Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for November 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.
Presence of Antiphospholipid Antibodies Tied to First-Time MI
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a strong and independent association between the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and first-time myocardial infarction (MI), according to a research letter published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Limiting Social Media May Improve Psychological Well-Being
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Limiting social media use to 30 minutes per day may lead to significant improvement in well-being, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
Teva Recalls Two Blood Pressure Medications
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — All lots of amlodipine/valsartan and amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination blood pressure tablets have been recalled by Teva Pharmaceuticals due to higher-than-acceptable levels of a chemical that may cause cancer.
Rotating Night Shift Work, Lifestyle Factors Linked to T2DM
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Both rotating night shift work and unhealthy lifestyle are associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes among female nurses, with a significant additive interaction, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in the BMJ.
Hypnotherapy Beats Education for Relief of IBS Symptoms
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), individual and group hypnotherapy are more effective than educational supportive therapy in relieving symptoms, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Several Risk Factors More Strongly Linked to MI in Women
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) is higher in men than women, but several risk factors are more strongly linked to MI in women, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in The BMJ.
Genetic Analysis Shows Higher BMI May Up Risk for Depression
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Being overweight likely plays a causal role in the development of depression, even in the absence of other health problems, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Climate Change Ups Heat Deaths, Especially Among Elderly
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Risk for heat-related disease and death is rising worldwide due to climate change, according to a report published online Nov. 28 in The Lancet.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Dementia Often Misclassified With Brief Cognitive Assessments
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — When using brief cognitive assessments, dementia is often misclassified, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Neurology Clinical Practice.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Certain SGLT2 Inhibitors, GLP-1 RAs for T2DM Also Cut CV Risk
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Certain sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) demonstrate significant cardiovascular (CV) benefit and should be used for reducing CV risk in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), according to a report of the American College of Cardiology Task Force on Expert Consensus Decision Pathways published online Nov. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Decreased From 2016 to 2017
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2016 to 2017, there was a decrease in life expectancy in the United States, with recent increases noted in drug overdose deaths and suicide mortality, according to three reports published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Abstract/Full Text – Mortality
Abstract/Full Text – Drug Overdose Deaths
Abstract/Full Text – Suicide Mortality
Persistent Back Pain Linked to Earlier Mortality in Older Women
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Frequent persistent back pain is associated with increased mortality in older women, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Home-Based Intervention Helpful for Disadvantaged CKD Patients
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A home-based intervention can improve disadvantaged chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients’ activation in their health and health care, according to a study published online Nov. 15 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial 1
Editorial 2
FDA: Kratom Products Have High Levels of Heavy Metals
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In addition to many other health risks, kratom products can have high levels of heavy metals, according to Scott Gottlieb, M.D., commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Healthy Lifestyle Tied to Less Atherosclerosis for Women
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A healthy lifestyle during midlife is associated with less subclinical atherosclerosis among women, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Lanadelumab Reduces Attack Rate in Hereditary Angioedema
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with hereditary angioedema type I or II, lanadelumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits active plasma kallikrein, reduces the attack rate compared with placebo, according to a study published in the Nov. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Fruits, Veggies, Orange Juice May Protect Men’s Memory
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Higher consumption of vegetables and fruits is associated with lower odds of future memory loss in men, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Protein Intake Tied to Disability Trajectory in Very Old
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For very old adults, higher protein intake is associated with better disability trajectories, according to a study published online Nov. 1 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
FDA: Safe to Eat Romaine Lettuce Again, but Check Labels
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a statement released late yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced that the agency was lifting its advisory against eating romaine lettuce, first put in place last Tuesday. At that point, the agency had not been able to narrow down the source of the tainted lettuce. But now the source seems to be “end-of-season” lettuce harvested somewhere in the Central Coast regions of central and northern California. And “harvesting of romaine lettuce from this region has [already] ended for the year,” Gottlieb noted.
More Information: FDA
More Information: CDC
FDA to Update Medical Device Approvals Process
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A major update of the United States’ system for approving medical devices was announced yesterday by the Food and Drug Administration.
