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Hang Viet Dao,1– 3 Long Bao Hoang,3 Binh Phuc Nguyen,3 Hoa Lan Nguyen,4 Robert Goldberg,4 Jeroan Allison,4 Thi Minh An Dao,5,6 Tomoaki Matsumura,7 Long Van Dao1,3 1Internal Medicine Faculty, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Endoscopy Center, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; 5School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; 6Epidemiology Department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 7Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, JapanCorrespondence: Hang Viet Dao, Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Floor 10, VCCI Tower, No. 9, Dao Duy Anh Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi City, 10000, Vietnam, Tel +84987988075, Email daoviethang@hmu.edu.vnPurpose: Esophageal mucosal admittance (MA) is a promising diagnostic method for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We conducted a study to describe the esophageal MA in patients with reflux symptoms and determine its diagnostic accuracy.Patients and Methods: We recruited 92 patients with ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and MA measured by the tissue conductance meter. MA was measured during endoscopy at 5cm (distal esophagus) and 15cm above the Z line (middle esophagus), repeated at least five times at each position, and median MA was obtained. Afterwards, two biopsies were taken 5cm above the Z line for histopathological evaluation using the Esohisto criteria. Patients were classified as GERD or non-GERD according to the 2018 Lyon consensus.Results: The mean age was 43.2 years, and 42 patients were males. The most common symptoms were regurgitation (75.0%), belching (65.2%), and heartburn (46.7%). Twenty-three (32.3%) were diagnosed with GERD using the Lyon consensus, and 24 (26.1%) had esophagitis on histopathology. The median MA at the distal and middle esophagus was moderately correlated. The median MA at both positions was higher in the GERD group but only statistically significant in the middle esophagus. MA was not associated with pH-impedance parameters and esophagitis on histopathology. The diagnostic model developed using the logistic regression did not have good accuracy.Conclusion: MA was not different between GERD and non-GERD patients.Keywords: mucosal permeability, tissue conductance meter, pH-impedance monitoring, Lyon consensus

A recent study showed higher high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) concentrations in healthy dogs eating grain-free (GF) compared to those eating grain-inclusive (GI) diets.Healthy dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities eating GF diets at baseline will show improvements in cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic variables after diet change, whereas healthy dogs eating GI diets at baseline will not improve.Twenty healthy dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities (12 Golden Retrievers, 5 Doberman Pinschers, 3 Miniature Schnauzers).This prospective study included dogs with increased hs-cTnI or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations, or echocardiographic abnormalities. Mixed modeling was used to evaluate echocardiographic, hs-cTnI, and NT-proBNP differences between groups (GF or GI diet at baseline) over time (1 y after diet change).Ten GF and 10 GI dogs were evaluated. There were statistically significant time: group interactions for hs-cTnI (P = .02) and normalized left ventricular internal systolic diameter (LVIDsN; P = .02), with GF dogs showing larger decreases in these variables than GI dogs. Median (range) hs-cTnI (ng/mL) for GF dogs was 0.141 (0.012-0.224) at baseline and 0.092 (0.044-0.137) at 1 y, and for GI dogs was 0.051 (0.016-0.195) at baseline and 0.060 (0.022-0.280) at 1 y. Median LVIDsN for GF dogs was 1.01 (0.70-1.30) at baseline and 0.87 (0.79-1.24) at 1 y, and for GI dogs was 1.05 (0.84-1.21) at baseline and 1.10 (0.85-1.28) at 1 y.Decreased hs-cTnI and LVIDsN in GF dogs after diet change supports reversibility of these subclinical myocardial abnormalities.

Recent studies have investigated dogs with presumed diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (daDCM), but prospective studies of multiple breeds are needed.To evaluate baseline features and serial changes in echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers in dogs with DCM eating nontraditional diets (NTDs) or traditional diets (TDs), and in dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities (SCA) eating NTD.Sixty dogs with DCM (NTD, n = 51; TDs, n = 9) and 16 dogs with SCA eating NTDs.Echocardiography, electrocardiography, and measurement of taurine, cardiac troponin I, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were performed in dogs with DCM or SCA. Diets were changed for all dogs, taurine was supplemented in most, and echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers were reassessed (3, 6, and 9 months).At enrollment, there were few differences between dogs with DCM eating NTDs or TDs; none had low plasma or whole blood taurine concentrations. Improvement in fractional shortening over time was significantly associated with previous consumption of a NTD, even after adjustment for other variables (P = .005). Median survival time for dogs with DCM was 611 days (range, 2-940 days) for the NTD group and 161 days (range, 12-669 days) for the TD group (P = .21). Sudden death was the most common cause of death in both diet groups. Dogs with SCA also had significant echocardiographic improvements over time.Dogs with DCM or SCA previously eating NTDs had small, yet significant improvements in echocardiographic parameters after diet changes.

