Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for October 2019. 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.
Acute Kidney Injury Often Seen With Checkpoint Inhibitor Use
THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy often have acute kidney injury (AKI), according to a study published online Oct. 31 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Gilteritinib Superior in Relapsed, Refractory FLT3-Mutated AML
THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3), treatment with a selective FLT3 inhibitor, gilteritinib, results in significantly longer survival and a greater percentage of patients with remission than salvage chemotherapy, according to a study published in the Oct. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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J&J Says No Asbestos Detected in New Tests of Baby Powder
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — No asbestos was detected in 15 new tests of the same bottle of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder previously found to contain asbestos by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company said Tuesday.
CBS News Article
J&J Press Release
White House Launches Website to Help Those Battling Substance Abuse
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new website to help Americans with substance abuse problems find treatment was activated Wednesday by the Trump administration.
FindTreatment.gov
AP News Article
Fetal Exposure to Acetaminophen May Increase Risk for ADHD, ASD
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Cord biomarkers of fetal exposure to acetaminophen are associated with an increased risk for childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published online Oct. 30 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Many Patients Take OTC Meds That May Interact With Apixaban
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many patients take over-the-counter (OTC) products with potentially serious interactions with the direct-acting oral anticoagulant apixaban, according to research published online Oct. 28 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Up Slightly, Mortality Lower in 2017
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy has increased slightly in the United States, and mortality is lower than in 2007, according to a report published Oct. 30 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Facebook Launches Preventive Health Tool
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new tool designed to help guide preventive care for heart disease, cancer, and seasonal flu was launched in the United States Monday by Facebook.
FDA Labeling Restriction Quickly Reflected in Oncology Practice
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The June 2018 U.S. Food and Drug Administration label restriction on first-line immunotherapy for advanced bladder cancer was associated with a decrease in immunotherapy use and an increase in chemotherapy use, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Patients Should Restart Blood Thinners After GI Bleed
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients who restart their blood thinners after a gastrointestinal bleed have a lower risk for dying within the next two years even though they have a higher risk for recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a study recently published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
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Childhood Cancer Treatment Increases Risk for Breast Cancer Later
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The combination of anthracyclines and radiotherapy doses to treat childhood cancer is associated with an increased risk for subsequent breast cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Antidepressant Effect Seen for Anti-Inflammatories in MDD
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Anti-inflammatory agents seem to have an antidepressant effect for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a review published online Oct. 28 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Aspirin May Slow Growth of Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Aspirin is associated with a reduced rate of aneurysm growth for patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms, according to a review published online Oct. 29 in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
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Evidence for Use of Cannabinoids to Treat Mental Disorders Lacking
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is little evidence to suggest that cannabinoids improve mental disorders, according to a review published online Oct. 28 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
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One Lot of Generic Form of Xanax Recalled Due to Potential Contaminate
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One lot of alprazolam (generic form of Xanax) is being recalled by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. due to potential contamination that poses a risk for infection.
Outcomes Poor With Medical Care From Fraud, Abuse Perpetrators
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Receiving medical care from fraud and abuse perpetrators (FAPs), subsequently excluded from Medicare, is associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality and emergency hospitalization, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Psychotherapy for Depression May Be Cost-Effective Over Time
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with major depressive disorder, neither second-generation antidepressants (SGAs) nor cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers consistently superior cost-effectiveness, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Postop Antibiotics Cut Infections After Facial Plastic Surgery
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Postoperative antibiotic prescriptions are associated with reduced rates of infections after facial plastic surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
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Predictors of Immune Response to Hep B Shot ID’d in Lymphoma
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with lymphoma, the dose and frequency of hepatitis B vaccination, sex, Ann Arbor stage, and ibrutinib as part of the chemotherapy regimen are independent factors that affect the impact of the vaccine, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Leukemia & Lymphoma.
Spironolactone Noninferior in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In a head-to-head study of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, spironolactone was found to be noninferior to eplerenone for slowing the progression of heart damage in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Antibiotics Not Recommended for Most Toothaches
FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotics are not recommended for urgent management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with or without symptomatic apical periodontitis, pulp necrosis, and symptomatic apical periodontitis or for pulp necrosis and localized acute apical abscess in immunocompetent adults, according to an evidence-based clinical practice guideline published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
CDC: Drugs Involved in Overdose Deaths Varied Regionally in 2017
FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths in 2017 varied regionally in the United States, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Disneyland Visitors May Have Been Exposed to Measles
THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People who were at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and a Starbucks in Los Angeles on Oct. 16 may have been exposed to measles, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says.
Google Searches for CBD Up Substantially
THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Interest in cannabidiol (CBD) across the United States has increased considerably and is accelerating, according to a research letter published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Network Open.
One in Five Receive Opioid Rx After Cardiac Implant Procedure
THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One in five patients received opioid prescriptions for management of pain following cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in HeartRhythm.
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One in Eight U.S. Pharmacies Closed in 2009 Through 2015
THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Despite an increase in the overall number of U.S. pharmacies, one in eight pharmacies closed between 2009 and 2015, according to a research letter published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Poor Health Literacy Tied to More Hardships Among Cancer Survivors
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Health insurance literacy may be an important intervention for addressing financial problems associated with cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
CVD Risk Declines When BP Meds Taken at Bedtime
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ingestion of prescribed blood pressure-lowering medications at bedtime is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the European Heart Journal.
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Effect of Fluoxetine on Repetitive Behaviors in ASD Youth Unclear
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with fluoxetine appears to result in significantly lower scores for obsessive compulsive behaviors at 16 weeks among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but interpretation of the data is limited, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Prophylactic Melatonin Does Not Cut Delirium After Major Cardiac Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prophylactic use of melatonin does not prevent delirium after major cardiac surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Outcomes Across Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Treatments Similar
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Outcomes for nonmelanoma skin cancers are similar at one year, regardless of treatment type, although cosmetic results vary, according to a review published in the Oct. 15 issue of Cancer.
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New Alzheimer Disease Drug to Be Submitted for FDA Approval
TUESDAY, Oct. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new drug to treat early Alzheimer disease will be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval, maker Biogen Inc. said Tuesday.
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More Choices, Lower Premiums for ACA Consumers Next Year
TUESDAY, Oct. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There will be more health insurance choices and a slight decrease in premiums for many consumers next year under the Affordable Care Act, according to the Trump administration.
$260 Million Deal Averts First Federal Trial Over Opioids
TUESDAY, Oct. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A $260 million settlement in an opioid lawsuit was reached between two Ohio counties and four drug companies on Monday, just hours before opening arguments were to begin in a landmark federal trial over responsibility for the U.S. opioid crisis.
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Recommendations Updated for Nonvariceal Upper GI Bleeding
MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In clinical guidelines published online Oct. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, updated recommendations are presented for the management of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
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Zantac Recalled by Sanofi
MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The over-the-counter heartburn drug Zantac (ranitidine) has been recalled in the United States and Canada by French drug maker Sanofi.
Tranexamic Acid Within Three Hours Cuts Some TBI Deaths
MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with mild-to-moderate acute traumatic brain injury (TBI), the risk for head injury-related death is reduced in those receiving tranexamic acid within three hours compared with placebo, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in The Lancet.
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Baby Powder Due to Presence of Asbestos
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A shipment of baby powder has been recalled by Johnson & Johnson after U.S. authorities found asbestos in it.
Most Physicians Treating STIs Do Not Have Meds on Hand
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most office-based physicians who provide sexually transmitted infections (STIs) services report not having on-site access to the recommended injectable medications for same-day treatment of gonorrhea and syphilis, according to a research letter published in the November issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC: Coverage 94.7 Percent for Two Doses of MMR in 2018 to 2019
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For the 2018 to 2019 school year, coverage was 94.7 percent for two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to research published in the Oct. 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Extended Estrogen Therapy Aids Late-Life Cognition
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Longer use of estrogen hormone therapy is associated with higher cognitive status in late life, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Menopause.
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Physical Therapy, Lifestyle Advice Underused in Knee OA
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), physical therapy (PT) and lifestyle counseling seem to be underutilized, while medication use has increased, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Arthritis Care & Research.
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Patient Cost Responsibility Up for Guideline-Discordant Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), receipt of National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guideline-discordant care is associated with higher patient cost responsibility, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Suicide Risk Up With ARB Exposure Versus ACEI Exposure
FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among individuals aged 66 years and older, the use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is associated with an increased risk for suicide compared with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), according to a study published online Oct. 16 in JAMA Network Open.
Artificial Pancreas Helps T1DM Patients Meet Glycemic Targets
THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with type 1 diabetes using an artificial pancreas or closed-loop system spend a greater percentage of time in a target glycemic range compared with those using a sensor-augmented insulin pump, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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CDC: Vaccination Coverage Generally High for Those Born in 2015-16
THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For children born in 2015 to 2016, vaccination coverage is generally high, although coverage can be improved with increased access to providers and health insurance, according to research published in the Oct. 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Experimental Growth Factor May Aid Knee Osteoarthritis
THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An experimental growth factor therapy, sprifermin, may prevent a worsening of osteoarthritis by increasing the thickness of cartilage in the knee, according to a study published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Quality Improvement Program Lowers Prolonged Steroid Use With IBD
THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A quality improvement program can lower steroid use among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Opioid Crisis Cost United States $631 Billion Over Four Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. opioid epidemic cost the nation’s economy $631 billion from 2015 through 2018, a new study says.
