Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pathology for February 2020. 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.
HIV-Infected Youth Less Likely to Achieve Viral Suppression
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Youth newly diagnosed with HIV are linked to care at similar rates as adults but achieve disproportionately lower rates of viral suppression, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
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Age of Onset May Affect Clinical Outcomes for MS Patients on DMT
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Age of onset for disease is an important factor affecting clinical outcomes across the life span in patients receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the European Journal of Neurology.
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Inflammatory Conditions of Skin, Bowel May Be Linked
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There appears to be a link between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a review published in the February issue of the International Journal of Dermatology.
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CDC Makes Changes to Coronavirus Testing Efforts
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Just how prepared the United States is to quell an outbreak of coronavirus on American soil came into question on Thursday, as federal officials changed guidelines for testing after a whistleblower complaint. The complaint claimed some federal health workers had been allowed to interact with quarantined Americans without proper training or protective gear.
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Higher Exposure to Air Pollution Linked to Albuminuria, CKD
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to a higher annual average concentration of particulate matter (PM) <2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) is associated with increased albuminuria and an increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online Feb. 27 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Facebook Bans False or Alarming Coronavirus Ads
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Misleading ads about products that claim to cure or protect against the new coronavirus will be banned from Facebook, the social media company said Wednesday. It also said it will prohibit ads that may trigger alarm about the outbreak.
First U.S. Case of ‘Unknown Origin’ COVID-19 Identified
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vice President Mike Pence will lead the U.S. response to a potential global pandemic of COVID-19, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening.
AP News Article
CDC Media Statement
Recommendations Developed for Appropriate Thyroidectomy
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In guidelines issued by the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, published in the March issue of the Annals of Surgery, recommendations are presented for the definitive surgical management of thyroid disease in adults.
First U.S. Trial of Possible Coronavirus Treatment Begins
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center has launched the first clinical trial in the United States of a possible treatment for the new coronavirus.
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Adding Pembrolizumab May Up Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with untreated stage II or III triple-negative breast cancer, pembrolizumab plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, compared with placebo plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, is associated with a significantly higher rate of pathological complete response, according to a study published in the Feb. 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Influence of Politics Has Not Waned in Opinions About ACA
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains divided 10 years after its passage, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Health Affairs.
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Electronic Nose Can Detect Barrett Esophagus in Breath Test
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An electronic nose that measures volatile organic compounds can detect Barrett esophagus, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Gut.
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Mistreatment, Discrimination Still Common for Medical Students
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mistreatment of medical students remains common for women, racial/ethnic minorities, and sexual minorities, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Judge Says More Answers Needed About Relocation of COVID-19 Patients
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Federal and California officials must provide more information to local officials about plans to relocate former cruise ship passengers who have tested positive for the new coronavirus to a facility in a Southern California community, a federal judge ruled Monday.
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More Academic Success Found for Men Versus Women in Hematology
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Men have more publications than women in hematology, regardless of whether women have caregiving responsibilities, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Blood Advances.
$2.5 Billion Coronavirus Plan Sent to Congress
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A $2.5 billion plan to fight the coronavirus outbreak was sent by the White House to Congress on Monday evening, as countries around the world raced to stem outbreaks of “untraceable” cases of the virus.
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Outcomes Steadily Improve for Multiple Myeloma Treated With ASCT
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), long-term outcomes have improved steadily, according to a study published in the Jan. 28 issue of Blood Advances.
1990 to 2017 Saw Increase in Global Deaths From Lung Disease
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 1990 to 2017, the number of global deaths from chronic respiratory diseases increased, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in The BMJ.
Increases in Alcohol-Induced Death Rates ID’d Across U.S.
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2000 to 2016, there were large increases in alcohol-induced death rates across age and racial/ethnic subgroups, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
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Global Coronavirus Outbreaks Stoking Fears of Pandemic
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A coronavirus pandemic looked ever more likely on Monday as multiple countries around the world raced to stem outbreaks of “untraceable” cases of the virus.
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CDC: U.S. Coronavirus Cases Reach 34
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of coronavirus cases among Americans jumped to 34 Friday, as U.S. health officials reported that more passengers who were evacuated from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for the virus.
