1. PERSPECTIVES ON ADOLESCENT MEDICINE: CONCEPTS AND PROGRAM DESIGN

ABSTRACT
The concepts and goals of a program in adolescent medicine should include development of a capability to focus on current health needs of youth in a variety of settings; to plan clinical services to meet those needs with the flexibility necessary to respond to changing future requirements; and to deliver service within such a context while simultaneously creating a milieu conducive to education and investigation into the very process and definition of adolescence.
The Division of Adolescent Medicine at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center was designed 7 years ago to fulfill these goals and consequently may serve others as a functional model for health care delivery to teenagers. The Division is comprised of: (1) a 37 bed in-patient unit; (2) a hospital-based ambulatory program including general diagnostic and follow-up services, as well as a specialty service capability in the areas of gynecology and family planning, cardiology, gastroenterology and nutrition; (3) primary care health services within teenage detention and prison facilities; (4) addictive disease diagnostic and treatment programs; (5) school health programs from intermediate school through college levels, and (6) the division also performs supportive and consultative functions for a variety of community-based agencies. Within the programatic design approximately 70,000 adolescents have been served.
The cornerstone of the educational and investigative efforts has been the concept that all of the above six functional units are clinical laboratories and classrooms so that training and research activities are integral parts of each of the service areas.
This program design is continually undergoing revision and refinement so as to remain ever-responsive to new and emerging problems to meet additional training demands and, most importantly, to permit and encourage creativity, and growth among patients and staff.     

Twelve-Month Persistency of a Novel Ribose–Cross-linked Collagen Dermal Filler

BACKGROUND The porcine collagen–derived dermal filler Dermicol-P35 (Evolence, Colbar LifeScience Ltd, Herzliya, Israel) has low immunogenicity and the potential to provide a long-lasting corrective response for soft-tissue contour deficiencies and deformities.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the persistence of the corrective response with Dermicol-P35 up to 12 months after obtaining an optimal cosmetic result (OCR) in a randomized, multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Dermicol-P35 with the hyaluronic acid (HA) filler Restylane (Medicis Pharmaceutical Co.).
METHODS & MATERIALS Subjects with moderate to deep nasolabial wrinkles ( n =149) were randomized to injections of either Dermicol-P35 or HA on one side of the face and the alternative preparation on the contralateral side. If necessary, one touch-up injection could be given after 2 weeks to obtain an OCR.
RESULTS Although the mean Modified Fitzpatrick Wrinkle Scale score increased gradually after achieving the OCR with Dermicol-P35, 95.3 and 76.5% of subjects, respectively, met the criteria for persistence of the corrective response after 9 and 12 months. Persistency rates were similar regardless of the requirement for a touch-up injection at Week 2. No unexpected, severe, or serious injection-related adverse events were experienced.
CONCLUSION The effectiveness of Dermicol-P35 appears to be maintained for up to 1 year after achieving an OCR, both for touch-up and for non–touch-up subjects.     

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Treatment of Glabellar Lines: Determination of Optimal Dose

BACKGROUND Botulinum toxin is used to treat glabellar lines, but the optimal dose of Reloxin (Dysport, Ipsen Biopharm Ltd.) for this indication remains to be established.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate three doses of Reloxin to determine its efficacy and safety in treating glabellar lines.
METHODS AND MATERIALS Participants were given 20, 50, or 75 U of Reloxin, or placebo, injected across the glabella. Follow-up was on Days 7, 30, 60, 90, and 120. Adverse events were also elicited by telephone on Day 3.
RESULTS From investigators' and participants' assessments at Day 30, there were significantly more responders in each Reloxin-treated group than placebo ( p≤ 0.001). The 50-U dose was as effective as the 75-U dose, with a similar duration. The most common adverse events were mild headache and nasopharyngitis, occurring similarly in all groups.
CONCLUSIONS Reloxin (Dysport/botulinum toxin type A) treatment resulted in a significant improvement in glabellar lines, and the 50-U dose was identified as optimal. All doses were well tolerated.     

Brunner''s Gland Adenoma Associated with High-output Congestive Heart Failure

Brunner's gland adenoma in the third portion of the duodenum is rare and only two such cases have been reported previously. A 35-year old man presented with high-output congestive heart failure. Profound iron deficiency anemia was corrected by transfusion, allowing detection of a duodenal tumor, which proved pathologically to be a Brunner's gland adenoma.     

