Ontogeny of the digestive tract in butter catfish Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch) larvae.

The ontogeny of the digestive tract was studied histologically in butter catfish Ompok bimaculatus from hatching to 30 days post-hatching (dph). At hatching, the digestive tract of butter catfish consisted of a straight tube with a smooth lumen dorsally attached to the yolk sac. Between 1 and 2 dph, the mouth opened, oral valves were visible and canine-like teeth and taste buds were detected.

Growth of consumer-directed health plans to one-half of all employer-sponsored insurance could save $57 billion annually.

Enrollment is increasing in consumer-directed health insurance plans, which feature high deductibles and a personal health care savings account. We project that an increase in market share of these plans--from the current level of 13 percent of employer-sponsored insurance to 50 percent--could reduce annual health care spending by about $57 billion. That decrease would be the equivalent of a 4 percent decline in total health care spending for the nonelderly.

EST-based identification of immune-relevant genes from spleen of Indian catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758).

A normalized cDNA library from spleen of Indian catfish, Clarias batrachus, was constructed with a redundancy factor of 2.29. A total of 2045 clones from the library were single-pass sequenced, which generated 1937 high quality ESTs with an average read length of approximately 700 bp.

Healthy firms: constraints to growth among private health sector facilities in Ghana and Kenya.

Background: Health outcomes in developing countries continue to lag the developed world, and many countries are not on target to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The private health sector provides much of the care in many developing countries (e.g.

Perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus in northern India.

Data on transmission of HCV infection from mother to infant in India are limited. Between July 2006 to June 2007, women attending our hospital in the third trimester of pregnancy were screened for anti-HCV. Those testing positive for anti-HCV were tested for HCV RNA.

Epithelial iris cyst after cataract surgery.

We report a case of an epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris following cataract surgery that was successfully treated with en bloc excision, after an unsuccessful attempt with Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd YAG) Laser. A 60-year-old man had undergone cataract surgery two years back. One year later, he developed a pigmented epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris which progressively increased in size.

Risk stratification of CAD with SPECT-MPI in women with known estrogen status.

Objective: To compare exercise tolerance testing (ETT) with gated single photon emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI) risk stratification in women with an intermediate to high CAD pretest risk and known estrogen status (ES).

Background: SPECT-MPI is an effective test for risk stratifying patients with stable angina. However in women, the current guidelines recommend the exercise tolerance testing (ETT) as first line test.

Cytohistological features of rhinoscleroma.

Rhinoscleroma, also known as Mikulicz disease, is a chronic progressive disease caused by Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis. The disease is uncommon in Delhi. There are no cytological references of this disease.

Physician prescribing behavior and its impact on patient-level outcomes.

Objectives: Concerns over rising drug costs, pharmaceutical advertising, and potential conflicts of interest have focused attention on physician prescribing behavior. We examine how broadly physicians prescribe within the 10 most prevalent therapeutic classes, the factors affecting their choices, and the impact of their prescribing behavior on patient-level outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective study from 2005 to 2007 examining prescribers with at least 5 initial prescriptions within a class from 2005 to 2007.

Development of EST derived SSRs and SNPs as a genomic resource in Indian catfish, Clarias batrachus.

Clarias batrachus, an Indian catfish species, is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and potential cultivable species. The genomic resources in C. batrachus in the form of ESTs containing microsatellite repeats (EST-SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with the expressed genes from spleen were mined.

Do people taking flu vaccines need them the most?

Background: A well targeted flu vaccine strategy can ensure that vaccines go to those who are at the highest risk of getting infected if unvaccinated. However, prior research has not explicitly examined the association between the risk of flu infection and vaccination rates.

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between the risk of flu infection and the probability of getting vaccinated.

Firm-level perspectives on public sector engagement with private healthcare providers: survey evidence from Ghana and Kenya.

Background: Health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are in urgent need of improvement. The private health sector is a major provider of care in the region and it will remain a significant actor in the future. Any efforts by SSA governments to improve health systems performance therefore has to account for the private health sector.

Behind-the-counter statins: a silver bullet for reducing costs and increasing access?

Objective: To examine how the 2004 introduction of behind-the-counter (BTC) simvastatin in the United Kingdom affected utilization, prices, and expenditures.

Data Sources/study Setting: Secondary data on simvastatin utilization, prices, and expenditures between 1997 and 2007 in the United Kingdom and four other countries.

Study Design: We used a difference-in-differences approach to estimate how the introduction of BTC simvastatin affected utilization, prices, and expenditures.

IntravenousCorticosteroid Use Is Associated With Reduced Early Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation Immediately Following Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation.

Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF) occurs in up to 40% of patients after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (RFCA), increasing hospital stay, need for anti-arrhythmic medications (AADs) and cardioversion, and, possibly, the risk of future AF. It has been postulated that inflammation plays a key role in developing ERAF. Short term postoperative use of corticosteroids to reduce ERAF post-RFCA has not been vigorously studied.

Medicare's bundled payment pilot for acute and postacute care: analysis and recommendations on where to begin.

In the National Pilot Program on Payment Bundling, a subset of Medicare providers will receive a single payment for an episode of acute care in a hospital, followed by postacute care in a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility, the patient's home, or other appropriate setting. This article examines the promises and pitfalls of bundled payments and addresses two important design decisions for the pilot: which conditions to include, and how long an episode should be. Our analysis of Medicare data found that hip fracture and joint replacement are good conditions to include in the pilot because they exhibit strong potential for cost savings.

Nicotine reversal of anticonvulsant action of topiramate in kainic acid-induced seizure model in mice.

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is a widespread phenomenon, and nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco. Nicotine acts through nicotinic cholinergic receptors and has been associated with different types of psychophysical disorders in human beings. The present study had explored the proconvulsive action of nicotine and its effect on the antiseizure efficacy of topiramate against kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in mice.

Cardiac amyloidosis--two case reports with variable presentation.

Many cases of progressive heart failure due to cardiac amyloidosis remain undiagnosed due to the rarity and lack of suspicion on part of physician. Treatment options are limited and patients are also poor responders in later stages. Hence, early diagnosis by recognition of syndromic presentation and diagnostic modalities is helpful in retarding the disease process.

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Causing Tension Hemothorax in a Pregnant Woman Requiring Emergent Cesarean Delivery.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs), although most commonly congenital, are usually detected later in life. We present a case of a 25-year-old woman with no previous history of AVM or telangiectasia, who presented with life-threatening hypoxia, hypotension, and pleuritic chest pain in 36th week of gestation. Chest tube placement revealed 4 liters of blood.

Effect of molding helmet on head shape in nonsurgically treated sagittal craniosynostosis.

Object: Sagittal craniosynostosis is traditionally considered to be a surgical condition. Poor results of simple suturectomy follow from early reclosure of the suture. A wider craniectomy or use of interposing materials has not improved the outcome.

Who pays for obesity?

Adult obesity is a growing problem. From 1962 to 2006, obesity prevalence nearly tripled to 35.1 percent of adults.

Biological and histological parameters as predictors of relapse in ulcerative colitis: a prospective study.

Background/aim: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by periods of remission and relapses. This study has been carried out in a group of North Indian patients, where the disease has shown an increasing prevalence and frequent relapses. Hence, there is a need to predict relapse for better management and to reduce morbidity.

Healthcare spending and preventive care in high-deductible and consumer-directed health plans.

Objective: To investigate the effects of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) on healthcare spending and on the use of recommended preventive care.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: We analyzed claims and enrollment data for 808,707 households from 53 large US employers, 28 of which offered HDHPs or CDHPs.