AP News Article
Society of Actuaries
Statins in Childhood Aid Familial Hypercholesteremia Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Initiation of statin therapy during childhood in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia slows the progression of carotid intima-media thickness and reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease over 20 years, according to a study published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Opioids May Not Be Needed for Acute Pain Control After Vasectomy
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Opioids do not provide improved pain control following a vasectomy and may be tied to a higher risk for persistent use, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.
Postop Opioid Rx Sevenfold Higher in U.S., Canada Versus Sweden
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients in the United States and Canada receive prescription opioids after surgeries at a rate that is approximately seven times higher than the rate in Sweden, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
Dopamine Agonists Tied to Higher Risk for Psychiatric Events
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with primary restless leg syndrome who begin dopamine agonist (DA) therapy may be at increased risk for adverse psychiatric events, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
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Boosting Testosterone Ups Women’s Athletic Performance
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Topical supplemental testosterone increases running performance and lean body mass in young, physically active women, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Pulmonary Embolism Risk Elevated for More Than Six Weeks Postop
TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The postoperative risk for pulmonary embolism extends more than six weeks for six types of surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in JAMA Surgery.
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Study Compares Anticoagulants for Antiphospholipid Syndrome
TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In thrombotic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), rivaroxaban is not noninferior to dose-adjusted vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Caution Urged When Taking Patients Off Opioid Painkillers
FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Doctors should be more cautious when taking chronic pain patients off opioid painkillers, according to a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidance released Thursday.
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Patients With T2DM Who Have Flu More Likely to Be Hospitalized
FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The risk for hospitalization with pandemic influenza is higher for patients with type 2 diabetes than for those without type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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Effects on Quality of Life Mixed for Tx of Multiple Myeloma
FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most dimensions of quality of life (QoL) are impaired in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, and treatment may have mixed effects on QoL, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Leukemia & Lymphoma.
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Ibrutinib Therapy Linked to New, Worsened Hypertension
FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ibrutinib is associated with an increased risk for new or worsened hypertension in patients treated for B-cell malignancies, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in Blood.
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Recommendations Developed for Preventing Secondary Fractures
FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Clinical recommendations for the prevention of secondary fractures among older adults with hip or vertebral fracture have been issued by a multi-stakeholder coalition assembled by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and published online Sept. 20 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
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Lumacaftor-Ivacaftor Aids Cystic Fibrosis in Real-World Setting
FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — After one year of therapy with lumacaftor-ivacaftor in a real-world setting, adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis and Phe508del homozygous mutation experienced an improvement in lung function, increase in body mass index, and reduced need for IV antibiotics, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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SGLT2 Inhibitors Protect Against Kidney Disease in T2DM
THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The class of diabetes drugs known as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors protect against kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a review published online Sept. 5 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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CDC: Seasonal Influenza Viruses Circulating in Southern Hemisphere
THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Seasonal influenza viruses are circulating widely in the Southern Hemisphere, but influenza activity is currently low in the United States, according to research published in the Oct. 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Statins Tied to Osteoporosis in Dose-Dependent Manner
THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is a dose-dependent relationship between diagnosis of osteoporosis and statin treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Anaphylactic Reactions Tied to PICC Insertion With Magnetic Tip
THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Potential anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions have been associated with insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) using the Sherlock tip locating system (TLS), which features a magnetized stylet wire, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
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$8 Billion Award Granted in Risperdal Lawsuit
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A lawsuit over the antipsychotic drug Risperdal has led to an $8 billion punitive damages award against Johnson & Johnson and one if its subsidiaries.
Medicare Fraud-Prevention Rules to Be Revised
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Revision of decades-old Medicare rules meant to prevent fraud has been proposed by the Trump administration.
2000 to 2015 Saw Increase in Medicare GME Payments
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medicare graduate medical education (GME) payments increased significantly from 2000 to 2015, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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California Pharmacists Can Dispense HIV Prevention Meds Without Rx
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — California is the first state to allow pharmacists to dispense HIV prevention pills to patients without a doctor’s prescription.
Only Half of Pregnant Women Receive Recommended Vaccines
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many pregnant women do not receive the recommended flu and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines to protect themselves and their infants, according to a Vital Signs report published in the Oct. 8 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
PARP Inhibitor Slows Progression of Advanced Ovarian Cancer
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor veliparib plus platinum-based chemotherapy for induction therapy, followed by maintenance therapy with veliparib, improves progression-free survival (PFS) in the initial treatment of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress 2019, held from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 in Barcelona, Spain.
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Proportion of Seniors Taking Antidepressants Has More Than Doubled
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Across two decades, there was an increase in the proportion of older adults taking antidepressants, although the prevalence of depression did not change significantly, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
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Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels Predict Retinopathy Risk in Lupus
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood levels are useful in predicting retinopathy among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a study published online Sept. 18 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
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Primary Care Appointment Time Impacts Prescribing of Opioids
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Even within an individual physician’s schedule, physician behavior for opioid prescribing varies by the appointment timing, according to a study recently published online in JAMA Network Open.
Cost of Waste in U.S. Health System Estimated
TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The estimated cost of waste in the U.S. health care system varies from $760 to $935 billion, according to a special communication published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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OTC Meds Often Used in Drug-Related Suicide Attempts in Youth
MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Over-the-counter medications are commonly used in suicide attempts by self-poisoning among young people, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Clinical Toxicology.
Guideline for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Updated
MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In an updated official clinical practice guideline from the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America, published in the Oct. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, recommendations are presented for the diagnosis and management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Teens Using Oral Contraceptives Report More Depressive Symptoms
MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Sixteen-year-old girls report more depressive symptoms when using oral contraceptives compared with nonusers, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Financial Incentives Have Short-Term Effect on BP Control
MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A patient-centered behavioral economics intervention only yields short-term benefits for blood pressure (BP) control in a highly disadvantaged population, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Hepatitis C Virus Infection Rates Up for Women Giving Birth
FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among women giving birth, the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased more than 400 percent from 2000 to 2015, with rates much higher among those with opioid use disorder, according to research published in the Oct. 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
eGFR Affects Risk for Opioid-Related Death, Hospitalization
FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of prescription opioids is associated with an increased risk for death and hospitalization, especially in patients with lower estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs), according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Survey: Many U.S. Adults Not Planning to Get Flu Vaccine
FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many U.S. adults, including some at the highest risk for the flu and pneumonia, do not plan to get preventive vaccines, according to a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Older Adults Need More Help Navigating Health Care System
FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of older nonretired adults need help understanding their health insurance benefits, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Anthem Inc. and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).
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Three-Drug Single Inhaler Treats Uncontrolled Asthma in Adults
THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A three-in-one inhaler therapy can improve lung function and reduce asthma attacks in adults with uncontrolled disease, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in The Lancet.
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Ligelizumab Safely, Effectively Treats Hives
THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ligelizumab appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic spontaneous urticaria, according to a study published in the Oct. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Johnson & Johnson Settles Opioid Suit With Two Ohio Counties
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — With a federal trial pending, the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson agreed Wednesday to pay two Ohio counties more than $20 million for its role in the ongoing opioid crisis.
Isoniazid Tx to Prevent TB Ups Risks During HIV+ Pregnancy
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Initiation of isoniazid preventive therapy during pregnancy is associated with increased risks versus initiation during the postpartum period, according to a study published in the Oct. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Only Half of Ear, Nose, Throat Infections Receive Recommended Antibiotics
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In outpatient settings, only 50 percent of visits for pharyngitis, sinusitis, and acute otitis media (AOM) receive recommended first-line antibiotics, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
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Monitoring HTN Med Adherence Does Not Improve BP Control
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Interactive interventions to improve medication adherence do not improve blood pressure (BP) control, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
FDA: Pacemakers, Insulin Pumps Could Be Hacking Targets
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medical devices that can connect to the internet might be at risk for hacking, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday.
Some Nutritional Supplements May Aid Mental Health Conditions
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Some nutrient supplements may be beneficial as adjunctive treatment for common mental health conditions, according to a meta-review published online Sept. 8 in World Psychiatry.
No Benefit Found for High-Dose Vitamin C Infusions in Sepsis, ARDS
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Compared with placebo, intravenous infusion of high-dose vitamin C does not improve organ dysfunction or alter markers of inflammation or vascular injury among patients with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Uptitration of Drugs Varies With Target Dosage in Chronic HF
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Uptitration of drugs for chronic systolic heart failure stops farther away from the recommended dosage for drugs with higher versus lower recommended dosages, according to a research letter published online Oct. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Elderly Who Start Thiopurine Tx for IBD Have Higher Risk for AEs
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk for adverse events (AEs) related to the use of thiopurines, according to a study published in the October issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Glycemic Control Worse Than Thought in Adults With T1DM
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For adults with type 1 diabetes, glycemic control may be worse than previously thought, and rates of all complications increase with increasing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Diabetes Care.
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Marine Omega-3 Supplements May Lower CVD Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Marine omega-3 supplementation seems to lower the risk for myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, total CHD events, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and total CVD events, according to a review published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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