Cross‐country evidence on the social determinants of the post‐socialist mortality crisis in Europe: a review and performance‐based hierarchy of variables

An unprecedented mortality crisis befell the former socialist countries between 1989 and 1995, representing one of the greatest demographic shocks of the period after the Second World War. While it is likely that country‐level variation in the post‐socialist mortality crisis in Eastern Europe can be explained by a constellation of political and socio‐economic factors, no comprehensive review of the existing scholarly attempts at explaining these factors exists. We review 39 cross‐national multi‐variable peer reviewed studies of social determinants of mortality in post‐socialist Europe in order to assess the social factors behind the post‐socialist mortality crisis, determine the gaps in the existing literature and to make suggestions for future research. We propose a novel methodology to determine the relative importance of variables based on the ratio of significant to insignificant findings for each variable. The literature identifies inequality, welfare payments, religious composition, democracy, economic performance and unemployment as the leading factors that have a significant influence on mortality outcomes. Existing cross‐country studies fail to establish a definitive connection between mortality and diets, drinking patterns, liberalisation, trust, health expenditure and war. We also point out that the level of analysis is not a neutral methodological choice but might influence the results themselves.     

Der Fuß — eine nicht medizinische Betrachtung

No other organ of the human body has such an extensive meaning beyond medicine as the foot. The evolution of humans is directly linked to the function of the foot. Without walking upright on our feet we would not be as distinctly different from other mammals, specifically primates, as we are now. In mythology, the foot takes a predominant role as part of the human body. In religion, it is a symbol of humility and submission. Art celebrates the foot for its beauty and gracefulness but also its sexuality. Ultimately, the foot is essential in its role as being our means of standing and walking. Not to forget its role in our economy where crafts and products connected to the foot make up a substantial part of our national economy.     

医院静脉用药集中调配中心浪费成品输液统计分析

目的：分析成品输液浪费的原因,减少药品浪费,节约经济成本。方法统计2008年1月至2011年12月4年来医院静脉用药集中调配中心（ PIVAS）（不包括门诊PIVAS）记录的浪费的成品输液,对造成浪费的原因进行统计、分析。结果 PIVAS共浪费成品输液388组,其中因打包、退费找药失误造成的浪费有133组（占34．28％）,错误摆药又错误配置导致的浪费有72组（占18．56％）,成品输液破损62组（占15．98％）。结论 PIVAS成品输液浪费大部分是人为因素,通过全体工作人员在每个工作环节的细心、认真工作,药品浪费可以减少。     

COVID-19 mortality and gross domestic product loss: A wake-up call for government leaders

Government leaders have struggled to reduce the infection and deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as to keep the economy and businesses open. There is a large variation of mortality and damage to economy among countries. One possible cause leading to the large variation is the manner in which countries have delt with COVID-19. Some countries or regions such as China, New Zealand, and Taiwan, acted quickly and aggressively by implementing border closures, lockdown, school closures, mass testing, etc. On the other hand, many European countries, United States, and Brazil delayed their decisions to implement these restrictions and measures. No study has assessed the correlation between gross domestic product (GDP) and COVID-19 mortality. In the present study, there was a negative correlation between GDP and COVID-19 mortality suggesting that countries that failed to control the virus (larger COVID-19 mortality) would see a larger decline in GDP. Governmental leaders should act fast and aggressively when making decisions because data shows that countries who have run after two hares have caught neither. Furthermore, citizens of each country need to do their own part by following guidelines and practicing social distancing and mask wearing, which are considered the most effective, easiest, and cheapest measures that can be taken, so that repeated lockdowns can be avoided.     

Use of recoveryVO2 to predict running economy

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine whether running economy. (RE) could be predicted accurately using recoveryVO₂ values. Twelve runners (VO_2max=61.9, SD 4.9 ml·kg^–1·min^–1) completed three treadmill RE sessions over a 2-week period. During each session, subjects performed three 6-min runs at 69%, 78%, and 87%VO_2max. RE was calculated from a single 2-min gas collection during the last 2 min of running. Immediately following each run, recoveryVO₂ data obtained during randomly assigned 15-s, 20-s, or 25-s gas collections were used to predict exerciseVO₂. Correlations and mean absolute percentage variation (%VAR) between actual and predictedVO₂ at each relative intensity and recovery period are reported. Although the relationship between actual and predictedVO₂ was significant and more pronounced at higher exercise intensities, the overall magnitude of the association was low to moderate (r range= 0.50–0.81). The range of % VAR between actual and predicted aerobic demands also obscured marked underprediction (–6.5% to –12.5%) and overprediction (+ 10.1% to + 17.4%) of actualVO₂ in some subjects. These data suggest that 15-, 20-, and 25-s recoveryVO₂ values do not correlate strongly with steady-stateVO₂, nor do they adequately account for variation in individual economy profiles.     

出生缺陷知识与文化和经济的关系

目的:了解孕妇对预防出生缺陷的知识、态度、行为情况,为进一步完善婚前保健、孕前保健及围产期保健服务提出合理化建议,提高出生人口素质。方法:采用分层抽样和随机抽样的方法,抽取深圳市龙岗区三个街道的90例孕期妇女作为调查对象,利用自行设计的调查表,进行面对面问卷调查,了解孕期妇女出生缺陷的知信行(KAP)情况。结果:文化层次高的孕妇,夫妇双方婚前医学检查率明显高于文化水平低者,差异有统计学意义(χ2=6.771 7,P<0.05);文化程度越高的孕妇对孕期保健、预防出生缺陷知识掌握得越多。对孕期"保持良好心情"的知晓率以月收入4 000～7 000元组最高(95.00%),月收入7 000元以上组的知晓率最低(61.54%);在孕期"注意少接触农药/油漆"及"注意少接触猫狗等"行为方面也有不同,家庭人均月收入越高的孕妇对上述行为的重视程度越高。结论:文化程度与家庭经济状况是孕期妇女掌握出生缺陷相关知识的影响因素。     

医疗保险信用等级制度对医院的约束作用分析

本文一方面分析了医疗保险信用等级制度对医院业务量和收入的影响,比较该制度实施前后医疗保险管理机构对定点医院经济约束作用的变化;另一方面分析了该制度对医院信誉认知的影响、医院员工对信用等级重要性认知和医院员工提高信用等级意愿等方面的内容,确定信用等级制度对医院社会声望方面的影响以及医疗保险机构对定点医院制约作用的变化。综合以上两个方面的分析得出结论:信用等级制度对于不同医院的服务量和业务收入以及社会声望具有显著影响,医院员工具有为使医院获取社会声望而提高信用等级的明显倾向,医疗保险管理机构对定点医院的约束作用进一步增强。     

新形势下医院成本核算的再认识

医疗卫生工作要做好新形势下的医院成本核算工作,必须对开展医院成本核算的意义进行再认识。提出了4点看法。①对加强内部管理与向社会负责相结合的认识。②对医院成本核算的社会功能的认识。③充分认识医院成本核算的监督评价作用。④有利于医院收费制度的改革。