Health spending slowed down in spite of the crisis

Since the end of the Great Recession, growth in health care spending has declined to historically low levels. There is disagreement over whether this decline was caused by falling incomes during the Great Recession (and therefore is likely to reverse once the recovery is complete) or whether the decline represents a structural change in the health sector (and therefore is more likely to endure). We exploit plausibly exogenous regulatory changes in the mortgage lending market to estimate causal effects of the financial boom and bust cycle on personal income in the health sector in a panel of U.S. counties. We find that counties that were exogenously more exposed to the financial crisis because of the regulatory reforms experienced a greater rise in the size of the health sector over the course of the boom and bust relative to control counties, with the differential persisting through the recovery. We also provide evidence that both the boom and the bust periods of the financial crisis increased mortality in treated counties compared to control counties

Gender Differences in Russian Colour Naming

In the present study we explored Russian colour naming in a web-based psycholinguistic experiment (http://www.colournaming.com). Colour singletons representing the Munsell Color Solid (N=600 in total) were presented on a computer monitor and named using an unconstrained colour-naming method. Respondents were Russian speakers (N=713). For gender-split equal-size samples (NF=333, NM=333) we estimated and compared (i) location of centroids of 12 Russian basic colour terms (BCTs); (ii) the number of words in colour descriptors; (iii) occurrences of BCTs most frequent non-BCTs. We found a close correspondence between females’ and males’ BCT centroids. Among individual BCTs, the highest inter-gender agreement was for seryj ‘grey’ and goluboj ‘light blue’, while the lowest was for sinij ‘dark blue’ and krasnyj ‘red’. Females revealed a significantly richer repertory of distinct colour descriptors, with great variety of monolexemic non-BCTs and “fancy” colour names; in comparison, males offered relatively more BCTs or their compounds. Along with these measures, we gauged denotata of most frequent CTs, reflected by linguistic segmentation of colour space, by employing a synthetic observer trained by gender-specific responses. This psycholinguistic representation revealed females’ more refined linguistic segmentation, compared to males, with higher linguistic density predominantly along the redgreen axis of colour space

How Many Varieties of Capitalism? Comparing the Comparative Institutional Analyses of Capitalist Diversity

This essay reviews the development of approaches within the comparative capitalisms (CC) literature and points to three theoretical innovations which, taken together, define and distinguish these approaches as a group. First, national economies are characterized by distinct institutional configurations that generate a particular systemic 'logic' of economic action. Second, the CC literature suggests a theory of comparative institutional advantage in which different institutional arrangements have distinct strengths and weaknesses for different kinds of economic activity. Third, the literature has been interpreted to imply a theory of institutional path dependence. Behind these unifying characteristics of the literature, however, lie a variety of analytical frameworks and typologies of capitalism. This paper reviews and compares these different frameworks by highlighting the fundamental distinctions among them and drawing out their respective contributions and limitations in explaining economic performance and institutional dynamics. The paper concludes that the way forward for this literature lies in developing a more dynamic view of individual institutions, the linkages between domains, and the role of politics and power.In diesem Discussion Paper werden Ansätze der Comparative-Capitalism-Diskussion vorgestellt. Sie haben drei theoretische Innovationen gemein. Erstens: Nationale Ökonomien werden durch institutionelle Konfigurationen geprägt, die auf jeweils eigene "systemische Logiken" wirtschaftlichen Handelns hinwirken. Zweitens: Die Comparative-Capitalism-Literatur beinhaltet eine Theorie der komparativen institutionellen Vorteile, der zufolge institutionellen Konfigurationen spezifische Wettbewerbsvorteile zugeordnet werden können. Zudem, drittens, beinhaltet die Comparative-Capitalism-Literatur auch eine implizite Theorie der Pfadabhängigkeit. Trotz dieser Gemeinsamkeiten unterscheiden sich die Ansätze hinsichtlich analytischer Zugriffe und Vorschläge zur Typologisierung nationaler Kapitalismen. Beim Vergleich dieser Ansätze werden besonders deren Stärken und Schwächen bei der Analyse wirtschaftlicher Performanz und institutioneller Entwicklungsdynamiken hervorgehoben. Der Aufsatz kommt zu dem Schluss, dass die Comparative-Capitalism-Literatur in dreierlei Hinsicht der Weiterentwicklung bedarf: hinsichtlich einer dynamischeren Modellierung von Institutionen, einem besseren Verständnis der Interaktion institutioneller Domänen und der Berücksichtigung von Macht und Politik in der Analyse von Produktionsregimen

Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia modifies clinical phenotypes among individuals with congenital hypermobility disorders

Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT) is an autosomal dominant (AD) genetic trait characterized by elevated basal serum tryptase ≥8 ng/mL, caused by increased α-tryptase-encodin

Ultrasound-guided aspiration and corticosteroid injection of Baker's cysts in knee osteoarthritis: a prospective observational study

