As psychologists at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, we agree with many points raised in a recent article about Dr. Harold Kudler’s presentation at the American Psychiatric Association meeting about the mental health care program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (See at left Related Content: “Greater focus on therapeutic relationship could improve VAMC outcomes”). However, we think the article inaccurately characterizes the role of the therapeutic relationship in evidence-based psychotherapy training and delivery within the VA.

The article states that evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) training in the VA “typically focuses on mastering specific skills and maintaining adherence to the manuals rather than [emphasis added] on the strength and nature of the therapeutic relationship.” This is an unfortunate yet enduring myth. All of the 15 VA-sponsored EBP training programs specifically focus on the development of a strong working alliance as a necessary component of delivering these treatments. As a demonstration of this focus, the therapeutic alliance is measured as part of ongoing program evaluation efforts.

The VA EBP training programs that treat depression, insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain all have published results demonstrating that VA-licensed therapists in EBP training are able to build strong initial alliances with their veteran patients that continue to improve over the course of treatment (average Cohen’s d = 0.56) (J Consult Clin Psychol. 2012;80[5];707-18), (J Consult Clin Psychcol. 2014;82[6];1201-6), (Clin J Pain. 2015;31[8]722-9) (Behav Res Ther. 2013 Sep;51[9]555-63), (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;30(3):308-15), and (Am Psychol. 2014 Jan;69[1]:19-33).

The article goes on to note that clinical practice guidelines should address therapist behaviors and qualities that promote a facilitative therapy relationship. As Dr. Kudler and his colleagues have noted elsewhere (JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 May 18. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0746), the VA/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) explicitly states: “A supportive and collaborative treatment relationship or therapeutic alliance should be developed and maintained with patients with PTSD.” (http://www.healthquality.va.gov/PTSD-Full-2010c.pdf: p. 92, accessed on May 30, 2016.)

Similarly, the VA/DOD CPG for the Management of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) states that the therapeutic alliance “is at least as important as the specific treatment approach selected.” (http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/sud/VADoDSUDCPGRevised22216.pdf: p. 15.)

In short, VA EBP training has a strong emphasis on the development of the therapeutic alliance as a necessary condition for effective treatment and published results demonstrating the strength of those alliances as well as robust symptom reductions among our veteran patients. We agree with the authors as well as various task forces that the therapeutic relationship should be included in mental health CPGs beyond those mentioned for PTSD and SUD.

Tracey L. Smith, Ph.D.
Houston

Natalie Hundt, Ph.D.
Houston

As psychologists at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, we agree with many points raised in a recent article about Dr. Harold Kudler’s presentation at the American Psychiatric Association meeting about the mental health care program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (See at left Related Content: “Greater focus on therapeutic relationship could improve VAMC outcomes”). However, we think the article inaccurately characterizes the role of the therapeutic relationship in evidence-based psychotherapy training and delivery within the VA.

The article states that evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) training in the VA “typically focuses on mastering specific skills and maintaining adherence to the manuals rather than [emphasis added] on the strength and nature of the therapeutic relationship.” This is an unfortunate yet enduring myth. All of the 15 VA-sponsored EBP training programs specifically focus on the development of a strong working alliance as a necessary component of delivering these treatments. As a demonstration of this focus, the therapeutic alliance is measured as part of ongoing program evaluation efforts.

The VA EBP training programs that treat depression, insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain all have published results demonstrating that VA-licensed therapists in EBP training are able to build strong initial alliances with their veteran patients that continue to improve over the course of treatment (average Cohen’s d = 0.56) (J Consult Clin Psychol. 2012;80[5];707-18), (J Consult Clin Psychcol. 2014;82[6];1201-6), (Clin J Pain. 2015;31[8]722-9) (Behav Res Ther. 2013 Sep;51[9]555-63), (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;30(3):308-15), and (Am Psychol. 2014 Jan;69[1]:19-33).

The article goes on to note that clinical practice guidelines should address therapist behaviors and qualities that promote a facilitative therapy relationship. As Dr. Kudler and his colleagues have noted elsewhere (JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 May 18. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0746), the VA/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) explicitly states: “A supportive and collaborative treatment relationship or therapeutic alliance should be developed and maintained with patients with PTSD.” (http://www.healthquality.va.gov/PTSD-Full-2010c.pdf: p. 92, accessed on May 30, 2016.)

Similarly, the VA/DOD CPG for the Management of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) states that the therapeutic alliance “is at least as important as the specific treatment approach selected.” (http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/sud/VADoDSUDCPGRevised22216.pdf: p. 15.)

In short, VA EBP training has a strong emphasis on the development of the therapeutic alliance as a necessary condition for effective treatment and published results demonstrating the strength of those alliances as well as robust symptom reductions among our veteran patients. We agree with the authors as well as various task forces that the therapeutic relationship should be included in mental health CPGs beyond those mentioned for PTSD and SUD.

Tracey L. Smith, Ph.D.
Houston

Natalie Hundt, Ph.D.
Houston

As psychologists at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, we agree with many points raised in a recent article about Dr. Harold Kudler’s presentation at the American Psychiatric Association meeting about the mental health care program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (See at left Related Content: “Greater focus on therapeutic relationship could improve VAMC outcomes”). However, we think the article inaccurately characterizes the role of the therapeutic relationship in evidence-based psychotherapy training and delivery within the VA.

The article states that evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) training in the VA “typically focuses on mastering specific skills and maintaining adherence to the manuals rather than [emphasis added] on the strength and nature of the therapeutic relationship.” This is an unfortunate yet enduring myth. All of the 15 VA-sponsored EBP training programs specifically focus on the development of a strong working alliance as a necessary component of delivering these treatments. As a demonstration of this focus, the therapeutic alliance is measured as part of ongoing program evaluation efforts.

The VA EBP training programs that treat depression, insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain all have published results demonstrating that VA-licensed therapists in EBP training are able to build strong initial alliances with their veteran patients that continue to improve over the course of treatment (average Cohen’s d = 0.56) (J Consult Clin Psychol. 2012;80[5];707-18), (J Consult Clin Psychcol. 2014;82[6];1201-6), (Clin J Pain. 2015;31[8]722-9) (Behav Res Ther. 2013 Sep;51[9]555-63), (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;30(3):308-15), and (Am Psychol. 2014 Jan;69[1]:19-33).

The article goes on to note that clinical practice guidelines should address therapist behaviors and qualities that promote a facilitative therapy relationship. As Dr. Kudler and his colleagues have noted elsewhere (JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 May 18. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0746), the VA/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) explicitly states: “A supportive and collaborative treatment relationship or therapeutic alliance should be developed and maintained with patients with PTSD.” (http://www.healthquality.va.gov/PTSD-Full-2010c.pdf: p. 92, accessed on May 30, 2016.)

