The Effect of Moral Hazards in the Health Insurance Industry in Iran in 2008-2010

Background: Health insurance is one of the most important financial resources for covering the growing costs of health care. Asymmetric information in the insurance market means that the insurer has less information about the health status of the insured person than the insured person him/herself and this leads to waste of treatment resources due to moral hazards. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of moral hazards in the health insurance industry. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic research. The study population was all households residing in Iran. For data collection, the questionnaire of urban and rural households Income and Expenditure Survey of Iran Statistics Center was used. For identification and estimation of utility function parameters , the generalized method of moments (GMM) and instrumental variables model were used. GAUSS and E-views software were used for data analysis. Results: According to the results, there were moral hazards in the basic health insurance organizations (medical service insurance organization and Social Security organization) and the complementary insurance. In addition, during these three years, individuals covered by the medical service insurance, with an average elasticity of -2.78, had the lowest moral hazards and those covered by the complementary insurance, with an average elasticity of -3.86, had the highest moral hazards. Conclusion: Insurance policy makers should control consumer's moral hazards

Effect of estrogen and/or progesterone administration on traumatic brain injury-caused brain edema: the changes of aquaporin-4 and interleukin-6

Abstract The role of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the development of brain edema post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been indicated. The present study was designed to investigate the effect( s) of administration of progesterone (P) and/or estrogen (E) on brain water content, AQP4 expression, and IL-6 levels post-TBI. The ovariectomized rats were divided into 11 groups: sham, one vehicle, two vehicles, E1, E2, P1, P2, E1 + P1, E1 + P2, E2 + P1, and E2 + P2. The brain AQP4 expression, IL-6 levels, and water content were evaluated 24 h after TBI induced by Marmarou’s method. The low (E1 and P1) and high (E2 and P2) doses of estrogen and progesterone were administered 30 min post-TBI. The results showed that brain water content and AQP4 expression decreased in the E1, E2, P1, and P2-treated groups. The administration of E1 decreased IL-6 levels. Addition of progesterone decreased the inhibitory effect of E1 and E2 on the accumulation of water in the brain.Administration of E1 + P1 and E1 + P2 decreased the inhibitory effect of E1 on the IL-6 levels and AQP4 protein expression. Our findings suggest that estrogen or progesterone by itself has more effective roles in decrease of brain edema than combination of both. Possible mechanism may be mediated by the alteration of AQP4 and IL-6 expression. However, further studies are required to verify the exact mechanism

The effect of a single dose of morphine on muscle fatigue indices in male rats

Background and Aim: Endogenous opioids and addictive opiate drugs change many body functions. . Previous studies have referred to the effects of morphine on smooth and pulmonary muscles ., but the  effects of opioids on skeletal muscles is not known well. Thus, the current study aimed at assessing the effect of a single dose of morphine on muscle fatigue in male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats weighing 220-270 g were randomly divided into four equal groups: control (the mice were kept in their cages and received food and water), morphine receiving group, fatigue group (the mice in this group were kept running on  a treadmill . for120 minutes at a rate of 20 meters per minute), and morphine plus fatigue group. At the end of the experiments, blood samples were obtained from the corner of their eyes and were sent to the laboratory for measurement of muscle fatigue indexes including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Results: Administration of morphine to the fatigue group decreased running time compared with the control group (P=0.009). Furthermore, administration of morphine to the fatigue group significantly increased serum levels of LDH (P=0.009) and CPK (P=0.008). Conclusion: The present study showed that administration of a single dose of morphine in rats increases muscle fatigue biomarkers (LDH, CPK)

Treatment of traumatic brain injury from the viewpoint of Avicenna (Ibn Sina): A historical review

Since the edifice of conventional medicine is built on the pillars of past achievements, review or re-investigate the old medical manuscripts may lead to significant achievements. Avicenna was a famous Persian medieval physician and one of the pioneers of neuroscience. The aim of this study is to evaluate Avicenna's approach to traumatic brain injury (TBI), based on his main book on medicine, “Canon of Medicine”. Avicenna divided the TBI treatments into three categories: topical therapies, oral therapies, such as diets and medications, and manipulation therapies including phlebotomy, enema, foot bath, cupping, and massage. Although some of these recommendations are supported by current knowledge, many of them are still unknown and need scientific investigation to expand our knowledge of TBI treatments in the medieval period