Background Few studies have examined age and sex differences in the receipt of cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and trends in these possible differences during recent years. Methods and Results Data from patients hospitalized with a first acute myocardial infarction at the major medical centers in the Worcester, Massachusetts, metropolitan area were utilized for this study. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine age ( Conclusions We observed a continued lower receipt of invasive cardiac procedures in women and patients aged ≥75 years with acute myocardial infarction, but age and sex gaps associated with these procedures have narrowed during recent years.

Current clinical practice guidelines recommend routine kidney function and serum potassium testing within 30 days of initiating angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) therapy. However, evidence is lacking on whether routine follow-up testing reduces therapy-related adverse events in adults with heart failure and if multimorbidity influences the association between laboratory testing and these adverse events.We conducted a retrospective cohort study among adults with heart failure from 4 US integrated health care delivery systems. Multimorbidity was defined using counts of chronic conditions. Patients with outpatient serum creatinine and potassium tests in the 30 days after starting ACEI or ARB therapy were matched 1:1 to patients without follow-up tests. We evaluated the association of follow-up testing with 30-day all-cause mortality and hospitalization with acute kidney injury or hyperkalemia using Cox regression.We identified 3629 matched adults with heart failure initiating ACEI or ARB therapy between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012. Follow-up testing was not significantly associated with 30-day all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14; 1.39) and hospitalization with hyperkalemia (aHR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.33; 1.61). However, follow-up testing was significantly associated with hospitalization with acute kidney injury (aHR, 1.40, 95% CI, 1.01; 1.94). Interaction between multimorbidity burden and follow-up testing was not statistically significant in any of the outcome models examined.Routine laboratory monitoring after ACEI or ARB therapy initiation was not associated with risk of 30-day all-cause mortality or hospitalization with hyperkalemia across the spectrum of multimorbidity burden in a cohort of patients with heart failure.

As patient prices for many medications have risen steeply in the United States, patients may engage in cost-reducing behaviors (CRBs) such as asking for generic medications or purchasing medication from the Internet.The objective of this study is to describe patterns of CRB, cost-related medication nonadherence, and spending less on basic needs to afford medications among older adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) and examine participant characteristics associated with CRB.Data were from a prospective cohort study of older adults at least 65 years with AF and a high stroke risk (CHAAmong participants (N = 1224; mean age 76 years; 49% female), 69% reported engaging in CRB, 4% reported cost-related medication nonadherence, and 6% reported spending less on basic needs. Participants who were cognitively impaired (adjusted odds ratio 0.69 [95% CI 0.52-0.91]) and those who did not identify as non-Hispanic white (0.66 [0.46-0.95]) were less likely to engage in CRB. Participants who were married (1.88 [1.30-2.72]), had a household income of $20,000-$49,999 (1.52 [1.02-2.27]), had Medicare insurance (1.38 [1.04-1.83]), and had 4-6 comorbidities (1.43 [1.01-2.01]) had significantly higher odds of engaging in CRB.Although CRBs were common among older adults with AF, few reported cost-related medication nonadherence and spending less on basic needs. Patients with cognitive impairment may benefit from pharmacist intervention to provide support in CRB and patient assistance programs.

Background: Current guidelines encourage adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) to engage in regular physical activity. However, little is known about the association between meeting the recommended level of regular physical activity and clinical outcomes among older adults with AF. Objective: To examine the association between meeting the recommended level of physical activity and clinical outcomes including mortality, stroke, and major bleeding. Methods: We used data collected from the Systemic Assessment of Geriatrics Elements (SAGE)-AF study which include patients with AF (≥65 years) and a CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥2. Participants were recruited from several clinics in Massachusetts and Georgia. We used the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity questionnaire to examine if participants met the recommended level of physical activity (i.e. at least 500 metabolic equivalent task (MET)-minutes per week). A multivariable cox regression model was used to examine the association between meeting the recommended level of physical activity and our clinical outcomes while controlling for several potentially confounding variables. Results: A total of 1,244 participants (average age 75 years; 49% male; 85 % non-Hispanic White) were included in this study. Nearly one-half of participants engaged in regular physical activity. Meeting the recommended level of physical activity was associated with improved survival (adjusted HR (aHR) = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.38-0.96). However, engaging in regular physical activity was not significantly associated with reduced risk of stroke or major bleeding ( aHR = 1.37, 95% CI = 0.51-3.69; aHR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.56-1.33, respectively ), although we may have lacked power for these associations, therefore, these results should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: Meeting the recommended level of physical activity among older adults with AF significantly reduces the risk of mortality. Clinicians and health care providers should promote and encourage engagement in physical activity and tailor interventions to address barriers of engagement to improve patient survival.

