Saturday, November 17, 2018

Journal Watch November 2018



 CHRONIC PAIN
New Guidelines Issued for Patellofemoral Pain Management: The National Athletic Trainers' Association has issued recommendations for identifying and managing patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP); these recommendations form the basis of a position statement published in the September issue of the Journal of Athletic Training. 

Back pain shows significant association with mortality among older women: Researchers found that frequent, persistent back pain is associated with earlier death in a study of more than 8,000 older women who were followed for an average of 14 years. Journal of General Internal Medicine 

Pain can be a self-fulfilling prophecy: A new brain imaging study of 34 people found that when people expect to feel intense pain, they do, even if they aren't subjected to painful stimuli. Surprisingly, these false expectations can persist even when reality demonstrates otherwise, the study found. Nature Human Behaviour, 2018; 2
only small pain relief for tennis elbow, according to a review published online Oct. 31 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Only local corticosteroid injection improved pain at short-term follow-up; however, it was associated with pain worse than placebo at long-term follow-up. Laser therapy and local botulinum toxin injection improved pain at midterm follow-up. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy provided pain relief at long-term follow-up. Only laser therapy showed better outcomes for grip strength compared with placebo. All treatments increased adverse events compared with placebo. After receiving placebo, most patients experienced pain resolution within four weeks of follow-up.



COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Quitting Cannabis Tied to Improved Memory: Abstaining from cannabis is associated with improvements in memory and verbal learning in adolescents and young adults, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 

New insights into the neural risks and benefits of marijuana use: Compounds in cannabis can impair or improve memory depending on age, disease: Research underscores both the dangers and the therapeutic promise of marijuana, revealing different effects across the lifespan. Marijuana exposure in the womb or during adolescence may disrupt learning and memory, damage communication between brain regions, and disturb levels of key neurotransmitters and metabolites in the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, however, compounds found in marijuana, such as the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may improve memory and mitigate some of the disease's symptoms. Society for Neuroscience

Home-based biofeedback therapy is effective option for tough-to-treat constipation: Biofeedback therapy used at home is about 70 percent effective at helping patients learn how to coordinate and relax bowel muscles and relieve one of the most difficult-to-treat types of constipation, investigators report. Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology 

Singing may reduce stress, improve motor function for people with Parkinson's disease: Singing may provide benefits beyond improving respiratory and swallow control in people with Parkinson's disease, according to new data. The results from the pilot study revealed improvements in mood and motor symptoms, as well as reduced physiological indicators of stress as well as reduced physiological indicators of stress. Society for Neuroscience 2018 conference.

Blue light can reduce blood pressure, study suggests: Exposure to blue light decreases blood pressure, reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests. During this study, published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, participants were exposed to 30 minutes of whole-body blue light at approximately 450 nanometres, a dose comparable to daily sunlight -- followed by exposure to a control light on a different day. Visible blue light, as opposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, is not carcinogenic. To assess the impact, participants' blood pressure, stiffness of arteries, blood vessel dilation and blood plasma levels of nitric oxide stores were measured before, during, and up to two hours after irradiation with both lights. Researchers discovered that exposure to whole-body blue light significantly reduced the systolic blood pressure of participants by almost 8 mmHg, compared to the control light which had no impact. The reduction of blood pressure from blue light is similar to what is seen in clinical trials with blood pressure lowering drugs.

FDA ACTION
• Approved an extremely potent new opioid painkiller, Dsuvia
• Approving a ban on most flavored E cigarettes in retail stores and gas stations
• Approved New Version of Over the Counter Primatene Mist
Approved Aemcolo (rifamycin), an antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of adult patients with travelers’ diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), not complicated by fever or blood in the stool.
• Expanded the approved use of Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) injection in combination with chemotherapy for adult patients with certain types of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).
• Warned patients and doctors, who use at-home or in-the-office medical devices to monitor levels of the blood thinner, warfarin, that certain test strips used with the devices may provide inaccurate results and should not be relied upon to adjust the drug dosage.
• Permitted marketing, with special controls, of the 23andMe Personal Genome Service Pharmacogenetic Reports test as a direct-to-consumer test for providing information about genetic variants that may be associated with a patient’s ability to metabolize some medications to help inform discussions with a health care provider. The FDA is authorizing the test to detect 33 variants for multiple genes.
• Permitted marketing of the PicoAMH Elisa diagnostic test as an aid in the determination of a patient’s menopausal status
• Approved Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza (flu) in patients 12 years of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.

PREVENTION
Age to Stop Cervical Cancer Screening Depends on Test Used: Continuing regular cytology screening up to age 75 years or performing an exit human papillomavirus (HPV) test to confirm the absence of oncogenic HPV strains past the age of 55 years offers preventive benefit for older women with a cervix, according to a study published online Nov. 1 in The Lancet Oncology.

Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Long-term Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Testing: Cleveland Clinic researchers have found that better cardiorespiratory fitness leads to longer life, with no limit to the benefit of aerobic fitness. Researchers retrospectively studied 122,007 patients who underwent exercise treadmill testing at Cleveland Clinic between Jan. 1, 1991, and Dec. 31, 2014, to measure all-cause mortality relating to the benefits of exercise and fitness. The study found that increased cardiorespiratory fitness was directly associated with reduced long-term mortality, with no limit on the positive effects of aerobic fitness. Extreme aerobic fitness was associated with the greatest benefit, particularly in older patients (70 and older) and in those with hypertension. The risk associated with poor cardiorespiratory fitness was comparable to or even exceeded that of traditional clinical risk factors, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and smoking. The study's findings emphasize the long-term benefits of exercise and fitness, even to extreme levels, regardless of age or coexistent cardiovascular disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(6):e183605. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3605

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Updated: Key guidelines for recommended physical activity in Americans have been updated, according to a special report published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association To enhance growth and development, preschool-aged children should be physically active throughout the day. At least 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily is recommended for children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. Adults should do at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination, as well as muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week. Multicomponent physical activity that includes balance training and aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities is recommended for older adults. Nearly everyone will benefit from moving more and sitting less.

Urinary Incontinence Common in Women over 50: Nearly half of women older than 50 years report having urinary incontinence, according to the results of the National Poll on Healthy Aging, published on Nov. 1.

USPSTF Recommends Screening Adults for Unhealthy Alcohol Use: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care clinicians screen all adults, including pregnant women, for unhealthy alcohol use and provide brief behavioral counseling to reduce unhealthy alcohol use. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Nov. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. 

Aggressive Control of BP, Lipids in Type 2 Diabetes May Up Kidney Risk: Intensive blood pressure (BP) control and fenofibrate use in patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease may increase the risk for adverse kidney events, according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

Hands-only CPR training kiosks can increase by stander intervention, improve survival: Prompt action from a bystander can impact the likelihood a person survives cardiac arrest that occurs outside of a hospital. One common and proven intervention that anyone can learn is Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Hands-Only CPR training kiosks are becoming more widespread and are an effective training tool, a new Annals of Emergency Medicine analysis finds. 

Pilot study suggests pedal desks could address health risks of sedentary workplace: A recent pilot study by kinesiologists found that pedaling while conducting work tasks improved insulin responses to a test meal. Investigators found that insulin levels following the meal were lower when sedentary workers used a pedal desk compared to a standard desk. In addition, work skills were not decreased in the pedaling condition. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Weight lifting is good for your heart and it doesn't take much: Lifting weights for less than an hour a week may reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke by 40 to 70 percent, according to a new study. Spending more than an hour in the weight room did not yield any additional benefit, the researchers found. The results show benefits of strength training are independent of running, walking or other aerobic activity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2018; 

Different types of physical activity offer varying protection against heart disease: While it is well known that physical activity is important for heart health, neither research nor recommendations consistently differentiate between the benefits of different types of physical activity. New research found that while all physical activity is beneficial, static activities -- such as strength training-- were more strongly associated with reducing heart disease risks than dynamic activities like walking and cycling. ACC Latin American Conference 

Phone app effectively identifies potentially fatal heart attacks with near accuracy of medical ECG: Can your smart phone determine if you're having the most serious -- and deadly -- form of heart attack? A new research study says it can -- and may be a valuable tool to save lives. Science Daily

Social isolation linked to higher risk of death: A large American Cancer Society study links social isolation with a higher risk of death from all causes combined and heart disease for all races studied, and with increased cancer mortality in white men and women. The study, appearing in the American Journal of Epidemiology, says addressing social isolation holds promise if studies show interventions are effective, as they could be relatively simple and could influence other risk factors, as social isolation is also associated with hypertension, inflammation, physical inactivity, smoking, and other health risks.
Untreated Hearing Loss ups Costs & Conditions: Older adults with untreated hearing loss have increased total health care costs and an increased risk for medical comorbidities, according to two studies published online Nov. 8 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Grief linked to sleep disturbances that can be bad for the heart: People who have recently lost a spouse are more likely to have sleep disturbances that exacerbate levels of inflammation in the body, according to new research. These elevated levels of inflammation may increase risk for cardiovascular illness and death. Psychosomatic Medicine


NUTRITION/SUPPLEMENTS/VITAMINS
Most Supplements Contain Prohibited Stimulants: Many supplements contain one or more stimulants that have been the subject of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-issued public notices, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Plant Based Diets Beneficial for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: For adults with type 2 diabetes, plant-based diets can improve psychological health, quality of life, hemoglobin A1c levels, and weight, according to a review published online Oct. 30 in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.

Limited Benefit forn-3 Fatty Acids in CVD, Cancer Prevention: Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D do not significantly reduce major cardiovascular events or cancer incidence, according to two studies published online Nov. 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Trial finds diet rich in fish helps fight asthma: The international study found children with asthma who followed a healthy Mediterranean diet enriched with fatty fish had improved lung function after six months. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

Resistant bacteria: Can raw vegetables and salad pose a health risk?: Salad is popular with people who want to maintain a balanced and healthy diet. Salad varieties are often offered for sale ready-cut and film-packaged. It is known that these types of fresh produce may be contaminated with bacteria that are relevant from the point of view of hygiene. Researchers have now shown that these bacteria may also harbor bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Consumers should always wash raw vegetables, leaf salad and fresh herbs thoroughly with drinking water before eating them in order to minimise the risk of ingestion of pathogens or antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems as a result of advanced age, pre-existing conditions or medication intake should additionally refrain from eating pre-cut and packaged salads as a precaution against foodborne infections and should instead prepare salads themselves using fresh and thoroughly washed ingredients shortly before consumption. Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

Nuts for nuts? Daily serving may help control weight and benefit health: Eating Brazil nuts and other varieties of nuts daily may prevent weight gain and provide other cardiovascular benefits, according to two separate preliminary studies. American Heart Association

Should You Eat a Low Gluten Diet?: When healthy people eat a low-gluten and fiber-rich diet compared with a high-gluten diet they experience less intestinal discomfort including less bloating which researchers show are due to changes of the composition and function of gut bacteria. The new study also shows a modest weight loss following low-gluten dieting. The researchers attribute the impact of diet on healthy adults more to change in composition of dietary fibers than gluten itself. Nature Communications

Drinking coffee may reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's: A new study suggests drinking coffee may protect you against developing both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. "The caffeinated and de-caffeinated dark roast both had identical potencies in our initial experimental tests," says Dr. Mancini. "So we observed early on that its protective effect could not be due to caffeine." Frontiers in Neuroscience

TREATMENT
Drug Recall: Certain lots of irbesartan are being recalled by SciGen because they contain an industrial chemical that is a suspected carcinogen, CNN reported. The recalled drugs have "Westminster Pharmaceuticals" and "GSMS Inc." on the label.

Aggressive Control of BP, Lipids in T2DM May Up Kidney Risk: Intensive blood pressure (BP) control and fenofibrate use in patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease may increase the risk for adverse kidney events, according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology to coincide with its presentation at the American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week, held Oct. 23 to 28 in San Diego.

Link Between Statins, Non-CVD Outcomes Lacks Evidence: There is a lack of convincing evidence for an association between statin use and non-cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, according to a review published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. The researchers found no convincing (class I) evidence, two highly suggestive (class II) associations (decreased cancer mortality in patients with cancer and decreased exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), 21 suggestive (class III) associations, and 42 weak (class IV) associations for the observational studies. There was a sufficient amount of evidence with no hints of bias for one outcome from the RCTs (decreased all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease). Observational studies had suggestive evidence that statins increase the risk for diabetes and myopathy. No statistically significant effects on myopathy, myalgia, or rhabdomyolysis were found among the RCTs.

Icosapent Ethyl Cuts CV Risk From Elevated Triglycerides: Icosapent ethyl is associated with a reduced risk for ischemic events among patients with elevated triglyceride levels despite taking statins, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Heart Association.

Aspirin alone a good clot buster after knee surgery: When it comes to preventing blood clots after a knee replacement, good old aspirin may be just as effective as newer, more expensive drugs, such as rivaroxaban (Xarelto), according to a orthopedics study. Science Daily  

Hepatitis C treatment can be shortened in 50 percent of patients, study finds: Hepatitis C drugs cure more than 90 percent of patients, but can cost more than $50,000 per patient. Findings from a new study could lead to significant cost savings. In 50 percent of patients, the standard 12-week treatment regimen could be shortened to as little as six weeks without compromising efficacy, the study found.  Science Daily

Diabetic foot ulcers heal quickly with nitric oxide technology: Around the world, 425 million people live with diabetes and upwards of 15 percent develop foot ulcers, which increases their risk of death 2.5 times. A new nitric oxide-releasing technology has the potential to cut down the healing time of diabetic foot ulcers from 120 days to 21 days. Medical Sciences

Scalpel-free surgery enhances quality of life for Parkinson's patients: A high-tech form of brain surgery that replaces scalpels with sound waves improved quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease that has resisted other forms of treatment, a new study has found. "In our initial study that looked at the outcomes of focused ultrasound surgery in Parkinson's disease, we primarily described post-operative improvements in motor symptoms, specifically tremor," said Scott Sperling, PsyD, a clinical neuropsychologist at UVA. "In this study, we extended these initial results and showed that focused ultrasound thalamotomy is not only safe from a cognitive and mood perspective, but that patients who underwent surgery realized significant and sustained benefits in terms of functional disability and overall quality of life." Neurology

OTHER
Psoriasis Linked to Increased Risk for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Psoriasis appears to be significantly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a review published online Oct. 24 in JAMA Dermatology.

Access to In-Home Support Soon to Be Available for Seniors: In-home services such as help with household chores and caregiver respite will be available to seniors with private Medicare Advantage plans in more than 20 states next year. A health-related reason is needed to qualify, and costs will vary depending on the plan. With some plans, there will be no added cost. There will be limits on benefits, the Associated Press reported. The number of states where the new services are available is expected to grow over time.

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