Similarly, the VA/DOD CPG for the Management of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) states that the therapeutic alliance “is at least as important as the specific treatment approach selected.” (http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/sud/VADoDSUDCPGRevised22216.pdf: p. 15.)

In short, VA EBP training has a strong emphasis on the development of the therapeutic alliance as a necessary condition for effective treatment and published results demonstrating the strength of those alliances as well as robust symptom reductions among our veteran patients. We agree with the authors as well as various task forces that the therapeutic relationship should be included in mental health CPGs beyond those mentioned for PTSD and SUD.

Tracey L. Smith, Ph.D.
Houston

Natalie Hundt, Ph.D.
Houston

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights has issued new guidance to help physicians and their practices combat a ransomware attack.

Ransomware – a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid – is becoming a bigger problem for U.S. businesses in general. Daily ransomware attacks against all types of computer systems increased 300% in early 2016 to 4,000, from 1,000 daily attacks in 2015, according to the Department of Justice.

The HHS fact sheet offers information on how HIPAA compliance can help protect and recover infected systems; how to detect if systems are infected; and what to do if a system becomes infected, including what is reportable.

There are “measures known to be effective to prevent the introduction of ransomware and to recover from a ransomware attack,” according to HHS.

[email protected]

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights has issued new guidance to help physicians and their practices combat a ransomware attack.

Ransomware – a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid – is becoming a bigger problem for U.S. businesses in general. Daily ransomware attacks against all types of computer systems increased 300% in early 2016 to 4,000, from 1,000 daily attacks in 2015, according to the Department of Justice.

The HHS fact sheet offers information on how HIPAA compliance can help protect and recover infected systems; how to detect if systems are infected; and what to do if a system becomes infected, including what is reportable.

There are “measures known to be effective to prevent the introduction of ransomware and to recover from a ransomware attack,” according to HHS.

[email protected]

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights has issued new guidance to help physicians and their practices combat a ransomware attack.

Ransomware – a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid – is becoming a bigger problem for U.S. businesses in general. Daily ransomware attacks against all types of computer systems increased 300% in early 2016 to 4,000, from 1,000 daily attacks in 2015, according to the Department of Justice.

The HHS fact sheet offers information on how HIPAA compliance can help protect and recover infected systems; how to detect if systems are infected; and what to do if a system becomes infected, including what is reportable.

There are “measures known to be effective to prevent the introduction of ransomware and to recover from a ransomware attack,” according to HHS.

[email protected]

The Food and Drug Administration has approved dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients aged 12-17 years, according to a press release from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

FDA approval of dexlansoprazole for this age group is based on adequate and well controlled studies proving its efficacy in adults, as well data on safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in children 12-17 years. Dexlansoprazole is approved for younger patients to maintain healing of erosive esophagus and heartburn relief for 16 weeks, healing all grades of EE for 8 weeks, and treating heartburn associated with GERD for 4 weeks.

Ddexlansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, prescribed to relieve heartburn associated with GERD and maintain healed erosive esophagus. The most common side effects seen in individuals aged 12-17 were headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, and oropharyngeal pain.

“Takeda is pleased with the FDA’s approval to expand the access of Dexilant to younger patients with GERD. This new approval provides an alternative treatment option for appropriate patients with this condition. With our more than 20 years of experience in gastroenterology, we remain dedicated to all patients living with these conditions,” noted Thomas Gibbs, senior vice president of general medicine at Takeda.

Find the full press release on the Takeda Pharmaceuticals website.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients aged 12-17 years, according to a press release from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

FDA approval of dexlansoprazole for this age group is based on adequate and well controlled studies proving its efficacy in adults, as well data on safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in children 12-17 years. Dexlansoprazole is approved for younger patients to maintain healing of erosive esophagus and heartburn relief for 16 weeks, healing all grades of EE for 8 weeks, and treating heartburn associated with GERD for 4 weeks.

Ddexlansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, prescribed to relieve heartburn associated with GERD and maintain healed erosive esophagus. The most common side effects seen in individuals aged 12-17 were headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, and oropharyngeal pain.

“Takeda is pleased with the FDA’s approval to expand the access of Dexilant to younger patients with GERD. This new approval provides an alternative treatment option for appropriate patients with this condition. With our more than 20 years of experience in gastroenterology, we remain dedicated to all patients living with these conditions,” noted Thomas Gibbs, senior vice president of general medicine at Takeda.

Find the full press release on the Takeda Pharmaceuticals website.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients aged 12-17 years, according to a press release from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

FDA approval of dexlansoprazole for this age group is based on adequate and well controlled studies proving its efficacy in adults, as well data on safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in children 12-17 years. Dexlansoprazole is approved for younger patients to maintain healing of erosive esophagus and heartburn relief for 16 weeks, healing all grades of EE for 8 weeks, and treating heartburn associated with GERD for 4 weeks.

Ddexlansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, prescribed to relieve heartburn associated with GERD and maintain healed erosive esophagus. The most common side effects seen in individuals aged 12-17 were headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, and oropharyngeal pain.

“Takeda is pleased with the FDA’s approval to expand the access of Dexilant to younger patients with GERD. This new approval provides an alternative treatment option for appropriate patients with this condition. With our more than 20 years of experience in gastroenterology, we remain dedicated to all patients living with these conditions,” noted Thomas Gibbs, senior vice president of general medicine at Takeda.

Find the full press release on the Takeda Pharmaceuticals website.

With only a few weeks left until the 2016 Olympic Games get underway in Rio de Janeiro, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging anyone traveling to the Olympics to take precautions to avoid contracting Zika virus infection or spreading it when they return home.

But the CDC estimates that there is a low probability of mosquito-borne Zika virus infections during the Olympics because Rio will be experiencing cooler, drier weather then, which typically reduces the mosquito population.

©Rattikankeawpun/Thinkstock.com

Along with lower mosquito activity, the CDC said that the number of visitors expected in Brazil for the Olympics represents only a fraction of the total travel volume to Zika-affected countries during 2015. The Brazilian Tourism Board is expecting anywhere between 350,000 and 500,000 visitors for the Olympic Games, coming from 207 countries. That represents less than 0.25% of the total travel volume to Zika-affected countries during the entirety of 2015, according to the CDC.

There are 19 countries that the CDC deems susceptible to sustained mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus, should the virus enter the country via an attendee of the Olympics (MMWR. 2016 Jul 13. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6528e1).

Of these 19 – none of which are currently experiencing a Zika outbreak – 15 are “not estimated to increase substantially the level of risk above that incurred by the usual aviation travel baseline for these countries.” This leaves Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen at an elevated risk for a Zika outbreak. These four countries “are unique in that they do not have a substantial number of travelers to any country with local Zika virus transmission, except for anticipated travel to the Games,” according to the CDC.

The CDC is urging travelers to take protective measures for their entire stay in Rio and for at least 3 weeks after returning home. The measures include applying mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, staying in rooms that are air conditioned, and using either screen doors or a mosquito net for additional protection. Additionally, all travelers should take measures to prevent sexual transmission. The CDC continues to advise pregnant women not to travel to the Olympics.

[email protected]

With only a few weeks left until the 2016 Olympic Games get underway in Rio de Janeiro, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging anyone traveling to the Olympics to take precautions to avoid contracting Zika virus infection or spreading it when they return home.

But the CDC estimates that there is a low probability of mosquito-borne Zika virus infections during the Olympics because Rio will be experiencing cooler, drier weather then, which typically reduces the mosquito population.

©Rattikankeawpun/Thinkstock.com

Along with lower mosquito activity, the CDC said that the number of visitors expected in Brazil for the Olympics represents only a fraction of the total travel volume to Zika-affected countries during 2015. The Brazilian Tourism Board is expecting anywhere between 350,000 and 500,000 visitors for the Olympic Games, coming from 207 countries. That represents less than 0.25% of the total travel volume to Zika-affected countries during the entirety of 2015, according to the CDC.

There are 19 countries that the CDC deems susceptible to sustained mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus, should the virus enter the country via an attendee of the Olympics (MMWR. 2016 Jul 13. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6528e1).

Of these 19 – none of which are currently experiencing a Zika outbreak – 15 are “not estimated to increase substantially the level of risk above that incurred by the usual aviation travel baseline for these countries.” This leaves Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen at an elevated risk for a Zika outbreak. These four countries “are unique in that they do not have a substantial number of travelers to any country with local Zika virus transmission, except for anticipated travel to the Games,” according to the CDC.

The CDC is urging travelers to take protective measures for their entire stay in Rio and for at least 3 weeks after returning home. The measures include applying mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, staying in rooms that are air conditioned, and using either screen doors or a mosquito net for additional protection. Additionally, all travelers should take measures to prevent sexual transmission. The CDC continues to advise pregnant women not to travel to the Olympics.

[email protected]

With only a few weeks left until the 2016 Olympic Games get underway in Rio de Janeiro, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging anyone traveling to the Olympics to take precautions to avoid contracting Zika virus infection or spreading it when they return home.

But the CDC estimates that there is a low probability of mosquito-borne Zika virus infections during the Olympics because Rio will be experiencing cooler, drier weather then, which typically reduces the mosquito population.

©Rattikankeawpun/Thinkstock.com

Along with lower mosquito activity, the CDC said that the number of visitors expected in Brazil for the Olympics represents only a fraction of the total travel volume to Zika-affected countries during 2015. The Brazilian Tourism Board is expecting anywhere between 350,000 and 500,000 visitors for the Olympic Games, coming from 207 countries. That represents less than 0.25% of the total travel volume to Zika-affected countries during the entirety of 2015, according to the CDC.

There are 19 countries that the CDC deems susceptible to sustained mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus, should the virus enter the country via an attendee of the Olympics (MMWR. 2016 Jul 13. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6528e1).

Of these 19 – none of which are currently experiencing a Zika outbreak – 15 are “not estimated to increase substantially the level of risk above that incurred by the usual aviation travel baseline for these countries.” This leaves Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen at an elevated risk for a Zika outbreak. These four countries “are unique in that they do not have a substantial number of travelers to any country with local Zika virus transmission, except for anticipated travel to the Games,” according to the CDC.

The CDC is urging travelers to take protective measures for their entire stay in Rio and for at least 3 weeks after returning home. The measures include applying mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, staying in rooms that are air conditioned, and using either screen doors or a mosquito net for additional protection. Additionally, all travelers should take measures to prevent sexual transmission. The CDC continues to advise pregnant women not to travel to the Olympics.

[email protected]

WASHINGTON - The White House announced on Wednesday measures aimed at advancing President Barack Obama's precision medicine initiative, including plans to speed the development of tests used to identify genetic mutations and guide medical treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it planned to issue a proposal to create performance standards to guide development of next generation sequencing (NGS) tests. These tests scan a person's DNA and identify genetic differences that could be responsible for a patient's symptoms.

The standards would be designed to assess how accurately a test identifies a genetic variant. The developer would certify that it had met those standards. Currently the FDA itself determines the test's accuracy.

"We believe that the use of standards is the best way to allow regulation to keep pace with the evolution of NGS technology," Dr. Robert Califf told reporters on a conference call.

A second FDA proposal would allow test developers to use data from publicly accessible genetic databases, not just their own data, to demonstrate that the test accurately predicts disease. Califf said the approach could potentially get rid of the need for the FDA to review the tests before they reach the market.

"Taken together, these guidances will foster innovation, assure the quality and reliability of NGS-based tests and promote their adoption into clinical practice," he said.

The FDA's action is part of a broader government initiative to promote the development of individually tailored medicines. Obama introduced the initiative in his State of the Union address last year, saying he wanted the United States to lead a new era of medicine, "one that delivers the right treatment at the right time."

As part of the project, the National Institutes of Health will invest $55 million to build the infrastructure needed to collect genetic data from more than 1 million volunteers, its director, Dr. Francis Collins, said on the conference call.

Collins said it will take three to four years to assemble the desired amount of genetic material, which will then be available to researchers to help develop drugs for cancer and other disease. Anyone, he said, can participate.

"This is about all of us," he said. "Participants will be true partners, not subjects, not patients." Data sharing, he added, will be "swift."

WASHINGTON - The White House announced on Wednesday measures aimed at advancing President Barack Obama's precision medicine initiative, including plans to speed the development of tests used to identify genetic mutations and guide medical treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it planned to issue a proposal to create performance standards to guide development of next generation sequencing (NGS) tests. These tests scan a person's DNA and identify genetic differences that could be responsible for a patient's symptoms.

The standards would be designed to assess how accurately a test identifies a genetic variant. The developer would certify that it had met those standards. Currently the FDA itself determines the test's accuracy.

"We believe that the use of standards is the best way to allow regulation to keep pace with the evolution of NGS technology," Dr. Robert Califf told reporters on a conference call.

A second FDA proposal would allow test developers to use data from publicly accessible genetic databases, not just their own data, to demonstrate that the test accurately predicts disease. Califf said the approach could potentially get rid of the need for the FDA to review the tests before they reach the market.

"Taken together, these guidances will foster innovation, assure the quality and reliability of NGS-based tests and promote their adoption into clinical practice," he said.

