Healio Minute Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 Edition: Weight-loss study supports lifestyle interventions, gene therapy may curb macular degeneration, physician Medicare payments unlocked

What just happened in medicine and why do you care?

Largest US weight-loss study links long-term success to intensive lifestyle intervention

Healio.com/Endocrinology: Findings demonstrate that a substantial degree of long-term weight loss is possible but requires intensive, ongoing care, based on sound behavioral principles. Read more.

Gene therapy may reduce treatment burden associated with age-related macular degeneration

Healio.com/Ophthalmology: Researchers study the use of the CD59 gene in preventing the development of wet AMD by blocking last step of the complement cascade. Read more.

Epstein-Barr virus infection contributed to systemic lupus erythematosus

Healio.com/Rheumatology: Findings by UK researchers support hypothesis that prior infection with EBV is important in the development of SLE. Read more.

CMS unlocks data on Medicare payments to individual physicians

Healio.com: Policy change is a nod to public value of information, but allows agency to consider requests on case-by-case basis. Read more.

Infants with gastrointestinal disorders respond to probiotics

Healio.com/Pediatrics: Driving a change of colonization during the first weeks of life may promote an improvement in intestinal permeability; visceral sensitivity and mast cell density and probiotic administration may represent a new strategy for preventing these conditions, at least in predisposed children, say researchers. Read more.