Memory B cells from a subset of treatment-naïve relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients elicit CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ production in response to myelin basic protein and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

Recent evidence suggests that B- and T-cell interactions may be paramount in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) disease pathogenesis. We hypothesized that memory B-cell pools from RRMS patients may specifically harbor a subset of potent neuro-APC that support neuro-Ag reactive T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. To test this hypothesis, we compared CD80 and HLA-DR expression, IL-10 and lymphotoxin-α secretion, neuro-Ag binding capacity, and neuro-Ag presentation by memory B cells from RRMS patients to naïve B cells from RRMS patients and to memory and naïve B cells from healthy donors (HD). We identified memory B cells from some RRMS patients that elicited CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion in response to myelin basic protein and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Notwithstanding the fact that the phenotypic parameters that promote efficient Ag presentation were observed to be similar between RRMS and HD memory B cells, a corresponding capability to elicit CD4(+) T-cell proliferation in response to myelin basic protein and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein was not observed in HD memory B cells. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the memory B-cell pool in RRMS harbors neuro-Ag specific B cells that can activate T cells.

Crime and punishment. Can the NHIN reduce the cost of healthcare fraud?

In his 2004 State of the Union Address, President Bush called for the adoption of the electronic health record (EHR) to increase efficiency and improve the quality of healthcare. This system could reduce healthcare costs by 20 percent or more per year. Some of those savings would be attributed to a dramatic reduction in losses due to fraud. Though IT by itself cannot solve the problem of healthcare fraud, developing an interoperable National Health Information Network (NHIN) can provide a platform to implement real-time anti-fraud controls. In this paper we inventory the costs and benefits of fraud detection from the NHIN and conclude that such an infrastructure investment has the potential to produce significant national savings.

RHIOs--build in healthcare fraud management from the beginning.

This article presents the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's field-based research on the use of Health Information Technology to Advance and Expand Healthcare Anti-Fraud Activities.' The authors of this article directed and performed this research under contract to the Foundation of Research and Education of AHIMA. There is a tremendous potential to reduce healthcare fraud and achieve substantial financial benefits using a nationwide health information network with interoperable electronic health records. To achieve these benefits, there must be interoperability among providers and between providers and payers. The article will provide recommendations for regional health information organizations to incorporate healthcare fraud management in their early designs.