Heidi Splete

Treatment of osteoporosis in older adults at increased risk for fractures declined from 2010 to 2014, based on a study of nearly 900,000 individuals.

Courtesy University of Alabama at Birmingham

Osteoporotic fractures are associated with morbidity and mortality, functional decline, increased nursing home admissions, and a significant economic burden, Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

“The number of Americans at risk for fractures on the basis of having osteoporosis is expected to increase by 32% based on the graying of the population,” he said. “Underdiagnosis and undertreatment may be contributing to the increased burden that we are starting to see,” he added.

To assess the impact of osteoporosis management on patients at increased risk for fractures, Dr. Curtis and his colleagues examined temporal trends over 5 years from 885,676 Medicare fee-for-service members with a closed fragility (or osteoporosis-related) fracture between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2014. The average age of the patients was 81 years; 91% were white, and 94% were women.

The researchers used diagnosis and procedure codes to create an algorithm with a positive predictive value of more than 90%. Individuals with Paget’s disease or a malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer at baseline were excluded.

Overall, use of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening in this high-risk population decreased over the study period, with rates during 2010-2014 of 25%, 24%, 23%, 22%, and 16%, respectively. The presence of an osteoporosis diagnosis in the study population decreased over the same period, with rates of 7%, 6%, 6%, 5%, and 4%, respectively. In addition, the percentage of high-risk patients undergoing osteoporosis treatment at the time of fracture during 2010-2014 was 29%, 24%, 20%, 16%, and 11%, respectively.

Despite their history of fracture, more than half of individuals in each year’s database had a comorbidity or were taking a medication that increased fall risk. The most common comorbidity was impaired mobility (about 20% of each yearly cohort), followed by history of falls, history of stroke, impaired vision, muscle atrophy or weakness, and Parkinson’s disease. Approximately half of the patients in each year’s group were taking opioids, and approximately 20% were taking oral corticosteroids.

The findings were limited by several factors, including those common to studies involving administrative claims databases, such as a lack of complete medical and treatment history, lack of diagnostic validation for osteoporosis-related fractures, and lack of information on why use of DXA decreased over time, Dr. Curtis said. However, the results show the need to improve management of individuals at increased risk for falls and fractures to reduce not only the risk of morbidity and mortality, but also the economic impact.

Dr. Curtis disclosed serving as a consultant for Radius Health and Amgen, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center received grants from these companies.

SOURCE: Curtis et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(suppl 10), Abstract 1872.

Treatment of osteoporosis in older adults at increased risk for fractures declined from 2010 to 2014, based on a study of nearly 900,000 individuals.

Courtesy University of Alabama at Birmingham

Osteoporotic fractures are associated with morbidity and mortality, functional decline, increased nursing home admissions, and a significant economic burden, Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

“The number of Americans at risk for fractures on the basis of having osteoporosis is expected to increase by 32% based on the graying of the population,” he said. “Underdiagnosis and undertreatment may be contributing to the increased burden that we are starting to see,” he added.

To assess the impact of osteoporosis management on patients at increased risk for fractures, Dr. Curtis and his colleagues examined temporal trends over 5 years from 885,676 Medicare fee-for-service members with a closed fragility (or osteoporosis-related) fracture between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2014. The average age of the patients was 81 years; 91% were white, and 94% were women.

The researchers used diagnosis and procedure codes to create an algorithm with a positive predictive value of more than 90%. Individuals with Paget’s disease or a malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer at baseline were excluded.

Overall, use of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening in this high-risk population decreased over the study period, with rates during 2010-2014 of 25%, 24%, 23%, 22%, and 16%, respectively. The presence of an osteoporosis diagnosis in the study population decreased over the same period, with rates of 7%, 6%, 6%, 5%, and 4%, respectively. In addition, the percentage of high-risk patients undergoing osteoporosis treatment at the time of fracture during 2010-2014 was 29%, 24%, 20%, 16%, and 11%, respectively.

Despite their history of fracture, more than half of individuals in each year’s database had a comorbidity or were taking a medication that increased fall risk. The most common comorbidity was impaired mobility (about 20% of each yearly cohort), followed by history of falls, history of stroke, impaired vision, muscle atrophy or weakness, and Parkinson’s disease. Approximately half of the patients in each year’s group were taking opioids, and approximately 20% were taking oral corticosteroids.

The findings were limited by several factors, including those common to studies involving administrative claims databases, such as a lack of complete medical and treatment history, lack of diagnostic validation for osteoporosis-related fractures, and lack of information on why use of DXA decreased over time, Dr. Curtis said. However, the results show the need to improve management of individuals at increased risk for falls and fractures to reduce not only the risk of morbidity and mortality, but also the economic impact.

Dr. Curtis disclosed serving as a consultant for Radius Health and Amgen, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center received grants from these companies.

SOURCE: Curtis et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(suppl 10), Abstract 1872.

Treatment of osteoporosis in older adults at increased risk for fractures declined from 2010 to 2014, based on a study of nearly 900,000 individuals.

Courtesy University of Alabama at Birmingham

Osteoporotic fractures are associated with morbidity and mortality, functional decline, increased nursing home admissions, and a significant economic burden, Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

“The number of Americans at risk for fractures on the basis of having osteoporosis is expected to increase by 32% based on the graying of the population,” he said. “Underdiagnosis and undertreatment may be contributing to the increased burden that we are starting to see,” he added.

To assess the impact of osteoporosis management on patients at increased risk for fractures, Dr. Curtis and his colleagues examined temporal trends over 5 years from 885,676 Medicare fee-for-service members with a closed fragility (or osteoporosis-related) fracture between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2014. The average age of the patients was 81 years; 91% were white, and 94% were women.

The researchers used diagnosis and procedure codes to create an algorithm with a positive predictive value of more than 90%. Individuals with Paget’s disease or a malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer at baseline were excluded.

Overall, use of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening in this high-risk population decreased over the study period, with rates during 2010-2014 of 25%, 24%, 23%, 22%, and 16%, respectively. The presence of an osteoporosis diagnosis in the study population decreased over the same period, with rates of 7%, 6%, 6%, 5%, and 4%, respectively. In addition, the percentage of high-risk patients undergoing osteoporosis treatment at the time of fracture during 2010-2014 was 29%, 24%, 20%, 16%, and 11%, respectively.

Despite their history of fracture, more than half of individuals in each year’s database had a comorbidity or were taking a medication that increased fall risk. The most common comorbidity was impaired mobility (about 20% of each yearly cohort), followed by history of falls, history of stroke, impaired vision, muscle atrophy or weakness, and Parkinson’s disease. Approximately half of the patients in each year’s group were taking opioids, and approximately 20% were taking oral corticosteroids.

The findings were limited by several factors, including those common to studies involving administrative claims databases, such as a lack of complete medical and treatment history, lack of diagnostic validation for osteoporosis-related fractures, and lack of information on why use of DXA decreased over time, Dr. Curtis said. However, the results show the need to improve management of individuals at increased risk for falls and fractures to reduce not only the risk of morbidity and mortality, but also the economic impact.

Dr. Curtis disclosed serving as a consultant for Radius Health and Amgen, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center received grants from these companies.

SOURCE: Curtis et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(suppl 10), Abstract 1872.

Severity of insomnia, specifically difficulty initiating sleep, was a significant predictor of major depressive disorder, a prospective study of 768 adults with a history of depression suggests.

Insomnia has been identified as a risk factor for depression, but the impact of lifetime depression history and the role of insomnia in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear, wrote Tessa Blanken, MSc, of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, and colleagues. Studies of this relationship have been hampered by the difficulty of isolating the impact of insomnia as an independent predictor of MDD from depression and other disorders.

In a study published in Sleep, the researchers reviewed data from 768 adults aged 18-65 years who were participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, a multicenter, longitudinal study that included four assessments over 6 years. The participants had no current or prior diagnosis of MDD. The average age of the participants was 41 years, and 63% were women.

The investigators used Network Outcome Analysis to study the link between insomnia and MDD. The investigators wrote, “Network modeling techniques provide a unique framework to study the interactions among symptoms and their role in the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Using network analysis we can estimate the unique association between pairs of symptoms, while controlling for the state and associations of all other symptoms.”

