The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released the 2012 recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The guidelines published today in the ACR journal, Arthritis Care & Research, are an update to the 2008 recommendations and address the issues of initiating and switching drugs, screening for tuberculosis (TB) reactivation, immunization, and the use of biologics in high-risk RA patients.

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According to two new studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, obese patients with diabetes had better glycemic control following bariatric surgery plus intensive medical management than a control group who received intensive medical management alone. However, one study was very small and the other had a limited follow-up period; therefore, larger and longer studies are required to confirm the findings.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 88 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a new study released that looked at data from 14 communities. ASDs are almost 5 times more common among boys than girls, with 1 in 54 boys identified.

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FDA Advisors to Review First Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

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New guidelines on red blood cell transfusions from the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) advise a restrictive strategy for stable adults and children.

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The jury continues to be out as to whether or not all men should have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to look for prostate cancer. Last fall, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts whose recommendations help define high-quality healthcare for most Americans, issued a preliminary recommendation saying no to routine PSA testing for all men. And in 2008, the USPSTF recommended that men over the age of 75 years not undergo PSA testing unless there was a good reason to do so.

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Novel Thrombectomy Device Cleared to Treat Stroke

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The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released a clinical practice guideline on the management of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in children and adults. Nearly 1 in 7 people are diagnosed with a sinus infection each year. Although sinus infections are the fifth leading reason for antibiotic prescriptions, 90% to 98% of cases are caused by viruses, which are not affected by antibiotics. Used inappropriately, antibiotics foster the development of drug-resistant superbugs.

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A new meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine¹ suggests that while aspirin may reduce the risk of heart attack in middle-aged adults without known heart disease, the benefits are modest. In addition, aspirin appeared to confer no significant protection against stroke or fatal heart attack, and the benefits against nonfatal heart attack were offset by clinically important bleeding events.

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As the supply of life-saving antibiotics becomes increasingly threatened, infectious disease experts urge healthcare systems and policymakers to step up efforts to protect patients by preserving the effectiveness of available antibiotics through antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs and interventions help prescribers know when antibiotics are needed and what the best treatment choices are for a particular patient to help improve the use of these drugs.

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