Health Savings Accounts: Participation Increased and Was More Common among Individuals with Higher Incomes

[Excerpt] he number of individuals participating in HSA-eligible health plans and HSAs increased significantly between 2004 and 2007; however, in all years, many HSA-eligible plan enrollees did not open an HSA. The number of individuals covered by HSA-eligible plans increased significantly between September 2004 and January 2007 from about 438,000 to approximately 4.5 million, according to industry estimates. Despite the growth, these plans represented a small share of individuals with private health coverage about 2 percent in 2006. The number of tax filers reporting HSA activity also increased, nearly tripling between 2004 and 2005, from about 120,000 to about 355,000. Industry estimates suggest continued growth in HSA participation in 2006 and 2007. Despite the growth in HSA participation, nationally representative survey estimates from 2005, 2006, and 2007 found that more than 40 percent of HSA-eligible health plan enrollees did not open an HSA. Tax filers who reported HSA activity in 2005 had higher incomes on average than other tax filers. Among tax filers between the ages of 19 and 64, the average AGI for filers reporting HSA activity was about $139,000 compared with about$57,000 for all other filers. The income differences existed across all age groups. The total value of all HSA contributions reported to IRS in 2005 was about twice that of withdrawals$754 million compared with$366 million. Among all filers reporting HSA activity in 2005, average contributions were about $2,100, compared to average withdrawals of about$1,000. Survey estimates of the contributions employers made to employees\u27 HSAs in 2007 varied. One employer survey reported average contributions for single coverage of $626 among large employers, while another employer survey reported average contributions for single coverage of$806 among small and large employers. More than a third of surveyed employers that offered HSA-eligible plans made no HSA contributions

Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Insurance Plans: Implications for Those With High Medical Costs, Low Incomes, and the Uninsured

Considers the advantages and disadvantages of health savings accounts and high-deductible health plans, including implications for people with high medical needs and for efforts to contain healthcare costs. Lists alternative cost-containment strategies

Genetic evidence and new morphometric data as essential tools to identify the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus (Pisces, Syngnathidae)

A genetic study to support morphometric analyses was used to improve the description and validate the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus (Syngnathidae) on the basis of a large number of specimens collected in the type locality (San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina). DNA sequence data (from the cytochrome b region of the mitochondrial genome) were used to differentiate this species from its relatives cited for the west Atlantic Ocean. Both phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses supported the hypothesis that H. patagonicus is a species clearly differentiated from others, in agreement with morphometric studies. Hippocampus patagonicus can be distinguished from Hippocampus erectus by the combination of the following morphometric characteristics: (1) in both sexes and all sizes of H. patagonicus, the snout length is always less than the postorbital length, whereas the snout length of H. erectus is not shorter than the postorbital length in the largest specimens; (2) in both sexes of H. patagonicus, the trunk length:total length (LTr:LT) is lower than in H. erectus (in female H. patagonicus: 0·27-0·39, H. erectus: 0·36-0·40 and in male H. patagonicus: 0·24-0·34, H. erectus: 0·33-0·43) and (3) in both sexes, tail length:total length (LTa:LT) in H. patagonicus is larger than in H. erectus (0·61-0·78 v. 0·54-0·64).Fil: González, Raul Alberto Candido. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera Almirante Storni; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dinghi, Pablo Adrián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Corio, C.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Alonso Ismael. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera Almirante Storni; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Maggioni, M.. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera Almirante Storni; ArgentinaFil: Storero, Lorena Pia. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera Almirante Storni; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gosztonyi, Atila Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

Epigenetic regulation of resistance to treatments in triple negative and HER2+ breast cancer: miRNAs involved

