Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Mental health providers head to the Hill

Behavioral health providers and patient advocates are descending on Capitol Hill today to meet with lawmakers about mental health policy, part of a lobbying day organized by the National Council for Behavioral Health. Their list of requests for lawmakers: secure more federal funding for mental health and substance use programs, support bills that would bolster the mental health and addiction treatment workforce, and pass a plan to expand school mental health services. They're also urging lawmakers to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which would impose limits on some opioid prescriptions.

On a related note: HHS Secretary Alex Azar has extended the emergency declaration on the opioid crisis for another 90 days. It was set to expire yesterday.

Trump's VA nominee faces fierce criticism

The nomination of Dr. Ronny Jackson — the White House physician and the president’s pick to run the VA — is in limbo amid allegations that he drank on the job, permitted the overprescribing of drugs, and oversaw a hostile work environment. Jackson was slated to testify before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs today, but his hearing has been delayed while lawmakers review the claims. The White House came to Jackson's defense after President Trump hinted yesterday that Jackson might withdraw his nomination. Jackson told reporters he's looking forward to having the hearing rescheduled.

Births among 10-to-14-year-olds are declining

Births among younger adolescents have hit a record low, mirroring a similar decline among older teens. A new analysis out from the CDC finds that there were 2,253 births to girls ages 10 to 14 in 2016, down from 8,519 in 2000. The bulk of those births occur among 14-year-olds. The largest decline in birth rates in that age group is among black adolescents, though birth rates fell across all racial groups. There are still significant disparities from one state to the next — Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, and D.C. had the highest birth rates among 10-to-14-year-olds in 2016.

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Opioid withdrawal’s role in the nationwide epidemic: A doctor’s perspective

Opioid withdrawal plays a key role in the opioid epidemic. Still, many are unaware that this medical condition can prohibit people with opioid dependency or addiction from seeking and receiving help. Learn more about the need for increased understanding of withdrawal and how expanding the dialogue could help improve the chances of successful opioid discontinuation.

Inside STAT: A push to make re-using donated kidneys routine

There's an unspoken taboo against using kidneys from previous transplant recipients who died with healthy donated kidneys. Such transplants have happened, but they're not common. But since last year, UCLA surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Veale has transplanted three “regifted” kidneys. Now, he's pushing other transplant centers around the U.S. to make re-using kidneys routine. “This breaks all policies and procedures,” he says. “But we shouldn’t be discarding these young, healthy kidneys.” He’s hoping that recycling those kidneys could help ease the shortage of transplant organs. STAT’s Usha Lee McFarling has the story here.

Experts say doctors should screen for partner violence

Doctors should screen teenage girls and women for intimate partner violence, a federal panel of experts says. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says there’s enough scientific evidence to support screening women of reproductive age — roughly ages 12 to 49 — for intimate partner violence, which can lead to serious injury, mental health issues, and, in some cases, death. The task force also found there isn’t enough evidence to recommend for or against screening for elder abuse and is calling for more research to identify how clinicians can help address violence against older and vulnerable adults.

Here's how viruses can cause brain fluid to build up

ce-cilia, you're breaking my heart, you're shaking my confidence daily. (Chay Kuo / Duke UniversitY)

Ependymal cells in the brain rapidly wave their cilia — tiny hair-like structures on the cell’s surface — to keep cerebrospinal fluid moving and prevent harmful buildups. In a new mouse study, researchers found that ependymal cells need to keep producing a transcription factor called Foxj1 to do their jobs, but some viruses that infect the brain can halt the work of Foxj1 and allow cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate. The finding gives scientists more insight into how viruses can wreak havoc on the brain, but the researchers are still puzzled why such important cells would have that kind of vulnerability.

What to read around the web today

§ For the first time in years, new groups may vie to run organ transplant network. Washington Post

§ Early trials of stem-cell therapies hint at potential to restore some vision. STAT Plus

§ Generic-drug companies to face first charges in U.S. probe. Bloomberg

§ Biogen’s rain-making rare-disease drug hits a sales slump. STAT

Thanks for reading! More tomorrow,