Latest News from: JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

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18-May-2012 12:10 PM EDT
International Panel Updates Definition of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Gordon D. Rubenfeld, M.D., of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Canada, and colleagues with the ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) Definition Task Force, developed a new definition of ARDS (the Berlin Definition) that focused on feasibility, reliability, validity and objective evaluation of its performance.

18-May-2012 12:00 PM EDT
Combination Antibiotic Treatment Does Not Result in Less Organ Failure in Adults with Severe Sepsis
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Frank M. Brunkhorst, M.D., of Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany, and colleagues conducted a study to compare the effect of the antibiotics moxifloxacin and meropenem with the effect of meropenem monotherapy on sepsis-related organ dysfunction. Early appropriate antimicrobial therapy leads to lower mortality rates associated with severe sepsis.

18-May-2012 12:35 PM EDT
Study Evaluates Use of Inhaled Saline for Young Children with Cystic Fibrosis
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Margaret Rosenfeld, M.D., M.P.H., of Seattle Children's Hospital, and colleagues conducted a study to examine if hypertonic saline would reduce the rate of pulmonary exacerbations in children younger than 6 years of age with cystic fibrosis (CF).

18-May-2012 12:30 PM EDT
Low-Dose CT Screening May Benefit Individuals at Increased Risk for Lung Cancer
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Peter B. Bach, M.D., of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the evidence regarding the benefits and harms of low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death.

18-May-2012 12:25 PM EDT
Study Examines Treatments for Relieving Breathing Difficulties Among Patients with Lung Effusions
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Helen E. Davies, M.D., of the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, and colleagues compared the effectiveness of treatments to relieve breathing difficulties among patients with malignant pleural effusion (presence of fluid in the pleural cavity [space between the outside of the lungs and the inside wall of the chest cavity], as a complication of malignant disease).

4-May-2012 2:00 PM EDT
Risk of Stroke Greater for Women Than Men Among Older Patients Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that examined use of the anticoagulant medication warfarin and risk of stroke following a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in older patients, women, especially those 75 years or older, had a higher risk of stroke than men, regardless of their risk profile and use of warfarin, suggesting that current anticoagulant therapy to prevent stroke might not be sufficient for older women, according to a study in the May 9 issue of JAMA.

4-May-2012 2:00 PM EDT
Consumption of Probiotics Associated with Reduced Risk of Diarrhea From Antibiotic Use
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Consumption of probiotics (live microorganisms, which may occur naturally in foods such as yogurt, intended to confer a health benefit when consumed) is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, a common adverse effect of antibiotic use, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies published in the May 9 issue of JAMA.

4-May-2012 2:40 PM EDT
Equation May Accurately Predict Risk of Certain Outcomes for Patients with Impaired Kidney Function
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that included data from more than 1 million adults, use of a newer risk prediction equation classified fewer individuals as having chronic kidney disease and more accurately categorized the risk for death and end-stage renal disease, according to a study in the May 9 issue of JAMA.

4-May-2012 3:00 PM EDT
Maternal Perceptions of Toddler Body Size Often Wrong
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A study of mothers and their toddlers suggests that mothers of overweight toddlers often had inaccurate perceptions of their child's body size, according to a report published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

4-May-2012 2:50 PM EDT
Study Examines Collaborative Care Intervention Among Patients with Depression
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among adults with depression and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, or both, a collaborative care intervention incorporating a team-centered care approach is associated with improvements in depression-free days and quality-adjusted life-years, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.

4-May-2012 3:00 PM EDT
Study Suggests Mid-Adolescence Is Peak Risk for Extramedical Use of Pain Relievers by Young People
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Surveys of U.S. adolescents suggest that the estimated peak risk of using prescription pain relievers for extramedical use, such as to get high or for other unapproved indications, occurs in mid-adolescence, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

4-May-2012 3:00 PM EDT
Midlife and Late-Life Depressive Symptoms Associated with Dementia
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Depressive symptoms that are present in midlife or in late life are associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.

4-May-2012 3:15 PM EDT
Study Examines Associations Between TV Viewing, Eating by School Children
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Television viewing and unhealthy eating habits in U.S. adolescents appear to be linked in a national survey of students in the fifth to 10 th grades, according to a report published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. The study is part of the Nutrition and the Health of Children and Adolescents theme issue.

