A cost-effective plan for global testing - an infection rate stratified, algorithm guided, multiple-level, continuously pooled testing strategy.

The most effective measure to prevent or stop the spread of infectious diseases is the early identification and isolation of infected individuals through comprehensive screening. At present, in the COVID-19 pandemic, such screening is often limited to isolated regions as determined by local governments. Screening of potentially infectious individuals should be conducted through coordinated national or global unified actions.

Clinical Outcomes and Health-Care Resource Use Associated With Reslizumab Treatment in Adults With Severe Eosinophilic Asthma in Real-World Practice.

Background: Reslizumab, an anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody, is indicated as add-on maintenance treatment for adults with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Research Question: What are the real-world outcomes associated with reslizumab use in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma in a US clinical practice?

Study Design And Methods: In this retrospective study, patient-level data from adults treated with reslizumab were obtained from center- and panel-based medical chart reviews. Eligible patients had available medical records and treatment history for ≥ 6 months before initiation of reslizumab treatment (index date) to ≥ 7 months after reslizumab initiation.

Association of antipsychotic treatment switching in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar, and major depressive disorders.

To evaluate the association of relapse and healthcare resource utilization in patients with schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD), or major depressive disorder (MDD) who switched antipsychotic medication versus those who did not. Medicaid claims from six US states spanning six years were retrospectively analyzed for antipsychotic switching versus non-switching. For all patients with SZ, BD, or MDD, and for the subset of patients who also had ≥1 extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) diagnosis at baseline, times to the following outcomes were analyzed: underlying disease relapse, other psychiatric relapse, all-cause emergency room (ER) visit, all-cause inpatient (IP) admission, and EPS diagnosis.

Economic Burden of Illness Among Commercially Insured Patients with Systemic Sclerosis with Interstitial Lung Disease in the USA: A Claims Data Analysis.

Introduction: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of scleroderma/systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, the direct and indirect economic burdens of SSc-ILD remain unclear. This study assessed and compared healthcare resource utilization (HRU), direct healthcare costs, work loss, and indirect costs between patients with SSc-ILD and matched controls with neither SSc nor ILD in the USA.

Economic Burden among Commercially Insured Patients with Systemic Sclerosis in the United States.

Objective: To quantify healthcare resource utilization (HRU), work loss, and annual direct and indirect healthcare costs among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) compared to matched controls in the United States.

Methods: Data were obtained from a large US commercial claims database. Patients were ≥ 18 years old at the index date (first SSc diagnosis) and had ≥ 1 SSc diagnosis in the inpatient (IP) or emergency room (ER) setting, or ≥ 2 SSc diagnoses on 2 different dates in the outpatient (OP) setting between January 1, 2005, and March 31, 2015; continuous enrollment was required during the followup period (12 months after the index date).

Resting MAPK expression in chronically trained endurance runners.

Purpose: There is a paucity of research investigating the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in chronically trained (CT) athletes. Thus, it is unclear how MAPK may contribute to performance and muscle adaptation in CT subjects. The purpose of this study was to determine MAPK total protein, and phosphorylated expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38-MAPK (p38) between untrained, and chronically trained runners.

Changes in resting mitogen-activated protein kinases following resistance exercise overreaching and overtraining.

Purpose: Many physiological maladaptations persist after overreaching and overtraining resistance exercise (RE). However, no studies have investigated changes in mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) after overtraining in humans, despite their critical role regulating exercise-induced muscular adaptations. The purpose of this study was to describe the changes in total and resting phosphorylation status of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun NH-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38-MAPK following a period of RE overreaching or overtraining.

A Systematic Review of Adolescent Self-Management and Weight Loss.

Introduction: The aim of this review is to evaluate self-management interventions among overweight and obese adolescents to direct future research and practice.

Methods: Studies published between 2008 and 2014 were identified by electronic database searches. The Jadad Scoring of Quality Reports of Randomized Clinical Trials was used to evaluate the quality of the studies with subsequent reviews.

Comparative efficacy and incremental cost per responder of methotrexate versus apremilast for methotrexate-naïve patients with psoriasis.

Background: To our knowledge, no clinical trials directly compare apremilast with methotrexate (the standard of care for initial systemic treatment of psoriasis).

Objective: We sought to compare apremilast's relative efficacy with that of methotrexate for moderate to severe psoriasis.

Methods: An anchor-based indirect comparison was conducted for 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score from baseline to week 16 (PASI 75) rates for systemic-naïve patients from Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of apreMilast in psoriasis (ESTEEM) 1 and 2 (apremilast vs placebo) and Comparative study of HumirA vs.

Resting extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 expression following a continuum of chronic resistance exercise training paradigms.

Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) moderates skeletal muscle growth; however, chronic responses of this protein to unique resistance exercise (RE) paradigms are yet to be explored. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the long-term response of ERK1/2 following circuit weight training (CWT), recreationally weight training (WT), powerlifting (PL) and weightlifting (WL). Independent t-tests were used to determine differences in trained groups compared to sedentary controls.

Reliability and Validity of the Physical Education Activities Scale.

Background: Measuring adolescent perceptions of physical education (PE) activities is necessary in understanding determinants of school PE activity participation. This study assessed reliability and validity of the Physical Education Activities Scale (PEAS), a 41-item visual analog scale measuring high school adolescent perceptions of school PE activity participation.

Methods: Adolescents (N = 529) from the Pacific Northwest aged 15-19 in grades 9-12 participated in the study.

Building consensus for provision of breathlessness rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure.

The study aimed to gain consensus on key priorities for developing breathlessness rehabilitation services for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF). Seventy-four invited stakeholders attended a 1-day conference to review the evidence base for exercise-based rehabilitation in COPD and CHF. In addition, 47 recorded their views on a series of statements regarding breathlessness rehabilitation tailored to the needs of both patient groups.

