Home Pathology May 2015 Briefing – Pathology

May 2015 Briefing – Pathology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pathology for May 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.

Greater Benefit for Early Antiretroviral Tx Initiation in HIV

FRIDAY, May 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with HIV should start antiretroviral therapy as soon as they’re diagnosed, according to research findings from the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) study, the first large-scale randomized clinical trial to establish that earlier antiretroviral treatment benefits all HIV-infected individuals.

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AMA: Physicians Driving the Slowing of Health Care Costs

FRIDAY, May 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Low physician spending is contributing to an overall slowing of health care costs, according to a viewpoint piece published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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14.9 Million New Cancer Cases Worldwide in 2013

THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Between 1990 and 2013, the proportion of deaths worldwide caused by cancer rose from 12 to 15 percent. During that time, years of healthy life lost to cancer increased 29 percent, according to data on 28 types of cancer in 188 countries published online May 28 in JAMA Oncology.

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Mediterranean Diet Might Lower Endometrial Cancer Risk

THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adhering to a Mediterranean diet may significantly reduce a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer, according to a new study published in the May issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

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Genetic Variants Linked to Educational Attainment

THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Copy number variations (CNVs) correlate with phenotypes such as intellectual disability in the general population, according to a study published in the May 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Specific Trans Fatty Acids Linked With Incident Diabetes

THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among older adults, specific trans fatty acids (TFAs) may be associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), according to a study published in the June issue of Diabetes Care.

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Population-Based FIT Screening Can Reduce CRC Mortality

THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Population-based fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) screening in adults aged 50 to 69 years can reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality, according to a study published online May 20 in Cancer.

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Link Identified for Gallbladder Cancer, Aflatoxin

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gallbladder cancer seems to be associated with aflatoxin, according to a study published in the May 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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HSV-Derived Immunotherapy Promising in Advanced Melanoma

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A genetically engineered form of the herpes virus is showing promise in slowing the progression of melanoma, according to research published online May 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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CDC: U.S. Traveler Returning From Liberia Dies of Lassa Fever

TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A man who returned to the United States after traveling to Liberia in West Africa has died of Lassa fever, federal health officials have reported.

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Caution Urged When Using EHR Shortcut Features

TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Caution should be exercised with use of electronic health record (EHR) documentation short cuts, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

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Many Incidental Findings From CT Angiography for Suspected PE

TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography is superior to chest radiography for providing a diagnosis, even when no PE is present; however, in patients at low risk, the clinical benefit is questionable, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

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Factors Linked to Development of Celiac Disease Identified

TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Certain perinatal factors, including sex of the child, maternal celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes, are associated with development of celiac disease in children, according to a study published in the May issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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CDC: Low-Income Southerners at Highest Risk of Vision Loss

TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New U.S. government research connects severe vision loss with poverty, and reveals that people in the southern part of the country have the highest prevalence of both poverty and severe vision loss. The findings were published in the May 22 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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CDC: Raw Tuna Suspected As Salmonella Source in Outbreak

FRIDAY, May 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Raw tuna is suspected as the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has infected 53 people in nine states, according to U.S. health officials.

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AMA: Avoiding Distress in Medical School

FRIDAY, May 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Understanding the key drivers underlying medical students’ distress can help address the issues and enhance student well-being, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.

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Over One-Third of Americans Have Metabolic Syndrome

THURSDAY, May 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, according to a research letter published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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History of Depression May Raise Parkinson’s Risk

THURSDAY, May 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with a history of depression seem to have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to new research published online May 20 in Neurology.

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Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Not Linked to Risk of RA

WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is not associated with incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in U.S. women, according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

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History of Teenage Acne Tied to Increased Risk for Melanoma

MONDAY, May 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Having a history of teenage acne is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, independent of known risk factors, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of Cancer.

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Most Distinctive Causes of Death Mapped by U.S. State

TUESDAY, May 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The most distinctive causes of death for each U.S. state have been mapped in a report published online May 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.

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Shift Work Tied to Poor Health Indicators, Metabolic Syndrome

TUESDAY, May 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Shift work may be hazardous to metabolic health, according to research published online May 17 in Sleep Health, the journal of the National Sleep Foundation.

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Tips Provided for Doctors Who Want to Move to Private Practice

MONDAY, May 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For physicians who want to transition to private practice, several factors need consideration, including finances, legal matters, and insurance, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

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Histopathologic Features Not Linked to Clinical Rhinophyma

MONDAY, May 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rhinophyma, histopathologic features are not associated with different clinical expression, according to a study published online May 6 in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology.

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CDC: Untreated Swimming Water Can Foster Norovirus

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that was traced back to an Oregon lake has led U.S. health officials to issue guidelines on swimming hygiene.

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Iron Deficiency Seems to Affect Many Metabolic Pathways

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For young women with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), iron therapy is associated with increases in serum folate, vitamin B12, and with other biochemical parameters, according to a study published online May 11 in the International Journal of Laboratory Hematology.

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CDC: Some Progress Seen in Foodborne Illness

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of reported infections with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157 and a common strain of Salmonella bacteria have decreased, while infections with other types of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Vibrio have increased, according to research published in the May 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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X-Linked TEX11 Mutations Identified in Azoospermia

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hemizygous testis-expressed 11 gene (TEX11) mutations can cause meiotic arrest and azoospermia, according to a study published online May 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Pollen-Derived Adenosine Key in Ragweed-Induced Allergy

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pollen-derived adenosine is an important element in ragweed pollen-induced allergic airway inflammation, according to a study published online May 2 in Allergy.

