Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy 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.
Bifidobacterium breve of Little Benefit to Very Preterm Infants
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Probiotics don’t appear to protect very preterm infants from serious complications, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, or death, according to a new study published online Nov. 25 in The Lancet.
Progesterone May Not Help Prevent Repeat Miscarriage
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Taking progesterone supplements in the first trimester of pregnancy may not improve pregnancy outcomes for women with a history of miscarriage, according to a report published in the Nov. 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FDA Approves Empliciti for Multiple Myeloma
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Empliciti (elotuzumab), in combination with two other drugs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat multiple myeloma. The drug is only approved for patients who have already been given one to three prior therapies for the disease.
FDA Approves First Flu Vaccine Containing an Adjuvant
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The first seasonal influenza vaccine with an adjuvant has been approved for use in seniors, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Basal Insulin Peglispro Beats Glargine for Glycemic Control
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, basal insulin peglispro (BIL) provides better glycemic control than insulin glargine, with increased triglycerides, aminotransferases, and liver fat content, according to a study published online Nov. 23 in Diabetes Care.
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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Low-Quality Evidence for Methylphenidate in ADHD
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians prescribing methylphenidate for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and teens must weigh the benefits and adverse effects in the context of low-quality evidence, according to the authors of a review published online Nov. 25 in The Cochrane Library.
C. Difficile Infection Tied to Higher Risk of Post-Op Mortality
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients at VA hospitals who contracted Clostridium difficile following surgery were five times more likely to die and 12 times more likely to suffer postoperative morbidity, according to findings published online Nov. 25 in JAMA Surgery.
Dermatologic Drug Prices Up Substantially From 2009
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Between 2009 and 2015, retail prices of brand-name dermatologic drugs rose 401 percent, on average, and generics were up 279 percent between 2011 and 2014, according to research published online Nov. 25 in JAMA Dermatology.
FDA Approves Portrazza for Advanced Squamous NSCLC
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Portrazza (necitumumab), in combination with two other chemotherapy drugs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the agency said Tuesday in a news release.
Melatonin May Improve Sleep in Children With Atopic Dermatitis
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Melatonin might improve sleep patterns for children with atopic dermatitis (AD), according to research published online Nov. 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
CDC: PrEP Rx Needs to Increase for Optimal HIV Prevention
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Too few Americans who are at risk for HIV infection are taking Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) — a daily pill that could protect them against the virus, and health care providers must help boost patient awareness and use of the drug, federal health officials report.
Topical Retinol Induces Skin Changes Similar to Retinoic Acid
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Both retinol and retinoic acid have beneficial effects on cellular and molecular properties of the epidermis and dermis, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
FDA Approves Opdivo for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
TUESDAY, Nov. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Opdivo (nivolumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma.
FDA Expands Anthrax Vaccine Approval
TUESDAY, Nov. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the BioThrax anthrax vaccine has been expanded to include adults aged 18 to 65 with known or suspected exposure, the agency said in a media release. The vaccine was first approved in 1970 for people at high risk of anthrax contact.
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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CYP2C19 Polymorphism Impacts Response to PPI Tx in GERD
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — CYP2C19 polymorphism impacts response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with lower efficacy rates for rapid metabolizer (RM) genotypes, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Two States to Allow Pharmacists to Prescribe Birth Control
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — California and Oregon will soon implement groundbreaking laws that enable women to get contraceptives from pharmacists without a doctor’s prescription.
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Many First-Time Mothers Need More Accurate Vaccine Info
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Three-quarters of first-time expectant mothers plan to follow the recommended vaccination schedule for their children, according to survey results published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Bowel Function Index Valid for Opioid-Induced Constipation
MONDAY, Nov. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Bowel Function Index (BFI) is a simple assessment tool for opioid-induced constipation, which is responsive to changes in symptom severity and has a threshold indicating constipation, according to consensus recommendations published online Nov. 19 in Pain Medicine.
Aetna Offers Targeted Health Plans for Diabetes Care
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Aetna is offering targeted diabetes plans, which include low copays for specialists that patients with diabetes need, as well as free supplies and a care management program, according to a report published by Kaiser Health News.
HIV Prophylaxis to 12 Months Protects Breastfeeding Infants
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Infants being breastfed by HIV-positive mothers can effectively be protected from the infection in the six- to 12-month period after birth by receiving up to 12 months of liquid formula HIV drugs, according to a report published online Nov. 18 in The Lancet.
Plasmid-Mediated Polymyxin Resistance Identified
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new plasmid-mediated polymyxin resistance mechanism, MCR-1, has emerged in Enterobacteriaceae, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
FDA Approves Ninlaro for Multiple Myeloma
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Ninlaro (ixazomib), in combination with two other drugs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have had at least one prior treatment with a different therapy.
Slow Uptake of Women’s Libido-Boosting Pill
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Uptake of the women’s libido-boosting pill flibanserin (Addyi) has been slow since its approval, according to a report published by Bloomberg Business.
