Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for November 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.
Neurotoxicity Seen With Acyclovir at Recommended Dose in Dialysis
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acyclovir-induced neurotoxicity should be considered for patients with herpes zoster on hemodialysis, according to a case report published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of Dermatology.
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Trimethoprim-Induced Aseptic Meningitis Described
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Drug-induced aseptic meningitis following trimethoprim use has been described in a research letter published online Nov. 20 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
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AAFP Recommends Doctors Explore Use of Social Media
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The use of social media channels and associated benefits for physicians are highlighted in a recent article published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). And guidelines are provided for physicians wishing to become active in social media.
Music Can Help Doctors Develop Relationships With Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 24 2015 (HealthDay News) — For one physician, writing songs has improved her self-awareness and strengthened her relationships with patients, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.
ACP: Physicians Should Prescribe Generic Meds If Possible
TUESDAY, Nov. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should prescribe generic medications whenever possible, keeping in mind that generics have comparable effectiveness to brand name medications and are associated with reduced costs and increased adherence, according to new guidelines published online Nov. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Team Unveils Neck Collar That Could Protect Athletes From mTBI
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new type of lightweight and pressurized neck collar may help prevent mild traumatic brain injury during sports, according to the developers of the device.
Patients Lack Understanding of Spinal Surgeon Compensation
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients have a lack of understanding about spine surgeons’ compensation, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Bilingualism Linked to Better Cognitive Outcome After Stroke
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Bilingualism is associated with better cognitive outcome after ischemic stroke, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in Stroke.
E-Portfolio Developed to Assess Millennial Med Students
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Electronic portfolios are being used to transform medical students’ assessments and track progress as students advance through medical training, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
New Compound May Help Reduce Side Effects From Levodopa
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Animal studies have uncovered a compound that might reduce the adverse effects of levodopa. The research was published in the Nov. 18 issue of Neuron.
Burnout Reduces Readiness to Change Teaching Approaches
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Occupational burnout appears to reduce clinical faculty members’ readiness to change teaching approaches, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Hypertension-Linked ER Visits Common and Increasing
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hypertension-related emergency department visits are relatively common and increased from 2006 to 2012, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
AAFP: Expected 0.5 Percent Pay Increase Reduced to Zero
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A small but promised Medicare pay increase has effectively been reduced to zero for all physician specialties, according to the final 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule and a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Testosterone Levels Not Linked to Autonomic Neuropathy in T1DM
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For men with type 1 diabetes, testosterone levels are not associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), according to a study published online Nov. 12 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Reduced Mortality Risk Seen for Coffee Drinkers
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People who drink coffee may live longer than those who don’t — with lower risks of early mortality from cardiovascular disease and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, according to research published online Nov. 16 in Circulation.
Primary Aldosteronism Screen Cost-Effective in Resistant HTN
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with resistant hypertension (RH), computed tomography (CT) scanning followed by adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a cost-effective screen for primary aldosteronism (PA), according to a study published online Nov. 10 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
White-Coat, Masked HTN Tied to Target Organ Complications
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Both white-coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH) are associated with target organ complications and cardiovascular event risk, according to a study published in the Nov. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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CDC: Autism Rate Up Post Survey Method Changes
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About one in 45 children have an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of parents. This apparent increase is likely due to a change of questions parents were asked about their child, the study authors said. The findings were published Nov. 13 in the CDC’s National Health Statistics Reports.
Levodopa Shows Promise Against Macular Degeneration
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Levodopa (L-dopa) might hold potential for preventing or treating macular degeneration, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in The American Journal of Medicine.
MRI Can Help ID Patients Who Will Recover From Coma
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans may help identify coma patients who are most likely to regain consciousness, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in Neurology.
