Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for September 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.
Physicians Often Don’t Address Their Burnout
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than half of physicians experience burnout, and many do not seek treatment for burnout, according to a report published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
Handheld Device Inspired by Star Trek May Allow Rapid Diagnosis
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A device inspired by the Star Trek famous tricorder device pairs a handheld sensor with a smartphone app to measure the levels of various metabolites associated with multiple diseases in fluid samples from patients, according to a report published in an upcoming issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
Business Degree Increasingly Useful for Doctors
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Having a Master of Business Administration degree (M.B.A.) can help doctors with important, practice-related decisions, according to a report published recently in Physician Practice.
Newer Hormonal Contraception May Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a reduction in ovarian cancer risk associated with use of contemporary combined hormonal contraceptives, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in The BMJ.
Single Agent Treats Two Cancers With Same Genetic Cause
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A single checkpoint inhibitor can be used to successfully treat two simultaneous types of primary cancer in a patient with Lynch syndrome, according to a research letter published online Sept. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Practices Should Set Rules for Staff Social Media Use
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical practices can take steps to avoid problems related to use of social media by staff members, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Burnout, Career Choice Regret Prevalent in U.S. Residents
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Symptoms of burnout and career choice regret are prevalent among U.S. resident physicians, according to a study published in the Sept. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Many Countries Failing on Non-Communicable Dz Death Targets
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many countries are falling short on targets to reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), according to a study published in the Sept. 22 issue of The Lancet.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Persistent Post-Op Opioid Use in Young Cancer Patients Explored
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Higher inpatient pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption are associated with persistent opioid use of up to six months among children and adolescents who have undergone cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, according to a study published in a recent issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
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Cancer-Related Gene Variations Frequently Reclassified
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among individuals undergoing hereditary cancer testing, some variants of uncertain significance are reclassified, with almost one-quarter of those variants reclassified at a single commercial laboratory, according to a study published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 1 (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 2 (subscription or payment may be required)
Critics Demand Stop to ‘Guinea Pig’ Sepsis Clinical Trial
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A major non-profit advocacy group is asking that a large government trial comparing treatments for sepsis be shut down.
The New York Times Article
Clovers Clinical Trial
Physician-Group ACOs Generate Medicare Savings
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician-group accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) generated significantly more savings for Medicare that grew from 2012 to 2015 compared with hospital-integrated ACOs, according to research published in the Sept. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
In 2016, Proportion of Uninsured Americans Down to 10 Percent
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2016 there was a reduction in uninsurance among Americans from 17 to 10 percent, according to a report published in September by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Urban Institute.
Novel Immunotherapy May Up Survival in Melanoma Brain Mets
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy (CBI) is associated with significant increases in overall survival (OS) in a real-world population of patients undergoing treatment for melanoma brain metastases (MBM), according to research published in the September issue of Cancer Immunology Research.
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Net Benefit of Anticoagulants for A-Fib Varies With Stroke Rate
MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is variation in the net clinical benefit of anticoagulants based on variation in published atrial fibrillation (AF) stroke rates, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Most Breast Cancer Diagnoses Given Over the Phone
MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Currently, most patients receiving a breast cancer diagnosis receive the information over the phone, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in Supportive Care in Cancer.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Some Clinicians, Patients Record Clinic Visits for Patient Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of clinicians and patients report having recorded a clinic visit for the patient’s personal use, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Dozens of Medical Groups Join Forces to Improve Diagnoses
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Every nine minutes, a patient in a U.S. hospital dies because a diagnosis was wrong or delayed — resulting in 80,000 deaths a year. That sobering estimate comes from the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM).
Promising New Way to Identify Breast Cancer Tumors
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Molecular markers of breast cancer tumors can be identified by focusing on parameters of a cell’s nucleus, and aided by machine learning, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in npj Breast Cancer.
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Sensitivity for CRC Detection Up With Decreasing FIT Threshold
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Programmatic sensitivity for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection increases modestly with decreasing fecal immunochemical test (FIT) positivity thresholds, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Research Links Doctor Burnout to Patient Safety Incidents
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician burnout is associated with increased risk of patient safety incidents, poorer quality of care due to low professionalism, and reduced patient satisfaction, according to a review published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Crowdfunding for Cancer Tx Could Exploit Vulnerable Patients
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are fears that huge sums are being raised on crowdfunding sites for alternative cancer treatments that are not backed by evidence, according to a feature article published online Sept. 12 in The BMJ.