Effects of Exercise on Select Biomarkers and Associated Outcomes in Chronic Pain Conditions: Systematic Review.

Background: Chronic pain is highly prevalent. Current management is challenged by lack of validated objective measures like biological markers. Clinical pain studies employing exercise interventions have evaluated biomarkers; however, it is unclear how exercise impacts biomarkers involved in pain pathways and whether these markers are associated with relevant pain-related outcomes.

Glycemic and Cholesterol Control Versus Single-Goal Control in US Veterans with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Introduction: A majority of patients with diabetes do not have levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) under control, either individually or in combination. The objective was to assess the clinical benefits and patient characteristics associated with dual-goal achievement [HbA1c <7% (53 mmol/mol) and LDL-C <100 mg/dL] versus only LDL-C goal achievement in adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with ≥2 measures of LDL-C and HbA1c were identified in the South Central Veterans Affairs Health Care Network (01/2004-06/2010).

One-year and long-term molecular response to nilotinib and dasatinib for newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia: a matching-adjusted indirect comparison.

Background: Nilotinib and dasatinib have shown superior rates of molecular response (MR) compared to imatinib for the treatment of newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP). This study indirectly compares MR in patients taking nilotinib 300 mg bid with that in those taking dasatinib 100 mg qd by 12 months and through 48 months.

Methods: Patients in ENESTnd were re-weighted to match published baseline characteristics reported for DASISION using a propensity score model.

Real-world patterns of endocrine therapy for metastatic hormone-receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer patients in the United States: 2002-2012.

Objective: Clinical guidelines recommend that patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC), the most prevalent mBC subtype, receive three lines of endocrine therapy (ET) prior to transitioning to chemotherapy (CT) in the absence of need for rapid response, symptomatic visceral disease, or suspected endocrine resistance. Little is known about real-world ET treatment patterns among HR+/HER2- mBC patients.

Research Design And Methods: Post-menopausal women with HR+/HER2- mBC were identified in the MarketScan databases (2002Q3-2012Q2).

Clinical and economic benefits associated with the achievement of both HbA1c and LDL cholesterol goals in veterans with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: This study compared the clinical and economic benefits associated with dual-goal achievement, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)<7% (53 mmol/mol) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C)<100 mg/dL, with achievement of only the LDL-C goal or only the HbA1c goal in veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Research Design And Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis evaluated electronic medical records (Veterans Integrated Service Network 16) in adult T2DM patients with two or more measurements of LDL-C and HbA1c between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2010 (N=75,646). Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare microvascular and cardiovascular outcomes by goal achievement status; generalized linear regression models were used to assess diabetes-related resource utilization (hospitalization days and number of outpatient visits) and medical service costs.

High-power resistance exercise induces MAPK phosphorylation in weightlifting trained men.

Power is critical to muscle performance, specifically in athletic populations. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK 1/2), p38, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK)) are intracellular signal transduction mechanisms that partially regulate exercise-induced skeletal muscle alterations. These pathways are highly responsive to exercise, but their reaction to high power, multi-joint resistance exercise is yet to be examined.

Psychometric characteristics of the physical education activities scale.

Measuring adolescent perceptions of physical education (PE) activities is necessary in understanding determinants of school PE activity participation. The purpose of this study was to test initial estimates of reliability and validity of a new scale assessing high school adolescent perceptions of school PE activity with the Physical Education Activities Scale (PEAS). The 41-item visual analog scale consisted of 6 subscales: Self-Efficacy, PE Enjoyment, Personal Factors Influencing PE Participation, Behavioral Control, Barriers, and Subjective Norms that were tested on a sample (N = 90) interurban high school adolescents Grades 9-12.

Pulse wave velocity and age- and gender-dependent aortic wall hardening in fowl.

Before sexual maturation, chickens (Gallus gallus) show high blood pressure (BP) and neointimal plaques in the lower abdominal aortae (AbA). We investigated age/sex-related changes in pulse wave velocity (PWV), elastin, collagen, and protein levels in AbA, and cardiac morphology to determine whether PWV increases during incremental increases in BP of maturing fowl, while arterial stiffness becomes dominant with aging. PWV (m/s) was significantly greater in male chicks (6-7 weeks, 9.

Sustaining a healthy work force in the 21st century--a model for collaborating through reciprocation.

Occupational health nurses are positioned to restore and maintain worker health, well-being, and safety, thereby increasing productivity. A model of practice is needed that provides a comprehensive worker-environment perspective. A model that incorporates reciprocation and collaboration increases workers' engagement in their own health action plan.

Laminin-induced activation of Rac1 and JNKp46 is initiated by Src family kinases and mimics the effects of skeletal muscle contraction.

Binding of laminin to dystroglycan in the dystrophin glycoprotein complex causes signaling through dystroglycan-syntrophin-grb2-SOS1-Rac1-PAK1-JNK. Laminin binding also causes syntrophin tyrosine phosphorylation to initiate signaling. The kinase responsible was investigated here.

Ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes: effect of hyperglycemia on beta-cell function and skeletal muscle insulin signaling.

Objective: To determine the underlying mechanism for the severe and transient beta-cell dysfunction and impaired insulin action in obese African American patients with ketosis-prone diabetes.

Methods: The effect of sustained hyperglycemia (glucotoxicity) and increased free fatty acids (lipotoxicity) on beta-cell function was assessed by changes in insulin secretion during a 20-hour glucose (200 mg/m2 per minute) and a 48-hour Intralipid (40 mL/h) infusion, respectively. Insulin-activated signaling pathways and pattern of Akt-1 and Akt-2 expression and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation were analyzed in skeletal muscle biopsy specimens.