Differences and Similarities in Diabetes Research between China and the USA.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major non-communicable diseases (NCD) with increasing prevalence in China. There is a lack of high-quality research focusing on prevention and management of diabetes in low and middle income countries (LMICs) compared to developed countries. This comparative study aims to describe the characteristics of diabetes research conducted in China and the USA.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Various Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease in Indian Patients.

The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Indian patients has been evaluated in this study. In addition, association of PH with CKD etiology, its prevalence in various CKD stages, correlation between the severity of PH with CKD duration, various related biochemical parameters, and their relation to PH in CKD patients were analyzed. This cross-sectional and prospective study included 200 CKD patients.

Acute Kidney Injury of Infectious Etiology in Monsoon Season: A Prospective Study Using Acute Kidney Injury Network Criteria.

The epidemiological pattern of acute kidney injury (AKI) in tropical countries during monsoon reflects infectious disease as the most important cause. AKI is a confounding factor and may be overlooked by primary health-care providers and underreported in health statistics. The present study prospectively helps estimate the burden of disease and analyze etiology, clinical profile, and outcome in a tertiary care hospital of a metropolitan city in a tropical country.

Long-term evaluation of kidney function in live-related kidney donors.

The consequences of live kidney donation on the donor health with main emphasis on postdonation blood pressure (BP), proteinuria, kidney size, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were evaluated. Twenty-five donors with minimum of six months postdonation duration were included in the study. Donor age at nephrectomy, duration postnephrectomy, systolic and diastolic BP measurement pre-and post-donation, postdonation, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and 24-h proteinuria, blood sugar, two-dimensional echocardiogram were recorded.

Treatment Patterns and Economic Burden in Patients Treated for Acromegaly in the USA.

Background: Acromegaly is a rare, debilitating condition for which data on the associated treatment patterns and economic burden are limited.

Objective: Our objective was to examine patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU)/costs for individuals with acromegaly treated with surgical and/or medical therapy in the USA.

Methods: Using a large US claims database, adults with new episodes of acromegaly between 1 July 2007 and 31 December 2010 were identified (the first observed diagnosis being the index date).

Using systematic reviews to inform NIHR HTA trial planning and design: a retrospective cohort.

Background: Chalmers and Glasziou's paper published in 2014 recommends research funding bodies should mandate that proposals for additional primary research are built on systematic reviews of existing evidence showing what is already known. Jones et al. identified 11 (23%) of 48 trials funded during 2006-8 by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme did not reference a systematic review.

Impact of NIHR HTA Programme funded research on NICE clinical guidelines: a retrospective cohort.

Background: It is vitally important that there is a connection between health research and clinical practice. Indications as to the impact of the research on evidence-based practice and policy can be obtained by tracking the use of outputs of health research, especially its use in clinical guidelines (CGs). This study aims to assess the proportion of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) CGs citing National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) studies and the impact of evidence from those studies on the included NICE CGs.

Application of a validated algorithm to estimate the effectiveness and cost of biologics for rheumatoid arthritis in the US pharmacy benefit manager context.

Background: Several biologic medicines are available to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and they differ in administration method (subcutaneous or intravenous [IV]). We analyzed a pharmacy benefit manager database to estimate claims-based, algorithm-determined effectiveness and cost per effectively treated patient for biologics used to treat RA.

Methods: We analyzed the Medco Health Solutions pharmacy benefit manager database to identify patients with one or more claims for a biologic used to treat RA from 2007 to 2012.

Clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and economic burden in patients treated for neuroendocrine tumors in the United States: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU)/costs of individuals treated for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in the US.

Methods: Using a US administrative claims database, this study identified commercially-insured adults newly diagnosed with carcinoid tumors (ICD-9-CM: 209.xx) or pancreatic islet cell tumors (ICD-9-CM: 157.

Effect of the clopidogrel-proton pump inhibitor drug interaction on adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Study Objective: To examine the effect of the drug interaction between clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on the risk of an adverse cardiovascular event.

Design: Population-based, retrospective cohort study.

Data Source: IMS LifeLink Health Plan administrative claims database.