Terlipressin Therapy Can Induce Hyponatremia
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Terlipressin therapy can induce hyponatremia, according to a case report published online Nov. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
FDA Approves Narcan Nasal Spray to Counter Opioid Overdose
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride) nasal spray has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop or reverse an overdose of opioids.
New Drug Looks Promising for Respiratory Syncytial Virus
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An experimental drug shows promise as a treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to a study published in the Nov. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Most IV HTN Meds Ordered for Patients With SBP <180 mm Hg
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Intravenous (IV) antihypertensives are often ordered and administered for patients with asymptomatic uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) levels that are not associated with immediate cardiovascular risk, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Factors ID’d That Predict Antibiotic Rx in Pediatric URI
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Factors that relate to appropriate management of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in children include clinician specialty and patient race/ethnicity and age, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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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.
Maintenance of LDL, HbA1c Goals With Pharmacist-Led Program
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Veterans with type 2 diabetes had durable maintenance of their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c (A1C) goals, but not systolic blood pressure (SBP) goals, after discharge from a pharmacist-managed ambulatory care clinic, in a study published in the November issue of Diabetes Spectrum.
Meta-Analysis: Rosuvastatin May Be Superior for Plaque Regression
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Rosuvastatin appears to be more effective than atorvastatin for regression of coronary atherosclerotic plaques, according to a meta-analysis published in the Nov. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Sildenafil Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Prediabetes
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with prediabetes, three-month sildenafil treatment improves insulin sensitivity, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Pioglitazone Found to Help Some With Unremitting Depression
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new small study is adding evidence to the theory that insulin resistance may play a leading role in some cases of depression. Findings from the study were published online Oct. 12 in Psychiatry Research.
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.
Three-Month Efficacy Data Predicts Six-Month RA Tx Efficacy
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 50 responses measured at three months can predict six-month treatment efficacy, according to research published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Vitamin D Supplementation Doesn’t Cut Colds in Asthma
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce cold severity or frequency among adults with mild-to-moderate asthma, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Risk of Anaphylaxis Among IV Iron Products Compared
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of anaphylaxis associated with first exposure to intravenous (IV) iron is highest for iron dextran and lowest for iron sucrose, according to a study published in the Nov. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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.
Continuation of Antibiotics for UTI Often Inappropriate
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs), initiation of antibiotics in the emergency department is frequently inappropriate, as is continuation of antibiotics after admission, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Approaches Compared for Aspirin Prophylaxis for Preeclampsia
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The best approaches to low-dose aspirin prophylaxis for the prevention of preeclampsia seem to be the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations and universal prophylaxis, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Preventive HIV Treatment Shown Effective at Health Clinics
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Real-world application of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications appears to be effective for the prevention of HIV, but racial discrepancies exist, new research suggests. The studies appear online Nov. 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Can Manage Postprandial Glucose
TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists appear beneficial for postprandial glucose management in type 2 diabetes, according to a report published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
Successful Treatment of U.S. Child With XDR Tuberculosis
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A 5-year-old child from the United States, diagnosed at age 2 with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis after traveling to India, is finally in remission, researchers report. A detailed account of the child’s diagnosis and treatment, and the obstacles that clinicians at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore faced, was published in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
HbA1c Control on Metformin Predicts Durable Control in T2DM
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For adolescents with type 2 diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) after metformin monotherapy predicts the likelihood of durable glycemic control on oral therapy, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Diabetes Care.
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: Adult Smoking Rate Falls to New Low in the United States
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Under 17 percent of adults said they smoked in 2014, down from nearly 21 percent in 2005. And the average number of cigarettes smoked daily fell from nearly 17 to fewer than 14 by 2014. The latest numbers are published in the Nov. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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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.
Facilitating Shared Decision-Making Can Cut Antibiotic Use
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute respiratory infections (ARIs), interventions that aim to facilitate shared decision-making reduce antibiotic use in primary care, according to a review published online Nov. 12 in The Cochrane Library.
Intervention Cuts Potentially Inappropriate Meds in Seniors
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An intervention (Optimizing Prescribing for Older People in Primary Care [OPTI-SCRIPT]) can reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in older patients, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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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.
Substantial Increase in Costs for Uncontrolled Asthma
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of patients with mild to moderate asthma are symptomatically uncontrolled, and uncontrolled asthma is associated with significantly increased costs, according to a study published online Nov. 3 in Allergy.
Incretin Use May Up Pancreatic CA Risk, but Only in Short Term
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of pancreatic cancer is increased in recent starters of incretins, but the elevated risk drops to baseline levels with prolonged use, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Insulin Pumps Offer Better HbA1c Control for Children With T1DM
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Insulin pumps help improve hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels in children and teens with type 1 diabetes and should be made more widely available, researchers report. The study was published online Nov. 7 in Diabetologia.
