Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for September 2018. 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.
Pharmaceutical Executive Defends 400 Percent Price Hike
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A pharmaceutical executive is defending his company’s 400 percent price hike on an antibiotic, according to a report published in Formulary Watch.
Increased Cardiovascular Risk for Diclofenac Initiators
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Diclofenac initiators have increased cardiovascular risk compared with non-initiators, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in The BMJ.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Tied to Hip Fracture in Dialysis Patients
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with increased risk of hip fracture among dialysis patients, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
80,000 Americans Died From Influenza Over Last Year
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Influenza was deadlier last season than it has been for at least four decades, killing 80,000 Americans. So said the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Tuesday in an interview with the Associated Press.
AP News Article
Opioid Bill Gets Bipartisan Support
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a rare bipartisan move, both the House and Senate have reached a compromise on legislation to address the opioid epidemic.
The New York Times Article
Newer Hormonal Contraception May Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a reduction in ovarian cancer risk associated with use of contemporary combined hormonal contraceptives, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in The BMJ.
Practices Should Set Rules for Staff Social Media Use
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical practices can take steps to avoid problems related to use of social media by staff members, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Single Agent Treats Two Cancers With Same Genetic Cause
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A single checkpoint inhibitor can be used to successfully treat two simultaneous types of primary cancer in a patient with Lynch syndrome, according to a research letter published online Sept. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Lorcaserin Facilitates Weight Loss in Overweight, Obese
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lorcaserin facilitates sustained weight loss without increasing the rate of major cardiovascular events among overweight or obese patients, according to a study published in the Sept. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Combo Therapy Not Needed If Low RA Disease Activity Achieved
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Once low rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity is achieved with tocilizumab (TCZ) plus methotrexate (MTX), patients can discontinue MTX without significant disease worsening, according to a study published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Persistent Post-Op Opioid Use in Young Cancer Patients Explored
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Higher inpatient pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption are associated with persistent opioid use of up to six months among children and adolescents who have undergone cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, according to a study published in a recent issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Initial Abx Feasible Alternative for Uncomplicated Appendicitis
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The cumulative incidence of appendicitis recurrence within five years is 39.1 percent among patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis initially treated with antibiotics, according to research published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Total Diabetes at 14 Percent in U.S. Adults for 2013-2016
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of diabetes was 14.0 percent among U.S. adults in 2013 to 2016, with prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes 4.3 percent, according to a September data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Novel Immunotherapy May Up Survival in Melanoma Brain Mets
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy (CBI) is associated with significant increases in overall survival (OS) in a real-world population of patients undergoing treatment for melanoma brain metastases (MBM), according to research published in the September issue of Cancer Immunology Research.
High-Risk Anticholinergics Prescribed to 6 Percent of Elderly
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High-risk anticholinergic prescriptions are listed for 6.2 percent of visits of older adults, according to a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Components of Pharmacist-Led Discharge Counseling Vary
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Components of pharmacist-led discharge counseling vary widely, and reporting is often poor, according to a review published in a recent issue of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
In 2016, Proportion of Uninsured Americans Down to 10 Percent
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2016 there was a reduction in uninsurance among Americans from 17 to 10 percent, according to a report published in September by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Urban Institute.
Net Benefit of Anticoagulants for A-Fib Varies With Stroke Rate
MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is variation in the net clinical benefit of anticoagulants based on variation in published atrial fibrillation (AF) stroke rates, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Mortality for Unintentional Drug Poisonings Up Since 1979
MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Since at least 1979, there has been an exponential increase in the overall mortality rate for unintentional drug poisonings, according to a research article published online Sept. 21 in Science.
Simplifying Medicare Plan Finder Improves Plan Selection
MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Simplifying an internet-based decision support tool provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help older adults make good plan choices in the Medicare prescription drug (Part D) program could result in selection of lower-cost plans, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Dozens of Medical Groups Join Forces to Improve Diagnoses
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Every nine minutes, a patient in a U.S. hospital dies because a diagnosis was wrong or delayed — resulting in 80,000 deaths a year. That sobering estimate comes from the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM).
Study Provides Estimates of U.S. Prevalence of Type 1, 2 Diabetes
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is 0.5 and 8.5 percent, respectively, among U.S. adults, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in The BMJ.
Educational Disabilities More Likely With Neonatal Abstinence
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children with a history of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are more likely to be referred for a disability evaluation and meet criteria for a disability, according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics.
Cannabinoid Trials Needed for Peds Neurologic Disorders
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is an urgent need for clinical trials to investigate the use of cannabinoids in pediatric patients with neurological disorders, according to a commentary published in the Aug. 27 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Allopurinol Dose Escalation for Gout Doesn’t Improve Mortality
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Allopurinol dose escalation is not associated with reductions in mortality risk among patients with gout, according to a study published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Cardiac Monitoring Needed for High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Risk of cardiotoxicity is higher for patients receiving trastuzumab and/or anthracyclines for the treatment of breast cancer, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Hospitals Charge 479 Percent of Cost of Drugs on Average
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — On average, hospitals mark up drugs by 479 percent of their cost, according to a report from The Moran Company, commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
Statins Improve Long-Term Survival After AAA Repair
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative statin therapy is associated with higher long-term survival following abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery.
No Clear Benefit for Rivaroxaban After Hospital Discharge
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rivaroxaban does not lower risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism and related death in medical patients after hospital discharge, compared to placebo, according to a study published in the Sept. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Patient-Directed IV Remifentanil Cuts Epidural Conversions
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Compared with intramuscular pethidine, use of intravenous remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in labor reduces the proportion of epidural conversions, according to a study published in the Aug. 25 issue of The Lancet.
California Lawsuit Claims AbbVie Paid Doctors to Prescribe Humira
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A lawsuit filed Tuesday in California claims that pharmaceutical company AbbVie used cash, gifts, and services to induce doctors to overprescribe the widely used drug Humira (adalimumab), ignoring the medicine’s potentially lethal side effects.
HTN Tx Intensification Common Upon Discharge in U.S. Vets
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fourteen percent of older adults hospitalized with non-cardiac conditions are discharged with intensified antihypertensive treatment, of whom more than half had previously well-controlled outpatient blood pressure, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in The BMJ.
Quarterly Canakinumab Reduces Risk for Gout Attacks
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Quarterly canakinumab administration is associated with significantly reduced risk for gout attacks without any change in serum uric acid levels, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Global Prevalence of Insufficient Activity 27.5 Percent
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In 2016 the age-standardized prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 27.5 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of The Lancet Global Health.
Opioid Deaths 1999 to 2015 May Be Dramatically Underestimated
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — States may be greatly underestimating the effect of opioid-related overdose deaths because of incomplete cause-of-death reporting, according to a study recently published in Public Health Reports.
Patient Health Information Often Shared Electronically
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The most common electronically sent and received types of patient health information (PHI) include laboratory results and medication lists, according to a report published Aug. 15 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
20% of Children, Adolescents Use Prescription Medications
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Almost 20 percent of children and adolescents used prescription medications in 2013 to 2014, and 8.2 percent of concurrent users of prescription medications in 2009 to 2014 were at risk for a potentially major drug-drug interactions (DDIs), according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics.
Active Choice Intervention Tied to Increase in Flu Shot Rates
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An active choice intervention is associated with an increase in influenza vaccination rates, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
U.S. Senate Passes Opioids Bill
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Senate on Monday passed on a 99-1 vote legislation aimed at curbing the nation’s ongoing opioid addiction crisis.
CBS News Article
Tafamidis Treats Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, treatment with tafamidis reduces all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations versus placebo, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drug Prices Increase More Than Expected After Shortages
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prices for drugs under shortage increase more than twice as quickly as expected in the absence of a shortage, according to a research letter published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Compliance With Requirement to Report Results on EUCTR Is Poor
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Half of trials on the European Union Clinical Trials Register (EUCTR) are non-compliant with the European Commission’s requirement that all trials post results to the registry within 12 month of completion, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in The BMJ.
Ranolazine Doesn’t Cut VT, VF, Death in High-Risk ICD Patients
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For high-risk patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), ranolazine does not significantly reduce the risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) requiring appropriate ICD therapy, or death, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Many Foster Kids Inappropriately Prescribed Psychiatric Drugs
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new report finds that foster children are often given powerful psychiatric medicines without regard for proper safeguards.
AP News Article
Office of Inspector General Report
Use of Aspirin in Healthy Elderly Questioned in Three Studies
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Low-dose aspirin appears to have limited effect on healthy life span in older people, according to three studies published online Sept. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text 1
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Mercury in Traditional Tibetan Medicine Could Be Harmful
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The high mercury (Hg) concentration contained in traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) could be harmful to humans and contribute to the environmental Hg burden in Tibet, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of Environmental Science & Technology.
