Home Internal Medicine April 2018 Briefing – Internal Medicine

April 2018 Briefing – Internal Medicine

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for April 2018. 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.

Early Readmissions More Preventable Than Later Ones

TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Early general medicine readmissions are more likely than late readmissions to be preventable with hospital-based interventions, according to a study published online May 1 in the Annals of Internal of Medicine.

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Flu Vaccines Have High Impact, Even With Relatively Low Efficacy

MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Even relatively low-efficacy influenza vaccines can have a high impact, especially with optimal distribution across age groups, according to a study published online April 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Review: Need to Strengthen Natural Experiments in Obesity

MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Based on findings from a systematic review of the literature, recommendations have been developed for improving the evidence for natural experiments in obesity; the review and position paper were published online May 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Abstract/Full Text – Review (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Position Paper (subscription or payment may be required)

Reforms Suggested for Improving Medical Nutrition Education

MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enhancing physician education and training in nutrition is expected to improve engagement in diet counseling for outpatients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), according to an American Heart Association science advisory published online April 30 in Circulation.

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Five Healthy Lifestyle Habits Could Add >10 Years to Life

MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Adopting a healthy lifestyle, with five low-risk lifestyle factors is associated with increased life expectancy, according to a study published online April 30 in Circulation.

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Primary Care Can Effectively Manage Obstructive Sleep Apnea

MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Primary care management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is as effective and more cost-effective than in-laboratory diagnosis, according to a study published online April 17 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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New Clinic Satisfaction Tool Provides Real-Time Feedback

THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new clinic satisfaction tool improves communication and provides real-time feedback, according to a study published online April 14 in Neurosurgery.

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Rural Childhood, Higher Education Cuts Later Life Dementia Risk

FRIDAY, April 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The combination of a rural upbringing and higher education levels may be protective against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for African-Americans, according to a study published online April 16 in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B.

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High Risk of Death After Major Diabetes-Related Amputations

FRIDAY, April 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a high risk of postoperative mortality among patients undergoing lower-limb amputation, according to a study published online April 5 in Diabetes Care.

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Certain Anticholinergic Drugs Appear to Raise Dementia Risk

FRIDAY, April 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of anticholinergic drugs may be tied to a future diagnosis of dementia, according to a study published online April 25 in The BMJ.

Abstract/Full Text
Editorial

Improvement in Race-Based Disparities in Years of Life Lost

THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 1990 to 2014 there was a decrease in race-based disparities in years of life lost (YLL) in the United States, according to a study published online April 25 in PLOS ONE.

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Pros and Cons for E-Cigarettes As Aid to Smoking Cessation

THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Evidence relating to the pros and cons of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as helpful smoking cessation tools is presented and discussed in a head to head article published online April 25 in The BMJ.

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Multiple Myeloma Risk May Be Up for WTC-Exposed Firefighters

THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — World Trade Center-exposed firefighters have increased prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and light-chain MGUS, which are precursors to multiple myeloma, as well as an increased cancer burden, according to two studies published online April 26 in JAMA Oncology.

Abstract/Full Text – Landgren
Abstract/Full Text – Singh
Editorial

Saturday Is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

THURSDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local agencies are holding the 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country this Saturday, April 28.

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Medicare Requiring Hospitals to Post Prices Online

WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. hospitals will have to post their standard prices online and make it easier for patients to access their electronic medical records, Medicare officials said Tuesday.

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About 40 Percent of Men Report Experiencing Weight Stigma

WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A substantial proportion of men report experiencing weight stigma, according to a study published online April 23 in Obesity.

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Alcohol Consumption Has Moderate Association With PMS

WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Alcohol intake may be linked to the risk of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a review published online April 23 in BMJ Open.

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IBD Associated With Increased Incidence of Parkinson’s Disease

WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is attenuated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, according to a study published online April 23 in JAMA Neurology.

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Five-Day Nitrofurantoin Beats Single-Dose Fosfomycin for UTI

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Five-day nitrofurantoin is associated with increased likelihood of clinical and microbiological resolution compared with single-dose fosfomycin among women with lower urinary tract infection (UTI), according to a study published online April 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Editorial

Exercise Intervention Doesn’t Improve Walking Ability in PAD

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a home-based exercise intervention does not improve walking ability over nine months compared with usual care, according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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USPSTF Urges Abuse Screening for Reproductive-Aged Women

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) is beneficial for reproductive-aged women, while there is inadequate evidence to weigh the balance of benefits and harms of screening for abuse in elderly and vulnerable adults. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online April 24 by the USPSTF.

Draft Recommendation Statement
Draft Evidence Review
Comment on Recommendation

Evening Preference Linked to Higher BMI in Type 2 Diabetes

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Evening preference and a later breakfast are associated with elevated body mass index (BMI) in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online April 13 in Diabetic Medicine.

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Black Men More Likely to Die From Firearm Homicide

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Firearm homicides are much more common among black men compared to white men, particularly in rust belt states, according to a study published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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One in Four Adults Report Having Arthritis

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Between 1999 and 2014, nearly one-quarter of American adults reported having arthritis, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Public Health.

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Serlopitant Found to Be Safe, Effective for Chronic Pruritus

TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Serlopitant has potential as a therapy for the treatment of chronic pruritus, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

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Patients Prefer Doctors Who Engage in Face-to-Face Visits

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients prefer physicians who engage in face-to-face (F2F) clinic visits, rather than those using an examination room computer (ERC), according to a research letter published online April 19 in JAMA Oncology.

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Electric Cars Safe With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Electric cars seem to be safe for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), and do not result in electromagnetic interference (EMI), according to a study published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Cuts CRC Incidence, Mortality in Men

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Flexible sigmoidoscopy screening is associated with reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality in men, but not women, according to a study published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Factors ID’d to Predict Fatty Liver in Obese Teens

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ethnicity/race, markers of insulin resistance, and genetic factors might help identify obese youth at risk for developing fatty liver, according to a study published online April 17 in Hepatology.

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Controlling High Blood Pressure Could Prevent Dementia

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Controlling high blood pressure in older African-Americans may prevent future dementia, according to a study published recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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Too Few Adults Taking Epilepsy Meds Have Seizure Control

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Although most adults with epilepsy report taking epilepsy medication, less than half of those report having their seizures controlled, according to research published in the April 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Cancer Screening More Likely After a Previous False Positive

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients who previously had a false-positive breast or prostate cancer screening test result are more likely to have future screenings, according to a study published online April 23 in Cancer.

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Birch Pollen-Related Foods Can Trigger Dermatitis Reactions

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and birch pollen allergy, consumption of birch pollen-related foods is associated with allergic reactions and deterioration of AD, according to a study published online April 13 in Allergy.

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Age- and Weight-Based Screening Identifies Half With Prediabetes

MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Targeted diabetes screening based only on age and weight criteria will identify approximately half of U.S. adults with dysglycemia, according to a study published online April 12 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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FDA Approves First Drug for Rare Form of Rickets

FRIDAY, April 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.’s Crysvita (burosumab-twza) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults and children ages 1 year and older with x-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH).

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Annual Visits May Not Increase Cognitive Impairment Detection

FRIDAY, April 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) do not appear to substantially increase the detection of cognitive impairment in older adults, according to a study published online April 2 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Systolic BP Increases at Rapid Rate Above 120 to 125 mm Hg

FRIDAY, April 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After systolic blood pressure (BP) reaches 120 to 125 mm Hg, it increases at a relatively rapid rate toward overt hypertension, according to a study published online March 21 in JAMA Cardiology.

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Colon Cancer Survival Varies by Insurance Type

FRIDAY, April 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Compared to patients with private insurance, colon cancer survival is lower for patients with no insurance or with Medicaid, according to a study published in the May issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.

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Prescribing of Gluten-Free Foods Declining in England

THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recent policy changes have led to a decline in the prescribing of gluten-free foods in England, according to research published online April 16 in BMJ Open.