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FDA Approves Cotellic for Advanced Melanoma
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cotellic (cobimetinib) in combination with another chemotherapy, vemurafenib (Zelboraf), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat melanoma skin cancer that has spread or cannot be surgically removed, and that has a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, the agency said Tuesday in a news release.
Self-Managing Anticoagulation May Benefit Heart Valve Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with mechanical heart valves may benefit from managing their own oral anticoagulant therapy, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Macrolides May Raise Cardiovascular Risks
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Macrolides are associated with a small but measurable increased risk of sudden cardiac death, according to research published in the Nov. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Case Report Highlights Dangers of Natural Remedies
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A case of accidental overdose of an Atropa belladonna preparation highlights the dangers of the use of herbal remedies, according to a case report published online Nov. 5 in BMJ Case Reports.
AHA-RC, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid Combo Beneficial for Acne
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A combination of alpha-hydroxy acid retinoid conjugate (AHA-RC), salicylic acid, and lactic acid is efficacious for patients with acne, with improvement after four weeks of treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Omega-3 Supplements Don’t Help With Depression
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There’s little evidence that taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements helps treat depression, according to a review published online Nov. 5 in The Cochrane Library.
Lipophilic Tops Hydrophilic Statins for Heart Failure
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with heart failure, lipophilic statin is superior to hydrophilic statin for cardiac function and inflammation, according to a meta-analysis published in the December issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
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.
FDA Approves Genvoya to Treat HIV-1 Infection
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new treatment for HIV has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Genvoya — a tablet containing elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide — can be used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children 12 and older weighing at least 77 pounds.
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.
Branded Rx May Up the Power of Placebo
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A brand-name label made a placebo tablet work as well as an active nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, according to research published online Oct. 12 in Health Psychology.
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Sofosbuvir Tied to Rare Cases of Bradyarrhythmia
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — One of the new, highly effective drugs for treating hepatitis C can cause bradyarrhythmia in some patients, according to a research letter published in the Nov. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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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.
Metformin Eligibility Up With eGFR Versus Serum Creatinine
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) rather than serum creatinine (sCr) can expand metformin eligibility, according to a study published in the November issue of Diabetes Care.
Sirolimus Safe Adjunct to Pulsed Dye Laser in Port Wine Stain
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adjunct topical sirolimus seems to be safe and effective in combination with pulsed dye laser (PDL) for treatment of port wine stain (PWS), according to a case study published online Oct. 26 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
No Evidence for Stopping Antidepressants Before Plastic Sx
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is no evidence to support antidepressant medication cessation in patients undergoing plastic surgery, according to a meta-analysis published in the November issue of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
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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.
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.
CDC: Gonorrhea Showing More Resistance to Cefixime
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest tracking suggests that although gonorrhea resistance to the antibiotic treatment cefixime declined between 2011 and 2013, it started to rise again in 2014. The study findings are published as a research letter in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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HIV-Infected Children Can Transition to Efavirenz-Based Tx
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For nevirapine-exposed children with HIV achieving initial viral suppression with ritonavir-boosted lopinavir-based therapy, transition to efavirenz-based therapy is not inferior to continuing ritonavir-boosted lopinavir-based therapy, according to a study published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Age at Menopause, Hormone Therapy Linked to BCC Risk
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Late age at natural menopause and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use are associated with increased risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), according to a study published online Nov. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Chronic PPI Exposure Tied to Hyperparathyroidism in Elderly
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) exposure is associated with mild hyperparathyroidism in elderly adults, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Benefits, Harms of HTN Drugs Should be Considered for Elderly
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For elderly patients with hypertension, the benefits and risks associated with use of antihypertensive medications should be carefully considered, according to a review published online Oct. 26 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Bemiparin Deemed Effective After Gynecological Operations
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Bemiparin is effective for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) after benign gynecological surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
H. pylori Triple Therapy Linked to Erythema Multiforme
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori can cause erythema multiforme, according to a case study published online Oct. 28 in The Journal of Dermatology.
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ASCO Updates Guidelines for Antiemetics During Chemo
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients receiving chemotherapy, the use of the oral combination of netupitant (a neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist) and palonosetron (a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist) is beneficial for prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting, according to a focused guideline update published online Nov. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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.
Nasal Congestion No Better With Phenylephrine in Allergic Rhinitis
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), phenylephrine hydrochloride (PE HCl) is no better than placebo for relieving nasal congestion, according to a study published in the September-October issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
Aripiprazole Can Cause False-Positive Amphetamine Screens
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Urine drug screens (UDSs) can be false-positive for amphetamines after ingestion of aripiprazole, according to two case reports published online Nov. 2 in Pediatrics.
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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.
Ranolazine Bests Old School Antianginal Medications
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newer antianginal (AA) medications such as ranolazine show substantial outcome improvements in chronic stable angina pectoris (CSA) compared to traditional medications, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Fish Oil Supplementation Doesn’t Cut Inflammatory Markers
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For healthy adults, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation does not reduce common markers of systemic inflammation, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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