Zukunft des ASCO Annual Meetings

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Determinants of Regional Variation in Health Expenditures in Germany

Health care expenditure in Germany shows clear regional differences. Such geographic variations are often seen as an indicator for inefficiency. With its homogeneous health care system, low co‐payments and uniform prices, Germany is a particularly suited example to analyse regional variations. We use data for the year 2011 on expenditure, utilization of health services and state of health in Germany's statutory health insurance system. This data, which originate from a variety of administrative sources and cover about 90% of the population, are enriched with a wealth of socio‐economic variables, data on pollutants, prices and individual preferences. State of health and demography explains 55% of the differences as measured by the standard deviation while all control variables account for a total of 72% of the differences at county level. With other measures of variation, we can account for an even greater proportion. A higher proportion of variation than usually supposed can thus be explained. Whilst this study cannot quantify inefficiencies, our results contradict the thesis that regional variations reflect inefficiency. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tauchunfälle

Notfall + Rettungsmedizin - Tauchunfälle sind vergleichsweise selten und stellen (Erst‑)Helfer vor besondere Herausforderungen. Sie müssen schnell und kompetent behandelt werden, da...     

Continuously moving table 3D MRI with lateral frequency-encoding direction.

A method is presented for 3D MRI in an extended field of view (FOV) based on continuous motion of the patient table and an efficient acquisition scheme. A gradient-echo MR pulse sequence is applied with lateral (left-right (L/R)) frequency-encoding direction and slab selection along the direction of motion. Compensation for the table motion is achieved by a combination of slab tracking and data alignment in hybrid space. The method allows fast k-space coverage to be achieved, especially when a short sampling FOV is chosen along the direction of table motion, as is desirable for good image quality. The method can be incorporated into different acquisitions schemes, including segmented k-space scanning, which allows for contrast variation with the use of magnetization preparation. Head-to-toe images of volunteers were obtained with good quality using 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequences. As an example of magnetization-prepared imaging, fat/water separated images were acquired using chemical shift selective (CHESS) presaturation pulses.