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Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024
PubMed: 38903986
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1278771 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024To reduce the burden of patients' medical care, the Xuzhou Municipal Government has initiated an exploratory study on the supply model and categorized management of...
BACKGROUND
To reduce the burden of patients' medical care, the Xuzhou Municipal Government has initiated an exploratory study on the supply model and categorized management of nationally negotiated drugs. This study aims to understand the extent to which Xuzhou's 2021 reform of the National Drug Price Negotiation (NDPN) policy has had a positive impact on the healthcare costs of individuals with different types of health insurance.
METHODS
The Interrupted Time Series Analysis method was adopted, and the changes in average medical expenses per patient, average medical insurance payment cost per patient and actual reimbursement ratio were investigated by using the data of single-drug payments in Xuzhou from October 2020 to October 2022.
RESULTS
Following the implementation of the policy, there was a significant decrease in the average medical expenses per patient of national drug negotiation in Xuzhou, with a reduction of 62.42 yuan per month ( < 0.001). Additionally, the average medical insurance payment cost per patient decreased by 44.13 yuan per month ( = 0.01). Furthermore, the average medical expenses per patient of urban and rural medical insurance participants decreased by 63.45 yuan ( < 0.001), and the average monthly medical insurance payment cost per patient decreased by 57.56 yuan ( < 0.04). However, the mean total medical expenditures for individuals enrolled in employee medical insurance decreased by 63.41 yuan per month ( < 0.001), whereas the monthly decrease was 22.11 yuan per month ( = 0.21). On the other hand, there was no discernible change in the actual reimbursement ratio.
CONCLUSION
After the adoption of the NDPN policy, a noticeable decline has been observed in the average medical expenses per patient and the mean cost of the average medical insurance payment per patient, although to a limited extent. Notably, the reduction in employee medical insurance surpasses that of urban and rural medical insurance.
Topics: Humans; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; China; Drug Costs; Negotiating; Health Expenditures; Health Care Reform; Insurance, Health; Health Policy
PubMed: 38903594
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1381786 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024The economic crisis that began in 2008 has severely affected Southern (Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain) Western European (SWE) countries of Western Europe (WE) and may...
BACKGROUND
The economic crisis that began in 2008 has severely affected Southern (Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain) Western European (SWE) countries of Western Europe (WE) and may have affected ongoing efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of the economic crisis on the burden of HBV and HCV disease.
METHODS
Global Burden of Diseases 2019 data were used to analyse the rates of epidemiological metrics of HBV and HCV acute and chronic infections in SWE and WE. Time series modelling was performed to quantify the impact of healthcare expenditure on the time trend of HBV and HCV disease burden in 2000-2019.
RESULTS
Declining trends in incidence and prevalence rates of acute HBV (aHBV) and chronic HBV were observed in SWE and WE, with the pace of decline being slower in the post-austerity period (2010-2019) and mortality due to HBV stabilised in SWE. Acute HCV (aHCV) metrics and chronic HCV incidence and mortality showed a stable trend in SWE and WE, whereas the prevalence of chronic HCV showed an oscillating trend, decreasing in WE in 2010-2019 (p < 0.001). Liver cancer due to both hepatitis infections showed a stagnant burden over time. An inverse association was observed between health expenditure and metrics of both acute and chronic HBV and HCV.
CONCLUSIONS
Epidemiological metrics for HBV and HCV showed a slower pace of decline in the post-austerity period with better improvement for HBV, a stabilisation of mortality and a stagnant burden for liver cancer due to both hepatitis infections. The economic crisis of 2008 had a negative impact on the burden of hepatitis B and C. Elimination of HBV and HCV by 2030 will be a major challenge in the SWE countries.
