The purpose of this study was to confirm the prognostic value of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) in patients with severe infections requiring ICU management and to develop and validate a model to enhance mortality prediction by combining severity scores with biomarkers.

Up-to-date estimates of burden of diseases are required for evidence-based decision-making. The objectives of this study were to determine the excess costs of COPD and its trend from 2001 to 2010 in British Columbia, Canada.

Statins have immunomodulatory properties that may provide beneficial effects in the treatment of COPD. We investigated whether a statin improves the IL-17/IL-10 imbalance in patients with COPD, as has previously been demonstrated in patients with asthma.

Institutional review boards (IRBs) or research ethics committees provide a core protection for human research participants through advance and periodic independent review of the ethical acceptability of proposals for human research. IRBs were codified in US regulation just over three decades ago and are widely required by law or regulation in jurisdictions globally. Since the inception of IRBs, the research landscape has grown and evolved, as has the system of IRB review and oversight. Evidence of inconsistencies in IRB review and in application of federal regulations has fueled dissatisfaction with the IRB system. Some complain that IRB review is time-consuming and burdensome without clear evidence of effectiveness at protecting human subjects. Multiple proposals have been offered to reform or update the current IRB system, and many alternative models are currently being tried. Current focus on centralizing and sharing reviews requires more attention and evidence. Proposed changes to the US federal regulations may bring more changes. Data and resourcefulness are needed to further develop and test review and oversight models that provide adequate and respectful protections of participant rights and welfare and that are appropriate, efficient, and adaptable for current and future research.

Chronic care management describes the services provided to patients with two or more chronic conditions that pose risks of exacerbation, clinical deterioration, or death. These services extend beyond the typical face-to-face office visit and require coordination and oversight by a physician or other qualified health-care professional to maintain and modify as necessary a comprehensive and multidisciplinary plan of care. New codes for 2015 describe chronic care management services per calendar month. While the new services acknowledge the role and importance of coordination by primary care providers, they are also appropriate for specialists who oversee the management of all of the chronic conditions of a patient and provide access, education, care coordination, communication, and health information exchange with other providers.