4-May-2012 3:00 PM EDT
Obesity Prevention Program for Girls Not Associated with Significant Difference in Body Mass Index
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

An Australian school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent girls was not associated with statistically significant differences in body mass index (BMI) and other body composition measures, however the small changes may be related to clinically important health outcomes, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

26-Apr-2012 4:45 PM EDT
Use of Fish Oil Supplements Shows Mixed Results Regarding Graft Patency for Hemodialysis
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with new synthetic arteriovenous grafts (a synthetic tube grafted between an artery and vein) for vascular access for hemodialysis, daily ingestion of fish oil did not decrease the proportion of grafts with loss of patency (remaining open) within 12 months, according to a study in the May 2 issue of JAMA. However, fish oil recipients had a longer time without thrombosis (formation of a blood clot), half the thrombosis rate, and a clinically meaningful reduction in frequency of radiological and surgical interventions.

26-Apr-2012 4:45 PM EDT
Examination of Registered Clinical Trials Suggests Weakness in Size and Methodology of Many Studies
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Clinical studies registered in clinicaltrials.gov between 2007-2010 are dominated by small, single-center trials and contain significant heterogeneity (different in nature, difficult to compare) in methodological approaches, including the use of randomization, blinding, and data monitoring committees, according to a study in the May 2 issue of JAMA.

26-Apr-2012 4:45 PM EDT
Study Finds Increase in Maternal Opiate Use, Infants Born with Drug Withdrawal Syndrome
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Between 2000 and 2009 in the United States, the annual rate of maternal opiate use increased nearly 5-fold, while diagnosis of the drug withdrawal syndrome among newborns, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), increased almost 3-fold, accompanied by a substantial increase in hospital charges related to NAS, according to a study published online by JAMA.

20-Apr-2012 10:00 AM EDT
VLBW Infants Born at Hospitals Known for Nursing Excellence Have Better Outcomes on Some Measures
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that included more than 72,000 very low-birth-weight infants, among those born in hospitals with recognition for nursing excellence (RNE), compared with non-RNE hospitals, there was a significantly lower rate of hospital infection, death at 7-days and severe intraventricular hemorrhage but not lower rates of death at 28-days or hospital stay mortality, according to a study in the April 25 issue of JAMA.

20-Apr-2012 10:00 AM EDT
Heart Infection Involving ICD Associated with High Rate of Complications, Risk of Death
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Patients with infective endocarditis involving implanted cardiac devices experience a high rate of complications such as valve infections, heart failure, and persistent bacteremia, and high in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates, particularly if there is valve involvement, according to a study in the April 25 issue of JAMA.

20-Apr-2012 10:00 AM EDT
Botox Injections Associated with Only Modest Benefit for Chronic Migraine and Daily Headaches
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Although botulinum toxin A ("Botox") injections are U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for preventive treatment for chronic migraines, a review and analysis of previous studies finds a small to modest benefit for patients with chronic migraine headaches and chronic daily headaches, although botox injections were not associated with greater benefit than placebo for preventing episodic migraine or chronic tension-type headaches, according to an article in the April 25 issue of JAMA.

20-Apr-2012 10:00 AM EDT
Flu Vaccination Reminder via Text Messaging Improves Rate of Vaccination Among Low-Income Children
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A text messaging intervention with education-related messages sent to parents increased influenza vaccination coverage compared with usual care in a traditionally hard-to-reach, low-income, urban, minority population of children and adolescents, although coverage overall remained low, according to a study in the April 25 issue of JAMA.

5-Apr-2012 4:45 PM EDT
High Blood Pressure Medication Use by Heart Failure Patients Not Linked with Increased Risk of Death
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Although observational studies have suggested that losartan, a drug used primarily for the treatment of hypertension, may be associated with an increased risk of death among patients with heart failure compared with other medications in the same class of drugs, an analysis that included nearly 6,500 patients found that overall, use of losartan was not associated with increased all-cause death or cardiovascular death compared with use of the ARB candesartan, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

5-Apr-2012 4:40 PM EDT
Older Adults with ECG Abnormalities May Be at Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Events
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that included elderly men and women without preexisting cardiovascular disease, major and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities were associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events and improved the prediction of CHD events such as heart attack, beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

29-Mar-2012 5:20 PM EDT
Annual Mammography with Screening Ultrasound May Benefit Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

The addition of a screening ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to annual mammography in women with an increased risk of breast cancer and dense breast tissue resulted in a higher rate of detection of incident breast cancers, according to a study in the April 4 issue of JAMA.

29-Mar-2012 5:20 PM EDT
Changes in Diagnostic Coding May Affect Data That Indicate Decline in Pneumonia Hospitalizations
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Although data indicate that between 2003-2009 there was a substantial decline in the U.S. in hospitalizations for pneumonia and inpatient deaths, analysis suggests that trends in documentation and diagnostic coding, rather than improvements in actual outcomes, may explain much of the observed changes, according to a study in the April 4 issue of JAMA.