CBS/AP News Article
More Information
Four Principles Underlie Patient and Family Partnership in Care
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patient and family partnership in care should include treatment of patients and families with dignity and respect, their active engagement in all aspects of care, and their contribution to the improvement of health care systems and education of health care professionals, according to a position paper published online Nov. 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Position Paper
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Food Assistance May Help Older Adults Adhere to Diabetes Meds
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may reduce the number of low-income older adults with diabetes forgoing medications because of cost, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Recommended Therapies for Polycythemia Vera Underused
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among older patients with polycythemia vera (PV), therapeutic phlebotomy and hydroxyurea (HU) are associated with improved overall survival and decreased risk for thrombosis but are underused, according to a study recently published in Blood Advances.
Vitamin D Levels Linked to Cardiorespiratory Fitness
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Serum vitamin D levels are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), according to a study recently published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
ACA Coverage Substantial, but Did Not Impact Labor Markets
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Millions of workers gained insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without adverse effects on labor markets, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute.
Report: How Have Workers Fared Under the ACA?
Newborns Infected With Ebola in Congo Outbreak
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ebola infections in newborns are being reported in the current outbreak of the deadly disease in Congo, the World Health Organization says.
AP News Article
More Information: CDC
USPSTF Suggests Universal HIV Screening, PrEP for High-Risk Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for individuals aged 15 to 65 years, including all pregnant women, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should be offered to those at high risk of HIV. These findings form the basis of two draft recommendation statements published online Nov. 20 by the USPSTF.
Draft Evidence Review – Adolescents/Adults
Draft Recommendation Statement – Adolescents/Adults
Comment on Recommendation Statement – Adolescents/Adults
Draft Evidence Review – Pregnancy
Draft Recommendation Statement – Pregnancy
Comment on Recommendation Statement – Pregnancy
Draft Evidence Review – PrEP
Draft Recommendation Statement – PrEP
Comment on Recommendation Statement – PrEP
Insulin Needed for T2DM Tx Set to Increase >20 Percent by 2030
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2018 to 2030, the insulin required to treat type 2 diabetes is expected to increase more than 20 percent, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Lung Cancer Screening Implementation Guide Developed
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Lung Association and the American Thoracic Society have established a website to guide implementation of lung cancer screening, according to an editorial published in the Nov. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Implementation Guide for Lung Cancer Screening
Clinical Decision Support System Ups Outpatient PE Management
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The use of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) in the emergency department can improve outpatient management for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Obesity Tied to Increased Risk for Early-Onset CRC in Women
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with an increased risk for early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) among women, according to a study recently published in JAMA Oncology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required
U of Maryland Student Dies of Adenovirus-Related Illness
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An 18-year-old University of Maryland student has died from an adenovirus-related illness, and there have been reports of five other cases among students.
CBS News Article
More Information: CDC
FDA Approves Drug for Treatment of Travelers’ Diarrhea
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced it has approved Aemcolo (rifamycin), an antibacterial drug indicated for treating adult patients with travelers’ diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) without fever or blood in the stool.
Smoke-Free Policies Linked to Lower Systolic Blood Pressure
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Smoke-free policies are associated with small reductions in blood pressure (BP), according to a study published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Switching to High-Deductible Insurance Delays Diabetes Care
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetes, those switching from low-deductible to high-deductible insurance have increased delays in seeking care and diagnostic testing for macrovascular symptoms and for first procedure-based treatment, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA: Another E. coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce
TUESDAY, Nov. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with health officials from various states are asking American consumers to avoid romaine lettuce due to an outbreak of Escherichia coli illness.
FDA Fast Facts
CDC Food Safety Alert
Dementia Tied to Mortality in Older Adults With Down Syndrome
TUESDAY, Nov. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dementia is associated with mortality in most older adults with Down syndrome, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Neurology.
NPs and PAs Can Effectively Manage Diabetes in Primary Care
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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