Patient Demographics and Clinic Type Are Associated With Patient Engagement Within a Remote Monitoring Program.

Remote physiological monitoring (RPM) is accessible, convenient, relatively inexpensive, and can improve clinical outcomes. Yet, it is unclear in which clinical setting or target population RPM is maximally effective. To determine whether patients' demographic characteristics or clinical settings are associated with data transmission and engagement.

Differences in Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in US Hospitals According to Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Designation and Area Deprivation Index Category.

Disparities in breastfeeding persist placing a greater burden of disease on non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women and infants. Targeted implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in areas at risk for poor breastfeeding outcomes has been shown to improve disparities in breastfeeding. The area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of the relative socioeconomic disadvantage of a neighborhood, may be useful in exploring the accessibility of BFHI hospitals in highly deprived areas and the differences in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in hospitals with and without the BFHI designation across deprivation categories.

Advances in Our Understanding of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Cisplatin in Cancer Therapy.

Cisplatin and other platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs have been used extensively for the treatment of human cancers such as bladder, blood, breast, cervical, esophageal, head and neck, lung, ovarian, testicular cancers, and sarcoma. Cisplatin is commonly administered intravenously as a first-line chemotherapy for patients suffering from various malignancies. Upon absorption into the cancer cell, cisplatin interacts with cellular macromolecules and exerts its cytotoxic effects through a series of biochemical mechanisms by binding to Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and forming intra-strand DNA adducts leading to the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell growth.

Impact of Gene-Environment Interactions on Cancer Development.

Several epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that many human diseases are not only caused by specific genetic and environmental factors but also by gene-environment interactions. Although it has been widely reported that genetic polymorphisms play a critical role in human susceptibility to cancer and other chronic disease conditions, many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are caused by somatic mutations resulting from human exposure to environmental stressors. Scientific evidence suggests that the etiology of many chronic illnesses is caused by the joint effect between genetics and the environment.

Factors Associated with Mental Health Service Utilization Among Ethiopian Immigrants and Refugees.

This study assesses factors associated with mental health service utilization by Ethiopian immigrants and refugees in the U.S. A cross-sectional survey, based on Anderson and Newman's Framework of Health Services, which examines facilitators and barriers of service utilization, was implemented to gather data from 297 Ethiopian immigrants and refugees in the U.

Using qualitative methods to inform the design of a decision aid for people with advanced cystic fibrosis: The InformedChoices CF patient decision aid.

Objective: To assess information needs of adults with Cystic Fibrosis and their families toward designing a patient decision aid about invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and lung transplant.

Methods: Focus groups and in-depth interviews explored participants' knowledge, prior clinical conversations, and decisions about IMV and lung transplant. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed for analysis.

Cost-effectiveness of a peer mentoring intervention to improve disease self-management practices and self-efficacy among African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of the Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-management (PALS) pilot study.

Objective: The Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-management (PALS) program was developed as a peer mentoring tool to improve health behaviors, beliefs, and outcomes in African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aims to assess the cost of the PALS intervention and determine its effectiveness when compared to existing treatments.

Methods: Peer mentors and mentees were paired on shared criteria such as life stage, marital status, or whether they were mothers.

Quality of Diabetes Care Among Recent Immigrants to the USA.

Background: This study investigated the relationship between immigration status and quality of care for patients with diabetes.

Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel (MEPS) dataset between 2002 and 2011 to examine the association between quality of care and immigration status. Quality of care was measured by report of dilated eye exam, foot exam, A1C test, an annual doctor's visit, and having blood pressure checked.

Exosomal survivin facilitates vesicle internalization.

Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family plays a significant role in cell fate and function. It is significantly overexpressed in tumor cells and has been identified in most cancer cell types. A novel extracellular population has recently been identified and its function is still unknown.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Out-of-Pocket Expenses among Adults with Diabetes.

Background: Racial and ethnic minority groups have a higher prevalence of diabetes, increased risk for adverse complications, and worse health outcomes compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Evidence suggests they also have higher healthcare expenses associated with diabetes care. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess racial and ethnic differences in out-of-pocket (OOP) costs among a nationally representative sample of adults with diabetes.

Peripheral Blood Cell Interactions of Cancer-Derived Exosomes Affect Immune Function.

Cancer-derived exosomes are constitutively produced and secreted into the blood and biofluids of their host patients providing a liquid biopsy for early detection and diagnosis. Given their ubiquitous nature, cancer exosomes influence biological mechanisms that are beneficial to the tumor cells where they are produced and the microenvironment in which these tumors exist. Accumulating evidence suggests that exosomes transport proteins, lipids, DNA, mRNA, miRNA and long non coding RNA (lncRNA) for the purpose of cell-cell and cell-extracellular communication.

Acceptability of an Adapted HIV Prevention Intervention for Native American Adolescents.

