Home Neurology September 2017 Briefing – Neurology

September 2017 Briefing – Neurology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for September 2017. 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.

Nursing Home Use Up With Cognitive Impairment Category

FRIDAY, Sept. 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nursing home (NH) use increases with increasing cognitive impairment category, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Embezzlement Widespread in Medical Practices

FRIDAY, Sept. 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Embezzlement is widespread among medical practices, and knowing the warning signs is helpful for preventing it, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

Meditation May Help With Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

FRIDAY, Sept. 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Meditation may be considered as an adjunct to guideline-directed cardiovascular risk reduction, although the benefits need to be more fully established, according to a scientific statement published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Single Mutation Made Zika Virus More Virulent

FRIDAY, Sept. 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A single mutation in the Zika virus made it more virulent, contributing to the increased incidence of microcephaly, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in Science.

More Than 78 Percent of Health Care Personnel Receive Flu Shot

THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More than 78 percent of health care personnel (HCP) and 53.6 percent of pregnant women received influenza vaccination during the 2016-2017 influenza season, according to two studies published in the Sept. 29 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Working With a Scribe Improves Physician Satisfaction

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Working with a scribe significantly improves physicians’ overall satisfaction, satisfaction with chart quality and accuracy, and charting efficiency, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Annals of Family Medicine.

Bayesian Method Useful for Noncompleters of 400-m Walk

TUESDAY, Sept. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A Bayesian multiple imputation (MI) method is useful for calculating the speeds of those who are unable to complete the 400-m walk test within the time constraint (noncompleters), according to a study published online Sept. 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Low-Dose Oxygen No Benefit in Adults With Acute Stroke

TUESDAY, Sept. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The prophylactic use of low-dose oxygen does not reduce death or disability at three months among patients with acute stroke, according to a study published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

CDC Launches Campaign to Fight Prescription Opioid Epidemic

TUESDAY, Sept. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a communication campaign featuring accounts of people recovering from opioid use disorder, and those who have lost someone to opioid overdose, in an effort to fight the prescription overdose epidemic.

Discontinuing Low-Dose Aspirin Ups Cardiovascular Risk

MONDAY, Sept. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is more than a 30 percent increased risk of cardiovascular events following discontinuation of low-dose aspirin in long-term users, according to a study published in the Sept 26 issue of Circulation.

Worker Contribution to Health Benefits Up in 2017

MONDAY, Sept. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In 2017, health benefits coverage remained stable, while workers faced considerable variation in costs, according to a report published online Sept. 19 in Health Affairs.

APOE Allele Type Tied to Mortality Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele increases the risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, while the APOE ε2 allele decreases the risk, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Bicycling ‘Overloads’ Movement Networks With Parkinson’s

FRIDAY, Sept. 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Bicycling suppresses abnormal beta synchrony in the Parkinsonian basal ganglia, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Annals of Neurology.

Few Older Patients Aware of Deprescribing

FRIDAY, Sept. 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The majority of older patients are aware of medication harms, but far fewer understand deprescribing, according to a brief report published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Concussion May Increase Multiple Sclerosis Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Concussion during adolescence increases the risk of subsequent multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Neurology.

Diabetes Insipidus Can Occur After Stopping Vasopressin

FRIDAY, Sept. 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Although rare, diabetes insipidus (DI) can occur following discontinuation of vasopressin infusion for septic shock, according to a case study published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics.

Alcohol Aids Cerebellar Deficit From Movement Disorder

THURSDAY, Sept. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Alcohol improves cerebellar-learning deficit in the movement disorder myoclonus-dystonia, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Neurology.

Highest Adverse Effect Rates for Three Drugs in Parkinson’s

THURSDAY, Sept. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Ropinirole, bromocriptine, and piribedil are associated with the highest incidence rates of adverse effects in Parkinson’s disease, according to a review published online Sept. 4 in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.

Steroid Injection Betters Hand Function With Carpal Tunnel

THURSDAY, Sept. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Local steroid injection is effective for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and improves hand function, according to a small study published online Sept. 13 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Insurer Market Power Lowers Providers’ Prices

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Insurers have the bargaining power to reduce provider prices in highly concentrated provider markets, according to a report published in the September issue of Health Affairs.

Magnesium Levels Tied to Dementia Risk

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Magnesium levels, either too high or too low, are associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to a study published online Sept. 20 in Neurology.

