Sharon Smith

Children of obese mothers have an increased risk of being overweight. With the help of a prediction model, pediatricians could intervene early, say researchers. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990333?src=rss

"We were able to advocate for her so she could bring her child along to the treatment facility, but all too often these families end up separated." WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990335?src=rss

Emotional and sexual abuse during childhood affect women much more than men, whereas men have more ongoing psychopathological consequences from emotional and physical neglect, new research shows. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990326?src=rss

A federal judge in Texas on Thursday blocked Obamacare's mandate that health insurance plans cover preventive care, including screenings for certain cancers and pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, at no cost to patients. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990288?src=rss

Long-term opioid use increases the risk of abuse and overdose in this population. The study was published as a preprint and has not yet been peer reviewed. First Look source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990324?src=rss

It pays to control emotions because negative emotions can modify neuronal connections, aging the brain and promoting the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia. Quick Take source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990322?src=rss

Individuals with depression and insomnia may benefit from listening to music at bedtime, say Danish researchers who have developed an app with curated playlists to encourage sleep. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990318?src=rss

UnitedHealth Group said on Wednesday its insurance unit will reduce the use of prior authorization process by 20% for some non-urgent surgeries and procedures. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990239?src=rss

Canadian scientists have developed an artificial intelligence system that predicts cancer survival simply by reading the initial consultation notes written by the oncologist. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990293?src=rss

Researchers have identified specific regions of the brain that appear to be damaged by high blood pressure; the finding may explain the link between hypertension and cognitive impairment. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990291?src=rss

Four providers give a window into why oncology is their calling. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990282?src=rss

Washing synthetic fabrics by hand drastically reduces the amount of microplastic fibers released into wastewater. Quick Take source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990281?src=rss

Physicians can respond to pushback from patients on switching to a biosimilar by offering resources and discussing options for both biosimilar and reference drugs. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990276?src=rss

A finalist of last season's nationally televised singing contest recounts his experience juggling med school and vocal performances with tips for those competing on the current show. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990243?src=rss

The FDA is looking for feedback on its newly published draft guidance on designing cancer drug trials intended for the accelerated approval pathway. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990242?src=rss

Adding radiation on top of chemotherapy did not increase overall or relapse-free survival for patients with stage III/IVA endometrial cancer. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990236?src=rss

Desmoplastic melanoma, an often deeply invasive disease occurring in older adults, showed a uniquely favorable response to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in this small study. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990229?src=rss

"I was in a wheelchair when the doctor at Hopkins told me I had long COVID,” Liely said. “I just broke down and cried. The validation was the biggest thing for me." WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990235?src=rss

EHR use may be particularly burdensome for physicians who specialize in inflammatory bowel disease or hepatology, as well as for nonphysician GI care providers. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990228?src=rss

A national database analysis finds that disparities in primary-prevention statin use persist despite 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990224?src=rss

BioNTech plans to spend up to about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) more on research and development and buy back up to $500 million more of its shares this year. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990191?src=rss

Dutch investigators have demonstrated "excellent" results for detecting endometrial cancer in urine and cervicovaginal samples that women collect at home. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990190?src=rss

'If we make decisions about diabetes testing based on weight, we will miss some people from racial and ethnic minority groups who are developing prediabetes and diabetes at lower weights,' says researcher. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990189?src=rss

Proposal also includes one day of paid leave per year for mammograms and Pap smears for working women, and a half-day for prostate exams for men. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990188?src=rss

Registry data show stereotactic body radiation therapy and surgery provide almost equal survival rates in early stage lung cancer and could be a good therapeutic option in some patients. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990183?src=rss

The study evaluated the records of eight women with DLE recalcitrant to standard therapies who were treated with anifrolumab for at least 8 weeks. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990155?src=rss

The agency approved a higher concentration formulation of Hyrimoz for its previous indications, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990154?src=rss

Treating sleep disturbances associated with depression and anxiety may decrease the risk of intentional injuries in adolescents, new research shows. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990150?src=rss

An outreach program at Boston's Dana-Farber navigated patients at a nearby Federally Qualified Health Center to cancer care, helping address the needs of a historically underserved patient population. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990143?src=rss

The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Pharming Group's drug to treat a rare genetic disorder that leads to a weakened immune system, the Dutch company said. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990117?src=rss

The kickback settlement involves a surgeon and two leading ophthalmology device suppliers. Experts say physicians accepting vacations and other perks from manufacturers could face similar penalties. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990122?src=rss

