(C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Allergy and allergens have been implicated in asthma and it has historically been assumed that deteriorating asthma is related to allergen exposure. In the current pro/con debate some leading academics and researchers in the field consider this notion in the light of recent evidence. They conclude that allergy does not directly cause exacerbations but suggest that it may contribute to acute asthma in a different fashion. Possibilities that are proposed by the authors include specific allergy phenotypes acting as risk factors for virus-associated exacerbations or alternatively that allergy may be implicated in the

blunted 3-deazaneplanocin A clinical trial innate immune responses detected in asthma.”
“Background: Previous studies in referral populations have shown that fewer African American women complete dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening and are prescribed medications for osteoporosis. This study examines if these disparities exist in primary care practices.

Methods: Of 4748 eligible

women >= 60 years of age in primary care practices, we randomly selected 500 African American and 500 Caucasian women. We compared the DXA screening referral rate and results, follow-up rate, and medication prescribing for low bone mineral density (BMD) between African American and Caucasian women and analyzed provider demographics. APR-246 in vitro We used logistic regression analysis to control confounding variables, such as age and BMI.

Results: Among

the initial 1000 women, only 29.8% African American VX-809 ic50 Women were referred to DXA compared to 38.4% Caucasian women (p < 0.05), and 20.8% African American vs. 27.0% Caucasian (p < 0.05) women completed the test. Among women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, African Americans were less likely to receive medication (79.6% vs. 89.2%, p < 0.05), without a difference in follow-up visit pattern between races. Female providers were more likely to refer women for DXA (27.7%) than male providers (21.7%) (p = 0.035), and this gender difference in referral was more pronounced for African American patients.

Conclusions: Not enough eligible women are being screened and treated for osteoporosis in primary care. Even fewer African American women receive DXA screenings and are treated for osteoporosis. Controlling for age and BMI attenuated but did not eliminate the difference. Female providers were more likely than male providers to refer women for DXA.”
“Background: Hospitalized medically ill patients are at greater risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although pharmacologic prophylaxis regimens have reduced VTE risk in medically ill patients, associations with early postdischarge adverse clinical outcomes among patients with heart failure are unknown.”
“Background: The acute-phase response (APR) is critical to the body’s ability to successfully respond to injury.