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Hospitals Charge 479 Percent of Cost of Drugs on Average
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — On average, hospitals mark up drugs by 479 percent of their cost, according to a report from The Moran Company, commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
Cardiac Monitoring Needed for High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Risk of cardiotoxicity is higher for patients receiving trastuzumab and/or anthracyclines for the treatment of breast cancer, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Residents Should Take Advantage of Paid Time Off
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Although there are many demands on residents, taking advantage of paid vacation time is one of the perks and should be maximized, according to an article published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
California Lawsuit Claims AbbVie Paid Doctors to Prescribe Humira
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A lawsuit filed Tuesday in California claims that pharmaceutical company AbbVie used cash, gifts, and services to induce doctors to overprescribe the widely used drug Humira (adalimumab), ignoring the medicine’s potentially lethal side effects.
No Clear Benefit for Rivaroxaban After Hospital Discharge
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rivaroxaban does not lower risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism and related death in medical patients after hospital discharge, compared to placebo, according to a study published in the Sept. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Global Prevalence of Insufficient Activity 27.5 Percent
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In 2016 the age-standardized prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 27.5 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of The Lancet Global Health.
EPA Plan Will Maintain Carbon Emissions From Power Plants
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally released its proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, which will keep carbon emissions from power plants constant, according to a report published by the American Thoracic Society.
Second HPV-Related Primary Cancers Common in Survivors
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of human papillomavirus-associated second primary cancers (HPV-SPCs) among survivors of HPV-associated cancers is significant, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Patient Health Information Often Shared Electronically
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The most common electronically sent and received types of patient health information (PHI) include laboratory results and medication lists, according to a report published Aug. 15 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
FDA Ad Campaign Hopes to Halt E-Cigarette Use Among Teens
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday launched a new ad campaign aimed at curbing rampant e-cigarette use among American teens.
Scribes Improve Physician Workflow, Patient Interaction
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of medical scribes is associated with decreased physician documentation burden, improved work efficiency, and improved patient interactions, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Review: Treatments for Primary Basal Cell Carcinoma Compared
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC), estimated recurrence rates are similarly low for excision, Mohs surgery, curettage and diathermy, and external-beam radiation, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Drug Prices Increase More Than Expected After Shortages
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prices for drugs under shortage increase more than twice as quickly as expected in the absence of a shortage, according to a research letter published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Compliance With Requirement to Report Results on EUCTR Is Poor
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Half of trials on the European Union Clinical Trials Register (EUCTR) are non-compliant with the European Commission’s requirement that all trials post results to the registry within 12 month of completion, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in The BMJ.
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Use of Aspirin in Healthy Elderly Questioned in Three Studies
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Low-dose aspirin appears to have limited effect on healthy life span in older people, according to three studies published online Sept. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Association Health Plans Can Help Small Businesses Offer Coverage
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Association health plans (AHPs) will provide small businesses with more choices, access, and coverage options, although critics warn that they may undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
FDA Finds Another Carcinogen in Certain Valsartan Heart Meds
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that it has found a second impurity in three lots of Torrent Pharmaceuticals’ valsartan drug products.
FDA Approves Novel Treatment for Hairy Cell Leukemia
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk) injection has been approved to treat certain instances of relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (HCL), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said yesterday.
Sales of Flavored E-Cigarette Products Up Since 2012
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sales of flavored electronic cigarette products have increased dramatically since 2012, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
Situation Framing, Language Can Influence Decision-Making
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — How a situation is framed and the language used to describe risks can influence patients’ decision-making, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
No Apparent Short-Term Cancer Risk From Recalled Valsartan
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Users of valsartan contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) seem not to have increased cancer risk, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in The BMJ.
Risks Posed by Spreading Oil and Gas Wastewater on Roads
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Spreading oil and gas (O&G) wastewaters on roads may pose human and environmental risks, according to a study recently published in Environmental Science & Technology.
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Gains in Insurance Coverage Seen for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Adults
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults report continued problems affording care despite coverage gains offered by the Affordable Care Act, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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FDA Gets Tough on Juul, Other Electronic Cigarette Makers
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Calling the use of electronic cigarettes a burgeoning epidemic among teens, the U.S Food and Drug Administration today announced a crackdown on the sale of Juuls and other flavored e-cigarette devices to minors.
Press Release
Statement From FDA Commissioner
At Least 15 Men Near Ground Zero Have Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — At least 15 men who worked near Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks have been diagnosed with breast cancer, a New York City law firm claims.