Over 6-years’ follow-up, 141 participants (18%) were diagnosed with first-onset MDD. Overall, insomnia severity was a significant predictor of first-onset MDD (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval). The analysis showed that the predictive effect of insomnia on first-onset MDD was driven solely by the item “Did you have trouble falling asleep” (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.57; observed range, 0-4). Those individuals who had trouble falling asleep 3-4 times or more than 4 times a week were 2.3 or 3.2 times, respectively, more likely to develop first-onset MDD. None of the other sleep complaints, such as nocturnal and early morning awakening, significantly increased the risk of first-onset MDD.

The study findings were limited by several factors including the full impact of short sleep duration and lack of chronotype assessment, the researchers noted. However, “the identification of ‘difficulty initiating sleep’ as a risk factor is particularly promising because a recent meta-analysis showed that cognitive behavioural therapy, the treatment of choice for insomnia, is highly effective,” the researchers wrote. The results suggest that treating problems in sleep initiation could contribute to preventing first-onset depression and reducing the overall burden of MDD, they concluded.

The study was supported by the European Research Council. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Blanken TF et al. Sleep. 2019 Dec 2. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz288.

Severity of insomnia, specifically difficulty initiating sleep, was a significant predictor of major depressive disorder, a prospective study of 768 adults with a history of depression suggests.

Insomnia has been identified as a risk factor for depression, but the impact of lifetime depression history and the role of insomnia in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear, wrote Tessa Blanken, MSc, of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, and colleagues. Studies of this relationship have been hampered by the difficulty of isolating the impact of insomnia as an independent predictor of MDD from depression and other disorders.

In a study published in Sleep, the researchers reviewed data from 768 adults aged 18-65 years who were participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, a multicenter, longitudinal study that included four assessments over 6 years. The participants had no current or prior diagnosis of MDD. The average age of the participants was 41 years, and 63% were women.

The investigators used Network Outcome Analysis to study the link between insomnia and MDD. The investigators wrote, “Network modeling techniques provide a unique framework to study the interactions among symptoms and their role in the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Using network analysis we can estimate the unique association between pairs of symptoms, while controlling for the state and associations of all other symptoms.”

Over 6-years’ follow-up, 141 participants (18%) were diagnosed with first-onset MDD. Overall, insomnia severity was a significant predictor of first-onset MDD (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval). The analysis showed that the predictive effect of insomnia on first-onset MDD was driven solely by the item “Did you have trouble falling asleep” (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.57; observed range, 0-4). Those individuals who had trouble falling asleep 3-4 times or more than 4 times a week were 2.3 or 3.2 times, respectively, more likely to develop first-onset MDD. None of the other sleep complaints, such as nocturnal and early morning awakening, significantly increased the risk of first-onset MDD.

The study findings were limited by several factors including the full impact of short sleep duration and lack of chronotype assessment, the researchers noted. However, “the identification of ‘difficulty initiating sleep’ as a risk factor is particularly promising because a recent meta-analysis showed that cognitive behavioural therapy, the treatment of choice for insomnia, is highly effective,” the researchers wrote. The results suggest that treating problems in sleep initiation could contribute to preventing first-onset depression and reducing the overall burden of MDD, they concluded.

The study was supported by the European Research Council. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Blanken TF et al. Sleep. 2019 Dec 2. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz288.

Severity of insomnia, specifically difficulty initiating sleep, was a significant predictor of major depressive disorder, a prospective study of 768 adults with a history of depression suggests.

Insomnia has been identified as a risk factor for depression, but the impact of lifetime depression history and the role of insomnia in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear, wrote Tessa Blanken, MSc, of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, and colleagues. Studies of this relationship have been hampered by the difficulty of isolating the impact of insomnia as an independent predictor of MDD from depression and other disorders.

In a study published in Sleep, the researchers reviewed data from 768 adults aged 18-65 years who were participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, a multicenter, longitudinal study that included four assessments over 6 years. The participants had no current or prior diagnosis of MDD. The average age of the participants was 41 years, and 63% were women.

The investigators used Network Outcome Analysis to study the link between insomnia and MDD. The investigators wrote, “Network modeling techniques provide a unique framework to study the interactions among symptoms and their role in the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Using network analysis we can estimate the unique association between pairs of symptoms, while controlling for the state and associations of all other symptoms.”

Over 6-years’ follow-up, 141 participants (18%) were diagnosed with first-onset MDD. Overall, insomnia severity was a significant predictor of first-onset MDD (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval). The analysis showed that the predictive effect of insomnia on first-onset MDD was driven solely by the item “Did you have trouble falling asleep” (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.57; observed range, 0-4). Those individuals who had trouble falling asleep 3-4 times or more than 4 times a week were 2.3 or 3.2 times, respectively, more likely to develop first-onset MDD. None of the other sleep complaints, such as nocturnal and early morning awakening, significantly increased the risk of first-onset MDD.

The study findings were limited by several factors including the full impact of short sleep duration and lack of chronotype assessment, the researchers noted. However, “the identification of ‘difficulty initiating sleep’ as a risk factor is particularly promising because a recent meta-analysis showed that cognitive behavioural therapy, the treatment of choice for insomnia, is highly effective,” the researchers wrote. The results suggest that treating problems in sleep initiation could contribute to preventing first-onset depression and reducing the overall burden of MDD, they concluded.

The study was supported by the European Research Council. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Blanken TF et al. Sleep. 2019 Dec 2. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz288.

Children with atopic dermatitis and allergies to eggs and milk were at increased risk for anaphylactic reactions, compared with allergic patients without atopic dermatitis, based on retrospective data from 347 individuals.

Atopic dermatitis has been associated with increased risk of food allergies, but the association and predictive factors of skin reactions to certain foods remain unclear, wrote Bryce C. Hoffman, MD, of National Jewish Health, Denver, and colleagues.

In a letter published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the researchers identified children aged 0-18 years with peanut, cow’s milk, and/or egg allergies with or without atopic dermatitis (AD) using an institutional research database and conducted a retrospective study of medical records.

Overall, children with egg and milk allergies plus AD had significantly higher rates of anaphylaxis than allergic children without AD (47% vs. 11% for egg, 50% vs. 19% for milk). Anaphylaxis rates were similar in children with peanut allergies with or without AD (27% vs. 23%).

“This finding may suggest that skin barrier dysfunction plays a role in the severity of [food allergy]. However, this is not universal to all food antigens, and other mechanisms are likely important in the association of anaphylaxis with a particular food,” the researchers noted.

Rates of tolerance for both baked egg and baked milk were similar between AD and non-AD patients (83% vs. 61% for milk; 82% vs. 67% for egg). In addition, levels of total IgE were increased in children with egg and milk allergies plus AD, compared with children without AD. However, children with peanut allergies plus AD had decreased total IgE, compared with children with peanut allergies but no AD. This “may support a link between T_h2 polarization and [food allergy] severity, ” Dr. Hoffman and associates wrote.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the retrospective study design, exclusion of many patients, and lack of data on the amount of food that triggered anaphylactic reactions, the researchers noted.

Nonetheless, the results suggest that children with atopic dermatitis and allergies to eggs and milk are at increased risk and that clinicians should counsel these patients and families about the potential for more-severe reactions to oral food challenges, Dr. Hoffman and associates concluded.

The study was supported by National Jewish Health and the Edelstein Family Chair of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Hoffman BC et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019 Sep 11. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2019.09.008.

Children with atopic dermatitis and allergies to eggs and milk were at increased risk for anaphylactic reactions, compared with allergic patients without atopic dermatitis, based on retrospective data from 347 individuals.

Atopic dermatitis has been associated with increased risk of food allergies, but the association and predictive factors of skin reactions to certain foods remain unclear, wrote Bryce C. Hoffman, MD, of National Jewish Health, Denver, and colleagues.

In a letter published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the researchers identified children aged 0-18 years with peanut, cow’s milk, and/or egg allergies with or without atopic dermatitis (AD) using an institutional research database and conducted a retrospective study of medical records.

Overall, children with egg and milk allergies plus AD had significantly higher rates of anaphylaxis than allergic children without AD (47% vs. 11% for egg, 50% vs. 19% for milk). Anaphylaxis rates were similar in children with peanut allergies with or without AD (27% vs. 23%).

