Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for December 2015. 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.
AMA: Burnout Is Top Issue for Physicians in 2015
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physician burnout is the top issue for physicians in 2015, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Criteria for Determining Brain Death Differ by Hospital
MONDAY, Dec. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is still considerable variation in hospital policies for the determination of brain death, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Neurology.
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Higher Hospital Prices in U.S. ‘Monopoly Markets’
MONDAY, Dec. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Prices at hospitals in monopoly markets are 15 percent higher than those at hospitals in areas with at least four providers, according to research published recently at the Health Care Pricing Project website.
Treating Hypertension Beneficial Regardless of Baseline Pressure
MONDAY, Dec. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Blood pressure lowering treatment reduces the risk of major cardiovascular disease events, with reductions seen regardless of starting blood pressure, according to research published online Dec. 23 in The Lancet.
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Experimental Mood Induction Impacts IL-18 Levels
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Experimental mood induction changes interleukin (IL)-18 levels and is associated with changes in central opioid neurotransmission, according to a study published recently in Molecular Psychiatry.
Distinct Syndrome of Acute Flaccid Paralysis Identified
TUESDAY, Dec. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acute flaccid paralysis with evidence of spinal motor neuron involvement represents a unique syndrome, according to research published in the Dec. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Specific, Consistent ICD-10 Coding Key to Timely Payments
TUESDAY, Dec. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In order to prevent denials, it is important to code correctly within the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), with specificity matching documentation, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Neural Effects of Psychotherapy in Personality Disorder ID’d
TUESDAY, Dec. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) is associated with alterations in frontolimbic circuitry in borderline personality disorder (BPD), according to a study published online recently in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.
Reperfusion Delay Cuts Benefit of Intra-Arterial Tx for Stroke
TUESDAY, Dec. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by intracranial arterial occlusion, for every hour of reperfusion delay there is a decrease in the benefit of intra-arterial treatment (IAT), according to research published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Neurology.
Affordable Care Act Has Improved Access to Care, Affordability
MONDAY, Dec. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has improved access to care and affordability of care for many adults, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Meta-Analysis: Risk of Dementia Up in Type 2 Diabetes
FRIDAY, Dec. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of dementia is increased for individuals with type 2 diabetes, and the additional risk of vascular dementia, but not nonvascular dementia, is greater in women than in men, according to a meta-analysis published online Dec. 17 in Diabetes Care.
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Childhood Depression Tied to Cortical Gray Matter Development
THURSDAY, Dec. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Early childhood depression is associated with cortical gray matter development in late school age and early adolescence, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Contraceptive Provision Rates Low for Teen Girls on Teratogens
THURSDAY, Dec. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The rates of contraceptive provision for adolescents prescribed teratogens are low, according to a review published online Dec. 16 in Pediatrics.
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Antineoplastic Agent Obscures Diagnosis of Fungal Meningitis
THURSDAY, Dec. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A case of cryptococcal meningitis with false-negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture results following receipt of capecitabine has been described in a case report published in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
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Greater Effort Needed to Prevent Epilepsy-Related Mortality
THURSDAY, Dec. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The importance of preventing epilepsy-related mortality is highlighted in an article published online Dec. 16 in Neurology.
Industry Outpacing NIH in Funding Research
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There’s been a sharp rise in the number of industry-funded clinical trials and a significant decline in those financed by the U.S. government in recent years, according to findings published in the Dec. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Risk of CV Events Up After Shingles Diagnosis in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Stroke risk appears to more than double in the first week following a shingles diagnosis, with myocardial infarction (MI) risk also climbing, though not by quite as much, according to research published online Dec. 15 in PLOS Medicine.
PT Beats Surgery for Quick Relief of Carpal Tunnel Pain
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), physical manual therapies are similarly effective to surgery in the medium and long term, and may be more effective in the short term, according to a study published in the November issue of The Journal of Pain.
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Neurotoxicity of Anesthesia in Children Needs to Be Addressed
TUESDAY, Dec. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A recent survey of pediatric anesthesia programs at teaching institutions in the United States highlights the need for improvements in training, clinical practice, and communication related to neurotoxicity associated with general anesthesia in young children, according to research published in the January issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
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Perceived Stress May Increase Risk of Cognitive Decline
TUESDAY, Dec. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — High levels of perceived stress could be a risk factor for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders.
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Vagus Nerve Stimulation + Rehab Feasible After Stroke
MONDAY, Dec. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation appears to be feasible and safe for patients after ischemic stroke, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in Stroke.
