The Effects of Drug Subsidies on Out-of Pocket Prescription Drug Expenditures by Seniors: Regional Evidence from Canada

Between 1970 and 1986 all Canadian provinces introduced some version of a prescription drug subsidy for those age 65 or over and since 1986, all the provinces have increased copayments or deductibles to some degree. Employing a first-order approximation to the welfare gains from a subsidy, we find evidence that these subsidies have been less redistributive than an absolute per household cash transfer but slightly more redistributive than a transfer that would increase each household's income by the same percentage. Such evidence may have relevance for predicting the redistributive effects of a potential national prescription drug plan for seniors in the United States.prescription drug subsidies; incidence; redistribution; progressivity

The Effects of Drug Subsidies on Out-of Pocket Prescription Drug Expenditures by Seniors: Regional Evidence from Canada

Between 1970 and 1986 all Canadian provinces introduced some version of a prescription drug subsidy for those age 65 or over and since 1986, all the provinces have increased copayments or deductibles to some degree. Employing a first-order approximation to the welfare gains from a subsidy, we find evidence that these subsidies have been less redistributive than an absolute per household cash transfer but slightly more redistributive than a transfer that would increase each household's income by the same percentage. Such evidence may have relevance for predicting the redistributive effects of a potential national prescription drug plan for seniors in the United States.Prescription drug subsidies; Incidence; Redistribution; Progressivity

Antimicrobial Compounds in Different Botanical Families

The use of and search for drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have accelerated in recent years. Ethnopharmacologists, botanists, microbiologists, and natural-products chemists are combing the Earth for phytochemicals and “leads” which could be developed for treatment of infectious diseases. While 25 to 50% of current pharmaceuticals are derived from plants, none are used as antimicrobials. Traditional healers have long used plants to prevent or cure infectious conditions; Western medicine is trying to duplicate their successes. Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites, such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which have been found in vitro to have antimicrobial properties

Investigation of Cytotoxic Effect of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.) Fruit

The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxic effect of black mulberry fruit extract (Morus nigra L.) on human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and prostate cancer (PC3) cell lines. The extract prepared from mulberry (M. nigra) fresh fruit was applied to cancer cell lines in 5 different concentrations (1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/75 and 1/100) for 72 hours. At the end of the incubation period, cell viability was determined by MTT (3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Results were compared with negative and positive control groups. The effect of mulberry (M. nigra) fruit extract on cell viability was determined depending on the concentration applied; extract showed a significant cytotoxic effect on PC3 cell line at the 1/10 concentration compared to the control group, but not detected any effect at 1/25, 1/50, 1/75 and 1/100 concentrations. In the MDA-MB-231 cell line, there was a high cytotoxic effect at a concentration of 1/10 compared to the control group, while a lower effect was observed at 1/25, 1/50, 1/75 and 1/100 concentrations. The data obtained from the study showed that extract prepared from black mulberry fruit has cytotoxic effect especially against breast cancer cells

Can mean platelet volume be used as a biomarker for asthma?

Introduction : Platelets play important roles in airway inflammation and are activated in inflammatory lung diseases, including asthma. Aim :We evaluated the mean platelet volume (MPV), used as a marker of platelet activation, in asthmatic patients during asymptomatic periods and exacerbations compared to healthy controls to determine whether MPV can be used as an indicator of inflammation. Material and methods :Our patient group consisted of95 children with exacerbation of asthma who were admitted to our allergy clinic. The control group consisted of 100 healthy children matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. Mean platelet volume values of the patient group obtained during exacerbation of asthma were compared to those of the same group during the asymptomatic period and with the control group. We investigated factors that can affect the MPV values of asthma patients, including infection, atopy, immunotherapy treatment, and severity of asthma exacerbation. Results :The patient group consisted of 50 (52.6%) boys and 45 (47.4%) girls with a mean age of 125 ±38 months old. Mean MPV values in the exacerbation period, the healthy period, and in the control group were 8.1 ±0.8 fl, 8.1 ±1.06 fl, and 8.2 ±0.9 fl, respectively; there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). The severity of asthma, severity of asthma exacerbation, immunotherapy, coinfection, eosinophil count, and IgE level also had no effect on MPV (p > 0.05). Conclusions : Although platelets play a rolein the pathophysiology of asthma, MPV measurement is insufficient to detect inflammation through platelet

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Does Inhaled Salbutamol Before Surfactant Therapy Have Any Beneficial Effect?

Beta (beta)(2) adrenergic receptors are present in alveolar type II cells. Previously, the beneficial effects of inhaled salbutamol treatment on respiratory outcomes were shown in premature infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn. We hypothesized that inhaled salbutamol would increase the effects of surfactant on oxygenation in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Inhaled salbutamol (0.15 mg/kg) or normal saline solution (0.30 ml/kg) was administered as a single dose by micropump nebulizer 10 minutes before the first dose of surfactant (Poractant alfa) treatment in 40 infants with gestational ages ranging from 26 to 36 weeks. The effects of salbutamol therapy were evaluated by determining the duration of respiratory support, number of doses of surfactant, respiratory rate, heart rate, fraction of inspired oxygen, and partial pressure of arterial oxygen before and after salbutamol nebulization. No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups in duration of respiratory support, number of doses of surfactant, respiratory rate, fraction of inspired oxygen, or partial pressure of arterial oxygen. In this study, no significant effect of inhaled salbutamol treatment on the surfactant therapy in premature infants with RDS was detected.WoSScopu

Higher Heart-type Fatty Acid Binding Protein Levels are Related to More Severe and Extensive Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Aim: Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), an early marker of cardiac necrosis, is released rapidly from myocardium as a consequence of ischemic injury. We hypothesized that more severe and extensive coronary atherosclerosis would result in more pronounced myocardial injury and necrosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, we sought the relationship between serum H-FABP levels and the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed using the Gensini score. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with AMI who underwent invasive coronary angiography were divided into 2 groups according to the angiographic Gensini score, namely the moderate to severe CAD group (group 1) and the mild CAD group (group 2). A point of care test and Cardiodetect Quant device were used to detect whether H-FABP was positive and the quantitative measurements. The data obtained from this study were evaluated using the PASW statistic programme. Results: Mean serum H-FABP concentration was significantly higher in group 1 when compared to that in group 2. Furthermore, a strongly positive correlation was found between the Gensini score and serum H-FABP levels. Conclusion: The findings of our study suggest that the quantity of myocardial necrosis demonstrated by serum H-FABP levels is higher in patients with AMI who have more severe and extensive CAD. H-FABP levels are also positively correlated to the Gensini score. We propose that H-FABP, an early marker of myocardial necrosis, may also provide a clue about the severity and extent of CAD, especially in the setting of AMI

Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials and Balance Testing in Children with Down Syndrome

Introduction Vestibular otolith function plays a major role in balance control. Objective To investigate the saccular and balance functions of children with Down syndrome (DS). Methods In total, 15 children with DS aged between 9 and 11 years were included. An age- and gender-matched control group (CG) composed of 15 normal participants was also included. The subjects with DS had trisomy 21, without hearing or organic problems, and they had independence in stance. The saccular function among the children with DS and among the controls was tested using air-conduction cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs). In addition, the static and dynamic balance statuses were evaluated using the following assessments; the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), the Romberg test, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Results In the present study, the results of the saccular function test showed that there was a significant difference between children with and without DS (p < 0.05). The DS subjects had significantly earlier N1 latancy and lower amplitude of the cVEMPs (< 70 μV) compared with the control subjects. The static-dynamic balance ability was statistically and significantly different in children with DS compared with the controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion These results revealed that saccular function seems to be affected in DS subjects. The dysfunction in static and dynamic balance abilities of the children with DS may be attributed to vestibular dysfunction as well as low gross motor skills. This knowledge should be taken into account when assessing motor performance in those subjects. Additional larger studies testing other dimensions of the vestibular system in children with DS are needed

LONG-TERM FOLLOWUP RESULTS OF MITRAL BALLOON VALVULOPLASTY

An n=8 worldsheet superfield action is proposed for describing chiralfermions in the twistor-like formulation of an N=1, D=10 heterotic superstring