Effects of state reinsurance programs on health insurance exchange premiums and insurer participation

Objective

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of the state-based reinsurance programs through the section 1332 State Innovation Waivers on health insurance marketplace premiums and insurer participation.

Data Source

2015 to 2022 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Insurance Exchange Compare Datasets.

Study Design

An event study difference-in-differences (DD) model separately for each year of implementation and a synthetic control method (SCM) are used to estimate year-by-year effects following program implementation.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not applicable.

Principal Findings

Reinsurance programs were associated with a decline in premiums in the first year of implementation by 10%–13%, 5%–19%, and 11%–17% for bronze, silver, and gold plans (p < 0.05). There is a trend of sustained declines especially for states that implemented their programs in 2019 and 2020. The SCM analyses suggest some effect heterogeneity across states but also premium declines across most states. There is no evidence that reinsurance programs affected insurer participation.

Conclusion

State-based reinsurance programs have the potential to improve the affordability of health insurance coverage. However, reinsurance programs do not appear to have had an effect on insurer participation, highlighting the need for policy makers to consider complementary strategies to encourage insurer participation.     

2010—2020年北京市房山区梅毒防治效果分析

目的了解北京市房山区梅毒规划(2010—2020年)实施期间梅毒防治效果和各考核指标达标情况,为下一步制定有效的梅毒防治策略提供科学依据。方法根据《中国预防与控制梅毒规划(2010—2020年)》(以下简称《梅控规划》)终期评估的要求,通过专网、现场调查、APP答题等方式对涉及的16个指标进行收集,并将16个指标划分为梅毒防治保障措施的落实、防治工作开展和防治效果3个层面进行评估,同时将评估结果与终期评估标准进行比较。采用SPSS 18.0软件进行描述性统计分析。结果2010—2020年北京市房山区共报告梅毒病例3260例,年均报告发病率27.99/10万,年均增长0.08%,男女比例基本持平,以25岁年龄组病例数最多,历年病例均以隐性梅毒为主。保障措施与能力建设方面均达标;防治工作方面:感染梅毒的孕产妇所生婴幼儿接受规范诊疗服务的比例为50.00%,梅毒患者接受规范化治疗的比例86.11%,两指标未达标,其余均达标;防治效果中一期和二期梅毒年报告发病率增长幅度为3.80%,未达标,先天梅毒年报告发病率为9.25/10万活产数达到了《梅控规划》的工作要求。结论2010—2020年北京市房山区梅毒防治工作取得了一定成效,但部分指标仍未达标,应继续加强梅毒防治工作,尤其是需提高规范化诊疗的比例同时控制新发梅毒发病率。     

A systematic review of the methodological quality of economic evaluations in genetic screening and testing for monogenic disorders

PurposeUnderstanding the value of genetic screening and testing for monogenic disorders requires high-quality, methodologically robust economic evaluations. This systematic review sought to assess the methodological quality among such studies and examined opportunities for improvement.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science for economic evaluations of genetic screening/testing (2013-2019). Methodological rigor and adherence to best practices were systematically assessed using the British Medical Journal checklist.ResultsAcross the 47 identified studies, there were substantial variations in modeling approaches, reporting detail, and sophistication. Models ranged from simple decision trees to individual-level microsimulations that compared between 2 and >20 alternative interventions. Many studies failed to report sufficient detail to enable replication or did not justify modeling assumptions, especially for costing methods and utility values. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, or calibration were rarely used to derive parameter estimates. Nearly all studies conducted some sensitivity analysis, and more sophisticated studies implemented probabilistic sensitivity/uncertainty analysis, threshold analysis, and value of information analysis.ConclusionWe describe a heterogeneous body of work and present recommendations and exemplar studies across the methodological domains of (1) perspective, scope, and parameter selection; (2) use of uncertainty/sensitivity analyses; and (3) reporting transparency for improvement in the economic evaluation of genetic screening/testing.     

COVID-19 convalescent plasma: current status,lessons from the past and future perspectives

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, blood transfusion services worldwide started collection of convalescent plasma as early as possible, as exemplified by the response in Norway. There were challenges related to donor selection, donor safety, testing for relevant antibodies and indications for and dosing of the convalescent plasma. As more knowledge became available, the product quality was more standardised. Multiple case reports, observational studies and some randomized studies were published during the pandemic, as well as laboratory studies reporting different approaches to antibody testing. The results were conflicting and the importance of convalescent plasma was disputed.Even though there has been strong international collaboration with involvement of many key organisations, we may better prepare for the next pandemic. An even stronger, more formalised collaboration between these organisations could provide more clear evidence of the importance of convalescent plasma, based on the principles of passive immunisation.     

