Home Pulmonology February 2020 Briefing – Pulmonology

February 2020 Briefing – Pulmonology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pulmonology for February 2020. 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.

CDC Makes Changes to Coronavirus Testing Efforts

FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Just how prepared the United States is to quell an outbreak of coronavirus on American soil came into question on Thursday, as federal officials changed guidelines for testing after a whistleblower complaint. The complaint claimed some federal health workers had been allowed to interact with quarantined Americans without proper training or protective gear.

AP News Article
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Facebook Bans False or Alarming Coronavirus Ads

THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Misleading ads about products that claim to cure or protect against the new coronavirus will be banned from Facebook, the social media company said Wednesday. It also said it will prohibit ads that may trigger alarm about the outbreak.

CBS News Article

Compliance Low With USPSTF Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations

THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Of those people in 10 states meeting the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for low-dose lung cancer screening, only 12.5 percent reported having had a screening exam in the past year, according to research published in the Feb. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Daily Care Conferences May Cut Length of Stay in COPD Patients

THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Daily integrated care conferences (ICCs) are associated with shorter length of stay for patients admitted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations at a community hospital, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

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Gefapixant Promising for Relief of Unexplained Chronic Cough

THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with refractory chronic cough or unexplained chronic cough, the P2X3 receptor antagonist gefapixant 50 mg twice daily significantly reduces cough frequency, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

First U.S. Case of ‘Unknown Origin’ COVID-19 Identified

THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vice President Mike Pence will lead the U.S. response to a potential global pandemic of COVID-19, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening.

AP News Article
CDC Media Statement

States Launch Investigation of Juul Labs

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The marketing and sales of vaping products by San Francisco-based Juul Labs is being investigated by 39 states.

AP News Article

First U.S. Trial of Possible Coronavirus Treatment Begins

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center has launched the first clinical trial in the United States of a possible treatment for the new coronavirus.

AP News Article
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Weight Gain During Adulthood Tied to Decline in Lung Function

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Moderate and high weight gain during adulthood is associated with accelerated decline in lung function, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Thorax.

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No Compensatory Smoking Seen With Low-Nicotine Cigarettes

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Smokers do not appear to engage in compensatory smoking when using low-nicotine cigarettes, according to two studies published online Feb. 26 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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Influence of Politics Has Not Waned in Opinions About ACA

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains divided 10 years after its passage, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Health Affairs.

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Mistreatment, Discrimination Still Common for Medical Students

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mistreatment of medical students remains common for women, racial/ethnic minorities, and sexual minorities, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Judge Says More Answers Needed About Relocation of COVID-19 Patients

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Federal and California officials must provide more information to local officials about plans to relocate former cruise ship passengers who have tested positive for the new coronavirus to a facility in a Southern California community, a federal judge ruled Monday.

AP News Article
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$2.5 Billion Coronavirus Plan Sent to Congress

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A $2.5 billion plan to fight the coronavirus outbreak was sent by the White House to Congress on Monday evening, as countries around the world raced to stem outbreaks of “untraceable” cases of the virus.

AP News Article
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Antibiotics, Corticosteroids Beneficial in COPD Exacerbations

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids are associated with less treatment failure, according to a review published online Feb. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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1990 to 2017 Saw Increase in Global Deaths From Lung Disease

MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 1990 to 2017, the number of global deaths from chronic respiratory diseases increased, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in The BMJ.

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Global Coronavirus Outbreaks Stoking Fears of Pandemic

MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A coronavirus pandemic looked ever more likely on Monday as multiple countries around the world raced to stem outbreaks of “untraceable” cases of the virus.

AP News Article
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CDC: U.S. Coronavirus Cases Reach 34

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of coronavirus cases among Americans jumped to 34 Friday, as U.S. health officials reported that more passengers who were evacuated from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for the virus.

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U.S. Coronavirus Cases Now Stand at 26

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Eleven Americans who were evacuated from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have tested definitively for coronavirus, bringing the case count in this country to 26, U.S. health officials reported late Thursday.

CNN Article
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First Coronavirus Death Reported in South Korea

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first new coronavirus-related death in South Korea was reported on Thursday.

AP News Article
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Vaccine Effectiveness 45 Percent for Flu Virus Linked to ARI

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The overall vaccine effectiveness (VE) against any influenza virus associated with medically attended acute respiratory illness (ARI) is 45 percent for the current influenza season, according to research published in the Feb. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Ultrasound May ID Children at Risk for Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A heterogeneous pattern on ultrasound examination of the liver may help identify children with cystic fibrosis (CF) at increased risk for developing advanced CF liver disease, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in The Journal of Pediatrics.