“This finding may suggest that skin barrier dysfunction plays a role in the severity of [food allergy]. However, this is not universal to all food antigens, and other mechanisms are likely important in the association of anaphylaxis with a particular food,” the researchers noted.

Rates of tolerance for both baked egg and baked milk were similar between AD and non-AD patients (83% vs. 61% for milk; 82% vs. 67% for egg). In addition, levels of total IgE were increased in children with egg and milk allergies plus AD, compared with children without AD. However, children with peanut allergies plus AD had decreased total IgE, compared with children with peanut allergies but no AD. This “may support a link between T_h2 polarization and [food allergy] severity, ” Dr. Hoffman and associates wrote.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the retrospective study design, exclusion of many patients, and lack of data on the amount of food that triggered anaphylactic reactions, the researchers noted.

Nonetheless, the results suggest that children with atopic dermatitis and allergies to eggs and milk are at increased risk and that clinicians should counsel these patients and families about the potential for more-severe reactions to oral food challenges, Dr. Hoffman and associates concluded.

The study was supported by National Jewish Health and the Edelstein Family Chair of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Hoffman BC et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019 Sep 11. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2019.09.008.

Children with atopic dermatitis and allergies to eggs and milk were at increased risk for anaphylactic reactions, compared with allergic patients without atopic dermatitis, based on retrospective data from 347 individuals.

Atopic dermatitis has been associated with increased risk of food allergies, but the association and predictive factors of skin reactions to certain foods remain unclear, wrote Bryce C. Hoffman, MD, of National Jewish Health, Denver, and colleagues.

In a letter published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the researchers identified children aged 0-18 years with peanut, cow’s milk, and/or egg allergies with or without atopic dermatitis (AD) using an institutional research database and conducted a retrospective study of medical records.

Overall, children with egg and milk allergies plus AD had significantly higher rates of anaphylaxis than allergic children without AD (47% vs. 11% for egg, 50% vs. 19% for milk). Anaphylaxis rates were similar in children with peanut allergies with or without AD (27% vs. 23%).

“This finding may suggest that skin barrier dysfunction plays a role in the severity of [food allergy]. However, this is not universal to all food antigens, and other mechanisms are likely important in the association of anaphylaxis with a particular food,” the researchers noted.

Rates of tolerance for both baked egg and baked milk were similar between AD and non-AD patients (83% vs. 61% for milk; 82% vs. 67% for egg). In addition, levels of total IgE were increased in children with egg and milk allergies plus AD, compared with children without AD. However, children with peanut allergies plus AD had decreased total IgE, compared with children with peanut allergies but no AD. This “may support a link between T_h2 polarization and [food allergy] severity, ” Dr. Hoffman and associates wrote.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the retrospective study design, exclusion of many patients, and lack of data on the amount of food that triggered anaphylactic reactions, the researchers noted.

Nonetheless, the results suggest that children with atopic dermatitis and allergies to eggs and milk are at increased risk and that clinicians should counsel these patients and families about the potential for more-severe reactions to oral food challenges, Dr. Hoffman and associates concluded.

The study was supported by National Jewish Health and the Edelstein Family Chair of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Hoffman BC et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019 Sep 11. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2019.09.008.

A regimen of twice-daily baths followed by occlusive moisturizer improved atopic dermatitis in children with moderate to severe disease more effectively than did a twice-weekly protocol, based on data from 42 children.

Guidelines for bathing frequency for children with atopic dermatitis are inconsistent and often confusing for parents, according to Ivan D. Cardona, MD, of Maine Medical Research Institute, Portland, and colleagues.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the researchers randomized 42 children aged 6 months to 11 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis to a routine of twice-weekly “soak and seal” (SS) procedures consisting of soaking baths for 10 minutes or less, followed by an occlusive emollient, or to twice-daily SS with baths of 15-20 minutes followed by emollient. The groups were treated for 2 weeks, then switched protocols. The study included a total of four clinic visits over 5 weeks. All patients also received standard of care low-potency topical corticosteroids and moisturizer.

Overall, the frequent bathing (“wet method”) led to a decrease of 21.2 on the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) compared with the less frequent bathing (“dry method”). Improvements in SCORAD (the primary outcome) correlated with a secondary outcome of improved scores on the parent-rated Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore.

The findings were limited by several factors including the small sample size, large rate of attrition prior to randomization among initially screened children, lack of data on environmental factors such as water temperature and quality, and the lack of a washout period between the treatment protocols, the researchers noted. They acknowledged that “twice-daily SS bathing in the real world can be time consuming, making adherence difficult for families.”

However, the results suggest that the frequent bathing protocol was safe and effective at improving symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and may reduce steroid use, they concluded.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Cardona ID et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019 Nov 13. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.10.042.

A regimen of twice-daily baths followed by occlusive moisturizer improved atopic dermatitis in children with moderate to severe disease more effectively than did a twice-weekly protocol, based on data from 42 children.

Guidelines for bathing frequency for children with atopic dermatitis are inconsistent and often confusing for parents, according to Ivan D. Cardona, MD, of Maine Medical Research Institute, Portland, and colleagues.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the researchers randomized 42 children aged 6 months to 11 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis to a routine of twice-weekly “soak and seal” (SS) procedures consisting of soaking baths for 10 minutes or less, followed by an occlusive emollient, or to twice-daily SS with baths of 15-20 minutes followed by emollient. The groups were treated for 2 weeks, then switched protocols. The study included a total of four clinic visits over 5 weeks. All patients also received standard of care low-potency topical corticosteroids and moisturizer.

Overall, the frequent bathing (“wet method”) led to a decrease of 21.2 on the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) compared with the less frequent bathing (“dry method”). Improvements in SCORAD (the primary outcome) correlated with a secondary outcome of improved scores on the parent-rated Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore.

The findings were limited by several factors including the small sample size, large rate of attrition prior to randomization among initially screened children, lack of data on environmental factors such as water temperature and quality, and the lack of a washout period between the treatment protocols, the researchers noted. They acknowledged that “twice-daily SS bathing in the real world can be time consuming, making adherence difficult for families.”

However, the results suggest that the frequent bathing protocol was safe and effective at improving symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and may reduce steroid use, they concluded.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Cardona ID et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019 Nov 13. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.10.042.

A regimen of twice-daily baths followed by occlusive moisturizer improved atopic dermatitis in children with moderate to severe disease more effectively than did a twice-weekly protocol, based on data from 42 children.

Guidelines for bathing frequency for children with atopic dermatitis are inconsistent and often confusing for parents, according to Ivan D. Cardona, MD, of Maine Medical Research Institute, Portland, and colleagues.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the researchers randomized 42 children aged 6 months to 11 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis to a routine of twice-weekly “soak and seal” (SS) procedures consisting of soaking baths for 10 minutes or less, followed by an occlusive emollient, or to twice-daily SS with baths of 15-20 minutes followed by emollient. The groups were treated for 2 weeks, then switched protocols. The study included a total of four clinic visits over 5 weeks. All patients also received standard of care low-potency topical corticosteroids and moisturizer.

Overall, the frequent bathing (“wet method”) led to a decrease of 21.2 on the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) compared with the less frequent bathing (“dry method”). Improvements in SCORAD (the primary outcome) correlated with a secondary outcome of improved scores on the parent-rated Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore.

The findings were limited by several factors including the small sample size, large rate of attrition prior to randomization among initially screened children, lack of data on environmental factors such as water temperature and quality, and the lack of a washout period between the treatment protocols, the researchers noted. They acknowledged that “twice-daily SS bathing in the real world can be time consuming, making adherence difficult for families.”

However, the results suggest that the frequent bathing protocol was safe and effective at improving symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and may reduce steroid use, they concluded.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Cardona ID et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019 Nov 13. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.10.042.

Women with asthma who suffer asthma exacerbation while pregnant are at increased risk for complications during pregnancy and delivery, and their infants are at increased risk for respiratory problems, according to data from a longitudinal study of 58,524 women with asthma.

Vesnaandjic/E+/Getty Images

“Asthma exacerbation during pregnancy has been found to be associated with adverse perinatal and pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age, preterm delivery, congenital malformation, preeclampsia, and perinatal mortality,” but previous studies have been small and limited to comparisons of asthmatic and nonasthmatic women, wrote Kawsari Abdullah, PhD, of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, and colleagues.

