Monitoring international migration flows in Europe. Towards a statistical data base combining data from different sources

The paper reviews techniques developed in demography, geography and statistics that are useful for bridging the gap between available data on international migration flows and the information required for policy making and research. The basic idea of the paper is as follows: to establish a coherent and consistent data base that contains sufficiently detailed, up-to-date and accurate information, data from several sources should be combined. That raises issues of definition and measurement, and of how to combine data from different origins properly. The issues may be tackled more easily if the statistics that are being compiled are viewed as different outcomes or manifestations of underlying stochastic processes governing migration. The link between the processes and their outcomes is described by models, the parameters of which must be estimated from the available data. That may be done within the context of socio-demographic accounting. The paper discusses the experience of the U.S. Bureau of the Census in combining migration data from several sources. It also summarizes the many efforts in Europe to establish a coherent and consistent data base on international migration. The paper was written at IIASA. It is part of the Migration Estimation Study, which is a collaborative IIASA-University of Groningen project, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The project aims at developing techniques to obtain improved estimates of international migration flows by country of origin and country of destination

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

New Percutaneously Inserted Spinal Fixation System

Study Design. We describe a new percutaneous minimally invasive spinal fixation system based on pedicle screws and inflatable rods. The rods are inserted in a flexible state and harden following deployment. We test this system in terms of biocompatibility, ferromagnetism, magnetic resonance artifact production, bench top mechanical testing, ease of insertion within cadavers, potential thermal damage to paraspinous muscles in pigs, and long-term device tolerability in sheep. Objectives. To determine the safety and utility of this system before its use in human subjects. Summary of Background Data. Composite materials and epoxy compounds have been used safely in a variety of implanted medical devices for years with no signs of systemic toxicity or significant device failures. Methods. Long-term biocompatibility test of system components was conducted according to International Standards Organization 10993 and Food and Drug Administration Blue Book Memorandum #G95-1 standards. Device components were assessed for magnetic deflection and torque and imaged in a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance unit. Full constructs of the system were tested for compression strength, torque, and fatigue per American Society for Testing and Materials F1717 standards. The system was deployed using C-arm fluoroscopic guidance in 11 cadavers and 2 live sheep. Further, the inflatable rods were tested for exothermic damage to paraspinous musculature in 2 pigs. Results. All system components were found to be biocompatible, nonferromagnetic, and produce little magnetic resonance artifact. Compression and torque results for the new system were found to be comparable to standard metallic pedicle screw and rod fixation systems, However, the new system displayed a superior modulus of elasticity relative to standard surgical systems. The new system endured 5 million cycles of repetitive compressions without breakage or significant wear. All cadaver and sheep insertions were performed successfully. Sheep suffered no complications, and minimal blood loss occurred during device insertions. One of the animals killed at 6 months demonstrated no internal organ damage. The self-curing version of polymer used to inflate the flexible rods cured to approximately 53% of its final strength in 90 minutes with maximum external rod temperature of 40.5 C. and no adjacent thermal damage within porcine paraspinous musculature. Conclusions. The new spinal fixation system is biocompatible, uses a nontoxic polymer, is magnetic resonance compatible, displays favorable biomechanical characteristics, can be easily deployed percutaneously using simple fluoroscopic guidance, is well tolerated in living sheep, caused no muscular thermal damage, and could be used in humans within a reasonable operative time frame. The new system demonstrates the feasibility of percutaneously constructing composite structures in situ within the body

Preliminary Experience Using the Neuroform Stent for the Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms

INTRODUCTION: The Neuroform microstent-a flexible, self-expandable, microcatheter-delivered, nitinol stent designed for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms-was recently approved for use in patients. We present the results of our initial experience in using the Neuroform stent to treat patients with cerebral aneurysms, with an emphasis on potential applications, technical aspects of deployment, and associated intra- and periprocedural complications. METHODS: The records of all patients treated with the Neuroform stent were entered prospectively into a database. We assessed the clinical history, indications for stent use, aneurysm dimensions, and technical details of the procedures, including any difficulties with stent placement and/or deployment, degree of aneurysm occlusion, and complications. RESULTS: During a 5-month period, 19 patients with 22 aneurysms were treated with the Neuroform stent. Twenty-five stents were deployed. Five patients had multiple stents placed. Five patients had ruptured aneurysms at the time of treatment. The indications for use were broad-necked aneurysms (n = 13; average neck length, 5.1 mm; average aneurysm size, 9 mm), fusiform or dissecting aneurysms (n = 3), salvage and/or bailout (n = 1), and giant aneurysms (n = 2). Technical problems included difficulty in deploying the stent (n = 6), inability to deploy the stent (n = 1), stent displacement (n = 2), inadvertent stent deployment (n = 1), and coil stretching (n = 1). Twenty-one of the 22 aneurysms were treated. Four aneurysms were stented without additional treatment, and 17 aneurysms were stented and coiled. Of the coiled aneurysms, complete or nearly complete (more than 95%) occlusion was achieved in 6 aneurysms, and partial occlusion was achieved in 11. Two clinically significant adverse events occurred, both of which were sequelae of periprocedural thromboembolic complications. One patient died after thrombolysis was attempted. The other patient made an excellent functional recovery after undergoing successful thrombolysis of a thrombosed basilar artery stent. CONCLUSION: The Neuroform stent is a useful device for the treatment of patients with aneurysms that may not otherwise be amenable to endovascular therapy. In the majority of cases, the stent can be deployed accurately, even within the most tortuous segments of the cerebral vasculature. Although delivery and deployment may be technically challenging, clinically significant complications are uncommon