News

Tap Water in Neti Pot Linked to Death From Brain-Eating Amoeba

Amoeba entered the upper nasal cavity and then the bloodstream, eventually reaching the brain

HIT-Related Stress Linked to Burnout Among Physicians

Odds of burnout up with report of poor/marginal time for documentation, time spent on EHR at home

Risk Up for Later-Born Siblings of Children With ASD, ADHD

Odds of both ASD and ADHD increased for later-born siblings of children with either diagnosis

Veterans Health Administration Hospitals Outperform Non-VHAs

When 121 regions were considered together, VHA care was better for 14 of 15 outcome measures

Higher Risk for Breast Cancer After Childbirth May Last 20+ Years

Risk peaks five years after childbirth but continues until 24 years postbirth

Hospital Discharge at Christmastime May Not Be a Gift for Some

How Puzzles, Games Might Help Your Aging Brain

Sporting Events Dangerous for Spectators, Too

AHA: New Report Emphasizes Safety of Statins

AHA: Sleep Apnea May Double Odds for High Blood Pressure in Blacks

Restoring Hair Growth on Scarred Skin? Mouse Study Could Show the Way

Autism, ADHD in One Child Tied to Raised Risk in Siblings

Cemented Metal-on-Polyethylene Implants Best for Seniors

For men, women aged older than 65 years, small-head cemented metal-on-polyethylene cost-effective

AHA Scientific Statement: Low Risk of Side Effects for Statins

Risk for statin-induced serious muscle injury <0.1 percent, newly diagnosed diabetes ~0.2 percent

2012 to 2016 Saw Increase in Syphilis Among Pregnant Women

Overall, 49 percent of pregnant women with syphilis did not report any of 15 risk factors

Women Face Less Kidney Disease Morbidity and Mortality Than Men

Risk for progression to end-stage renal disease and death appears to be lower in women than men

Survival Similar With Donor Hearts From Hepatitis C+ Donors

Second study shows no significant difference in patients' survival based on donor BMI

Smaller Heads Related to Opioid-Related Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Chronic opioid use in pregnancy resulting in NAS linked to smaller head circumference in neonates

EMS Times Longer for Patients From Poorest Neighborhoods

Total EMS time for cardiac arrest was longer for patients in lowest ZIP code income quartile

PM2.5 Exposure Linked to Asthma Rescue Medication Use

National 1 µg/m³ drop in PM2.5 concentration would result in economic benefit of nearly $350 million

Smoking Linked to Cognitive Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia

In adjusted analysis, smoking tied to worse symptom severity, sleep problems, anxiety, depression

Less Than One Hour of Resistance Training Weekly Tied to Lower CVD Risk

No further risk reduction for CVD morbidity, all-cause mortality seen for ≥60 minutes/week

Electronic Health Records Bogging Docs Down

Catnip: The ‘Why’ Behind Cats’ Favorite High

Sleep, Don’t Cram, Before Finals for Better Grades

Have Heart Failure? Flu Shot May Save Your Life

Health Highlights: Dec. 10, 2018

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects States' Appeal Over Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood

To Track Carbs, Tap Into the Glycemic Index … and Its Cousin

Nagging Low Back Pain? Try Mindfulness

Kidney Disease More Deadly for Men

Opioids Exact Another Toll on Newborns: Smaller Heads

Health Tip: Understanding Eczema

Health Tip: Ice Skate Safely

Put Some Healthful Into Holiday Eating

Break a Sweat Over the Holidays, but Do It Safely

American Society of Hematology, Dec. 1-4

Ultrarestrictive Opioid Rx Protocol Cuts Postoperative Opioid Use

UROPP reduces opioids prescribed after gynecologic, abdominal surgery without negative effects

Lower RN Staffing Linked to Increased In-Hospital Mortality

Higher levels of admissions per registered nurse also tied to increased in-hospital mortality

Most Insured Patients Not Using Online Portals

Socioeconomic disparities exist in use of patient portals; privacy concerns cited for nonuse

Fear Impacts Quality of Life for Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

Young adults cite fear of complications, burden of disease management, impact on family and job

Family, School Support May Help Stop Bullies in Their Tracks

Too Much Salt Might Help Spur A-Fib

Meds Taken Do Not Vary With ADL Impairment in Heart Failure

Adults with heart failure with impairment in activities of daily living take as many meds as those without

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Saw Big Drop From 1988 to 2014

However, among U.S. nonsmokers, rates of secondhand exposure stalled during 2011 to 2014

Pregnant Women Commonly Refuse Vaccines

Providers believe stressing fetal protection is most effective strategy against refusal

Botox Injections Explored to Cut Postop A-Fib in Cardiac Surgery

Findings of early trials based on epicardial fat pad injections during cardiac surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery Works Well for Detached Retina

Benefits include sharper vision, less distortion, and reduced side effects over one-year follow-up

Chronic Kidney Disease Burden Increasing in the United States

Increases in metabolic and, to a lesser extent, dietary risk factors contribute to higher burden

Patient Education Can Improve Chronic Disease Management

Improvement seen in patients' ability to manage disease, medical students' ability to educate them

Breast Screening Linked to Lower Risk for Breast Cancer Death

Screening linked to 60 percent lower risk for dying from breast cancer within 10 years after diagnosis

Lack of Peds Preventive Care Ups Unplanned Hospital Admissions

Infants and children lacking vaccinations, development checks more likely to be admitted

Rural Residence, Poverty Are Risk Factors for COPD

Among never-smokers, rural residence, neighborhood use of coal linked to risk for COPD

AHA: A Black Filmmaker’s Look at the Heart (Health) of Her Community

More Blood Pressure Meds Recalled Due to Carcinogen

More Illnesses From Tainted Romaine Lettuce Reported

Health Highlights: Dec. 7, 2018

Ebola Spreads to Large City in Congo Whole Grain-Rules for School Lunches Rolled Back by Trump Administration Study That Targeted "Joy of Cooking" Retracted by Journal Excess Body Fat May Increase Older Women's Breast Cancer Risk: Study

Safety First When Running Outdoors

Are Kids’ Playgrounds Really Safe?

For Younger Cancer Patients, Mastectomy vs. Breast-Conserving Surgery

Healthy Lifestyle Lowers Odds of Breast Cancer’s Return

Better Economy Could Mean Worse Nursing Home Care

Incontinence Drug May Cut Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors

More Are Seeking Mental Health Care, But Not Always Those Who Need It Most

Health Tip: Understanding Bottlemouth Syndrome

Health Tip: Improve Your Sleep Habits

Many Americans Unaware of Promise of Personalized Medicine

41 percent are not at all familiar with personalized medicine; only 5 percent say they are very familiar

Since 1999, Uterine Cancer Incidence, Mortality Up

Incidence of uterine cancer higher among non-Hispanic black and white women; more deaths for blacks

Smartphone App Uses Fingernail Bed Images to Detect Anemia

App uses color and metadata from fingernails to detect hemoglobin levels in the blood

SABCS: Breast Cancer Outcomes Worse for Blacks Despite Similar Gene RS

Black race was associated with worse clinical outcomes among entire population

Colonoscopy Receipt Varies After Advanced Adenoma Diagnosis

Percent of patients receiving subsequent colonoscopy within 3.5 years varies from 18.3 to 59.5 percent

Breast Cancer Deadlier for Black Women, Despite Same Treatments

Millions of Americans Still Breathing Secondhand Smoke: Report

HIV Strikes Black Gay Men More, Despite Safer Behaviors

Smokers Who Roll Their Own Less Likely to Quit

Obesity May Be Driving Rise in Uterine Cancers

Recommendations Developed for Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment

Guideline includes use of treat-to-target strategy for all adult patients with active PsA

Smoke Exposure High in Low-Income, Nonurban Infants

12 percent of infants registered cotinine values of ≥12 ng/mL, consistent with active smoking in adults

High Sensitivity, Specificity for Chlamydia Point-of-Care Test

Polymerase chain reaction test has high sensitivity and specificity for vaginal swab samples

Functional Nasal Surgery Can Improve Headache Symptoms

Eighty-five percent of patients report partial or complete resolution of headaches postoperatively

Pictorial Presentation of Silent Atherosclerosis Helps Cut CV Risk

Framingham risk score decreased in intervention group and increased in control group

SABCS: Low-Dose Tamoxifen Cuts Risk for Breast Dz

More second primary cancers and more frequent menopausal symptoms seen in tamoxifen vs. placebo arm

COPD Tied to Obesity in Male, Female Never-Smokers

Strong dose-response relationship seen in never-smokers aged 50 and older

New Guidance Addresses Early Dx of Dysmenorrhea in Adolescents

Endometriosis is most common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea, looks different in teens than adults

Projected Distribution of Common Ragweed Modeled in U.S.

Based on global climate models, expansion predicted at northern margins of current distribution

Opioids Overprescribed After Arthroscopic Meniscectomy

Only 573.5 of 3,765 pills prescribed were consumed by 102 patients undergoing meniscectomy

AHA: 12-Year-Old Heart Defect Survivor Inspires NFL Player’s Foundation

Kidney Disease Claiming More Lives

Tamoxifen at a Lower Dose Might Still Prevent Breast Cancer’s Return

Obesity Ups Survival in Heart Failure, but That’s No Reason to Pile on Pounds

Make Those School Lunches More Nutritious

Rethinking Where You Shop for Food

New Approach to Opioid Crisis: Supervised Heroin Injection Programs?

Fewer Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients May Need Lymph Node Removal: Study

Another Plus to Cardiac Rehab: Better Sex

Many Americans Unaware of Promise of Targeted, ‘Personalized’ Medicine: Poll

Health Highlights: Dec. 6, 2018

Staff at N.J. Facility Where 11 Children Died Did Not Follow Sanitation Procedures Worldwide Search For Donors to Help Girl With Rare Blood Type

Health Tip: What to Do If You Suspect a Concussion

Health Tip: Before You Get Help for Stuttering

FDA Warns of Rare Stroke Risk With Multiple Sclerosis Drug

Alemtuzumab label will be updated to include the risk for stroke and arterial dissection

Infections Linked to Increased Later Risk for Mental Disorders

Subsequent risk increased with infections requiring hospitalization, treatment with anti-infective agents