Falling Rates of Public Orthopaedic Surgery Reimbursements and Utilization, 2016 to 2024.

Background: Declining reimbursement rates can lead to decreased access and utilization of common orthopaedic surgeries for patients on Medicare, which is a particularly vulnerable population for musculoskeletal injuries.

Methods: Using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool from 2016 to 2024 and utilization data for Medicare and part B beneficiaries from 2016 to 2022, we analyzed reimbursement and utilization trends. Simple linear regressions were executed to measure the annual trends, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test were used to analyze the statistical significance of price and utilization changes.

A Core Outcome Set for Trials in CKD: Report of the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD) Stakeholder Workshops.

Omitting outcomes of importance to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their caregivers from trials can impede decision-making based on patient-centered outcomes. As part of the global Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology - Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD) initiative, we aimed to establish a consensus-based set of core outcomes for trials in CKD (prior to the need for kidney replacement therapy). To finalize the proposed set of core outcomes that were identified through focus groups and an international Delphi survey, we convened two international stakeholder workshops in English and Spanish languages that involved 61 patients/caregivers and 75 health professionals from 18 countries.

The relationship between the early life gastrointestinal microbiome and childhood nocturnal cough.

Background: Nocturnal cough affects approximately 1 in 3 children, can negatively impact child health, and is often attributable to asthma. The association of the gut microbiome with nocturnal cough has not been investigated.

Objective: To investigate the association between early-life gut microbiome composition and nocturnal cough overall and in the context of asthma.

Patient-reported outcome measures for life participation in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review.

Background: The symptoms, comorbidities and treatment burden associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be debilitating and limit life participation in patients with CKD not requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT). The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics, content and psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used to assess life participation in patients with CKD.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL from database inception to February 2023 for all studies that reported life participation in patients with CKD (stages 1-5 not requiring kidney replacement therapy).

Study Design and Baseline Characteristics of ALIGN, a Randomized Controlled Study of Atrasentan in Patients With IgA Nephropathy.

Introduction: Endothelin A (ETA) receptor activation is a driver of proteinuria, kidney inflammation, and fibrosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Atrasentan, a selective ETA receptor antagonist, has potential to reduce proteinuria and preserve kidney function in IgAN. ALIGN (NCT04573478) is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of atrasentan in patients with IgAN at high risk of kidney function loss.