Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertisements Can Paradoxically Increase Intentions to Adopt Lifestyle Changes.

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertisements are thought to induce "boomerang effects," meaning they reduce the perceived effectiveness of a potential alternative option: non-pharmaceutical treatment via lifestyle change. Past research has observed such effects using artificially created, text-only advertisements that may not adequate capture the complex, conflicting portrayal of lifestyle change in real television advertisements. In other risk domains, individual "problem status" often moderates boomerang effects, such that subjects who currently engage in the risky behavior exhibit the strongest boomerang effects.

Perceived stress and telomere length: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and methodologic considerations for advancing the field.

Importance: Psychological stress contributes to numerous diseases and may do so in part through damage to telomeres, protective non-coding segments on the ends of chromosomes.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the association between self-reported, perceived psychological stress (PS) and telomere length (TL).

Data Sources: We searched 3 databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus), completed manual searches of published and unpublished studies, and contacted all study authors to obtain potentially relevant data.

Centralized monitoring and virtual consultant models of tele-ICU care: a systematic review.

Background: Increasing intensivist shortages and demand coupled with the escalating cost of care have created enthusiasm for intensive care unit (ICU)-based telemedicine ("tele-ICU"). This systematic literature review compares the Centralized Monitoring and Virtual Consultant tele-ICU Models.

Materials And Methods: With an experienced medical reference librarian, we identified all language publications addressing the employment and efficacy of the centralized monitoring and virtual consultant tele-ICU systems through PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science.

Centralized monitoring and virtual consultant models of tele-ICU care: a side-by-side review.

Background: Telemedicine-based "tele-intensive care unit" ("tele-ICU") solutions represent an increasingly popular hospital platform to provide ICU specialist expertise while remaining sensitive to healthcare costs. This side-by-side review directly compares the Centralized Monitoring and Virtual Consultant tele-ICU Models.

Materials And Methods: We identified all publications in any language addressing the use and efficacy of centralized monitoring and virtual consultant tele-ICU systems through reviews of the PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science Web sites, corporate documents, corporate Internet sites, and discussions with corporate representatives.

Seasonal patterns in human A (H5N1) virus infection: analysis of global cases.

Background: Human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) have high mortality. Despite abundant data on seasonal patterns in influenza epidemics, it is unknown whether similar patterns exist for human HPAI H5N1 cases worldwide. Such knowledge could help decrease avian-to-human transmission through increased prevention and control activities during peak periods.

Health and economic benefits of early vaccination and nonpharmaceutical interventions for a human influenza A (H7N9) pandemic: a modeling study.

Background: Vaccination for the 2009 pandemic did not occur until late in the outbreak, which limited its benefits. Influenza A (H7N9) is causing increasing morbidity and mortality in China, and researchers have modified the A (H5N1) virus to transmit via aerosol, which again heightens concerns about pandemic influenza preparedness.

Objective: To determine how quickly vaccination should be completed to reduce infections, deaths, and health care costs in a pandemic with characteristics similar to influenza A (H7N9) and A (H5N1).

Impact of insulin resistance on ventricular function in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is an independent prognostic marker in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), although the mechanism by which it engenders risk is unknown. We prospectively investigated the clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic characteristics of insulin-sensitive (IS) and IR patients with PAH.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study including well-phenotyped patients with PAH proven at cardiac catheterization.

Whole-exome sequencing reveals TopBP1 as a novel gene in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a life-threatening disorder characterized by progressive loss of pulmonary microvessels. Although mutations in the bone morphogenetic receptor 2 (BMPR2) are found in 80% of heritable and ∼15% of patients with IPAH, their low penetrance (∼20%) suggests that other unidentified genetic modifiers are required for manifestation of the disease phenotype. Use of whole-exome sequencing (WES) has recently led to the discovery of novel susceptibility genes in heritable PAH, but whether WES can also accelerate gene discovery in IPAH remains unknown.

Demographic and clinical predictors of mortality from highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection: CART analysis of international cases.

Background: Human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) viruses have occurred in 15 countries, with high mortality to date. Determining risk factors for morbidity and mortality from HPAI H5N1 can inform preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Methods: We included all cases of human HPAI H5N1 reported in World Health Organization Global Alert and Response updates and those identified through a systematic search of multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar), including articles in all languages.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of expanded antiviral prophylaxis and adjuvanted vaccination strategies for an influenza A (H5N1) pandemic.

Background: The pandemic potential of influenza A (H5N1) virus is a prominent public health concern of the 21st century.

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alternative pandemic (H5N1) mitigation and response strategies.

Design: Compartmental epidemic model in conjunction with a Markov model of disease progression.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of vaccination against pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009.

Background: Decisions on the timing and extent of vaccination against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus are complex.

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pandemic influenza (H1N1) vaccination under different scenarios in October or November 2009.

Design: Compartmental epidemic model in conjunction with a Markov model of disease progression.

Systematic review: safety and efficacy of extended-duration antiviral chemoprophylaxis against pandemic and seasonal influenza.

Background: Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are stockpiled internationally for extended use in an influenza pandemic.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of extended-duration (>4 weeks) NAI chemoprophylaxis against influenza.

Data Sources: Studies published in any language through 11 June 2009 identified by searching 10 electronic databases and 3 trial registries.

Quality improvement strategies for children with asthma: a systematic review.

Objective: To evaluate the evidence that quality improvement (QI) strategies can improve the processes and outcomes of outpatient pediatric asthma care.

Data Sources: Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group database (January 1966 to April 2006), MEDLINE (January 1966 to April 2006), Cochrane Consumers and Communication Group database (January 1966 to May 2006), and bibliographies of retrieved articles.

Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials, controlled before-after trials, or interrupted time series trials of English-language QI evaluations.