Topics: Humans; Europe; Economic Recession; Hepatitis B; Cost of Illness; Incidence; Hepatitis C; Prevalence; Health Expenditures; Female; Male; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Global Burden of Disease; Hepatitis B, Chronic
PubMed: 38902642
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18912-0 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Short influenza postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) showed high efficacy in adults, but studies in children are lacking. This randomized open-label pilot trial aimed to... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Short influenza postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) showed high efficacy in adults, but studies in children are lacking. This randomized open-label pilot trial aimed to verify noninferiority of a 3- versus 7-day prophylaxis with oral oseltamivir in hospitalized children. Influenza contacts were randomized to the 3- or 7-day group and efficacy, relative risk of adverse events (AEs), and the cumulative costs of drugs and AEs management were compared. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis included 59 children (n = 28 and n = 31 in the 3- and 7-day group, respectively). The efficacy was 100% (95% CI 87.7-100%) versus 93.6% (95% CI 78.6-99.2%) in the 3- and 7-day group; the differences were statistically insignificant. A per-protocol (PP) analysis including 56 patients (n = 27 and n = 29, respectively) showed 100% (95% CI 87.2-100%) and 93.1% (95% CI 77.2-99.2%) efficacy, respectively, without statistical significance. Differences were within the predefined noninferiority margin with an efficacy difference Δ = 6.45 percentage points (p.p.) with 1-sided 95% CI (- 2.8, - 1.31, p = 0.86; ITT) and Δ = 6.9 p.p. (1-sided 95% CI - 2.83, - 1.27, p = 0.85; PP). Adverse events did not differ significantly, while the cumulative costs of the prophylaxis and AEs management were higher in the 7-day group (median 10.5 euro vs. 4.5 euro, p < 0.01). This pilot study showed the noninferiority of the 3-day versus 7-day PEP, which was associated with lower costs.Trial registration number: NCT04297462, 5th March 2020, restrospectively registered.
Topics: Humans; Oseltamivir; Influenza, Human; Male; Female; Pilot Projects; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; Child; Antiviral Agents; Child, Preschool; Infant; Child, Hospitalized; Treatment Outcome; Adolescent
PubMed: 38902383
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65244-5 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024To uncover molecular changes underlying blood-brain-barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, we performed single nucleus RNA sequencing in 24 Alzheimer's disease and...
To uncover molecular changes underlying blood-brain-barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, we performed single nucleus RNA sequencing in 24 Alzheimer's disease and control brains and focused on vascular and astrocyte clusters as main cell types of blood-brain-barrier gliovascular-unit. The majority of the vascular transcriptional changes were in pericytes. Of the vascular molecular targets predicted to interact with astrocytic ligands, SMAD3, upregulated in Alzheimer's disease pericytes, has the highest number of ligands including VEGFA, downregulated in Alzheimer's disease astrocytes. We validated these findings with external datasets comprising 4,730 pericyte and 150,664 astrocyte nuclei. Blood SMAD3 levels are associated with Alzheimer's disease-related neuroimaging outcomes. We determined inverse relationships between pericytic SMAD3 and astrocytic VEGFA in human iPSC and zebrafish models. Here, we detect vast transcriptome changes in Alzheimer's disease at the gliovascular-unit, prioritize perturbed pericytic SMAD3-astrocytic VEGFA interactions, and validate these in cross-species models to provide a molecular mechanism of blood-brain-barrier disintegrity in Alzheimer's disease.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Humans; Blood-Brain Barrier; Smad3 Protein; Zebrafish; Astrocytes; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Animals; Pericytes; Male; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Female; Aged; Transcriptome; Brain; Aged, 80 and over; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38902234
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48926-6 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jun 2024Informal care is a common form of social support, which can vary greatly in its intensity. While views of aging have shown to be relevant to mental health before, we aim...
BACKGROUND
Informal care is a common form of social support, which can vary greatly in its intensity. While views of aging have shown to be relevant to mental health before, we aim to analyze whether the association between views of aging and depressive symptoms is influenced by the provision of informal care and its intensity.
METHODS
Data of six waves of the Health and Retirement Study in the United States was used. The sample includes up to 41,058 observations pooled over six waves of community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) and attitudes towards own aging (ATOA) with the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (higher score indicates positive attitudes); informal caregiving (no/yes) and caregiving intensity (moderate, intense) were surveyed. Adjusted fixed effects regression analysis with robust standard errors, and with caregiving as moderator variable were calculated.
RESULTS
Informal caregiving did not interact with ATOA. However, transitioning into intense caregiving significantly moderated the association between ATOA and depressive symptoms. Lower depressive symptoms were associated with better ATOA and this association was significantly stronger in the intense caregiving condition than in the non-caregiving condition. No significant interaction effects were found between any form of caregiving and subjective age.
LIMITATIONS
The possibility of reciprocal effects cannot be excluded.
CONCLUSION
Internalized ageism and depressive symptoms are more strongly related among caregivers who provide intense care. Thus, interventions to reduce internalized ageism could be helpful in particular among this vulnerable group of informal caregivers.
PubMed: 38901694
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.055 -
JMIR Infodemiology Jun 2024Prenatal alcohol exposure represents a substantial public health concern as it may lead to detrimental outcomes, including pregnancy complications and fetal alcohol...
BACKGROUND
Prenatal alcohol exposure represents a substantial public health concern as it may lead to detrimental outcomes, including pregnancy complications and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Although UK national guidance recommends abstaining from alcohol if pregnant or planning a pregnancy, evidence suggests that confusion remains on this topic among members of the public, and little is known about what questions people have about consumption of alcohol in pregnancy outside of health care settings.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess what questions and topics are raised on alcohol in pregnancy on a web-based UK-based parenting forum and how these correspond to official public health guidelines with respect to 2 critical events: the implementation of the revised UK Chief Medical Officers' (CMO) low-risk drinking guidelines (2016) and the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (2020).
METHODS
All thread starts mentioning alcohol in the "Pregnancy" forum were collected from Mumsnet for the period 2002 to 2022 and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the number and proportion of thread starts for each topic over the whole study period and for the periods corresponding to the change in CMO guidance and the COVID-19 pandemic.
RESULTS
A total of 395 thread starts were analyzed, and key topics included "Asking for advice on whether it is safe to consume alcohol" or on "safe limits" and concerns about having consumed alcohol before being aware of a pregnancy. In addition, the Mumsnet thread starts included discussions and information seeking on "Research, guidelines, and official information about alcohol in pregnancy." Topics discussed on Mumsnet regarding alcohol in pregnancy remained broadly similar between 2002 and 2022, although thread starts disclosing prenatal alcohol use were more common before the introduction of the revised CMO guidance than in later periods.
CONCLUSIONS
Web-based discussions within a UK parenting forum indicated that users were often unclear on guidance and risks associated with prenatal alcohol use and that they used this platform to seek information and reassurance from peers.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Alcohol Drinking; United Kingdom; COVID-19; Internet; Qualitative Research; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; SARS-CoV-2; Social Media
PubMed: 38900536
DOI: 10.2196/58056 -
International Wound Journal Jun 2024The study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intervention on the prevalence and severity of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in six hospitals in one state in...
The study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intervention on the prevalence and severity of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in six hospitals in one state in Australia. This quasi-experimental pre-and post-study, conducted in 18 wards, was part of a larger implementation science study on incontinence-associated dermatitis. Skin and incontinence assessments were conducted on patients during February and March 2020 (pre-intervention) and July and August 2021 (post-intervention). The intervention comprised continence assessment and management, an education brochure for patients, family and caregivers on IAD, the Ghent Global IAD Categorisation Tool (GLOBIAD) and a skin care regime with patient skin protection measures (three-in-one barrier cream cloths, minimisation of bed protection layers, use of appropriate continence aid). A total of 1897 patients were assessed (pre-intervention = 964, post-intervention = 933). A total of 343 (35.6%) pre-intervention patients and 351 (37.6%) post-intervention patients had incontinence. The prevalence of hospital-acquired IAD was 6.71% in the pre-intervention group and 4.27% in the post-intervention group; a reduction of 36.3% (p = 0.159) despite higher patient acuity, prevalence of double incontinence and the COVID-19 pandemic in the post-intervention group compared with the pre-intervention group. Our multisite best practice IAD prevention and treatment intervention was able to reduce the prevalence and severity of hospital-acquired IAD, suggesting enduring effectiveness of the intervention.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Urinary Incontinence; Prevalence; Aged; Fecal Incontinence; Aged, 80 and over; Dermatitis; Australia; Middle Aged; Skin Care; Translational Research, Biomedical; Patient Care Bundles
PubMed: 38899615
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14936 -
International Journal of Methods in... Jun 2024The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) is an instrument developed to measure a condition characterized by extreme social withdrawal that was first described in...
OBJECTIVES
The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) is an instrument developed to measure a condition characterized by extreme social withdrawal that was first described in Japan. This study aimed to translate the HQ-25 into German and validate the German version (HQ-25-G).
METHODS
Translation was conducted according to established guidelines. Validation was based on data from a quota sample of individuals living in Germany, ranging from 18 to 74 years old (representing the distribution of age, sex and federal state, n = 5000). Data collection occurred during August and September 2023. We tested reliability, construct validity and concurrent validity. Moreover, HQ-25 scores for key sociodemographic group were reported.
RESULTS
Internal reliability for the HQ-25-G was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). We confirmed the original three-factor model. Moreover, higher hikikomori levels were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms (r = 0.50), more anxiety symptoms (r = 0.45), higher loneliness levels (r = 0.56), higher levels of objective social isolation (r = -0.47), higher levels of perceived social isolation (r = 0.59) and a higher preference for solitude (r = 0.45).
CONCLUSIONS
In a large population-based sample (including younger adults, middle-aged adults and older adults), the HQ-25-G version proves to be a psychometrically robust instrument, which is useful for further exploring the phenomenon of hikikomori within the German-speaking population.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Adult; Male; Female; Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Germany; Social Isolation; Reproducibility of Results; Psychometrics; Depression; Anxiety; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Loneliness; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translations
PubMed: 38899465
DOI: 10.1002/mpr.2027 -
IEEE Journal of Translational... 2024Variable-view rigid scopes offer advantages compared to traditional angled laparoscopes for examining a diagnostic site. However, altering the scope's view requires a...
OBJECTIVE
Variable-view rigid scopes offer advantages compared to traditional angled laparoscopes for examining a diagnostic site. However, altering the scope's view requires a high level of dexterity and understanding of spatial orientation. This requires an intuitive mechanism to allow an operator to easily understand the anatomical surroundings and smoothly adjust the scope's focus during diagnosis. To address this challenge, the objective of this work is to develop a mechanized arm that assists in visualization using variable-view rigid scopes during diagnostic procedures.
METHODS
A system with a mechanized arm to maneuver a variable-view rigid scope (EndoCAMeleon - Karl Storz) was developed. A user study was conducted to assess the ability of the proposed mechanized arm for diagnosis in a preclinical navigation task and a simulated cystoscopy procedure.
RESULTS
The mechanized arm performed significantly better than direct maneuvering of the rigid scope. In the preclinical navigation task, it reduced the percentage of time the scope's focus shifted outside a predefined track. Similarly, for simulated cystoscopy procedure, it reduced the duration and the perceived workload.
CONCLUSION
The proposed mechanized arm enhances the operator's ability to accurately maneuver a variable-view rigid scope and reduces the effort in performing diagnostic procedures.Clinical and Translational Impact Statement: The preclinical research introduces a mechanized arm to intuitively maneuver a variable-view rigid scope during diagnostic procedures, while minimizing the mental and physical workload to the operator.
Topics: Humans; Equipment Design; Cystoscopy; Endoscopes
PubMed: 38899143
DOI: 10.1109/JTEHM.2024.3407951