Six-Step Analysis Can Help Improve Practice Logistics
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A six-step analysis can help redesign and improve the outpatient health care process, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Residents Working Long Hours Can Increase Alertness
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical residents can take steps to maintain their energy and alertness during long shifts, according to an article published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
Guideline-Discordant Prostate Cancer Imaging Up With Medicare
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with prostate cancer receiving care in a Medicare-only setting are more likely to receive guideline-discordant imaging, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Network Open.
Propofol May Decrease Delay in Neurocognitive Recovery
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older cancer patients undergoing major cancer surgery, propofol-based general anesthesia may reduce the incidence of delayed neurocognitive recovery versus sevoflurane-based general anesthesia, according to a study published in the September issue of the British Journal of Anesthesia.
Rituximab + Lenalidomide Effective in Follicular Lymphoma
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rituximab plus lenalidomide has similar efficacy to rituximab plus chemotherapy among patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Medicaid Work Requirements Don’t Impact Many Enrollees
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid work requirements will only impact a small proportion of persons and may only generate minimal savings, according to two research letters published online Sept. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Goldman
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Case Report Describes 4 Breast Cancer Cases Post Transplant
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A single multiorgan donor transmitted breast cancer to four transplant recipients, according to a case report published recently in the American Journal of Transplantation.
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Total of 43,371 New Cases of HPV-Associated Cancers in 2015
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A total of 43,371 new cases of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers were reported in 2015, with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most common HPV-associated cancer, according to research published in the Aug. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Data Age in Clinical Trials Is About Three Years at Publication
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The median data age in clinical trials in journals with a high impact factor is about three years at publication, according to a study published in the Aug. 10 issue of JAMA Network Open.
Many Opportunities for Doctors Using Twitter
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doctors can use Twitter to build networks and learn more about research in real time, according to a blog post published by Penn Medicine News.
Chronic Pain May Be Contributor to Suicide
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Chronic pain may be an important contributor to suicide, with 8.8 percent of suicide decedents having evidence of chronic pain, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Physician Burnout Rates Vary by Medical Specialty
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of physicians report being burned out, but rates vary substantially by medical specialty, according to an article published in AMA Wire.
Docs, Consumers Agree on Benefits of Virtual Care
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians and consumers agree on the benefits of virtual care, but physician adoption of virtual care technologies is low, according to a report on the Deloitte 2018 Survey of U.S. Physicians.
Social Determinants Linked to Provision of Primary Care
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Social determinants are associated with provision of primary care services, according to a study recently published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Personalized Weighting Could Enhance Hospital Rating Tools
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The weighting systems that underlie hospital performance rating tools should incorporate the needs, values, and preferences of patients, according to a perspective article published in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bigger Cut in Smoke Exposure for Immediate Nicotine Reduction
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Immediate reduction of nicotine in cigarettes leads to significantly greater decreases in biomarkers of smoke exposure than gradual reductions in nicotine levels, according to a study published in the Sept. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Hospital Groups Launch Own Generic Drug Company
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Three U.S. health care foundations and seven hospital groups have formed a generic drug company to combat high prices and chronic shortages of medicines.
Better Training Needed to Boost LGBTQ Patient Health Care
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High-quality health care needs to be provided to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, and improved training is necessary to deliver that care, according to a report published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
PSA Testing Not Recommended for Prostate Cancer Screening
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is not recommended, although certain groups of men are more likely to undergo testing, according to a review and recommendations published online Sept. 5 in The BMJ.
Evidence Review
Rapid Recommendation
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Fostamatinib Seems Effective for Immune Thrombocytopenia
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fostamatinib produces clinically meaningful responses in adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), according a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Hematology.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Has Uncertain Future
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Uncertainty surrounds the future of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, according to an Ideas and Opinions article published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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~3,000 Excess Deaths Estimated Due to Hurricane Maria
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The total excess mortality attributed to Hurricane Maria is estimated at 2,975 deaths, according to a report issued by George Washington University.
Poor, Non-English Speaking Cancer Patients Need Support
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are steps health care providers can take to better support cancer patients who do not speak English, are underinsured, and may face other major financial challenges, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
Enrollment in High-Deductible Health Plans Up From ’07 to ’17
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) has increased among adults with employment-based insurance coverage, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Breast Cancer Surgery Outcomes Poor for Nursing Home Residents
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For female nursing home residents who undergo breast cancer surgery, rates of one-year mortality and functional decline are high, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in JAMA Surgery.
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