Proceedings From a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workshop to Control Hypertension.

Hypertension treatment and control prevent more cardiovascular events than management of other modifiable risk factors. Although the age-adjusted proportion of US adults with controlled blood pressure (BP) defined as <140/90 mm Hg, improved from 31.8% in 1999-2000 to 48.

Improving renal phenotype and evolving extra-renal features of 17q12 deletion encompassing the gene.

Background: deletion/intragenic mutations are the most commonly identified genetic cause of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) suggested by fetal ultrasound findings such as: parenchymal hyperechogenicity, overt cystic changes or gross morphological urinary system (UT) abnormalities. The postnatal evolution of these 17q12 deletions encompassing the gene-associated findings has not been assessed in depth.

Methods: In this observational study, we present postnatal follow-up findings in 5 of 6 cases (one pregnancy was terminated on parental request) of fetal-onset cystic/hyperechogenic kidneys eventually diagnosed with 17q12 microdeletion encompassing the gene between 2009 and 2017.

Long-term outcomes during 37 years of pediatric kidney transplantation: a cohort study comparing ethnic groups.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation over 37 years in a national referral center and compare outcomes between Israeli Jewish and Arab children.

Methods: Data on 599 pediatric transplantations performed in 545 children during 1981-2017, including demographic parameters, kidney failure disease profile, and pre-transplant dialysis duration, were retrieved from our computerized database and patient files. Patient and graft survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Activated Monomer Polymerization of an -Sulfonylazetidine.

Previously, -(methanesulfonyl)azetidine () was found to polymerize anionically via ring-opening at temperatures >100 °C to form p(MsAzet) in the presence of an anionic initiator. In the current report, potassium(azetidin-1-ylsulfonyl) methanide (), formed from deprotonation of the methanesulfonyl group of by KHMDS, is shown to undergo spontaneous AROP at room temperature to form p(-K-MsAzet). The structure of p(-K-MsAzet) differs from that of p(MsAzet), as the sulfonyl groups are incorporated into the polymer backbone of p(-K-MsAzet).

Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of N-(tolylsulfonyl)azetidines To Produce Linear Poly(trimethylenimine) and Closed-System Block Copolymers.

The anionic ring-opening copolymerization of N-( p-tolylsulfonyl)azetidine ( pTsAzet) and N-( o-tolylsulfonyl)azetidine ( oTsAzet) produces poly( pTsAzet- co- oTsAzet) as a statistical copolymer. The pTsAzet/ oTsAzet copolymerization is living and allows for the synthesis of poly(sulfonylazetidine) of target molecular weights with narrow dispersities. H NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the kinetics of the polymerization and estimate the monomer reactivity ratios.

Neonatal acute kidney injury: recording rate, course, and outcome: one center experience.

Neonates, and particularly preterm newborns, are at increased risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) due to immature kidney function. While specific criteria have been defined for AKI in this particular population, this diagnosis is frequently overlooked, and consequently, is often not recorded in patients' medical files. AKI-associated short- and long-term morbidity and mortality underline the importance of this diagnosis To assess the recording rate of AKI in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and to identify clinical features that may promote awareness to this condition.

The pleasure of pursuit: recreational hunters in rural Southwest China exhibit low exit rates in response to declining catch.

Hunting is one of the greatest threats to tropical vertebrates. Examining why people hunt is crucial to identifying policy levers to prevent excessive hunting. Overhunting is particularly relevant in Southeast Asia, where a high proportion of mammals and birds are globally threatened.

Living Anionic Copolymerization of 1-(Alkylsulfonyl)aziridines to Form Poly(sulfonylaziridine) and Linear Poly(ethylenimine).

The anionic ring-opening copolymerization of 1-(methylsulfonyl)aziridine () and 1-(-butylsulfonyl)aziridine () produces a soluble random copolymer P(MsAz--BsAz), which can subsequently be converted to linear poly(ethylenimine) (lPEI). The copolymerization of and is living and allows for the synthesis of copolymers with low molecular weight distributions. Sequential anionic polymerization of and with 2-methyl-1-(methylsulfonyl)aziridine () creates P(MsAz--BsAz)--P(MeMsAz).

Treatment of BK virus-associated nephropathy with CMX001 after kidney transplantation in a young child.

NC, with renal failure secondary to bilateral dysplastic kidneys, received an LRD renal transplant (tx) at 17 months of age. Her early post-tx course was complicated by persistently elevated blood polyoma BK virus DNA loads. A protocol biopsy at six months post-transplant revealed BKVAN.

Did HEDIS get it right? Evaluating the quality of a quality measure: adherence to β-blockers and cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction.

Background: As an example of the process that could be used to evaluate and optimize the performance of quality measures in routine practice, we evaluated whether the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure assessing the "persistence of β-blocker treatment after a heart attack" correlates with post-myocardial infarction (MI) outcomes and whether or not there are alternative specifications of this construct which are better predictors and/or may be more easily applied.

Research Design: The study included a retrospective cohort of 8672 post-MI patients 18 years old and above. We assessed the strength of the association between the different adherence measures and the composite clinical outcome using multivariable Cox models.

Eliminating medication copayments reduces disparities in cardiovascular care.

Substantial racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular care persist in the United States. For example, African Americans and Hispanics with cardiovascular disease are 10-40 percent less likely than whites to receive secondary prevention therapies, such as aspirin and beta-blockers. Lowering copayments for these therapies improves outcomes among all patients who have had a myocardial infarction, but the impact of lower copayments on health disparities is unknown.

Untangling the relationship between medication adherence and post-myocardial infarction outcomes: medication adherence and clinical outcomes.

Background: Patients who adhere to medications experience better outcomes than their nonadherent counterparts. However, these observations may be confounded by patient behaviors. The level of adherence necessary for patients to derive benefit and whether adherence to all agents is important for diseases that require multiple drugs remain unclear.

Full prescription coverage versus usual prescription coverage after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: analysis from the post-myocardial infarction free Rx event and economic evaluation (FREEE) randomized trial.

Background: Eliminating out-of-pocket costs for patients after myocardial infarction (MI) improves adherence to preventive therapies and reduces clinical events. Because adherence to medical therapy is low among patients treated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), we evaluated the impact of providing full prescription coverage to this patient subgroup.

Methods And Results: The MI Free Rx Event and Economic Evaluation (FREEE) trial randomly assigned 5855 patients with MI to full prescription coverage or usual formulary coverage for all statins, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers.

Payer-provider collaboration in accountable care reduced use and improved quality in Maine Medicare Advantage plan.

Patient-centered, accountable care has garnered increased attention with the passage of the Affordable Care Act and new Medicare regulations. This case study examines a care model jointly developed by a provider and a payer that approximates an accountable care organization for a Medicare Advantage population. The collaboration between Aetna and NovaHealth, an independent physician association based in Portland, Maine, focused on shared data, financial incentives, and care management to improve health outcomes for approximately 750 Medicare Advantage members.

Full coverage for preventive medications after myocardial infarction.

Background: Adherence to medications that are prescribed after myocardial infarction is poor. Eliminating out-of-pocket costs may increase adherence and improve outcomes.

Methods: We enrolled patients discharged after myocardial infarction and randomly assigned their insurance-plan sponsors to full prescription coverage (1494 plan sponsors with 2845 patients) or usual prescription coverage (1486 plan sponsors with 3010 patients) for all statins, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, or angiotensin-receptor blockers.