M. Alexander Otto began his reporting career early in 1999 covering the pharmaceutical industry for a national pharmacists' magazine and freelancing for the Washington Post and other newspapers. He then joined BNA, now part of Bloomberg News, covering health law and the protection of people and animals in medical research. Alex next worked for the McClatchy Company. Based on his work, Alex won a year-long Knight Science Journalism Fellowship to MIT in 2008-2009. He joined the company shortly thereafter. Alex has a newspaper journalism degree from Syracuse (N.Y.) University and a master's degree in medical science -- a physician assistant degree -- from George Washington University. Alex is based in Seattle.
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VIDEO: How to prevent, manage perinatal HIV infection
PARK CITY, UTAH – One HIV test is not enough for at-risk women.
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When families participate in rounds, errors decrease
When families are actively included in pediatric hospital rounds, preventable adverse events drop and families report better hospital experiences...
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High-flow nasal cannula safe outside of pediatric ICU, but may up length of stay
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Children don’t need to be in the PICU for high-flow nasal cannula treatment, at least up to a certain level.
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VIDEO: How to discharge new pediatric diabetes cases in 2 days
Can children who present to the hospital with new-onset diabetes be discharged sooner?
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Comprehensive guidelines released for enhanced colorectal surgery recovery
The new guidance on colorectal surgery highlights patient education.
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Even a few middle age pounds are dangerous
Turns out it’s true: A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips, and a disease burden that increases in a dose-dependent pattern.
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Surgeon, primary care collaboration needed to catch hyperparathyroidism
Of 10,432 patients identified with hypercalcemia at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 2011 to 2015, only 3,200 patients (31%) had a...
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Intense exercise reduces hypoglycemia awareness in type 1 diabetes
Diabetic patients with normal hypoglycemia awareness hit a peak symptom score of 31 points during rest, which fell substantially after intense...
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Drug combo improves RV contractility in scleroderma-PAH
New drug combo reduces sizes of the right heart chambers in patients with scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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ABS wants feedback on 10-year exam alternatives
The ABS has announced a new pathway to recertification for surgeons to be rolled out in January 2018.
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Temporary tissue expanders optimize radiotherapy after mastectomy
LAS VEGAS – Radiation oncologists have found a new way to implement radiotherapy to mastectomy patients needing breast reconstruction.
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Prior resections increase anastomotic leak risk in Crohn’s
SEATTLE – Patients with repeat resections have more anastomotic leaks, but why?
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No easy answers for parastomal hernia repair
SEATTLE – Surgical repairs of parastomal hernia often fail.
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Algorithm for identifying IPF has low PPV
A revised version of a widely used code-based IPF algorithm could increase the rate of accurate diagnoses.
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Loop ileostomy tops colectomy for IBD rescue
SEATTLE – The diversion can buy time for the patient to heal and the colon to rest, perhaps avoiding colectomy.