To determine the impact of asthma exacerbation on maternal and fetal outcomes, the researchers analyzed data from the Ontario Asthma Surveillance Information System to identify women with asthma who had at least one pregnancy resulting in a live or still birth between 2006 and 2012.

Overall, significantly more women with exacerbated asthma had preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension, compared with asthmatic women who had no exacerbations, at 5% vs. 4% and 7% vs. 5%, respectively (P less than .001), according to the study published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Adverse perinatal outcomes were significantly more likely among babies of mothers with exacerbated asthma, compared with those who had no exacerbations, including low birth weight (7% vs. 5%), small for gestational age (3% vs. 2%), preterm birth (8% vs. 7%), and congenital malformation (6% vs. 5%). All P values were less than .001, except for small for gestational age, which was P = .008.

In addition, significantly more babies of asthmatic women with exacerbated asthma during pregnancy had respiratory problems including asthma and pneumonia, compared with those of asthmatic women who had no exacerbations during pregnancy, at 38% vs. 31% and 24% vs. 22% (P less than .001 for both). The researchers found no significant interactions between maternal age and smoking and asthma exacerbations.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the lack of a validated algorithm for asthma exacerbation, which the researchers defined as five or more visits to a general practice clinician for asthma during pregnancy. Other limitations included the lack of categorizing asthma exacerbation by severity, and the inability to include the potential effects of asthma medication on maternal and fetal outcomes, Dr. Abdullah and colleagues noted.

However, the results were strengthened by the large sample size and ability to follow babies from birth until 5 years of age, they said.

“Targeting women with asthma during pregnancy and ensuring appropriate asthma management and postpartum follow-up may help to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, adverse perinatal outcomes, and early childhood respiratory disorders,” they concluded.

This study is important because asthma is a common, potentially serious medical condition that complicates approximately 4%-8% of pregnancies, and one in three women with asthma experience an exacerbation during pregnancy, Iris Krishna, MD, a specialist in maternal/fetal medicine at Emory University, Atlanta, said in an interview.

“This study is unique in that it uses population-level data to assess the association between an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes,” Dr. Krishna said. “After adjusting for confounders, and consistent with previous studies, study findings suggest an increased risk for women with asthma who have an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy for preeclampsia [odds ratio, 1.3; P less than .001], pregnancy-induced hypertension [OR, 1.17; P less than .05], low-birth-weight infant [OR, 1.14; P less than .05], preterm birth [OR, 1.14; P less than .05], and congenital malformations [OR, 1.21; P less than .001].”

Dr. Krishna also noted the impact on early childhood outcomes. “In this study, children born to women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy had a 23% higher risk of developing asthma before 5 years of age, which is consistent with previous studies. [The] investigators also reported a 12% higher risk of having pneumonia during the first 5 years of life for children born to women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy.”

“Previous studies have suggested children born to mothers with uncontrolled asthma have an increased risk for respiratory infections, but this study is the first to report an association with pneumonia,” she said. This increased risk for childhood respiratory disorders warrants further study.

Consequently, “Women with asthma during pregnancy should have appropriate management to ensure good control to optimize pregnancy outcome,” Dr. Krishna emphasized. “Women who experience asthma exacerbations in pregnancy are at increased risk for preeclampsia, [pregnancy-induced hypertension], low birth weight, and preterm delivery and may require closer monitoring.”

The study was supported by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. The researchers and Dr. Krishna had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Abdullah K et al. Eur Respir J. 2019 Nov 26. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01335-2019.

Women with asthma who suffer asthma exacerbation while pregnant are at increased risk for complications during pregnancy and delivery, and their infants are at increased risk for respiratory problems, according to data from a longitudinal study of 58,524 women with asthma.

Vesnaandjic/E+/Getty Images

“Asthma exacerbation during pregnancy has been found to be associated with adverse perinatal and pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age, preterm delivery, congenital malformation, preeclampsia, and perinatal mortality,” but previous studies have been small and limited to comparisons of asthmatic and nonasthmatic women, wrote Kawsari Abdullah, PhD, of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, and colleagues.

To determine the impact of asthma exacerbation on maternal and fetal outcomes, the researchers analyzed data from the Ontario Asthma Surveillance Information System to identify women with asthma who had at least one pregnancy resulting in a live or still birth between 2006 and 2012.

Overall, significantly more women with exacerbated asthma had preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension, compared with asthmatic women who had no exacerbations, at 5% vs. 4% and 7% vs. 5%, respectively (P less than .001), according to the study published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Adverse perinatal outcomes were significantly more likely among babies of mothers with exacerbated asthma, compared with those who had no exacerbations, including low birth weight (7% vs. 5%), small for gestational age (3% vs. 2%), preterm birth (8% vs. 7%), and congenital malformation (6% vs. 5%). All P values were less than .001, except for small for gestational age, which was P = .008.

In addition, significantly more babies of asthmatic women with exacerbated asthma during pregnancy had respiratory problems including asthma and pneumonia, compared with those of asthmatic women who had no exacerbations during pregnancy, at 38% vs. 31% and 24% vs. 22% (P less than .001 for both). The researchers found no significant interactions between maternal age and smoking and asthma exacerbations.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the lack of a validated algorithm for asthma exacerbation, which the researchers defined as five or more visits to a general practice clinician for asthma during pregnancy. Other limitations included the lack of categorizing asthma exacerbation by severity, and the inability to include the potential effects of asthma medication on maternal and fetal outcomes, Dr. Abdullah and colleagues noted.

However, the results were strengthened by the large sample size and ability to follow babies from birth until 5 years of age, they said.

“Targeting women with asthma during pregnancy and ensuring appropriate asthma management and postpartum follow-up may help to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, adverse perinatal outcomes, and early childhood respiratory disorders,” they concluded.

This study is important because asthma is a common, potentially serious medical condition that complicates approximately 4%-8% of pregnancies, and one in three women with asthma experience an exacerbation during pregnancy, Iris Krishna, MD, a specialist in maternal/fetal medicine at Emory University, Atlanta, said in an interview.

“This study is unique in that it uses population-level data to assess the association between an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes,” Dr. Krishna said. “After adjusting for confounders, and consistent with previous studies, study findings suggest an increased risk for women with asthma who have an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy for preeclampsia [odds ratio, 1.3; P less than .001], pregnancy-induced hypertension [OR, 1.17; P less than .05], low-birth-weight infant [OR, 1.14; P less than .05], preterm birth [OR, 1.14; P less than .05], and congenital malformations [OR, 1.21; P less than .001].”

Dr. Krishna also noted the impact on early childhood outcomes. “In this study, children born to women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy had a 23% higher risk of developing asthma before 5 years of age, which is consistent with previous studies. [The] investigators also reported a 12% higher risk of having pneumonia during the first 5 years of life for children born to women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy.”

“Previous studies have suggested children born to mothers with uncontrolled asthma have an increased risk for respiratory infections, but this study is the first to report an association with pneumonia,” she said. This increased risk for childhood respiratory disorders warrants further study.

Consequently, “Women with asthma during pregnancy should have appropriate management to ensure good control to optimize pregnancy outcome,” Dr. Krishna emphasized. “Women who experience asthma exacerbations in pregnancy are at increased risk for preeclampsia, [pregnancy-induced hypertension], low birth weight, and preterm delivery and may require closer monitoring.”

The study was supported by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. The researchers and Dr. Krishna had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Abdullah K et al. Eur Respir J. 2019 Nov 26. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01335-2019.

Women with asthma who suffer asthma exacerbation while pregnant are at increased risk for complications during pregnancy and delivery, and their infants are at increased risk for respiratory problems, according to data from a longitudinal study of 58,524 women with asthma.

Vesnaandjic/E+/Getty Images

“Asthma exacerbation during pregnancy has been found to be associated with adverse perinatal and pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age, preterm delivery, congenital malformation, preeclampsia, and perinatal mortality,” but previous studies have been small and limited to comparisons of asthmatic and nonasthmatic women, wrote Kawsari Abdullah, PhD, of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, and colleagues.

To determine the impact of asthma exacerbation on maternal and fetal outcomes, the researchers analyzed data from the Ontario Asthma Surveillance Information System to identify women with asthma who had at least one pregnancy resulting in a live or still birth between 2006 and 2012.

Overall, significantly more women with exacerbated asthma had preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension, compared with asthmatic women who had no exacerbations, at 5% vs. 4% and 7% vs. 5%, respectively (P less than .001), according to the study published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Adverse perinatal outcomes were significantly more likely among babies of mothers with exacerbated asthma, compared with those who had no exacerbations, including low birth weight (7% vs. 5%), small for gestational age (3% vs. 2%), preterm birth (8% vs. 7%), and congenital malformation (6% vs. 5%). All P values were less than .001, except for small for gestational age, which was P = .008.

In addition, significantly more babies of asthmatic women with exacerbated asthma during pregnancy had respiratory problems including asthma and pneumonia, compared with those of asthmatic women who had no exacerbations during pregnancy, at 38% vs. 31% and 24% vs. 22% (P less than .001 for both). The researchers found no significant interactions between maternal age and smoking and asthma exacerbations.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the lack of a validated algorithm for asthma exacerbation, which the researchers defined as five or more visits to a general practice clinician for asthma during pregnancy. Other limitations included the lack of categorizing asthma exacerbation by severity, and the inability to include the potential effects of asthma medication on maternal and fetal outcomes, Dr. Abdullah and colleagues noted.

However, the results were strengthened by the large sample size and ability to follow babies from birth until 5 years of age, they said.

“Targeting women with asthma during pregnancy and ensuring appropriate asthma management and postpartum follow-up may help to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, adverse perinatal outcomes, and early childhood respiratory disorders,” they concluded.

This study is important because asthma is a common, potentially serious medical condition that complicates approximately 4%-8% of pregnancies, and one in three women with asthma experience an exacerbation during pregnancy, Iris Krishna, MD, a specialist in maternal/fetal medicine at Emory University, Atlanta, said in an interview.

“This study is unique in that it uses population-level data to assess the association between an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes,” Dr. Krishna said. “After adjusting for confounders, and consistent with previous studies, study findings suggest an increased risk for women with asthma who have an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy for preeclampsia [odds ratio, 1.3; P less than .001], pregnancy-induced hypertension [OR, 1.17; P less than .05], low-birth-weight infant [OR, 1.14; P less than .05], preterm birth [OR, 1.14; P less than .05], and congenital malformations [OR, 1.21; P less than .001].”

Dr. Krishna also noted the impact on early childhood outcomes. “In this study, children born to women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy had a 23% higher risk of developing asthma before 5 years of age, which is consistent with previous studies. [The] investigators also reported a 12% higher risk of having pneumonia during the first 5 years of life for children born to women who had an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy.”

“Previous studies have suggested children born to mothers with uncontrolled asthma have an increased risk for respiratory infections, but this study is the first to report an association with pneumonia,” she said. This increased risk for childhood respiratory disorders warrants further study.

Consequently, “Women with asthma during pregnancy should have appropriate management to ensure good control to optimize pregnancy outcome,” Dr. Krishna emphasized. “Women who experience asthma exacerbations in pregnancy are at increased risk for preeclampsia, [pregnancy-induced hypertension], low birth weight, and preterm delivery and may require closer monitoring.”

The study was supported by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. The researchers and Dr. Krishna had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Abdullah K et al. Eur Respir J. 2019 Nov 26. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01335-2019.

Men aged 65-75 years with a history of smoking should undergo one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), but clinicians can selectively screen men in this age group who don’t smoke, according to updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published in JAMA.

The task force issued a B recommendation for screening men aged 65-75 years with a smoking history and a C recommendation for selectively screening male never smokers in this age group in an update to the previous recommendations issued in 2014.

The task force also recommended against screening for AAA in women with no history of smoking (D recommendation) and cited insufficient evidence to make recommendations about AAA screening for women with a history of smoking or a family history of AAA (I statement).

The current prevalence of AAA in the United States is unclear because of the low rate of screening, but data from countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and New Zealand have shown a decline in AAA among screened men aged 65 years and older, according to the USPSTF report.

Risk factors for AAA include smoking, male gender, older age, and having a first-degree relative with AAA, the task force noted.

In an evidence review accompanying the recommendations, Janelle M. Guirguis-Blake, MD, of the University of Washington, Tacoma, and colleagues analyzed data from 33 studies. They found a significant reduction in AAA-related mortality over 12-15 years’ follow-up among men aged 65 years and older who underwent AAA screening, compared with unscreened controls (odds ratio, 0.65). In addition, the risk of ruptures related to AAA was significantly lower over 12-15 years among men who underwent screening, compared with unscreened controls (OR, 0.62). However, no significant difference was noted in all-cause mortality over 12-15 years between screened and unscreened groups (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.00).

Data from four studies of early surgery to treat small aneurysms showed no significant difference in AAA-related mortality or all-cause mortality.

“Screening for AAA entails a simple, noninvasive, and focused ultrasonography examination that costs roughly $50. The only potential harms are the psychologic burden of knowing of the presence of an aneurysm and the risk of elective surgery,” wrote Marc Schermerhorn, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, in an accompanying editorial published in JAMA Surgery (doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5234).

“The latter can be calculated for each patient, weighed against the risk of rupture, and together with the estimated life expectancy, should be factored into the decision to screen and the decision to operate. We as a country can do better to detect and treat this disease cost effectively for all appropriate patients including women and elderly individuals,” he said.

Dr. Schermerhorn noted that overall the recommendations are reasonable, but he expressed concern for three populations excluded from the guidelines that warrant additional consideration: nonsmokers with equivalent risk factors, patients older than 75 years, and women. “In the meantime, we should work to ensure that patients determined appropriate by the USPSTF are actually screened,” he said.

The USPSTF is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Dr. Schermerhorn disclosed relationships with Abbott, Cook Medical, Endologix, Medtronic, and Philips.

SOURCE: Guirguis-Blake JM et al. JAMA. 2019. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.17021.
 

Men aged 65-75 years with a history of smoking should undergo one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), but clinicians can selectively screen men in this age group who don’t smoke, according to updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published in JAMA.

The task force issued a B recommendation for screening men aged 65-75 years with a smoking history and a C recommendation for selectively screening male never smokers in this age group in an update to the previous recommendations issued in 2014.

The task force also recommended against screening for AAA in women with no history of smoking (D recommendation) and cited insufficient evidence to make recommendations about AAA screening for women with a history of smoking or a family history of AAA (I statement).

The current prevalence of AAA in the United States is unclear because of the low rate of screening, but data from countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and New Zealand have shown a decline in AAA among screened men aged 65 years and older, according to the USPSTF report.

Risk factors for AAA include smoking, male gender, older age, and having a first-degree relative with AAA, the task force noted.

In an evidence review accompanying the recommendations, Janelle M. Guirguis-Blake, MD, of the University of Washington, Tacoma, and colleagues analyzed data from 33 studies. They found a significant reduction in AAA-related mortality over 12-15 years’ follow-up among men aged 65 years and older who underwent AAA screening, compared with unscreened controls (odds ratio, 0.65). In addition, the risk of ruptures related to AAA was significantly lower over 12-15 years among men who underwent screening, compared with unscreened controls (OR, 0.62). However, no significant difference was noted in all-cause mortality over 12-15 years between screened and unscreened groups (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.00).

Data from four studies of early surgery to treat small aneurysms showed no significant difference in AAA-related mortality or all-cause mortality.

“Screening for AAA entails a simple, noninvasive, and focused ultrasonography examination that costs roughly $50. The only potential harms are the psychologic burden of knowing of the presence of an aneurysm and the risk of elective surgery,” wrote Marc Schermerhorn, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, in an accompanying editorial published in JAMA Surgery (doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5234).

“The latter can be calculated for each patient, weighed against the risk of rupture, and together with the estimated life expectancy, should be factored into the decision to screen and the decision to operate. We as a country can do better to detect and treat this disease cost effectively for all appropriate patients including women and elderly individuals,” he said.

Dr. Schermerhorn noted that overall the recommendations are reasonable, but he expressed concern for three populations excluded from the guidelines that warrant additional consideration: nonsmokers with equivalent risk factors, patients older than 75 years, and women. “In the meantime, we should work to ensure that patients determined appropriate by the USPSTF are actually screened,” he said.

The USPSTF is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Dr. Schermerhorn disclosed relationships with Abbott, Cook Medical, Endologix, Medtronic, and Philips.