29-Mar-2012 5:15 PM EDT
Adding Drug to Chemotherapy Following Colon Cancer Surgery Does Not Improve Disease-Free Survival
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Adding the drug cetuximab to a regimen of drugs used for the treatment of patients following surgery for stage III colon cancer did not result in improved disease-free survival, according to a study in the April 4 issue of JAMA.

29-Mar-2012 5:20 PM EDT
Oral Use of Antibiotic Fluoroquinolones May Increase Risk of Retinal Detachment; Absolute Risk Small
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In an analysis of a cohort that included nearly one million patients who had visited an ophthalmologist, patients who were taking oral fluoroquinolones had a higher risk of developing a retinal detachment, a serious eye condition, compared with nonusers, although the absolute risk was small, according to a study in the April 4 issue of JAMA.

29-Mar-2012 5:30 PM EDT
Teen Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use and Abuse Examined in Study
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. teenagers suggests that most cases of alcohol and drug abuse have their initial onset at this important period of development, according to a report published in the April issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.

29-Mar-2012 5:30 PM EDT
Study Examines Use of Waist Measures Among Overweight and Obese Adolescents
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Waist measures (waist circumference, waist to height ratio) in conjunction with body mass index appear to be associated with lipid and blood pressure assessments among overweight and obese adolescents, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

29-Mar-2012 5:30 PM EDT
Study Links Intrauterine Antipsychotic Medication Exposure to Lower Scores on Infant Neuromotor Test
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among 6-month-old infants, a history of intrauterine antipsychotic medication exposure was associated with significantly lower scores on a standard test of neuromotor performance, according to a report published Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.

29-Mar-2012 5:20 PM EDT
Nearly Half of Preschoolers Lack 1 Parent-Supervised Playtime Per Day
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Parents reported that about half of the preschoolers in a nationally representative sample did not have at least one parent-supervised outdoor playtime per day, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

23-Mar-2012 12:10 PM EDT
Invasive Treatment Strategy May Increase Survival For Patients With Certain Neuromuscular Disorder
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Patients with a cardiac irregularity and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (a severe neuromuscular disorder with a high risk of sudden death) who received an invasive treatment strategy had an associated higher rate of 9-year survival.

23-Mar-2012 12:05 PM EDT
Non-HDL-C Level Linked With Risk Of Major Cardiovascular Events Among Patients Taking Statins
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Levels of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) among statin-treated patients appears to be associated with the risk of developing a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, as are levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B, according to a meta-analysis of data from previously published studies appearing in the March 28 issue of JAMA.

23-Mar-2012 12:00 PM EDT
Longer Treatment with Cancer Drug Following Removal of GI Tumor Results in Improved Survival
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with a high risk of recurrence of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor following surgery for its removal, patients who received imatinib (a drug to treat certain cancers) for 3 years instead of 1 had improved recurrence-free survival and overall survival, according to a study in the March 28 issue of JAMA.

23-Mar-2012 12:00 PM EDT
Greater Medication Cost-Sharing Associated With Reduced Use of Asthma Medications By Children
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Greater out-of-pocket asthma medication cost was associated with small reductions in medication use and with more frequent asthma-related hospitalizations among children ages 5 years or older, according to a study in the March 28 issue of JAMA.

23-Mar-2012 11:50 AM EDT
Solution Used by Paramedics Does Not Reduce Rate of Development of Heart Attack
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Patients experiencing symptoms such as chest pain who received from paramedics a certain intravenous solution had no reduction in the rate of progression to heart attack and no improvement in 30-day survival.

23-Mar-2012 11:40 AM EDT
Drug Infusion Into Coronary Artery May Help Reduce Size of Heart Damage After Heart Attack
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Administration of a bolus dose of the anticoagulant drug abciximab into the coronary artery involved in causing a certain type of heart attack among patients who were undergoing a PCI and also receiving another anticoagulant resulted in reduction in the size of damage to the heart muscle.

23-Mar-2012 11:45 AM EDT
Intervention Results in Increased Use of Evidence-Based Medications for Patients with ACS
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with acute coronary syndromes treated at public hospitals in Brazil, implementation of a multifaceted intervention resulted in improvement in the use of evidence-based medicines.

23-Mar-2012 11:35 AM EDT
Study Examines Treatment of Heart Failure with Bone Marrow Cells
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Use of a patient’s bone marrow cells for treating chronic ischemic heart failure did not result in improvement on most measures of heart function, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific sessions.

