Amy Jacob

There are more and more challenges facing patients and doctors in hospital settings as "superbugs," or those conditions which are resistant to medications and antibiotics become a greater problem.

For individuals battling migraines, a morning cup of coffee or extra glass of wine can act as devastating headache triggers. Rather than excess caffeine, the true migraine trigger culprits are nitrites and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Michelle Doll, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University, discussed her recent work in assessing the association between regular dental check ups and decreased risk of getting pneumonia.

Mark Mulligan, MD explained that Zika needs better diagnostic tests, which he knows can take some time, but is hopeful something will come along in a reasonable time frame.

At IDWeek 2016, Mark Mulligan, MD, Hope Clinic at Emory Vaccine Center discussed his team's recent projects studying the natural history of Zika infection and their Zika vaccine trial.

At IDWeek 2016, Mark Murphy, DO, Advocate Children's discussed his team's quality improvement project to improve the HPV vaccine completion rates in pediatric patients, which is an "ongoing national issue".

Jason Roberts, The University of Queensland, Australia, has observed "suboptimal outcomes" in patients whereby they end up failing treatments or even need relatively long courses of treatment, which he attributes to the idea that healthcare professionals aren't using the right doses of antibiotics.

"The disturbing fact is that unvaccinated children who get measles run the risk of these [SSPE] complications."

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) has thought be a rare complication of measles, explained Jim Cherry, MD, UCLA, at IDWeek 2016. What was once a considered a rare form, was later found, through much research, to be more common.

Amesh Adalja, MD, UPMC Center for National Security and his colleagues study recent outbreaks and work on how to better prepare the country for outbreaks like this in the future.

Patients experiencing pain from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) might find relief from an unlikely source.

There are any number of diets aimed at helping people lose weight. A recent study looked at whether a fasting diet was the way to go for the best results.

The North American Menopause Society is involved in many aspects of patient care with each effort working toward the common goal of improving treatment for women before, during, and after menopause.

A common symptom reported by many women as they transition through menopause is issues with cognition. Whether it is described as a "mental fog," or "forgetfulness. Taking these concerns seriously is an issue confronted by many providers who treat these women.

There is currently only one pharmacologic treatment approved for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. There is work being done to find new ways to help these patients have a normal sex life.

Even the most seasoned healthcare providers may not want to address the sexual health of their patients for any number of reasons. However, by asking a few simple questions, that is not an insurmountable challenge in care.

As women get older, they may need more help from their medical providers to have the sex life they want. New treatments are being developed to help make that a reality.

While estrogen therapy may not be the best option for all women in menopause, there is an effort underway to help educate patients and providers alike as to how best to approach this topic to provide the best results possible.

There are several products on the market designed to help patients manage the symptoms associated with menopause. New research was recently presented on one option which does not include progesterone and what that means for care.

At The North American Menopause Society 27th Annual Meeting (NAMS) in Orlando, Florida, Janet Carpenter, PhD, RN, Indiana University discussed her latest research in nonhomonal alternatives for women experiencing hot flashes including a clinical hypnosis protocol.

At The North American Menopause Society 27th Annual meeting (NAMS), Holly Thomas, MD, MS, University of Pittsburgh, discussed her program of research mainly focuses on how sex changes for women as they move through midlife and into older age.

At The North American Menopause Society 27th Annual Meeting (NAMS), Rebecca Thurston, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, discussed her research on the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular disease in menopause patients.

As Peter Schnatz, DO, Reading Health System, completes his term as President of NAMS, he reflected on the initial goals he'd had before assuming his position. His primary initiative was to bring the best care they could to menopausal women. Schnatz said they'd been working really hard on reopening the conversation of the use and utilization of hormonal therapy.

Peter Schnatz, DO, Reading Health System, current President of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), spoke about his presidential address, which discussed breast arterial calcification (BAC) and the association with risk factors and atheroscleratic cardiovascular disease.

Hadine, Joffe, MD, MSc, explained at The North American Menopause Society 27th Annual Meeting (NAMS), that their research validates there's a biological basis for these symptoms and that these are the brains' responses to hormone changes and the symptom manifestations of those hormone changes.

At The North American Menopause Society 27th Annual Meeting (NAMS), Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc, Brigham and Women's Hospital explained that she always has her patients use sleep hygiene, and that there are some really key strategies that has no side effects.

Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc, Brigham and Women's Hospital has been trying to figure out the common menopause symptoms and how to treat them. As a psychiatrist and considering her vested interest in the brain manifestations of hormone changes, some of the symptoms she focuses on are hot flashes, sleep, and mood.

Even after the implantation of a left ventricular assist device there is no guarantee that patients will live much past the procedure. Planning for life after the implant can be as important as the time beforehand.

A considerable amount of progress has been made in battling the AIDS epidemic in recent years. However more work still needs to be done in certain patient populations.

The FDA has granted approval for ustekinumab (Stelara/Janssen Biotech) to treat adults with moderately-to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD).