Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for February 2019. 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.
Dietary Monitoring Key to Successful Weight Loss
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The frequency of dietary self-monitoring is significantly associated with weight loss, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Obesity.
Lowering BP, Lipids in Healthy Elderly Has No Cognitive Effect
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Candesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide, rosuvastatin, or their combination do not impact cognitive decline among older people, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in Neurology.
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CDC: Progress in HIV Prevention Has Stalled in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The battle against new HIV infections has lost some steam in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Achievement of Targets in T2DM Varies by Season
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is seasonal variation in achievement of the guideline targets for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published online Feb. 22 in Diabetes Care.
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Sustained Smoking Cessation May Delay, Prevent Seropositive RA
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — While smoking is a strong risk factor for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sustained smoking cessation could delay or even prevent disease development, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Arthritis Care & Research.
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Stewardship Programs Decrease Inpatient Fluoroquinolone Rx
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fluoroquinolone stewardship interventions at hospitals are associated with less fluoroquinolone prescribing during hospitalization but not at discharge, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Kidney Disease Affects Revascularization Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The presence of comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD) negatively impacts myocardial revascularization outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Sufficient Investment Could Reduce HIV Epidemic by 2030
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New HIV infections could be reduced and prevalence could begin to decline by 2030 with sufficient investment, including meeting 95 percent targets for diagnosis, care retention, and viral suppression by 2025, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in AIDS and Behavior.
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Contributors to Delay of Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis ID’d
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — First symptoms and disease type are contributors to delays in multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, according to a study recently published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal.
Poor Food Intake Common in Hospitalized Patients
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Approximately one-third of adult inpatients are at risk for malnutrition and poorer outcomes due to not eating their meals, despite being allowed to eat, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
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MRI Cardiac Stress Test Predicts Death From Heart Disease
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can predict mortality in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a study published online Feb. 8 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Sertraline Tops CBT for Reducing Depression in Dialysis Patients
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis, an engagement interview on treatment acceptance has no effect on acceptance of depression treatment, and depression scores are modestly better with sertraline treatment versus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) after 12 weeks of treatment, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Program Aids Weight Loss in Patients With Mental Illness
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A behavioral weight loss intervention is effective among overweight and obese individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), regardless of their diabetes status, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Diabetes Care.
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Ultrasound of Calcaneus Efficient for Screening Bone Health
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ultrasonography (US) of the calcaneus is efficient for screening bone health, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
FDA: Thermography No Substitute for Mammograms
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Despite claims to the contrary, thermography should not be used in place of mammography for breast cancer screening, detection, or diagnosis, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Single-Application FIT Moderately Sensitive, Specific for CRC
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Single-application fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) have moderate-to-high sensitivity and specificity for colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a review published online Feb. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Prognostic Bleeding Risk Models Developed for Aspirin Use
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prognostic bleeding risk models that can estimate the absolute bleeding harms of aspirin have been developed for individuals in whom aspirin is being considered for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Feb. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Knowledge of Transgender Health Care Not Linked to Education
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Transphobia — not formal or informal education — predicts provider knowledge of transgender health care, according to a study recently published in Medical Education.
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2014 to 2017 Saw Improvement in Burnout for U.S. Physicians
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2017, there was an improvement in burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration among U.S. physicians, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Preoperative Phone Visits for Cataract Patients Safe, Efficient
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Phone visits can safely substitute for a standard, in-person history and physical (H&P) in patients undergoing cataract surgery, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Opioid-Related Mortality Up From 1999 to 2016 in Eastern U.S.
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In the eastern United States, opioid-related mortality, particularly mortality associated with synthetic opioids, has increased, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Network Open.
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Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarctions Up Among Young Women
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) has increased among younger women, and sedentary time is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women, according to two studies published in the Feb. 19 issue of Circulation, a “Go Red for Women” theme issue on cardiovascular disease in women.
Abstract/Full Text – Arora
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Abstract/Full Text – Bellettiere
FDA: Gout Drug Uloric Increases Risk of Death
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The gout medicine Uloric (febuxostat) carries a higher risk of death than allopurinol, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Since Early 2000s, Overdose Death Rates Are Highest in U.S.
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Since the early 2000s, the United States has had the highest drug overdose death rates among its peer countries, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in the Population and Development Review.
Higher Triglycerides May Be Protective in the Very Elderly
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Higher triglycerides (TGs) is associated with a decreased risk of cognitive decline, activities of daily living (ADL) decline, frailty aggravation, and mortality in the oldest old, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5 Percent Annually
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — National health spending is projected to increase at an annual rate of 5.5. percent from 2018 to 2027, with fundamental economic and demographic factors the main drivers, according to a report published online Feb. 20 in Health Affairs.
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Most Patients Do Not Disclose Complementary Medicine Use
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just one-third of users of biologically based complementary medicine (CM) disclose their use to traditional health care providers, according to a review published online Feb. 7 in Scientific Reports.
Higher Salt Intake in DASH Diet Tied to More Lightheadedness
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Higher sodium intake in the context of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is tied to more frequent and severe lightheadedness, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
One-Third of PCPs Discuss Breast Cancer Treatments With Patients
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One-third of primary care providers (PCPs) report participating in breast cancer treatment decisions, according to a study published online Feb. 1 in Cancer.
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Guideline Covers Extracutaneous Manifestations of Psoriasis
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The extracutaneous manifestations of psoriasis and guidance on use of biologic treatment for management of psoriasis are discussed in two new guidelines published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract/Full Text – Elmets
Abstract/Full Text – Menter
Intervention Can Reduce Orders for Inpatient Urine Cultures
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An intervention that makes changes to urine testing orderables can reduce the urine culturing rate, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Odds of Receiving Tx for CAD Up With Medicare Advantage
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), those enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) are more likely to receive secondary prevention treatments than those enrolled in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Hospital Program Does Not Cut Mortality for Acute Kidney Injury
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A multifaceted intervention for acute kidney injury (AKI), which includes AKI e-alerts, an AKI care bundle, and an education program, does not reduce 30-day mortality but reduced AKI episode duration and hospital length of stay, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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FDA Advances Regulation to Ensure Sunscreen Safety, Efficacy
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took steps Thursday to tighten regulation of over-the-counter sunscreen products.
More Information: FDA
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8 More U.S. Communities to Be Assessed for PFAS Toxin Exposure
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Eight additional communities near current or former U.S. military installations that will be included in assessments of human exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were announced Thursday by federal officials.
2005 to 2015 Saw Drop in Primary Care Physician Supply
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2015, there was a decrease in primary care physician supply per capita in the United States, with increased supply associated with lower mortality, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
U.S. Agencies Probing Johnson & Johnson Over Asbestos in Talc
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Johnson & Johnson is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over possible asbestos contamination of the company’s baby powder and other talc-based products.
The New York Times Article
More Information – American Cancer Society
Midlife Cognitive, Physical Activity May Cut Dementia Risk
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Midlife cognitive and physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for dementia and dementia subtypes, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Neurology.
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Many Experience Improvement in Sex Life After Bariatric Surgery
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — About half of women and men who report some level of dissatisfaction with their sexual life prior to bariatric surgery experience clinically meaningful improvement during five years of follow-up, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Surgery.
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Acupuncture Alleviates Moderate-to-Severe Menopause Symptoms
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 
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