Curated News: JAMA

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4-Jun-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Overall Rate of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Remains Stable in U.S.
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Between 1993 and 2012, the incidence rate of acute traumatic spinal cord injury remained relatively stable in the U.S., although there was an increase among older adults, mostly associated with an increase in falls, according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

4-Jun-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Control System Shows Potential for Improving Function of Powered Prosthetic Leg
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A control system that incorporated electrical signals generated during muscle contractions and gait information resulted in improved real-time control of a powered prosthetic leg for different modes of walking (such as on level ground or descending stairs), according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

4-Jun-2015 5:05 PM EDT
MCAT Predicts Differently for Students Who Test with Extra Time
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among applicants to U.S. medical schools, those with disabilities who obtained extra test administration time for the Medical College Admission Test in use from 1991 to January 2015 had no significant difference in rate of medical school admission but had lower rates of passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step examinations and of medical school graduation, according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

4-Jun-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Examination of Gastroenteritis Hospitalization Rates Following Use of Rotavirus Vaccine
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Following implementation of rotavirus vaccination in 2006, all-cause acute gastroenteritis hospitalization rates among U.S. children younger than 5 years of age declined by 31 percent - 55 percent in each of the post-vaccine years from 2008 through 2012, according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA.

Released: 8-Jun-2015 4:25 PM EDT
Chemo Instead of Hormone Therapy May Be Preferred Option for Some with Advanced Prostate Cancer
Johns Hopkins Medicine

In a small clinical trial, scientists at Johns Hopkins’ Kimmel Cancer Center and James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute found that men with advanced prostate cancer and detection of androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7) respond to chemotherapy just as well as men who lack the variant.

4-Jun-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Certain Preoperative Tests Still Common in U.S. Despite Low Value and High Costs
NYU Langone Health

Professional physician associations consider certain routine tests before elective surgery to be of low value and high cost, and have sought to discourage their utilization. Nonetheless, a new national study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center finds that despite these peer-reviewed recommendations, no significant changes have occurred over a 14-year period in the rates of several kinds of these pre-operative tests.

28-May-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Examination of Antidepressant Use in Late Pregnancy and Newborn Respiratory Disorder
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

An analysis of approximately 3.8 million pregnancies finds that use of antidepressants late in pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), according to a study in the June 2 issue of JAMA. However, the absolute risk was small and the risk increase appears more modest than suggested in previous studies. PPHN is a rare but life-threatening condition that occurs when a newborn's circulation system doesn't adapt to breathing outside the womb.

28-May-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Multifaceted Intervention Associated With Modest Decrease in Surgical Site Infections
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Implementation of a pre-surgical intervention that included screening for the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, treating patients who were positive for this bacteria, and the administration of antibiotics based on these culture results was associated with a modest reduction in S aureus surgical site infections, according to a study in the June 2 issue of JAMA.

28-May-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Study Questions Effectiveness of Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

An analysis of the use of computerized clinical decision support systems regarding orders for advanced diagnostic imaging found that the systems failed to identify relevant appropriateness criteria for the majority of orders, according to a study in the June 2 issue of JAMA.

26-May-2015 11:00 AM EDT
State Regulations for Indoor Tanning Could Lead to a National Regulatory Framework
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University

A national regulatory framework designed to prevent and limit indoor tanning is needed to alleviate the cancer burden and reduce the billions in financial costs from preventable skin cancer, say two Georgetown University public health experts.

Released: 26-May-2015 11:55 AM EDT
A Push to Open Doors to Care for the Homebound
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Study in JAMA Internal Medicine examines a nearly invisible population of shut-ins for ways to treat the infirm, assist the rest.

21-May-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Subclinical Hyperthyroidism Associated With an Increased Risk of Hip and Other Fractures
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In an analysis that included more than 70,000 participants from 13 studies, subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with an increased risk for hip and other fractures including spine, according to a study in the May 26 issue of JAMA. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is a low serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration in a person without clinical symptoms and normal thyroid hormone concentrations on blood tests.

