Anecdotal reports of children experiencing eczema flares during winter and summer months along with global variation in eczema prevalence has fueled speculation that climate may modulate disease activity. The aim of this study was to determine if long-term weather patterns affect the severity and persistence of eczema symptoms in children. We performed a prospective cohort study of U.S. children (N=5,595) enrolled in PEER (Pediatric Eczema Elective Registry) between 2004 and 2012 to evaluate the effect of climate (daily temperature, daily sun exposure, daily humidity) on the severity of eczema symptoms. Odds ratios were calculated for the patient evaluated outcome of disease control. Multivariate logistic regression modeling adjusting for gender, race, income, and topical medication use demonstrated that higher temperature (OR=0·90, 95% CI: 0·87–0·93, p<0·001) and increased sun exposure (OR=0·93, 95% CI: 0·89–0·98, p=0·009) were associated with poorly controlled eczema. Higher humidity (OR=0·90, 95% CI: 0·812–0.997, p=0·04) was also associated with poorly controlled disease, but the statistical significance of this association was lost in our multivariate analysis (p=0.44).
Aims
The purpose of this study was to identify the presence or absence of geographic variation in Medicare spending and mortality rates for diabetic patients with foot ulcers (DFU) and lower extremity amputations (LEA).
Methods
Diabetic beneficiaries with foot ulcers (n=682,887) and lower extremity amputations (n= 151,752) were enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B during the calendar year 2007. We used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to explain geographic variation in per capita Medicare spending and one-year mortality rates.
Results
Health care spending and mortality rates varied considerably across the nation for our two patient cohorts. However, higher spending was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in one-year patient mortality (P=.12 for DFU, P=.20 for LEA). Macrovascular complications for amputees were more common in parts of the country with higher mortality rates (P<.001), but this association was not observed for our foot ulcer cohort (P=.12). In contrast, macrovascular complications were associated with increased per capita spending for beneficiaries with foot ulcers (P=.01). Rates of hospital admission were also associated with higher per capita spending and increased mortality rates for individuals with foot ulcers (P<.001 for health spending and mortality) and lower extremity amputations (P<.001 for health spending, P=.01 for mortality).
Conclusion
Geographic variation in Medicare spending and mortality rates for diabetic patients with foot ulcers and amputations is associated with regional differences in the utilization of inpatient services and the prevalence of macrovascular complications.
carcinoma (SC), a rare skin cancer associated with Muir-Torre syndrome, is elevated among solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). However, population studies evaluating this association and assessing survival for posttransplant cases are lacking, and further understanding of SC epidemiology in this immunosuppressed population could provide etiologic and clinical insights.OBJECTIVE To assess SC incidence and patient survival after solid organ transplantation.
Sebaceous carcinoma is an aggressive skin cancer with a 5-year overall survival rate of 78% for localized/regional disease and 50% for metastatic disease. The incidence of this cancer has been increasing in the United States for several decades, but the underlying reasons for this increase are unclear. In this article, we review the epidemiology and genetics of sebaceous carcinoma, including recent population data and tumor genomic analyses that provide new insights into underlying tumor biology. We further discuss emerging evidence of a possible viral etiology for this cancer. Finally, we review the clinical implications of recent advances in sebaceous carcinoma research for screening, prevention, and treatment.
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