Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for September 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.
Review IDs Dietary Factors Linked to Lower CRC Incidence
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Decreased colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is seen in association with use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), magnesium, folate, and high consumption of fruits and vegetables, fiber, and dairy products, according to an umbrella review published online Sept. 28 in Gut.
U.S. Government to Ship Millions of Rapid COVID-19 Tests This Week
TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. government will start distributing millions of rapid COVID-19 tests to states this week with the goal of reopening schools.
Global Death Toll From COVID-19 Passes 1 Million
TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The global COVID-19 pandemic reached a grim new milestone on Tuesday: 1 million dead.
Gabapentin Does Not Lower Pain Scores in Chronic Pelvic Pain
TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For women with chronic pelvic pain, gabapentin treatment does not result in significantly lower pain scores and is associated with more side effects than placebo, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in The Lancet.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Linked to Increased T2DM Risk
TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Regular use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in Gut.
Lockdown Tied to Worsening of Musculoskeletal Conditions
TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Early stages of the U.K. COVID-19 lockdown had negative consequences for people with musculoskeletal conditions, according to a letter to the editor published online Sept. 22 in Rheumatology: Advances in Practice.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
New FDA Applications for Opioids Often Based on Short Trials
TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New drug applications (NDAs) for prescription opioids for pain have been based on pivotal trials of short or intermediate duration, often in narrowly defined pain populations, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Private Health Plans Pay Hospitals 247 Percent of Medicare
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During 2018, prices paid to hospitals by privately insured patients averaged 247 percent of what Medicare would have paid, according to a study from the RAND Corporation.
Hydroxychloroquine Tied to Heart Problems Prior to Pandemic
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Real-world, pre-COVID-19 adverse events data show hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are associated with cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs), according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Only Two-Thirds of Parents Planning to Get Flu Shots for Their Children
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One-third of parents say they will forgo the flu vaccination for their children this year, despite public health recommendations, according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
Clinical Severity Lower With Vitamin D Sufficiency in COVID-19
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D sufficiency is associated with reduced clinical severity, inpatient mortality, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) among patients infected with COVID-19, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in PLOS ONE.
Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup
Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Sept. 21 to 25, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
ACIP Provides Recommendations on Meningococcal Vaccination
FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Routine vaccination with a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) is recommended for adolescents aged 11 to 12 years with a booster at age 16 years, according to a report published in the Sept. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
United First U.S. Airline to Offer COVID-19 Testing for Passengers
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first COVID-19 testing program for airline passengers in the United States will be introduced Oct. 15 by United Airlines.
Chinese Company Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine Should Be Available in U.S. in Early 2021
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Chinese pharmaceutical company claims its COVID-19 vaccine should available by early next year for distribution in the United States and other countries.
Survey: Rheumatic Diseases Pose Routine Challenges
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many patients with rheumatic diseases face significant challenges in their daily lives, including affordability issues, lifestyle and activity limitations, and negative effects on mental and emotional health, according to the results of a survey released by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
Cognition-Enhancing Supplements May Contain Unapproved Drugs
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Supplements marketed to improve memory and cognitive function frequently contain unapproved drugs, often at supratherapeutic dosages, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Neurology: Clinical Practice.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Guidelines Updated for Managing Dyslipidemia to Cut CVD Risk
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a synopsis of the 2020 updated clinical practice guideline from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense, published online Sept. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are presented for the management of dyslipidemia to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Clinical Practice Guideline Synopsis
Evidence Review (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Requiring Labeling Changes to Benzodiazepine Prescribing Information
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In response to reports of misuse and abuse of benzodiazepines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now requiring class-wide labeling changes to the prescribing information, the agency announced yesterday.
Major Adverse CV Event Risk Reduced With SGLT2 Inhibitors
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with type 2 diabetes, sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular events during short-term follow-up, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in The BMJ.
Teens’ Mental Illness Treatment May Not Follow Guidelines
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is great variation in the treatment of mental illness in adolescents, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
As Flu Season Approaches, Clinicians Brace for Potential ‘Twindemic’
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Flu shots may be more important than ever this year, as COVID-19 presents new challenges for clinicians and communities this flu season. HD Live! spoke with Nadia Eltaki, M.D., director of clinical operations at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., to discuss how clinicians can potentially lessen the potential for an overlapping superinfection, or “twindemic.”
U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Hits 200,000 as Cases Climb in 22 States
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. COVID-19 death toll reached the tragic milestone of 200,000 on Tuesday, with at least 22 states now reporting a rise in new cases. Just last Monday, only nine states were reporting increases in new COVID-19 cases, CNN reported. For the most part, the case spikes are showing up in the country’s heartland and the Midwest.
J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Begins Final Stage of Clinical Trials
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The final stage of clinical trials for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine have started, the company announced Tuesday.
Stricter Vaccine Approval Rules Coming From FDA
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Stricter guidelines for emergency use authorization of a vaccine against the new coronavirus could soon be issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Metformin May Slow Cognitive Decline in Seniors With T2DM
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For older adults with type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline is slower and dementia risk reduced for those receiving metformin, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Diabetes Care.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC: Women More Likely to Experience Anxiety, Depression
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, and women and older children are more likely to receive mental health treatment, according to new statistics from four data briefs published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Abstract/Full Text – Terlizzi and Villarroel
Abstract/Full Text – Villarroel and Terlizzi
Abstract/Full Text – Terlizzi and Zablotsky
Abstract/Full Text – Zablotsky and Terlizzi
Oral Steroids May Raise Risks for Diabetes, HTN, VTE in Children
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with current glucocorticoid exposure have increased risks for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Rates of COVID-19 Infection Higher in Blacks, Hispanics
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Black and Hispanic individuals are experiencing an excess burden of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, according to a study published online Sept. 22 in PLOS Medicine.
Perrigo Asthma Inhalers Recalled Due to Clog Risk
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Perrigo inhalers have been recalled because they could clog and not provide patients with any or enough medication, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
PrEP Prescribing Low in the U.S., Even Among HIV Care Providers
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Even among HIV-focused practitioners, preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prescribing is not routine, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in PLOS ONE.
Glucocorticoids Linked to Hospitalized Infection Risk in RA
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, continued use of glucocorticoids is associated with an increased risk for hospitalized infections, according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
COVID-19 Death Toll Nears 200,000 in the United States
MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the U.S. COVID-19 case count neared 200,000 on Monday, public health experts debated whether the spread of the virus will continue to slow or a new surge will come, as cold weather returns to much of the country.
AstraZeneca Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Plans
MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — AstraZeneca is the latest drug company to release details about human tests of its COVID-19 vaccine in response to public demand for such information. Americans have increasing doubts about a COVID-19 vaccine, and experts are worried that an unproven or unsafe vaccine may be released prematurely due to pressure from President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported.
Botox for TMJ Disorder Does Not Affect Jaw Bone Density
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Jaw bone density and volume are similar between women who had botulinum toxin (BTX) injections to treat temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders (TMJDs) and those who did not, according to a small study published online Sept. 3 in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup
Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Sept. 14 to 18, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Details Emerge on Unexplained Illness in AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New details surfaced on Thursday on an unexplained neurological condition that struck a volunteer who was participating in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial.
Drug May Reduce Need for Ventilators in COVID-19 Patients
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An inflammation-fighting medicine was associated with reduced use of ventilators among COVID-19 patients, according to a study that included mainly Hispanics and Blacks.
Depression Common Among Psoriasis Patients
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Depression is common among patients with psoriasis, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Dermatology.
Lung Cancer Treatment Plans Changed Due to Pandemic
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than half of patients have experienced changes in their lung cancer treatment plan as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter published online Sept. 17 in JAMA Oncology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Moderna May Know by November Whether COVID-19 Vaccine Is Effective
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Moderna says it should know by sometime in November whether its COVID-19 vaccine is effective, its CEO said Thursday.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Would Begin Within 24 Hours After Approval
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States would begin within 24 hours of its approval or emergency use authorization, and the plan is that no American will have to “pay a single dime” out of their own pocket for the vaccine, federal officials said Thursday.
EPA, DHA Supplementation Linked to Reduced Risk for MI, CHD
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with a reduced risk for myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) events, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 17 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Survey: About Seven in 10 Adults Interested in COVID-19 Vaccine
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly seven in 10 U.S. adults are “definitely” or “probably” willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to research published online Aug. 20 in Vaccine.
Hydrocortisone Early After Septic Shock Onset May Aid Outcomes
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with vasopressor-dependent septic shock, early hydrocortisone use is associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in SHOCK.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Adding Belimumab Improves Renal Outcome in Lupus Nephritis
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The addition of belimumab versus placebo to standard therapy increases the likelihood of a primary efficacy renal response in patients with active lupus nephritis, according to a study published in the Sept. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Vaccine Campaign Would Take Six to Nine Months to Curb COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — When a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 becomes available, it is likely to take six to nine months for enough Americans to get vaccinated to have a significant impact on the pandemic, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, M.D., said Wednesday.
New Drug Shows Promise in Preventing Severe COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A single infusion of an experimental drug dramatically lowers levels of coronavirus in the bodies of newly infected patients and cuts their chances of hospitalization, the drug’s maker reported Wednesday.
Financial Toxicity Common in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), financial toxicity is common and is associated with lifestyle-altering behaviors or care nonadherence, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
PPI Use Is Negative Prognostic Marker in Urothelial Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with advanced urothelial cancer treated with atezolizumab, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is a negative prognostic marker, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in Clinical Cancer Research.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Many Doctors Misinformed About Nicotine’s Risks
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most doctors hold misperceptions about the risks of nicotine, according to research published online Sept. 1 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Spironolactone Not Tied to Breast Cancer Recurrence
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Spironolactone is not independently associated with increased breast cancer recurrence, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Eflornithine + Sulindac Shows No Benefit in Adenomatous Polyposis
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, the incidence of disease progression is not statistically significantly lower with the combination of eflornithine and sulindac versus either eflornithine or sulindac alone, according to a study published in the Sept. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Office Dismissal Policy for Families Refusing Vaccines Common
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Half of practices report having an office dismissal policy for families refusing vaccines, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Poll: Most Americans Do Not Trust Trump’s COVID-19 Vaccine Comments
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a sign that Americans are becoming more wary about the safety of a COVID-19 vaccine, a new poll shows a majority of adults do not trust what President Donald Trump has said on vaccine development.
Clinical Score Predicts Poor Pain Control After Spine Surgery
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A score based on seven variables can accurately predict the probability of poorly controlled pain after elective spine surgery, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Lipid-Rich Necrotic Core Linked to Psoriasis Severity
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with psoriasis, lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) is associated with psoriasis severity and cardiovascular risk factors and is reduced for those patients receiving biologic therapy, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Levodopa Benefits Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Levodopa is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and improves visual outcomes, according to a study recently published in The American Journal of Medicine.
Curcuma longa Extract Improves Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis, Curcuma longa extract (CL) is more effective than placebo for knee pain but does not improve knee effusion-synovitis, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Darolutamide Boosts Survival in Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For men with nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, the risk for death is significantly lower for those receiving darolutamide versus placebo, according to a study published in the Sept. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Antipsychotic Rx Still Common With Intellectual Disabilities
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Antipsychotic drug prescription is still common for people with intellectual disabilities, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in BMJ Open.
Canada Reports No New COVID-19 Deaths for First Time in Six Months
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For the first time in six months, Canada on Friday reported no new COVID-19 deaths.
Baricitinib May Shorten Recovery Time in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Using an anti-inflammatory medicine along with the antiviral drug remdesivir appears to shorten COVID-19 patients’ recovery time, according to drug company Eli Lilly.
Effectiveness of Inhaled COVID-19 Vaccines to Be Studied
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A study to assess the effectiveness of two experimental COVID-19 vaccines when they are inhaled, rather than injected, has been announced by researchers.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Restarts
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Oxford University has announced that final-stage testing of a COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with drug maker AstraZeneca will restart following a pause last week after a serious side effect showed up in a volunteer.
NIH Launches Clinical Trials of Antithrombotics for COVID-19
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Two of three planned adaptive phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of varying types of blood thinners to treat adults diagnosed with COVID-19 have launched, according to an announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Vaccine Confidence Recently Increased in Some of Europe
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vaccine confidence has increased in parts of Europe in recent years, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in The Lancet.
One or More Opioids Involved in ~80 Percent of OD Deaths
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than 83 percent of overdose deaths during January to June 2019 involved illicitly manufactured fentanyls (IMFs), heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine (alone or in combination), according to research published in the Sept. 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Modafinil in Early Pregnancy Not Tied to Congenital Malformations
FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Modafinil use during early pregnancy is not associated with significantly increased risk for major malformations in exposed infants, according to a research letter published online Sept. 1 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup
Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Sept. 7 to 11, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Enhanced Recovery Approach Aids Cesarean Birth Outcomes
FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program for cesarean delivery is associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Controlled BP Down Among U.S. Adults With HTN After 2013–2014
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of controlled blood pressure (BP) among U.S. adults with hypertension increased from 1999-2000 to 2007-2008 then decreased after 2013 to 2014, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
NAMS Updates Guidance for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a position statement from the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), published in the September issue of Menopause, updated recommendations are presented for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Few High-Grade Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients Receive Chemo
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The rates of adults with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma (STS) who receive chemotherapy may be lower than expected, indicating a need for more aggressive systemic treatments, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Poverty-Stricken Adults More Likely to be Calcium-, Vitamin D-Deficient
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake in older Americans is greatly influenced by ethnicity, sex, household income, and food security, according to a study recently published in PLOS ONE.
Shift Seen to Newer Agents to Treat Psoriasis
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Phototherapy use for psoriasis decreased from 2005 to 2018, while use of biologics increased, according to a research letter published online Sept. 4 in Dermatologic Therapy.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
E-Cigarette Use Increased Significantly From 2017 to 2018
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There was a marked increase in electronic cigarette use from 2017 to 2018 in the United States, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Clinical Trial of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Paused After Illness
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A “potentially unexplained” illness in a participant has led AstraZeneca to halt a late-stage clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine.
Drug Companies Say Ethical, Scientific Standards Will Be Followed in Making COVID-19 Vaccines
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The highest ethical and scientific standards will be followed in testing and manufacturing vaccines against the new coronavirus, the top executives of nine U.S. and European drug companies promise.
Insurer, Insured Costs for HIV PrEP Rising in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2018, there were increases noted in third-party and out-of-pocket (OOP) payments per 30 tenofovir disoproxil fumarate with emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) tablets for HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), according to a study published online Sept. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Early Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis May Slow Heart Disease
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment also cuts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
CYP2C19 Genotyping May Aid Antiplatelet Prescribing
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Genotyping may provide some clinical benefit in prescribing antiplatelet therapies for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published in the Aug. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Increase Seen in Hydroxychloroquine Rx by Nonroutine Specialists
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In March 2020, compared with March 2019, there was an 80-fold increase in new prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine by specialists who did not typically prescribe these medications, according to research published in the Sept. 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
As Tough COVID-19 Summer Ends, Experts Warn of Tougher Fall, Winter
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a sobering illustration of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic took this summer, tallies now show the number of Americans who have died of the infection jumped from just under 100,000 to more than 186,000 between Memorial Day and Labor Day, while cases more than quadrupled to over 6.2 million.
States Should Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine by Nov. 1
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Even though it is not likely to happen, states should be prepared to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1, the U.S. Surgeon General said Sunday.
Four Studies Indicate Benefits of Steroids for COVID-19
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Steroids can improve survival in patients with COVID-19, according to three randomized trials and a meta-analysis published online Sept. 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Seizures During Menstrual Cycle Tied to Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In women with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE), having more frequent seizures during the menstrual cycle is associated with drug-resistant epilepsy, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Almost 1 in 100 May Die From Firearms, Overdose, or Motor Vehicle Accident
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The lifetime risk for death from firearms and drug overdoses varies by race and geography, according to a study recently published in The American Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Medical Marijuana Tied to Fewer Admissions in Sickle Cell Disease
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of medical marijuana is associated with fewer hospitalizations among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Blood Advances.
2009 to 2019 Saw Increase in Exposure to Phenibut in U.S.
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2009 to 2019, there was an increase in exposure to phenibut, with 1,320 exposures reported, according to research published in the Sept. 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup
Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Chief of U.S. Vaccine Initiative Says October Timeline ‘Extremely Unlikely’
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The chief adviser for the White House vaccine program said Thursday it was “extremely unlikely, but not impossible” that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available by the end of October.
Likely Deficient Vitamin D Status Linked to COVID-19 Risk
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Likely deficient vitamin D status is associated with an increased risk for COVID-19, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in JAMA Network Open.
Anticholinergic Meds May Raise Risk for Cognitive Decline
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Anticholinergic medications (aCH) are associated with an increased risk for incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitive decline in older adults, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Some Lupus Erythematosus Cases Tied to Drug Exposure
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Some cases of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are drug-induced, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in JAMA Dermatology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Benefit of Adjuvant Dabrafenib + Trametinib Persists in Melanoma
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with stage III melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations, 12 months of adjuvant dabrafenib plus trametinib results in increased survival without relapse or distant metastasis at five years, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC: 13.2 Percent of U.S. Adults Used Antidepressants in 2015 to 2018
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During 2015 to 2018, 13.2 percent of U.S. adults used antidepressant medications in the previous 30 days, according to a September data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Child Cancer Survivors’ Hearing Loss Linked to Cognitive Deficits
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Severe hearing impairment (HI) in childhood cancer survivors is associated with neurocognitive deficits, according to a study recently published in JAMA Oncology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
John Wagner No Longer Heading FDA Office of External Affairs
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For the second time in days, a Trump appointee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been let go.
Poll: Americans Now More Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Just over 54 percent of Americans now say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine in the first 12 months after it is introduced, a significant increase from 42 percent in July, a new WebMD poll finds.
Closed-Loop System Beneficial for Children With T1DM
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For children with type 1 diabetes, a closed-loop system results in the glucose level being in the target range for more time than with use of a sensor-augmented insulin pump, according to a study published in the Aug. 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Sodium Phenylbutyrate-Taurursodiol Promising for ALS
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), function declines more slowly through 24 weeks in those receiving sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol versus placebo, according to a study published in the Sept. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
U.S. Will Not Join International COVID-19 Vaccine Effort
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The United States will not join an international effort to create and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine, the Trump administration said Tuesday.
CDC Alerts Nation to Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine by Early November
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is telling the nation to prepare for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine this fall.
Deaths From Atrial Fibrillation Declined From 1972 to 2015
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There has been a decline in deaths related to atrial fibrillation (AF) over the last 45 years, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in The BMJ.
Higher Vitamin D Levels Linked to Lower Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations are associated with a lower risk for incident type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Diabetes Care.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
VA/DoD Issue Guideline for Diagnosis, Management of HTN
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a synopsis of the 2020 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/U.S. Department of Defense clinical practice guideline, published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are presented for the diagnosis and management of hypertension.
Review (subscription or payment may be required)
Pandemic Changed Asthma Care Delivery for Children
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia has brought changes in pediatric asthma care delivery patterns, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Maternal H1N1 Flu Vaccination Not Linked to Autism in Offspring
TUESDAY, Sept. 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Maternal influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
ADA Updates Guideline for Pharmacotherapy of T2DM
TUESDAY, Sept. 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a 2020 American Diabetes Association clinical guideline, published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are presented for the pharmacologic treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.
Copyright © 2020 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
