Health Care Resource Utilization With Dronedarone Versus Sotalol Following Catheter Ablation in Adults With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Clinical trials support dronedarone use for atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation (CA); however, comparative data on health care resource utilization (HCRU) with other antiarrhythmic drugs are lacking.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of Merative MarketScan databases (January 01, 2012-March 31, 2020) comparatively assessed HCRU in US adults with AF who received dronedarone or sotalol post-CA. Patients with ≥ 12-months' pre-CA data were followed from post-CA index treatment to disenrollment, death, or study end.

Retrospective analysis of health and economic burden among commercially-insured individuals diagnosed with invasive meningococcal disease in the United States.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a life-threatening yet vaccine-preventable disease, with vaccines approved and recommended in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This study assessed complications, mortality, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and healthcare costs among a sample of commercially-insured individuals living in the United States who experienced IMD. We used retrospective data from large claims databases limited to individuals with IMD covered by commercial health plans between January 2010-March 2022.

A Rare Case of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome in an Adolescent Female.

The Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome (DDMS) is an uncommon neurological disorder whose prevalence is not yet known. There have only been 21 adult manifestations of this rare brain disorder, out of around 100 cases previously documented. Diagnosis is challenging because of the complexity of radiological findings and clinical symptoms, which include ventricle dilation, hypertrophy of the cranial bones, increased pneumatization of the sinuses, and cerebral hemisphere atrophy.

Understanding Focal Seizures in Adults: A Comprehensive Review.

Focal or partial seizures are a common neurological disorder affecting adults. This review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of focal seizures in adults, including their classification, clinical presentation, etiology, diagnosis, and management. This article seeks to enhance awareness and knowledge among medical professionals and the general public by exploring the latest research and clinical insights.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 3 in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy: A Case Report.

The incidence of malignancies during pregnancy has been on the rise in the recent years, primarily due to an increase in older age pregnancies. This poses a significant risk to both the mother and the developing fetus. We present the case of a 29-year-old woman who experienced intermittent vaginal bleeding during her pregnancy.

Recent Advances in Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmias and Their Genetic Testing.

Inherited arrhythmias, encompassing conditions such as cardiomyopathies, cardiac ion channel disorders, and coronary heart disease, represent the common causes that elevate the threat of sudden cardiac death among adults. Researchers have pinpointed the genes responsible for these hereditary arrhythmias in the last 30 years. Concurrently, it has become clear that the genetic makeup underlying these conditions is more intricate than previously understood.

Antibiotic Resistance: Challenges and Strategies in Combating Infections.

From a broader perspective, antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance is still evolving and spreading internationally. Infectious diseases have become more complex and often impossible to cure, increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite the failure of conventional, standard antimicrobial therapy, no new class of antibiotics has been developed in the last 20 years, which results in various cutting-edge and other tactics that can be used to encounter these disease-causing microorganisms with antibiotic resistance.

History of Respiratory Events Prior to a First COPD Diagnosis and Future Exacerbations: A Longitudinal Observational Cohort Database Study in Japan.

Background: Little is known about the association between respiratory events prior to diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and future clinical outcomes in Japan. We investigated the association between pre-COPD diagnosis respiratory events and the incidence of exacerbations in a cohort of newly diagnosed COPD patients in Japan.

Patients And Methods: Data were retrieved from the JMDC claims database.

A Case Report on Copper Beaten Skull Appearance: A Forgotten Entity.

An uncommon autosomal dominant condition known as Crouzon's syndrome causes abnormalities of the skull and face. It accounts for 4.8% of all cases of craniosynostosis and is by far the most prevalent condition among them.

Intra-body Networks and Molecular Communication Networks in Diagnostic Sciences.

Intra-body transmission networks are proposed to be composed of nanostructured or micro-sized detectors placed within the body to monitor health and distribute drugs. Transplanted biosensors are the potential options for monitoring the body for the detection of particular ailments and determining a diagnosis with the help of a doctor. Biological systems inside the body remain intricately integrated and interact primarily through biochemical interactions.

Advancement in Partograph: WHO's Labor Care Guide.

Worldwide, the partograph, also known as a partogram, is used as a labor monitoring tool to detect difficulties early, allowing for referral, intervention, or closer observations to follow. Despite widespread support from health experts, there are worries that the partograph has not yet fully realized its potential for enhancing therapeutic results. As a result, the instrument has undergone several changes, and numerous studies have been conducted to examine the obstacles and enablers to its use.