16-Mar-2012 8:00 AM EDT
Sedative May Reduce Duration of Mechanical Ventilation, Improve Comfort for ICU Patients
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

The results of two randomized trials indicate that among intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation, use of the sedative dexmedetomidine was not inferior (outcome not worse than treatment compared to) to the standard sedatives midazolam and propofol in maintaining light to moderate sedation; also, dexmedetomidine reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation compared with midazolam, and improved patients' ability to communicate pain compared with the other drugs, according to a study in the March 21 issue of JAMA.

15-Mar-2012 5:45 PM EDT
Use of Stem Cells for Adults Receiving Related Donor Kidney Transplants Appears to Improve Outcomes
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing living-related kidney transplants, the use of bone-marrow derived mesenchymal (cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types) stem cells instead of antibody induction therapy resulted in a lower incidence of acute rejection, decreased risk of opportunistic infection, and better estimated kidney function at 1 year, according to a study in the March 21 issue of JAMA.

15-Mar-2012 5:45 PM EDT
Meeting Greater Number of Recommended Cardiovascular Health Factors Linked with Lower Risk of Death
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that included a nationally representative sample of nearly 45,000 adults, participants who met more of seven recommended cardiovascular health behaviors or factors (such as not smoking, having normal cholesterol levels, eating a healthy diet), had a lower risk of death compared to participants who met fewer factors, although only a low percentage of adults met all seven factors, according to a study appearing in JAMA.

8-Mar-2012 4:45 PM EST
Study Examines Outcomes Among Patients Treated in Universal Health Care System
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among hospitals in Ontario, Canada, those with higher levels of spending, which included higher intensity nursing and greater use of specialists and procedures, had an associated lower rate of deaths, hospital readmissions, and better quality of care for severely ill hospitalized patients, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA.

8-Mar-2012 4:45 PM EST
Study Finds Association Between Genetic Mutation and Age at Diagnosis for Common Childhood Cancer
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Certain mutations of the gene ATRX were associated with age at diagnosis in children and young adults with advanced-stage neuroblastoma, a cancer that grows in parts of the nervous system, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA.

8-Mar-2012 4:40 PM EST
Endoscopic Procedure May Result in Better Outcomes for Patients with Infected Severe Pancreatitis
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a small, preliminary trial, patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis (severe form of the disease involving devitalized pancreatic tissue) who received a less-invasive procedure, endoscopic transgastric necrosectomy (removal of the pancreatic tissue), had an associated lower risk of major complications and death compared to patients who had surgical necrosectomy, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA.

8-Mar-2012 4:40 PM EST
Treating Intestinal E. coli Infection with Antibiotic May Reduce Duration of Bacterial Carriage
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In the E coli outbreak in Germany in May 2011, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower frequency of long-term carriage of the bacteria and shorter duration of shedding of the bacteria in stool specimens, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA.

2-Mar-2012 3:00 PM EST
Study Examines Use of Bevacizumab Among Patients with Hereditary Blood Vessel Disorder
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a small study that included 25 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (a genetic disorder that leads to abnormalities of blood vessels) and severe liver involvement with this disease, patients who received the drug bevacizumab had improved cardiac output and a reduction in the duration and number of episodes of nose bleeds, a potentially life-threatening complication for patients with this disorder, according to a study in the March 7 issue of JAMA.

2-Mar-2012 3:00 PM EST
Study Examines the Relative Roles of Testosterone and Its Metabolite, Dihydrotestosterone in Men
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Men receiving testosterone supplementation who also received a drug (dutasteride) commonly used to treat an enlarged prostate gland and which blocks the conversion of testosterone to its potent metabolite DHT did not experience a significant difference in changes in certain outcomes such as muscle mass, muscle strength, or sexual function compared to men who did not receive dutasteride, according to a study in the March 7 issue of JAMA.

2-Mar-2012 3:00 PM EST
Surgery Soon After Failure of Drug Treatment for Epilepsy May Lower Risk of Seizures
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Patients with epilepsy who underwent brain surgery soon after failing to respond to drug treatment, but who also continued to receive drug therapy, had a lower risk of seizures during the 2nd year of follow-up compared to patients who received drug treatment alone, according to a study in the March 7 issue of JAMA.

2-Mar-2012 2:55 PM EST
War Veterans with Mental Health Diagnoses More Likely to Receive Prescription Opioids for Pain
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with mental health diagnoses, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder, are more likely to receive prescription opioid medications for pain-related conditions, have higher-risk opioid use patterns and increased adverse clinical outcomes associated with opioid use than veterans with no mental health diagnoses, according to a study in the March 7 issue of JAMA.



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