Diagnosis-Related Groups payment reform and hospital cost control.

BACKGROUND: This study explores the influence of Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) payment reform on hospital cost control and offers pertinent cost management strategies for public hospitals. It situates the research by elucidating the significance of the DRG payment method and comparing its advantages and drawbacks with the traditional 'pay per project' model. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim is to assess the impact of DRG payment reform on hospital cost control and propose effective cost management strategies for public hospitals. The objective is to provide insights into DRG payment implications and attempt practical recommendations for its implementation in the public healthcare sector. METHODS: Employing a comprehensive approach, the study analyzes DRG payment, delineates advantages and drawbacks, and proposes cost management strategies. Methods include staff training, an information management platform, disease analysis, and optimized cost accounting. The study highlights the potential for improved medical diagnosis and treatment through industry-finance integration. RESULTS: Findings reveal advantages and limitations of DRG payment, emphasizing strategies for optimizing hospital operations. Enhanced medical diagnosis and treatment procedures through industry-finance integration contribute to overall cost control effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The study serves as a practical guide for implementing DRG payment reforms, offering valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals in navigating the complexities of cost control in public healthcare.

Interaction Between Environmental Risk Factors and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) and X-Ray Repair Cross-Complementing Protein 1 (XRCC1) Gene Polymorphisms in Risk of Lung Cancer Among Non-Smoking Chinese Women: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND Various studies have highlighted the link between polymorphisms in the XRCC1 gene (encoding X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1) with the incidence of decreased DNA repair capacity and an increased predisposition to cancer. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a crucial role in estrogen-induced cancers. In the present study was analyzed the potential influence of XRCC1 and COMT gene polymorphisms as predisposing factors from a lung cancer perspective, in addition to conducting an investigation into their interaction with environmental risk factors in relation to lung cancer among non-smoking Chinese women. MATERIAL AND METHODS The XRCC1 gene T-77C, Arg194Trp, Arg280His, Arg399Gln, COMT gene 186C>T, and Val158Met mutations were evaluated in peripheral blood collected from 261 non-smoking female patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer and 265 female patients with benign lung disease. RESULTS The results obtained from this study demonstrated that XRCC1-77TC + CC, XRCC1 399Gln/Gln, COMT 186CT + TT, COMT 158Val/Met genotypes, type of occupation, cooking-oil fumes, and soot exposures were all independent risk factors involved with the occurrence of lung cancer among non-smoking women. Moreover, interactions between environmental exposure factors as well as XRCC1 and COMT gene polymorphisms were determined to play significant contributory roles regarding susceptibility of non-smoking females to lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, T-77C and Arg399Gln polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene, as well as the 186C>T and Val158Met polymorphisms of the COMT gene, increased the risk of lung cancer in non-smoking women, with the factors of occupation type, cooking-oil fumes, and soot exposures representing key contributing factors.

[Effect of simvastatin on bone morphogenetic protein-2 expression in the periodontal tissue after rat tooth movement].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of systematic administration of simvastatin on the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in the periodontal tissue after rat tooth movement and on the relapse of tooth movement. METHODS: Orthodontic tooth movement of upper first molar was performed in 32 rats with coil spring for 21 days. The 32 rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: negative control group (isotonic saline) and three experimental groups (2.5 mg x kg(-1), 5.0 mg x kg(-1) and 10.0 mg x kg(-1)). The simvastatin started to be administered to the experimental groups 1 day before appliances were removed, and once a day there after for 4 weeks. The negative control group received the isotonic saline only. The interdental distance between the first and second maxillary molars were measured, when appliances were removed, and 1 week and 4 weeks after that. After the rats were sacrificed, sections of first maxillary molar and periodontal tissue were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The number and percentage of relapse was lower in the three experimental groups than in the negative control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The lower dose was given, the less relapse there was, with the lowerest dose resulting in lowest percentage of relapse (26.81% and 53.38%). BMP-2 expression in experimental groups was higher than in the negative control group, with the lowerest dose group showing the highest expression (P < 0.001). The BMP-2 expression on the tension side was slightly stronger than that on the compression side (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Systemic administration of simvastatin could decrease the extent of relapse of the orthodontic-moved tooth in rat, and the lower-dose of simvastatin seemed more effective. The possible mechanism for this may be that simvastatin functions by increasing the expression of BMP-2 in the periodontal tissue, accelerating the osteoblast activity and promoting bone formation.

Unusual halogen-bonded complex FBrdelta+...delta+BrF and hydrogen-bonded complex FBrdelta+...delta+HF formed by interactions between two positively charged atoms of different polar molecules.

Using ab initio calculations, the authors' predicted for the first time that the halogen-bonded complex FBrdelta+...delta+BrF and hydrogen-bonded complex FBrdelta+...delta+HF formed by the interactions between two positively charged atoms of different polar molecules can be stable in gas phase. It shows that halogen bond or hydrogen bond not only exists between oppositely charged atoms but also between like-charged atoms. That the attraction arising from the special halogen bond or hydrogen bond can exceed the electrostatic repulsion between two contact positively charged atoms stabilizes the complex. Of course, from the point of view of physics they can consider the interactions in FBrdelta+...delta+BrF and FBrdelta+...delta+HF as mainly the sum of the long range molecular interactions, namely, electrostatic, induction, and dispersion with some short-range repulsion. They found that the intermolecular electron correlation contribution representing dispersion interaction plays a crucial role in the stabilities of seemingly repulsive complexes FBrdelta+...delta+BrF and FBrdelta+...delta+HF.