The FDA's action is part of a broader government initiative to promote the development of individually tailored medicines. Obama introduced the initiative in his State of the Union address last year, saying he wanted the United States to lead a new era of medicine, "one that delivers the right treatment at the right time."

As part of the project, the National Institutes of Health will invest $55 million to build the infrastructure needed to collect genetic data from more than 1 million volunteers, its director, Dr. Francis Collins, said on the conference call.

Collins said it will take three to four years to assemble the desired amount of genetic material, which will then be available to researchers to help develop drugs for cancer and other disease. Anyone, he said, can participate.

"This is about all of us," he said. "Participants will be true partners, not subjects, not patients." Data sharing, he added, will be "swift."

WASHINGTON - The White House announced on Wednesday measures aimed at advancing President Barack Obama's precision medicine initiative, including plans to speed the development of tests used to identify genetic mutations and guide medical treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it planned to issue a proposal to create performance standards to guide development of next generation sequencing (NGS) tests. These tests scan a person's DNA and identify genetic differences that could be responsible for a patient's symptoms.

The standards would be designed to assess how accurately a test identifies a genetic variant. The developer would certify that it had met those standards. Currently the FDA itself determines the test's accuracy.

"We believe that the use of standards is the best way to allow regulation to keep pace with the evolution of NGS technology," Dr. Robert Califf told reporters on a conference call.

A second FDA proposal would allow test developers to use data from publicly accessible genetic databases, not just their own data, to demonstrate that the test accurately predicts disease. Califf said the approach could potentially get rid of the need for the FDA to review the tests before they reach the market.

"Taken together, these guidances will foster innovation, assure the quality and reliability of NGS-based tests and promote their adoption into clinical practice," he said.

The FDA's action is part of a broader government initiative to promote the development of individually tailored medicines. Obama introduced the initiative in his State of the Union address last year, saying he wanted the United States to lead a new era of medicine, "one that delivers the right treatment at the right time."

As part of the project, the National Institutes of Health will invest $55 million to build the infrastructure needed to collect genetic data from more than 1 million volunteers, its director, Dr. Francis Collins, said on the conference call.

Collins said it will take three to four years to assemble the desired amount of genetic material, which will then be available to researchers to help develop drugs for cancer and other disease. Anyone, he said, can participate.

"This is about all of us," he said. "Participants will be true partners, not subjects, not patients." Data sharing, he added, will be "swift."

Four $1,000 grants will be awarded to help awardees develop mentorship programs, course or curricular materials, or teaching tools related to gastroenterology and hepatology. The grants also may be used to help develop innovative assessment tools or to do research projects in GI and hepatology education.

The deadline to apply for the 2016 awards is Aug. 31, 2016, and the awardees will be notified by Oct. 10, 2016. Members of the Academy of Educators are invited to submit applications to [email protected]. Not a member yet? Join today for consideration.

Learn more and apply today at www.gastro.org/about/initiatives/aga-academy-of-educators. Please contact Paula Dorfman with any questions [email protected].

[email protected]

Four $1,000 grants will be awarded to help awardees develop mentorship programs, course or curricular materials, or teaching tools related to gastroenterology and hepatology. The grants also may be used to help develop innovative assessment tools or to do research projects in GI and hepatology education.

The deadline to apply for the 2016 awards is Aug. 31, 2016, and the awardees will be notified by Oct. 10, 2016. Members of the Academy of Educators are invited to submit applications to [email protected]. Not a member yet? Join today for consideration.

Learn more and apply today at www.gastro.org/about/initiatives/aga-academy-of-educators. Please contact Paula Dorfman with any questions [email protected].

[email protected]

Four $1,000 grants will be awarded to help awardees develop mentorship programs, course or curricular materials, or teaching tools related to gastroenterology and hepatology. The grants also may be used to help develop innovative assessment tools or to do research projects in GI and hepatology education.

The deadline to apply for the 2016 awards is Aug. 31, 2016, and the awardees will be notified by Oct. 10, 2016. Members of the Academy of Educators are invited to submit applications to [email protected]. Not a member yet? Join today for consideration.

Learn more and apply today at www.gastro.org/about/initiatives/aga-academy-of-educators. Please contact Paula Dorfman with any questions [email protected].

[email protected]

Thanks to a generous grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., the AGA Research Foundation is thrilled to announce three new research grants to fund young investigators working on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) projects. This funding will provide qualified scientists with the opportunity to make discoveries that will lead to improvements in patient care.

The AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Awards in Inflammatory Bowel Disease will provide $90,000 per year for 3 years (total $270,000) to three young investigators working toward independent research careers with a focus on IBD.

“The AGA Research Foundation is very grateful to have Takeda’s support for promising young researchers at a very vulnerable stage in their careers,” said Robert S. Sandler, M.D., MPH, AGAF, chair of the AGA Research Foundation. “Inflammatory bowel disease offers exciting opportunities for research, and we look forward to seeing how these three award recipients will advance our understanding of this serious digestive disease.”

“Takeda is proud to partner with the AGA Research Foundation to present three research scholar awards in IBD,” said Karen Lasch, MD, executive medical director, gastroenterology, Takeda. “As we look to the future, there is great promise with significant IBD research underway, but a strong need still exists for further scientific and clinical understanding. Providing young research investigators with the support they need to drive innovation and discovery is critical.”

Interested researchers can learn more by visiting the AGA website. The deadline for applications is Aug. 26, 2016, for funding beginning July 1, 2017. The AGA Research Awards Panel is looking for individuals in the beginning years of their careers who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have some record of accomplishment in research.

The overall objective of the AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA) is to enable young investigators, instructors, research associates or equivalents to develop independent and productive research careers in digestive diseases by ensuring that a major proportion of their time is protected for research.

Thanks to a generous grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., the AGA Research Foundation is thrilled to announce three new research grants to fund young investigators working on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) projects. This funding will provide qualified scientists with the opportunity to make discoveries that will lead to improvements in patient care.

The AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Awards in Inflammatory Bowel Disease will provide $90,000 per year for 3 years (total $270,000) to three young investigators working toward independent research careers with a focus on IBD.

“The AGA Research Foundation is very grateful to have Takeda’s support for promising young researchers at a very vulnerable stage in their careers,” said Robert S. Sandler, M.D., MPH, AGAF, chair of the AGA Research Foundation. “Inflammatory bowel disease offers exciting opportunities for research, and we look forward to seeing how these three award recipients will advance our understanding of this serious digestive disease.”

“Takeda is proud to partner with the AGA Research Foundation to present three research scholar awards in IBD,” said Karen Lasch, MD, executive medical director, gastroenterology, Takeda. “As we look to the future, there is great promise with significant IBD research underway, but a strong need still exists for further scientific and clinical understanding. Providing young research investigators with the support they need to drive innovation and discovery is critical.”

Interested researchers can learn more by visiting the AGA website. The deadline for applications is Aug. 26, 2016, for funding beginning July 1, 2017. The AGA Research Awards Panel is looking for individuals in the beginning years of their careers who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have some record of accomplishment in research.

The overall objective of the AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA) is to enable young investigators, instructors, research associates or equivalents to develop independent and productive research careers in digestive diseases by ensuring that a major proportion of their time is protected for research.

Thanks to a generous grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., the AGA Research Foundation is thrilled to announce three new research grants to fund young investigators working on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) projects. This funding will provide qualified scientists with the opportunity to make discoveries that will lead to improvements in patient care.

The AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Awards in Inflammatory Bowel Disease will provide $90,000 per year for 3 years (total $270,000) to three young investigators working toward independent research careers with a focus on IBD.

“The AGA Research Foundation is very grateful to have Takeda’s support for promising young researchers at a very vulnerable stage in their careers,” said Robert S. Sandler, M.D., MPH, AGAF, chair of the AGA Research Foundation. “Inflammatory bowel disease offers exciting opportunities for research, and we look forward to seeing how these three award recipients will advance our understanding of this serious digestive disease.”

“Takeda is proud to partner with the AGA Research Foundation to present three research scholar awards in IBD,” said Karen Lasch, MD, executive medical director, gastroenterology, Takeda. “As we look to the future, there is great promise with significant IBD research underway, but a strong need still exists for further scientific and clinical understanding. Providing young research investigators with the support they need to drive innovation and discovery is critical.”

Interested researchers can learn more by visiting the AGA website. The deadline for applications is Aug. 26, 2016, for funding beginning July 1, 2017. The AGA Research Awards Panel is looking for individuals in the beginning years of their careers who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have some record of accomplishment in research.

The overall objective of the AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA) is to enable young investigators, instructors, research associates or equivalents to develop independent and productive research careers in digestive diseases by ensuring that a major proportion of their time is protected for research.

Contaminated duodenoscopes have caused multiple outbreaks of multidrug-resistant infections with sometimes lethal consequences; until these instruments become easier to clean, personnel must strictly follow recommendations for sterilization, surveillance, and unit-by-unit quality control, according to an extensive commentary accompanying an American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Update.

“Patients and physicians want and expect no transmission of infections by any medical instrument,” wrote Bret Petersen, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., Johannes Koch, M.D., of Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, and Gregory Ginsberg, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. It is the collective responsibility of endoscope manufacturers, health systems, and providers to ensure endoscope reprocessing is mistake proof, establishing systems to identify and eliminate the risk of infection for patients undergoing flexible endoscopy.”

©CDC/James Archer

More than 650,000 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs) occur in the United States annually, and “even the lowest reported defect rate of 0.7% will expose 4,500 patients to a preventable risk,” the experts noted. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are becoming more prevalent and have been transmitted during ERCP, even when personnel seem to have followed sterilization protocols to the letter. Clinical CRE infections have a fatality rate of at least 50%, months may elapse between exposure and symptom onset, and infections may involve distant organs. These factors, along with the phenomenon of “silent carriers,” have linked duodenoscopes to at least 250 multidrug-resistant infections and at least 20 fatalities worldwide, the experts wrote (Gastroenterology 2016 May 27. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.05.040).

Current duodenoscopes can be tough to sterilize. Between 1 billion and 1 trillion organisms typically cover a used instrument. Bedside cleaning cuts this number about 1,000-fold, and manual washing kills about another million organisms, leaving up to 1 billion bugs to be killed by high-level disinfection. That’s “a tall order” that can strain space, time, and staffing resources, especially given the fact that duodenoscopes have “tight crevices and mechanical joints that are exposed repeatedly to highly infectious bioburden,” the experts wrote. Furthermore, slips in processing enable the formation of biofilms that resist both cleaning and high-level disinfection.

The key to stopping duodenoscopes from transmitting dangerous pathogens is manual cleaning, including wiping the outside of the duodenoscope, flushing its channels, and brushing the elevator lever “immediately after use and before the surfaces have become dried,” the experts stressed. Disinfectants should be used at the right concentration and temperature, and for the intended amount of time. Biofilms form on moist surfaces only, so channels should be flushed with alcohol (a desiccant), dried with forced air, and stored in a dry environment.

But recent outbreaks spurred the Food and Drug Administration to recommend further steps – including better oversight and training of reprocessing staff and closer attention to precleaning, manual cleaning, and manufacturer recommendations for use, including determining whether the company used its own “proprietary” cleaning brushes in its validation studies, the experts noted. “Optional supplemental measures” include surveillance cultures of duodenoscopes, ethylene oxide sterilization, and double reprocessing, in which each scope undergoes two cycles of manual cleaning and high-intensity sterilization between patients. Double reprocessing might be the simplest and most easily adopted of these measures, the experts said. The AGA, for its part, recommends active surveillance of patients who undergo ERCP, surveillance cultures of scopes, and recording of the serial number of every scope used in every procedure.

Surveillance culture makes sense, but can be costly and hard to conduct and interpret because sampling detects vast numbers of nonpathogenic organisms in addition to any pathogens, the experts noted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that each institution follow its own complex outbreak sampling protocol and quarantine duodenoscopes for 2-3 days, pending negative results. That may mean buying more duodenoscopes. A less costly option is to culture a subset of scopes at the end of every workweek, the experts said. Real-time tests that reliably reflect bacterial culture results remain “elusive,” but testing for adenosine triphosphate after manual washing is easiest and best studied, they added.

Clearly, industry is responsible for making endoscopes that can be reliably disinfected. “Recent submissions by all three manufacturers (Olympus, Pentax, and Fujinon) have validated current reprocessing outcomes in test environments, and the FDA has ruled that postmarket studies of reprocessing in clinical settings are expected, but these results will not be forthcoming for several years,” the experts wrote. Redesigning duodenoscopes may be “the ultimate solution,” but in the meantime, endoscopists should carefully review indications for ERCP and ensure thorough informed consent. Doing so “will uphold the trust that we must achieve and maintain with our patients,” the authors said.

They had no funding sources. Dr. Koch has consulted for Sedasys, and Dr. Ginsberg has consulted for Olympus.

Contaminated duodenoscopes have caused multiple outbreaks of multidrug-resistant infections with sometimes lethal consequences; until these instruments become easier to clean, personnel must strictly follow recommendations for sterilization, surveillance, and unit-by-unit quality control, according to an extensive commentary accompanying an American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Update.

“Patients and physicians want and expect no transmission of infections by any medical instrument,” wrote Bret Petersen, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., Johannes Koch, M.D., of Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, and Gregory Ginsberg, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. It is the collective responsibility of endoscope manufacturers, health systems, and providers to ensure endoscope reprocessing is mistake proof, establishing systems to identify and eliminate the risk of infection for patients undergoing flexible endoscopy.”