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Adults Using Benzodiazepines More Likely to Receive Opioid Rx

THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New opioid prescriptions for U.S. adults using benzodiazepines stopped increasing in 2010, although the likelihood of receiving a prescription is still elevated versus the general population, according to a study published online April 12 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Small Link for Cannabis Use, Reduced Cognitive Functioning

THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adolescents and young adults, frequent or heavy cannabis use has a small association with reduced cognitive functioning, according to research published online April 18 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Time-Related Deployment Factors Predict Suicide Attempt Risk

THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For soldiers who have been deployed twice, suicide attempt (SA) risk is associated with timing of first deployment and dwell time (DT; i.e., length between deployments), according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Number of Cigarettes Smoked Daily Tied to Stroke Risk

THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a strong dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked daily and ischemic stroke risk among men younger than 50 years of age, according to a study published online April 19 in Stroke.

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Triple Therapy Tied to Reduced Rate of COPD Exacerbations

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), triple therapy is associated with a reduced rate of exacerbations, according to a study published online April 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Editorial

Stronger Link With Mortality for Ambulatory Versus Clinic BP

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Compared with clinic blood-pressure measurement, ambulatory blood-pressure measurement is more strongly associated with mortality, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Marital Status Tied to Earlier Presentation of Melanoma

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with localized melanoma, marital status is associated with earlier presentation, according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Polypharmacy More Likely for Cancer Survivors

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cancer survivors are more likely to be prescribed five or more unique medications, including drugs with abuse potential, according to a study published online April 12 in Cancer.

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Smartphone App May Up Medication Adherence in HTN

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Randomization to use of a smartphone app is associated with a small improvement in medication adherence but no change in systolic blood pressure among individuals with poorly controlled hypertension, according to a study published online April 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Abstract/Full Text
Editorial

Opiate Use Linked to Early Mortality in IBD Patients

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Heavy use of opiates among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is tied to increased risk of premature all-cause death, according to a study published in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Social Support of Autonomy Tied to Better Glycemic Control in DM

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Family and friends’ autonomy support may lead to better glycemic control by reducing distress among patients with diabetes, according to a study published online March 29 in Diabetes Care.

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Caffeine Does Not Appear to Be Linked to Risk of Arrhythmia

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Regular intake of coffee and tea does not appear to be associated with the risk of arrhythmia, according to a review published in the April 1 issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

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2000 to 2015 Saw Increase in Institutional Post-Acute Care

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2000 to 2015 there was an increase in the use of institutional post-acute care, according to a study published in the April 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Calcium Channel Blockers May Up Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Women

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of short-acting calcium channel blockers (CCBs) is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, held from April 14 to 18 in Chicago.

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USPSTF: Exercise Interventions Prevent Falls in Seniors

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that exercise interventions may be beneficial for preventing falls in older adults; however, the evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of vitamin D, calcium, and combined supplementation. These findings form the basis of two recommendation statements published April 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Evidence Report – Falls
Final Recommendation Statement – Falls
Editorial – Falls
Evidence Report – Vitamin D
Final Recommendation Statement – Vitamin D
Editorial – Vitamin D

Nut Consumption Associated With Reduced Risk of A-Fib

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nut consumption is associated with reduced risk of atrial fibrillation, according to a study published online April 16 in Heart.

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Opioid Packaging Often Lacks Info on Safe Storage, Disposal

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Messages relating to safe storage and disposal of prescription opioids are inconsistent and are often not included on package insert information, according to a research letter published online April 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Repeated BP Measures Linked to Drop in Initially Elevated BP

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with hypertension (HTN), repeated measurement of an initially elevated blood pressure (BP) is associated with a reduction in systolic BP, according to a research letter published online April 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Social Worker-Led Intervention Beneficial in Heart Failure

TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A social worker-led palliative care intervention seems beneficial for patients with advanced heart failure at high risk for mortality, according to a study published online April 11 in JAMA Cardiology.

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Recommendations Developed on Gender Equity in Medicine

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a position paper published online April 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are provided aimed at addressing gender equity in physician compensation and career advancement opportunities.

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Similar Outcomes for Transplant With Overdose-Death Donors

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Transplantation of organs from overdose-death donors (ODDs) is associated with similar five-year patient survival and graft survival as organs from trauma-death donors (TDDs) and medical-death donors (MDDs), according to a study published online April 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Women Less Likely to Fill Post-MI Statin Prescription

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women are less likely than men to fill a prescription for high-intensity statins after hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Most Doctors’ Offices Don’t Offer Flexibility for Uninsured

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most physician offices do not offer up-front payment flexibility or low-income discounts to uninsured people, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.

