Does levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system increase breast cancer risk in peri-menopausal women? An HMO perspective.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) use and breast cancer (BC) risk.

Methods: A cohort of all Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) female members aged 40-50 years between 1/2003 and 12/2013 was used to identify LNG-IUS users as "cases," and 2 age-matched non-users as "controls." Exclusion criteria included: prior BC diagnosis, prior (5 years pre-study) and subsequent treatment with other female hormones or prophylactic tamoxifen.

Trends in annual drug expenditure - a 16 year perspective of a public healthcare maintenance organization.

Background: Modern drug therapy accounts for a major share of health expenditure and challenges public provider resources. The objective of our study was to compare drug expenditure trends for ten major drug classes over 16 years at Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS), the 2(nd) largest healthcare organization in Israel.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of drug expenditure per HMO beneficiary between the years 1998-2014.

A Novel Computational Tool for Mining Real-Life Data: Application in the Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Care Setting.

Background: Randomized clinical trials constitute the gold-standard for evaluating new anti-cancer therapies; however, real-life data are key in complementing clinically useful information. We developed a computational tool for real-life data analysis and applied it to the metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) setting. This tool addressed the impact of oncology/non-oncology parameters on treatment patterns and clinical outcomes.

Database evaluation of the effects of long-term rosiglitazone treatment on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Recent meta-analyses suggest an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with rosiglitazone. These meta-analyses have drawn considerable criticisms. Retrospective observational studies do not consistently support this association.

Use of a homeopathic preparation for "infantile colic" and an apparent life-threatening event.

Objective: An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) caused by ingestion of drugs or toxins has been reported rarely among infants. None of these agents was homeopathic medication. We report 11 infants who presented with an ALTE after ingestion of Gali-col Baby, a homeopathic agent indicated for "infantile colic.

Database assessment of the effectiveness of brand versus generic rosiglitazone in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: To compare the effectiveness of brand rosiglitazone maleate (BRM) versus generic rosiglitazone HCl (GRH) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, using computerized records of a healthcare organization. Retrospective, longitudinal database analysis.

Material/methods: Comparison of HbA1C reduction in patients starting treatment with either BRM (n=740) or GRH (n=306) in the years 2004-2005.