Intrarenal Resistance Index as a Prognostic Parameter in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Compared with Other Hepatic Scoring Systems

Background and Aims: Patients with advanced liver cirrhosis who develop renal dysfunction have a poor prognosis. Elevated intrarenal resistance indices (RIs) due to renal vascular constriction have been described before in cirrhotic patients. In the current study, we prospectively investigated the course of intrarenal RIs and compared their prognostic impact with those of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and the Child-Pugh scores. Methods: Sixty-three patients with liver cirrhosis underwent a baseline visit which included a sonographic examination and laboratory tests. Forty-four patients were prospectively monitored. The end points were death or survival at the day of the follow-up visit. Results: In 28 patients, a follow-up visit was performed after 22 8 months (group 1). Sixteen patients died during follow-up after 12 8 months (group 2). Group 2 patients showed a significantly higher baseline RI (0.76 +/- 0.05) than group 1 patients (RI = 0.72 +/- 0.06; p < 0.05). As shown by receiver operating characteristic analysis, the RI and the MELD score achieved similar sensitivity and specificity {[}area under the curve (AUC): 0.722; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.575-0.873 vs. AUC: 0.724; 95% CI: 0.575-0.873, z = 0.029, n.s.] in predicting survival and were superior to the Child-Pugh score (AUC: 0.677; 96% Cl: 0.518-0.837). Conclusion: The RI is not inferior in sensitivity and specificity to the MELD score. Cirrhotic patients with elevated RIs have impaired short- and long-term survival. The RI may help identify high-risk patients that require special therapeutic care. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Financing social and cohesion policy in an enlarged EU: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose?

The development of the Open Method of Coordination, agreement on the Lisbon Agenda and EU enlargement offered the prospect of a new and substantial EU social policy agenda. This article considers EU social and cohesion policies in the context of the recent negotiation of the EU budget for 2007—13. We find the Commission's wish to redistribute EU spending in favour of these policy areas and new member states was thwarted by key political features of EU budget making: CAP spending levels which are downwardly sticky; institutional arrangements which provide for budget making as, at best, a zero-sum game; and the preferences of contributor member states in the EU-15 to contain overall spending while preserving their net budget positions. Questions are thus raised as to the ability of the EU to make any progress, from a budgetary perspective, on the social and cohesion policy agenda in an enlarged EU

Employment in Europe 2003: Statistical Annex

Statistical annex to accompany Employment in Europe 2007, including macro economic indicators, key employment indicators, and data sources and definitions

Employment in Europe 2007: Statistical Annex

Statistical annex to accompany Employment in Europe 2007, including macro economic indicators, key employment indicators, and data sources and definitions

Employment in Europe 2006: Statistical Annex

Statistical annex to accompany Employment in Europe 2006, including macro economic indicators, key employment indicators, and data sources and definitions

ERM Quarterly, Quarter 4, January 2015

In this issue: • Restructuring support measures in focus: Public employment incentives • Russian sanctions and company restructuring • Case in focus: Lloyd’s Banking Group (UK

Employment in Europe 2005: Statistical Annex

Statistical annex to accompany Employment in Europe 2005, including macro economic indicators, key employment indicators, and data sources and definitions

ERM Quarterly, Quarter 3, October 2016

In this issue • Support instruments in focus: innovative business transfer measures • Case in focus: Major overhaul in Polish mining sector • Case in focus: Planned Caterpillar closure at Gosselie

European Union Pension Directive

[Excerpt] This Directive thus represents a first step on the way to an internal market for occupational retirement provision organised on a European scale. By setting the ‘prudent person’ rule as the underlying principle for capital investment and making it possible for institutions to operate across borders, the redirection of savings into the sector of occupational retirement provision is encouraged, thus contributing to economic and social progress. The prudential rules laid down in this Directive are intended both to guarantee a high degree of security for future pensioners through the imposition of stringent supervisory standards, and to clear the way for the efficient management of occupational pension schemes

Innovative Financing at a Global Level

The European Commission services published a staff working document assessing the main sources of innovative financing under discussion. The analysis shows that for some of the instruments a "double dividend" of both raising revenues and improving market efficiency and stability could be reaped, in particular by putting a price on risk-taking in the financial sector and on carbon emissions.European Union, taxation, financial transaction tax, bank levy, bonus tax, carbon tax, financial institutions