Summersbateman8112
OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with contraceptive uptake among participants in a miscarriage management clinical trial. STUDY DESIGN We performed a secondary analysis of a multi-center, randomized controlled trial of medical management regimens for miscarriage between 5 and 12 completed weeks. Pregnancy intention was measured by patient report after miscarriage diagnosis. Participants were offered contraception in accordance with standard clinical care once their miscarriage was completed. We analyzed participants as a cohort and fit a multivariable model to describe demographic characteristics and pregnancy intentions independently associated with contraceptive uptake. RESULTS Of 244 participants with available contraceptive outcomes, 121 (50%) stated that this pregnancy was planned, and 218 (90%) stated that they had planned to continue the pregnancy to term. Ninety-seven participants (40%) initiated contraception 33 (14%) selected a long-acting reversible method, 44 (18%) a short-acting reversiblng this clinically to predict contraceptive need. Future research should examine how best to measure pregnancy intention and its relationship to the experience of miscarriage. OBJECTIVE Low Medicaid reimbursement rates have been cited as a key threat to abortion clinic sustainability in the United States. This study examines differences between Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements for abortion and miscarriage management procedures under a fee-for-service (FFS) model. STUDY DESIGN Using 2017 Medicaid and Medicare Physician fee schedules, we extracted reimbursement data for the two most commonly-billed abortion procedures and two miscarriage management procedures for 45 states and the District of Columbia (DC). We compared Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates for each procedure by state. RESULTS Medicaid reimbursement rates for both procedures varied widely across the states. Medicaid rates for second-trimester abortion procedures had the widest range; $79 to $626. Median Medicaid reimbursement rates were lower than median Medicare rates for first- and second-trimester abortion procedures. Median reimbursement rates for first-trimester induced abortion were lower than median reipanding Medicaid coverage of abortion. INTRODUCTION Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is an injectable agent used to treat Peyronie's disease (PD) by enzymatically degrading the interstitial collagen in plaques. CCH has been administered via multiple treatment protocols, in combination therapies, to patients with varying curvatures and in both the acute and stable phases of this condition. OBJECTIVES To review the current literature and provide an update on CCH as an injectable therapy for PD, as a singular therapy or in conjunction with combination therapies, and its associated complications. We provide a brief background of PD treatments, evaluate CCH efficacy in penile curvature reduction and subjective improvement in a variety of protocols, and compare combination therapies (penile traction, sildenafil), plaque location, and efficacy in both acute and stable diseases. METHODS We performed a systematic review of the existing PubMed literature pertaining to CCH injection therapy in the treatment of PD and compared the effectiveness to dn the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease (an Update). Sex Med 2020;XXXXX-XXX. INTRODUCTION The homodigital antegrade island flap pedicled on the proper palmar digital artery is very useful for covering fingertip defects. However, it has its drawbacks, such as the risk of stiffness due to retractile scars and the need for extensive dissection with long-lasting dysesthesia in some cases. In clinical studies, expanding the skin paddle with V-shaped incisions increases the flap's advancement. We wanted to know whether making these V incisions for paddle expansion would make dissection on the volar side of the proximal interphalangeal joint unnecessary. METHODS A cadaver study was performed with four fresh-frozen upper limbs. Sequential dissection was carried out on 32 flaps, allowing us to compare the advancement obtained and the area of the flap's paddle between each step. RESULTS Crossing the palmar crease of the proximal interphalangeal joint provides only 2mm advancement of the homodigital antegrade flap. Adding one or two V-shaped incisions in the flap with limited dissection provides additional advancement of 4.1mm (p less then 0.05) and 6.9mm (p less then 0.05) relative to the standard flap. DISCUSSION Our study shows the possibility of increasing the homodigital antegrade flap's advancement - without having to extend the dissection proximally to the PIP joint - by making V-shaped incisions in the paddle. Based on our findings, we have proposed a new flap dissection sequence. BACKGROUND Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is used for evaluating gonadal development and testicular function. We aimed to establish AMH reference intervals and to determine the correlations between AMH level and age, body mass index (BMI), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and total testosterone (TT) levels in healthy Chinese boys. METHODS Serum AMH levels of 2,009 healthy boys (age, 0-14 years), recruited between October 2017 and April 2019, were determined using the Beckman Access 2 automated chemiluminescence immunoassay. Single-year-specific median, mean, and standard deviation (SD) of AMH and effects of age, BMI, FSH, LH, and TT on the AMH level were analyzed. RESULTS The median and mean ± SD values of AMH increased slightly after birth. Serum AMH values decreased sharply at 2 years of age and were 6-7% of the birth level at 12 years, after which they remained low. Age-specific AMH reference intervals were established. Significant negative correlations were observed between AMH level and age (r = -0.75, P less then 0.001); serum AMH levels were moderately negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.35, P less then 0.001), FSH (r = -0.37, P less then 