Multicomponent Intervention Linked to Greater Drop in BP

TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A multicomponent intervention is associated with greater reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) than usual care over 18 months, according to a study published in the Sept. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Total of 0.21 Years Lost Due to Opioid-Related Poisoning Deaths

TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2000 to 2015, drug-poisoning deaths contributed a loss of 0.28 years in life expectancy, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

ACP Does Not Support Legalization of Assisted Suicide

TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) does not support the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, a practice that raises ethical, clinical, and other concerns, according to a position paper published online Sept. 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Greater Benefit for Pioglitazone in High-Risk Patients Post Stroke

MONDAY, Sept. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients after an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, pioglitazone is associated with greater benefit for those at higher risk for stroke or myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published online Sept. 18 in JAMA Neurology.

Narrow Networks in ACA Marketplace for Mental Health

MONDAY, Sept. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Networks in mental health are generally narrower than in primary care, with plan networks including 11.3 percent of mental health providers practicing in a given state-level market, according to a study published online in the September issue of Health Affairs.

Physicians Tweeting About Drugs May Have Conflict of Interest

FRIDAY, Sept. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Most physicians on Twitter with a financial conflict of interest (FCOI) and frequent tweets mention specific drugs for which they have a conflict, according to a study published in the September issue of The Lancet Haematology.

Lower Mortality Risk Seen With Statin Use in Older Men

FRIDAY, Sept. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Statin use is associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality in older male physicians, and a non-significant lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Doctors Spend Almost Six Hours Per Day on EHR Tasks

FRIDAY, Sept. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians spend almost six hours per day in the electronic health record (EHR), with 4.5 hours spent during clinic hours and 1.4 hours spent after clinic hours, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

‘Science Spin’ Found Prevalent in Biomedical Literature

FRIDAY, Sept. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Spin in biomedical literature (also referred to as “science hype”) is prevalent, with trials having the highest and greatest variability in the prevalence of spin, according to a review published online Sept. 11 in PLOS Biology.

Some Aspects of Empathy Improve During Medical Training

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Certain aspects of empathy improve during medical student training, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in Medical Education.

Multivitamin Use May Cut Risk of Chemo-Induced Neuropathy

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Multivitamin use before diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with reduced risk of symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Vitamin D Deficiency Tied to Neuropathic Pain

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with increased neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online Aug. 31 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Are Physicians Obligated to Help on Planes?

TUESDAY, Sept. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Does being a physician carry a moral obligation to respond to calls for medical assistance on airplanes? That is the topic of an article published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Warfarin, Rivaroxaban Similarly Safe, Effective

TUESDAY, Sept. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For cases of mild atrial fibrillation (AF)-related acute ischemic stroke, rivaroxaban and warfarin are similarly safe and effective at preventing recurrent stroke, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in JAMA Neurology.

Most Opioid Use Concentrated in Top 10 Percent of Users

TUESDAY, Sept. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The top 10 percent of privately insured U.S. adults without cancer using opioids account for most opioid use, according to a research letter published online Sept. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Zika Virus Preferentially Targets Glioblastoma Stem Cells

MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Zika virus (ZIKV) is an oncolytic virus that preferentially targets glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), according to a study published online Sept. 5 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Diverse Neurological Effects Linked to Anti-PD-1 Therapy

MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Neurological complications associated with anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody treatment have a diverse phenotype, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in JAMA Neurology.

Risk of Prematurity, SGA Up for Women on Antiepileptic Drugs

MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Women on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy for epilepsy or other indications are at increased risk of giving birth to premature and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, according to a study published online Aug. 30 in the Annals of Neurology.

Intensive BP Control Associated With Increased CKD Risk

THURSDAY, Sept. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) events but a reduced risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Poor Olfaction Linked to Increased Risk of Parkinson’s

THURSDAY, Sept. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Poor olfaction is associated with increased risk of incident Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study published online Sept. 6 in Neurology.

Docs Should Be Aware of Family Beliefs Regarding Nondisclosure

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should be aware of societal codes of conduct that affect family beliefs and behaviors regarding information disclosure to pediatric patients, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in JAMA Pediatrics.

General Anesthesia in Infants May Affect White Matter Volume

TUESDAY, Sept. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Infants who receive general anesthesia for surgery before they’re 1 year old may have less white matter in their brains, according to research published online Aug. 24 in Anesthesiology.

β-2 Adrenergic Agonists May Help Fight Parkinson’s Disease

FRIDAY, Sept. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — β-2 adrenergic agonists might be able to combat Parkinson’s disease, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of Science.

Suicide Risk Up in Younger Patients With Chronic Illness

FRIDAY, Sept. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Young adults with chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their healthy peers, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

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