02/15/17

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Trump Administration Rolls Out New Obamacare Rules

Enrollment period for 2018 will be shorter, plus new restrictions on joining plans after missed premiums

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/news/20170215/trump-administration-rolls-out-new-obamacare-rules?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20049314

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/in-depth/germs/art-20045289

In study, brain scans help predict autism in babies

Researchers say the experimental findings could lead to a new method to diagnose infants earlier, when intervention is key

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mri-brain-scans-might-help-predict-autism-in-babies-before-symptoms-appear/

Some Docs May Help Fuel Opioid Abuse Epidemic

Patients are 30 percent more likely to get hooked on painkillers if their ER physician prescribes them frequently

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20170215/some-docs-may-help-fuel-opioid-abuse-epidemic?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Trump Administration Rolls Out New Obamacare Rules

Enrollment period for 2018 will be shorter, plus new restrictions on joining plans after missed premiums

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20170215/trump-administration-rolls-out-new-obamacare-rules?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Scientists see use of gene editing to fight disease

A new report explores the ethics of of altering sperm, eggs or embryos so that babies don’t inherit genetic diseases

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/future-of-gene-editing-to-fight-disease/

Brain study spots early signs of autism

A new study suggests brain scans may be able to detect signs of autism in children much earlier than standard diagnostic tests. CBS News' Meg Oliver has details.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/brain-study-spots-early-signs-of-autism/

Experimental Test Can Spot Autism in Infancy

Researchers report brain scans plus computer algorithm show which high-risk babies might develop the disorder

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20170215/experimental-test-can-spot-autism-in-infancy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Dr. LaPrincess Brewer discusses heart disease and African-American women

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGFKeSaceMw

Two Kentucky programs receive oral health grants

Two Kentucky dental programs have received oral health grants from Avēsis Incorporated, a Phoenix-based subsidiary of the Guardian Life Insurance Co.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/two-kentucky-programs-receive-oral-health-grants

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Visits Workers Impacted By Louisiana Tornado and Tours Storm Damage

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2017 - Acting Agriculture Deputy Secretary Mike Young visited the displaced workers of the USDA Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) National Finance Center (NFC) Monday after an EF-3 tornado hit the New Orleans-based NFC building last week, causing severe damage. No one was seriously hurt as a result of the storm, which struck at approximately 11:20 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.

From: /wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2017/02/0014.xml&contentidonly=true

Office for Civil Rights announces $3.2m penalty

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights said Feb. 1 that it had finalized a $3.2 million civil money penalty against the Children's Medical Center of Dallas following multiple alleged Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act violations between 2009-13.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/office-for-civil-rights-announces-3-2-penalty

Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20049314

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/in-depth/germs/art-20045289

Are Baked Lay's potato chips really "guilt-free"? PepsiCo says so

Snack makers often market products as healthier options -- even if they're heavy on unhealthy ingredients

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-baked-lays-potato-chips-really-guilt-free-pepsico-says-so/

Rude surgeons may put patients at risk, study finds

New research finds that when doctors behave badly, patients may suffer in more ways than one

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rude-surgeons-may-put-patients-at-risk-study-finds/

Couple's suicide highlights mental health needs of refugees

Cut off from their homelands and from many of the usual sources of social support, most refugees also lack access to mental health care

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/couple-suicide-highlights-mental-health-needs-of-refugees/

Implanted Defibrillator Shocks and Health Costs

Even when the shock was inappropriate, many people still got invasive medical procedures afterwards, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20170215/shocks-from-implanted-defibrillators-trigger-health-costs-of-their-own?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Germs, Mold Found in Some Medical Pot

Man undergoing cancer treatment died from fungal infection thought to come from medicinal marijuana

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20170215/germs-mold-found-in-some-medical-pot?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Brain Disease Uncovered in Former Soccer Players

Autopsies show evidence of CTE, the degenerative condition linked to repetitive head trauma

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20170215/small-study-uncovers-brain-disease-in-former-soccer-players?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20049314

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/in-depth/germs/art-20045289

Texas renews anti-abortion efforts after SCOTUS defeat

Undeterred by the Supreme Court decision striking down sweeping abortion restrictions, Texas Republicans are pushing new measures

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-anti-abortion-efforts-renew-after-supreme-court-defeat/

Charles Darwin, Chagas’ disease, and the killer kissing bugs of California

Follow me on Twitter @JohnRossMD

It is possible, although very unusual, to get Chagas’ disease in the United States. The medical journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases recently reported a case of Chagas’ disease acquired in California. A healthy 19-year-old student from the greater Los Angeles area donated blood, and tested positive for Chagas’ disease. (Blood donations in the United States are routinely screened for Chagas’ disease, as it is estimated that 300,000 Latin American immigrants in the United States have been infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.) He had never traveled to Latin America; his infection probably came from a kissing bug bite in his sleep during one of several camping trips in southern California. Tests showed no evidence of heart damage. He had a good response to four months of treatment with the anti-parasitic drug nifurtimox, although this drug gave him temporary side effects of anxiety and depression.

Kissing bugs are found in much of the United States. However, only kissing bugs in the southwest United States are highly likely to carry Trypanosoma cruzi. Kissing bugs in California and Texas may be especially likely to spread Chagas’ disease. In one study, 28% of kissing bugs from southern California and 55% of kissing bugs from northern California were carrying Trypanosoma cruzi. In the borderlands of south Texas, 57% of kissing bugs are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

The major reason why the spread of Chagas’ disease is rare in the United States is housing. Housing standards in the United States are generally higher than in affected parts of Latin America, and it is rare for kissing bugs to invade homes here. However, it is possible for kissing bugs to gain entry to American houses that are dilapidated, as happened in one case of human infection in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Bed bugs, which can transmit Chagas’ disease in laboratory experiments, are common in some parts in the U.S., but there is little evidence that they are an important real-world source of infection with Chagas’ disease.

