Healio Minute Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 Edition: Secondhand smoke spurs asthma readmissions, IBD drugs OK for expectant moms, Sunshine Act may have unintended consequences

What just happened in medicine and why do you care?

Secondhand smoke exposure increased hospital readmission rates in children with asthma

Healio.com/Pediatrics: Serum and salivary cotinine levels obtained in a child may be used to predict future hospitalizations, say researchers. Read more.

IBD and related medications pose little congenital risk for expectant mothers

Healio.com/Gastroenterology: Researchers say the message may not have reached all pregnant women since about one-quarter stop their IBD medication in pregnancy. Read more.

Speaker urges physicians to prepare for Sunshine Act consequences

Healio.com: Alan E. Reider of Arnold and Porter LLP, warns that unintended consequences may include elimination or reduction of health insurance coverage for those who currently have it, less availability of health care in general and higher costs. Read more.

Homelike environment more effective in treatment of patients with emotional distress

Healio.com/Psychiatry: Study participants, called “guests,” reportedly felt welcomed as “a fellow human being, not like a patient” after time spent in what they considered a “judgment-free” space furnished like a typical living room. Read more.

ID physicians reveal differing approaches to pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV

Healio.com/Infectious Disease: Most common reasons for not providing PrEP included concerns about adherence and risk for future resistance, cost and reimbursement, giving potentially toxic drugs to healthy people, and efficacy. Read more.