No heart benefits found for chronic kidney disease drug
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2020
A seven-year trial shows that the phosphate binder lanthanum carbonate (Fosrenol) does not reduce cardiovascular risk for late-stage renal patients, researchers say.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Sept. 15
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2020
AstraZeneca COVID vaccine trial on hold in U.S. despite resuming elsewhere … Collapsed lung a complication of COVID-19; specialist care needed for older men … Pfizer, BioNTech enlarge late-stage coronavirus...
Laundry practices often overlooked in infection control, accreditor says
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 09, 2020
Laundry practices deserve a bigger role in COVID-19 prevention strategies for nursing homes and senior living communities, experts warn.
Study to examine severe side effects tied to Alzheimer’s drug combo
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 08, 2020
Millions of Medicare records will be used to analyze how two drug classes commonly used to treat Alzheimer’s may lead to a ‘prescription cascade’ when taken together.
Older women account for highest rates of rising antidepressant use: CDC
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 08, 2020
From 2009 to 2018, women alone accounted for rising antidepressant use in adults, the CDC has found. Researchers have also tied the COVID-19 pandemic to a three-fold increase in depression.
Low-dose blood thinner prevents stroke in elderly with atrial fibrillation, trial finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 08, 2020
Patients over age 80 who were not candidates for standard anticoagulant doses due to bleeding risk experienced fewer blood clots and strokes with a low daily dose of the drug edoxaban.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Sept. 8
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 08, 2020
Eight diseases tied to later dementia diagnosis … COVID-19 infection and mortality rates will trigger provider payouts of $2B in relief funding … Drug slows functional loss in ALS, new study finds...
WHO recommends steroids as standard treatment for severe COVID-19
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 04, 2020
Commonly available, low-cost corticosteroids lowered mortality risk by a third in critically ill, hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the organization reports.
Nurses ask feds to invoke Defense Production Act for N95 masks; survey finds ‘unacceptable’ reuse...
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 04, 2020
One in three nurses remain short on supplies, an ANA survey has found. “Re-use and decontamination of single-use PPE as the ‘new normal’ is unacceptable, given the lack of standards and evidence...
Blood pressure drugs benefit people without hypertension or heart disease, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 04, 2020
The decision to prescribe blood pressure medication should not be based solely on a prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or current blood pressure, investigators say.