia coli bacteria are now failing to respond to antibiotic treatment, according to research published online March 15 in The BMJ.
Many A-Fib Patients Missing Out on Recommended Anticoagulation
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than half of atrial fibrillation patients at highest risk for stroke are prescribed recommended anticoagulation, according to research published online March 16 in JAMA Cardiology.
Patient-Controlled Analgesia Non-Inferior After C-Section
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Early patient-controlled oral analgesia is non-inferior to standard parenteral analgesia for pain management after elective cesarean section, according to a study published online March 2 in Anaesthesia.
FDA Safety Announcement Affected Bisphosphonate Use
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety announcement relating to atrial fibrillation risk associated with bisphosphonates correlated with a reduction in bisphosphonate use, according to a study published online March 11 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Antenatal Corticosteroids Cut Mortality for Early Preemies
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For neonates born before 24 weeks of gestation, receipt of antenatal corticosteroids and active intensive treatment is associated with reduced odds of mortality to discharge, according to a review published in the April issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Melanoma Therapy Tied to Cutaneous Adverse Events
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 therapy for metastatic melanoma is associated with the development of immune-related cutaneous events, according to research published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
CDC Issues New Prescription Guidelines for Opioids
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A new advisory, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stresses that doctors — especially primary care physicians — should try to avoid prescription of opioids whenever possible. Two research letters published online March 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlight the scope of the opioid issue.
Influenza Vaccine Safe for Patients in Hospital for Surgery
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Surgery patients don’t have an increased risk for complications if they receive an influenza vaccine while in the hospital, according to a study published online March 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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PA32540 Safe for Patients at Risk of Aspirin-Linked Upper GI Events
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For subjects at risk of aspirin-associated upper gastrointestinal (UGI) events, long-term PA32540 (enteric-coated aspirin 325 mg and immediate-release omeprazole 40 mg) appears to be safe, according to a study published in the April issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
Abruptly Quitting Appears to Work Best for Smoking Cessation
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Quitting cigarettes “cold turkey” beats a more gradual approach, according to research published online March 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Familial Hypercholesterolemia More Common Than Thought
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Familial hypercholesterolemia affects about one in every 250 American men and women and significantly increases their risk for an early heart attack, according to a study published in the March 15 issue of Circulation.
Recommendations Issued for Myeloma-Tied Renal Impairment
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma-related renal impairment; the guidelines were published online March 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Off-Label Use of Metformin Common in U.S. Adolescents
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In U.S. adolescents, off-label use of metformin is common, according to a study published online March 9 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
More Variability in Overnight Insulin Requirements in T1DM
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with type 1 diabetes, overnight insulin requirements are significantly more variable than daytime and total daily insulin requirements during closed-loop insulin delivery, according to a study published online March 10 in Diabetes Care.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Risk Up in Obese Women on OCPs
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Obese women taking oral contraceptives may be nearly 30 times more likely to develop cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), compared with women of normal weight who don’t take birth control pills, according to a study published online March 14 in JAMA Neurology.
Two-Dose Varicella Vaccine Offers Improved Protection
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Giving one dose of the varicella vaccine at age 1 and a second dose at ages 4 to 6 is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing varicella, according to a study published online March 14 in Pediatrics.
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UVA-Riboflavin Cuts Antibiotic-Resistant, Non-Resistant Bacteria
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA) collagen crosslinking (CXL) used in photoactivated chromophore for infectious keratitis (PACK) has bactericidal efficacy for both antibiotic resistant and non-resistant bacteria, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
Antihyperglycemic Medication Prescribing Trends Are Changing
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Trends indicate a reduction in glyburide and thiazolidinedione prescriptions and increases in gliclazide and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor prescriptions among older adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, according to a study published online March 4 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Antioxidant-Pregabalin Cuts Pain in Chronic Calcific Pancreatitis
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis (CCP), antioxidant-pregabalin combination is associated with significant pain reduction, according to a study published online March 6 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Doctor Communication Supports Parents’ Beliefs About Antibiotics
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Clinician communication and prescribing behavior reinforce parents’ understanding of antibiotic treatment, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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FDA Approves Xalkori for Rare Genetic Form of Lung Cancer
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Xalkori (crizotinib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with tumors that have a rare ROS1 gene mutation.
Analgesics Plus Exercise Therapy Feasible for Knee OA
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A combined intervention of optimized analgesic prescription and exercise therapy is feasible and associated with significant reductions in pain and activity limitation in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and severe knee pain, according to a study published in the March issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Elderly With Advanced CRC Often Get Costly, Unnecessary Tx
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Expensive medications are being given far more often to elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but they offer almost no benefit, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Medical Care.
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Rebound Growth for One in Four With Infantile Hemangioma
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — About 25 percent of patients with infantile hemangioma (IH) have rebound growth, according to a study published online March 7 in Pediatrics.
Warfarin’s Intracranial Bleed Risk Higher Than Previously Reported
THURSDAY, March 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Warfarin treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation may raise the risk of traumatic intracranial bleeding by more than previously reported, according to a study published online March 9 in JAMA Cardiology.
Combo Tx Protects Pregnant Women, Fetuses From Malaria
THURSDAY, March 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A combination drug therapy widely used to treat malaria in adults — dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) — also protects pregnant women and their fetuses from the disease, according to research published in the March 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bevacizumab, Triamcinolone Up Outcome After Cataract Surgery
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing cataract surgery, both bevacizumab and triamcinolone administered at the time of surgery correlate with improvements in visual acuity (VA), but only triamcinolone is associated with sustained improvements in central macular thickness (CMT), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
Vitamin D Not Beneficial for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D supplements don’t appear to relieve pain or slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis in patients with low levels of the vitamin, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Retail Clinics Do Not Decrease Health Care Spending
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Retail clinic visits often represent new health care utilization and increased health care spending for low-acuity conditions, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
N-Acetylcysteine Augmentation Therapy May Be Effective for OCD
MONDAY, March 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — N-acetylcysteine (NAC) appears to be effective as an augmentative agent for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to a study published online March 2 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Large Number of Mutations Needed to ID TB Drug Resistance
MONDAY, March 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In order to determine Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance, a large number of mutations are needed, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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CDC: Hospitals Making Progress Against Antibiotic Resistance
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Although U.S. hospitals are making gains in the fight against some antibiotic-resistant bacteria, too many patients are still affected in health care facilities, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Daily Low-Dose Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Some Cancers
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Taking low-dose aspirin every day may lower the overall risk of cancer by 3 percent, mostly due to larger reductions seen in risk for colon and gastrointestinal tumors, according to research published online March 3 in JAMA Oncology.
Most Lung Cancer-Specific Tweets Relate to Support, Prevention
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Most lung cancer-specific tweets relate to support or prevention, with fewer tweets about clinical trials, according to a research letter published online March 3 in JAMA Oncology.
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Decrease in Pediatric S. aureus Infections Due to MRSA
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The proportion of pediatric Staphylococcus aureus infections due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus seems to be decreasing in pediatric populations, according to a study published online March 1 in Pediatrics.
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Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Superior for Abscess
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole results in a higher clinical cure rate of uncomplicated abscesses than placebo, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Red Ginseng, Vitamin C May Increase Immune Cell Activity
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Red ginseng and vitamin C enhance immune cell activation and suppress viral infection in mice, according to an experimental study published online Feb. 21 in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.
ADA Issues Recs for Management of Diabetes in Primary Care
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — New recommendations have been developed for diabetes, focusing on areas of importance for primary care providers. The clinical guideline was published online March 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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FDA: Guidance to Help Prevent Donor-Related Zika Infection
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued new guidance for reducing the potential transmission risk of Zika virus from human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps).
SCOTUS: States Can’t Force Health Care Data Release
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Supreme Court has ruled against state efforts to collect health care data from insurance plans.
Iron Supplement in Infancy May Benefit Motor Development
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Iron supplementation in infancy, regardless of iron supplementation in pregnancy, improves gross motor development at age 9 months, according to research published online March 2 in Pediatrics.
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Insulin Degludec/Liraglutide Noninferior to Insulin Glargine
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, a fixed ratio of insulin degludec/liraglutide is noninferior to continued titration of insulin glargine, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Anti-VEGF Agents Linked to Visual Acuity Improvement in DME
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), visual acuity (VA) improves over two years with treatment with different anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in Ophthalmology.
Pre-Op Stress Tied to Post-Op Pain, Anxiety in Scoliosis Patients
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Attention to preoperative stress in adolescents undergoing scoliosis surgery may reduce levels of postoperative pain as well as anxiety and social and attention problems in the recovery period, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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