21-May-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Soy Isoflavone Supplement Does Not Improve Symptoms for Poorly Controlled Asthma
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Although some data have suggested that supplementation with soy isoflavone may be an effective treatment for patients with poor asthma control, a randomized trial that included nearly 400 children and adults found that use of the supplement did not result in improved lung function or clinical outcomes, including asthma symptoms and episodes of poor asthma control, according to a study in the May 26 issue of JAMA. Soy isoflavones are plant (soybean) derived chemicals that have anti-oxidant effects.

21-May-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Study Examines Association of Genetic Variants with Cognitive Impairment
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Individually rare but collectively common intermediate-size copy number variations may be negatively associated with educational attainment, according to a study in the May 26 issue of JAMA. Copy number variations (CNVs) are regions of the genome that differ in the number of segments of DNA.

21-May-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Study Finds Association Between Exposure to Aflatoxin and Gallbladder Cancer
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a small study in Chile that included patients with gallbladder cancer, exposure to aflatoxin (a toxin produced by mold) was associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer, according to a study in the May 26 issue of JAMA.

14-May-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Oral Steroids for Herniated Disk Do Not Improve Pain
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with acute radiculopathy (sciatica) due to a herniated lumbar disk, a short course of oral steroids, compared with placebo, resulted in modest improvement in function and no significant improvement in pain, according to a study in the May 19 issue of JAMA.

14-May-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Study Finds High Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in U.S.
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Nearly 35 percent of all U.S. adults and 50 percent of those 60 years of age or older were estimated to have the metabolic syndrome in 2011-2012, according to a study in the May 19 issue of JAMA.

14-May-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Studies Examine Prevalence of Amyloid among Adults and its Link with Cognitive Impairment
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Two studies in the May 19 issue of JAMA analyze the prevalence of the plaque amyloid among adults of varying ages, with and without dementia, and its association with cognitive impairment.

14-May-2015 5:30 PM EDT
Study: Many People In Emergency Department for Chest Pain Don't Need Admitted
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Chest pain sends 7 million Americans to the ED each year. About half are admitted for further observation, testing or treatment. A new study finds a very low short-term risk for life-threatening cardiac events among patients with chest pain who have normal test results.

Released: 18-May-2015 10:05 AM EDT
Concussion in Former NFL Players Related to Brain Changes Later in Life
UT Southwestern Medical Center

In the first study of its kind, former National Football League (NFL) players who lost consciousness due to concussion during their playing days showed key differences in brain structure later in life.

14-May-2015 5:05 PM EDT
Newer Method of Oxygen Delivery for Patients at Risk of Respiratory Failure after Surgery
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A relatively new, easier to implement, and better-tolerated method to provide supplemental oxygen to patients at risk of respiratory failure after surgery did not result in a worse rate of treatment failure compared to a more commonly used method, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at the American Thoracic Society 2015 International Conference.

7-May-2015 3:05 PM EDT
Public Health Advisories Linked With Reduction of Codeine Dispensing to Postpartum Women
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Public health advisories from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada were associated with significant reductions in the rate of dispensing of codeine to postpartum women, according to a study in the May 12 issue of JAMA.

6-May-2015 2:00 PM EDT
Statin Drugs Can Delay Prostate Cancer Progression in Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy, Study Shows
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Men who went on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs when they began androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer had a longer time in which their disease was under control than did men who didn’t take statins, a clinical trial led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators shows.

30-Apr-2015 2:00 PM EDT
Interferon-Free Therapy Clears Hepatitis C in 93 Percent of Patients in Trial
Duke Health

A 12-week dose of an investigational three-drug hepatitis C combination cured the virus in 93 percent of patients with liver cirrhosis who hadn’t previously been treated, according to a study in the May 5, 2015, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

30-Apr-2015 6:05 PM EDT
Studies Show Effectiveness of Combo Treatment for HCV Patients With, Without Cirrhosis
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In two studies appearing in the May 5 issue of JAMA, patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection and with or without cirrhosis achieved high rates of sustained virologic response after 12 weeks of treatment with a combination of the direct-acting-antiviral drugs daclatasvir, asunaprevir, and beclabuvir.