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases often change their diets. A rheumatologist recently reviewed the data about this approach to disease management. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990107?src=rss

Benefits were independent of reduction in target lobe volume or complete lobar atelectasis. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990109?src=rss

The number of invasive strep A illnesses in children in this country is back to where it was before the pandemic, higher in some places. WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990098?src=rss

US gains in the early identification of children with autism were largely wiped out by disruptions in evaluations in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, US health officials reported on Thursday. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990051?src=rss

Many cases were linked to two hospitals in Turkey, which is among the countries that perform the most cosmetic procedures, including those in which the botulism neurotoxin was used. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990094?src=rss

The risk for cancer transmission from organ donors with primary brain tumors is lower than previously thought, and organ usage from such donors could be expanded to tackle shortages, say UK researchers. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990091?src=rss

Although overall colorectal cancer rates are declining, the incidence is increasing among those younger than 50, and multidisciplinary efforts are needed to understand why. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990047?src=rss

A randomized study of expulsion rates reports the risk for expulsion at 2-4 weeks and 6-8 weeks may help patients and clinicians make informed choices about the timing of IUD insertion. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990046?src=rss

The findings could lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies for alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and opioid addictions. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990045?src=rss

The genetic analysis, the most ethnically diverse to date, identified two new genes with a heavy burden of rare protein-truncating variants that could be the cause of schizophrenia in some patients. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990039?src=rss

Being short-staffed, working through a maxed-out appointment schedule, your share of emergencies? It may seem like a physician's job stress is inevitable. Here are some ways to challenge it. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990036?src=rss

A study of nearly 140,000 people with epilepsy shows a twofold increased risk for death compared with the general population, irrespective of comorbidities or disease severity. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990034?src=rss

Chilean authorities on Tuesday reported a new bird flu outbreak at an industrial facility in the Maule region in the southern part of the country. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989949?src=rss

The May 11 expiration of the federal government's pandemic emergency declaration will affect patient care across a broad range of settings, including telemedicine, hospitals, and nursing homes. Kaiser Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989982?src=rss

About 1 in 5 older women may experience a significant decline in their frailty status following surgery for early-stage breast cancer, new research shows. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989973?src=rss

Delay of care and diagnosis of a patient in the emergency department led to irreparable brain damage, resulting in a huge payout. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989979?src=rss

"Most of the biologic therapies had similar rates of developing ILD, but the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib had a reduced risk," said study first author Matthew C. Baker, MD. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989971?src=rss

The boosters would be for people who are age 65 years and older or who have weakened immune systems, and will need to be approved by the CDC for wide distribution. WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989965?src=rss

A Mendelian randomization study in more than 300,000 mostly male US veterans found that those with type 2 diabetes were more likely to develop dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. First Look source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989930?src=rss

'The message is really a public health message -- raising awareness that COVID appears to have had a lasting impact on people's behavioral choices when it comes to activity,' said the study's lead author. WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989920?src=rss

"We could potentially have a much worse problem with vaccine hoarding and vaccine nationalism in a flu outbreak than we saw with COVID.” WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989921?src=rss

President Joe Biden on Monday signed a bill that requires declassification of information related to the origins of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the White House said. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989903?src=rss

With the emotional rollercoaster of Match Day over, successful matchers plot their medical training; others recover from a selection process that resulted in highs and lows for some specialties. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989916?src=rss

Patients with high levels of depression had strikingly high levels of inflammation biomarkers, and these in turn were associated with worse overall survival. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989911?src=rss

Two phase 3 studies with the IL-17 inhibitor bimekizumab for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa generate clinically meaningful results, researchers report. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989861?src=rss

"I am confident that this year we will be able to say that COVID-19 is over as a public health emergency of international concern." WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989859?src=rss

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who blasted pharmaceutical companies for gouging Californians, is moving ahead with state-branded insulin. He’s also eyeing other generic drugs. Kaiser Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989862?src=rss

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, increasingly used to treat a variety of cancers, can cause unpredictable immune-related adverse events including endocrinopathies. First Look source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989856?src=rss

A study from the US Department of Defense found cancer incidence was higher among military air and ground crew in comparison with the general population, but they were not more likely to die from cancer. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989850?src=rss

Novo Nordisk's best-selling diabetes treatment drug Ozempic is back on the shelves in the United States after months of shortage. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989805?src=rss

Product development should factor in the unique, complex needs of patients with NAFLD, the authors say. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989847?src=rss

The patch is currently undergoing review by the US Food and Drug Administration. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989842?src=rss