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Many Transgender Youth Intentionally Avoid Disclosure

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most transgender youth voluntarily disclose their gender identity to health care providers (HCPs) outside of a gender clinic; however, almost half report having intentionally avoided disclosure, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

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COPD Incidence Higher in People With HIV

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — People with HIV are more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are diagnosed with the disease at a younger age than people who are HIV-negative, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in CMAJ Open.

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Number of COVID-19 Cases in China Lower With New Counting Method

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of COVID-19 cases in China dropped Thursday, but the decline might just be due to new methods in how case numbers are tallied.

AP News Articles
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Prescription Medications Can Be Found on Craigslist

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Prescription medications, especially analog insulin, can be found on Craigslist, according to a research letter published online Feb. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Quarantine Ends on Cruise Ship in Japan as Coronavirus Cases Near 75,000

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the number of coronavirus cases reached 75,000 and deaths topped 2,000, a two-week quarantine of a cruise ship docked in Japan ended Wednesday.

CDC Media Statement

Japanese Couple on Delta Flight From Hawaii Diagnosed With Coronavirus

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Delta Airlines is notifying passengers who were on a Feb. 6 flight from Hawaii to Japan that a Japanese couple on the flight tested positive for novel coronavirus after they returned home.

CNN Article
More Information: CDC

Risk for Adverse Events Up With Low-Dose Methotrexate

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of low-dose methotrexate (LD-MTX) is associated with increased risks for adverse events (AEs), including skin cancer, and gastrointestinal, pulmonary, infectious, and hematologic AEs, according to research published online Feb. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Wheeze, Asthma Risk Up With Cleaning Product Use Exposure in Infancy

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Infants in homes with frequent use of household cleaning products have an increased risk for childhood wheeze and asthma, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

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Editorial

Guidelines Issued for Insomnia, Sleep Apnea in Current, Former Soldiers

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a new practice guideline, published online Feb. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are presented for the screening, evaluation, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic insomnia disorder in military personnel and veterans.

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Chinese Report Says Majority of Coronavirus Cases Are Mild

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New details on nearly 45,000 cases of COVID-19 in China show that 80 percent of cases are mild and the number of new cases has been declining for most of February.

AP News Article
More Information: CDC

CDC: Coronavirus Spreads Most Easily When Patients Are Sickest

FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Coronavirus is most infectious when patients are at the peak of their illness, health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

AP News Article
More Information: CDC

Telemarketer Access to Medicare Information to Be Investigated

FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An investigation into how telemarketers may be obtaining seniors’ personal Medicare information will be launched by the U.S. Health and Human Services inspector general office.

AP News Article
More Information: HHS

U.S. Life Expectancy to Reach 85 by 2060

FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly a quarter of all U.S. residents will be older than 65 by 2060, and life expectancy will reach an all-time high of 85 by that year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

AP News Article

Short-Course Rifamycin-Based Regimens Preferred for Latent TB

FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), short-course rifamycin-based regimens are preferred over longer-course isoniazid monotherapy, according to guidelines published in the Feb. 14 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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CDC: Some Coronavirus Testing Kits Sent to States Are Faulty

THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Some coronavirus testing kits sent to state laboratories across the United States are flawed and do not provide accurate results, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

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Coronavirus Cases, Deaths Rise Sharply

THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — After charting a slight decline in spread earlier this week, new coronavirus cases in China jumped by almost 15,000 in a single day, while the death count spiked to 1,367, Chinese health officials reported Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

AP News Article
More Information: CDC

More Lung Cancer Patients Presenting With Cough, Dyspnea

THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The proportion of lung cancer patients with an index symptom of cough or shortness of breath has increased over time, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the British Journal of General Practice.

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2011 to 2018 Saw Decline in Problems Paying Medical Bills

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2018, there was a decrease in the percentage of families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months, according to a February data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

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Coronavirus Spread Slows, but Death Toll Jumps to 1,113

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — While the number of new cases of coronavirus in China slowed on Wednesday, the death count has now risen to 1,113, Chinese health officials reported.

AP News Articles
More Information: CDC

Coronavirus Fears Have U.S. Pharmacies Running Out of Face Masks

TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As millions in China scramble to find and wear face masks they believe will protect them against the new coronavirus, many Americans are trying to do the same.