Trends in Health Care Financial Burdens, 2001 to 2009

Context: Over the past decade, health care spending increased faster than GDP and income, and decreasing affordability is cited as contributing to personal bankruptcies and as a reason that some of the nonelderly population is uninsured. We examined the trends in health care affordability over the past decade, measuring the financial burdens associated with health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs and highlighting implications of the Affordable Care Act for the future financial burdens of particular populations.Methods: We used cross sections of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) from 2001 to 2009. We defined financial burden at the health insurance unit (HIU) level and calculated it as the ratio of expenditures on health care—employer-sponsored insurance coverage (ESI) and private nongroup premiums and out-of-pocket payments—to modified adjusted gross income.Findings: The median health care financial burden grew on average by 2.7% annually and by 21.9% over the period. Using a range of definitions, the fraction of households facing high financial burdens increased significantly. For example, the share of HIUs with health care expenses exceeding 10% of income increased from 35.9% to 44.8%, a 24.8% relative increase. The share of the population in HIUs with health care financial burdens between 2% and 10% fell, and the share with burdens between 10% and 44% rose.Conclusions: We found a clear trend over the past decade toward an increasing share of household income devoted to health care. The ACA will affect health care spending for subgroups of the population differently. Several groups’ burdens will likely decrease, including those becoming eligible for Medicaid or subsidized private insurance and those with expensive medical conditions. Those newly obtaining coverage might increase their health spending relative to income, but they will gain access to care and the ability to spread their expenditures over time, both of which have demonstrable economic value.     

PATIENT ADHERENCE TO LONG-TERM MEDICAL TREATMENT OF KIDNEY STONES

PURPOSE: We determine patient adherence to and quality of outcome of medical kidney stone treatment during a 30-year duration at a single university based referral clinic. We also analyze time trends in adherence and timing of followup measurements, and supersaturation reduction during treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on all patients who entered the University of Chicago Kidney Stone Prevention Program from 1970 to 2000 were analyzed. Fractions of new patients who had any followup and those remaining in followup at increasing intervals were analyzed. Timing of followup was measured. Changes in adherence during the 3 decades were also analyzed, as was reduction in supersaturation in regard to calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and uric acid. RESULTS: A total of 70% to 80% of patients were retained at each successive followup cycle with 2 physicians, and a clinical protocol that always required 6-week followup with 24-hour urine collection and a yearly one thereafter for stone risk factors. Retention decreased during the last 5 years of the 1990s. Supersaturation reduction was present by the first followup and remained constant or improved with time. Timing of followup measurements was in accord with our protocol. CONCLUSIONS: At best, one can retain only 70% to 80% of patients in a followup program at each interval, and achieve supersaturation reductions that are constant and significant during the long term. Timing of followup measurements can be close to that of the protocol in use.     

A Randomized, Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Dermicol-P35 and Non–Animal-Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Gel for the Correction of Nasolabial Folds

BACKGROUND Non–animal-stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) offers longer-lasting cosmetic improvement and reduced risk of hypersensitivity and requires less injection volume than bovine collagen–derived dermal fillers. Porcine collagen–derived Dermicol-P35 has low immunogenicity and has the potential to provide durability at least equivalent to that of NASHA.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dermicol-P35 and NASHA for correction of nasolabial folds (NLFs).
METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 149 subjects with moderate NLFs were randomized to receive Dermicol-P35 and NASHA on contralateral sides of the face. If needed, subjects could receive a repeat injection 2 weeks later to obtain an optimal cosmetic result (OCR).
RESULTS Significant ( p <.001) improvement in the Modified Fitzpatrick Wrinkle Scale scores relative to screening was observed after treatment with Dermicol-P35 and NASHA. Relative to the OCR visit, mean scores increased ( p <.001) over time, but there were no significant differences between treatments (+0.39 and +0.37 at 6 months; p =.626). Greater proportions of subjects experienced swelling, bruising, and pain at the NASHA site. Several subjects had more induration at the Dermicol-P35 site. There was no evidence of any adverse immunologic effect.
CONCLUSION The effectiveness of Dermicol-P35 is maintained for at least 6 months and is equivalent to NASHA for the correction of NLFs.