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ASCO Updates Guidelines for Hepatitis B Screening in Cancer

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines for hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening among patients with cancer have been updated, according to a special article published online May 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Infective Endocarditis Incidence Up in U.S. From 2000 to 2011

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 2000 to 2011 there was an increase in infective endocarditis (IE) incidence in the United States, according to a study published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Some Gene Activity Differs Depending on Season

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When the seasons change, immune system response may also change, which might explain why conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease are worse in the winter than in the summer, according to a study published online May 12 in Nature Communications.

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HPV Vaccination of Females Has Some Indirect Benefit for Males

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Males benefit indirectly when girls are immunized against human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a new study published online May 12 in The BMJ.

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Multimodal Strategy Improves Ovarian Cancer Detection

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Screening with a multimodal strategy (MMS), in which annual serum cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is interpreted with the risk of ovarian cancer algorithm (ROCA), improves detection of invasive epithelial ovarian or tubal cancers (iEOCs), according to a study published online May 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Increased Risk of Cancer Seen for Offspring of Older Fathers

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adults who were born to older fathers may be at increased risk for blood and immune system cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, according to a study published online May 11 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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Protein Seen in Parkinson’s May Activate Immune System

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A protein known to accumulate in Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative brain disorders, a-synuclein, could activate the brain’s immune defenses, researchers say. Their study was published in the May 12 issue of Science Signaling.

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FDA Proposes Lifting Ban on Homosexual Blood Donations

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gay and bisexual men who have abstained from sex for one year would be allowed to donate blood in the United States, under a new federal policy unveiled Tuesday.

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New Health Care Index Reports Increases in Consumer Costs

TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new Health Care Index shows increases in consumer costs, according to a report published by U.S. News & World Report.

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Survival Improving for Women With Ovarian Cancer

TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are now much more likely to survive the disease than they were several decades ago, according to research published online May 6 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Nondisclosure Clauses Often Used in Malpractice Settlements

TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nondisclosure clauses are frequently used in malpractice settlement agreements, according to research published online May 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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AMA: Six Traits of Financially Prepared Female Physicians

MONDAY, May 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The traits of a financially prepared female physician include having a retirement portfolio that is on track or ahead of schedule for age and career stage, having a liquid emergency fund, and feeling adequately protected in the event of a disability, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Next-Generation Sequencing Panel Cost-Effective for CRC

FRIDAY, May 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel including genes associated with highly penetrant colorectal cancer and polyposis (CRCP) syndromes is cost-effective for CRCP diagnosis, according to a study published online May 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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PTSD Associated With Premature Senescence

FRIDAY, May 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) seems to be associated with premature aging, according to a review published online May 7 in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

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CDC: CA Screening Rates Below Healthy People 2020 Targets

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Screening rates for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers are below the Healthy People 2020 targets, according to research published in the May 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Medical Students Want to Focus Learning on Preparing for Future

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical students report wanting to learn more about topics that are not currently being taught, including leadership training, health policy, health economics, and experiential learning, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

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CDC: C. Difficile Infections Clustered in Northeast

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Infections with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) have been the most prevalent in the Northeast during the past decade, new U.S. research shows. The findings were published in the May 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

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CDC: Mortality Rate From Falls Up for U.S. Seniors

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of American seniors who die from fall-related injuries has nearly doubled since 2000, according to a May data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

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ACA Tied to Nearly 17 Million Gaining Health Coverage

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 17 million previously uninsured Americans now have health coverage, according to a 2013 to 2015 report from the Rand Corporation.

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Strategies Provided for Maximizing Payment

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should use standard billing practices, including regular statements, to maximize accounts, and know that collection agencies and lawyers can help collect payment when necessary, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

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Signal on Telomeres May Point to Cancer Risk Earlier

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For the first time, researchers have identified a pattern of change in DNA that may signal the development of cancer long before a standard diagnosis can be made. The study findings were published in EBioMedicine.

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Statins Don’t Reduce Psoriasis Risk

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Statin use does not lower the risk of psoriasis, according to a study published online April 20 in the British Journal of Dermatology.

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Risk of All Cancers, Specific Cancers Up in Infertile Men

TUESDAY, May 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Infertile men have increased risk of all cancers and some individual cancers, according to a study published in the May issue of The Journal of Urology.

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Statins Linked to Improved Survival in Lung Cancer

MONDAY, May 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of statins for a year before a diagnosis of lung cancer is associated with a 12 percent lower risk of cancer-specific mortality, new research suggests. The study findings are published in the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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Five ‘Top Issues’ to Be Discussed at AMA Medical Student Forum

MONDAY, May 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Issues that will be at the forefront of the National Medical Student Meeting include vaccinations, health care economics, Medicaid expansion, medical education loans, and the nationwide opioid epidemic, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Gene Tx Improves Vision in Leber Congenital Amaurosis

MONDAY, May 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gene therapy can rapidly improve eyesight for patients who’ve lost their vision from Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), according to a study published online May 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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CDC: Colorado Dog Key to U.S. Pneumonic Plague Outbreak

FRIDAY, May 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A Colorado dog last year caused the largest outbreak of pneumonic plague — also called the Black Death — in the United States since 1924, scientists reported Thursday.

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STDs Identified in Women With Extragenital Exposures

FRIDAY, May 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A considerable number of women reporting extragenital exposures have Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and many infections would be missed with urogenital-only testing, according to a study published in the May issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

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