The results add to 'current understanding of the role of different biomarkers in treatment response,' in this population, according to the lead study author. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989841?src=rss

Black box warnings for JAK inhibitors arise from rheumatoid arthritis studies, leading one expert to question the risk-benefit relevance to dermatologic diseases, particularly in younger patients. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989840?src=rss

Canada will remove mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements for air travelers arriving from China, Hong Kong and Macao from March 17, the Public Health Agency of Canada said on Thursday. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989756?src=rss

Rheumatology is not one of the higher-paid medical specialties, but its practitioners have found other reasons for career fulfilment in their clinical relationships with their patients. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989796?src=rss

A strategy depending on voluntary changes by industry has been associated with a 2% reduction in sugar, which is far short of the target of a 15% reduction. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989797?src=rss

Risk factors for statin intolerance include female sex, obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, antiarrhythmics, alcohol use, exercise, chronic liver disease, and chronic kidney failure, studies suggest. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989792?src=rss

The targeted therapy combination beat chemotherapy on progression-free survival, but there was no difference in overall survival at the interim analysis. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989785?src=rss

The lack of gender diversity on editorial boards impairs not only women's career progression, but also journals' output, according to researchers. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989734?src=rss

Overall, the study indicated that most women did not have a strong understanding of the risk associated with breast density. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989731?src=rss

With 3 years of the COVID-19 experience now past, it's safe to say that SARS-CoV-2 changed American society in ways that could not have been predicted. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989687?src=rss

Photodynamic diagnosis-guided TURBT did not reduce 3-year recurrence rates of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer in a real-world trial compared with white light-guided cystoscopy. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989688?src=rss

En route to a nurse training program in Uganda, students and faculty from the University of San Diego responded to medical emergencies on two flights, putting their skills to the test in mid-air. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989680?src=rss

Rates of suicide among physicians are higher than in other professionals. Why aren't we making more strides against this silent physician killer? Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989674?src=rss

The US health regulator's staff reviewers said on Tuesday data from Pfizer's COVID-19 drug trials support its use in adults at high risk of progressing to severe disease, bringing the pill closer to a full approval. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989613?src=rss

The drug developer said it plans to proceed with a late-stage trial of its COVID-19 pill, weeks after the FDA declined to authorize the oral drug to treat high-risk patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989635?src=rss

MCI and anxiety are common in seniors, and each increases the risk for the other, with perceived stress implicated as the mediator. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989574?src=rss

Despite the backing of the US government, Moderna on Friday failed to persuade a federal judge it should not have to face a patent lawsuit over its COVID-19 vaccine and that the United States should have been sued instead. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989503?src=rss

In an in-hospital anticoagulation trial, the primary COVID endpoint was missed, but a survival benefit was observed. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989565?src=rss

Pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe free contraception to residents, thus removing barriers of access for those without a family physician. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989561?src=rss

President Joe Biden's 2024 budget proposal includes a hefty investment in cancer prevention and treatment. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989539?src=rss

A 10-gene assay predicted future cases of urothelial cancer, the most common form of bladder cancer, with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989553?src=rss

Today marks the first day of daylight saving time in 2023. Many U.S. health reporters and bloggers have devoted newsprint or digital space to the pros and cons of shifting our clocks one hour forward so that there is more late-day sunshine during the warmer months. In 2019, my colleague Jen Middleton discussed how to minimize sleep disruptions caused by the time change. This year, Rita Rubin wrote a terrific news article in JAMA that highlighted the contrast in public support for making daylight saving time year-round with the positions of major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Medical Association , that support abolishing daylight saving and sticking with permanent standard time. For nine months in 1974, the U.S. actually instituted year-round daylight saving time in the hope of reducing energy consumption during the OPEC oil embargo . Unfortunately, noted Rubin, "the shift to daylight saving time in the middle of winte

Today I spent a few hours updating my "Introduction to the U.S. health care system" lecture for the first-year medical student course I directed before my 2020-21 Salt Lake City sabbatical and last year's move to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (I continue to hold a Georgetown faculty appointment as a guest lecturer for this course and a health policy elective for 4th year students and residents.) The last several slides are taken from a series of reports from the Commonwealth Fund illustrating that as U.S. health care spending has accelerated in comparison to spending in peer countries, key health outcomes, such as infant and maternal mortality and average life expectancy, have fallen farther and farther behind. I then ask the students: why are our outcomes worse than those of other countries that spend much less? There isn't a single correct answer to this question. Culprits include high administrative costs, poor continuity of care due to lack of insurance portability,