1-May-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Treatment Reduces Risk of Recurrence of C difficile Infection
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) who recovered following standard treatment with the antibiotics metronidazole or vancomycin, oral administration of spores of a strain of C difficile that does not produce toxins colonized the gastrointestinal tract and significantly reduced CDI recurrence, according to a study in the May 5 issue of JAMA.

30-Apr-2015 11:30 AM EDT
Off-Label Use of Device to Prevent Stroke in A-Fib Patients is Prevalent and Potentially Dangerous
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

The Lariat device is associated with a significant incidence of death and urgent cardiac surgery during its frequent off-label use to prevent stroke in patients with the irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation. Following a systematic review of case reports and an FDA safety database, researchers are calling for formal controlled investigations into the safety and efficacy of off-label use of the Lariat device, which has never been approved for treatment of this condition.

21-Apr-2015 10:00 AM EDT
Musculoskeletal Outcomes From Study on Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Safety
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Outcomes regarding musculoskeletal disease among severely obese adolescents participating in the “Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery” (Teen-LABS) study were published this week in JAMA Pediatrics.

16-Apr-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Parent Training Significantly Reduces Disruptive Behavior in Children with Autism
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

A new study suggests that doctors may want to focus on parents and not just on their patients when it comes to caring for children with autism spectrum disorder. The study, published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that parents who were taught specific behavior management skills saw a dramatic improvement in their child’s behavior.

16-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
No Association Found Between MMR Vaccine and Autism, Even Among Children at Higher Risk
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that included approximately 95,000 children with older siblings, receipt of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was not associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), regardless of whether older siblings had ASD, findings that indicate no harmful association between receipt of MMR vaccine and ASD even among children already at higher risk for ASD, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.

16-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Parent Training Program Helps Reduce Disruptive Behavior of Children with Autism
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A 24 week parent training program, which provided specific techniques to manage disruptive behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder, resulted in a greater reduction in disruptive and noncompliant behavior compared to parent education, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.

16-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Incidence of Serious Diabetes Complication May Be Increasing Among Youth in U.S.
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

The incidence of a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, in youth in Colorado at the time of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes increased by 55 percent between 1998 and 2012, suggesting a growing number of youth may experience delays in diagnosis and treatment, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.

16-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Study Shows Feasibility of Using Gene Therapy to Treat Rare Immunodeficiency Syndrome
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a small study that included seven children and teens with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare immunodeficiency disorder, use of gene therapy resulted in clinical improvement in infectious complications, severe eczema, and symptoms of autoimmunity, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.

16-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Oral Insulin Shows Potential for Preventing Type 1 Diabetes in High-Risk Children
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a pilot study that included children at high risk for type 1 diabetes, daily high-dose oral insulin, compared with placebo, resulted in an immune response to insulin without hypoglycemia, findings that support the need for a phase 3 trial to determine whether oral insulin can prevent islet autoimmunity and diabetes in high-risk children, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.

14-Apr-2015 2:00 PM EDT
Obesity Significantly Increases Prostate Cancer Risk in African-American Men
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Obesity in black men substantially increases the risk of low- and high-grade prostate cancer, while obesity in white men moderately reduces the risk of low-grade cancer and only slightly increases the risk of high-grade cancer, according to the first large, prospective study to examine how race and obesity jointly affect prostate cancer risk.

9-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Intrauterine Exposure to Maternal Gestational Diabetes Linked With Risk of Autism
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among a group of more than 320,000 children, intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosed by 26 weeks' gestation was associated with risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA. Maternal pre-existing type 2 diabetes was not significantly associated with risk of ASD in offspring.

9-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Increase Seen in Data Breaches of Health Information
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Between 2010 and 2013, data breaches of protected health information reported by HIPAA-covered entities increased and involved approximately 29 million records, with most data breaches resulting from overt criminal activity, according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA.

9-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Study Identifies Factors Linked to Greater Adherence to Use of Anticoagulant
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among patients with atrial fibrillation who filled prescriptions for the anticoagulant dabigatran at Veterans Health Administration sites, there was variability in patient medication adherence across sites, with appropriate patient selection and pharmacist-led monitoring associated with greater adherence to the medication, according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA.

