Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for June 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.
Practice Management Can Improve Efficiency
FRIDAY, June 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Providers can take practical steps to improve practice efficiency and increase insurance reimbursement, according to an article published in Dermatology Times.
New Rules May Constrain Docs’ Ability to Treat Chronic Pain
THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New laws and regulations designed to limit the use of prescription narcotics may further constrain doctors’ ability to treat patients, according to an article published online May 30 in Medical Economics.
Penicillin Allergy Linked to MRSA, C. Difficile Risk
THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a correlation for documented penicillin allergy with increased risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile, which is mediated by increased use of β-lactam alternative antibiotics, according to a study published online June 27 in the BMJ.
FDA Approves Epidiolex for Severe Forms of Epilepsy
THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol) oral solution for treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome for patients age 2 years and older.
Combination of LABA + Inhaled Glucocorticoid Safe in Asthma
THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Compared to treatment with an inhaled glucocorticoid alone, combination therapy with a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) and an inhaled glucocorticoid is not associated with a significantly higher risk of serious asthma-related events, according to a study published online June 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Enzalutamide Improves Outcomes for Aggressive Prostate Cancer
THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enzalutamide treatment can significantly lower risk of metastasis or death in men with rapidly advancing, castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to a phase 3 study published online June 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Health Care Technology Impacts Younger Patient Satisfaction
THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Health care communication technology is a determinant of patient satisfaction in younger patients, according to a report published by Black Book Market Research LLC.
Azithromycin Cuts Pulmonary Exacerbation in CF With Early Pa
WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and early Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection, the risk of pulmonary exacerbation is significantly reduced with the addition of azithromycin to tobramycin inhalation solution (TIS), according to a study published online June 11 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Sodium Thiosulfate Post-Cisplatin May Lessen Hearing Loss
WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Delayed administration of sodium thiosulfate after cisplatin chemotherapy may prevent treatment-related hearing loss in children with standard-risk hepatoblastoma without affecting survival outcomes, according to a study published online June 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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CDC, APhA Create Guide for Community-Clinical Linkages
TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Pharmacists Association have created a guide that describes community-clinical linkages, which are connections among the community, clinics, and other settings where primary care is provided, according to an article published in Drug Topics.
Cannabis Use Prevalence Up Across Adult Age Groups
TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Across adult age categories, there was an increase in the prevalence of daily cannabis use after 2007, according to a study published online June 13 in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
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Insulin Glargine 300 Safe, Effective in Seniors With T2DM
TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, insulin glargine 300 units/mL (Gla-300) is safe and as effective as Gla-100, with a similarly low or lower risk of symptomatic hypoglycemia, according to a study published online June 12 in Diabetes Care.
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Direct-Acting Antivirals Effective for Hepatitis C in Seniors
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy is effective, according to a study published online May 25 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Efavirenz Doesn’t Up Depression, Suicidal Ideation in HIV-Infected
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in Uganda, use of efavirenz is not associated with increased risk of depression or suicidal ideation, according to a study published online June 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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AMA: Docs Declare Drug Shortages Public Health Emergency
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — At the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), physicians adopted policy declaring drug shortages an urgent public health crisis.
Coverage Policies Compared for Back Pain Medications
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are opportunities for recalibrating the role of opioids in pain care, including expanding access to opioid alternatives through coverage and reimbursement policies, according to a study published online June 22 in JAMA Network Open.
Poison Control Center Data Detail Peds Exposure to Buprenorphine
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Pediatric exposure to buprenorphine can result in serious adverse outcomes, especially among children aged younger than 6 years, according to a study published online June 25 in Pediatrics.
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Aspirin Use Doesn’t Cut Cancer Incidence in Older T2DM Patients
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, low-dose aspirin is not associated with reduced cancer incidence, except in those younger than 65 years, according to a study published online June 16 in Diabetes Care.
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Vertical Mergers Could Be Challenging for Primary Care
MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Vertical level mergers, which incorporate not just health care providers, but also insurers, retailers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), could pose challenges in primary care, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Risk of OD Highest for First Days of Opioid + Benzodiazepine Use
FRIDAY, June 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Concurrent benzodiazepine use is associated with increased risk of opioid-related overdose, with the risk highest on the first days of concurrent use, according to a study published online June 22 in JAMA Network Open.
BCG Vaccine Tied to Reduced Hyperglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccine is associated with a reduction in hyperglycemia among patients with type 1 diabetes with long-term disease, according to a study published online June 21 in npj Vaccines.
Parents Say Cancer Prevention Best Reason for HPV Vaccination
THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Parents view cancer prevention as the best reason for guideline-consistent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, according to a study published online June 14 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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New Recommendations Guide Arthritis Pain Management
THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The European League Against Rheumatism has released recommendations — published in the June issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases — for health professionals to use in approaching pain management in inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA).
Rate of Death Up in Year After Non-Fatal Opioid Overdose
THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a marked excess of deaths among U.S. adults who experience a non-fatal opioid overdose, according to a study published online June 20 in JAMA Psychiatry.
