Managed care considerations of weight management interventions for obesity.

The growing prevalence of obesity in the United States has presented an opportunity to increase knowledge about optimal treatment approaches based on a better understanding of patient and provider biases, health care coverage and practices, and social determinants of health. Guideline-recommended obesity treatment begins with lifestyle intervention, and weight management may be enhanced by metabolic and bariatric surgery or anti-obesity medication (AOM) use. However, patient and provider perceptions surrounding obesity and different treatment modalities may present barriers to discussion and uptake of these interventions.

Patient well-being and the clinical and economic burdens associated with obesity in the United States.

Obesity is a serious, progressive, chronic disease that is associated with a spectrum of complications and poor outcomes (eg, premature death, diminished quality of life) and is a risk factor for several other diseases. Obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. More recently, obesity was recognized as a risk factor for poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Plasma-Lyte 148 vs. Hartmann's solution for cardiopulmonary bypass pump prime: a prospective double-blind randomized trial.

Background: The mechanisms of acid-base changes during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that, when used as CPB pump prime solutions, Plasma-Lyte 148 (PL) and Hartmann's solution (HS) have differential mechanisms of action in their contribution to acid-base changes.

Methods: We performed a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with CPB.

Gefitinib and EGFR Gene Copy Number Aberrations in Esophageal Cancer.

Purpose The Cancer Esophagus Gefitinib trial demonstrated improved progression-free survival with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib relative to placebo in patients with advanced esophageal cancer who had disease progression after chemotherapy. Rapid and durable responses were observed in a minority of patients. We hypothesized that genetic aberration of the EGFR pathway would identify patients benefitting from gefitinib.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR) copy number aberrations in esophageal and gastro-esophageal junctional carcinoma.

Background: Clinical trials of agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in esophageal carcinoma (EC) have indicated a minority subgroup responsive to anti-EGFR therapies. Other investigations suggest increases in EGFR copy number are associated with poor prognosis in EC, but have used a variety of different techniques and tested numbers remain small. A validated assay for EGFR copy number in EC is needed, to allow investigation of EGFR copy number gain as a predictive biomarker for the anti-EGFR responsive subgroup of patients.