Family Medicine

According to a recent study published in JAMA Dermatology, a longer wavelength laser is an effective treatment option for keratosis pilaris (KP), a skin condition in which skin proteins form hard plugs within hair follicles, for improving skin roughness and textural irregularities.

While there are currently no active cases of Ebola virus infection in the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that 35 hospitals across the country are now designated treatment centers for the virus.

For patients with severe, non-chronic depression, a combination of cognitive therapy (CT) and antidepressant medicine (ADM) is more effective than sole ADM treatment, according to research published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Although the introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for the treatment of achalasia, a condition that affects the ability of the esophagus to move food into the stomach, has caused quite a stir, clinicians are reminded to consider additional factors when discussing therapeutic options.

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden determined β-amyloid 42 (Aβ42) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels can act as predictor for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Analyzing the brain patterns of social anxiety disorder (SAD) patients, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston University (BU), and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), neuroscientists uncovered a method to pinpoint which candidates will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at whether the prescription, which also required the patient continuously monitor their coagulation, was the best option. The study focused on whether mechanical left atrial appendage would be preferable for patients going forward.

Amgen and AstraZeneca recently announced AMAGINE-2TM, a pivotal, multi-arm Phase 3 clinical trial, met all primary endpoints for brodalumab, an experimental drug designed for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treatment.

Modifying diet is one way to try to help patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). In a study reported in Gastroenterology, an Australian research team looked at the effects of lowering fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) vs. consuming a typical Australian diet.

More than 23 million Americans who should be screened for colon cancer have not yet been screened. To the extent that lapse is due to patients' reluctance to submit to a colonoscopy, a non-invasive stool test could help – if it is effective. A research team looked at such a test, one made by Exact Sciences Corp. and approved in November, 2014 for Medicare reimbursement.

The health care policy, written by Gary Rivard, DO, and Anthony Viera, MD, was published in The Journal of Family Practice. The authors noted that while more people are receiving vaccinations for pertussis, the US Centers for Disease Control reported 48,277 confirmed cases – the highest number since 1955, including 20 deaths related to the disease.

Strategies of no antibiotic prescription or delayed antibiotic prescription in primary care patients with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) resulted in fewer than 40% of patients using antibiotics, according to a study published in BMJ.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), an idiopathic condition for patients, occurs when otoconia of the utricular macula become dislodged and floating debris moves into semicircular canals. Recently, researchers have noted patients with BPPV tend to have low serum vitamin D levels compared with controls.

Patients who have hypertension may be at increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia. According to a study published in the October 2014 issue of JAMA Neurology, researchers have been trying to elucidate the timing and mechanism by which elevated blood pressure robs patients' thinking abilities.

Frontal lobe lesions can cause personality and social cognition impairment. Some data suggested that 2 types of patients – those with prefrontal lesions and those with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia – experience similar distractibility, personality changes, and social inappropriateness. Patients with either diagnosis also experienced profoundly impaired moral reasoning, yet few studies have compared these patients.

A urine test to detect preeclampsia is being developed by a startup group at Yale University.

Prenatal and early infant exposure to air pollutants may be linked to developing autism, according to research presented at the American Association for Aerosol Research.

Smoking cessation had long been associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and improved positive mood and quality of life compared with continuing to smoke. Yet many smokers who wish to quit are afraid to do so because they believe smoking decreases their feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress and improves their mood and promotes relaxation. This sentiment is reported by smokers both with and without diagnosed mental disorders.

No matter what reason a patient is in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital every moment and medication they take matters in helping them recover. A recent study looked at what dose of systemic corticosteroids should be given to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations during their time in critical care.

Hepatitis C virus, fibrosis, and cirrhosis patients with sustained virological response can have survival rates comparable to the general population, according to research published in JAMA.

Glucose intolerances may be linked to non-caloric artificial sweeteners, according to research published in Nature.

Research teams examining the safety and efficacy of zanamivir and oseltamivir for influenza treatment concluded they are not as effective as popularly believed.

HDL cholesterol may have atheroprotective qualities, according to a report from The New England Journal of Medicine.

Study results published in the European Respiratory Journal show that rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence have significantly increased in individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi recently announced the US food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to dupilumab, a fully-human monoclonal antibody, to treat adults suffering from moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD)who had an insufficient response to or who were not suitable for topical prescription therapy.

The FDA has approved Rixubis for the treatment of hemophilia B in children, manufacturer Baxter International Inc. announced.

Nonacog beta pegol was well-tolerated and effective for treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia B patients, and was associated with low annualized bleeding rates.

Inhibitor screening is important for all hemophilia patients, not just those at high risk, according to a study by the CDC.

Companies will use cell line development studies to determine where factor VIII manufacturing costs can be lowered without sacrificing efficacy.

During surgery, rFIXFc controlled hemophilia patients' perioperative bleeding, according to a study published in the British Journal of Haemotology.