No-Fault Compensation From the Patient Compensation Association in Denmark After Primary Total Hip Replacement in Danish Hospitals 2005-2017

BackgroundThere is an annually rising number of performed total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgeries in Denmark and this is expected to become even more common. However, there are still risks of adverse events, which become the basis for compensation claims. In Denmark, there are no studies available concerning filed claims after THA. The aims of this study are to determine the incidence of claims related to THAs in Denmark, the reasons to claim, which claims lead to compensation, the amount of compensation, and trends over time.MethodsIn this observational study, we analyzed all closed claims between 2005 and 2017 from the Danish Patient Compensation Association (DPCA). With the intention to contribute to prevention, we have identified the number and outcome of claims.ResultsThere were 2924 cases (ie, 2.5% of all THAs performed in this period). The approval rate was 54%. The number of claims filed was stagnant over time, except for a spike of metal-on-metal (MoM) prosthesis cases. The total payout was USD 29,591,045, and 87% of this was due to nerve damage (USD 9,106,118), infection (USD 6,046,948), MoM prosthesis (USD 4,624,353), insufficient or incorrect treatment (USD 472,500), and fracture (USD 2,088,110).ConclusionIn total, 2.5% of all THAs performed between 2005 and 2017 lead to a claim submission at the DPCA. One of 2 claims were approved. The majority of payouts were due to nerve damage, infection, MoM prosthesis, insufficient or incorrect treatment, and fracture. Although DPCA manages claims for patients, the data can also provide beneficial feedback to arthroplasty surgeons with the aim of improving patient care.     

Motion‐compensated b‐tensor encoding for in vivo cardiac diffusion‐weighted imaging

Motion is a major confound in diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) in the body, and it is a common cause of image artefacts. The effects are particularly severe in cardiac applications, due to the nonrigid cyclical deformation of the myocardium. Spin echo‐based DWI commonly employs gradient moment‐nulling techniques to desensitise the acquisition to velocity and acceleration, ie, nulling gradient moments up to the 2nd order (M2‐nulled). However, current M2‐nulled DWI scans are limited to encode diffusion along a single direction at a time. We propose a method for designing b‐tensors of arbitrary shapes, including planar, spherical, prolate and oblate tensors, while nulling gradient moments up to the 2nd order and beyond. The design strategy comprises initialising the diffusion encoding gradients in two encoding blocks about the refocusing pulse, followed by appropriate scaling and rotation, which further enables nulling undesired effects of concomitant gradients. Proof‐of‐concept assessment of in vivo mean diffusivity (MD) was performed using linear and spherical tensor encoding (LTE and STE, respectively) in the hearts of five healthy volunteers. The results of the M2‐nulled STE showed that (a) the sequence was robust to cardiac motion, and (b) MD was higher than that acquired using standard M2‐nulled LTE, where diffusion‐weighting was applied in three orthogonal directions, which may be attributed to the presence of restricted diffusion and microscopic diffusion anisotropy. Provided adequate signal‐to‐noise ratio, STE could significantly shorten estimation of MD compared with the conventional LTE approach. Importantly, our theoretical analysis and the proposed gradient waveform design may be useful in microstructure imaging beyond diffusion tensor imaging where the effects of motion must be suppressed.     

从六经传变理论探“虚不受补”

[目的]从六经传变角度分析"虚不受补"的内在机理,探索完善临床遇见的"虚不受补"问题。[方法]归纳疾病传变如五脏、六经、表里传变的一般规律,总结各类传变的治疗原则,辨析虚实辨证和补法分类,分析产生"虚不受补"的常见现象,提出正确进补的原则与条件。[结果](1)有外感、肺部邪气重,先解表、宣肺,然后才能进补;(2)肠胃有邪气,不可进补,先泄邪气通腑然后可进补;(3)少阳枢机不利则气机不畅,不可进补,先理气转机方可进补;(4)疾病的治疗有表里虚实之辨,也有标本缓急之别,标本之辨在辨证施治时至关重要。[结论]"虚不受补"大多数时候是进补顺序错误导致,在进补前辨别人体的气血状态,对症施药,则可以缓解甚至消除因为进补不当带来的不舒适。解表、健脾胃、活气血、寓消于补是解决虚不受补问题的重要途径。     

Medical marijuana and workers' compensation claiming

We study the effect of state medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on workers' compensation (WC) claiming among adults. Medical marijuana is plausibly related to WC claiming by allowing improved symptom management, and thus reduced need for the benefit, among injured or ill workers. We use data on claiming drawn from the Annual Social and Economic supplement to the Current Population Survey over the period 1989 to 2012, coupled with a differences‐in‐differences design to provide the first evidence on this relationship. Our estimates show that, post MML, WC claiming declines, both the propensity to claim and the level of income from WC. These findings suggest that medical marijuana can allow workers to better manage symptoms associated with workplace injuries and illnesses and, in turn, reduce need for WC. However, the reductions in WC claiming post MML are very modest in size.     

Memory Support System training in mild cognitive impairment: Predictors of learning and adherence

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to identify predictors of learning and adherence to a previously validated compensatory calendar and note-taking system (Memory Support System; MSS) in persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Age, education, global cognition, depression, and memory-related self-efficacy were studied as predictors of individuals’ ability to learn the use of the MSS during the two-week training and of their adherence to the MSS 6, 12, and 18 months after training. How well an individual was able to learn the use of the MSS was itself examined as a predictor of adherence. Two-hundred-and-fifteen older adults with aMCI and their study partners (e.g., spouse, adult child) received MSS training one-hour daily for 10 days. Ordinal logistic regression analyses indicated that (1) global cognition predicted MSS learning at end of training, and (2) MSS learning at end of trainng predicted MSS adherence at 6, 12, and 18 months post-training. The current study suggests that offering compensatory strategies as early as possible for those with MCI might be of most benefit, and might have implications for long-term adherence.     

Prevalence and associated factors of behavioral intention for risk compensation following voluntary medical male circumcision among male sexually transmitted diseases patients in China

Risk compensation was an important concern of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) promotion campaigns. No study investigated risk compensation following VMMC among male sexually transmitted diseases patients (MSTDP). A cross-sectional survey interviewed 308 uncircumcised MSTDP in Shenzhen, China. 26.9% of them intended to perform at least one of the five types of risk compensation behaviors following VMMC. In the summary stepwise model, provision of incorrect response to HIV/sexually transmitted diseases knowledge items (multivariate odds ratios (ORm)?=?2.30), genital herpes infection (ORm?=?3.19), Risk Reduction Score for Unprotected Sex, and Negative Condom Attitudes Scale (ORm?=?1.13) were significantly associated with behavioral intention to perform at least one type of risk compensation behavior following VMMC. The results provided a framework for developing related interventions. Prevention of risk compensation should be an essential component of VMMC promotion for all MSTDP, irrespective of their intention for VMMC.     

Does Motivation for Exercise Influence Post-Exercise Snacking Behavior?

It is well established that regular exercise plays an important role in achieving a number of health and wellbeing outcomes. However, certain post-exercise behaviors, including the consumption of unhealthy high-calorie foods, can counteract some of the benefits of physical activity. There are at least three overlapping pathways through which exercise may increase the likelihood of consuming pleasurable but unhealthy foods: through impulsive cognitive processes, reflective cognitive processes, and/or physiological responses. It is argued in this paper that motivation toward exercise can influence each of these pathways. Drawing from literature from various domains, we postulate that controlled exercise motivation, as opposed to autonomous exercise motivation, is more likely to influence each of these pathways in a manner that leaves individuals susceptible to the post-exercise consumption of pleasurable but unhealthy foods.