9-Apr-2015 3:05 PM EDT
No Long-Term Survival Difference Found Between Types of Mitral Valve Replacements
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a comparison of mechanical prosthetic vs bioprosthetic mitral valves among patients 50 to 69 years of age undergoing mitral valve replacement, there was no significant difference in survival at 15 years, although there were differences in risk of reoperation, bleeding and stroke, according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA.

Released: 9-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
A “Blind Spot” in Hospital Safety? Surgeon Credentialing for New Procedures & Technologies
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

A new Viewpoint piece on surgeon credentialing for new procedures and technologies reviews litigation in the area, and recommends a new approach to protect patient safety.

Released: 9-Apr-2015 11:00 AM EDT
Lower Survival Rates Connected with High-Risk Melanoma with Mutations, Study Finds
University of North Carolina Health Care System

A UNC Lineberger-led study found that people with higher-risk melanoma containing either BRAF or NRAS gene mutations had lower survival rates.

2-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Risk of Breast and Ovarian Cancer May Differ By Type of BRCA1, BRCA2 Mutation
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

In a study that involved more than 31,000 women who are carriers of disease-associated mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, researchers identified mutations that were associated with significantly different risks of breast and ovarian cancers, findings that may have implications for risk assessment and cancer prevention decision making among carriers of these mutations, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

2-Apr-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Default Surrogate Consent Statutes May Differ With Wishes of Patients
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Among a sample of veterans in Connecticut, a substantial number had individuals listed as next of kin who were not nuclear family members, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA. State default consent statutes do not universally recognize such persons as decision makers for incapacitated patients.

6-Apr-2015 4:00 PM EDT
Penn Study Shows Risk of Breast and Ovarian Cancer May Differ By Type of BRCA1, BRCA2 Mutation
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

In a study involving more than 31,000 women with cancer-causing mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, researchers at The Basser Center for BRCA, the Abramson Cancer Center, and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania identified mutations that are associated with significantly different risks of breast and ovarian cancers.

6-Apr-2015 12:05 AM EDT
New Medicaid Data Show Antipsychotic Use May Increase the Risk for Diabetes in Some Children
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

In the largest study to date documenting the significant risks to children’s health associated with prescription antipsychotics, results suggest that initiating antipsychotics may elevate a child’s risk not only for significant weight gain, but also for Type II diabetes by nearly 50 percent.

31-Mar-2015 3:50 PM EDT
One Test Can Predict Which Kids Will Become Nearsighted
Ohio State University

A study of 4,500 U.S. children over 20 years has identified a single test that can predict which kids will become nearsighted by the eighth grade: a measure of their current refractive error.

Released: 30-Mar-2015 1:05 PM EDT
JAMA Surgery Study Demonstrates Short and Long-Term Cost-Savings Associated with Minimally Invasive Surgery
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

A new study in JAMA Surgery demonstrates that patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy procedures required fewer days of health care utilization and the health care system spent less on their acute and follow-up care than those who underwent traditional open surgery.

Released: 30-Mar-2015 11:05 AM EDT
Odds of Reversing ICU Patients’ Prior Preferences to Forgo Life-Sustaining Therapies Vary Widely Across the U.S.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Intensive care units across the United States vary widely in how they manage the care of patients who have set preexisting limits on life-sustaining therapies, such as authorizing do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and prohibiting interventions such as feeding tubes or dialysis, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Their work is published in the current issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

23-Mar-2015 12:30 PM EDT
Prenatal Exposure to Common Air Pollutants Linked to Cognitive and Behavioral Impairment
Children's Hospital Los Angeles Saban Research Institute

Researchers have found a powerful relationship between prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and disturbances in parts of the brain that support information processing and behavioral control.

23-Mar-2015 1:10 PM EDT
Use of Minimally Invasive Surgery Could Lower Health Care Costs by Hundreds of Millions a Year
Johns Hopkins Medicine

A new analysis of surgical outcomes nationwide concludes that more use of minimally invasive surgery for certain common procedures can dramatically reduce post-operative complications and shave hundreds of millions of dollars off the nation’s health care bill.



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