Tankyrase represses autoinflammation through the attenuation of TLR2 signaling.

Dysregulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Here, we provide genetic evidence that tankyrase, a member of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family, negatively regulates TLR2 signaling. We show that mice lacking tankyrase in myeloid cells developed severe systemic inflammation with high serum inflammatory cytokine levels.

Hospital uncompensated care and patient experience: An instrumental variable approach.

Objective: Examine the endogenous relationship between uncompensated care and hospital patient experience scores.

Data Sources/study Setting: The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey, CMS Healthcare Cost Report Information System, and the US Census Bureau.

Study Design: The exogenous change in uncompensated care caused by the 2014 Medicaid expansion was exploited to measure the effect of uncompensated care on patient experience scores using a 2SLS regression with instrumental variables approach.

The ACA Medicaid Expansion, Disproportionate Share Hospitals, and Uncompensated Care.

Objective: To estimate the effect of the first full year of the ACA Medicaid expansion on hospital provision of uncompensated care, with special attention paid to hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of low-income patients.

Data Sources: Data from a balanced panel of short-term, general, nonfederal, Medicare-certified hospitals were obtained from Medicare cost reports from 2011 to 2014.

Study Design/study Setting: A series of difference-in-differences analyses were performed using hospitals in nonexpansion states as the control group.