0.001), and TT (r = -0.45, P less then 0.001) levels; and correlation with LH (r = -0.18, P less then 0.001) was the weakest. In contrast, correlations between AMH and the LH/FSH ratio were not observed. CONCLUSION We established single-year-specific reference intervals for AMH in Chinese boys. Our findings revealed the changes in AMH secretion during normal male growth, and may provide a basis for the clinical use of AMH. BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke can induce changes in mitochondrial morphology and function. As a regulatory gene in mitochondria, optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and other related functions. However, its roles in cerebral ischemia-related conditions are barely understood. METHODS Cultured rat primary cortical neurons were respectively transfected with OPA1-v1ΔS1-encoding and OPA1-v1-encoding lentivirus before exposure to 2-h oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and subsequent reoxygenation (OGD/R). Adult male SD rats received an intracranial injection of AAV-OPA1-v1ΔS1 and were subjected to 90 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) followed by reperfusion. OPA1 expression and function were detected by in vitro and in vivo assays. RESULTS OPA1 was excessively cleaved after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, both in vitro and in vivo. Under OGD/R condition, compared with that of the LV-OPA1-v1-treated group, the expression of OPA1-v1ΔS1 efficiently restored L-OPA1 level and alleviated neuronal death and mitochondrial morphological damage. Meanwhile, the expression of OPA1-v1ΔS1 markedly improved cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced motor function damage, attenuated brain infarct volume, neuronal apoptosis, mitochondrial bioenergetics deficits, oxidative stress, and restored the morphology of mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial length. It also preserved the mitochondrial integrity and reinforced the mtDNA content and expression of mitochondrial biogenesis factors in ischemic rats. INTERPRETATION Our results demonstrate that the stabilization of L-OPA1 protects ischemic brains by reducing neuronal apoptosis and preserving mitochondrial function, suggesting its significance as a promising therapeutic target for stroke prevention and treatment. V.BACKGROUND Surgical repair of concomitant functional moderate tricuspid valve (TV) regurgitation at the time of mitral valve (MV) surgery remains controversial. AIM The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of concomitant repair of functional moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) during MV surgery for rheumatic valve disease. METHOD From 1998 to 2016, 1,240 patients had rheumatic MV disease associated with moderate functional TR 974 patients had MV surgery and concomitant TV repair (group 1) and 266 patients had MV surgery alone (group 2). Study endpoints were operative outcomes, rehospitalisation for congestive heart failure (CHF), and TV reintervention. Propensity score matching identified 192 well-matched pairs for outcomes comparison. RESULTS Patients who had concomitant TV repair were younger (p=0.02) and there were fewer diabetics (p=0.015). In matched patients, low cardiac output was significantly higher in group 2 (p=0.044) and there was no difference in ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, cardiopulmonary bypass, and ischaemic times (p=0.480, p=0.797, p=0.232, and p=0.550, respectively) between groups. Patients in group 2 required more TV reintervention (1 vs 35 in group 1 and 2, respectively; p=0.004) and rehospitalisation for CHF (5 vs 40 in group 1 and 2, respectively; p less then 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Concomitant TV repair for moderate TR in patients undergoing rheumatic MV surgery was not associated with increased operative risk. Postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and the risk of late TV reinterventions and rehospitalisation for CHF were lower with TV repair. Concomitant repair of the moderate TV regurgitation maybe beneficial for patients undergoing rheumatic MV surgery. OBJECTIVES Polypharmacy (≥5 concurrent medications) is common among older patients with cancer (48%-80%) and associated with increased frailty, morbidity, and mortality. This study examined the relationship between polypharmacy and inpatient hospitalization among older adults with cancer treated with intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The main data source was the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked files. Patients (≥65 years) were included if they were diagnosed with prostate (n = 1430), breast (n = 5490), or lung cancer (n = 7309) in 1991-2013 and received IV chemotherapy in 2011-2014. The number of medications during the six-month window pre-IV chemotherapy initiation determined polypharmacy status. Negative binomial models were used to assess the association between polypharmacy and post-chemotherapy inpatient hospitalization. The results were presented as incidence rate ratios. RESULTS We identified 13,959 patients with prostate, breast, or lung cancer treated with IV chemotherapy. The median number of prescription medications during the six-month window pre-IV chemotherapy initiation was high ten among patients with prostate cancer, nine among patients with breast cancer, and eleven among patients with lung cancer. Compared to patients taking less then 5 prescriptions, post-chemotherapy hospitalization rate for patients with prostate cancer was 42%, 75%, and 114% higher among those taking 5-9, 10-14, and 15+ medications, respectively. Patients with breast and lung cancer demonstrated similar patterns. CONCLUSION This large population-based study found that polypharmacy during the six-month window pre-IV chemotherapy is highly predictive of post-chemotherapy inpatient hospitalization. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether medication management interventions can reduce post-chemotherapy inpatient hospitalization among older patients with cancer. AZD9291 purchase