[ES] El cáncer de mama es el cáncer más común en mujeres en todo el mundo y la principal causa de muerte por cáncer en mujeres junto al cáncer de pulmón. Este cáncer tiene muy buen pronóstico en general, con una supervivencia del 80%. Sin embargo, el pronóstico del cáncer de mama triple negativo es mucho peor, al no conocerse ninguna diana farmacológica y tratarse de forma inespecífica. La metformina, fármaco prescrito para la diabetes, ha mostrado algunos buenos resultados preliminares como potencial terapia. Por otro lado, el principal tratamiento dirigido de las pacientes HER2+ es el trastuzumab, que neutraliza al receptor HER2 amplificado; sin embargo, un elevado número de pacientes desarrollan resistencias al tratamiento. Los microRNAs son pequeños RNAs no codificantes capaces de regular la expresión génica epigenéticamente, y pueden ser secretados de la célula en vesículas llamadas exosomas. El objetivo de este trabajo es abordar estas dos problemáticas en cáncer de mama. Son necesarios estudios de los mecanismos de acción o resistencia de estos fármacos a través de la regulación epigenética por microRNAs. Queremos determinar la relación del miR-26a y sus dianas con el efecto de la metformina en cáncer de mama triple negativo y estudiar las diferencias de expresión de microRNAs que generan resistencias a trastuzumab en cáncer de mama HER2+, así como estudiar su modo de transmisión entre células. Se realizaron ensayos celulares tratando con metformina las líneas MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 y MCF-7 así como sobreexpresando o inhibiendo miR-26a y se midieron sus dianas teóricas por qPCR. Para las líneas HER2+ se realizó un Affymetrix Genechip miRNA 4.0 microarray comparando líneas SKBR-3wt y BT-474wt con sus respectivas líneas con resistencia generada a trastuzumab y HCC-1954 como resistente innata. Se estudiaron los microRNAs más relevantes del array en las líneas celulares y en pacientes y se comprobó su presencia en exosomas, así como el efecto de los exosomas en la transmisión de la resistencia. La sobreexpresión de miR-26a resultó en una reducción en la viabilidad celular que se recuperó parcialmente al inhibirla. E2F3, MCL-1, EZH2, MTDH y PTEN fueron regulados negativamente por miR-26a y la proteína PTEN también se redujo tras la sobreexpresión de miR-26a. El tratamiento con metformina redujo la viabilidad de las células de cáncer de mama, aumentó la expresión de miR-26a y condujo a una reducción en la expresión de BCL-2, EZH2 y PTEN. La inhibición de miR-26a previene parte del efecto en viabilidad de la metformina y la reducción de la expresión de PTEN y EZH2. En las líneas HER2+, miR-23b-3p y miR-146a-5p fueron los principales candidatos extraídos del array. miR-23b-3p inhibió PTEN significativamente en la línea BT-474. miR-146a-5p aumentó la resistencia de las células SKBR-3 al trastuzumab y su inhibición redujo la resistencia de las SKBR-3r. El aumento de miR-146a-5p en SKBR-3wt tuvo un efecto en ciclo celular aumentando la fase S y la G2/M, inhibiendo la expresión de CDKN1A y aumentando la de CCNB1. Los exosomas de las SKBR-3 contenían miR-146a-5p, con mayores niveles en los de las resistentes (exoR). Los exoR aumentaron la resistencia a trastuzumab, la transición epitelio-mesenquimal y la migración al co-cultivarse con SKBR-3wt, y la angiogénesis en las HUVEC. Nuestros resultados sugieren que el efecto de la metformina está mediado por una mayor expresión de miR-26a y reducción de sus dianas, PTEN y EHZ2. Por tanto, el uso de metformina en el tratamiento del cáncer de mama constituye una prometedora potencial terapia. En HER2+, miR-23b parece provocar resistencia a trastuzumab vía PTEN y miR-146a a través del ciclo celular. Además, miR-146a se transmite en exosomas, que son capaces de reducir la sensibilidad al trastuzumab de las células sensibles y aumentar la TEM, migración y angiogénesis.[EN] Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death in women along with lung cancer. This cancer has a very good general prognosis, with a survival of 80%. However, the prognosis for triple negative breast cancer is much worse, as it has no pharmacological target and treats it nonspecifically. Metformin, a prescribed diabetes drug, has shown some good preliminary results as potential therapy. On the other hand, the main targeted treatment for HER2 + patients is trastuzumab, which neutralizes the amplified HER2 receptor, but a large number of patients experienced resistance to treatment. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are part of epigenetics and are capable of regulating gene expression, and which can be secreted from the cell into vesicles called exosomes. The objective of this work is to address these two problems in breast cancer, which need to study the mechanism of action or resistance of these drugs, through the epigenetics of microRNAs. We want to determine the relationship of miR-26a and its targets with the effect of metformin in triple negative breast cancer and to study the differences in the expression of microRNAs that process resistance to trastuzumab in HER2 + breast cancer, as well as to study its mode of transmission between cells. Cellular assays were performed treating the MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 lines with metformin as well as overexpressing or inhibiting miR-26a, and their theoretical targets were measured by qPCR. For the HER2+ cell lines, an Affymetrix Genechip miRNA 4.0 microarray was performed comparing SKBR-3wt and BT-474wt lines with their respective cell lines with generated resistance to trastuzumab and HCC-1954 as innate resistance. The most relevant microRNAs of the array in cell lines and in patients were studied and their presence in exosomes was verified, as well as the effect of exosomes in the transmission of resistance. The overexpression of miR-26a resulted in a reduction in cell viability that was partially recovered by inhibiting it. E2F3, MCL-1, EZH2, MTDH, and PTEN were down-regulated by miR-26a, and the PTEN protein was also reduced after overexpression of miR-26a. Metformin treatment reduced the viability of breast cancer cells, increased miR-26a expression, and led to a reduction in BCL-2, EZH2, and PTEN expression. Inhibition of miR-26a partly prevents the effect of metformin in viability and the reduction of the expression of PTEN and EZH2. In the HER2+ lines, miR-23b-3p and miR-146a-5p were the main candidates extracted from the array. miR-23b-3p was shown to significantly inhibit PTEN in the BT-474 cell line. miR-146a-5p increased resistance of SKBR-3wt cells to trastuzumab and its inhibition reduced resistance of SKBR-3r. The increase of miR-146a-5p in SKBR-3wt had effect on the cell cycle by increasing the S phase and the G2/M, inhibiting the expression of CDKN1A and increasing CCNB1 levels. Exosomes isolated from SKBR-3 cell lines contained miR-146a-5p, with higher levels in exosomes from the resistant cell line (exoR). The exoR were shown to increase trastuzumab resistance, EMT, and migration when co-cultivated with SKBR-3wt, and angiogenesis when in culture with HUVEC. Our results indicate that metformin effectively reduces breast cancer cell viability and suggests that the effects of the drug are mediated by an increase in miR-26a expression and a reduction of its targets, PTEN and EHZ2. Thus, the use of metformin constitutes a promising potential triple negative breast cancer therapy. In HER2+ breast cancer, miR-23b appears to elicit resistance to trastuzumab via PTEN and miR-146a throughout the cell cycle. Furthermore, miR-146a is transmitted in exosomes, which have been shown to reduce the sensitivity to trastuzumab of sensitive cells and increase EMT, migration, and angiogenesis.