Alzheimer Disease Gene Mapping Project Proposed in New York State
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A proposed project to map the genes of 1 million people in New York living with or at risk for Alzheimer disease was announced Friday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
U.S. Coronavirus Cases Now Stand at 26
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Eleven Americans who were evacuated from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have tested definitively for coronavirus, bringing the case count in this country to 26, U.S. health officials reported late Thursday.
Dengue Virus Infection May Increase Risk for Developing Leukemia
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Dengue virus infection is associated with an increased risk for leukemia, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Dermatopathologists Favor Making Pathologic Reports Available
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most dermatopathologists perceive that making pathologic test result reports available to patients is a good idea, although they are concerned about increasing patient worry and confusion, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in JAMA Dermatology.
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First Coronavirus Death Reported in South Korea
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first new coronavirus-related death in South Korea was reported on Thursday.
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Ultrasound May ID Children at Risk for Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A heterogeneous pattern on ultrasound examination of the liver may help identify children with cystic fibrosis (CF) at increased risk for developing advanced CF liver disease, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
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Number of COVID-19 Cases in China Lower With New Counting Method
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of COVID-19 cases in China dropped Thursday, but the decline might just be due to new methods in how case numbers are tallied.
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Most Youth With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Undiagnosed
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) remains largely undiagnosed in youth, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the Child & Youth Care Forum.
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Mediterranean Diet May Modulate Gut Bacteria in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For older persons, following a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is associated with an increased abundance of specific taxa linked to markers of lower frailty and improved cognitive function, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in Gut.
Quarantine Ends on Cruise Ship in Japan as Coronavirus Cases Near 75,000
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the number of coronavirus cases reached 75,000 and deaths topped 2,000, a two-week quarantine of a cruise ship docked in Japan ended Wednesday.
Japanese Couple on Delta Flight From Hawaii Diagnosed With Coronavirus
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Delta Airlines is notifying passengers who were on a Feb. 6 flight from Hawaii to Japan that a Japanese couple on the flight tested positive for novel coronavirus after they returned home.
CNN Article
More Information: CDC
AAP Addresses Fertility Preservation for Children With Cancer
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Medical and ethical considerations of fertility preservation in children with cancer are addressed in a clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, published online Feb. 18 in Pediatrics.
Chinese Report Says Majority of Coronavirus Cases Are Mild
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New details on nearly 45,000 cases of COVID-19 in China show that 80 percent of cases are mild and the number of new cases has been declining for most of February.
AP News Article
More Information: CDC
Maximal Resection of Glioblastomas May Up Survival
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Maximal resection of a contrast-enhanced (CE) tumor is associated with improved overall survival in patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase gene 1 or 2 (IDH)-wild-type and IDH-mutant subtype glioblastomas, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in JAMA Oncology.
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CDC: Coronavirus Spreads Most Easily When Patients Are Sickest
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Coronavirus is most infectious when patients are at the peak of their illness, health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
AP News Article
More Information: CDC
U.S. Life Expectancy to Reach 85 by 2060
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly a quarter of all U.S. residents will be older than 65 by 2060, and life expectancy will reach an all-time high of 85 by that year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Perinatal Outcomes Poorer With Cryopreserved Donor Oocytes
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), use of cryopreserved versus fresh donor oocytes is associated with marginally, but statistically significant, lower odds of a good perinatal outcome, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Exposure to PM2.5 Tied to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), according to a study published in the January issue of The Lancet Planetary Health.
Massachusetts Health Reform Tied to Decrease in Advanced Cancer
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Following state health reform, there was a decline in advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses in Massachusetts, according to a study published in the February issue of Medical Care.
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No Sign of Vertical Transmission of COVID-19 Found in Late Pregnancy
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There currently is no evidence of intrauterine infection caused by vertical transmission in women who develop 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia in late pregnancy, according to research published online Feb. 12 in The Lancet.
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CDC: Some Coronavirus Testing Kits Sent to States Are Faulty
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Some coronavirus testing kits sent to state laboratories across the United States are flawed and do not provide accurate results, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
Congo Ebola Outbreak Seems to Be Easing
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experts are “very encouraged” after just three new Ebola cases were reported in the past week in eastern Congo, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday.
2011 to 2018 Saw Decline in Problems Paying Medical Bills
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2018, there was a decrease in the percentage of families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months, according to a February data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
S. aureus Colonization Increased in Skin Lesions in Lupus Patients
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have increased colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in cutaneous lupus erythematosus lesions, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
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Rates of Liver Disease High Among World Trade Center Responders
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — World Trade Center (WTC) responders have a three times higher rate of liver disease compared with non-WTC responders, according to a study recently published in Clinical Imaging.
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Smartphone Apps Not Accurate Enough to Detect All Melanomas
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Current smartphone-based applications (apps) cannot detect all cases of melanoma or other skin cancers, according to a review published online Feb. 10 in The BMJ.
Genetic Basis for Testosterone Levels Differs According to Sex
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The genetic determinants of testosterone levels differ between the sexes, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in Nature Medicine.
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Broad Clinical Spectrum Linked to Pediatric MOG Antibodies
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The spectrum of pediatric syndromes associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies is wider than previously thought, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in The Lancet Neurology.
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CDC Outlines U.S. Process of Evaluating Patients for 2019-nCoV
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Recognizing individuals at risk for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection is a key part of facilitating infection control and prevention and limiting transmission, according to research published in the Feb. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Two Experimental Drugs for Rare, Inherited Alzheimer Disease Disappoint
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Two experimental drugs do not appear to slow memory loss or mental decline in patients in the early stages of a rare, inherited, early-onset form of Alzheimer disease, according to initial results from a clinical trial.
Empathy Declines as Students Progress Through Medical School
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Students become less empathic toward patients throughout medical school, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Academic Medicine.
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Seniors Have Concerns About Affording Health Insurance
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many adults aged 50 to 64 years are concerned about their ability to afford health insurance, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Circulating Tumor Cells Predict Relapse in Stage III Melanoma
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For stage III melanoma patients, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predict relapse, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in Clinical Cancer Research.
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Arterial Stiffness Increased Within Year of Final Menstrual Period
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Changes in arterial stiffness are greater within one year of a woman’s final menstrual period (FMP), according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
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Screening for T1DM in Children May Help Reduce Morbidity
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A public health screening for islet autoantibodies demonstrated prevalence of 0.31 percent among children aged 2 to 5 years, according to a study published in the Jan. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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CT Scan Features Described for 2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Key computed tomography (CT) findings have been characterized for patients infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to research published online Feb. 4 in Radiology.
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Overweight and Obesity May Up Risk for Several Common Cancers
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospital-diagnosed overweight and obesity is associated with an increased risk for several common cancers, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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Blood Mercury Levels Linked to Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Blood mercury (Hg) levels are associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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H. pylori Eradication Cuts Gastric Cancer Risk in Those With Family History
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among those who have Helicobacter pylori infection and a family history of gastric cancer in first-degree relatives, eradication treatment for H. pylori reduces the risk for gastric cancer, according to a study published in the Jan. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Modeling Studies Show Cervical Cancer Could Be Eliminated
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Two modeling studies show how cervical cancer could be eliminated and mortality could be reduced, according to two studies published online Jan. 30 in The Lancet.
Abstract/Full Text – Brisson
Abstract/Full Text – Canfell
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Vegetarian Diet Tied to Lower Risk for Urinary Tract Infection
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A vegetarian diet is associated with a reduced risk for urinary tract infection (UTI), according to a study published online Jan. 30 in Scientific Reports.
Spread of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Estimated
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Multiple major cities in China are estimated to have imported cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and epidemics are estimated to be growing exponentially in those cities, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in The Lancet.
HIV Vaccine Ineffective, Clinical Trial Halted
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial for an HIV vaccine has been halted after it was concluded that it did not prevent infection with the AIDS-causing virus, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said Monday.
CNN Article
U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
International AIDS Society
Clinical Characteristics ID’d for 99 Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a descriptive study published online Jan. 29 in The Lancet, clinical characteristics are presented for the first 99 patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Abstract/Full Text – Chen
Abstract/Full Text – Lu
Steep Increase Seen in Incidence of CRC From Age 49 to 50 Years
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are steep incidence increases in colorectal cancer from age 49 to 50 years, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Network Open.
Whether HPV Vaccination Will Prevent Cervical Cancer Unclear
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Methodological problems and study limitations for trials of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine create uncertainty about its ability to prevent cervical cancer in the long term, according to a review published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
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