Optimal Health Insurance in the Presence of Risky Health Behaviors *

Abstract In this paper I develop an overlapping generations model that incorporates bad behaviors (such as smoking and unhealthy eating habits that lead to obesity) to investigate the equilibrium effects of different cost sharing mechanisms and excise taxation on bad behaviors and medical expenditures. I show that while higher cost sharing induces individuals to refrain from bad behaviors, it has mixed welfare effects across different individuals. For example, if coinsurance rate is increased by 20 percentage points, smoking prevalence goes down by about 2 percentage points and medical expenditures to GDP ratio slightly declines. Although higher cost sharing increases the overall welfare in the economy, unhealthy individuals are either worse off or have much less welfare gains compared to healthy individuals. The quantitative implications of the model are consistent with the variation in smoking prevalence and excise taxes across tobacco and non-tobacco states

The Influence of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on the Healing of Experimental Defects Filled with Different Bone Graft Substitutes

To assess potential effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) on artificial bone grafts, β - Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and calcium phosphate coated bovine bone (CPCBB) substitutes were applied to standard bone defects in rat tibiae. The control defects were left empty. Half of the animals received 60 minutes of 2.4 atmosphere absolute (ATA) of HBOT. Rats were sacrificed at one, two and four weeks. Bone healing was assessed histologically and histomorphometrically using light microscopy. The periosteum over the bone defects was examined ultrastructurally. Cardiac blood was collected to determine the serum osteocalcin levels. The HBOT increased new bone formation in the unfilled controls and β-TCP groups and significantly decreased cartilage matrix and fibrous tissue formations in all groups. Active osteoblasts and highly organized collagen fibrils were prominent in the periosteum of β-TCP and control groups. Serum osteocalcin levels also increased with HBOT. The healing of defects filled with CPCBB was similar to the controls and it did not respond to HBOT. These findings suggested that the HBOT had beneficial effects on the healing of unfilled bone defects and those filled with β-TCP bone substitute but not with CPCBB, indicating a material-specific influence pattern of HBOT

A quantum-chemical study on 3,3'-bi(4H-1,2,4-triazole)

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Systematic review of the agreement of tonometers with goldmann applanation tonometry

This review was part of the Surveillance for Ocular Hypertension study funded by the UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme (Project No. 07/46/02). J.C. held a Medical Research Council UK fellowship (G0601938). AA-B was a grantholder on an AstraZeneca (London, UK) funded study of a new medication for glaucoma. The Health Services Research Unit receives core funding from the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorates. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Chief Scientist Office, National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme, or the Department of Health. None of the funders had a role in the design or conduct of this researchPeer reviewedPostprin

Possible Medical Aetiological Factors and Characteristics of Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation in a Group of Turkish Children

Svrha: Željele su se odrediti kliničke značajke i mogući medicinski uzroci molarno incizivne hipominerelizacije (MIH-a) u skupini turske djece. Materijali i metode: U ispitivanju je sudjelovalo 228 djece u dobi od 7 do 14 godina. Svi su pregledani na Odjelu za dječju dentalnu medicinu Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta Marmara u Istambulu. Prenatalni i postnatalni podatci prikupljeni su popunjavanjem upitnika. Rezultati: MIH je pronađen kod 54 (24 %) djeteta, a 41 (76 %) imalo je samo ograničena područja opaciteta (1. stupanj). Kod osam (15%) djevojčica i dječaka bile su obavljene atipične restauracije (2. stupanj), a barem jedno posteruptivno ljuštenje (3. stupanj) uočeno je kod njih pet (9 %). MIH je svima uglavnom zahvaćao kutnjake (55 %), a ne sjekutiće (45 %; p<0,001). U skupini s MIH-om bili su česti prenatalni bronhitis i hipertenzija. Nije bilo veće razlike u medicinskoj anamnezi do dobi od tri godine između skupine s MIH-om i skupine bez njega, osim duljeg uzimanja lijekova i astme u skupini s molarno incizalnom hipomineralizacijom (p<0,05). Zaključak: Premda etiologija MIH-a ostaje nejasna, čest je kod djece koja neprekidno uzimaju lijekove i oboljela su od astme u prve tri godine života.Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics and possible medical causes of molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) in a group of Turkish children. Materials and Methods: A total of 228 children aged 7–14 years were examined in the Department of Paediatric Dentistry Dental School of Marmara University. Prenatal and postnatal medical data were recorded using a questionnaire. Results: MIH was observed in 54 (24%) children, 41 (76%) of whom had only demarcated opacities (grade 1). Eight (15%) children had atypical restoration (grade 2), and at least one post-eruptive breakdown (grade 3) was observed in five (9%) children. MIH affected molars (55%) more frequently than incisors (45%; P < 0.001). Prenatal bronchitis and hypertension were frequent in the MIH group. No significant difference in medical history during the first 3 years of life was observed between the MIH and non-MIH groups, except prolonged medicament consumption and asthma in the MIH group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Although the aetiology of MIH remains unclear, constant medicament consumption and asthma during the first 3 years of life were reported frequently in children with MIH

A Primary Leiomyosarcoma of the Thyroid Gland: A Case and Literature Review

Introduction: We want to present a rare case of Primary leiomyosarcoma of the thyroid (PLT) gland and review the literature on PLT including the differential diagnoses, pathology, and alternative treatment strategies.Presentation of Case: A 56-year-old man who underwent left side total thyroidectomy with diagnosis of substernal goiter. On pathologic examination, three different pathology clinics had a common opinion that this was a grade 3 pleomorphic sarcoma of thyroid itself. Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT) obtained one month after surgery displayed no distant metastases. Loco regional radiotherapy (RT) to the thyroid bed was delivered up to a dose of 59.4 Gray (Gy) in 1.8 Gy daily fractions. PET/CT obtained three months after RT showed bilateral multiple lung metastases without loco regional recurrence. The patient received 6 courses of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide based chemotherapy. A new PET/CT scan showed only two metabolically active metastases on both lungs. Because of disappearance of small metastases, the patient underwent sequential bilateral metastasectomy in one month interval. Pathology results verified the metastases of PLT. The patient is still alive without any signs of disease 6 years after RT and he is the only long surviving case reported up to now.Conclusion: The treatment protocols for PLT have not been well established yet, because of their rareness and poor prognosis. We believe that our case may be directive for PLT treatment

Triorchidism at orchidopexy: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens