Income-related health inequality in Belgium: a longitudinal perspective

This paper provides new evidence on the degree of income-related inequality in self-assessed health in Belgium. First of all, we combine the time dimension, which has been shown to be very important in the analysis of inequality, and the use of the recently developed interval regression approach to transform a categorical health variable in a continuous one. Second, we measure how the long-run inequality differs from the short-run inequality. Finally, we decompose this health-related income mobility index as well as the long-run concentration index (CI) itself into its contributors. Using data from the panel survey of Belgian households (1994–2002), we find that health is pro-rich distributed and that its inequality is underestimated by 9.45% when neglecting the dynamics of individuals over time. Income, education, job status and age are the most important contributors in the CI and the difference between the short-run and long-run inequality.      

A patient with testis seminoma, sarcoidosis, and neutropenic enterocolitis

Seminoma and sarcoidosis do not seem to be associated diseases, judging from epidemiologic data. The presence of these two diseases in the patient whose case is reported may have been coincidental. It was observed, however, that when the testis tumor appeared in this patient, the longstanding sarcoid lesions significantly increased. The patient developed neutropenic enterocolitis after chemotherapy for a non-hematologic malignancy.     

Hysterectomy in six European countries

Gynaecologists have been criticized in recent years because of their attitude towards hysterectomy; it is often stated that they are too ready to consider hysterectomy to be indicated and that hysterectomies are carried out too frequently.In order to obtain insight into the incidence of hysterectomy, 2066 women between 40 and 70 yr of age, composing a sample covering 6 European countries, were asked whether they had undergone this operation. Of the total sample, 11.4% had been hysterectomized, the highest percentage being found in Italy (15.5%) and the lowest in France (8.5%).The most important factor that influenced the relative frequency of hysterectomy was age: the percentage of women who had undergone hysterectomy increased with age up to 55–59 yr, but fell thereafter. Another significant factor was civil status; there were fewer divorcees or widows at the moment of operation than married or never-married women.The relationship between the incidence of hysterectomy and age is a parabolic one. To explain this curve the authors postulate that two trends must have played a rôle: firstly; a greater need for hysterectomy with increasing age and, secondly a decrease in the reluctance of the gynaecological profession to perform a hysterectomy and/or of women to undergo this operation.Statistical analysis confirms the existence of this second trend over the period 1960–1975. The chances of a young woman losing her uterus before her 70th year went up linearly to 19.8% in 1975. By extrapolation a figure of 21% is obtained for 1980. Satisfaction with the result of the operation was lowest in Italy and Germany; satisfaction was also lowest in rural areas.     

5q- anomaly in a patient with disseminated teratoma

A 5q- anomaly associated with other chromosome anomalies was found in the infiltrated bone marrow of a patient with a highly malignant teratoma originally located in the mediastinum. There was no evidence of a second malignancy, and it is likely that the 5q- anomaly was, indeed, associated with the malignant teratoma cells.     

HLA antigens in affective disorders and schizophrenia

The distribution of HLA antigen frequencies has been studied in patients with affective disorders. There were no significant differences between bipolar patients, unipolar patients, or controls. Preliminary data on HLA antigen distribution in schizophrenic patients are reported. Our negative results in affective disorders are discussed in relation to HLA studies reported from other laboratories, with special reference to some potential methodological problems.     

3q−, 3q+ anomaly in malignant proliferations in humans

Anomalies of both No. 3 chromosomes, of the t(3q?; 3q+) type can be observed in human malignancy as reported previously. It is our experience that this anomaly is found predominantly in myeloproliferative disorders, as a rather rare event, though occurring more frequently than similar exchanges between other homologous chromosomes. Previous claims about a relationship between this anomaly and thrombocytosis could not be confirmed, but the features found in a few patients indicate that further research should be undertaken to clarify this point.     

Neighbourhood migrant composition and tobacco-related cancer mortality: A census-linked study among five origin groups in urban Belgium

We studied the role of ‘ethnic density’ in the neighbourhood for tobacco-related cancer mortality among five migrant origin groups in urban Belgium. Using full population linked census data, multilevel Poisson models were applied to model effects of three linear and categorical indicators of same-origin presence for each origin group, and to test effect mediation by migrant generation and educational level. We first of all found that increased same migrant-origin presence in the neighbourhood had protective effects on tobacco-related cancer mortality for men in most groups. Second, only Turkish men had a mortality disadvantage when Turkish concentration was higher. Third, effects were not detected across all indicators of same-origin presence, nor among most groups of women. Finally, for several groups, neighbourhood effects were mediated by generational status and educational level.     

中国与1930年比利时世界博览会

1930年比利时列日世博会，是南京国民政府成立后中国参加的第一次世界博览会．中国政府积极参与，并取得了获奖总数第三名的好成绩。但是，通过观察和比较各国展品，也使人们深切地认识到了我国工业与西方国家之间存在着巨大差距。通过参加此次世博会，更激发起当时有识之士赶超西方的民族忧患意识