Publications by authors named "Gregory L Simpson"
Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized histologically by noncaseating granulomas in affected organs. Cutaneous manifestations of the disease such as papules, nodules, plaques, and ulcerations occur in approximately 25% of the patients. Sarcoidosis can present with multiple different morphologies including annular, psoriasiform, ichthyosiform, morpheaform, and verrucous.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Insurance companies vary widely in their coverage policies for severe psoriasis therapies. Unfortunately, coverage policies for psoriasis therapies do not necessarily follow current treatment paradigms, such that more expensive second or third line treatments may be more easily obtained than first line treatments.
Methods: We reviewed insurance policy bulletins, statements of coverage/medical necessity, and prior authorization forms for three large insurance carriers regarding psoriasis treatment with biologic agents and phototherapy.
The use of phototherapy for psoriasis has declined because of inconvenience, managed care disincentives, and poor reimbursements. However, phototherapy is safer than other options, and the efficacy rates for different methods of phototherapy are among the highest of all available treatment options. Phototherapy is also one of the least costly treatments for moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Catecholamines and alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors (alpha(1)-ARs) are important for cardiac hypertrophy, but single knockout (KO) mice for the main subtypes show normal heart size.
- Researchers created double KO (ABKO) mice that completely lack cardiac alpha(1)-ARs and found that male ABKO mice had 40% less heart growth post-weaning due to smaller heart cells, while body weight remained unchanged.
- Male ABKO mice exhibited lower exercise capacity and higher mortality under pressure overload, highlighting that alpha(1)-ARs are crucial for normal heart development and adaptation to stress, particularly in males.