©CDC/James Archer

More than 650,000 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs) occur in the United States annually, and “even the lowest reported defect rate of 0.7% will expose 4,500 patients to a preventable risk,” the experts noted. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are becoming more prevalent and have been transmitted during ERCP, even when personnel seem to have followed sterilization protocols to the letter. Clinical CRE infections have a fatality rate of at least 50%, months may elapse between exposure and symptom onset, and infections may involve distant organs. These factors, along with the phenomenon of “silent carriers,” have linked duodenoscopes to at least 250 multidrug-resistant infections and at least 20 fatalities worldwide, the experts wrote (Gastroenterology 2016 May 27. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.05.040).

Current duodenoscopes can be tough to sterilize. Between 1 billion and 1 trillion organisms typically cover a used instrument. Bedside cleaning cuts this number about 1,000-fold, and manual washing kills about another million organisms, leaving up to 1 billion bugs to be killed by high-level disinfection. That’s “a tall order” that can strain space, time, and staffing resources, especially given the fact that duodenoscopes have “tight crevices and mechanical joints that are exposed repeatedly to highly infectious bioburden,” the experts wrote. Furthermore, slips in processing enable the formation of biofilms that resist both cleaning and high-level disinfection.

The key to stopping duodenoscopes from transmitting dangerous pathogens is manual cleaning, including wiping the outside of the duodenoscope, flushing its channels, and brushing the elevator lever “immediately after use and before the surfaces have become dried,” the experts stressed. Disinfectants should be used at the right concentration and temperature, and for the intended amount of time. Biofilms form on moist surfaces only, so channels should be flushed with alcohol (a desiccant), dried with forced air, and stored in a dry environment.

But recent outbreaks spurred the Food and Drug Administration to recommend further steps – including better oversight and training of reprocessing staff and closer attention to precleaning, manual cleaning, and manufacturer recommendations for use, including determining whether the company used its own “proprietary” cleaning brushes in its validation studies, the experts noted. “Optional supplemental measures” include surveillance cultures of duodenoscopes, ethylene oxide sterilization, and double reprocessing, in which each scope undergoes two cycles of manual cleaning and high-intensity sterilization between patients. Double reprocessing might be the simplest and most easily adopted of these measures, the experts said. The AGA, for its part, recommends active surveillance of patients who undergo ERCP, surveillance cultures of scopes, and recording of the serial number of every scope used in every procedure.

Surveillance culture makes sense, but can be costly and hard to conduct and interpret because sampling detects vast numbers of nonpathogenic organisms in addition to any pathogens, the experts noted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that each institution follow its own complex outbreak sampling protocol and quarantine duodenoscopes for 2-3 days, pending negative results. That may mean buying more duodenoscopes. A less costly option is to culture a subset of scopes at the end of every workweek, the experts said. Real-time tests that reliably reflect bacterial culture results remain “elusive,” but testing for adenosine triphosphate after manual washing is easiest and best studied, they added.

Clearly, industry is responsible for making endoscopes that can be reliably disinfected. “Recent submissions by all three manufacturers (Olympus, Pentax, and Fujinon) have validated current reprocessing outcomes in test environments, and the FDA has ruled that postmarket studies of reprocessing in clinical settings are expected, but these results will not be forthcoming for several years,” the experts wrote. Redesigning duodenoscopes may be “the ultimate solution,” but in the meantime, endoscopists should carefully review indications for ERCP and ensure thorough informed consent. Doing so “will uphold the trust that we must achieve and maintain with our patients,” the authors said.

They had no funding sources. Dr. Koch has consulted for Sedasys, and Dr. Ginsberg has consulted for Olympus.

Contaminated duodenoscopes have caused multiple outbreaks of multidrug-resistant infections with sometimes lethal consequences; until these instruments become easier to clean, personnel must strictly follow recommendations for sterilization, surveillance, and unit-by-unit quality control, according to an extensive commentary accompanying an American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Update.

“Patients and physicians want and expect no transmission of infections by any medical instrument,” wrote Bret Petersen, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., Johannes Koch, M.D., of Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, and Gregory Ginsberg, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. It is the collective responsibility of endoscope manufacturers, health systems, and providers to ensure endoscope reprocessing is mistake proof, establishing systems to identify and eliminate the risk of infection for patients undergoing flexible endoscopy.”

©CDC/James Archer

More than 650,000 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs) occur in the United States annually, and “even the lowest reported defect rate of 0.7% will expose 4,500 patients to a preventable risk,” the experts noted. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are becoming more prevalent and have been transmitted during ERCP, even when personnel seem to have followed sterilization protocols to the letter. Clinical CRE infections have a fatality rate of at least 50%, months may elapse between exposure and symptom onset, and infections may involve distant organs. These factors, along with the phenomenon of “silent carriers,” have linked duodenoscopes to at least 250 multidrug-resistant infections and at least 20 fatalities worldwide, the experts wrote (Gastroenterology 2016 May 27. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.05.040).

Current duodenoscopes can be tough to sterilize. Between 1 billion and 1 trillion organisms typically cover a used instrument. Bedside cleaning cuts this number about 1,000-fold, and manual washing kills about another million organisms, leaving up to 1 billion bugs to be killed by high-level disinfection. That’s “a tall order” that can strain space, time, and staffing resources, especially given the fact that duodenoscopes have “tight crevices and mechanical joints that are exposed repeatedly to highly infectious bioburden,” the experts wrote. Furthermore, slips in processing enable the formation of biofilms that resist both cleaning and high-level disinfection.

The key to stopping duodenoscopes from transmitting dangerous pathogens is manual cleaning, including wiping the outside of the duodenoscope, flushing its channels, and brushing the elevator lever “immediately after use and before the surfaces have become dried,” the experts stressed. Disinfectants should be used at the right concentration and temperature, and for the intended amount of time. Biofilms form on moist surfaces only, so channels should be flushed with alcohol (a desiccant), dried with forced air, and stored in a dry environment.

But recent outbreaks spurred the Food and Drug Administration to recommend further steps – including better oversight and training of reprocessing staff and closer attention to precleaning, manual cleaning, and manufacturer recommendations for use, including determining whether the company used its own “proprietary” cleaning brushes in its validation studies, the experts noted. “Optional supplemental measures” include surveillance cultures of duodenoscopes, ethylene oxide sterilization, and double reprocessing, in which each scope undergoes two cycles of manual cleaning and high-intensity sterilization between patients. Double reprocessing might be the simplest and most easily adopted of these measures, the experts said. The AGA, for its part, recommends active surveillance of patients who undergo ERCP, surveillance cultures of scopes, and recording of the serial number of every scope used in every procedure.

Surveillance culture makes sense, but can be costly and hard to conduct and interpret because sampling detects vast numbers of nonpathogenic organisms in addition to any pathogens, the experts noted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that each institution follow its own complex outbreak sampling protocol and quarantine duodenoscopes for 2-3 days, pending negative results. That may mean buying more duodenoscopes. A less costly option is to culture a subset of scopes at the end of every workweek, the experts said. Real-time tests that reliably reflect bacterial culture results remain “elusive,” but testing for adenosine triphosphate after manual washing is easiest and best studied, they added.

Clearly, industry is responsible for making endoscopes that can be reliably disinfected. “Recent submissions by all three manufacturers (Olympus, Pentax, and Fujinon) have validated current reprocessing outcomes in test environments, and the FDA has ruled that postmarket studies of reprocessing in clinical settings are expected, but these results will not be forthcoming for several years,” the experts wrote. Redesigning duodenoscopes may be “the ultimate solution,” but in the meantime, endoscopists should carefully review indications for ERCP and ensure thorough informed consent. Doing so “will uphold the trust that we must achieve and maintain with our patients,” the authors said.

They had no funding sources. Dr. Koch has consulted for Sedasys, and Dr. Ginsberg has consulted for Olympus.

The overall uninsured rate for nonelderly adults took a significant drop from 18.8% in 2013 to 14.4% in 2014, with rates by age lower and declines generally larger among states that expanded Medicaid coverage, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among adults aged 18-35 years, states (and the District of Columbia) that expanded Medicaid had a larger drop in the percentage who were uninsured for the entire calendar year, going from 19.9% in 2013 to 13.7% in 2014 (6.2 percentage points), than did states that did not expand Medicaid, which dropped from 25.7% to 22.3% (3.4 percentage points), the AHRQ reported.

For adults aged 36-54 years, the situation was similar: The uninsured rate in states that expanded Medicaid went from 15.7% in 2013 to 10.5% in 2014, or 5.2 percentage points, while the rate dropped from 21.4% to 17.4%, or 4 percentage points, in states that did not expand Medicaid, the report noted.

Uninsured rates were lower among adults aged 56-64 in states that did expand Medicaid, but the absolute decrease was actually larger among states that did not expand it. The rate in nonexpanding states decreased by 3.6 percentage points, 16.3% to 12.7%, while expanding states saw a drop from 10.8% to 7.8%, 3 percentage points, according to data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

[email protected]

The overall uninsured rate for nonelderly adults took a significant drop from 18.8% in 2013 to 14.4% in 2014, with rates by age lower and declines generally larger among states that expanded Medicaid coverage, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among adults aged 18-35 years, states (and the District of Columbia) that expanded Medicaid had a larger drop in the percentage who were uninsured for the entire calendar year, going from 19.9% in 2013 to 13.7% in 2014 (6.2 percentage points), than did states that did not expand Medicaid, which dropped from 25.7% to 22.3% (3.4 percentage points), the AHRQ reported.

For adults aged 36-54 years, the situation was similar: The uninsured rate in states that expanded Medicaid went from 15.7% in 2013 to 10.5% in 2014, or 5.2 percentage points, while the rate dropped from 21.4% to 17.4%, or 4 percentage points, in states that did not expand Medicaid, the report noted.

Uninsured rates were lower among adults aged 56-64 in states that did expand Medicaid, but the absolute decrease was actually larger among states that did not expand it. The rate in nonexpanding states decreased by 3.6 percentage points, 16.3% to 12.7%, while expanding states saw a drop from 10.8% to 7.8%, 3 percentage points, according to data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

[email protected]

The overall uninsured rate for nonelderly adults took a significant drop from 18.8% in 2013 to 14.4% in 2014, with rates by age lower and declines generally larger among states that expanded Medicaid coverage, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among adults aged 18-35 years, states (and the District of Columbia) that expanded Medicaid had a larger drop in the percentage who were uninsured for the entire calendar year, going from 19.9% in 2013 to 13.7% in 2014 (6.2 percentage points), than did states that did not expand Medicaid, which dropped from 25.7% to 22.3% (3.4 percentage points), the AHRQ reported.

For adults aged 36-54 years, the situation was similar: The uninsured rate in states that expanded Medicaid went from 15.7% in 2013 to 10.5% in 2014, or 5.2 percentage points, while the rate dropped from 21.4% to 17.4%, or 4 percentage points, in states that did not expand Medicaid, the report noted.

Uninsured rates were lower among adults aged 56-64 in states that did expand Medicaid, but the absolute decrease was actually larger among states that did not expand it. The rate in nonexpanding states decreased by 3.6 percentage points, 16.3% to 12.7%, while expanding states saw a drop from 10.8% to 7.8%, 3 percentage points, according to data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

[email protected]

Although the disease burden of most other prevalent communicable diseases has gone down considerably over the last 25 years, viral hepatitis continues to be a challenge for health care professionals around the world, as incidences of the disease have climbed steadily between 1990 and 2013.

Advances in treating hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses over the last 25 years have helped to “overcome many barriers to the control and treatment of viral hepatitis in low-income countries and are set to be important components of a new global health strategy,” wrote the study investigators, led by Jeffrey D. Stanaway, MD, of the University of Washington, Seattle. “However, a better understanding of the burden of disease is required to guide these efforts.”

©vchal/Thinkstock

Dr. Stanaway and his coauthors looked at the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study for data on worldwide morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses, as well as cirrhosis and liver cancer secondary to hepatitis B or C virus. Data collected for the GBD was used to determine disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), which is a metric calculated by adding up years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD), both of which were also measured by the GBD.

Data showed that worldwide deaths related to viral hepatitis numbered 0.89 million in 1990 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 0.86-0.94), but jumped up dramatically to 1.45 million in 2013 (95% UI: 1.38-1.54). Over the same time period, YLLs and YLDs also increased, going from 31.0 million (95% UI: 29.6-32.6) and 0.65 million (95% UI: 0.45-0.89), respectively, in 1990, to 41.6 million (95% UI: 39.1-44.7), and 0.87 million (95% UI: 0.61-1.18), respectively, in 2013. Consequently, DALYs increased from 31.7 million in 1990 (95% UI: 30.2-33.3) to 42.5 million (95% UI: 39.9-45.6).

These figures represent a 34% increase in viral hepatitis disease burden over that period of time. Furthermore, viral hepatitis went from being the 10th leading cause of death in the world in 1990 (95% UI: 10-12) to the seventh leading cause in 2013 (95% UI: 7-8). However, analysis without the data’s demographic trends showed that YLL and YLD rates declined by 20% and 13%, respectively (95% UI: 8-30 and 8-18), while DALY rates dropped by 20% (95% UI: 8-30) with no significant trend detected in age-specific mortality rates, indicating that demographic changes such as population growth may be the biggest factor contributing to viral hepatitis’ growing disease burden.

“HAV is the only hepatitis virus for which DALYs have declined significantly between 1990 and 2013. Some of this decline has been driven by changing population age structures, but most is due to declines in age-specific rates, most likely as a result of vaccination and improvements in water supply and sanitation,” the authors noted.

Dr. Stanaway and his coauthors also urged public health institutions around the world to devote more funding to targeting viral hepatitis, noting that the current state of funding is “disproportionate to [viral hepatitis’] importance as a major cause of death and disability.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study. Coauthor Graham S. Cooke, MD, reported being an investigator on trials of hepatitis C virus therapy sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and has acted in an advisory role to Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Janssen, and WHO in relation to viral hepatitis and clinical trials unrelated to this work. Dr. Stanaway and other coauthors did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

[email protected]

Although the disease burden of most other prevalent communicable diseases has gone down considerably over the last 25 years, viral hepatitis continues to be a challenge for health care professionals around the world, as incidences of the disease have climbed steadily between 1990 and 2013.

Advances in treating hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses over the last 25 years have helped to “overcome many barriers to the control and treatment of viral hepatitis in low-income countries and are set to be important components of a new global health strategy,” wrote the study investigators, led by Jeffrey D. Stanaway, MD, of the University of Washington, Seattle. “However, a better understanding of the burden of disease is required to guide these efforts.”

©vchal/Thinkstock

Dr. Stanaway and his coauthors looked at the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study for data on worldwide morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses, as well as cirrhosis and liver cancer secondary to hepatitis B or C virus. Data collected for the GBD was used to determine disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), which is a metric calculated by adding up years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD), both of which were also measured by the GBD.

Data showed that worldwide deaths related to viral hepatitis numbered 0.89 million in 1990 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 0.86-0.94), but jumped up dramatically to 1.45 million in 2013 (95% UI: 1.38-1.54). Over the same time period, YLLs and YLDs also increased, going from 31.0 million (95% UI: 29.6-32.6) and 0.65 million (95% UI: 0.45-0.89), respectively, in 1990, to 41.6 million (95% UI: 39.1-44.7), and 0.87 million (95% UI: 0.61-1.18), respectively, in 2013. Consequently, DALYs increased from 31.7 million in 1990 (95% UI: 30.2-33.3) to 42.5 million (95% UI: 39.9-45.6).

These figures represent a 34% increase in viral hepatitis disease burden over that period of time. Furthermore, viral hepatitis went from being the 10th leading cause of death in the world in 1990 (95% UI: 10-12) to the seventh leading cause in 2013 (95% UI: 7-8). However, analysis without the data’s demographic trends showed that YLL and YLD rates declined by 20% and 13%, respectively (95% UI: 8-30 and 8-18), while DALY rates dropped by 20% (95% UI: 8-30) with no significant trend detected in age-specific mortality rates, indicating that demographic changes such as population growth may be the biggest factor contributing to viral hepatitis’ growing disease burden.

“HAV is the only hepatitis virus for which DALYs have declined significantly between 1990 and 2013. Some of this decline has been driven by changing population age structures, but most is due to declines in age-specific rates, most likely as a result of vaccination and improvements in water supply and sanitation,” the authors noted.

Dr. Stanaway and his coauthors also urged public health institutions around the world to devote more funding to targeting viral hepatitis, noting that the current state of funding is “disproportionate to [viral hepatitis’] importance as a major cause of death and disability.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study. Coauthor Graham S. Cooke, MD, reported being an investigator on trials of hepatitis C virus therapy sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and has acted in an advisory role to Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Janssen, and WHO in relation to viral hepatitis and clinical trials unrelated to this work. Dr. Stanaway and other coauthors did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

[email protected]

Although the disease burden of most other prevalent communicable diseases has gone down considerably over the last 25 years, viral hepatitis continues to be a challenge for health care professionals around the world, as incidences of the disease have climbed steadily between 1990 and 2013.

Advances in treating hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses over the last 25 years have helped to “overcome many barriers to the control and treatment of viral hepatitis in low-income countries and are set to be important components of a new global health strategy,” wrote the study investigators, led by Jeffrey D. Stanaway, MD, of the University of Washington, Seattle. “However, a better understanding of the burden of disease is required to guide these efforts.”

©vchal/Thinkstock

Dr. Stanaway and his coauthors looked at the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study for data on worldwide morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses, as well as cirrhosis and liver cancer secondary to hepatitis B or C virus. Data collected for the GBD was used to determine disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), which is a metric calculated by adding up years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD), both of which were also measured by the GBD.

Data showed that worldwide deaths related to viral hepatitis numbered 0.89 million in 1990 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 0.86-0.94), but jumped up dramatically to 1.45 million in 2013 (95% UI: 1.38-1.54). Over the same time period, YLLs and YLDs also increased, going from 31.0 million (95% UI: 29.6-32.6) and 0.65 million (95% UI: 0.45-0.89), respectively, in 1990, to 41.6 million (95% UI: 39.1-44.7), and 0.87 million (95% UI: 0.61-1.18), respectively, in 2013. Consequently, DALYs increased from 31.7 million in 1990 (95% UI: 30.2-33.3) to 42.5 million (95% UI: 39.9-45.6).

These figures represent a 34% increase in viral hepatitis disease burden over that period of time. Furthermore, viral hepatitis went from being the 10th leading cause of death in the world in 1990 (95% UI: 10-12) to the seventh leading cause in 2013 (95% UI: 7-8). However, analysis without the data’s demographic trends showed that YLL and YLD rates declined by 20% and 13%, respectively (95% UI: 8-30 and 8-18), while DALY rates dropped by 20% (95% UI: 8-30) with no significant trend detected in age-specific mortality rates, indicating that demographic changes such as population growth may be the biggest factor contributing to viral hepatitis’ growing disease burden.

“HAV is the only hepatitis virus for which DALYs have declined significantly between 1990 and 2013. Some of this decline has been driven by changing population age structures, but most is due to declines in age-specific rates, most likely as a result of vaccination and improvements in water supply and sanitation,” the authors noted.

Dr. Stanaway and his coauthors also urged public health institutions around the world to devote more funding to targeting viral hepatitis, noting that the current state of funding is “disproportionate to [viral hepatitis’] importance as a major cause of death and disability.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study. Coauthor Graham S. Cooke, MD, reported being an investigator on trials of hepatitis C virus therapy sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and has acted in an advisory role to Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Janssen, and WHO in relation to viral hepatitis and clinical trials unrelated to this work. Dr. Stanaway and other coauthors did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

[email protected]