Approaches to regenerative endodontic therapy in necrotic human teeth with complete root formation: a systematic review.

Introduction: Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) aim to replace damaged dental structures and regenerate the dentin-pulp complex. Initially focused on teeth with incomplete root formation, recent research shows promise for necrotic teeth with complete root formation.

Methodology: This review, following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO, included clinical studies on regenerative endodontic therapy in necrotic human teeth with complete root formation.

Generating Practice-Based Evidence in the Use of Guideline-Recommended Combination Therapy for Secondary Prevention of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

: Clinical guidelines recommend beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers, and statins for the secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is not clear whether variation in real-world practice reflects poor quality-of-care or a balance of outcome tradeoffs across patients. : The study cohort included Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized 2007-2008 for AMI.

Global Budget Revenue on a Single Institution's Costs, Outcomes, and Patient Quality Metrics in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Maryland was granted a waiver to implement a Global Budget Revenue (GBR) reimbursement model. Statewide results for combined medical and surgical services have been reported for fiscal years 2015 and 2016. A paucity of studies exists exploring the change in care costs and outcomes for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recipients under GBR.

Use of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers for Geriatric Ischemic Stroke Patients: Are the Rates Right?

Background: Our objective is to estimate the effects associated with higher rates of renin-angiotensin system antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARBs), in secondary prevention for geriatric (aged >65 years) patients with new ischemic strokes by chronic kidney disease (CKD) status.

Methods And Results: The effects of ACEI/ARBs on survival and renal risk were estimated by CKD status using an instrumental variable (IV) estimator. Instruments were based on local area variation in ACEI/ARB use.

Global Budget Revenue on a Single Institution's Costs and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: The state of Maryland was granted a waiver by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement a Global Budget Revenue (GBR) reimbursement model. This study aims to compare (1) costs of inpatient hospital stays; (2) postacute care costs; (3) lengths of stay (LOS); and (4) discharge disposition who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty at a single Maryland-based orthopedic institution before and after the implementation of GBR.

Methods: The Maryland Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services database was queried to obtain all Medicare patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty at a single institution before and after the implementation of GBR.

Psychometric Evaluation of a New Instrument to Evaluate School Nurses' Perceptions on Concussion Care Management.

The rate of concussions in adolescents has risen over the last decade, resulting in cognitive and emotional problems. Neurologists recommend cognitive and physical rest during the recovery period, followed by a transitional return-to-classroom protocol. The purpose of the study was to develop and test an instrument that explores the beliefs and roles of school nurses in concussion care management.

ALD1613, a Novel Long-Acting Monoclonal Antibody to Control ACTH-Driven Pharmacology.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is the primary regulator of adrenal glucocorticoid production. Elevated levels of ACTH play a critical role in disease progression in several indications, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Cushing disease. We have generated a specific, high-affinity, neutralizing monoclonal antibody (ALD1613) to ACTH.

Association Between Preadmission Functional Status and Use and Effectiveness of Secondary Prevention Medications in Elderly Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objectives: To determine whether function-related indicators (FRIs), derived from preadmission claims data, help explain the frequent practice of forgoing secondary prevention medications observed in Medicare.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: National Medicare data.

Cognitive Rest: An Integrated Literature Review.

Cognitive rest has been suggested as a treatment for school athletes who have sustained a concussion, but the concept has rarely been defined. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive definition of cognitive rest, based on an integrative literature review. The method of synthesis was guided by Avant and Walker's concept analysis format.

Statin use after acute myocardial infarction by patient complexity: are the rates right?

Background: Guidelines suggest statin use after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) should be close to universal in patients without safety concerns yet rates are much lower than recommended, decline with patient complexity, and display substantial geographic variation. Trial exclusions have resulted in little evidence to guide statin prescribing for complex patients.

Objective: To assess the benefits and risks associated with higher rates of statin use after AMI by baseline patient complexity.

Field methods in medical record abstraction: assessing the properties of comparative effectiveness estimates.

Background: Comparative effectiveness studies using Medicare claims data are vulnerable to treatment selection biases and supplemental data from a sample of patients has been recommended for examining the magnitude of this bias. Previous research using nationwide Medicare claims data has typically relied on the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) for supplemental data. Because many important clinical variables for our specific research question are not available in the MCBS, we collected medical record data from a subsample of patients to assess the validity of assumptions and to aid in the interpretation of our estimates.

Beyond comorbidity: expanding the definition and measurement of complexity among older adults using administrative claims data.

Background: Studies of patients with multiple chronic conditions using claims data are often missing important determinants of treatments and outcomes, such as function status and disease severity. We sought to identify and evaluate a class of function-related indicators (FRIs) from administrative claims data.

Population: The study cohort comprised US Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older with Parts A and B fee-for-service and Part D coverage, with a hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction during 2007.

Accounting for unobservable exposure time bias when using Medicare prescription drug data.

Objective: To describe the prevalence and correlates of unobservable medication exposure time, and to recommend approaches for minimizing bias, in studies using Medicare Part D data..

Sample: 179,065 Medicare patients hospitalized for an AMI in 2007 or 2008.

Standardizing Medicare payment information to support examining geographic variation in costs.

Objectives: Examination of efficiency in health care requires that cost information be normalized. Medicare payments include both geographic and policy-based facility type differentials (e.g.

Prevalence of multiple chronic conditions in the United States' Medicare population.

In 2006, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicare program in the United States, launched the Chronic Condition Data Warehouse (CCW). The CCW contains all Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) institutional and non-institutional claims, nursing home and home health assessment data, and enrollment/eligibility information from January 1, 1999 forward for a random 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries (and 100% of the Medicare population from 2000 forward). Twenty-one predefined chronic condition indicator variables are coded within the CCW, to facilitate research on chronic conditions.