Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Allergy for December 2017. 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.
Atopic Dermatitis Associated With Higher Risk of Skin Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), according to a study published online Dec. 15 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
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Exposure to PM2.5, Ozone at Low Levels Linked to Mortality
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and warm-season ozone at levels below current national air quality standards is associated with increased risk of mortality in the U.S. Medicare population, according to a study published in the Dec. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Both Narrowband UVB, Psoralen UVA Helpful for Hand Eczema
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Both psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) and narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) improve the severity of chronic palmar hand eczema, according to a pilot study published online Dec. 13 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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FDA Removes Boxed Warning From Certain Asthma Medications
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — New evidence regarding safety is spurring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove a Boxed Warning from certain inhaled medications used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Obesity Tied to Greater Asthma Impairment in Preschoolers
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For preschool children, overweight/obesity is associated with more asthma symptom days and exacerbations among those not treated with a daily controller, and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are associated with significant improvements among overweight/obese preschoolers, according to research published online Dec. 19 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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Methotrexate, Azathioprine Seem Safe Long-Term for Dermatitis
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Methotrexate and azathioprine appear to be effective and safe as maintenance treatments in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis for up to five years, according to research published online Dec. 13 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Special Precautions Not Advised for Flu Vaccine in Egg Allergic
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are safe for individuals with egg allergy of any severity, according to a practice parameter update published online Dec. 19 in the Annals of Asthma, Allergy & and Immunology.
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Male U.S. Doctors Receive Higher Values of Industry Payments
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Male physicians in the United States received higher values of general payments from industry than females in 2015, according to a research letter published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Payment for Laboratory Tests Set to Reduce Starting Jan. 1, 2018
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, which is set to reduce payments for testing services conducted in physician office-based laboratories, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Year One Results Out for Value-Based Payment Modifier Program
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Almost 30 percent of eligible practices failed to register and report data in the first year of the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier program, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
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Anaphylaxis Is Rare Complication of Pregnancy
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Anaphylaxis is a rare complication of pregnancy, with an estimated incidence of 1.6 per 100,000 maternities, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Doctors Must Report on at Least 1 Patient, 1 Measure for MACRA
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In order to meet the 2017 Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) participation reporting deadline and avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019, physicians must report on at least one patient and one measure by Dec. 31, and submit to Medicare no later than Feb. 28, 2018, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Making Insurers Participate in Marketplace Could Cut Volatility
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Requiring insurers that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to also participate in Marketplaces in the same geographic area could improve access to insurance, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
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Breathing Retraining Beneficial in Patients With Asthma
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A breathing retraining intervention, delivered digitally or via face-to-face sessions, can improve quality of life in patients with asthma, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Day-Care Centers Have More Allergens Than Homes
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mite, mouse, cat, and dog allergens are higher in day-care centers (DCCs) than in homes, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in Allergy.
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Atopic Dermatitis Severity Tied to IgG Response to S. Aureus
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Atopic dermatitis (AD) disease severity is associated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses against Staphylococcus aureus antigens, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Omalizumab Ups Efficacy of Multifood Oral Immunotherapy
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Omalizumab improves the efficacy of multifood oral immunotherapy among pediatric patients with multifood allergies, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
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Deceleration in Health Care Spending Growth in 2016
MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care spending growth slowed in 2016 following faster growth in 2014 and 2015, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
Prenatal Sugar Intake May Increase Asthma Risk in Offspring
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Increased maternal prenatal and early childhood intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and fructose is associated with increased odds of developing childhood asthma, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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CRP Levels Potentially Useful in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are frequently elevated in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and these elevations are relevant and potentially useful in management of the condition, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in Allergy.
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CVS-Aetna Merger Has Implications for Doctors’ Offices
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — CVS Health’s planned purchase of insurance giant Aetna, a $69 billion deal, was announced Sunday.
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Relevant Health Care Price Info Hard to Find Online
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 17 percent of websites provide geographically relevant health care price estimates relating to specific interventions, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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