Professional Burnout Among US Physicians Has Reached A Dangerous Level
Professional burnout among US physicians has reached a dangerous level, with more than half of physicians affected, according to research published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. After analyzing results from some 6,880 physicians surveyed last year, researchers found that “factors independently associated with both burnout and satisfaction with work–life balance included age, sex, specialty, hours worked per week, and practice setting, with female physicians having a higher burnout risk than their male colleagues. The studyfound the highest rates of burnout among physicians practicingin general internal medicine, family medicine and emergency medicine.
להמשך קריאה
FDA Approved Strensiq™ (asfotase alfa) for Treatment of Hypophosphatasia
Alexion Pharmaceuticals announced the FDA approval of Strensiq, asfotase alfa,foro replacement of deficient enzyme alkaline phosphatase. Michael Whyte, M.D., from the Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis said, without treatment, many newborns and infants with HPP fail to develop a normal rib cage and die from respiratory failure, and young children with HPP can suffer from rickets and muscle weakness. In clinical studies, 97 percent of severely affected newborns or infants were alive at age 1 year with asfotase alfa treatment compared to 42 percent of historical control patients. Treatment with asfotase alfa, now for up to 7 years, markedly improved overall health. In young HPP children, now treated for 5 years with asfotase alfa, significant corrections of the skeletal complications were documented. Clinicians should be aware that adult patients with bone density in the range of osteoporosis and low AP levels could be mutation carriers.
להמשך קריאה
Recent Letters Show FDA Concern Over Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing.
Bloomberg News reports that recent FDA letters to DNA4Life, Interleukin Genetics, and DNA-CardioCheck represent the latest sign that regulators are concerned about how companies market DNA tests for health insights, sometimes bypassing doctors entirely. FDA spokesperson Jennifer Dooren said, the FDA actively regulates genetic tests sold directly to consumers to make sure they are safe and do what they claim to do. Without FDA oversight, the safety and efficacy of these tests have not been determined and could potentially lead to patient harm.
להמשך קריאה
Gastric Balloon Swallowed Like A Tablet May Help Patients Lose Excess Weight.
The Elipse device, an encapsulated gastric balloon that’s swallowed like a tablet and then sits in the stomach filled with fluid, helped patients lose more than a third of their excess weight over a four-month period, according to the results of a study presented at Obesity Week. The study of 34 overweight and obese subjects who got the balloon lost an average of 22 pounds after four months – roughly 37% of their excess weight, the study found. After a period of about four months, the balloon automatically deflates, at which point its thin shell is naturally excreted. The device has yet to be approved by the FDA that had approved two other gastric balloons this year: one called Orbera and one called ReShape, both of which must be inserted using an endoscope.
להמשך קריאה
Algorithms Developed Predict 10-Year Risk Of Amputation, Blindness In DM
Julia Researchers from the UK’s University of Nottingham, have developed algorithms for predicting the 10-year risk of two of the most serious complications of diabetes, amputation and blindness. In addition, they developed a web-based calculator, so that clinicians can enter patients’ data and patients can enter their own data to determine the 10-year risk for these complications. The research was published in the BMJ.
להמשך קריאה
Home Use of an Artificial Beta Cell in Type 1 Diabetes
Among patients with type 1 diabetes, 12-week use of a closed-loop system, as compared with sensor-augmented pump therapy, improved glucose control, reduced hypoglycemia, and, in adults, resulted in a lower glycated hemoglobin level.
N Engl J Med 2015; 373:2129-40.