Deepm5C: A deep-learning-based hybrid framework for identifying human RNA N5-methylcytosine sites using a stacking strategy

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鸟巢式护理模式对早产儿生长发育及肠胃功能的影响

目的 探讨鸟巢式护理模式在早产儿护理中的应用价值。方法 选取2016年6月—2020年5月本院收治的早产儿94例,采用随机数表法将其分为两组,每组各47例。对照组给予早产儿采取常规护理,观察组在早产儿常规护理上实施鸟巢式护理模式。比较两组临床效果、护理前后生长发育情况、肠胃功能及家属护理满意度。结果 观察组体温波动幅度低于对照组,睡眠时间长于对照组,血氧饱和度高于对照组,出暖箱时间短于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。护理前,两组头围、身高、体质量比较,差异无统计学意义(t=0.381,P=0.704、t=0.211,P=0.833、t=1.472,P=0.144);护理后2周,观察组头围(28.44±1.35)cm、身高(44.86±2.05)cm、体质量(2 336.93±12.47)g,高于对照组的(27.76±1.87)cm、(42.46±2.43)cm、(2 310.14±13.56)g,差异有统计学意义(t=2.021,P=0.046、t=5.175,P<0.001、t=9.970,P<0.001);观察组首次胎便时间、胎便转黄时间分别为(21.74±7.35)h、(58.91±12.44)h,短于对照组的(25.02±8.13)h、(63.87±13.74)h,排便次数及进奶量的增加分别为(5.67±1.32)次/d、(3.38±1.43)mL/d,高于对照组的(4.21±1.84)次/d、(2.13±0.27)mL/d,差异有统计学意义(t=2.052,P=0.043、t=4.420,P<0.001、t=2.205,P=0.030、t=5.889,P<0.001);观察组护理总满意度高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 鸟巢式护理模式可减少早产儿体温波动幅度,提供适宜的恒温环境,促进早产儿生长发育,效果确切,值得广泛应用。     

Recent advances with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors: therapeutic agents for breast cancer and their role in immuno-oncology

Introduction: Collaborative interactions between several diverse biological processes govern the onset and progression of breast cancer. These processes include alterations in cellular metabolism, anti-tumor immune responses, DNA damage repair, proliferation, anti-apoptotic signals, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, components of the non-coding genome or onco-mIRs, cancer stem cells and cellular invasiveness. The last two decades have revealed that each of these processes are also directly regulated by a component of the cell cycle apparatus, cyclin D1.

Area covered: The current review is provided to update recent developments in the clinical application of cyclin/CDK inhibitors to breast cancer with a focus on the anti-tumor immune response.

Expert opinion: The cyclin D1 gene encodes the regulatory subunit of a proline-directed serine-threonine kinase that phosphorylates several substrates. CDKs possess phosphorylation site selectivity, with the phosphate-acceptor residue preceding a proline. Several important proteins are substrates including all three retinoblastoma proteins, NRF1, GCN5, and FOXM1. Over 280 cyclin D3/CDK6 substrates have b\een identified. Given the diversity of substrates for cyclin/CDKs, and the altered thresholds for substrate phosphorylation that occurs during the cell cycle, it is exciting that small molecular inhibitors targeting cyclin D/CDK activity have encouraging results in specific tumors.     

中医药干预新型冠状病毒肺炎临床研究方案分析

对中医药防治新型冠状病毒肺炎临床研究方案注册情况进行分析,为提高相关研究设计质量提供参考和建议。检索中国临床试验注册中心网站(www.chictr.org.cn)以及美国临床试验注册中心网站(clinicaltrials.gov),以新型冠状病毒肺炎、2019-nCoV等为检索词,检索新型冠状病毒肺炎中医药相关临床研究方案。按照纳入排除标准筛选文献,并提取研究注册时间、研究目的、研究类型、申办单位、研究对象、样本量、干预措施、评价指标等数据,采用描述性分析方法。共纳入新型冠状病毒肺炎中医药相关研究方案49个,研究负责单位以湖北、北京、浙江等地医院或高等院校为主。研究具体实施单位属地集中在湖北、广东、浙江、河南等地医院。研究设计以干预性试验研究为主(共40个),其中随机平行对照研究30个,非随机对照试验7个,单臂研究2个,连续入组1个;观察性研究6个;卫生服务研究2个;预防性研究1个。总样本量30562例,单个研究样本量最大20000例,最小30例。49个方案的研究对象包括健康人群(3个)、隔离观察人群(1个)、疑似病例(10个)、确诊病例(31个)、康复期病例(4个)。31个拟纳入确诊病例的研究方案中,有16个研究未明确病情分级,3个研究明确排除危重症,4个研究纳入普通型,2个研究纳入轻型、普通型或重型,1个研究纳入轻型和普通型,1个研究纳入普通型或重型,3个研究纳入重型,1个研究纳入重症或危重症。评价的干预措施包括中成药(连花清瘟胶囊/颗粒、藿香正气滴丸/口服液、八宝丹、固表解毒灵、金蒿解热颗粒、复方鱼腥草合剂、金叶败毒颗粒、疏风解毒胶囊、双黄连口服液、痰热清注射液、血必净注射液、热毒宁注射液、喜炎平注射液)、汤药、太极拳疗法。主要疗效指标以退热时间、临床症状缓解、新型冠状病毒核酸转阴、重症转化率、胸部CT影像为主。结果表明中医药防治新冠肺炎的临床研究响应快速,当前注册方案涵盖了疾病预防、治疗和康复全过程。但存在人群定义不清,研究目标不明确,干预方案需要细化,疗效评价指标需要优化等问题;另外,需要考虑疫情救治的实际困难和工作负担,在符合医学伦理条件下,优化流程,提高研究方案的可操作性。