SOURCE: Guirguis-Blake JM et al. JAMA. 2019. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.17021.
 

Men aged 65-75 years with a history of smoking should undergo one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), but clinicians can selectively screen men in this age group who don’t smoke, according to updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published in JAMA.

The task force issued a B recommendation for screening men aged 65-75 years with a smoking history and a C recommendation for selectively screening male never smokers in this age group in an update to the previous recommendations issued in 2014.

The task force also recommended against screening for AAA in women with no history of smoking (D recommendation) and cited insufficient evidence to make recommendations about AAA screening for women with a history of smoking or a family history of AAA (I statement).

The current prevalence of AAA in the United States is unclear because of the low rate of screening, but data from countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and New Zealand have shown a decline in AAA among screened men aged 65 years and older, according to the USPSTF report.

Risk factors for AAA include smoking, male gender, older age, and having a first-degree relative with AAA, the task force noted.

In an evidence review accompanying the recommendations, Janelle M. Guirguis-Blake, MD, of the University of Washington, Tacoma, and colleagues analyzed data from 33 studies. They found a significant reduction in AAA-related mortality over 12-15 years’ follow-up among men aged 65 years and older who underwent AAA screening, compared with unscreened controls (odds ratio, 0.65). In addition, the risk of ruptures related to AAA was significantly lower over 12-15 years among men who underwent screening, compared with unscreened controls (OR, 0.62). However, no significant difference was noted in all-cause mortality over 12-15 years between screened and unscreened groups (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.00).

Data from four studies of early surgery to treat small aneurysms showed no significant difference in AAA-related mortality or all-cause mortality.

“Screening for AAA entails a simple, noninvasive, and focused ultrasonography examination that costs roughly $50. The only potential harms are the psychologic burden of knowing of the presence of an aneurysm and the risk of elective surgery,” wrote Marc Schermerhorn, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, in an accompanying editorial published in JAMA Surgery (doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5234).

“The latter can be calculated for each patient, weighed against the risk of rupture, and together with the estimated life expectancy, should be factored into the decision to screen and the decision to operate. We as a country can do better to detect and treat this disease cost effectively for all appropriate patients including women and elderly individuals,” he said.

Dr. Schermerhorn noted that overall the recommendations are reasonable, but he expressed concern for three populations excluded from the guidelines that warrant additional consideration: nonsmokers with equivalent risk factors, patients older than 75 years, and women. “In the meantime, we should work to ensure that patients determined appropriate by the USPSTF are actually screened,” he said.

The USPSTF is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Dr. Schermerhorn disclosed relationships with Abbott, Cook Medical, Endologix, Medtronic, and Philips.

SOURCE: Guirguis-Blake JM et al. JAMA. 2019. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.17021.
 

Psilocybin, a short-acting compound that is the psychoactive ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” has received a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder.

The designation was given to the Usona Institute, a nonprofit medical research organization, and comes in the wake of Usona’s launch of a phase 2 clinical trial that will include about 80 participants at seven study sites across the United States, according to a press release. Two sites are currently recruiting patients, and the others are expected to begin recruiting in 2020.

Breakthrough Therapy designation as defined by the FDA means that, based on preliminary research, “the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy on a clinically significant endpoint.” In this case, psilocybin may offer significant improvement over current therapies for major depressive disorder. Usona is working with the University of Wisconsin’s University Hospital in Madison, and other collaborators, according to a presentation by Malynn Utzinger, MD, director of integrative medicine and cofounder of the organization.

More information on the Usona Institute and Usona’s clinical trials is available at https://usonaclinicaltrials.org/.

Psilocybin, a short-acting compound that is the psychoactive ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” has received a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder.

The designation was given to the Usona Institute, a nonprofit medical research organization, and comes in the wake of Usona’s launch of a phase 2 clinical trial that will include about 80 participants at seven study sites across the United States, according to a press release. Two sites are currently recruiting patients, and the others are expected to begin recruiting in 2020.

Breakthrough Therapy designation as defined by the FDA means that, based on preliminary research, “the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy on a clinically significant endpoint.” In this case, psilocybin may offer significant improvement over current therapies for major depressive disorder. Usona is working with the University of Wisconsin’s University Hospital in Madison, and other collaborators, according to a presentation by Malynn Utzinger, MD, director of integrative medicine and cofounder of the organization.

More information on the Usona Institute and Usona’s clinical trials is available at https://usonaclinicaltrials.org/.

Psilocybin, a short-acting compound that is the psychoactive ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” has received a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder.

The designation was given to the Usona Institute, a nonprofit medical research organization, and comes in the wake of Usona’s launch of a phase 2 clinical trial that will include about 80 participants at seven study sites across the United States, according to a press release. Two sites are currently recruiting patients, and the others are expected to begin recruiting in 2020.

Breakthrough Therapy designation as defined by the FDA means that, based on preliminary research, “the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy on a clinically significant endpoint.” In this case, psilocybin may offer significant improvement over current therapies for major depressive disorder. Usona is working with the University of Wisconsin’s University Hospital in Madison, and other collaborators, according to a presentation by Malynn Utzinger, MD, director of integrative medicine and cofounder of the organization.

More information on the Usona Institute and Usona’s clinical trials is available at https://usonaclinicaltrials.org/.

Episodic visual snow was tied to migraine attacks in a case series of three adults who denied any visual snow outside of the migraines, based on data collected at an outpatient headache center.

Visual snow, a condition in which patients experience visual distortion of tiny, flickering dots resembling analog television static, is often a comorbid condition in migraine patients with and without aura. However, “to our knowledge, this is the first report of patients with an episodic form of visual snow strictly occurring with migraine attacks,” wrote Julius Hodak, MD, of the University of Bern (Switzerland) and colleagues.

In a research letter published in JAMA Neurology, the investigators described 3 adults with histories of migraine but no aura who presented to a tertiary headache center between January 2016 and December 2017, in addition to 1,934 adults with migraine but no visual snow. The three patients initially presented with headaches, and neurologic and MRI results were normal.

Two patients experienced black and white episodic visual snow and one experienced black and yellow visual snow. In one patient, visual snow occurred for less than 2 minutes before and during a migraine attack. The other two patients experienced visual snow during the entire migraine attack.

Based on these patients, the researchers proposed distinguishing episodic visual snow from the distinct disorder of visual snow syndrome, in which patients experience continuous visual snow and other visual symptoms.

In addition, the cases were notable because of the lack of aura in the patients, the researchers wrote.

“In clinical practice, a detailed history in patients reporting visual flickering is therefore necessary to differentiate aura from [episodic visual snow],” they added, because an aura diagnosis would affect patient guidance on contraception use or the timing of triptans.

Dr. Hodak had no financial conflicts to disclose. The study was supported by Deutsche Migräne-und Kopfschmerzgesellschaft, Eye on Vision Foundation, and Baasch-Medicus Foundation.

SOURCE: Hodak J et al. JAMA Neurol. 2019 Nov 25. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.4050.

Episodic visual snow was tied to migraine attacks in a case series of three adults who denied any visual snow outside of the migraines, based on data collected at an outpatient headache center.

Visual snow, a condition in which patients experience visual distortion of tiny, flickering dots resembling analog television static, is often a comorbid condition in migraine patients with and without aura. However, “to our knowledge, this is the first report of patients with an episodic form of visual snow strictly occurring with migraine attacks,” wrote Julius Hodak, MD, of the University of Bern (Switzerland) and colleagues.

In a research letter published in JAMA Neurology, the investigators described 3 adults with histories of migraine but no aura who presented to a tertiary headache center between January 2016 and December 2017, in addition to 1,934 adults with migraine but no visual snow. The three patients initially presented with headaches, and neurologic and MRI results were normal.

Two patients experienced black and white episodic visual snow and one experienced black and yellow visual snow. In one patient, visual snow occurred for less than 2 minutes before and during a migraine attack. The other two patients experienced visual snow during the entire migraine attack.

Based on these patients, the researchers proposed distinguishing episodic visual snow from the distinct disorder of visual snow syndrome, in which patients experience continuous visual snow and other visual symptoms.

In addition, the cases were notable because of the lack of aura in the patients, the researchers wrote.

