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Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD

Accepting New Patients
(Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD)
Specializes in: Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine)
University of Florida College of Medicine (1992)
Professional interests include: menopause, high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), hypertension (high blood pressure), and more.
7501 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Street N
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702

Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD is an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL specializing in internal medicine (adult medicine). She graduated from University of Florida College of Medicine in 1992 and has 34 years of experience. Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD is affiliated with Optum - 9th Street.

View Doctor's Full Profile (727) 527-6719

Office Locations

7501 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Street N
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702
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Unable to locate address.

7501 Dr MLK Jr Street N
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
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7601 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Street N Street
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702
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Some issues Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD can help you with:

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.

Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:

  • Allergens (dust mites, pet fur, mold, pollen, grass)
  • Irritants (smoke, pollution, dust, chemicals)
  • Viral infections
  • Physical activity, especially outdoors
  • Certain medications or chemicals in foods (aspirin, sulfites)

Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.

There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.

Depression

Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."

Some common symptoms of depression include:

  • Feeling sad, guilty, empty or hopeless
  • Fatigue and a lack of energy and motivation
  • A loss of pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed
  • Unusual sleep or eating habits
  • Mental fog -- trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Physical aches and pains
  • Suicidal thoughts or a preoccupation with death

We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.

Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.

Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2024

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 10%

By Affordability:

blood draw
blood draw for lab tests
phlebotomy for lab tests
venipuncture

In 2024, Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD had a list price for blood draw, blood draw for lab tests, phlebotomy for lab tests, and venipuncture (phlebotomy) that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 90% of providers in related specialties within Florida. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2012 were blood draw, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 156
doctor visit 192
preventive care 16
vaccines 16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2013 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 146
doctor visit 177

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 29
Female 45
Age
From 65 to 74 36
From 75 to 84 17
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2013

Hypertension 70
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 36
Depression 28
Chronic Kidney Disease 42
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30
Diabetes 41
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2014 were blood draw, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 157
doctor visit 169
preventive care 12
vaccines 12

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 29
Female 37
Age
From 65 to 74 36
From 75 to 84 16
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2014

Hypertension 62
High Cholesterol 67
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 33
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 36
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2015 were blood draw, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 161
doctor visit 179
preventive care 36
vaccines 36

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 54
Female 80
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 110
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 72
From 75 to 84 38
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2015

Hypertension 69
High Cholesterol 69
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 30
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 22
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 28
Diabetes 37
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2016 were blood draw, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 147
doctor visit 227
preventive care 13
vaccines 13

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 32
Female 51
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 69
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 42
From 75 to 84 23
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2016

Hypertension 73
High Cholesterol 67
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 30
Depression 40
Chronic Kidney Disease 29
Asthma 25
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 28
Diabetes 35
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2017 were blood draw, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 153
doctor visit 254
preventive care 30
vaccines 30

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 36
Female 51
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 71
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 38
From 75 to 84 29
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2017

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 34
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 37
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 26
Diabetes 40
Dementia 13
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2018 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 137
doctor visit 277

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 30
Female 42
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 58
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 30
From 75 to 84 29
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2018

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 74
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 35
Depression 35
Chronic Kidney Disease 31
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 40
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2019 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 108
doctor visit 219

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 31
Female 51
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 61
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 32
From 75 to 84 30
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2019

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 61
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 29
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 29
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 35
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2020 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 26
doctor visit 74

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 27
Female 39
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 53
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 25
From 75 to 84 21
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2020

Hypertension 73
High Cholesterol 56
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 39
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 41
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 42
Diabetes 41
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2021 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 53
doctor visit 120

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 24
Female 32
Age
From 65 to 74 22
From 75 to 84 19
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2021

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 45
Depression 23
Chronic Kidney Disease 39
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 32
Diabetes 29
Dementia 0
Cancer 20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2022 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 36
doctor visit 61

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 24
Female 29
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 40
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 21
From 75 to 84 20
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2022

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 30
Depression 0
Chronic Kidney Disease 30
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 21
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30
Diabetes 25
Dementia 0
Cancer 21

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2023 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 85
doctor visit 79

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 27
Female 28
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 44
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 21
From 75 to 84 17
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2023

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 22
Depression 0
Chronic Kidney Disease 33
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 31
Diabetes 36
Dementia 0
Cancer 20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL during 2024 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 37
doctor visit 17

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 20
Female 17
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 15
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD in 2024

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 0
Chronic Kidney Disease 35
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30
Diabetes 49
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated as an internist in Saint Petersburg, FL were blood draw, preventive care and vaccines.

blood draw 107
doctor visit 157
preventive care 21
vaccines 21

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD.

Gender
Male 27
Female 38
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 38
Hispanic 0
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Other 0
Age
85 and over 0
75 to 84 21
Less than 65 0
65 to 74 28

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD From 2012 - 2024

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 67
High Cholesterol 64
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 27
Depression 21
Chronic Kidney Disease 30
Asthma 3
Osteoporosis 0
Heart Failure 6
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 28
Diabetes 34
Atrial Fibrillation 1
Cancer 4
Dementia 1

Education & Training

Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD graduated from University of Florida College of Medicine in 1992. She completed residency at University of Florida Health Science center. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (American Board of Internal Medicine) and has a state license in Florida.

Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine (1992)

Residency: University of Florida Health Science center (1995)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine (American Board of Internal Medicine)

Licensed In: Florida

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Humana (Complete verified online), WellCare (1719803), Freedom (P1034032), Optimum (P969096), Careplus (1073140) and United (6932328).

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Humana (Complete verified online)
WellCare (1719803)
Freedom (P1034032)
Optimum (P969096)
Careplus (1073140)
United (6932328)

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD has a high overall rating with an average of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on 6 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Saint Petersburg, FL. 

3.5
Overall Rating
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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Bernita Kathryn Sands, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. $67 ANORO
$24 		BREO
$16 		TRELEGY ELLIPTA
$14 		INCRUSE
$13
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP $41 ONGLYZA
$41
Boston Scientific Corporation $34 Varithena Administration Pack
$34
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. $18 BYDUREON
$18
Astellas Pharma US Inc $15 Vesicare
$15
Other $26 ENTRESTO
$15 		PREVNAR - 13
$11
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $202

Biography

Bernita Sands, MD, completed medical school at the University of Florida College of Medicine and residency at the University of Florida Health Science Center. Her care philosophy centers on managing internal medicine conditions. Dr Sands is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Clinically, she is particularly interested in helping patients manage allergies, arthritis, asthma, COPD, dementia, depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraines, menopausal symptoms and musculoskeletal concerns. She also emphasizes the importance of preventive care. Outside of work, Dr Sands enjoys yoga, reading, sports (her favorites are baseball and hockey) and watching murder mysteries.

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