Keeping Chagas’ disease at bay

There is an urgent need for more research into the spread and treatment of Chagas’ disease in the United States. The drugs used to treat Chagas’ disease are not well tolerated, and they are not effective in patients who have already developed heart damage. At present, your risk of getting infected with Chagas’ disease in the United States is very low, especially if your house or apartment is in good shape, and you avoid camping outside in the open. However, some scientists are worried that Chagas’ disease may become more common in the future. Increasing development in areas where kissing bugs are found may bring them in contact with humans more often. As well, the kissing bugs that carry Chagas’ disease could spread northward with climate change. As Darwin might observe, it’s an evolving situation.

The post Charles Darwin, Chagas’ disease, and the killer kissing bugs of California appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: John Ross, MD, FIDSA http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/charles-darwin-chagas-disease-and-the-killer-kissing-bugs-of-california-2017021511117

Immunotherapy Not a Quick Fix for Hay Fever

3-year treatment with high doses of grass pollen offered long-term relief, but 2 years not enough, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20170214/immunotherapy-not-a-quick-fix-for-hay-fever?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Zika Lingers in Semen for Less Time Than Thought

But scientists say guidelines urging abstinence, condoms for 6 months after infection should still be followed

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20170214/zika-lingers-in-semen-for-less-time-than-thought-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Heart Disease May Cost $1 Trillion Yearly By 2035

American Heart Association estimates that nearly half of Americans will have heart disease in less than 20 years

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20170214/heart-disease-could-cost-us-1-trillion-per-year-by-2035-report?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Yo-Yo dieting hard on a woman's heart

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYfaJMyGGVg

Heart Disease Affects Far More Than the Heart

Blocked arteries can restrict blood flow to the legs, feet, kidneys -- even brain, specialists say

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20170214/heart-disease-affects-far-more-than-the-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20049314

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/in-depth/germs/art-20045289

Cold caps reduce chemotherapy hair loss, studies show

Hair loss is often considered one of the most devastating side-effects of chemotherapy. A pair of new studies on cold cap therapy in the Journal of the American Medical Association gives hope to breast cancer patients. The emerging treatment gives some women on chemotherapy the option to keep most of their hair. Barry Petersen reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/cold-caps-reduce-chemotherapy-hair-loss-studies-show/

Snack bar CEO commits millions to fight food industry sway

Executive launches group focused on revealing Big Food's efforts to influence nutrition science and standards

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/snack-bar-ceo-commits-millions-to-fight-food-industry-sway/

Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20049314

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/in-depth/germs/art-20045289

2017 update to the immunization schedule for kids

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) update the recommendations for immunizing children from birth to 18 years. This past week, the latest changes were published.

The changes are usually small, and this year is no exception. But they are important — and they are a sign of how these organizations, and all the scientists who study immunization, take immunization effectiveness and safety very seriously. There is ongoing research to be sure that vaccines do everything we want them to do. As that research is done, discoveries are made that change what happens when kids come in for their checkups and shots.

Sometimes the changes in the schedule aren’t actually changes. Sometimes the experts want to emphasize something about a vaccine that not everyone knows — and sometimes they tweak the way the schedule looks to make it easier to read and understand.

Here are the latest changes, reminders and tweaks:

There are two for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine:
- A reminder that it can be given as early as age 9-10, something many people don’t realize
- And a reason to start early: if kids get the first dose of vaccine before their 15^th birthday, they only need 2 doses (6 months apart) instead of the previously recommended 3 doses. Anyone who starts on or after the 15^th birthday still needs those three doses
The LAIV or nasal spray version of the flu vaccine is officially out of the schedule (since it was found not to work very well)
Babies should get their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours of life, if possible, to give the best protection in case of an undiscovered infection in the mother.
Pregnant adolescents (like all pregnant women) should get a dose of TdaP vaccine between 27-36 weeks of pregnancy.
A separate column was added to the schedule for 16-year-olds to emphasize that they should get a booster dose of the meningococcal vaccine.
A new tab was added to help doctors know which vaccines are recommended for children with special health conditions. For example, children with sickle cell disease, chronic heart disease, severe asthma, as well as certain kidney and immune system problems should get the PPV23 version of the pneumococcal vaccine along with the one routinely given in infancy.

The schedules, both for routine immunization and for catching up when kids get behind, can be found on both the CDC and AAP websites. Check them out, and let your doctor know if you have any questions.

The post 2017 update to the immunization schedule for kids appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/2017-update-immunization-schedule-kids-2017021411187

There are two for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine:
- A reminder that it can be given as early as age 9-10, something many people don’t realize
- And a reason to start early: if kids get the first dose of vaccine before their 15^th birthday, they only need 2 doses (6 months apart) instead of the previously recommended 3 doses. Anyone who starts on or after the 15^th birthday still needs those three doses
The LAIV or nasal spray version of the flu vaccine is officially out of the schedule (since it was found not to work very well)
Babies should get their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours of life, if possible, to give the best protection in case of an undiscovered infection in the mother.
Pregnant adolescents (like all pregnant women) should get a dose of TdaP vaccine between 27-36 weeks of pregnancy.
A separate column was added to the schedule for 16-year-olds to emphasize that they should get a booster dose of the meningococcal vaccine.
A new tab was added to help doctors know which vaccines are recommended for children with special health conditions. For example, children with sickle cell disease, chronic heart disease, severe asthma, as well as certain kidney and immune system problems should get the PPV23 version of the pneumococcal vaccine along with the one routinely given in infancy.

The post 2017 update to the immunization schedule for kids appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/2017-update-immunization-schedule-kids-2017021411187