Practice Management
The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning that clade I mpox may be spreading in the state, “primarily impacting communities of gay and bisexual men,” after 3 cases of this rare, more severe strain of mpox were confirmed. At least 1 case occurred in a person with no recent travel who was recently hospitalized and has been discharged to recover at home, indicating that person-to-person community spread of clade I mpox is …
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Global plastic production has more than doubled since 2000, resulting in microplastic (any plastic fragment smaller than 5 millimeters) contamination in air, food, and water. Plastic contamination can cause concerning health effects, according to an online post in JAMA. Tiny plastic particles—generally those with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less—can enter the human body through inhalation or ingestion, and evidence shows they have been detected in multiple organs, including the lungs, brain, liver, and …
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In 2023, the American Heart Association (AHA) introduced a staging construct for cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Subsequently, a 2024 JAMA article found among a study population of 10,762 U.S. adults, almost 90% met criteria for CKM syndrome (stage 1 or higher), and 15% met criteria for advanced stages between 2011 and 2020. In a new survey of 4,000 adults, AHA found that only 12% of respondents had heard of CKM, and 68% incorrectly …
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In a randomized clinical trial of 800 adults aged 65 years or older with chronic low back pain, both standard acupuncture and enhanced acupuncture with maintenance sessions significantly improved disability related to back pain compared with usual medical care, as published in JAMA Network Open. At 6 months, the adjusted mean disability score (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire) improved by −1.0 for standard acupuncture and −1.5 for enhanced acupuncture vs usual care with benefits sustained at 12 …
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About 40% of patients in the University of Colorado Health system who were prescribed a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist over a nearly 4 year time span did not fill the prescription, according to a research letter in JAMA Health Forum. Researchers analyzed 9,848 orders for 6,094 unique patients between January 2018 and September 2022, finding that overall, 5,915 (60.1%) orders were filled within 90-days. Patients with both diabetes and obesity were more likely to …
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As of October 8, 2025, there have been a total of 1,563 confirmed measles cases reported in 42 states this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The largest proportion of cases are among those ages 5-19 years (39%), and 92% of all cases are among unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccine status. However, experts speaking to NPR believe the numbers are actually much higher than what has been reported and …
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Roflumilast 0.05% cream, a new once-daily, steroid-free treatment that can be used anywhere on the body, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children 2 to 5 years of age. According to the manufacturer’s press release, roflumilast can be used for any duration of time, which can be a benefit because the topical steroids that have been a standard treatment are not appropriate for long-term use. …
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Today’s rapidly expanding hydration and “detox” spas are coming under scrutiny for safety concerns. The spas typically offer vitamin- and fluid-based IV infusions claiming to boost wellness almost completely without evidence. However, most of the hydration spas lack state regulations and operate with little or no medical oversight, according to a recent article in JAMA Internal Medicine. There are about 9,000 such spas in the United States, and researchers found only Alabama, North Carolina, South …
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An analysis of 19 randomized placebo-controlled trials with 6,506 participants found the commonly prescribed pain drug tramadol only modestly reduced pain scores for chronic pain—showing improvement of just 0.93 points on a 0–10 numerical scale (97.5% confidence interval [CI], −1.26 to −0.60; p < 0.0001). The effect size fell below a minimal threshold of 1.0 point as defined by the authors. Additionally, serious adverse events were more common with tramadol (odds ratio [OR] 2.13; 97.5% …
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The College of Urgent Care Medicine (CUCM) has formed a new special interest group for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) who practice urgent care medicine. The purpose of the group is to connect NP and PA clinicians in the industry through a professional community to address topics unique to their roles, while amplifying their voices and contributions to patient care and organizational success. The group will promote continuing education, encourage leadership, and support …
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