Association of Abdominal Arterial Calcification Score with Patients' Survival and Kidney Allograft Function after Kidney Transplant.

Background: Abdominal arterial calcification (AAC) is common among candidates for kidney transplant. The aim of this study is to correlate AAC score value with post-kidney transplant outcomes.

Methods: We modified the coronary calcium score by changing the intake data points and used it to quantitate the AAC.

Age-related Survival Outcomes for Pancreatic Cancer by Age.

Background/aim: Pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis, though outcomes based on age are not well characterized. The aim of current study was to analyze the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer based on age.

Patients And Methods: Using National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), we determined survival outcome based on age among patients with pancreatic cancer.

Advanced Tumor Imaging Approaches in Human Tumors.

The management of cancer has always relied heavily on the imaging modalities used to detect and monitor it. While many of these modalities have been around for decades, the technology surrounding them is always improving, and much has been discovered in recent years about the nature of tumors because of this. There have been several areas that have aided those discoveries.

Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis: Endovascular management and outcomes.

Background: Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) is a rare but fatal condition that is typically treated initially with anticoagulation therapy, and if this fails, with endovascular interventions. However, due to its rarity, there are not many studies that have explored the effectiveness of anticoagulation and endovascular therapies in treating SMVT.

Aim: To evaluate patients diagnosed with SMVT who received endovascular therapy in addition to anticoagulation and report technical and clinical outcomes.

A complicated course for an infected endovascular stent graft.

The management of an infected endovascular aortic stent graft can be complex and morbid. Therefore, caution should be exercised before an endovascular approach is considered in patients presenting with a saccular aneurysm who are younger than 65 years and without risk factors for this may indicate a mycotic aneurysm. An open approach with consideration of aneurysm excision should be entertained to prevent an endovascular implantation in the setting of an infected aorta.

The Effect of a Pediatric Rare Disease on Subscriber Retention Rates for Commercial Health Insurers in the United States.

Background: The advent of personalized medicine creates opportunities for regenerative therapies to deliver extended clinical benefit from a single administration. Policymakers and health insurers in the United States are evaluating coverage and payment arrangements for these therapies. One challenge involved in these evaluations is the perception that subscribers change insurers relatively often.

The potential impact of monitoring disease activity biomarkers on rheumatoid arthritis outcomes and costs.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management requires monitoring of disease activity to determine course of treatment. Global assessments are used in clinical practice to determine RA disease activity. Monitoring disease activity via biomarkers may also help providers optimize biologic and nonbiologic drug use while decreasing overall drug spend by delaying use of expensive biologic therapies.

An Economic Evaluation of the Impact, Cost, and Medicare Policy Implications of Chronic Nonhealing Wounds.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the cost of chronic wound care for Medicare beneficiaries in aggregate, by wound type and by setting.

Methods: This retrospective analysis of the Medicare 5% Limited Data Set for calendar year 2014 included beneficiaries who experienced episodes of care for one or more of the following: arterial ulcers, chronic ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, diabetic infections, pressure ulcers, skin disorders, skin infections, surgical wounds, surgical infections, traumatic wounds, venous ulcers, or venous infections. The main outcomes were the prevalence of each wound type, Medicare expenditure for each wound type and aggregate, and expenditure by type of service.

Quality Varies Across Health Insurance Marketplace Pricing Regions.

Background: Although consumers purchasing health plans in the new Health Insurance Marketplace will be provided information on the cost and quality of participating health plans, it is unclear whether the state-wide plan quality averages that will be reported will accurately represent quality at the pricing region level where care will be received.

Objectives: To evaluate whether currently reported state-wide health plan quality scores accurately represent quality within pricing regions established for the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Research Design: Observational, historical cohort study using health plan administrative and pharmacy data.