A Review on Techniques and Biomaterials Used in 3D Bioprinting.

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a cutting-edge technology that has come to light recently and shows a promising potential whose progress will change the face of medicine. This article reviews the most commonly used techniques and biomaterials for 3D bioprinting. We will also look at the advantages and limitations of various techniques and biomaterials and get a comparative idea about them.

Uses of Antibiotics Alone in Case of Uncomplicated Appendicitis.

The frequent abdominal surgical emergency is acute appendicitis with a significantly less lifelong risk. One of the most common surgeries manifested is an appendectomy, but with recent advances, non-operative management has evolved using antibiotics. In adult patients with simple appendicitis, we identified the role of surgical and non-surgical therapy.

Computer-Aided Detection and Diagnosis of Neurological Disorder.

Nowadays, neurological problems are more regular, representing a worry to pregnant ladies, guardians, healthy babies, and kids. Neurological problems emerge in a wide assortment of structures, each with its arrangement of beginnings, inconveniences, and results. The conclusion of neurological illnesses is an evolving concern and predominantly troublesome difficulty for current medication.

Healthcare resource utilization in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in the United States.

Objectives: To summarize healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with newly diagnosed (incident) paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study assessed HCRU among patients with incident paroxysmal or persistent AF using data from 1 January 2015 to 30 September 2019 in the IBM MarketScan® Research Databases.

Results: A total of 50,796 patients were identified in the overall incident AF cohort.

Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Sotalol Versus Dronedarone After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Atrial tachyarrhythmias are common after atrial fibrillation ablation, so adjunctive antiarrhythmic drug therapy is often used. Data on the effectiveness and safety of dronedarone and sotalol after AF ablation are limited. Here, we compared health outcomes of ablated patients treated with dronedarone versus sotalol.

Genome sequence, transcriptome, and annotation of rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis N67.

Background: Rodent malaria parasites are important models for studying host-malaria parasite interactions such as host immune response, mechanisms of parasite evasion of host killing, and vaccine development. One of the rodent malaria parasites is Plasmodium yoelii, and multiple P. yoelii strains or subspecies that cause different disease phenotypes have been widely employed in various studies.

Serum dioxin and DNA methylation in the sperm of operation ranch hand veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Background: Exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War was widespread and is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes. A continuing concern of veterans is the possibility that exposure to the dioxin-containing herbicide might induce adverse reproductive outcomes. We sought to assess whether exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam was associated with changes in DNA methylation in sperm in a subset of Vietnam veterans who participated in the Air Force Health Study (AFHS).

Development and validation of algorithms to identify newly diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes in pediatric population using electronic medical records and claims data.

Purpose: To develop and validate algorithms to classify diabetes type in newly diagnosed pediatric patients with DM.

Method: Data from the United States Department of Defense health system were used to identify patients aged 10 to 18 years with incident DM. Two independent sets of 200 children were randomly sampled for algorithm development and validation.

Effects of continuous bisphenol A exposure from early gestation on 90 day old rat testes function and sperm molecular profiles: A CLARITY-BPA consortium study.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous industrial chemical that has been identified as an endocrine disrupting compound (EDC). There is growing concern that early life exposures to EDCs, such as BPA, can adversely affect the male reproductive tract and function. This study was conducted as part of the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity (CLARITY-BPA) to further delineate the toxicities associated with continuous exposure to BPA from early gestation, and to comprehensively examine the elicited effects on testes and sperm.

Replication of Mini-Sentinel Study Assessing Mirabegron and Cardiovascular Risk in Non-Mini-Sentinel Databases.

Background: In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated a prospective routine surveillance using the Mini-Sentinel (M-S) program to assess potential signals of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke with use of mirabegron, indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), compared with oxybutynin.

Purpose: To replicate the FDA M-S analysis of mirabegron using datasets that did not contribute to the M-S program.

Methods: IMS PharMetrics Plus and Truven MarketScan claims data from 2012-2015 were converted to the M-S Common Data Model.

Economic burden of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: Results from an international trial.

Objective: The direct cost of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is documented; indirect costs are being explored. Healthcare payers seek cost-offsets from therapies that improve clinical outcomes but challenge budgets; employers seek lower absenteeism and better productivity. Study goals were to: (i) identify direct and indirect economic factors of RRMM, and (ii) explore longitudinal relationships between clinical, economic, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessments.