Survival, costs, and health care resource use by line of therapy in US Medicare patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is associated with poor prognosis, large morbidity burden, and limited treatment options. This analysis evaluated real-world treatment patterns, overall survival, resource use, and costs among Medicare patients with GBM.

Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluated Medicare patients age 66 years or older with newly diagnosed GBM using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data from 2007 through 2013.

Nivolumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CheckMate 040): an open-label, non-comparative, phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion trial.

Background: For patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, sorafenib is the only approved drug worldwide, and outcomes remain poor. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of nivolumab, a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with or without chronic viral hepatitis.

Methods: We did a phase 1/2, open-label, non-comparative, dose escalation and expansion trial (CheckMate 040) of nivolumab in adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with or without hepatitis C or B (HCV or HBV) infection.

Relating relapse and T2 lesion changes to disability progression in multiple sclerosis: a systematic literature review and regression analysis.

Background: In the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most important therapeutic aim of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) is to prevent or postpone long-term disability. Given the typically slow progression observed in the majority of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, the primary endpoint for most randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is a reduction in relapse rate. It is widely assumed that reducing relapse rate will slow disability progression.

High-risk patients with hypertension: Are we doing enough?

Despite the increasing risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with multiple risk factors, blood pressure (BP) control remains suboptimal. This study investigated real-world BP goal attainment and prescribing patterns for high-risk patients. A retrospective chart review study was conducted in patients treated by eight large primary care physician group practices between December 2003 and May 2006.

The direct medical costs of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: To estimate the costs of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by describing inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy utilization in the years before and after the diagnosis.

Methods: A total of 6,864 patients who were enrolled in the Lovelace Health Plan for at least 12 months during the study period (January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2004) were identified. The first date that utilization was attributed to COPD was considered the first date of diagnosis.

Barriers to counseling patients with obesity: a study of Texas community pharmacists.

Objective: To assess barriers to the counseling of obese patients and identify pharmacists' characteristics associated with these barriers.

Design: Cross-sectional mail survey.

Setting: Texas.

Combating the obesity epidemic: community pharmacists' counseling on obesity management.

Background: Obesity is reaching an epidemic proportion in the US. Nearly two-thirds (64.7%) of US adults are overweight or obese.