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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Chronic Disease Medication Use In Managed Care And Indemnity Insurance Plans, Randall S. Stafford, Stephen M. Davidson, Harriet Davidson, Heidi Miracle-Mcmahill, Sybil L. Crawford, David Blumenthal
Chronic Disease Medication Use In Managed Care And Indemnity Insurance Plans, Randall S. Stafford, Stephen M. Davidson, Harriet Davidson, Heidi Miracle-Mcmahill, Sybil L. Crawford, David Blumenthal
Sybil L. Crawford
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of managed care on the use of chronic disease medications. DATA SOURCE: Claims data from 1997 from two indemnity and three independent practice association (IPA) model managed care insurance plans. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of claims data. DATA COLLECTION: Adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM, n = 26,444), congestive heart failure (CHF, n = 7,978), and asthma (n = 9,850) were identified by ICD-9 codes. Chronic disease medication use was defined through pharmacy claims for patients receiving one or more prescriptions for drugs used in treating these conditions. Using multiple logistic regression we adjusted for …
In Vivo Ultrasonic Attenuation Slope Estimates For Detecting Cervical Ripening In Rats: Preliminary Results, Timothy A. Bigelow, Barbara L. Mcfarlin, William D. O'Brien Jr., Michael L. Oelze
In Vivo Ultrasonic Attenuation Slope Estimates For Detecting Cervical Ripening In Rats: Preliminary Results, Timothy A. Bigelow, Barbara L. Mcfarlin, William D. O'Brien Jr., Michael L. Oelze
Timothy A. Bigelow
To effectively postpone preterm birth, cervical ripening needs to be detected and delayed. As the cervix ripens, the spacing between the collagen fibers increases and fills with water, hyaluronan, decorin, and enzymes suggesting that the ultrasonic attenuation of the cervix should decrease. The decrease in ultrasonic attenuation may be detectable, leading to an effective means of detecting cervical ripening. Herein, the traditional attenuation slope-estimation algorithm based on measuring the downshift in center frequency of the ultrasonic backscattered signal with propagation depth was modified and applied to the cervix of rats. The modified algorithm was verified using computer simulations and an …