Pen needle use patterns in an insured population with diabetes: U.S. retrospective claims analysis.

Background: People with diabetes who inject insulin with pen devices may reuse the pen needles (PNs), a practice that can cause PN tip deformity, breakage, and contamination, and that is associated with lipohypertrophy and injection-related pain.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to estimate the extent of PN reuse among people with diabetes in 2 insured populations in the United States.

Methods: Using claims data for Commercial Fully Insured (CFI) and Medicare Advantage (MA) populations from 1-Oct-2018 to 31-Dec-2022, we identified adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (T1D/T2D) who had ≥ 1 claim for PNs and ≥ 2 claims for insulin from 1-Jan-2019 to 31-Dec-2021, with continuous medical/pharmacy eligibility for 3 months before first claim and 1 year after (follow-up).

The Abca7 variant reduces Aβ generation, plaque load, and neuronal damage.

Background: Variants in ABCA7, a member of the ABC transporter superfamily, have been associated with increased risk for developing late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD).

Methods: CRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate an Abca7 variant in mice, modeling the homologous human ABCA7 variant, and extensive characterization was performed.

Results: Abca7 microglia show differential gene expression profiles upon lipopolysaccharide challenge and increased phagocytic capacity.

Enhancer Clusters Drive Type I Interferon-Induced TRAIL Overexpression in Cancer, and Its Intracellular Protein Accumulation Fails to Induce Apoptosis.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a cytokine produced and secreted by immune cells in response to an infection, often in response to interferon (IFN) stimulation. In cancer, it has also been shown that IFN stimulates the production of TRAIL, and it has been proposed that this TRAIL can induce apoptosis in an autocrine or paracrine manner in different cancer cells. Yet, the mechanism mediating TRAIL upregulation and the implications of TRAIL as an apoptotic molecule in cancer cells are still poorly understood.

Cost-Effectiveness of Apomorphine Sublingual Film as an "On-Demand" Treatment for "OFF" Episodes in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

"On-demand" treatments approved in the United States (US) for "OFF" episodes in Parkinson's disease (PD) include apomorphine hydrochloride injection (SC-APO), apomorphine sublingual film (APL), and levodopa inhalation powder (CVT-301). APL received US approval in 2020, and its cost-effectiveness has not been compared with SC-APO and CVT-301. To develop a cost-effectiveness analysis model comparing APL versus SC-APO and CVT-301 for treatment of patients with PD experiencing "OFF" episodes from a US payer perspective.

Indirect comparison of apomorphine sublingual film and levodopa inhalation powder for Parkinson's disease 'OFF' episodes.

To compare efficacy of apomorphine sublingual film (APL) and levodopa inhalation powder (CVT-301) for 'on-demand' treatment of Parkinson's disease 'OFF' episodes. Patient-level data from an APL pivotal study were re-weighted to match average baseline characteristics from a CVT-301 study (SPAN-PD). Placebo-adjusted treatments were compared at week 12.

Comparative economic outcomes in patients with focal seizures initiating eslicarbazepine acetate versus brivaracetam as their first adjunctive ASD.

Aims: To study the association between initiation of first adjunctive therapy with eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) vs. brivaracetam (BRV) on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and charges among patients with treated focal seizures (FS).

Materials And Methods: Symphony Health's Integrated Dataverse (IDV) claims data (1 April 2015 to 30 June 2018) were used to identify two cohorts as first adjunctive therapy with ESL or BRV following a generic anti-seizure drug (ASD).

Patient Preferences for Treating "OFF" Episodes in Parkinson's Disease: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Introduction: Several on-demand treatments are available for management of "OFF" episodes in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We evaluated patients' preferences for features of theoretical on-demand treatment options.

Methods: In a discrete choice experiment, US adults with self-reported PD of ≥5 years, or <5 years with "OFF" episodes, taking oral carbidopa/levodopa, selected between pairs of theoretical on-demand treatments that varied by mode of administration (with and without mode-specific adverse events [AEs]), time to FULL "ON," duration of "ON," and out-of-pocket cost for a 30-day supply.

Knowledge of Antiretroviral Treatment and Associated Factors in HIV-Infected Patients.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and the associated factors in HIV-infected patients in Vietnam. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of 350 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients being treated with ARV at outpatient clinics at Soc Trang, Vietnam, from June 2019 to December 2019. Using an interview questionnaire, patients who answered at least eight out of nine questions correctly, including some required questions, were considered to have a general knowledge of ARV treatment.

Real-world assessment of "OFF" episode-related healthcare resource utilization among patients with Parkinson's disease in the United States.

Aims: Within 5 years of initiating carbidopa/levodopa, ∼50% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience "OFF" episodes; little is known about the cost burden. We investigated the association of "OFF" episodes with patient characteristics, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and healthcare costs.

Methods: Analyses used neurologist-provided data from the US-specific 2017 and 2019 Adelphi Real World Disease Specific Programme for PD, including duration of "OFF" episodes and HCRU for 10-12 consecutive patients.

Prevalence and Determinants of Medication Adherence among Patients with HIV/AIDS in Southern Vietnam.

Unlabelled: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and determinants of medication adherence among patients with HIV/AIDS in southern Vietnam.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital in southern Vietnam from June to December 2019 on patients who began antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 6 months. Using a designed questionnaire, patients were considered adherent if they took correct medicines with right doses, on time and properly with food and beverage and had follow-up visits as scheduled.

Real-world assessment of the impact of "OFF" episodes on health-related quality of life among patients with Parkinson's disease in the United States.

Background: Many patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who receive carbidopa/levodopa experience symptom reemergence or worsening, or "OFF" episodes. This study assessed the association of "OFF" episodes with health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: US-specific data from the 2017 and 2019 Adelphi Real World Disease Specific Programme for PD, a real-world cross-sectional survey, were used.

Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Migraine Functional Impact Questionnaire (MFIQ).

Background: Migraine is a chronic neurologic disease that can be associated with significant migraine-related impact, disability, and burden. Patient-reported outcome measures (PRO) are included in clinical trials of migraine interventions to capture treatment effects from a patient perspective. Clinical and regulatory guidelines also encourage use of PROs in trials.

Associations Between Treatment Satisfaction, Medication Beliefs, and Adherence to Disease-Modifying Therapies in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Adherence to disease-modifying therapy (DMT) remains problematic for many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). An improved understanding of factors affecting DMT adherence may inform effective interventions. This study examined associations between treatment satisfaction, medication beliefs, and DMT adherence.

Development of a New Tool for Evaluating the Benefit of Preventive Treatments for Migraine on Functional Outcomes - The Migraine Functional Impact Questionnaire (MFIQ).

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a method for evaluating patient-relevant outcomes of interventions for preventing migraine attacks, followed by an assessment of the content validity of a new patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument: the Migraine Functional Impact Questionnaire (MFIQ).

Background: The aim of preventive treatments for migraine is not only to reduce migraine frequency, but also to restore patients' ability to function and improve quality of life.

Methods: A multi-stage process based on best practice methods and regulatory guidelines for ensuring content validity of PRO instruments for evaluating treatment benefit was followed.

Determinants of health-related quality of life in international graduate students.

Introduction: International graduate students often experience additional levels of stress due to acculturation. Given the impact of stress on health outcomes (both physical and mental), this study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in international graduate students to determine its association with acculturative stress, perceived stress, and use of coping mechanisms.

Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was designed and sent to 38 student chapters within the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) student network.

Predictors of prostate cancer screening using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.

Purpose: The purposes of the study were to examine the prevalence of prostate cancer screening (PCS) in the United States and to identify predictors of PCS guided by Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use (ABM).

Methods: PCS rates were analyzed in men (aged ≥40y) using 2014 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Descriptive analysis was conducted using sampling weights to determine the prevalence of PCS (i.

An Aqueous Two-Phase System for the Concentration and Extraction of Proteins from the Interface for Detection Using the Lateral-Flow Immunoassay.

The paper-based immunoassay for point-of-care diagnostics is widely used due to its low cost and portability over traditional lab-based assays. Lateral-flow immunoassay (LFA) is the most well-established paper-based assay since it is rapid and easy to use. However, the disadvantage of LFA is its lack of sensitivity in some cases where a large sample volume is required, limiting its use as a diagnostic tool.

The targeted delivery of doxorubicin with transferrin-conjugated block copolypeptide vesicles.

We previously investigated the intracellular trafficking properties of our novel poly(l-glutamate)60-b-poly(l-leucine)20 (E60L20) vesicles (EL vesicles) conjugated to transferrin (Tf). In this study, we expand upon our previous work by investigating the drug encapsulation, release, and efficacy properties of our novel EL vesicles for the first time. After polyethylene glycol (PEG) was conjugated to the vesicles for steric stability, doxorubicin (DOX) was successfully encapsulated in the vesicles using a modified pH-ammonium sulfate gradient method.

Time to clinically significant visual acuity gains after ranibizumab treatment for retinal vein occlusion: BRAVO and CRUISE trials.

Purpose: To assess time to first achievement of clinically significant visual acuity (VA) gains from baseline in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) receiving ranibizumab versus sham treatment.

Design: Post hoc analyses of 2 phase 3 clinical trials assessing efficacy and safety of ranibizumab in patients with branch RVO (Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Macular Edema following Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion: Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety [BRAVO] study; NCT00061594) and central RVO (Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Macular Edema after Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Study: Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety [CRUISE]; NCT00056836) over 12 months.

Participants: Seven hundred eighty-nine patients (BRAVO, n = 397; CRUISE, n = 392).

Consumer perceptions about a community pharmacy-based medication take back program.

The stockpiling and improper disposal of unused or expired medications has the potential to harm the environment and humans. Community-based medication take-back programs have been established to ensure proper disposal of unused drugs; however, few of these programs present consumers' perceptions about the program. Therefore, the main aims of this pilot study are 1) to assess the users' and non-users' perceptions about a medication take-back program and 2) to determine if perceptions differ between users and non-users.

Two-year outcomes of the ranibizumab for edema of the mAcula in diabetes (READ-2) study.

Objectives: To determine the long-term effects of ranibizumab (RBZ) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Design: Prospective, randomized, interventional, multicenter clinical trial.

Participants: One hundred twenty-six patients with DME.

Severe eye injuries in the war in Iraq, 2003-2005.

Purpose: To document the incidence and treatment of patients with severe ocular and ocular adnexal injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Design: Retrospective hospital-based observational analysis of injuries.

Participants: All coalition forces, enemy prisoners of war, and civilians with severe ocular and ocular adnexal injuries.

Oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: A pan-European patient survey.

Background: Anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) provides effective stroke prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Optimisation of such therapy requires frequent monitoring, dose adjustments and stringent lifestyle restrictions. We conducted a large multinational survey in patients with chronic AF to gain insights into their perceptions and understanding of VKA use.

Feasibility of telerobotic microsurgical repair of corneal lacerations in an animal eye model.

We evaluated the feasibility of telerobotic microsurgical repair of corneal lacerations. The telerobotic microsurgical device consisted of a Robotic Slave Micromanipulator Unit (RSMU) coupled to a Telepresence Surgical System (TeSS). Five mm central full-thickness corneal wounds were fashioned in five enucleated rabbit eyes and repaired remotely using the telerobotic system.