Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Family Practice for December 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.
Long-Term Reduction in CRC Risk After Negative Colonoscopy
MONDAY, Dec. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For average-risk patients, a negative colonoscopy result is associated with a long-term reduction in the risk for colorectal cancer and related deaths, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Incidence of End-Stage Kidney Disease Up in Australia
MONDAY, Dec. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For nonindigenous people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Australia, the age-standardized incidence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) increased from 2002 to 2013, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
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Catheter Ablation Tops Drug Therapy for A-Fib in Heart Failure
MONDAY, Dec. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Catheter ablation is better than drug therapy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure, according to a review published online Dec. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Nurse-Led Program in Primary Care Can Up Detection of Liver Dz
MONDAY, Dec. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A nurse-led primary care intervention can increase the number of new diagnoses of liver disease, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in PLOS ONE.
ACOG Updates Guidelines for Gestational HTN, Preeclampsia
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) has updated its guidance on the management of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia as well as chronic hypertension in pregnant women; the two practice bulletins were published in the January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia
Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy
Effect Sizes Uncertain for Meds Versus Placebo in Knee OA
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis and at least 12 months of follow-up, there is uncertainty around estimates of effect size for the change in pain in association with medications versus placebo, according to a meta-analysis published in the Dec. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Second-Line Antidiabetic Meds May Impact Cardiovascular Risk
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adults with type 2 diabetes initiating second-line antidiabetic medications (ADM), cardiovascular risk is increased with use of sulfonylureas or basal insulin versus newer ADM classes, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
High Sodium Intake Associated With New Atrial Fibrillation
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sodium intake is associated with the long-term risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study recently published in the Annals of Medicine.
Delayed School Start Shows Benefits for Teens
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Delaying school start times increases the amount of time teenagers sleep, which seems to improve school performance, according to a study published in the December issue of Science Advances.
Pregnancy Complications Up for Women Born at Low Birth Weight
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women born with a low birth weight have an increased risk for pregnancy complications, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Obesity.
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Having Children Tied to Higher Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Parity is associated with cardiovascular disease risk, with a nonlinear J-shaped dose-response relationship observed, according to a meta-analysis published online Dec. 19 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Many EDs Do Not Have Pediatric Area, Emergency Care Coordinator
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many emergency departments do not have a pediatric area or pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC), but an intervention can increase use of PECCs, according to three studies published in the December issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.
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Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease Risk
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A pattern of higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased odds of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online Dec. 27 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Toll on Health From Depression, Anxiety Akin to Smoking, Obesity
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Anxiety and depression predict poor future physical health as strongly as obesity and smoking in older adults, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in Health Psychology.
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More Than Two-Thirds of Drug OD Deaths in 2017 Involved Opioids
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than two-thirds of drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid, with increases in overdose deaths from all opioids and synthetic opioids seen from 2016 to 2017, according to research published in the Dec. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Dancing Tied to Lower Odds of Disability in Activities of Daily Living
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older women, participation in dancing is associated with a reduced likelihood of incident disability in activities of daily living (ADL), according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
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Low-Priced Generic Drugs Most Likely to Have Shortages
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The lowest-priced generic drugs are more likely to experience shortages, according to a study published in the November issue of Value in Health.
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Opioid Prescribing Patterns Vary for Pediatric Patients
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variation in opioid prescribing among pediatric patients, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Low Vitamin D Tied to Risk for Renal Hyperfiltration in Healthy Adults
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk for renal hyperfiltration (RHF) in relatively healthy adults, according to a study published in the December issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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More Americans Reporting Less Than Six Hours Sleep Per Night
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The percentage of American adults reporting six hours of sleep or less per night increased from 29 to 33 percent from 2013 to 2017, according to a study recently published in Sleep.
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New BP Treatment Cutoffs May Not Yield Survival Benefit
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New blood pressure treatment recommendations may not improve survival from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study recently published in the European Heart Journal.