A new classification criterion for diagnosing ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) was proposed at the 2018 Stanford symposium, but limited data exists about the utility of this criterion.We conducted a cross-sectional study among 3826 patients treated at the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, Vietnam, between March 2018 and May 2020. Patients were classified as having normal motility, mild IEM, severe IEM, or absent contractility based on the Chicago classification version 3.0 and the new IEM criterion (severe IEM was defined as having70% ineffective swallows). We examined the association between these 4 motility subgroups and the presence of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus, using multivariate logistic regression analysis.The mean age of the study sample was 44.7 years and 66.3% were women. The prevalence of symptoms, hiatal hernia, andPatients with severe IEM have a high prevalence of severe erosive esophagitis. These findings suggest the need for a more meaningful classification criterion for IEM.

Less than 1% of the US population lives in long-term care facilities, yet this subset of the population accounts for 22% of total COVID-19 related deaths.1 Because of a lack of experimental evidence to treat COVID-19, analysis of real-world data to identify causal relationships between treatments/policies to mortality and morbidity among high-risk individuals is critical. We applied causal inference (CI) analysis to longitudinal patient-level health data of 4,091 long-term care high-risk patients with COVID-19 to determine if any actions or therapies delivered from January to August of 2020 reduced COVID-19 patient mortality rates during this period.Causal inference findings determined that certain supportive care interventions caused reduced mortality rates for nursing home residents regardless of severity of disease (as measured by oxygen saturation level, presence of pneumonia and organ failure), comorbidities or social determinants of health such as race, age, and weight.2 While we do not address the biological mechanisms associated with specific medical interventions and their impact on mortality, this analysis suggests methods to validate and optimize treatment protocols using domain knowledge and causal inference analysis of real-world data across patient populations and care settings.

Background: It is sometimes suggested that newly-approved cancer treatments have only marginal effectiveness, which raises questions concerning their cost-vs-benefit ratio. Such concerns appear at odds with the lower cancer-related hospitalization rate and improved survival. However, such cost-effectiveness analyses rely on population-based averages obtained from the analysis of clinical trial data. By failing to analyze data from longitudinal datasets, such assessments are unable to account for real-world patient conditions and treatment patterns in evaluating clinical and cost-effectiveness. Longitudinally surveyed clinical data has the potential to objectively reveal any association between patient outcomes and new cancer treatment utilization. Methods: We investigated the effect of being prescribed a higher proportion of new oncology drugs on quality of life, medical services use, and productivity measures as reported by the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS, 1996–2015). General linear models with Taylor series variance estimation were applied. New oncology drugs were defined as cancer treatments marketed after the year 2000. Included subjects (N=16,677) had a solid or hematologic malignancy diagnosis (CCCodex 11–47) and available prescription data. Individual age and employment status were accounted for as covariates. All analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4 (Cary, NC). Results: Unadjusted regression data show that individuals using newer oncology treatments missed on average 2.5 (±0.3 SE) fewer days of work or school per year as compared to patients using older drugs (43% improved productivity, PPPPPConclusion: Analysis of longitudinal real-world evidence gives a more comprehensive and reliable view of the clinical and economic impact of new oncology treatments. Our data suggests significant reductions in lost work/school days, hospitalizations, and use of medical services in general.

BackgroundVietnam has been experiencing an epidemiologic transition to that of a low-middle income country with an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The key risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are either on the rise or at alarming levels in Vietnam, particularly hypertension (HTN). Inasmuch, the burden of CVD will continue to increase in the Vietnamese population unless effective prevention and control measures are put in place. The objectives of the proposed project are to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of two multi-faceted community and clinic-based strategies on the control of elevated blood pressure (BP) among adults in Vietnam via a cluster-randomized trial design. MethodsSixteen communities will be randomized to either an intervention (8 communities) or comparison group (8 communities). Eligible and consenting adult study participants with HTN (n = 680) will be assigned to intervention/comparison status based on the community in which they reside. Both comparison and intervention groups will receive a multi-level intervention modeled after the Vietnam National Hypertension Program including education and practice change modules for health care providers, accessible reading materials for patients, and a multi-media community awareness program. In addition, the intervention group only will receive three carefully selected enhancements integrated into routine clinical care: (1) expanded community health worker services; (2) home blood pressure (BP) self-monitoring; and (3) a “storytelling intervention.”. which consists of interactive, literacy-appropriate, and culturally sensitive multimedia storytelling modules for motivating behavior change through the power of patients speaking in their own voice. The storytelling intervention will be delivered by DVD, with serial installments at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months after trial enrollment. Changes in BP will be assessed in both groups at several follow-up time points. Implementation outcomes will be assessed as well.DiscussionResults from this full-scale trial will provide health policy makers with practical evidence on how to combat a key risk factor for CVD using a feasible, sustainable, and cost-effective intervention that could be used as a national program for controlling HTN in Vietnam.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration number: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03590691 (registration date July 17, 2018).Protocol version: 6. Date: 08/15/2019

To provide a systematic review of the literature concerning retrobulbar hyaluronidase injections as a treatment for hyaluronic acid gel filler-induced blindness and evaluate the level of evidence for this proposed therapy.The authors performed a search of English language articles published on the use of retrobulbar hyaluronidase to reverse vision loss precipitated by hyaluronic acid gel fillers. Articles reviewed included case reports/series, experimental investigations, expert opinion commentaries, and major reviews. To date, there have been no case-control, cohort, or randomized control studies to evaluate this treatment. Five anecdotal descriptions of hyaluronic acid gel filler blindness treated specifically with retrobulbar hyaluronidase were identified, for a total of 9 patients. One hundred twelve articles in total on this treatment and related topics, including filler-induced blindness and alternative treatments, were identified and reviewed.Of the 9 documented cases of patients treated with retrobulbar hyaluronidase for hyaluronic acid-induced blindness, visual improvement was demonstrated in 2 cases. The successes, however, are undermined by inconsistent pretreatment ophthalmic assessment and documentation. Animal studies demonstrate mixed results. Laboratory studies document the inability of hyaluronidase to cross the optic nerve sheath.There is not currently enough evidence to support retrobulbar hyaluronidase as a treatment for filler-induced blindness. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate its efficacy and explore alternative treatments.

Background: Geriatric conditions are common among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and relate to complications of oral anticoagulation (OAC). Objective: To examine the prevalence of geriatric conditions among older patients with AF on OAC and relate type of OAC to geriatric conditions. Methods: Participants had a diagnosis of AF, were aged ≥65 years, CHA2DS2VASC ≥ 2, and had no OAC contraindications. Participants completed a 6-component geriatric assessment that included validated measures of frailty (CHS Frailty Scale), cognitive function (MoCA), social support (MOS), depressive symptoms (PHQ9), vision, and hearing. Type of OAC prescribed was documented in medical records. Results: 86% of participants were prescribed an OAC. These participants were on average aged 75.7 (SD: 7.1) years, 49% were women, two thirds were frail or pre-frail, and 44% received a DOAC. DOAC users were younger, had lower CHA2DS2VASC and HAS-BLED scores, and were less likely to be frail. In Massachusetts, pre-frailty was associated with a significantly lower odds of DOAC vs. VKA use (OR = 0.64, 95%CI 0.45, 0.91). Pre-frailty (OR = 0.33, 95%CI 0.18-0.59) and social isolation (OR = 0.38, 95%CI 0.14-0.99) were associated with lower odds of DOAC receipt in patients aged 75 years or older. Social isolation was associated with higher odds of DOAC use (OR = 2.13, 95%CI 1.05-4.29) in patients aged 65-74 years. Conclusions: Geriatric conditions were common and related to type of OAC prescribed, differentially by age group. Research is needed to evaluate whether a geriatric examination can be used clinically to better inform OAC decision-making in older patients with AF.

Highlights NCD represent a serious challenge globally, particularly in LMIC.Implementation research capacity building are critical to inform the prevention and control of NCD in LMIC.Sustainable evidence-based strategies can reduce mortality and prevent avoidable illness from NCD.Strategic change agents (i.e., key stakeholders, institutions, communities, health systems, patients, and families) should work collaboratively to make the necessary advancements to reducing the burden of NCD in LMIC. Fil: Aifah, Angela. No especifíca; Fil: Iwelunmor, Juliet. No especifíca; Fil: Akwanalo, Constantine. No especifíca; Fil: Allison, Jeroan. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados Unidos Fil: Amberbir, Alemayehu. No especifíca; Fil: Asante, Kwaku P.. No especifíca; Fil: Baumann, Ana. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados Unidos Fil: Brown, Angela. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados Unidos Fil: Butler, Mark. No especifíca; Fil: Dalton, Milena. No especifíca; Fil: Davila Roman, Victor. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados Unidos Fil: Fitzpatrick, Annette L.. No especifíca; Fil: Fort, Meredith. State University of Colorado at Boulder; Estados Unidos Fil: Goldberg, Robert. No especifíca; Fil: Gondwe, Austrida. No especifíca; Fil: Ha, Duc. No especifíca; Fil: He, Jiang. University of Tulane; Estados Unidos Fil: Hosseinipour, Mina. No especifíca; Fil: Irazola, Vilma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; Argentina Fil: Kamano, Jemima. No especifíca; Fil: Karengera, Stephen. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados Unidos Fil: Karmacharya, Biraj M.. No especifíca; Fil: Koju, Rajendra. No especifíca; Fil: Maharjan, Rashmi. No especifíca; Fil: Mohan, Sailesh. No especifíca; Fil: Mutabazi, Vincent. No especifíca; Fil: Mutimura, Eugene. No especifíca; Fil: Muula, Adamson. No especifíca; Fil: Narayan, K.M.V.. University of Emory; Estados Unidos Fil: Nguyen, Hoa. No especifíca; Fil: Njuguna, Benson. No especifíca; Fil: Nyirenda, Moffat. No especifíca; Fil: Ogedegbe, Gbenga. No especifíca; Fil: van Oosterhout, Joep. No especifíca; Fil: Onakomaiya, Deborah. No especifíca; Fil: Patel, Shivani. University of Emory; Estados Unidos Fil: Paniagua-Ávila, Alejandra. No especifíca; Fil: Ramirez zea, Manuel. No especifíca; Fil: Plange Rhule, Jacob. No especifíca; Fil: Roche, Dina. No especifíca; Fil: Shrestha, Archana. No especifíca; Fil: Sharma, Hanspria. No especifíca; Fil: Tandon, Nikhil. No especifíca; Fil: Thu Cuc, Nguyen. No especifíca; Fil: Vaidya, Abhinav. No especifíca; Fil: Vedanthan, Rajesh. No especifíca; Fil: Weber, Mary Beth. University of Emory; Estados Unidos

e16790 Background: Over the past 20 years, cancer drugs have contributed to increased life expectancy, reduced mortality, decreased hospitalization and decreased use of medical services. The economic value of these improvements is about as large as the value of the increase in the US gross domestic product during that time period. Recently, a health economic study presented at ASCO GI 2020 cited that every $1 (adjusted for inflation) spent on innovative PC treatments reduced non-drug expenditures by $9, thereby lowering the total cost of care for PC patients. Accordingly, the commercial opportunity of a new therapy should be measured by some combination of the clinical, economic and social value generated. We demonstrate the value of a novel PC drug from this perspective. Methods: Analysis of SEER survival and incidence data between 2008 and 2016 shows the introduction of new medicines for PC of all stages was associated with a cumulative increase of 26,456 life years, or 2.52 life years per patient. It was also associated with quality of life improvements, measured by a decline in hospitalizations rates and emergency room visits that can also lead to more days at work, at school and with family. Several studies have suggested the average value of an additional year of life, for the age of a typical patient diagnosed with PC, is at least $250,000. Using this figure, the value of 26,456 life years gained from 2008-2016 is $6.61 billion (26,456*$250,000) to patients, the healthcare system and society, as a result of advancing medical innovation for patients with PC. Results: The median annual list price of a life-enhancing cancer therapy is $150,000 per patient. Using the NCI treatment prevalence estimator (holding incidence constant), we estimate that between 2020-2025, there will be an additional 10,728 advanced PC patients requiring treatment who could benefit from innovative drugs. The total cost of these drugs for these patients would be $1.61 billion. However, the economic value of the life years saved would be $6.76 billion (10,728*2.52 life years*$250,000 = $6.76 billion). A review of cancer medicine payor coverage suggests a new PC therapy that produces such value would be able to obtain coverage from US payors given this value-based price. Conclusions: A value-based approach to estimating the opportunity for clinical and economic benefit reveals significant potential for new PC medicines.

773 Background: The aggregate health economic implications of pancreatic cancer are poorly understood, especially from the patient perspective. As a preliminary effort, we sought to better understand changes in type and quantity of medical expenditures over time, along with quality of life related costs, from this perspective. This preliminary research is part of a larger effort to understand how the introduction of new treatments affect both the outcome and costs of pancreatic cancer associated with care, patients, survivors, their families, and their communities. Methods: We analyzed patient-level data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS, 1996- 2017). All analyses were performed using R version 3.6.1 on Ubuntu 19.04. Averages were computed for the total health care costs, including prescription drug costs. Average individual annual cost estimates for the second year excluded individuals that were identified as having died prior to the first round of data collection in the second year. The individual patient level ratios of prescription drug cost to other medical expenses was also computed. All expenditures are adjusted for inflation using 2017 US dollars. Included subjects, N= 80 had a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and available prescription data. Individual age and employment status were accounted for as covariates. Results: Between 1997 and 2017 inflation adjusted first and second year non-medication spending on pancreatic cancer care averaged $66,999.96 and $105,308.60 respectively. However, inflation-adjusted first and second year charges for hospitalizations and emergency visits fell between 2007-2017. Prescription drug as a proportion of total spending prescription drugs increased during the same time period. Lost work/school days declined between 2007 and 2017. Conclusions: Total inflation adjusted pancreatic cancer care expenses declined over the past decade even as drug costs increased. Quality of life costs declined as well. Further analysis is needed to evaluate the relationship between drug spending, total cost of care and quality of life.

In the Minos or On Law Socrates asks a nameless companion out of the blue, “What is law for us?” knowing full well, it seems, that the companion himself will not be able to give a satisfactory answer. Why on earth, then, would Socrates bother to ask the question of the companion—a man clearly more ignorant than himself? The mystery only deepens when the companion mishears and misunderstands Socrates’ decisive contribution to the conversation and Socrates doesn’t even bother to set him straight. Rather, he uses the definition of law the companion mistakenly thinks he heard to lead him, via the companion’s own opinions, to a position that Socrates does not himself hold. In this chapter, Goldberg hopes to uncover the deep philosophical reasons for Socrates’ procedure in conducting so strange a conversation.

This chapter examines the extent of the organization of the informational DNA for genetic and regulatory functions and structural DNA sequences of plant chromosomes, and relates our understanding DNA sequence organization to chromosome and species evolution. One of the primary goals of a description of genome organization in eukaryotes is to explain those features of eukaryotic gene expression which differ from prokaryotic organisms. The technical aspects of performing and analyzing DNA reassociation experiments have been reviewed in detail by Britten et al. The soybean DNA Cot curve is very similar to most other higher plant HAP reassociation curves, in that the most slowly renaturing DNA fragments represent a minor fraction of the total DNA population. In order to demonstrate the difference between the HAP and S-1 nuclease renaturation assays, measurements of the S-1 nuclease reassociation kinetics of short soybean DNA fragments are presented.

Introduction: Stroke after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an important complication resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. However, limited long-term trends data are available about the incidence and death rates associated with this serious complication. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the 25-year trends in the incidence rates and outcomes of initial episodes of stroke complicating AMI. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the incidence and outcomes of stroke complicating AMI would decrease over time with recent advances in the management of both diseases. Methods: The study population consisted of 11,433 adults hospitalized with validated AMI at all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts on a biennial basis between 1986-2011. Results: Of 11,436 patients (mean age = 69 years; 42% female) without a history of stroke hospitalized with confirmed AMI, 159 patients (1.4%) experienced an acute stroke during their index hospitalization. The proportion of patients with AMI who developed a stroke increased through the 1990s but declined slightly thereafter (Figure 1). Patients who experienced an acute stroke were significantly older, more likely to be female, had a previous AMI, had a significant burden of comorbidities, and were more likely to have developed atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and have died (32.1% versus 10.8%; p Conclusions: In conclusion, the incidence rates of acute stroke complicating AMI remained relatively stable during the years under study but with an increased likelihood of dying during hospitalization. Better characterization of factors associated with the risk of stroke remains important for the more optimal care of this vulnerable population.