[CA] El càncer de mama és el càncer més comú en dones arreu del món i la principal causa de mort per càncer en dones junt amb el càncer de pulmó. Aquest càncer té molt bon pronòstic en general, amb una supervivència del 80%. No obstant això, el pronòstic del càncer de mama triple negatiu és molt pitjor, al no conèixer-se'n cap diana farmacològica i tractar-se de forma inespecífica. La metformina, fàrmac prescrit per a la diabetis, ha mostrat alguns bons resultats preliminars com a potencial teràpia. D'altra banda, el principal tractament dirigit de les pacients HER2+ és el trastuzumab, que neutralitza el receptor HER2 amplificat; tanmateix, un elevat nombre de pacients desenvolupen resistències al tractament. Els microRNAs són xicotets RNAs no codificants capaços de regular l'expressió gènica epigenèticament, i poden ser secretats de la cèl·lula en vesícules anomenades exosomes. L'objectiu d'aquest treball és abordar aquestes dues problemàtiques en càncer de mama. Són necessaris estudis dels mecanismes d'acció o resistència d'aquests fàrmacs a través de la regulació epigenètica per microRNAs. Volem determinar la relació del miR-26a i les seues dianes amb l'efecte de la metformina en càncer de mama triple negatiu i estudiar les diferències d'expressió dels microRNAs que generen resistències al trastuzumab en càncer de mama HER2+, així com estudiar la seua manera de transmissió entre cèl·lules. Es van realitzar assajos cel·lulars tractant amb metformina les línies MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 i MCF-7 així com sobreexpressant o inhibint miR-26a i es van mesurar les seues dianes teòriques per qPCR. Per a les línies HER2+ es va realitzar un Affymetrix Genechip miRNA 4.0 microarray comparant línies SKBR-3wt i BT-474wt amb les seues respectives línies amb resistència generada a trastuzumab i HCC-1954 com resistent innata. Es van estudiar els microRNAs més rellevants de l'array en les línies cel·lulars i en pacients i es va comprovar la seua presència a exosomes, així com l'efecte dels exosomes en la transmissió de la resistència. La sobreexpressió de miR-26a resultà en una reducció de la viabilitat cel·lular que es recuperà parcialment en inhibir-la. E2F3, MCL-1, EZH2, MTDH i PTEN foren regulats negativament per miR-26a i la proteïna PTEN també es va reduir en sobreexpressar miR-26a. El tractament amb metformina va reduir la viabilitat de les cèl·lules de càncer de mama, va augmentar l'expressió de miR-26a i va conduir a una reducció en l'expressió de BCL-2, EZH2 i PTEN. La inhibició de miR-26a prevé part de l'efecte en la viabilitat de la metformina i la reducció de l'expressió de PTEN i EZH2. En les línies HER2+, miR-23b-3p i miR-146a-5p foren els principals candidats extrets de l'array. miR-23b-3p va inhibir PTEN significativament en la línia BT-474. miR-146a-5p va augmentar la resistència de les cèl·lules SKBR-3 al trastuzumab i la seua inhibició va reduir la resistència de les SKBR-3r. L'augment de miR-146a-5p en SKBR-3wt va tindre un efecte en cicle cel·lular augmentant la fase S i la G2/M, inhibint l'expressió de CDKN1A i augmentant la de CCNB1. Els exosomes de les SKBR-3 contenien miR-146a-5p, amb majors nivells en els de les resistents (exoR). Els exoR van augmentar la resistència a trastuzumab, la transició epiteli-mesenquimal i la migració en co-cultivar-los amb SKBR-3wt, i l'angiogènesi de les HUVEC. Els nostres resultats suggereixen que l'efecte de la metformina està intervingut per una major expressió de miR-26a i reducció de les seues dianes, PTEN i EHZ2. Per tant, l'ús de metformina al tractament de el càncer de mama constitueix una prometedora potencial teràpia. En HER2+, miR-23b sembla provocar resistència a trastuzumab mitjançant PTEN i miR-146a a través del cicle cel·lular. A més, miR-146a es transmet en exosomes, que són capaços de reduir la sensibilitat al trastuzumab de les cèl·lules sensibles i augmentar la TEM, migració i angiogènesi.Cabello Navarro, P. (2020). Epigenetic regulation of resistance to treatments in triple negative and HER2+ breast cancer: miRNAs involved [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/153807TESI

