A proactive phone intervention for older adults to address loneliness identified by a health plan.

Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poor health and higher health care costs among older adults. Our objective was to determine if older adults identified as at risk for loneliness by a Medicare Advantage health plan could benefit from a proactive telephone support program. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot efficacy study of outbound calls from an established community-based telephone program to support older adults identified as at risk for loneliness.

Evaluation of hepatocyte injury following partial ligation of the left portal vein.

Background/aims: Total ligation of the left portal vein is thought to induce both hepatocyte apoptosis and necrosis. The pathological impact of partial ligation of a branch of the portal vein has not yet been evaluated.

Methods: We studied the degree of hepatocyte injury following 0, 43, 48, 59, 68, 72, 78 and 100% left portal vein stenosis in 200-g Sprague-Dawley male rats.