Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

The use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to prevent infections in bronchopulmonary dysplasia: report of a pilot study.

Abstract: The incidence and severity of pneumonia, sepsis, and other infections was evaluated in a group of 30 premature infants with moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), half of whom were randomly treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (group A). The patients were treated until the age of 6 months. They were compared with an untreated control group (group B). The number of pneumonic episodes (5 in group A and 15 in group B) and other infections, excluding sepsis (1 in group A and 7 in group B), were significantly reduced in the treated group (P less than .05). The number of episodes of sepsis, suspected sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis were similar in the two groups. The decrease in the number of respiratory and other infections in BPD infants treated with IVIG requires verification by a larger trial.

Non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor as an incidentaloma--a case report and review of literature.

Abstract: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs), a subgroup of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, comprise a group of rare neoplasms arising from the neuroendocrine system in the pancreas. The prevalence of PNETs has increased substantially over the last two decades with increased clinical recognition and characterization [1]. PNETs may be functional associated with secreting peptides and neuroamines causing distinct clinical syndromes or nonfunctional, usually presenting late with mass effects. The overall prognosis and long-term survival for PNET patients is far better than for patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer [2]. The treatment is multidisciplinary; however, surgical resection at present is the only curative therapy available. We present the case of a 72-yearold-male who was found to have a 1-cm nonfunctional PNET as an incidental finding on computed tomography of the abdomen performed for non-specific abdominal complaints.

The Relationship of Health Insurance and Mortality.

Abstract: TO THE EDITOR: C.S. Lewis wrote, If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truthonly soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair. Woolhandler and Himmelstein's article (1) is as well-grounded in empirical evidence as we are likely to get and clearly comes out in favor of what both authors have long articulated with passion and reason: the benefits of a single-payer system. Supporters of such a system have not been completely transparent about the simple truth that we cannot afford the system of health care that we would actually like to have unless we accept sacrifices that we are as yet unwilling to bear. The purported savings by creating a national or state-based single-payer system are almost certainly overstated and fraught with uncertainty. In 1965, the government's lead actuary predicted that Medicare Part A would cost $9 billion by 1990; the actual cost exceeded $66 billion. To advocate that a single-payer system can be implemented without substantial and long-term tax-based subsidies and/or limiting choice and access to services that most Americans see as a birthright is disingenuous. The deeply difficult task of paring down the growth of entitlement programs, such as Medicare, and de facto entitlement programs, such as Medicaidthe primary drivers of the nation's fiscal woesrequires limiting access to some services, restricting choice, and using the political will and managerial skills to ensure fiscal accountability. These realities are rarely addressed by reformers and critics regardless of political persuasion, and the facts on the ground are not encouraging (for example, the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs). Until we accept that we cannot afford the health care that we want without starving other areas of the economy in need of investment (infrastructure and education), we will remain stuck in a fruitless argument that is fired more by passion and politics than hard truths. Arguments that the root causes of our present dilemma come down to self-serving physicians, hospitals, employers, or private insurersor to perfidious government, for that matterare simplistic. In fact, it is hard to find credible and consistent villainy in this dilemma. No one wants anyone to die of lack of medical care; accusations to the contrary are counterproductive. When our political and professional leaders start promoting honest discussions on health care with Americans, just maybe we will find the goodwill and self-sacrifice necessary to solve a dilemma nearly a century old. The time is past for soft soap and wishful thinking in regards to health care. It is truth we need, not comfort.