No Causal Effect of 25(OH)D on Gestational HTN, Preeclampsia
THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D status does not have a causal effect on gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, according to research published online June 20 in The BMJ.
Parkinson’s Medications Tied to Impulse Control Disorders
THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), dopamine agonist (DA) use is associated with incidence of impulse control disorders (ICDs) in a dose-effect relationship, according to a study published online June 20 in Neurology.
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NIH Initiative Aims to Address Opioid Misuse Over Long Term
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A novel, innovative initiative is being developed to help end addiction over the long term, according to a viewpoint article published online June 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Many Drugs Made Available Via FDA Expanded Access Programs
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Over the past two decades, close to 100 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and biologics were made available before FDA approval through expanded access programs, according to a study published online June 15 in JAMA Network Open.
HbA1c Targets Should Be Personalized in Type 2 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For non-pregnant adults with type 2 diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) targets should be personalized, according to a Clinical Guidelines Synopsis published in the June 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Some Neonatal Risks for Lithium Exposure in Pregnancy
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In utero lithium exposure is associated with an increased risk for neonatal readmission and major malformations, according to a meta-analysis published online June 18 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
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Pharmacologic Tx Should Be Used Sparingly for Reflux in Preemies
TUESDAY, June 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Conservative measures to control reflux have limited effect on signs of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in preterm infants, and pharmacologic treatments should be used sparingly, according to a clinical report published online June 18 in Pediatrics.
Meds for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Mortality in OD Survivors
MONDAY, June 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is associated with a reduction in all-cause and opioid-related mortality after opioid overdose, according to a study published online June 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Pharmacists Are Well Placed to Improve Adult Vaccination Rates
MONDAY, June 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacists can help increase adult vaccination rates by offering vaccination at lower cost and greater convenience, according to a study published by the Pacific Research Institute.
One-Third of U.S. Children, Teens Use Dietary Supplements
MONDAY, June 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Approximately one-third of U.S. children and adolescents use dietary supplements, according to a research letter published online June 18 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Cleared Blood Glucose Monitor Systems Not Always Accurate
MONDAY, June 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One in three commercially available blood glucose monitor systems (BGMs) meet a predefined accuracy standard, according to research published online June 13 in Diabetes Care.
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FDA Approves First Generic Under-the-Tongue Suboxone
FRIDAY, June 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first generic version of an under-the-tongue film to treat opioid addiction has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Resistant A. Baumannii Rose in Children From 1999 to 2012
FRIDAY, June 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Between 1999 and 2012, Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) antibiotic resistance increased in children, though there was a decreasing trend after 2008, according to a study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
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AMA: Federal Government Must Tackle Rising Insulin Prices
THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. officials need to take action to control spiking insulin prices, the American Medical Association (AMA) says.
Illicit Opioid Trade Up With Restrictions on Hydrocodone
THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2014 ruling to reschedule hydrocodone combination products coincided with an increase in illicit trading of opioids through online illicit markets (cryptomarkets), according to a study published online June 13 in The BMJ.
Little Evidence Nicotine Preloading Helps Smokers Quit
THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nicotine preloading does not significantly increase subsequent smoking abstinence in adult daily smokers with tobacco dependence, according to a study published online June 13 in The BMJ.
Antipsychotic Tx Linked to Adiposity Changes in Youths
THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Youth receiving antipsychotic treatment have adverse changes in adiposity and insulin sensitivity, with the greatest fat increases seen with olanzapine, according to a study published online June 13 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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African-Americans Less Likely to Get Recommended Statin Therapy
THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — African-Americans are less likely than whites to be treated with statins or to receive a statin at guideline-recommended intensity, according to a study published online June 13 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Fluconazole Use Doesn’t Up Risk of Stillbirth, Neonatal Death
THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fluconazole use in pregnancy seems not to be associated with significantly increased risks of stillbirth or neonatal death, according to a research letter published in the June 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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IV Fluid Specs Do Not Influence Neuro Outcomes in Kids w/DKA
WEDNESDAY, June 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Neurologic outcomes in children with diabetic ketoacidosis are similar regardless of the rate of administration or the sodium chloride content of intravenous fluids, according to a study published in the June 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Diabetes Meds Reconciliation May Reduce Risk of ER Visits
WEDNESDAY, June 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ambulatory medication reconciliation is associated with lower risk of a composite primary outcome of combined frequency of emergency department visits and hospitalizations over six months, according to a study published online June 11 in Diabetes Care.
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Dexmedetomidine Cuts γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Function
WEDNESDAY, June 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dexmedetomidine prevents excessive γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor function after anesthesia, according to a study published online June 7 in Anesthesiology.
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Addition of Bezafibrate Beneficial in Primary Biliary Cholangitis
WEDNESDAY, June 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one-third of patients with primary biliary cholangitis who had had an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid alone achieved a complete biochemical response with the addition of bezafibrate to treatment, according to a study published online June 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Older Age, ICU, Poor Renal Fcn Up Risk of Opioid OD in Hospital
TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Risk factors for opioid overdose among hospitalized patients include being age 65 years or older, being in an intensive care unit (ICU), and having renal impairment, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
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Meds With Depression As Adverse Side Effect Commonly Used
TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The estimated prevalence of using medications with depression as an adverse effect is 37.2 percent, according to a study published in the June 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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How Do Business Partner Data Breaches Affect Your Practice?
TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Data breaches affecting health care systems or their partners need to be addressed quickly, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Adverse Change in Employment Post-MI Tied to Worse Outcomes
TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with an adverse change in employment after myocardial infarction (MI) have increased likelihood of worse outcomes, according to a study published online June 12 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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FDA Warns Websites Marketing Unapproved Opioids
MONDAY, June 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nine online networks, operating 53 websites, have been warned that they must stop illegally marketing potentially dangerous, unapproved, and misbranded versions of opioid medications, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Public Support Only Moderate for Opioid Harm Reduction Strategies
MONDAY, June 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Stigmatizing attitudes toward those who use opioids are associated with lower support for two evidence-based opioid harm reduction strategies, according to a study published in the June issue of Preventive Medicine.
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High Costs for Diagnosis, Care of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
MONDAY, June 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The health care costs associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are considerable, especially at first diagnosis, according to a study published online May 18 in Hepatology.
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Topical Rapamycin Effective for TSC-Related Facial Angiofibromas
FRIDAY, June 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Topical rapamycin seems effective for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related facial angiofibromas, according to a study published online May 23 in JAMA Dermatology.
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NCI Cancer Centers Endorse Goal of Eliminating HPV Cancers
THURSDAY, June 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers are endorsing the goal of eliminating cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) through HPV vaccination and evidence-based cancer screening, according to a statement from the American Cancer Society and other organizations.
HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Linked to Drop in Condom Use
THURSDAY, June 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For gay and bisexual men, an increase in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is associated with a reduction in condom use, according to a study published online June 6 in The Lancet HIV.
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Factors ID’d for Persistent Opioid Use After Pediatric Surgery
THURSDAY, June 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Higher daily average inpatient pain scores and higher postoperative opioid consumption are associated with a subsequent persistent opioid use of up to six months among pediatric patients undergoing major oncologic surgery, according to a study published online April 17 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
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Mifepristone Pre-Tx Improves Management of Early Miscarriage
WEDNESDAY, June 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Mifepristone pretreatment improves medical management of early pregnancy loss, according to a study published in the June 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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CDC: Prevalence of No Insurance Varies by Occupational Groups
WEDNESDAY, June 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of being uninsured varies by occupational groups, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
FDA: Opioid Antidote Naloxone Recalled
TUESDAY, June 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A recall of the opioid overdose antidote Naloxone was announced Monday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the recall was triggered by the possibility of “loose particulate matter on the syringe plunger” that could pose a number of health risks, CNN reported.
FDA OKs 1st Biosimilar to Prevent Chemo-Related Infections
TUESDAY, June 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first biosimilar drug to Neulasta has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Fulphila (pegfilgrastim) is approved for patients with non-myeloid cancer who are receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy and have symptoms of febrile neutropenia.
Post-Hurricane Deaths in Puerto Rico Underestimated
TUESDAY, June 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The actual number of deaths related to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2016 is likely more than 70 times the official government estimate of 64, according to a study published online May 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
No New Adverse Events Reported for DTaP Vaccination
MONDAY, June 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — No new or unexpected safety issues have been identified in association with diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines in the United States, according to a study published online June 4 in Pediatrics.
Case Shows Biotin Can Interfere With Multiple Endocrine Tests
MONDAY, June 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Biotin, which is included in many hair, skin, and nail growth over-the-counter products, can affect multiple hormone levels, according to a case study published online May 10 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Benefit of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Pain in TKA Questioned
MONDAY, June 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Liposomal bupivacaine use in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty is not associated with clinically meaningful reductions in inpatient opioid use, resource utilization, or opioid-related complications, according to a study published online May 21 in Anesthesiology.
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Few High-Risk Mothers in Boston Took Folic Acid Before Pregnancy
MONDAY, June 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among an urban, low-income minority population, few women started folic acid supplementation before pregnancy, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
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Studies ID Impact of U.S. Opioid-Related Mortality, Rx Patterns
FRIDAY, June 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2001 to 2016 there was an increase in the number and percentage of opioid-related deaths; in addition, most patients receiving opioids receive immediate-release (IR) formulations, according to two studies published online June 1 in JAMA Network Open.
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Knowledge Gaps Found for Non-Drug Therapy in Peds ADHD
FRIDAY, June 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are considerable gaps in knowledge relating to the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in pediatric patients, according to a review published online May 30 in Pediatrics.
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Abortion Not Tied to Significantly Higher Antidepressant Use
FRIDAY, June 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The likelihood of using antidepressants may be increased for women who have abortions, but the increased use is not attributable to having had an abortion but to differences in risk factors for depression, according to a study published online May 30 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Postmenopausal Sex Hormone Levels Associated With Later CVD
FRIDAY, June 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In postmenopausal women, higher testosterone/estradiol ratios are associated with increased risks for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and heart failure events, according to a study published in the June 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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