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Nonoptimized Drug Therapy Costs More Than $500 Billion Annually

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The estimated annual cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication therapy is more than half a trillion dollars in the United States, according to a study published online March 26 in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

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Cigarette Smoking a Risk Factor for Heart Failure in Blacks

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, systolic dysfunction, and incident heart failure hospitalization in blacks, according to a study published online April 16 in Circulation.

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Increased Pollution Exposure Ups Health Care Visits for Acute URI

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with increased health care utilization for acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), according to a study published online April 13 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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FDA Cracks Down on Caffeine-Loaded Dietary Supplements

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it has issued tough new restrictions on the sale of dietary supplements that contain dangerously high amounts of caffeine.

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FDA Approves AI Device to Detect Diabetic Retinopathy

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Artificial intelligence software that can detect diabetic retinopathy has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Negative Affect That Lingers Tied to Health 10 Years Later

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Negative affect that lingers is associated with worse physical health outcomes almost 10 years later, according to a study published online March 19 in Psychological Science.

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Continuous Glucose Monitoring Cost-Effective in T1DM

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with suboptimal control despite using multiple insulin injections, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) seems cost-effective, with improved glucose control, according to a study published online April 12 in Diabetes Care.

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Soda Tax Cuts Daily Soda, Energy Drink Consumption

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A soda tax does influence daily consumption of regular soda, energy drinks, and bottled water, according to a study published online April 12 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Non-Stigmatizing Messages Boost Mental Health Services Support

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A non-stigmatizing message about serious mental illness (SMI) can increase public support for investing in mental health services, according to a study published online April 1 in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.

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Politically-Focused Thoughts, Behaviors Tied to Psychopathology

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Politically-focused intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors (PITRBs) are associated with measures of psychopathology and disability, according to a study published online March 31 in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders.

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Review: Lowest Mortality Risk Seen With ≤100 g Alcohol/Week

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For current alcohol drinkers, the threshold for the lowest risk of all-cause mortality is about 100 g/week, according to a review published in the April 14 issue of The Lancet.

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Editorial

It Costs $2.2 Billion a Year to Treat Antibiotic Resistance

FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Costs associated with treating antibiotic-resistant infections have doubled since 2002, according to a report published in the April issue of Health Affairs.

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Pharmacists Can Help With DM Management Via Telemedicine

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacist use of telemedicine is a promising vehicle for improving patient management of diabetes, according to an article published in Drug Topics.

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Recent Years Saw Increase in Burden of Prior Authorization

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The burden of prior authorization (PA) has increased over the past five years, and 92 percent of physicians report associated delays in access to care, according to the results of a survey published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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CVD Burden Decreased From 1990 to 2016 Across U.S.

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 1990 to 2016 there were decreases in cardiovascular disease (CVD) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in all states across the United States, according to a study published online April 11 in JAMA Cardiology.

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Vascular Dysfunction Linked to Greater Symptoms of Menopause

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Menopause-related general somatic symptom frequency and severity are inversely associated with arterial stiffness and endothelial function among women across the stages of menopause, according to a study published online April 11 in Menopause.

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Increased Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety After CRC

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of depression and anxiety are increased among survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online April 6 in Cancer.

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Cigarette Price Hike Would Provide More Gains for the Poor

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An increase in the market prices of cigarettes would provide more health and financial gains to the poorest 20 percent of the population, according to a study published online April 11 in The BMJ.

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Higher Mortality Risk Seen for ‘Night Owls’

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with a later chronotype have increased mortality risk, according to a study published online April 12 in Chronobiology International.

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No Higher Cancer Risk Seen for Heart Failure Patients

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Heart failure is not associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to a study published in the April 10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Workplace Noise Exposure Affects Cardiovascular Risk Factors

THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and hearing difficulty are more prevalent among noise-exposed workers, according to a study published online March 14 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

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Declines Seen in Cardiovascular Risk Factors From 1990 to 2010

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among adults aged 40 years and older, cardiovascular risk decreased in men from 1990 to 2010 and increased followed by a decrease in women over the same time period, according to a study published online March 22 in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.

