The value of improving insurance quality: Evidence from long-run Medicaid attrition.

The US government increasingly provides public health insurance coverage through private firms. We examine associated welfare implications for beneficiaries, using a 'revealed preference' framework based on beneficiaries' program attrition rates. Focusing on the Medicaid program in New York State, we exploit quasi-random variation in the initial assignment at birth to public versus private Medicaid based on birth weight.

Differential identification of urine crystals with morphologic characteristics and solubility test.

Background: Urinary crystals are the most diverse forms of urine sediments. Reference images for typical urinary crystals are common, however, but images for interpreting atypical urinary crystals are very rare. The authors reviewed various forms and solubility tests of urine crystals to interpret atypical crystals found in clinical specimens.

Multiple Primary Malignancies in Patients with Gynecologic Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and oncologic outcomes of patients with multiple primary malignant tumors (MPMT) with gynecologic cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study included 1929 patients diagnosed with gynecologic cancer at a tertiary medical center between August 2005 and April 2021. The clinical data included cancer location, age at primary malignancy diagnosis, interval between primary and secondary cancer, stage of cancer, family history of cancer, genetic testing, dates of last follow-up, recurrence, and death.

Contributory Role of BLT2 in the Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Sepsis.

BLT2 is a low-affinity receptor for leukotriene B, a potent lipid mediator of inflammation generated from arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BLT2 plays any role in sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection. A murine model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis was used to evaluate the role of BLT2 in septic inflammation.

Clinical features and outcomes of V617F-positive polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia according to the V617F allele burden.

Background: mutation status is a well-known risk factor for thrombosis in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. However, the clinical usefulness of V617F allele burden is under investigation.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the impact of the V617F allele burden on clinical characteristics and outcomes of V617F-positive polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).

Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 Producing GES-5 Carbapenemase Isolated from Tertiary-Care Hospital.

Background: The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a major problem among healthcare-associated infections with relatively few therapeutic options. In particular, the infection of carbapen-emase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) can be related to the widespread nosocomial transmission. In this study, we isolated carbapenem-resistant K.

Comparative Evaluation of the Modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method for Phenotypic Detection of Guiana Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Type Carbapenemases in Enterobacterales.

Objective: We comparatively evaluated the performance of 3 phenotypic tests for the detection of carbapenemase production.

Materials And Methods: Carbapenemase production was evaluated using the modified Hodge test (MHT), the modified carbapenemase inhibition method (mCIM), and the Rapidec Carba NP test (RCNP).

Results: Among the 170 isolates, 79 were CP-CRE and 91 were non-CP-CRE.

Evaluation of maternal rhesus blood type as a risk factor in adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korea: a nationwide health insurance database study.

Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate whether pregnancy outcomes are affected by maternal rhesus (Rh) status by comparing the primigravida pregnancy outcomes of Rh-negative women with those of Rh-positive women.

Methods: The study data were collected from the Korea National Health Insurance Claims Database and the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. In total, 1,664,882 primigravida women who gave birth between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2014, were enrolled in this study.

Selective purging of human multiple myeloma cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells: a preliminary study.

Background: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation are standards of therapy for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The purging process to remove contaminating residual myeloma cells could improve patient outcomes. In this study, a purging method of human multiple myeloma cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated.

Effects of one directional pneumatic tube system on routine hematology and chemistry parameters; A validation study at a tertiary care hospital.

Background: The validation of sample stability through pneumatic tube system (PTS) is essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of PTS transportation on laboratory results.

Methods: Paired EDTA and SST blood samples were collected from 56 randomly selected patients.

5-/12-Lipoxygenase-linked cascade contributes to the IL-33-induced synthesis of IL-13 in mast cells, thus promoting asthma development.

Background: As asthma progresses, the levels of IL-33 in serum are markedly increased and contribute to asthmatic development and exacerbation. Mast cells, one of the principal effector cells in the pathogenesis of asthma, express high levels of the IL-33 receptor ST2 and have been shown to be activated by IL-33. Thus, IL-33 stimulates mast cells to produce Th2-type cytokines such as IL-13, thus contributing to asthmatic development.

Analysis of Turnaround Time for Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Issues: A Single-Center Study.

Background: When unpredicted surgical blood loss occurs, it is essential that blood arrive from the blood bank in a timely manner.

Objective: To evaluate the turnaround time (TAT) for red blood cells (RBCs) from the blood bank to the operating suite. Cases with delayed TATs were further analyzed to determine potential causes for the delays.

Lipopolysaccharide/TLR4 Stimulates IL-13 Production through a MyD88-BLT2-Linked Cascade in Mast Cells, Potentially Contributing to the Allergic Response.

In an experimental asthma model, the activation of TLR4 by bacterial LPS occasionally exacerbates allergic inflammation through the production of Th2 cytokines, and mast cells have been suggested to play a central role in this response. However, the detailed mechanism underlying how LPS/TLR4 stimulates the production of Th2 cytokines, especially IL-13, remains unclear in mast cells. In the current study, we observed that the expression levels of leukotriene B4 receptor-2 (BLT2) and the synthesis of its ligands were highly upregulated in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived mast cells and that BLT2 blockade with small interfering RNA or a pharmacological inhibitor completely abolished IL-13 production, suggesting a mediatory role of the BLT2 ligand-BLT2 axis in LPS/TLR4 signaling to IL-13 synthesis in mast cells.

Late Career Job Loss and Retirement Behavior of Couples.

This article argues that wealth uncertainty influences when couples choose to retire. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, I show that wives delay retirement when their husbands retire following a job loss. This effect is stronger when husbands are the primary earners, and couples are relatively poorer.

Utility of preoperative in vitro platelet function tests for predicting bleeding risk in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background: It is necessary to predict the bleeding risk in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). To evaluate the adequacy of primary hemostasis, preoperative hemostatic screening tests are used. In the present study, we determined whether there is a positive correlation between prolonged closure time (CT) with collagen/epinephrine (CT-epi), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and bleeding during FESS.

The influence of vitamin C on the urine dipstick tests in the clinical specimens: a multicenter study.

Background: Vitamin C may interfere with the results of urine dipstick tests. We investigated the incidence of urinary vitamin C and its interference with urine dipstick reagents using a vitamin C dipstick.

Methods: The incidence of urinary vitamin C was determined in patients and healthy individuals undergoing routine medical check-ups.

Primary intrapelvic hemangiosarcoma in a dog.

A 12-year-old, spayed female Schnauzer presented with constipation. A mass was observed in the pelvic cavity, and metastasis was not identified. Mass resection was performed through celiotomy with pubic osteotomy, and hemangiosarcoma was diagnosed.

Leukotriene B4 Receptor 2 Is Critical for the Synthesis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Allergen-Stimulated Mast Cells.

Mast cells are among the principal effector cells in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. In allergic reactions, allergen (Ag)-induced cross-linking of IgE bound to FcεRI on mast cells results in the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is essential for the initiation and development of the allergic response. Despite the central role of VEGF in allergic asthma, the signaling events responsible for the production of VEGF remain unclear, particularly in Ag-stimulated mast cells.

Expression of neurotrophic factors in injured spinal cord after transplantation of human-umbilical cord blood stem cells in rats.

We induced percutaneous spinal cord injuries (SCI) using a balloon catheter in 45 rats and transplanted human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) at the injury site. Locomotor function was significantly improved in hUCB-MSCs transplanted groups. Quantitative ELISA of extract from entire injured spinal cord showed increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3).

Impacts of classifying New York City students as overweight.

US schools increasingly report body mass index (BMI) to students and their parents in annual fitness "report cards." We obtained 3,592,026 BMI reports for New York City public school students for 2007-2012. We focus on female students whose BMI puts them close to their age-specific cutoff for categorization as overweight.

Canine nail bed keratoacanthoma diagnosed by immunohistochemical analysis.

A 10-year-old, Shih Tzu dog was presented with an enlarged, curled 2nd nail in the left forelimb. Digital amputation was performed and the mass was diagnosed as a nail bed keratoacanthoma (infundibular keratinizing acanthoma) histopathologically. There was no recurrence postoperatively.

Abnormal changes in both mandibular salivary glands in a dog: Non-mineral radiopaque sialoliths.

A 10-year-old Maltese dog was presented with a firm mass on the left side of his neck. Physical examination confirmed a firm mass in the left and a submandibular swelling in the right cervical region. Sialolithiasis and associated sialocele in both mandibular salivary glands were suspected and bilateral sialoadenectomy was performed.

MyD88-BLT2-dependent cascade contributes to LPS-induced interleukin-6 production in mouse macrophage.

Endotoxic responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are triggered by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and involve the production of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), by macrophages. The detailed mechanism of IL-6 production by macrophages in response to LPS has remained unclear, however. We now show that LPS induces IL-6 synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages via the leukotriene B4 receptor BLT2.

Total extract of Korean red ginseng facilitates human bone marrow hematopoietic colony formation in vitro.

Background: The number of CD34+ cells in a peripheral blood stem cell collection is the key factor in predicting successful treatment of hematologic malignancies. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) (Panax ginseng C.A.

Analysis of reverse transcriptase gene mutations in the hepatitis B virus at a university hospital in Korea.

Background: Most mutations in the reverse transcriptase (RT) gene of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are related to resistance to antiviral agents. Cross-sectional studies on the mutations of this gene are rare. Thus, we analyzed the mutation patterns of RT genes and their biochemical parameters.