Publications by authors named "Pierre Alexandre"

Background: Using federal funds from the 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funded the 2011-2021 Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs throughout the country.

Objective: Identify the market factors associated with Meaningful Use (MU) of EHRs after primary care providers (PCPs) enrolled in the Florida-EHR incentives program through Adopting, Improving, or Upgrading (AIU) an EHR technology.

Research Design: Retrospective cohort study using 2011-2018 program records for 8464 Medicaid providers.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how county-level factors influence the "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHRs) among over 8,400 primary care providers in Florida's Medicaid EHR Incentive Program from 2011 to 2018.
  • Key county-level factors analyzed include rurality, poverty, educational attainment, managed care penetration, population changes, and the number of PCPs per capita, with significant findings linking rurality and poverty to lower rates of MU.
  • The research emphasizes the importance of understanding these county-level influences for policymakers and healthcare managers to effectively promote EHR adoption in underserved communities.
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Background: There are little available data regarding the influence of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) on the efficacy of different first line endovascular treatment (EVT) techniques.

Methods: We used the dataset of the SWIFT-DIRECT trial which randomized 408 patients to IVT + EVT or EVT alone at 48 international sites. The protocol required the use of a stent retriever (SR), but concomitant use of a balloon guide catheter (BGC) and/or distal aspiration (DA) catheter was left to the discretion of the operators.

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Objective : The hemodynamic parameters used to accurately predict fluid responsiveness (FR) in spontaneously breathing patients (SB) require specific material and expertise. Measurements of the central venous pressure (CVP) are relatively simple and, importantly, are feasible in many critically ill patients. We analyzed the accuracy of respiration-related variations in CVP (vCVP) to predict FR in SB patients and examined the optimization of its measurement using a standardized, deep inspiratory maneuver.

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  • - Sepsis-induced myopathy leads to muscle fiber atrophy and mitochondrial issues, impacting recovery outcomes, but the role of overall energy deficit in this process was not previously studied.
  • - In the experiment, three mouse groups were analyzed: sepsis mice with reduced caloric intake, sham-fed mice, and sham mice fed in line with the sepsis group's intake, to determine energy balance and muscle characteristics.
  • - Results indicated that while sepsis caused a 17% reduction in muscle size and decreased mitochondrial function, the energy deficit alone did not fully explain the observed muscle issues, suggesting different metabolic adaptations in the sham pair-fed mice compared to the sepsis group.
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  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) frequently affects patients with severe COVID-19 who are on mechanical ventilation, prompting this study to examine how corticosteroids might influence VAP risk.
  • A multicenter study analyzed data from 545 patients in 36 ICUs to determine if corticosteroid use impacted VAP incidence, finding that the relationship varied after 48 hours of mechanical ventilation.
  • Overall, no significant link was established between corticosteroid treatment and VAP, though the effect seemed to shift over time during the ICU stay.
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  • Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a condition that causes lasting physical, cognitive, and mental impairments after leaving the ICU, significantly affecting patients' long-term health and quality of life.
  • The review discusses key issues related to PICS, including muscle weakness, cognitive deficits associated with delirium, and long-term effects on the immune system, kidneys, and lungs.
  • Understanding the biological processes underlying PICS can lead to improved patient care and new strategies for prevention and treatment.
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Nowadays, thermal regulation of the indoor environment is mandatory to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The incorporation of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and especially solid-solid PCMs (s/s PCMs) into building materials can be a major step forward in reducing energy consumption. Such materials are used for their high latent heat to save and release heat during phase change.

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  • - This study aimed to compare the incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients with COVID-19 versus those with influenza, using data from a large European cohort that included over 1,000 patients on mechanical ventilation for pneumonia.
  • - Results showed that the incidence of putative IPA was significantly lower in the COVID-19 group (2.5%) compared to the influenza group (6%), indicating that COVID-19 patients had a reduced risk for this fungal infection.
  • - The study also found that having putative IPA was linked to increased 28-day mortality and longer ICU stays, affirming its severity, but overall the incidence of IPA was low across both patient groups.
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  • The study aimed to evaluate how certain metabolic dysfunction parameters could predict short-term mortality in ICU patients with infections, alongside the SOFA score.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 956 patients at Lille University Hospital and found that maximal lactatemia was the strongest predictor of death within 90 days, while age and the Charlson comorbidity score were also significant factors.
  • They proposed a combined scoring system, the "SOFA + MACA" score, which incorporates lactatemia, age, and comorbidity to enhance early identification of high-risk patients, though further validation is needed.
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  • Early empirical antimicrobial treatment is common for critically ill COVID-19 patients, and this study looked at how often bacteria were identified in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia versus those with influenza pneumonia.
  • In a study involving 1,050 patients across 36 ICUs, only 9.7% of SARS-CoV-2 patients had bacterial infections identified within the first 48 hours after intubation compared to 33.6% in influenza patients.
  • Coinfections in both groups were primarily caused by gram-positive cocci, and while bacterial identification increased the risk of 28-day mortality for SARS-CoV-2 patients, the overall impact on mortality was similar for both conditions.
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Background: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at higher risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). No study has evaluated the relationship between VAP and mortality in this population, or compared this relationship between SARS-CoV-2 patients and other populations. The main objective of our study was to determine the relationship between VAP and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the rate of provider participation beyond year 1 incentive in the Florida Medicaid Promoting Interoperability (PI) program, formerly the Electronic Health Record Incentive program, and identify the provider and practice characteristics associated with Meaningful Use attestations.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2011-2018 records from the PI program, Provider Participation Database. Bivariate associations between Meaningful Use and categorical and ordinal variables were tested using Chi-square and Mantel-Haenszel Chi-square, respectively, with results informing logistic regressions.

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For the selective paste intrusion (SPI) method, thin layers of aggregate are locally bound by cement paste where the structure shall arise. After completion of the printing process, the structure is excavated from the particle-bed and the unbound particles are removed. However, for a sufficient layer bonding and shape accuracy, the rheology of the cement paste must be adapted to the flow resistance of the particle-bed.

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Purpose: Although patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection have several risk factors for ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI), the reported incidence of hospital-acquired infections is low. We aimed to determine the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, as compared to influenza pneumonia or no viral infection, and the incidence of VA-LRTI.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective European cohort performed in 36 ICUs.

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The 3D printing of concrete has now entered a new era and a transformation of the construction sector is expected to reshape fabrication with concrete. This work focuses on the selective paste intrusion method, which consists of bonding dry particles of aggregate with a cement paste. This innovative technique could lead to the production of very precise component for specific applications.

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Deterioration of lung functions and degradation of elastin fibers with age are accelerated during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Excessive genesis of soluble elastin peptides (EP) is a key factor in the pathophysiology of COPD. We have previously demonstrated that 6-wk-old mice exhibited emphysematous structural changes associated with proinflammatory immune response after EP instillation.

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Purpose: Gastrointestinal temperature (GIT) is a common alternative for body core temperature (CT) monitoring via an ingestible pill connected to an external monitor. However, its reliability could depend on thermal homogeneity, regardless of the gastrointestinal tract location. The purpose of this study was to evaluate GIT variation during the transit of telemetric pills and the impact of cold drink ingestion compared to the time point of pill intake.

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Introduction: To examine the relationship between chronic health conditions and out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) and medical debt.

Methods: Secondary data from the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) was used. Households whose head of household and spouse (for married households) were 18 to 64 years old were included.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema are associated with increased elastin peptides (EP) production because of excessive breakdown of lung connective tissue. We recently reported that exposure of mice to EP elicited hallmark features of emphysema. EP effects are largely mediated through a receptor complex that includes the elastin-binding protein spliced-galactosidase (S-gal).

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Medicare spending is projected to increase over the next decade, including for substance use disorders (SUD). Our objective was to determine whether SUDs are associated with higher six-year Medicare costs (1999-2004) among participants in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study. Medicare claims data for the years 1999-2004 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were linked to four waves of data from the Baltimore ECA cohort collected between 1981 and 2005 (n=566).

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