Relatively few HIV evidence-based interventions (EBIs) among Native Americans have been developed, adapted, evaluated, and/or published in the scientific literature. An adolescent HIV EBI was adapted in three phases: (1) securing input from a Native American Advisory Board; (2) modifying the EBI to be more consistent with Native American culture; and (3) conducing a pilot with 14 Native American adolescents to examine acceptability and cultural congruence between the adapted intervention and the youth's culture based on Likert-scale ratings and a focus group. The adaptations included diverse Native American social and cultural stories that assisted with responsible decision-making skills.

Neighborhood Environmental Health and Premature Death From Cardiovascular Disease.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority groups. Healthy neighborhood conditions are associated with increased uptake of health behaviors that reduce CVD risk, but minority neighborhoods often have poor food access and poor walkability. This study tested the community-driven hypothesis that poor access to food at the neighborhood level and poor neighborhood walkability are associated with racial disparities in premature deaths from CVD.

Trends in healthcare expenditure among people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States: evidence from 10 Years of nationally representative data.

Background: While previous studies have examined HIV cost expenditures within the United States, the majority of these studies focused on data collected prior to or shortly after the advent and uptake of antiretroviral therapy, focused only on a short time frame, or did not provide cost comparisons between HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions. It is critical that researchers provide accurate and updated information regarding the costs of HIV care to assist key stakeholders with economic planning, policy development, and resource allocation.

Methods: We used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component for the years 2002-2011, which represents a nationally representative U.

Diabetes fatalism and its emotional distress subscale are independent predictors of glycemic control among Lebanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Achieving and sustaining optimal glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is difficult because of socio-cultural and psychosocial factors including diabetes fatalism. Diabetes fatalism is 'a complex psychological cycle characterized by perceptions of despair, hopelessness, and powerlessness'. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether diabetes fatalism and other psychosocial and socio-cultural variables are correlates of glycemic control in Lebanese population with T2DM.

Therapeutic Application of Natural Medicine Monomers in Cancer Treatment.

Background: Natural medicine monomers (NMMs) isolated from plants have been recognized for their roles in treating different human diseases including cancers. Many NMMs exhibit effective anti-cancer activities and can be used as drugs or adjuvant agents to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some NMMs, such as paclitaxel and camptothecin, have been extensively studied for decades and are now used as anti-cancer medicines due to their remarkable curative effects, such as inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, and inducing cell death and differentiation.

Predictors of Diabetes Fatalism Among Arabs: A Cross-Sectional Study of Lebanese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

Fatalism is a grounded cultural belief that is common among Arabs and is known to hinder self-care in chronic diseases including diabetes (Nabolsi and Carson in Scand J Caring Sci 25(4):716-724, 2011). The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of diabetes fatalism in this population. Data on 280 Lebanese patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 58.

Trends in sex differences in the receipt of quality of care indicators among adults with diabetes: United States 2002-2011.

Background: Evidence suggests disparities in quality of care (QoC) indicators based on sex exist in adults diagnosed with diabetes; however, this research is limited. Therefore, the objective of this research study was to assess differences in QOC indicators in a nationally representative sample of men and women with diabetes.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 17,702 men and women (≥18 years of age) with diabetes from the 2002-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component.

Differential protein expression in exosomal samples taken from trauma patients.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are among the most misdiagnosed and underreported types of head trauma. The potential long-term impact of undiagnosed or incorrectly identified concussions and other head injuries are potentially devastating, as evidenced by the increasing societal burden exhibited by soldiers returning from combat and athletes in contact sports. Concussions and TBI are notoriously difficult to correctly diagnose and prognosis for these injuries is poorly understood.

Trends in healthcare expenditure in United States adults with chronic kidney disease: 2002-2011.

Background: This study examines trends in healthcare expenditure in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other kidney diseases (OKD) in the U.S. from 2002 to 2011.

Trends in health care expenditure among US adults with heart failure: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2002-2011.

Unlabelled: Population-based national data on the trends in expenditures related to heart failure (HF) are scarce. Assessing the time trends in health care expenditures for HF in the United States can help to better define the burden of this condition.

Methods: Using 10-year data (2002-2011) from the national Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (weighted sample of 188,708,194US adults aged ≥18years) and a 2-part model (adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and time); we estimated adjusted mean and incremental medical expenditures by HF status.

Trends of medical expenditures and quality of life in US adults with diabetes: the medical expenditure panel survey, 2002-2011.

Background: Studies indicate a relationship between cost and quality of life (QOL) in diabetes care, however, the interaction is complex and the relationship is not well understood. The aim of this study was to 1) examine the relationship of quartiles of QOL on cost amongst U.S.

Sex differences in healthcare expenditures among adults with diabetes: evidence from the medical expenditure panel survey, 2002-2011.

Background: The evidence assessing differences in medical costs between men and women with diabetes living in the United States is sparse; however, evidence suggests women generally have higher healthcare expenditures compared to men. Since little is known about these differences, the aim of this study was to assess differences in out-of-pocket (OOP) and total healthcare expenditures among adults with diabetes.

Methods: Data were used from 20,442 adults (≥18 years of age) with diabetes from the 2002-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.