Treatment patterns and economic outcomes in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

To describe health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to patients without JIA and to describe treatment patterns among JIA patients who initiated biologic and non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The IBM MarketScan Commercial Database was used to identify patients aged 2-17 years with a new JIA diagnosis (index date) and 12 months continuous enrollment pre- and post-diagnosis from 2008 to 2016. JIA patients were matched to non-JIA patients on age, gender, region, and health plan type.

Anti-thyroid autoantibody-associated interface dermatitis in individuals with undifferentiated connective tissue disease--an unrecognized subset of autoimmune disease?

Objective: Skin conditions in individuals with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) are poorly classified and characterized, and autoantibodies in serum can be heterogeneous and not always specific. We have identified a new subset of individuals with UCTD, interface dermatitis, and increased anti-thyroid antibodies.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 892 cases of individuals with UCTD.

The C-terminal fragment of the internal 110-kilodalton passenger domain of the Hap protein of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae is a potential vaccine candidate.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae is a major causative agent of bacterial otitis media in children. H. influenzae Hap autotransporter protein is an adhesin composed of an outer membrane Hapbeta region and a moiety of an extracellular internal 110-kDa passenger domain called Hap(S).

Does patient partnership in continuing medical education (CME) improve the outcome in osteoporosis management?

Introduction: There is an apparent gap between physicians' knowledge and their practical application of such knowledge. Educating patients to educate physicians toward improved care has been shown to be effective in selected settings. This study describes the influence of an active community education program on changing physician behavior.

Measuring continuing medical education effectiveness and its ramification in a community hospital.

Background: Is multi-interventional continuing medical education (CME) effective in changing one or more health care outcomes?

Method: In a noncontrolled study (noncontrolled because of lack of adequate funding and support) of 328 volunteer recruits, a health status questionnaire including measuring serum cholesterol was obtained. After having identified deficiencies in the health status indicators, CME interventions, including didactic lectures to physicians and allied health professionals, announcements of data in physician lounges and departmental meetings, letters to physicians, and patient education, were introduced. Approximately 6 months after the first survey, a second survey was carried out and was compared with the initial data.