Healio Minute Friday, Oct. 4, 2013 Edition: Flu vaccination rates soar, Parkinson’s and depression linked, fecal transplant pills succeed

What just happened in medicine and why do you care?

More people than ever vaccinated during last flu season

Healio.com/Pediatrics: Health care professionals also getting flu vaccine at higher rate; 45% of all US population received protection. Read more.

Higher Parkinson’s disease risk found among patients with depression

Healio.com/Psychiatry: Research unable to determine if depression is an early symptom of the disease. Read more.

High success rate reported for fecal transplantation pills

Healio.com/Infectious Disease: All patients in study were protected against C. difficile; encapsulated bacteria were provided by family members. Read more.

Optometrists told they have a future in nutraceuticals

Healio.com/Optometry: Panel of experts urges serious approach to prescribing supplements, given an “infinite” number of questionable formulas now available online. Read more.

Use of psychotropic drugs in children stabilized by 2009

Healio.com/Pediatrics: Prescribing peaked from 2001 to 2005 for ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety and other mental health disorders in young children. Read more.