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Pediatric Asthma Risk Score Has Good Sensitivity, Specificity
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new quantitative personalized tool can better predict asthma development in young children than the Asthma Predictive Index (API), according to a study published online Dec. 13 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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Health Care Screening Practices Impact Skin Cancer Diagnosis
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Undergoing health care screening practices is associated with an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with skin cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Oculomotor Response to Head Impacts Studied in Youth Football
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Near point of convergence (NPC) values change in response to subconcussive head impacts but begin to normalize over time in high school football players, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Universal Vaccination for MenB at College Entry Not Cost-Effective
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Universal vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) at college entry does not appear to be cost-effective, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Initiative Can Cut Gender Gap in Medical School Faculty Salaries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An institutional gender equity initiative (GEI) can reduce gender-based salary gaps among medical school faculty, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Updated Guidelines Developed for Diagnosing, Treating Influenza
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Infectious Diseases Society of America has updated their recommendations for the care of patients with suspected or diagnosed influenza; the clinical practice guidelines were published online Dec. 19 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
New AAP Guideline Available for Infantile Hemangioma Treatment
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed its first guideline for the management of infantile hemangiomas (IHs); the clinical practice guideline was published online Dec. 24 in Pediatrics.
Risk of Arterial Thromboembolic Events Up Prior to Cancer Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In older adults, the risk of arterial thromboembolic events begins to increase 150 days before the date of cancer diagnosis and peaks 30 days before, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in Blood.
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Appalachia, Western States Have Highest Hep C Prevalence
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — States in the West and in Appalachia have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection than other states, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Massage Offers Short-Term Relief of Knee Pain in Arthritis Patients
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Weekly massage sessions may provide short-term symptom relief for knee osteoarthritis patients, but the benefit is not maintained over one year of follow-up, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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ACOG: Interpregnancy Period Should Maximize Women’s Health
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Providers should maximize women’s health during the interpregnancy period, continuing care beyond the immediate postpartum period, according to a consensus report published online Dec. 20 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Fecal Occult Blood Test May Improve CRC Outcomes in Some
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with several improved outcomes in men but not women, according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Surgery.
Vit C for Pregnant Smokers May Improve Newborn Lung Function
MONDAY, Dec. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For pregnant smokers, vitamin C supplementation may improve newborn lung function, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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FDA Announces Safety Monitoring Measures for the Essure Device
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is implementing a number of steps for long-term safety monitoring of the permanent birth control device Essure, which will no longer be sold or distributed in the United States after Dec. 31, 2018.
FDA Warns Companies on Unsafe, Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After infections tied to unapproved stem cell treatments sent 12 people to the hospital this past year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a stern warning about the products.
FDA: Fluoroquinolones Tied to Heart Vessel Ruptures, Tears
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients taking fluoroquinolones may be at higher risk for ruptures or tears in the aorta, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
FDA: Teething Jewelry Linked to at Least One Infant Death
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Teething jewelry products, such as necklaces, pose significant safety risks and have been tied to at least one baby’s death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Mental, Behavior, Developmental Disorders Up With Low-Income
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children in lower-income households more often receive a diagnosis of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (MBDDs), according to research published in the Dec. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC: Weight, Waist Size, BMI Increased for Many U.S. Adults
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 1999-2000 to 2015-2016, there was an increase in mean weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) for many U.S. adults, according to the Dec. 20 issue of the National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Endurance Exercise Tied to Anti-Aging at Cellular Level
2013 to 2024 Saw Decrease in Benzodiazepine Prescribing 
Pediatricians Report Immigrant Families Avoiding Care for Their Children 
Psychiatrists Only Agree 55 Percent of the Time on Diagnoses 
Napping Opportunity May Improve Clinical Performance of Anesthesia Residents 
Socioeconomic Status Linked to Mortality After Acute Hip Fracture Surgery 
People Using Illicitly Sourced Fentanyl Face Worse Outcomes Than Medically Sourced Users 
Data Reveal No Hypersensitivity Due to Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Alone 
Tranexamic Acid Yields Lower Incidence of Red-Cell Transfusion in Noncardiac Surgery 
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