“In clinical practice, a detailed history in patients reporting visual flickering is therefore necessary to differentiate aura from [episodic visual snow],” they added, because an aura diagnosis would affect patient guidance on contraception use or the timing of triptans.

Dr. Hodak had no financial conflicts to disclose. The study was supported by Deutsche Migräne-und Kopfschmerzgesellschaft, Eye on Vision Foundation, and Baasch-Medicus Foundation.

SOURCE: Hodak J et al. JAMA Neurol. 2019 Nov 25. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.4050.

Episodic visual snow was tied to migraine attacks in a case series of three adults who denied any visual snow outside of the migraines, based on data collected at an outpatient headache center.

Visual snow, a condition in which patients experience visual distortion of tiny, flickering dots resembling analog television static, is often a comorbid condition in migraine patients with and without aura. However, “to our knowledge, this is the first report of patients with an episodic form of visual snow strictly occurring with migraine attacks,” wrote Julius Hodak, MD, of the University of Bern (Switzerland) and colleagues.

In a research letter published in JAMA Neurology, the investigators described 3 adults with histories of migraine but no aura who presented to a tertiary headache center between January 2016 and December 2017, in addition to 1,934 adults with migraine but no visual snow. The three patients initially presented with headaches, and neurologic and MRI results were normal.

Two patients experienced black and white episodic visual snow and one experienced black and yellow visual snow. In one patient, visual snow occurred for less than 2 minutes before and during a migraine attack. The other two patients experienced visual snow during the entire migraine attack.

Based on these patients, the researchers proposed distinguishing episodic visual snow from the distinct disorder of visual snow syndrome, in which patients experience continuous visual snow and other visual symptoms.

In addition, the cases were notable because of the lack of aura in the patients, the researchers wrote.

“In clinical practice, a detailed history in patients reporting visual flickering is therefore necessary to differentiate aura from [episodic visual snow],” they added, because an aura diagnosis would affect patient guidance on contraception use or the timing of triptans.

Dr. Hodak had no financial conflicts to disclose. The study was supported by Deutsche Migräne-und Kopfschmerzgesellschaft, Eye on Vision Foundation, and Baasch-Medicus Foundation.

SOURCE: Hodak J et al. JAMA Neurol. 2019 Nov 25. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.4050.

Allopathic and naturopathic providers use similar strategies to diagnose atopic dermatitis (AD) in children, including distribution, morphology, and pruritus, but they diverge when it comes to treatment, based on data from a small survey of the two.

Data from previous studies show that more than half of patients with AD have used complementary and alternative medicine in addition to allopathic care, but providers may be unaware of each other’s treatment approaches and confuse patients, wrote Julie Dhossche, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, and her colleagues.

In a study published in Pediatric Dermatology, the researchers assessed results of an 11-question, free-text survey of 30 allopathic providers and 21 naturopathic providers about AD. The survey included questions on patient education and evaluation, skin care, and treatment.

Overall, both allopathic and naturopathic providers recommended skin care protocols involving moisturization and “soak and seal” bathing. However, allopathic providers were more likely to prescribe topical corticosteroids for mild to moderate disease (100% vs. 19%), followed by phototherapy and systemic treatments in more severe cases. Naturopathic providers were more likely than allopathic providers to choose topical botanicals, oils, or probiotics (52% vs. 0%) for mild to moderate disease, as well stress relief and acupuncture. Naturopathic providers favored topical corticosteroids and referrals to dermatologists for second- or third-line treatment.

Of note, 85% of naturopathic providers said they thought diet had a probable or definite role in AD, compared with 3% of allopathic providers.

In addition, naturopathic providers differed in their response to an optional question on the use of additional education about food and diet. A total of 11 of 19 naturopathic providers (58%) recommended dietary changes, including “remove potential food allergens/reduce sugar” and “emphasize anti-inflammatory diet,” the researchers said.

“Confusion regarding the role of food in AD management is a common source of frustration for patients, and perhaps a consensus statement from both fields regarding the role of food allergy in AD management could be aspired toward in the name of reducing patient confusion,” they wrote.

The study findings were limited by several factors, including the small sample size and self-selection bias, as well as the subjective nature of an open-ended survey, the researchers noted. However, the results provide evidence of differences in treatment approaches between allopathic and naturopathic providers and suggest that “respectful collaboration between allopathic and naturopathic providers will help practitioners find common ground, decrease patient confusion, and improve patient outcomes,” they concluded.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Dhossche J et al. Ped Dermatol. 2019 Nov 19. doi: 10.1111/pde.14036.

Allopathic and naturopathic providers use similar strategies to diagnose atopic dermatitis (AD) in children, including distribution, morphology, and pruritus, but they diverge when it comes to treatment, based on data from a small survey of the two.

Data from previous studies show that more than half of patients with AD have used complementary and alternative medicine in addition to allopathic care, but providers may be unaware of each other’s treatment approaches and confuse patients, wrote Julie Dhossche, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, and her colleagues.

In a study published in Pediatric Dermatology, the researchers assessed results of an 11-question, free-text survey of 30 allopathic providers and 21 naturopathic providers about AD. The survey included questions on patient education and evaluation, skin care, and treatment.

Overall, both allopathic and naturopathic providers recommended skin care protocols involving moisturization and “soak and seal” bathing. However, allopathic providers were more likely to prescribe topical corticosteroids for mild to moderate disease (100% vs. 19%), followed by phototherapy and systemic treatments in more severe cases. Naturopathic providers were more likely than allopathic providers to choose topical botanicals, oils, or probiotics (52% vs. 0%) for mild to moderate disease, as well stress relief and acupuncture. Naturopathic providers favored topical corticosteroids and referrals to dermatologists for second- or third-line treatment.

Of note, 85% of naturopathic providers said they thought diet had a probable or definite role in AD, compared with 3% of allopathic providers.

In addition, naturopathic providers differed in their response to an optional question on the use of additional education about food and diet. A total of 11 of 19 naturopathic providers (58%) recommended dietary changes, including “remove potential food allergens/reduce sugar” and “emphasize anti-inflammatory diet,” the researchers said.

“Confusion regarding the role of food in AD management is a common source of frustration for patients, and perhaps a consensus statement from both fields regarding the role of food allergy in AD management could be aspired toward in the name of reducing patient confusion,” they wrote.

The study findings were limited by several factors, including the small sample size and self-selection bias, as well as the subjective nature of an open-ended survey, the researchers noted. However, the results provide evidence of differences in treatment approaches between allopathic and naturopathic providers and suggest that “respectful collaboration between allopathic and naturopathic providers will help practitioners find common ground, decrease patient confusion, and improve patient outcomes,” they concluded.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Dhossche J et al. Ped Dermatol. 2019 Nov 19. doi: 10.1111/pde.14036.

Allopathic and naturopathic providers use similar strategies to diagnose atopic dermatitis (AD) in children, including distribution, morphology, and pruritus, but they diverge when it comes to treatment, based on data from a small survey of the two.

Data from previous studies show that more than half of patients with AD have used complementary and alternative medicine in addition to allopathic care, but providers may be unaware of each other’s treatment approaches and confuse patients, wrote Julie Dhossche, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, and her colleagues.

In a study published in Pediatric Dermatology, the researchers assessed results of an 11-question, free-text survey of 30 allopathic providers and 21 naturopathic providers about AD. The survey included questions on patient education and evaluation, skin care, and treatment.

Overall, both allopathic and naturopathic providers recommended skin care protocols involving moisturization and “soak and seal” bathing. However, allopathic providers were more likely to prescribe topical corticosteroids for mild to moderate disease (100% vs. 19%), followed by phototherapy and systemic treatments in more severe cases. Naturopathic providers were more likely than allopathic providers to choose topical botanicals, oils, or probiotics (52% vs. 0%) for mild to moderate disease, as well stress relief and acupuncture. Naturopathic providers favored topical corticosteroids and referrals to dermatologists for second- or third-line treatment.

Of note, 85% of naturopathic providers said they thought diet had a probable or definite role in AD, compared with 3% of allopathic providers.

In addition, naturopathic providers differed in their response to an optional question on the use of additional education about food and diet. A total of 11 of 19 naturopathic providers (58%) recommended dietary changes, including “remove potential food allergens/reduce sugar” and “emphasize anti-inflammatory diet,” the researchers said.

