Expanding Geographical Access to Cancer Care in Botswana: Current Status and Future Prospects.

Purpose: The growing cancer burden in Botswana has been linked to aging, lifestyle factors, and high HIV infection prevalence. The government has designated four geographically distributed hospitals as public oncology centers (POCs). A needs assessment was undertaken to ascertain the characteristics of cancer care at these centers.

Receptor-Defined Breast Cancer in Five East African Countries and Its Implications for Treatment: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) are determinants of treatment and mortality for patients with breast cancer (BC). In East Africa, the estimated 5-year survival (37.7%) is far lower than the US average (90%).

Active hospital-based surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease and clinical pneumonia in infants and young children in two Polish counties.

Introduction: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence, serotype distribution, and antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae were estimated in children aged 28 days to < 60 months.

Material And Methods: One-year prospective, hospital-based surveillance was conducted starting on February 15, 2008, at two children's hospitals serving the city and surrounding county of Poznań and Poznański, Poland. Eligible children had fever ≥ 39.

Prospective, population-based surveillance of the burden of Streptococcus pneumoniae in community-acquired pneumonia in older adults, Chrzanów County, Poland, 2010 to 2012.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults. This study estimated incidences of CAP, chest x-ray-confirmed CAP (CXR+CAP), S pneumonia- positive CAP, S pneumonia-positive CXR+CAP, and S. pneumoniae serotype distribution among 46,000 at-risk adults aged ≥ 50 years residing in Chrzanów County, Poland.

Longitudinal DRG-based survey of all-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis for inpatients in France (2005-2010).

Objective: This population-based retrospective study quantified the burden of all-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis in the Rhône-Alpes region of France from 2005 to 2010, when the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine uptake increased from 50 to>90% in children.

Patients And Methods: Hospital admission data was obtained from the French Diagnosis Related Groups program database (French acronym PMSI). Patients were residents of the Rhône-Alpes region hospitalized for the diseases of interest during 2005-2010.

[Clinical burden of multi-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in Hungary. Results of a retrospective study (2006-2011)].

Introduction: Assessment of the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on the burden of pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in Hungary is limited.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify rates of hospitalized multi-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in all age groups in Hungary between 2006 and 2011.

Method: Aggregate data were obtained from the Hungarian National Healthcare Fund using pre-specified ICD-10 codes.

A retrospective study of hospitalized pneumonia in two Polish counties (2006-2008).

Introduction: In Poland, multi-cause pneumonia is not well characterized, and there is limited pneumococcal vaccination in the youngest and oldest age groups. The goal of this study was to assess hospitalized pneumonia across all age groups in two Polish counties.

Material And Methods: Using electronic administrative databases, cases were identified as county residents hospitalized at Chrzanów and Inowrocław County Hospitals from 2006-2008, assigned a diagnosis of pneumonia.

Adverse staff health outcomes associated with endoscope reprocessing.

There are occupational challenges associated with cleaning, disinfecting, storing, and transporting flexible endoscopes. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set standards to protect the safety of health workers in the United States, the standards are not specific to endoscope reprocessing, and the general standards that are in place are not fully implemented. Furthermore, adverse staff outcomes may not be fully preventable.

Postoperative outcomes associated with topical skin adhesives among women having hysterectomies.

Background: Multiple options are available for closure of hysterectomy incisions. This study compared postoperative clinical and economic outcomes using topical skin adhesive (2-octyl cyanoacrylate; OCA) vs. conventional skin closure in women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy.

Predicted risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease in patients with schizophrenia: aripiprazole versus standard of care.

Objective: Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, some atypical antipsychotics are associated with metabolic disturbances, which augment the risk for these comorbid conditions. In clinical trials, effects on metabolic parameters with aripiprazole are similar to those with placebo and superior to those with olanzapine, and the Schizophrenia Trial of Aripiprazole (STAR) demonstrated comparable efficacy of aripiprazole versus standard of care (SoC; physicians' selection of quetiapine, olanzapine, or risperidone).

Primary repair of advanced obstetric anal sphincter tears: should it be performed by the overlapping sphincteroplasty technique?

Advanced obstetric anal sphincter tears are often associated with a high incidence of fecal and flatus incontinence. We aimed to assess the clinical outcome of these repairs when done by the overlapping sphincteroplasty technique with reconstruction of the internal anal sphincter and perineum. Between August 2005 and December 2006, all grades 3 and 4 obstetric anal sphincter tears in our department were repaired by a reconstructive pelvic surgeon, primarily using the overlapping sphincteroplasty technique with reconstruction of the internal anal sphincter and perineum.

