Determinants of quality of care and treatment initiation in Medicare disabled patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Aligning with a national priority to bridge health disparities in disadvantaged populations, we explored contextual determinants of pretreatment quality of care and treatment receipt of Medicare disabled patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: We used Medicare claims (2006-2009) linked to the Area Health Resource Files. Ordinal partial proportional odds and weighted modified Poisson regressions were used to model the determinants of quality care receipt and interferon-based treatment, respectively.

The treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus with agents approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The management of type 1 diabetes remains a challenge for clinicians. Current practice is to administer insulin analogues to best mimic normal physiological insulin profiles. However, despite our best efforts the majority of individuals with type 1 diabetes continue to suffer from suboptimal glucose control, significant hypoglycemia and microvascular tissue complications of the disease.

The pharmacogenetic control of antiplatelet response: candidate genes and CYP2C19.

Introduction: Aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor are antiplatelet agents for the prevention of ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and other indications. Variability in response is observed to different degrees with these agents, which can translate to increased risks for adverse cardiovascular events. As such, potential pharmacogenetic determinants of antiplatelet pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical outcomes have been actively studied.