The Oscars have nothing on our picks for outstanding medical performances in movies old and new. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989497?src=rss

Some adults don’t consider screening to be a priority, while others were under the impression that a healthy diet with regular bowel movements negates the need for screening, a survey found. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989465?src=rss

Many Black patients also try to be informed and minimize questions to put providers at ease. "The system looks at us differently," says the founder of the African American Wellness Project. Kaiser Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989459?src=rss

When an older surfer collapses in shallow water, an emergency medicine physician assistant drops her surfboard and goes to work. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989456?src=rss

Pfizer is ready to launch its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for both older adults and pregnant women in the United States and Europe later this year, executives said on Thursday. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989455?src=rss

Although high-intensity statin use increased when clinicians received prescribing reminders, 31% of those receiving reminders dropped out of the trial, suggesting that alert fatigue remains a concern. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989402?src=rss

A review of electronic medical records showed similar follow-up engagement for patients with opioid use disorder who did and did not report fentanyl use. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989413?src=rss

New national figures suggest that the increase was primarily seen among those with more socioeconomic advantage and occurred along with a large rise in unhealthy obesity. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989398?src=rss

The antipsychotic brexpiprazole effectively improves agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease with favorable tolerability, results of a phase 3 study suggest. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989389?src=rss

A Houston psychiatrist has agreed to pay $3 million to settle with the federal government over claims that he and his companies billed Medicare for unnecessary transcranial magnetic stimulation services. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989391?src=rss

Intravenous (IV) ketamine is effective for geriatric patients with treatment-resistant depression; the response rate was similar to that observed in younger adult patients, two new studies suggest. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989390?src=rss

 A physician who overprescribed controlled substances and submitted Medicare claims for telehealth visits she didn't conduct herself has been indicted. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989388?src=rss

The application for FDA approval for CSU is based on data from a pair of phase 3 trials in two different populations. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989344?src=rss

Schools hope the incentives will help recruit nursing students and encourage them to remain in underserved communities after graduation. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989332?src=rss

Professional courtesy between physicians has declined amid concerns about violating payer contracts and laws. Here's how doctors can reduce those risks. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989330?src=rss

The latest data from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study signals a 'healthcare crisis in the making.' Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989327?src=rss

Thousands of people in Ukraine have sustained complex injuries linked to the war and need rehabilitation services and equipment to help them, a senior World Health Organization official said on Tuesday. Reuters Health Information source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989277?src=rss

Midwife Care Safe for Moderate- and High-Risk Pregnancies Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989325?src=rss

Younger physicians and those in certain specialties are more likely than their colleagues to report burnout and depression, a new Medscape report shows. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989290?src=rss

Most women undergo primary breast cancer surgery within 8 weeks of diagnosis. Later may be associated with worse survival but some argue earlier surgery is not always better. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989293?src=rss

Long-term blood pressure reductions in the Black patient cohort of the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 renal denervation trial challenge early results. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989285?src=rss

After finding that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) do not work as well for patients who had taken antibiotics, the investigators suggest restoring the gut microbiome before starting therapy. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989280?src=rss

Two US Drug Enforcement Administration proposals on how telehealth can be used going forward to prescribe controlled substances are drawing criticism from mental health and addiction treatment specialists. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989274?src=rss

Certain patients with high-risk early breast cancer can now receive abemaciclib (Verzenio) without needing Ki-67 testing. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989139?src=rss

New research suggests vitamin D supplementation may help ward off dementia, especially when initiated early, new research suggests. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989137?src=rss

Support for employment programs and an increase in access to healthcare services, including treatment services for substance use, could reduce suicide mortality rates, according to investigators. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989127?src=rss

Drugmakers would need to take extra steps to ensure safety of their products by users. For example, users may have to participate in a brief phone call or take a survey online or in a store. WebMD Health News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989132?src=rss

Lombardy, which was the European epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, re-elected its right-wing local government. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989124?src=rss

Patient recovery at 12 weeks and safety outcomes were similar for the two techniques in patients with degenerative mitral valve disease. But the minimally invasive approach had other benefits. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989109?src=rss

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are a foundational treatment for HFrEF, but often aren't prescribed. EHR alerts juiced uptake. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989110?src=rss

In stent placement for complex coronary lesions, intravascular imaging reduces events relative to angiography. MDedge News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989111?src=rss

Two strategies based on electronically delivered letters or 'nudges' were found to increase flu shot uptake compared with usual care, a new study shows. Medscape Medical News source https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989108?src=rss