Some results on (a:b)-choosability

A solution to a problem of Erd\H{o}s, Rubin and Taylor is obtained by showing that if a graph $G$ is $(a:b)$-choosable, and $c/d > a/b$, then $G$ is not necessarily $(c:d)$-choosable. Applying probabilistic methods, an upper bound for the $k^{th}$ choice number of a graph is given. We also prove that a directed graph with maximum outdegree $d$ and no odd directed cycle is $(k(d+1):k)$-choosable for every $k \geq 1$. Other results presented in this article are related to the strong choice number of graphs (a generalization of the strong chromatic number). We conclude with complexity analysis of some decision problems related to graph choosability

Biochemical mapping of the measles virus H and F envelope glycoprotein protein-protein interface

The Paramyxoviridae family includes several viruses that are important to human health, including measles virus. The envelope glycoproteins are essential for attachment and entry of the virus into the host cell [1, 2]. To develop novel therapeutics against the virus, detailed knowledge of envelope glycoprotein protein-protein interaction is important. The goal of this study is to characterize the MeV entry machinery on a molecular level. Interaction of haemaglutinin (H) and fusion (F) protein in pre-fusion form can be biochemically detected with DTSSP. To map the interaction site of H and F protein in pre-fusion form, we have mutated lysine (K) to arginine (R) in the F protein, and examined surface expression. The mutated F was still expressed on the surface and amount of surface expression correlated with fusion activity. The altered F proteins produced in this study will be used to further characterize the H-F interaction

Health Savings Accounts: Participation Increased and Was More Common among Individuals with Higher Incomes

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "With health care spending increasing in the United States, you enacted legislation effective in 2004 establishing tax advantaged health savings accounts (HSA) to be coupled with high-deductible health insurance plans. HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans typically have lower premiums than traditional health plans and HSAs allow account holders to accumulate tax-free savings to pay for medical expenses. The novel structure of HSA-eligible plans coupled with HSAs has raised questions about who selects them and how they use the accounts. Proponents contend that the low premiums of HSA-eligible plans and the tax-free savings potential of HSAs appeal to many consumers, while the high deductibles encourage them to be more astute health care consumers. However, some critics are concerned that HSA-eligible plans may attract enrollees who seek lower premiums but lack the resources to contribute to an HSA, and wealthy enrollees who may seek to use the HSA primarily to accumulate tax-advantaged savings rather than pay for medical expenses. In a 2006 report, GAO described individuals' early experiences with HSA-eligible plans and HSAs and certain characteristics of HSA account holders. You asked us to update certain information from that report with more recently available data. For this report, GAO examined: (1) participation in HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans and HSAs, (2) the income characteristics of HSA account holders, and (3) contributions made to and withdrawals made from HSAs.

Las páginas tapiz hebreas a partir de sus textos

This essay examines the texts displayed in the form of micrography that are found in the carpet pages of two early Hebrew biblical codices, i.e. the Cairo Codex of the Prophets and the Leningrad Codex (B19a), in order to analyse their possible relevance with regard to evaluating and understanding the function of the Hebrew carpet pages. A reading of all those texts reveals a comprehensible content, which has not lost its functionality as a message transmitter. The reading also reveals that the kind of text most often used is that of the Masora. From these results, it is possible to conclude that the purpose of the carpet pages is both decorative and textual. The carpet pages play the same role as the manuscript margins: to hold the extratextual material concerning the sacred text.En este artículo se examinan los textos escritos en forma de decoraciones micrográficas que aparecen en las llamadas páginas tapiz de dos de los códices bíblicos hebreos más antiguos, el códice de Profetas de el Cairo y el códice de Leningrado (B19a), para analizar su posible relevancia en la evaluación y comprensión de las páginas tapiz hebreas. La lectura de estos textos revela un contenido comprensible, lleno de sentido, que no ha perdido su función como transmisor de un mensaje. También revela que el tipo de texto más usado es el de la Masora. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados, se puede concluir que la finalidad de las páginas tapiz es doble, decorativa y funcional. Estas páginas desempeñan la misma función que los márgenes de los manuscritos: recoger el material extra textual relativo al texto bíblico hebreo