To determine the effect on pain, function, and ultrasonographic findings of ultrasonography-guided Baker's cyst aspiration followed by corticosteroid injection in a group of patients with Baker's cyst secondary to knee osteoarthritis. Prospective observational study. Twenty-six subjects participated in this study. Clinical and instrumental evaluations were performed at baseline (T0), 1 wk (T1), and 4 wks (T2) after procedure. Mean Visual Analog Scale scores significantly dropped after the procedure (T0 = 6.2 [1.2]; T1 = 4.48 [1.5]; T2 = 4.32 [1.3]; T0 vs. T1 and P < 0.0001). A significant difference between preprocedure and postprocedure Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scores was found for pain (P < 0.0001) but not for joint stiffness (P = 0.7239) and disability (P = 0.6318). Ultrasonographic evaluation showed a significant reduction for both axial (P = 0.006) and sagittal (P = 0.01) areas of Baker's cyst, but no correlation was found between pain relief and Baker's cyst volume reduction. Cyst aspiration with corticosteroid injection give pain relief and cyst volume reduction in patients with Baker's cyst and concomitant knee osteoarthritis. However, when compared with current literature, our results are similar to those obtained with intra-articular knee corticosteroid injectio

Vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis calculated by radiograph and back surface analysis based methods. Correlation between the Raimondi method and Rasterstereography

The aim of the present research is to evaluate the relationship, between an X-ray based method (i.e. the Raimondi method), and rasterstereography in the evaluation of Vertebral Rotation(VR) in a sample of Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Methods A total of 25 patients (9 males; mean age: 14 ± 3 years; mean height 160.7 ± 11.9 cm; mean weight: 52.4 ± 10.7 kg) were considered for the present analysis. The mean Cobb angle was 30°± 9°. The evaluation of VR on radiographs was made using the Raimondi Method regolo (Marrapese Editore - Demi S.r.1., Rome). Rasterstereography was performed by means of Formetric 4D® (Diers International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany). For the purposes of the present research we analyzed the VR obtained by Raimondi Method and rasterstereography in all those vertebrae of both in thoracic and lumbar spine, in which the Raimondi Methods confirmed the presence of VR. Correlations between rasterstereographic and radiographic measurement of VR were calculated, both for the whole sample and for thoracic and lumbar spinal segments considered separately, using Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank (rs) Result.When applied to the entire spine, measurement of VR by means of the two methods highlighted a significant correlation (r=0,52; p< 0,0001). A significant correlation was found also when lumbar and thoracic VR were considered as separated groups (r=0,30, p=0,024 and r=0,47, p=0,002, respectively). Conclusion Rasterstereographic evaluation of VR shows a good correlation with the Raimondi Method, thereby confirming the possibility of use this non-invasive method for deformity assessment in AIS patients

Ultrasound-guided aspiration and corticosteroid injection compared to Horizontal therapy for treatment of knee osteoarthritis complicated with Baker's cyst: a randomized, controlled trial

Background. Combining different therapies, physical therapy agents, pharmacological and physical therapies, generally produces better outcomes for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) than do isolated therapies. Aim. To demonstrate if horizontal therapy (HT) and aspiration alone and corticosteroid injection alone or in combination determine pain relief and functional improvement in a group of patients with knee OA complicated with Baker's cyst (BC). Design. We designed a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Setting. Outpatients. Population. Sixty patients with a knee OA and diagnosis of BC confirmed by means of standard ultrasound (US) evaluation. Methods. The trial was conducted as a randomized, controlled trial. Patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria were randomized to either the US-guided (Ultrasound Guided BC aspiration and corticosteroid injection group (Group A), the Horizontal Therapy group (Group B) or the US-guided BC aspiration and corticosteroid injection plus Horizontal therapy group (Group C). Outcome measures included: 1) pain reduction as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS); 2) functional improvement, as measured by WOMAC; and 3) US evaluation at baseline (T0), at one (T1) and four (T2) weeks follow-up. Results. A total of 60 patients were randomized into group A (N.=20), group B (N.=20) or Group C (N.=20). Patients in group A and in group C, but not those in group B maintained lower pain level at T2 than at baseline, with significant lower VAS values in Group C. As regards US measurements, the maximum axial area did not change as a consequence of the treatment in any of the three groups (P=0.259). Contrarily, sagittal area measurements were influenced by time (P<0.01). Conclusion. Our results show that the group with the best performance for pain, functionality and dimension of BC was that in which combined use was made of horizontal and corticosteroid injection therapies. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact. In this study we want to demonstrate the effectiveness of Horizontal Therapy in the treatment of knee OA complicated by BC

Kinematic and kinetic modifications in walking pattern of hip osteoarthritis patients induced by intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid

Background: A growing body of evidence points to the efficacy of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, in dealing with pain and function in hip osteoarthritis. To date, however, no data exist as to this treatment's effect on walking pattern. Methods: We performed a prospective, open study in order to verify, in a group of 20 hip osteoarthritis patients (12 men, 8 women, mean age 60.5, range 47-73), the clinical effects of 3 intra-articular injections of 2 ml of hyaluronic acid in the hip (1/week) in terms of pain and function at 1 (T1), 3 (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow-ups, as well as changes in the kinematics and kinetics of gait at 6-month follow-up. Findings: Pain as measured with visual analog scale significantly dropped after this procedure (P < 0.0001). A significant improvement was noted regarding stiffness (P = 0.005) and disability (P = 0.04), as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index. As regards gait analysis, patients at T3 walked with higher cadence (P = 0.004) and stride length (P = 0.02) compared to T0. Moreover, a significant increase for the pelvic tilt at heel contact (P = 0.0004) and for hip flexion-extension moment at loading response sub-phases of gait cycle (P = 0.02) was noted at T3. Interpretation: In line with current literature, our patients display clinical improvement 6 months after intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, accompanied by changes in walking pattern, as measured by instrumental gait analysis. The kinematic and kinetic changes observed may be the consequence of the therapeutic effect of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd