Allison Lindauer, M.D., says: “There’s this myth of the loving caregiver," but anger and frustration are inevitable parts of the caregiver experience, and that it is important to normalize those feelings. “There is a lot of stigma," she says.

In response to a national increase in congenital syphilis, Dawn Nolt, M.D., says the rise seen in Oregon can be blamed, at least partly, on one of the things that is causing the rise nationwide: a lack of prenatal care: “Hospitals around the country are struggling with maternity unit closures, recruitment and staffing. Recent studies have found that millions of reproductive-aged individuals are vulnerable to poor health outcomes due to a lack of access to reproductive healthcare services.”

Informed by a systematic review of the evidence on primary care screening and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease in adults, led by Roger Chou, M.D., and colleagues, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concludes the evidence is insufficient for assessing the balance of benefits and harms of screening and preventive interventions for oral health conditions performed by primary care clinicians for adults and children.

A study led by Elizabeth Needham Waddell, Ph.D., suggests documentation of alcohol use needs to improve in disadvantaged areas: "Previous studies examining documentation of [alcohol use disorder] in primary care suggest substantial gaps in screening, diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related problems, even in systems with population-based screening. A county’s socioeconomic status may directly impact a practice’s capacity for comprehensive patient care.”

In an Associated Press story on the lack of drug testing in obese people, Alison Edelman, M.D., says: “It’s just something that we have to chip away at because it’s so important. Because unless we see representation in our study population, we don’t end up with treatments that work well for individuals.”

Becker's Payer Issues includes OHSU's negotiations with Aetna in a round-up of 8 Aetna updates since early October.

In a Washington Post story on the components of a "normal" period, Alison Edelman, M.D., says "If something’s not working for you, even if your period is ‘normal,’ you need to be talking to your provider about it.”

A new study led by MinKyoung Song, Ph.D., finds traumatic events may raise effects of poor sleep on kids’ heart health. Song says: "Children who are getting too little or too much sleep are likely to continue not having the right amount of sleep in adulthood, and early intervention may be necessary to combat the progressive negative effects that suboptimal sleep may have on cardiovascular and other metabolic processes."

A new study led by Elizabeth Eckstrom, M.D., found that people who practiced a simplified form of tai chi, called Tai Ji Quan, twice a week for about six months improved their memory. Eckstrom says her theory on why tai chi is effective is that it combines the memorization of the movements, known as forms, almost like a dance choreography. "So, you're getting the physical activity, plus the memory piece."

Andreas Lauer, M.D., shares his thoughts on modern ophthalmology, including gene therapy, with the physician podcast Medspoke, while attending the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.