Somnolence effects of antipsychotic medications and the risk of unintentional injury.

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between antipsychotic medications, categorized by published somnolence effects, and unintentional injury (UI).

Methods: The study population included patients of 18-64 years of age in a healthcare insurance database with claims from 2001 to 2004 and diagnoses of schizophrenia or affective disorder. A nested case-control design was used with cases defined by an E-code claim (a specified external cause of injury) for selected UIs.

Risk of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: a claims-based study.

The objective of this study was to undertake a retrospective analysis of claims data of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients to determine the rates of amputation and identify the risk and protective factors. Rates of amputation were calculated in patients diagnosed with DFU in the MEDSTAT Marketscan database between January 2000 and December 2002, who had prediagnosis coverage of 90 days. A nested case-control study was conducted using a 1 : 10 ratio of amputee cases to randomly selected nonamputee controls matched on follow-up days.

Factors associated with the initiation of alpha-interferon treatment in Medicaid patients diagnosed with hepatitis C.

We aimed to determine rates of treatment with alpha-interferon medication in patients diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV), to ascertain the prevalence of selected conditions that could influence initiation of interferon treatment, and to examine the association between the presence of these conditions and interferon treatment. A nested case-control design was used in California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) claims data covering the period from 1 January 1996 to 30 June 2002. Interferon-treated cases and non-treated controls were selected in a 1 : 2 ratio that matched the length of the observation period and year of index HCV diagnosis.

Health-related quality of life for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer disease.

We investigated the relationship of caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) to the burden of caring for patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and resource utilization. Caregiver HRQOL was assessed using the SF-12 Mental and Physical Summary scores. Compared with a normative, age-adjusted sample, the 2477 caregivers had lower mental and physical scores (for the latter, only those <54 years of age).

Sleep-related outcomes in persons with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease in a placebo-controlled trial of galantamine.

Study Objectives: To recognize the potential effect of acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting medications on sleep quality when used for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease and describe sleep outcomes for patients treated with galantamine.

Design: This study examined sleep quality among individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease using data from a 3-month, double-blind, flexible-dose trial of galantamine. The hypothesis was no difference in sleep quality between galantamine- and placebo-treated subjects.

Co-use of donepezil and hypnotics among Alzheimer's disease patients living in the community.

Background: In clinical trials, sleep problems have been identified as side effects of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibiting medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Poor sleep quality can exacerbate behavior problems among patients and add to the burden experienced by their caregivers. We examined the relationship between co-use of donepezil and hypnotics in a large sample of persons with AD living in the community.

The use of proxy respondents in studies of older adults: lessons, challenges, and opportunities.

Objective: Proxies play a critical role as sources of health information for older persons with cognitive impairment and other chronic debilitating conditions. This paper reviews the validity of proxy responses for people older than age 60 in the following areas: functioning, physical and mental health, cognition, medical care utilization, and preferences for types of care and health states.

Design: A Medline review identified 24 clinical studies from 1990 to 1999 that use proxy data as a source of information about older adults.

Impact of donepezil on caregiving burden for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Comprehensive Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment should address caregiver well-being. We predicted that caregiver burden would be lower among caregivers of AD patients who received donepezil relative to caregivers of patients not treated with donepezil. A self-administered, nationwide survey of AD caregivers was used to match caregivers of patients treated with donepezil (n = 274) to caregivers of patients not treated with donepezil (n = 274).

Patterns of care in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease: impediments to timely diagnosis.

Objective: Description of factors associated with delay in diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Design: A self-administered mail questionnaire.

Setting: Households including someone with AD identified through a nationwide marketing database.

Donepezil use in managed Medicare: effect on health care costs and utilization.

Donepezil is one of the first effective and well-tolerated medications approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study examined the impact of donepezil on the costs of AD in a multisite managed care organization between January 1, 1996, and March 31, 1998. A pretreatment/posttreatment study was conducted using retrospective medical and prescription claims data for 70 individuals with AD and related dementias who were prescribed donepezil.

Cost of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in managed-medicare.

Background: Managed care organizations (MCOs) will have increased responsibility for the care of large numbers of persons with dementia. There are, however, few studies that inform about decisions of healthcare utilization and expenditures for individuals with dementia in managed care.

Objectives: To examine in a large MCO whether people diagnosed with dementia have higher healthcare utilization and costs than enrollees without dementia.