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ZIKV RNA Often ID’d in Semen of Men With Symptomatic Infection

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA is frequently present in the semen of men with symptomatic ZIKV infection and can persist for over six months, according to a study published in the April 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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FDA Puts New Restrictions on Contraceptive Implant Essure

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — To help curb complications tied to the permanent contraceptive implant Essure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has placed new restrictions on the sale of the device.

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Smoke Exposure Tied to Higher CV, Cerebrovascular ER Visits

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For all adults, and especially for those older than 65 years, smoke exposure is associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergency department visits, according to a study published online April 11 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Sleep Deficiency Leads to Higher Number of Motor Vehicle Crashes

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sleep deficiency due to sleep apnea or sleep duration less than seven hours is associated with motor vehicle crashes independent of self-reported excessive sleepiness, according to a study published online March 20 in BMC Medicine.

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TBI Associated With Increased Risk of Subsequent Dementia

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with increased risk of dementia, according to a study published online April 10 in The Lancet Psychiatry.

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No Reduced CVD Risk for SBP <120 mm Hg in Type 2 Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is no reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with achieved systolic blood pressure (SBP) of <120 mm Hg versus <130 or <140 mm Hg, according to a study published online March 28 in Diabetes Care.

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Metabolic Syndrome Common in Patients With Lupus

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — As with the general population, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a study published online April 3 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

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Considerable Differences in Burden of Disease at State Level

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are considerable differences in the burden of disease at the state level, according to a study published in the April 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Suggestions Offered to Reduce Physician Frustration With EHRs

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Changes can be implemented to help reduce physician frustration with electronic health records (EHRs), according to an article published in Medical Economics.

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Exercise Best Defense for Those at Genetic Risk for CVD

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fitness and physical activity are tied to lower risk of incident cardiovascular disease in the general population and among individuals with elevated genetic risk for cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published online April 9 in Circulation.

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Tai Chi Helps Improve Respiratory Function in COPD

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Tai chi is as effective as pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published online April 10 in CHEST.

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One Night of Sleep Deprivation Linked to Amyloid-β Burden

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One night of sleep deprivation is associated with amyloid-β (Aβ) burden (ABB) in healthy controls, according to a study published online April 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Education, Depression, Pain Associated With Opioid Misuse

TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In adults age 50 or older, higher education, illicit drug use, depression, and pain interference with normal work are significantly associated with opioid misuse, according to a study published recently in Nursing Outlook.

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Sirolimus May Be Beneficial in DIPNECH Syndrome

MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sirolimus may be beneficial for patients with diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH), according to a research letter published online April 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Polypharmacy Linked to Poorer Cognitive, Physical Capability

MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Polypharmacy is associated with poorer cognitive and physical capability even after adjustment for disease burden, according to a study published online March 24 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Adult Patients With Diabetes Go to Dentist Less Often

MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — People with diabetes and prediabetes visit the dentist less often than people without diabetes, according to a study published online March 31 in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

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Increased Risk of Unnatural Death in People With Epilepsy

MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of unnatural death is increased among people with epilepsy, according to a study published online April 9 in JAMA Neurology.

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Eating Pecans May Cut Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes

FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Eating pecans every day for four weeks improves certain markers of cardiometabolic disease risk, according to a study published online March 11 in Nutrients.

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Small Employers Often Don’t Provide Tobacco Cessation Help

FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of small employers using tobacco surcharges do not provide tobacco cessation wellness programs, according to a report published in the March issue of Health Affairs.

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U.S. Providers Fix Complications From Medical Tourism Procedures

FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cosmetic surgery procedures done in developing countries can carry substantial risks of complications that U.S. providers and payers must handle, according to a study published in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

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Interns’ Schedule Takes Toll on Sleep, Physical Activity, Mood

FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New interns’ intense and changing schedules take a toll on sleep, activity, and mood, according to a study published online March 14 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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High-Intensity Exercise Harmful in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High-intensity exercise in an independent marker for ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC), according to a study published online March 28 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

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ACA Marketplaces Expand Coverage for Chronically Ill

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces covered a disproportionate share of non-elderly adults with high health care risks in the 2014 to 2015 time period, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.

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Online Doc Reviews Don’t Reflect Patient Satisfaction Surveys

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Online physician reviews do not reflect patient satisfaction surveys (PSSs), according to a study published in the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

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mRNA Assay Less Sensitive Than DNA Assay for Latent HPV

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The human papillomavirus (HPV) mRNA assays are less sensitive than HPV DNA assays for detection of latent HPV infection, according to a study published online March 8 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Cannabis Use Tied to Increased Likelihood of Cigarette Smoking

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis use is associated with increased initiation of, persistence of, and relapse to cigarette smoking, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

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Coffee Consumption Cuts Coronary Artery Calcification

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is an inverse association between coffee consumption and coronary artery calcium (CAC), especially among never smokers, according to a study published online March 24 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Few Indoor Tanners Have Been Screened for Skin Cancer

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — About 30 percent of indoor tanners (ITs) have been screened for skin cancer (SC), with correlates of screening including older age, history of melanoma or SC, and use of very high sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen use, according to a study published online April 4 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Smoking Status Associated With Poor Diet Quality

THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Smokers have lower quality diets than former smokers and nonsmokers, according to a study published online April 4 in BMC Public Health.

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Medicare Program Narrows Racial Disparities in Readmissions

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program is associated with a narrowing of racial disparities in hospital readmissions, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.

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Depressive Symptoms Tied to Diabetes Self-Management

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Changes in depressive symptoms can predict improvement in self-efficacy and adherence to diabetes management, according to a study published online March 27 in Diabetes Care.

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Docs Engage Little to Coordinate Medicare Home Health Care

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians do not meaningfully engage with skilled home health care (SHHC) agencies in the certification of Medicare beneficiaries’ plans of care, according to a study published online April 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Eating Veggies Found to Protect Against Atherosclerosis in Women

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Eating more vegetables may prevent subclinical atherosclerosis in elderly women, according to a study published online April 4 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Variations Identified in Free-Text Directions in E-Prescriptions

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variation in the quality of free-text patient directions (Sig) in electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions), according to a study published online April 2 in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.

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Metabolic Abnormalities Seen in Testicular Cancer Survivors

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Testicular cancer survivors (TCS) have metabolic abnormalities characterized by hypertension and increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

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Marijuana Legalization May Reduce Opioid Use

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — State implementation of medical marijuana laws is associated with a reduction in the rate of opioid prescribing, according to a study published online April 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Sudden Loss of Wealth Increases Risk of All-Cause Mortality

TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Loss of wealth over a two-year period is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality for U.S. adults aged 51 years and older, according to a study published in the April 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Older Adults Believe Marijuana Can Be Effective for Pain

TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Older adults believe marijuana to be effective for pain relief, and many support its use, according to the results of a National Poll on Healthy Aging, conducted for the University of Michigan.

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CDC: Overdose Deaths Up Across Drug Categories in 2015 to 2016

TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2015 to 2016, there were increases in deaths across all drug categories examined, with 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016, according to research published in the March 30 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Outcomes-Based Pricing Doesn’t Cut Costs of PCSK9 Inhibitors

TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Outcomes-based pricing does not reduce the costs of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, according to a research letter published online April 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Overweight, Obesity Contributing to Cancers in Young Adults

TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overweight and obesity may be contributing to specific malignancies at younger ages, according to research published online March 23 in Obesity.

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Most Patients Select Suboptimal Medications for Allergic Rhinitis

TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The majority of pharmacy customers with rhinitis select suboptimal medications, according to a study published online March 29 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

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Zika Vaccine Could Essentially Eliminate Prenatal Infection

MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A Zika vaccine could substantially prevent future outbreaks through a combination of direct protection and indirect transmission reduction, according to a modeling study published online April 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Infant Heart Defects May Be Early Marker of Future CVD in Mothers

MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women whose infants have congenital heart defects have an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization later in life, according to a study published online April 2 in Circulation.

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Stopping Exercise Found to Increase Depressive Symptoms

MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ceasing regular exercise increases depressive symptoms (DS) in healthy adults, particularly women, according to a review published recently in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

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Pre-Op Chronic Opioid Use Ups Poor Outcomes Post Spinal Fusion

MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative chronic opioid use is associated with poor outcomes and continued dependence after posterior lumbar fusion, according to a study published online March 20 in Spine.

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