Annual review of medicine
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Regardless of what legislation the federal government adopts to address health insurance coverage for nonelderly Americans, private insurance will likely play a major role. This article begins by listing some of the major reasons critics dislike the Affordable Care Act (ACA), then discusses the validity of these concerns from an economics perspective. ⋯ Americans favor the increase in insurance coverage that has occurred under the ACA. In order to sustain this level of coverage, steps to lower Marketplace premiums through a variety of strategies affecting potential enrollees, insurers, and healthcare providers are offered.
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Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is the unexplained loss of maternal cardiac systolic function in the period surrounding parturition. PPCM affects women worldwide and is a leading cause of maternal mortality. The cause of PPCM has remained elusive until recently. We review here the epidemiology of PPCM, recent findings that strongly indicate hormonal and genetic contributions to the development of PPCM, and implications for the management of women with PPCM.
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Annual review of medicine · Jan 2018
ReviewRefinement of the Affordable Care Act: A Progressive Perspective.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was the most significant expansion of health coverage since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted. The law resulted in approximately 13-20 million uninsured persons gaining coverage. Despite these gains, the ACA has numerous shortcomings. ⋯ In addition, the ACA expanded coverage by building onto a highly fragmented, inefficient, and costly health system. Thus, it did little to control health costs. A more fiscally prudent approach would have been built upon more successful existing programs, such as a Medicare for All.
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Annual review of medicine · Jan 2018
ReviewNew-Generation High-Potency and Designer Antibodies: Role in HIV-1 Treatment.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have been evaluated as promising agents in the fight against infectious diseases. HIV-1-specific bNAbs, in particular, have been tested in both preventive and therapeutic modalities. ⋯ With the technological advances of the past decades, novel and more effective bNAbs have been identified or engineered for higher neutralizing potency, greater breadth, and increased serum half-life. In this review, we discuss the development of a new generation of anti-HIV-1 bNAbs and their potential to be used clinically for treatment and prevention of HIV-1 infection.