Drug Prices Seem Not to Be Influenced by Their Value
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs, there is no evidence that drug prices are influenced by their value, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Association Health Plans Can Help Small Businesses Offer Coverage
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Association health plans (AHPs) will provide small businesses with more choices, access, and coverage options, although critics warn that they may undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
Potentially Inappropriate Opioid Prescribing Tied to Overdose
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) of opioids is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and fatal and nonfatal overdose, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
FDA Approves Novel Treatment for Hairy Cell Leukemia
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk) injection has been approved to treat certain instances of relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (HCL), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said yesterday.
FDA Finds Another Carcinogen in Certain Valsartan Heart Meds
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that it has found a second impurity in three lots of Torrent Pharmaceuticals’ valsartan drug products.
Many Older Adults Transition to Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than one-quarter of older adults newly prescribed benzodiazepine by an non-psychiatric clinician transition to long-term use, according to a research letter published online Sept. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Folic Acid Past First Trimester Doesn’t Prevent Preeclampsia
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Supplementation with folic acid beyond the first trimester does not prevent preeclampsia among high-risk women, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in The BMJ.
Opioid Refills Rare After Rhinoplasty
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing rhinoplasty, postoperative opioid refills are extremely rare, according to a research letter published online Sept. 6 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Small Reduction in Lung Function With Tx De-Escalation in COPD
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A de-escalation from triple therapy to indacaterol/glycopyrronium may lead to a small reduction in lung function in non-frequently exacerbating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but no difference in exacerbations, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Recommendations Issued for Enhancing ICU Diagnostic Safety
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Identifying and reducing diagnostic errors in the intensive care unit (ICU) should be a top priority, according to a perspective article published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
No Apparent Short-Term Cancer Risk From Recalled Valsartan
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Users of valsartan contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) seem not to have increased cancer risk, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in The BMJ.
AHA: Resistant Hypertension Diagnosis, Tx Guidelines Updated
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A correct diagnosis of resistant hypertension is necessary to avoid overmedicating, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association published online Sept. 13 in Hypertension.
Pharmacovigilance Needed for Rheumatology Patients
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed for pharmacovigilance in rheumatology, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring of new drugs, according to a position statement issued by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
ACR Position Statement
Gains in Insurance Coverage Seen for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Adults
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults report continued problems affording care despite coverage gains offered by the Affordable Care Act, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Highest Opioid-Related Mortality Seen in Construction Jobs
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) for heroin-related overdose deaths and methadone-related overdose deaths from 2007 to 2012 were highest among construction workers, according to research published in the Aug. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Fingolimod Cuts Multiple Sclerosis Relapses in Pediatric Patients
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among pediatric patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, fingolimod is associated with a lower rate of relapse but a higher rate of serious adverse events than interferon beta-1a, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Single, Fixed-Dose Combo Pills Improve Hypertension Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Single-pill, fixed-dose combination (FDC) treatment may be more effective for improving blood pressure control in older patients, according to a study recently published in PLOS Medicine.
Medicaid Benefits for Addiction Treatment Expanded After ACA
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act (ACA) may have prompted state Medicaid programs to expand addiction treatment benefits in alternative benefit plans, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
One in Five Pot Products Fails Potency, Purity Tests in California
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Close to 20 percent of marijuana products in California have failed to pass tests for potency or purity since the state began mandating such testing July 1, a new report finds.
AP News Article
Rituximab + Lenalidomide Effective in Follicular Lymphoma
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rituximab plus lenalidomide has similar efficacy to rituximab plus chemotherapy among patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Medicaid Work Requirements Don’t Impact Many Enrollees
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid work requirements will only impact a small proportion of persons and may only generate minimal savings, according to two research letters published online Sept. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Opioids Often Prescribed in the Absence of Pain Diagnosis
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many outpatient opioid prescriptions have no documented medical indication, according to a research letter published online Sept. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Data Age in Clinical Trials Is About Three Years at Publication
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The median data age in clinical trials in journals with a high impact factor is about three years at publication, according to a study published in the Aug. 10 issue of JAMA Network Open.
Oxycontin’s Maker Now Selling Drug to Curb Opioid Addiction
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin who some have blamed for the epidemic of opioid painkiller addictions, has patented a medicine aimed at curbing those disorders.
CBS News Article
FDA Approves New Treatment for Opioid Dependence
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cassipa (buprenorphine and naloxone), a film designed to be placed under the tongue, has been approved to treat opioid dependence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a news release.