“Confusion regarding the role of food in AD management is a common source of frustration for patients, and perhaps a consensus statement from both fields regarding the role of food allergy in AD management could be aspired toward in the name of reducing patient confusion,” they wrote.

The study findings were limited by several factors, including the small sample size and self-selection bias, as well as the subjective nature of an open-ended survey, the researchers noted. However, the results provide evidence of differences in treatment approaches between allopathic and naturopathic providers and suggest that “respectful collaboration between allopathic and naturopathic providers will help practitioners find common ground, decrease patient confusion, and improve patient outcomes,” they concluded.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SOURCE: Dhossche J et al. Ped Dermatol. 2019 Nov 19. doi: 10.1111/pde.14036.

The incidence of melanoma in the United States dropped significantly among adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 29 years between 2006 and 2015, according to results of a population-based registry study of 988,103 cases of invasive melanoma.

These data are observational, “and thus cannot conclusively determine the cause of this statistically and clinically significant decrease,” wrote Kelly G. Paulson, MD, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, and colleagues. However, they added, “a likely explanation for the reduced melanoma incidence in adolescents and young adults is success at increased UV exposure protection. These data provide an impetus to further improve multimodal efforts aimed at reducing the burden of melanoma and encourage ongoing UV exposure protection efforts throughout the lifetime of individuals.”

Public health measures to promote sun-protective behaviors including sunscreen use, protective clothing, and seeking shade were initiated in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the public health impact remains unknown, they noted in the study, published in JAMA Dermatology.

For the study, they reviewed data from the National Program of Cancer Registries – Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results combined database for the years 2001-2015. Overall, the incidence of invasive melanoma among people of all ages in the United States increased from 50,272 cases in 2001 to 83,362 in 2015. However, in 2015 only 67 cases were reported in children younger than 10 years, 251 in adolescents aged 10-19 years, and 1,973 in young adults (aged 20-29 years).

Between 2006 and 2015, the annual percentage change in melanoma incidence decreased by 4.4% for male adolescents, 5.4% for female adolescents, 3.7% for male young adults, and 3.6% for female young adults; these changes were statistically significant. The trends in incidence was similar when the population was limited to non-Hispanic whites, considered a high-risk group for melanoma.

By contrast, melanoma incidence increased by an annual percentage change of 1.8% for both men and women aged 40 years and older during the same period of time. Young adult women had a greater incidence of melanoma compared with young adult men (about twofold greater), but older men had a greater incidence of melanoma compared with older women, the researchers said.

The findings were limited by a lack of data about potential confounders, such as skin pigmentation, UV light exposure, sunburn history, sunscreen use, sun avoidance, protective clothing, and tanning bed use; and the absence of information kept the researchers from estimating an association between increased sun-protective behaviors and decreased incidence of melanoma.

“However, this change in behavior remains a plausible explanation for decreased melanoma rates in adolescent and young adult populations,” and the data support continued strategies to promote UV protection throughout life, they said.

The study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Integrated Immunotherapy Research Core, and a Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer–Merck fellowship. Dr. Paulson disclosed grants from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer–Merck, bluebird biosciences, EMD Serono; she also disclosed an issued and licensed patent for a Merkel cell carcinoma T cell receptor.

SOURCE: Paulson KG et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2019. Nov 13. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.3353.

The incidence of melanoma in the United States dropped significantly among adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 29 years between 2006 and 2015, according to results of a population-based registry study of 988,103 cases of invasive melanoma.

These data are observational, “and thus cannot conclusively determine the cause of this statistically and clinically significant decrease,” wrote Kelly G. Paulson, MD, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, and colleagues. However, they added, “a likely explanation for the reduced melanoma incidence in adolescents and young adults is success at increased UV exposure protection. These data provide an impetus to further improve multimodal efforts aimed at reducing the burden of melanoma and encourage ongoing UV exposure protection efforts throughout the lifetime of individuals.”

Public health measures to promote sun-protective behaviors including sunscreen use, protective clothing, and seeking shade were initiated in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the public health impact remains unknown, they noted in the study, published in JAMA Dermatology.

For the study, they reviewed data from the National Program of Cancer Registries – Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results combined database for the years 2001-2015. Overall, the incidence of invasive melanoma among people of all ages in the United States increased from 50,272 cases in 2001 to 83,362 in 2015. However, in 2015 only 67 cases were reported in children younger than 10 years, 251 in adolescents aged 10-19 years, and 1,973 in young adults (aged 20-29 years).

Between 2006 and 2015, the annual percentage change in melanoma incidence decreased by 4.4% for male adolescents, 5.4% for female adolescents, 3.7% for male young adults, and 3.6% for female young adults; these changes were statistically significant. The trends in incidence was similar when the population was limited to non-Hispanic whites, considered a high-risk group for melanoma.

By contrast, melanoma incidence increased by an annual percentage change of 1.8% for both men and women aged 40 years and older during the same period of time. Young adult women had a greater incidence of melanoma compared with young adult men (about twofold greater), but older men had a greater incidence of melanoma compared with older women, the researchers said.

The findings were limited by a lack of data about potential confounders, such as skin pigmentation, UV light exposure, sunburn history, sunscreen use, sun avoidance, protective clothing, and tanning bed use; and the absence of information kept the researchers from estimating an association between increased sun-protective behaviors and decreased incidence of melanoma.

“However, this change in behavior remains a plausible explanation for decreased melanoma rates in adolescent and young adult populations,” and the data support continued strategies to promote UV protection throughout life, they said.

The study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Integrated Immunotherapy Research Core, and a Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer–Merck fellowship. Dr. Paulson disclosed grants from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer–Merck, bluebird biosciences, EMD Serono; she also disclosed an issued and licensed patent for a Merkel cell carcinoma T cell receptor.

SOURCE: Paulson KG et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2019. Nov 13. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.3353.

The incidence of melanoma in the United States dropped significantly among adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 29 years between 2006 and 2015, according to results of a population-based registry study of 988,103 cases of invasive melanoma.

These data are observational, “and thus cannot conclusively determine the cause of this statistically and clinically significant decrease,” wrote Kelly G. Paulson, MD, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, and colleagues. However, they added, “a likely explanation for the reduced melanoma incidence in adolescents and young adults is success at increased UV exposure protection. These data provide an impetus to further improve multimodal efforts aimed at reducing the burden of melanoma and encourage ongoing UV exposure protection efforts throughout the lifetime of individuals.”

Public health measures to promote sun-protective behaviors including sunscreen use, protective clothing, and seeking shade were initiated in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the public health impact remains unknown, they noted in the study, published in JAMA Dermatology.

For the study, they reviewed data from the National Program of Cancer Registries – Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results combined database for the years 2001-2015. Overall, the incidence of invasive melanoma among people of all ages in the United States increased from 50,272 cases in 2001 to 83,362 in 2015. However, in 2015 only 67 cases were reported in children younger than 10 years, 251 in adolescents aged 10-19 years, and 1,973 in young adults (aged 20-29 years).

Between 2006 and 2015, the annual percentage change in melanoma incidence decreased by 4.4% for male adolescents, 5.4% for female adolescents, 3.7% for male young adults, and 3.6% for female young adults; these changes were statistically significant. The trends in incidence was similar when the population was limited to non-Hispanic whites, considered a high-risk group for melanoma.

By contrast, melanoma incidence increased by an annual percentage change of 1.8% for both men and women aged 40 years and older during the same period of time. Young adult women had a greater incidence of melanoma compared with young adult men (about twofold greater), but older men had a greater incidence of melanoma compared with older women, the researchers said.

The findings were limited by a lack of data about potential confounders, such as skin pigmentation, UV light exposure, sunburn history, sunscreen use, sun avoidance, protective clothing, and tanning bed use; and the absence of information kept the researchers from estimating an association between increased sun-protective behaviors and decreased incidence of melanoma.

“However, this change in behavior remains a plausible explanation for decreased melanoma rates in adolescent and young adult populations,” and the data support continued strategies to promote UV protection throughout life, they said.

The study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Integrated Immunotherapy Research Core, and a Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer–Merck fellowship. Dr. Paulson disclosed grants from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer–Merck, bluebird biosciences, EMD Serono; she also disclosed an issued and licensed patent for a Merkel cell carcinoma T cell receptor.

SOURCE: Paulson KG et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2019. Nov 13. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.3353.