Moderate Drinking May Benefit Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Patients
MONDAY, Dec. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease who consume two to three alcoholic drinks a day may have a reduced risk of mortality compared to those who consume one or fewer drinks a day, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in BMJ Open.
New Model of Inpatient Care Can Improve Outcomes
MONDAY, Dec. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of a new model of care can improve outcomes of care in medical and surgical units, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Asthma Tied to Increased Risk of Chronic Migraines
FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with asthma may be more than twice as likely to develop chronic migraines as those without asthma, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in Headache.
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Seven Behaviors Suggested to Improve ‘Art of Medicine’
FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Seven behaviors should be implemented to improve the art of medicine, which can help improve relationships with patients, according to an article published in Family Practice Management.
Accuracy of Clinical Diagnosis in TIA Called Into Question
FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The presence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions is similar in patients clinically diagnosed with transient neurological attack (TNA) and transient ischemic attack (TIA), calling into question the accuracy of clinically diagnosing TIA, according to research published in the December issue of the Annals of Neurology.
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Cell-Free Circulating mtDNA Identifies Parkinson’s Disease
THURSDAY, Dec. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cell-free circulating mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA) from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is reduced in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to research published in the December issue of the Annals of Neurology.
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Percentage of Graduates Entering GME Stable Over Past Decade
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Despite an increase in the number of U.S. medical school graduates, over the past decade the percentage entering graduate medical education (GME) training has remained stable, according to a research letter published in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on medical education.
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Depression Not Uncommon Among Resident Physicians
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than one in four doctors-in-training may be depressed, which could put their patients at risk, according to a study published in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on medical education.
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Med Ed Can Be Improved for High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care
TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The combination of effective transmission of knowledge, facilitation of reflective practice, and a supportive environment can educate physicians to deliver high-value, cost-conscious care, according to a review published in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on medical education.
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CDC: Fewer Americans Struggling With Medical Bills
TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer American families are struggling to pay medical bills, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit Feasible for Acute Stroke Care
TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A mobile stroke treatment unit (MSTU) is feasible for providing acute stroke treatment, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Neurology.
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ADT for Prostate CA Tied to Increased Alzheimer’s Risk
TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer might dramatically increase a man’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a large-scale analysis of health data suggests. The study was published online Dec. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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U.S. Health Care Spending Increased in 2014
TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The expansion of insurance coverage and increases in retail prescription drug spending contributed to an increase in total national health care expenditures in 2014, according to a report published online Dec. 2 in Health Affairs.
Higher TENS Dose May Ease Low Back Pain in Older Adults
FRIDAY, Dec. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices may offer some relief for adults with chronic back pain, with higher-frequency, higher-intensity application more effective for older patients, according to research published in the December issue of The Journal of Pain.
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Mechanical Thrombectomy Benefits Large Vessel Occlusion
FRIDAY, Dec. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large artery occlusion, mechanical thrombectomy after usual care is associated with improved outcomes versus usual care alone, according to a review published in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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CDC: Too Few Taking Needed Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
FRIDAY, Dec. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of American adults who should be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs don’t, according to research published in the Dec. 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
AMA: Case Before Supreme Court Threatens Patient Privacy
THURSDAY, Dec. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A case before the Supreme Court is potentially threatening patient confidentiality, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Slow Gait in Seniors May Be Indicative of Alzheimer’s
THURSDAY, Dec. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Seniors who walk more slowly may have higher amounts β-amyloid (Aβ) in their brains, according to research published online Dec. 2 in Neurology.
Anthracyclines More Neurotoxic Than Other Breast CA Regimens
THURSDAY, Dec. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For breast cancer survivors, anthracyclines seem to have greater negative effects on certain cognitive domains and brain network connections than nonanthracycline regimens, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in JAMA Oncology.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Up With Overweight, Obesity
THURSDAY, Dec. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and carpal tunnel release, according to a meta-analysis published in the December issue of Obesity Reviews.
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Burnout Rates on the Rise for Physicians
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Burnout is a growing problem among American doctors, according to research published in the December issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Recovery Pattern Is Useful Tool After CPA Tumor Resection
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients who develop facial paralysis after cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor resection, the recovery pattern in the early postoperative period is useful for selecting patients for facial reanimation surgery, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
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Chikungunya Virus Deemed Significant Cause of CNS Disease
TUESDAY, Dec. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A 2005 to 2006 chikungunya outbreak on Reunion Island, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, affected more than 300,000 people, with a higher-than-expected rate of encephalitis, researchers report online Nov. 25 in Neurology.
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