Naloxone Rarely Administered by Layperson in Opioid Deaths
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From July 2016 to June 2017, bystanders were documented in 44 percent of opioid overdose deaths, but naloxone was rarely administered by a layperson, according to a study published Aug. 31 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
AAP Updates Recommendations for Pediatric Flu Vaccination
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — All children and adolescents are advised to undergo annual influenza immunization, ideally with an inactivated influenza vaccine, according to a policy statement published online Sept. 3 in Pediatrics.
With New Persistent Opioid Use, Most Early Scripts From Surgeons
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among surgical patients who develop new persistent opioid use, surgeons provide the majority of opioid prescriptions in the first few months after surgery, but by nine to 12 months post-surgery, most prescriptions are from primary care providers, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Adding Fish Oil in Pregnancy May Lead to Higher Child BMI
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Supplementation with n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) in pregnancy leads to higher body mass index (BMI) in offspring at age 6 years, but no increase in the proportion of obese children, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in The BMJ.
Personalized Weighting Could Enhance Hospital Rating Tools
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The weighting systems that underlie hospital performance rating tools should incorporate the needs, values, and preferences of patients, according to a perspective article published in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Better Training Needed to Boost LGBTQ Patient Health Care
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High-quality health care needs to be provided to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, and improved training is necessary to deliver that care, according to a report published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
Opioid Maker to Pay for Overdose Antidote Development
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A $3.4 million grant to help a non-profit company develop a less expensive opioid overdose antidote was announced by Purdue Pharma, which makes the opioid painkiller OxyContin.
AP News Article
Purdue Pharma News Release
Hospital Groups Launch Own Generic Drug Company
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Three U.S. health care foundations and seven hospital groups have formed a generic drug company to combat high prices and chronic shortages of medicines.
AP News Article
Publication Characteristics Tied to Treatment Effects
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Published trials have larger treatment effects than unpublished trials, while trials published in a language other than English have larger treatment effects versus those published in English, according to research published online Aug. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Increase Observed in Hearts From Drug-Intoxicated Donors
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Heart transplants using drug-intoxicated donors have significantly increased, but their use does not seem to adversely impact post-transplant survival, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Transplantation.
Baloxavir Superior to Placebo for Alleviating Flu Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The selective inhibitor of influenza cap-dependent endonuclease, baloxavir marboxil, is superior to placebo for alleviating influenza symptoms, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
~3,000 Excess Deaths Estimated Due to Hurricane Maria
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The total excess mortality attributed to Hurricane Maria is estimated at 2,975 deaths, according to a report issued by George Washington University.
WHO Issues Recommendations for Tx Intensification in T2DM
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed by the World Health Organization for treatment intensification in type 2 diabetes. The recommendations were published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Similar for Infliximab, Infliximab-Dyyb
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Under Medicare Part D, out-of-pocket costs are similar for infliximab and its biosimilar infliximab-dyyb, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Fostamatinib Seems Effective for Immune Thrombocytopenia
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fostamatinib produces clinically meaningful responses in adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), according a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Hematology.
ED Plays Critical Role in Caring for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Emergency department providers need evidence-based strategies to identify and manage patients with opioid use disorder, according to a review published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Enrollment in High-Deductible Health Plans Up From ’07 to ’17
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) has increased among adults with employment-based insurance coverage, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
FDA: Montelukast Tablet Bottles Recalled
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Some bottles of montelukast (Singulair) tablets for asthma have been recalled by Camber Pharmaceuticals because they contain the wrong medication, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Remission of Schizophrenia Seen With Amisulpride, Clozapine
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Remission can be achieved for most cases of schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder with amisulpride and clozapine, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the The Lancet Psychiatry.
Adding Pharmacist to Team Can Improve Patient Outcomes
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Integration of pharmacists into team-based care practice models can improve patient outcome, especially in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, according to a report published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
CDC: Increase in Rate of STDs for Fourth Consecutive Year in U.S.
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were diagnosed in the United States in 2017, marking a fourth consecutive year of sharp increases in these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nalbuphine Can Relieve Opioid-Induced Urine Retention
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nalbuphine can relieve opioid-induced urine retention, according to a case report published online Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Self-Injury Tops Diabetes As Cause of Death in United States
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In the United States, self-injury mortality (SIM) exceeded diabetes as a cause of death in 2015, with the gap expanding in 2016, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in Injury Prevention.
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