Cost, Utilization, and Complications of Corneal Transplant in Affordable Care Act Beneficiaries.

Purpose: A knowledge gap persists regarding the utilization of corneal transplant surgery among enrollees in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans and the factors influencing associated costs and complications post-ACA implementation. This study investigates the demographics, costs, and complications of cornea transplant for patients insured under the ACA from 2015 to 2019.

Methods: A novel claims dataset of Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan subscribers was utilized.

Effects of Cost Sharing on Ophthalmic Care Utilization in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.

Purpose: To determine the distribution and quantity of ophthalmic care consumed on Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, the demographics of the population utilizing these services, and the relationship between ACA insurance coverage plan tier, cost sharing, and total cost of ophthalmic care consumed.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed ACA individual and small group market claims data from the Wakely Affordable Care Act (WACA) 2018 dataset, which contains detailed claims, enrollment, and premium data from Edge Servers for 3.9 million individual and small group market lives.

Patient Cost Exposure And Use Of Preventive Care Among ACA-Compliant Individual Plans.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated coverage of common preventive services with zero patient cost sharing. However, patients may still experience high same-day costs when receiving these "zero-dollar" preventive services. Our analysis of on- and off-exchange individual-market health plans during 2016-18 revealed that 21-61 percent of enrollees experienced same-day cost exposure greater than $0 when accessing ACA-mandated free preventive services.

Attitudes and Awareness of Cornea Specialists and Oculoplastic Surgeons toward Methicillin-Resistant Decolonization.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) decolonization is widely utilized in many medical subspecialities to reduce surgical site infections, but routine ophthalmic implementation has been limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and actual practice of corneal specialists and oculoplastic surgeons toward MRSA decolonization as a preventive measure in ophthalmic surgery. A web-based survey was sent to cornea specialists and oculoplastic surgeons to assess their knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding MRSA prophylaxis and the use of MRSA decolonization to prevent post-operative infections.

MRSA Decolonization and the Eye: A Potential New Tool for Ophthalmologists.

Purpose: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause vision-threatening infections of the ocular surface, orbit, and periorbital structures. MRSA decolonization is a widespread technique employed outside of ophthalmology to reduce MRSA transmission and infection rates. Herein we explore whether decolonization protocols have a place in ophthalmology for combatting ocular MRSA infections.

Case Report: Significant Complications of Cosmetic Iris Implantation.

Significance: The complications of cosmetic iris implantation may result in irreversible vision loss. Patients who obtain these implants against general medical consensus may present to providers when sequelae develop. In symptomatic patients, providers must recognize the imminent risk to vision and mitigate further ocular damage.

Low hospital mobility-resurgence of an old epidemic within a new pandemic and future solutions.

Low mobility during hospitalisation poses risks of functional decline and other poor outcomes for older adults. Given the pervasiveness of this problem, low mobility during hospitalisation was first described as 'dangerous' in 1947 and later described as an epidemic. Hospitals have made considerable progress over the last half-century and the last two decades in particular, however, the COVID-19 pandemic presents serious new challenges that threaten to undermine recent efforts and progress towards a culture of mobility.

Aftermarket effects of cenegermin for neurotrophic keratopathy in pediatric patients.

Purpose: Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) is a rare condition characterized by poor corneal sensation and healing. Cenegermin (topical recombinant nerve growth factor) has gained traction as a medical therapy for NK in recent years, and is FDA-approved for patients over two years old. However, no major trials have demonstrated the drug's efficacy in children.

Improving the assessment and documentation of patient mobility using a quality improvement framework.

Objective: To implement a system for assessing and documenting patient mobility in an inpatient geriatric unit using a quality improvement framework.

Methods: Whiteboards incorporating the Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility scale were placed on each door of the unit. Staff were trained to assess and document patient mobility, and documentation compliance was measured.

Impact of High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy Training via Telehealth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose: Our objective was to demonstrate the efficacy of a telehealth training course on high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for gynecologic cancer treatment for clinicians in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: A 12-week course consisting of 16 live video sessions was offered to 10 cancer centers in the Middle East, Africa, and Nepal. A total of 46 participants joined the course, and 22 participants, on average, attended each session.

Obesity is Associated with Longer Survival Independent of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Metastatic and/or Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Obesity (body mass index 30 kg/m or greater) is associated with better overall survival in metastatic prostate cancer. Conversely, low muscle mass (sarcopenia) and low muscle radiodensity (myosteatosis) are associated with worse overall survival in many cancers. This study seeks to evaluate the relationship of sarcopenia, myosteatosis and obesity with overall survival in men with metastatic or castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Access to Reproductive Health Services and Maternal Perceptions on Family Planning in an Indigenous Guatemalan Valley.

To identify reproductive health barriers and perceptions regarding family planning among mothers in ten rural communities of Guatemala. Data were collected from 85 women in a Nutrition Recuperation Project (NRP) conducted by a freestanding nonprofit clinic in Palajunoj Valley, Guatemala. All nonpregnant women participating in the NRP were eligible for enrollment in this study, and NRP staff members aided in their enrollment.

Pressure-Induced Alterations in PEDF and PEDF-R Expression: Implications for Neuroprotective Signaling in Glaucoma.

Introduction: Alterations in neuron-glia signaling are implicated in glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) is a secreted protein with potential neuroprotective qualities in retinal disease, including chronic ocular hypertension. Here we sought to determine whether moderate, short-term elevations in IOP alter PEDF signaling and whether pressure-induced PEDF signaling directly impacts RGC apoptosis.