Objective. To assess the incremental costeffectiveness of 3 Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis strategies in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) receiving immunosuppressive therapies: 1) no prophylaxis; 2) trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) 160 mg/800 mg 3 times a week, which is discontinued if patients experience an adverse drug reaction (ADR); and 3) TMP/SMX 160 mg/...

BACKGROUND Although 900,000 HIV-infected South Africans receive antiretroviral therapy, the majority of South Africans with HIV remain undiagnosed. METHODS We use a published simulation model of HIV case detection and treatment to examine 3 HIV screening scenarios, in addition to current practice as follows: (1) one-time; (2) every 5 years; and (3) annually. South African model input data inc...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Project Dulce, a culturally specific diabetes case management and self-management training program, in four cohorts defined by insurance status. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Clinical and cost data on 3,893 persons with diabetes participating in Project Dulce were used as inputs into a diabetes simulation model. STUDY DESIGN The Center for Outcom...

background: predicting life expectancy is an important component of public health, in that, it may affect policy making in fields such as social security and medical care., to estimate the life expectancy and the average years of life lost (ayll) of the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)-infected population, compared with that of the general population,...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness and costs of prophylaxis for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in patients with AIDS. DESIGN A decision analysis model was constructed to compare rifabutin (300 mg/day), azithromycin (1200 mg/week), and clarithromycin (500 mg twice per day) with no prophylaxis. Sensitivity analysis was done on all model parameters, including init...

ebstein's anomaly is defined as the significant apical displacement of the tricuspid valve causing tricuspid regurgitation. although a variety of concomitant lesions have been previously described, we herein introduce an unusual presentation.  our patient was an 86-year-old man with a primary presentation of typical chest pain in the setting of recently diagnosed coronary artery disease with co...