National Community Pharmacists Association
AP News Article

Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 1,000; 13th U.S. Case Confirmed

TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than 1,000 deaths and close to 43,000 illnesses have now been confirmed in the coronavirus outbreak that continues to rage in China, while a 13th U.S. case was reported late Monday.

AP News Articles
More Information: CDC

Short-Term Mortality Link Identified for Increased Ozone Exposure

TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An increase in ozone is associated with short-term mortality risks, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in The BMJ.

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Empathy Declines as Students Progress Through Medical School

MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Students become less empathic toward patients throughout medical school, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Academic Medicine.

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Seniors Have Concerns About Affording Health Insurance

MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many adults aged 50 to 64 years are concerned about their ability to afford health insurance, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Network Open.

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Man Residing in China First U.S. Citizen to Die From Coronavirus

MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A 60-year-old man living in Wuhan, China, has become the first American citizen to die from the new coronavirus that first surfaced in the Chinese city.

The Washington Post Article
More Information: CDC

Higher Birth Weight May Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness Later

MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher birth weight for births at-term are associated with greater cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in young adulthood regardless of body mass index, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Chinese Doctor Among First to Warn About Coronavirus Dies From Virus

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Chinese doctor who was silenced by authorities when he was one of the first to sound the alarm about the coronavirus has died from the virus, according to the hospital where he was being treated.

The New York Times Article

Radiologist Workforce Becoming Increasingly Subspecialized

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The national radiologist workforce is becoming increasingly subspecialized, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

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CT Scan Features Described for 2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Key computed tomography (CT) findings have been characterized for patients infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to research published online Feb. 4 in Radiology.

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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Number of Nurse Practitioners More Than Doubled 2010 to 2017

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2010 to 2017, there was a substantial increase in the number of nurse practitioners in the United States, with a corresponding reduction in the size of the registered nurse workforce, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.

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More Americans Evacuated From China Due to Coronavirus

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More Americans have been evacuated from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, as U.S. health officials reported a 12th domestic case of coronavirus late Wednesday in Wisconsin. The number of deaths in China has surpassed 600, and the infection count has risen above 31,000.

The New York Times Article
More Information: CDC
More Information: FDA

Experts Say U.S. Flavored E-Cigarette Products Ban Will Have Little Effect

THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. ban on certain flavored e-cigarette products that takes effect Thursday will do little to stem teens’ use of nicotine, experts say.

NBC News Article

WHO Seeks $675 Million for Coronavirus Fight

THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The World Health Organization is seeking $675 million to help countries deal with the expected spread of the new coronavirus that originated in China.

AP News Article
World Health Organization

Reference Pricing Linked to Lower Prices Paid by Employers

THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Reference prices are associated with lower prices paid by employers and lower cost sharing by employees, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Network Open.

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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Prenatal Vitamin D Does Not Reduce Asthma, Wheeze at Age 6

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among children at risk for asthma, prenatal vitamin D supplementation does not affect the incidence of asthma or recurrent wheeze at age 6, according to a study published in the Feb. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Lung Cancer Incidence Rates Up for Young Women Versus Men

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In recent years, a trend has emerged for higher lung cancer incidence rates among young women versus young men, and these findings are widespread across countries, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the International Journal of Cancer.

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Second Coronavirus Death Reported Outside China

TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — While health experts fear that the coronavirus outbreak in China will become a pandemic as infections topped 20,600 worldwide, the second death outside China was reported in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

The New York Times Article
More Information: CDC

Patient Decision Aid Informs Patients on Lung Cancer Screening

TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of a patient decision aid (PDA) results in more informed decisions about lung cancer screening compared with standard educational information (EDU), according to a study published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Network Open.

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Higher Pollution Levels May Up Severity of Rhinitis Symptoms

TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with rhinitis who live in high-pollution areas are more likely to report severe nasal symptoms, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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Spread of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Estimated

MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Multiple major cities in China are estimated to have imported cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and epidemics are estimated to be growing exponentially in those cities, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in The Lancet.

Abstract/Full Text

Experimental Antiviral Drug to Be Tested Against New Coronavirus

MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial to test an experimental antiviral drug’s effectiveness against the new coronavirus will be conducted in China as it battles a coronavirus outbreak there.

Bloomberg News Article
More Information: CDC

Clinical Characteristics ID’d for 99 Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus

MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a descriptive study published online Jan. 29 in The Lancet, clinical characteristics are presented for the first 99 patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

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Abstract/Full Text – Lu

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