Antihypertensive medication prescription dispensation among pregnant women in the United States: A cohort study.

Importance: Hypertension is increasingly common in pregnancy capable individuals, yet there is limited data on antihypertensive medication dispensation in peripartum individuals.

Objective: To describe antihypertensive medication dispensation from preconception through the first year postpartum.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study used the Truven Health Market Scan administrative data from 2008 to 2014 to identify women in the United States with commercial or government health insurance, aged 15-54, free from heart disease, who experienced a pregnancy and filled at least 1 prescription for an antihypertensive medication between 3 months prior to conception and 12 months after the end of the pregnancy.

Individual and Joint Effects of Influenza-Like Illness and Vaccinations on Stroke in the Young: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Influenza-like illness (ILI) is an acute trigger for stroke, although joint effects of vaccinations and ILI have not yet been explored.

Methods: Data for our case-control study was obtained from MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters between 2008 and 2014. Patients 18 to 65 years old who experienced a stroke were matched on age and admission date to a control, defined as patients with head trauma or ankle sprain at an inpatient or emergency department visit.

Evolution of Disease Modifying Therapy Benefits and Risks: An Argument for De-escalation as a Treatment Paradigm for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Strategies for sequencing disease modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients include escalation, high efficacy early, induction, and de-escalation.

Objective: To provide a perspective on de-escalation, which aims to match the ratio of DMT benefit/risk in aging patients.

Methods: We reanalyzed data from a retrospective, real-world cohort of MS patients to model disease activity for oral (dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod) and higher efficacy infusible (natalizumab and rituximab) DMTs by age.

Differences in healthcare visit frequency and type one year prior to stroke among young versus middle-aged adults.

Background: The incidence and prevalence of stroke among the young are increasing in the US. Data on healthcare utilization prior to stroke is limited. We hypothesized those < 45 years were less likely than those 45-65 years old to utilize healthcare in the 1 year prior to stroke.

Use of Smokeless Tobacco Before Conception and Its Relationship With Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of Pregnancy in Thatta, Pakistan: Findings From Women First Study.

Introduction: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption during pregnancy has adverse consequences for the mother and fetus. We aimed to investigate the effects of maternal pre-pregnancy SLT consumption on maternal and fetal outcomes in the district of Thatta, Pakistan.

Aims And Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of an individual randomized controlled trial of preconception maternal nutrition.

Rituximab versus natalizumab, fingolimod, and dimethyl fumarate in multiple sclerosis treatment.

Introduction: Limited comparative effectiveness data for rituximab (RTX) versus natalizumab (NTZ), fingolimod (FTY), and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) exist.

Methods: Clinician-reported data on patients prescribed RTX, NTZ, FTY, or DMF for the treatment of MS at the Rocky Mountain MS Center at the University of Colorado were retrospectively collected. Outcomes included a composite effectiveness measure consisting of clinical relapse, contrast-enhancing lesions, and/or new T2 lesions, individual effectiveness outcomes, and discontinuation.

Serious safety events in rituximab-treated multiple sclerosis and related disorders.

Introduction: Studies investigating rates and risk factors for serious safety events (SSEs) during rituximab treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and related disorders are limited.

Methods: Rituximab-treated patients with MS, NMOSD, or related disorders at the Rocky Mountain and New York University MS Care Centers were included. The follow-up period was defined as the time from the initial dose of rituximab up to 12 months of last dose of rituximab or ocrelizumab (in patients who switched).

Comparative discontinuation, effectiveness, and switching practices of dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod at 36-month follow-up.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and fingolimod (FTY) are approved oral disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). There are currently no known head-to-head studies comparing DMF and FTY over 36 months, which leaves their relative effectiveness unknown.

Objective: To assess real-world discontinuation, effectiveness, and switching practices of DMF and FTY over 36 months along with disease activity after switching DMT.

Natalizumab versus fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate in multiple sclerosis treatment.

Objective: To compare 2-year effectiveness and discontinuation of natalizumab (NTZ) versus fingolimod (FTY) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Patients prescribed NTZ, FTY, or DMF at the Rocky Mountain MS Center at University of Colorado were identified. Clinician-reported data were retrospectively collected.

Discontinuation and comparative effectiveness of dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod in 2 centers.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and fingolimod (FTY) are approved oral disease-modifying therapies for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Observational studies are valuable when randomized clinical trials cannot be done due to ethical or practical reasons. Two-site studies allow investigators to further ascertain external validity of previously examined treatment effect differences.

The impact of very short transition times on switching from Natalizumab to Fingolimod on imaging and clinical effectiveness outcomes in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Due to the recurrence of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a washout period of <3 months has been suggested for the transition from natalizumab (NTZ) to fingolimod (FTY). However, very short transition periods of <1 month may be more beneficial.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients from the Rocky Mountain MS Center at the University of Colorado who were: a) on NTZ for ≥6 months prior to switching to FTY; b) had a transition period ≤ 6 months; and c) initiated FTY treatment prior to November 2013.

Comparison of fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: Two-year experience.

Background: Fingolimod (FTY) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) are multiple sclerosis (MS) oral therapies that became available in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Objective: The objective of this article is to compare discontinuation rates, efficacy, and adverse events (AEs) of FTY and DMF over two years.

Methods: Patients prescribed FTY or DMF at the Rocky Mountain MS Center at University of Colorado prior to October 2013 were identified.

Assessing the Clinical Utility of the Question, "Is Your Child/Are You Back to Normal?" in Pediatric Concussion Symptom Resolution.

This study investigates the relationship between the general question, "Is your child/are you back to normal?" and a validated postconcussive symptom scale when assessing symptom resolution following concussion. Children with acute concussion were enrolled during an emergency department visit. Sensitivity and specificity analyses compared the true/false question, "My child is/I am back to normal" at 3 days postinjury with the Concussion Symptom Inventory (CSI; gold standard).