Improved cardiac management with a disease management program incorporating comprehensive lipid profiling.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the improved effectiveness of a disease management treatment protocol incorporating comprehensive lipid profiling and targeted lipid care based on lipid profile findings in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) or congestive heart failure (CHF) enrolled in a managed care plan. This retrospective cohort study, conducted over a 2-year period, compared outcomes between patients with a standard lipid profile to those evaluated with a comprehensive lipid profile. All adult members of the WellMed Medical Management, Inc. managed care health plan diagnosed with IHD or CHF, and continuously enrolled between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008, were included in the study. Cases were defined as those who had at least 1 comprehensive lipid test (the VAP [vertical auto profile] ultracentrifuge test) during this period (n=1767); they were compared to those who had no lipid testing or traditional standard lipid testing only (controls, n=289). Univariate statistics were analyzed to describe the groups, and bivariate t tests or chi-squares examined differences between the 2 cohorts. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to control for potential confounders. The results show that the case group had lower total costs ($4852.62 vs.$7413.18; P=0.0255), fewer inpatient stays (13.1% vs. 18.3% of controls; P=0.0175) and emergency department visits (11.9% vs. 15.6% of controls; P=0.0832). Prescription use and frequency of lipid measurement suggested improved control resulting from a targeted approach to managing specific dyslipidemias. A treatment protocol incorporating a comprehensive lipid profile appears to improve care and reduce utilization and costs in a disease management program for cardiac patients. (Population Health Management 2012;15:46-51)

Moral Pathology

This dissertation explores the relationship between morality and mental illness. Mental illness is often thought to impair moral functioning but careful examination reveals that mental illness offers its own insight into moral functioning. While we learn a great deal about moral responsibility and exempting conditions (psychopathy and addiction), we also discover that there a multiple ways to be moral and that many individuals act morally despite ongoing conditions (high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and recovered borderline personality disorder). I conclude that these insights ought to shape our ethical theories

Transformative experiences and the search for meaning among adult full-time undergraduate returning students

The purpose of the study was to examine why adult students who are 25 years of age or older return to colleges and universities at this time in their lives. In examining this relationship, the study was also designed to provide some insight into whether adults who enter college are acting on previously experienced transformations, or whether they are viewing college as a medium for their transformation. Most previously published research on returning adult students has focused primarily on the reasons that adults give for returning, but few of these studies have attempted to explain the link between education and transformative experiences;In attempting to explore and understand this link, the researcher interviewed 20 adult undergraduate freshmen at a large public mid-western university. Of the 20 students who were interviewed, 10 were female and 10 were male. All were attending the university on a full-time basis. A case study analysis approach is used to allow for the gathering of comprehensive and in-depth information about each individual and to incorporate the interaction between data collection, participant observation, and data analyses;The study revealed that although many adult undergraduate freshmen enter college or university primarily to increase their marketability, these adults are realizing that their educational experiences can and do play key roles in helping them to sort through the transitions that had occurred or are occurring in their lives. Interaction and discussion with other students both at the graduate and undergraduate level play extremely important roles in helping the adult student to examine and question pre-conceived ideas and beliefs and to formulate new perspectives. The study supports the hypothesis that while many adult students are acting on previously experienced transformations, many of them are using their education as a medium for their transformation

Small Business Issue: “how do we avoid the speed trap and not get hit by the speeders?”

The authors examine the use of online panels, the assumptions that are being made, and the dangers of those assumptions for small business. Specifically, the authors investigate the existence and possible effects of speeders. They conclude with a discussion of the implications and how to avoid falling into the traps that this problem may create

HUBUNGAN AKTIVITAS FISIK KOMUNITAS PELARI TERHADAP TINGKAT KEBUGARAN DAN KUALITAS TIDUR

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan aktivitas fisik lari pagi hari dan lari malam hari terhadap tingkat kebugaran dan kualitas tidur. Penelitan menggunakan metode deskriptif dengan desain penelitian cross sectional. Sampel terdiri dari 105 orang terdiri dari anggota aktif komunitas lari pagi, komunitas lari malam dan kelompok yang tidak aktif dalam kegiatan olahraga. Hipotesis penelitian diuji dengan menggunakan teknik analisis Korelasi Pearson Product Moment. Adapun temuan penelitian yaitu: 1) Terdapat hubungan antara aktivitas fisik lari pagi hari dengan tingkat kebugaran dan kualitas tidur. 2) Terdapat hubungan antara aktivitas fisik lari malam hari dengan tingkat kebugaran dan kualitas tidur. 3) Tidak terdapat perbedaan hubungan antara aktivitas fisik lari malam hari dan lari pagi hari dengan tingkat kebugaran dan kualitas tidur. This study aims to determine the relationship between physical activity running in the morning and running at night on the level of fitness and sleep quality. The research used descriptive method with cross sectional research design. The sample consisted of 105 people consisting of active members of the morning run community, the night run community and groups who are not active in sports activities. The research hypothesis was tested using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis technique. The research findings are: 1) There is a relationship between physical activity running in the morning with fitness level and sleep quality. 2) There is a relationship between physical activity running at night with fitness level and sleep quality. 3) There is no difference in the relationship between physical activity running at night and running in the morning with fitness level and sleep quality

The dissemination of literature in the area of the deaf-blind

This paper attempts to demonstrate by reviewing the history of and the periodical literature on deaf-blindness in the United States, the need for a journal for professionals working with persons who are deaf-blind. The review was conducted by researching indexes of education, special education, psychology, rehabilitation, and medical journals. For those early entries that could not be obtained Blea and Hobron's, Literature On The Deaf-Blind - An Annotated Bibliography, was used to obtain the content of the entry. The scarcity and diffusion of the literature is clearly demonstrated It was found that the majority of the literature in recent years is indexed under the Educational Resources Information Center system (ERIC), and has never appeared in a professional or popular publication. The final conclusion is that persons working in the field of deaf-blindness are being hindered by this lack of a systematic, widely distributed vehicle through which professional information and research can be stimulated and disseminated.California State University, Northridge. Department of Education.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 26-31)A graduate project presented to the National Leadership Training Program, California State University at Northridge. National Leadership Training Program (NLTP) was established at California State University, Northridge in 1962 by a federal grant to train administrative personnel concerned with rehabilitation of the deaf

The Generations and Restaurant Types

Previously, research has created several scales for measuring different facets of the dining experience and suggest the need to do more segmentation by age. This research does that by collecting panel data to determine if there are relationships between the generations (Silent, Boomers, Xers, Yers, and Nexters) and the four main types of restaurants (QSR, fast casual, casual, fine dining). This was also conducted in an online environment as most consumers are now researching before they buy using the internet. The results indicate that Casual restaurants are associated with Boomers and Nexters while Fast Casual restaurants are associated with Gen Y and Nexters. The heavy user subsegments for each generation are also analyzed. The implications of these findings for restaurant management are discussed