CDC: Half of Americans With HTN Don’t Have BP Under Control
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 47 percent of individuals with hypertension do not have the condition under control, through either lifestyle changes or medications, according to a November data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Noon Best Time to Get Vitamin D From Sun for Minimal Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Variations in ultraviolet (UV) A and B radiation with increasing latitude and during the day impact skin cancer risk, according to a study published online Nov. 6 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Leg Strength Linked to Healthier Brain Aging
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Leg strength is strongly linked with healthier brain aging, according to research published online Nov. 10 in Gerontology.
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Loss of Consciousness at SAH Onset Indicates Early Brain Injury
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Loss of consciousness (LOC) at subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) onset is associated with worse prognosis, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in JAMA Neurology.
ACP Issues Guidance on ‘Concierge’ Practices
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct patient contracting practices (DPCPs), in which patients pay out of pocket for some or all services provided by the practice, are growing in popularity, according to a position paper published online Nov. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Blood Test Has Potential for Detecting Concussion in Children
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A simple blood test may one day be able to detect concussions in children, according to a study published in the November issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.
D-Dimer Levels Predict DVT in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), D-dimer levels can predict the likelihood of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Study Explores Comfort With Non In-Person Test Results
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients have different preferences for non in-person receipt of test results, with preferences varying by test, according to a study published in the November-December issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Expanding Rooming, Discharge Office Protocols Can Save Time
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Expanding protocols for rooming and discharge can allow physicians to free up an hour or more of time per day, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Web-Based CBT Program Cuts Suicidal Ideation in Interns
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (wCBT) program is effective for preventing suicidal ideation among medical interns, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Updated Checklist for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An updated list of 30 essential items should be included in every report of a diagnostic accuracy study, according to the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) 2015. These new guidelines have been published in several journals, including Radiology, Clinical Chemistry, and The BMJ.
Doctors Who Order More Tests Have Fewer Malpractice Claims
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) –The more tests and treatments U.S. doctors order for patients, the less likely they are to be sued for malpractice, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in The BMJ.
Poll: Americans Want Health Care Costs Kept in Check
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most Americans now support aggressive regulation to keep health care costs in check — including price caps on drugs, medical devices, and payments to doctors and hospitals, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has found.
Raloxifene Does Not Appear to Boost Cognition in Alzheimer’s
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Raloxifene doesn’t benefit cognition in women who have mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a small study published online Nov. 4 in Neurology.
ACP Joins Amicus Curiae Brief to Supreme Court
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) has joined other organizations in an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court, urging the court to uphold considerations of race and ethnicity in the medical school admissions process.
AMA: 6 Steps to Help Ensure Patients Get Preventive Care
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Panel management, or population health management, can help physicians provide necessary preventive and chronic care to all patients regardless of their visit frequency, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Doctors Should Consider Financial Factors Before Career Change
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Financial and other factors should be considered before physicians change career direction, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Pertussis in Childhood Tied to Small Increase in Epilepsy Risk
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pertussis may be tied to a slightly increased risk of development of epilepsy in children, according to a study published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Endovascular Tx Beats tPA Alone for Stroke Patients
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Endovascular therapy with mechanical thrombectomy in ischemic stroke is superior to standard treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for preserving brain function, according to research published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Prescription Medication Use on the Rise in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More Americans than ever are taking prescription drugs, as well as using more of them, according to research published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
New Electronic Health Record Regulations Released
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New electronic health record (EHR) regulations modify Stage 2 of the meaningful use program and finalize requirements for Stage 3, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Competition for Fellowships Broke Records in 2015
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 2015 was a record-breaking year for fellowship applications.
Prescribing Drugs ‘Off-Label’ Can Pose Serious Safety Risks
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Off-label drug use puts patients at risk for serious side effects, especially when scientific evidence is lacking, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Displaying Prices to Providers Seems to Reduce Order Costs
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Displaying order prices to physicians seems to reduce order costs, according to a review published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Prediabetes Linked to Incident Cardiovascular Disease
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Prediabetes is associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), although correlations vary with ethnicity and prediabetes definition, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in Diabetes Care.
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