BackgroundTotal knee arthroplasty is an effective treatment for severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Our aim was to determine whether patients from the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia have ...different preoperative expectations regarding total knee arthroplasty and whether these expectations have an impact on outcomes and patient satisfaction.MethodsPatients from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia were recruited into a prospective observational study of primary total knee arthroplasty for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Preoperative expectations, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) scores, and demographic, socioeconomic, and follow-up data, including satisfaction with outcome, were obtained from self-administered patient questionnaires.ResultsA total of 598 patients with a mean age of sixty-nine years at the time of the index arthroplasty were recruited; 58% were women. The majority of patients expected to have no pain at twelve months after the surgery, and with the numbers available there was no significant difference among the countries with regard to pain expectations. Australian patients were more likely than patients in the United Kingdom or the United States to expect better function at twelve months after the surgery. With the numbers available, satisfaction scores at twelve months did not differ significantly among the countries and were not influenced by preoperative expectations. Australian patients were more likely than patients in the United Kingdom or the United States to be unwilling to undergo total knee arthroplasty again at twelve months under similar circumstances.ConclusionsPatients from different countries have different expectations regarding total knee arthroplasty, which are not fully explained by differences in sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, and pain and functional status. Australian patients had the highest expectations but, despite reporting similar outcomes and satisfaction following total knee arthroplasty, they were more likely not to want to have the surgery again under similar circumstances.
PURPOSE:To compare the efficacy and tolerability of latanoprost or brimonidine in patients with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
MATERIALS AND METHODS:This prospective, randomized, ...masked-evaluator, parallel-group, multicenter study in the United States included patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Patients received latanoprost 0.005% once daily (8:00 AM; n = 152) or brimonidine tartrate 0.2% twice daily (8:00 AM and 8:00 PM; n = 151). Patients underwent evaluation at screening, baseline (randomization), and after 0.5, 3, and 6 months of treatment. IOP was measured at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, noon, and 4:00 PM at baseline and the months 3 and 6 visits, and at 8:00 AM only at week 2. The main outcome measure was the difference in diurnal IOP change from baseline to month 6 between treatment groups. Adverse events were recorded at each visit.
RESULTS:Baseline mean diurnal IOP levels were similar between groups. At month 6, the adjusted mean (± SEM) diurnal IOP reduction was 5.7 ± 0.3 mm Hg in the latanoprost group and 3.1 ± 0.3 mm Hg in patients receiving brimonidine (P < 0.001). The mean difference in diurnal IOP reduction was 2.5 ± 0.3 mm Hg (95% CI1.9, 3.2; P < 0.001). Five times more patients receiving brimonidine than latanoprost were withdrawn from the study due to adverse events.
CONCLUSION:Latanoprost instilled once daily is more effective and better tolerated than brimonidine administered twice daily for the treatment of patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. During therapy, the range of daily fluctuation of IOP is less for latanoprost compared with brimonidine.
Diebold Nixdorf was awarded the contract due to its superior product quality, flexible software and ability to offer field service for both hardware and software within the country, said U Kyaw Lynn, ...CEO and Executive Vice Chairman, at CB Bank. Together with our local partner, we are enabling CB Bank to extend the reach of its self-service offerings and win a greater share of Myanmars growing market for cash services, said Neil Emerson, Senior Vice...
Project Description: This project is for the FY 2012 annual program of storm water infrastructure projects that are coordinated with street rehabilitation or other construction work performed by the ...Department of Public Works. This coordination minimizes public inconvenience caused by construction work and saves DC Water the paving cost...
This paper analyzes the relationship between income inequality and economic growth within the United States using state level data. It describes income inequality in the U.S. since 1960, then employs ...a two-step causal model to test the institutionalist contention that income inequality leads to socio-political instability, which has a negative impact on economic progress. The empirical results offer support for the institutionalist view.
During June 1981 to June 1982, 37% of more than 400 cases of AIDS reported to the CDC were in minority races and ethnicities. In 2003, 72% of the estimated 43,171 cases of AIDS diagnosed in the 50 ...states; District of Columbia; and U.S. dependencies, possessions and free nations were in minority races and ethnicities.
We analyzed HIV/AIDS data for 2000-2003 reported by the 32 states that have had confidential name-based reporting of HIV infection since 1999. For analysis of AIDS data, we used data for 1999-2003 reported by the 50 states and the District of Columbia. HIV/AIDS and AIDS data were statistically adjusted for reporting delays and redistribution of cases initially reported without risk factors.
For all years, the numbers of HIV/AIDS and AIDS diagnoses were consistently higher among non-Hispanic blacks than among other races and ethnicities. In the 32 states with HIV reporting, the HIV/AIDS diagnosis rate in 2003 was 74 per 100,000 for blacks, 25 per 100,000 for Hispanics, 11 per 100,000 for American Indians/Alaska Natives, nine per 100,000 for whites, and seven per 100,000 for Asians/Pacific Islanders. The rates for persons living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2003 were highest for blacks (765 per 100,000) and Hispanics (220 per 100,000). In the 50 states and the District of Columbia, AIDS diagnosis rates in 2003 were 58 per 100,000 for blacks, 20 per 100,000 for Hispanics, eight per 100,000 for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and four per 100,000 for Asians/Pacific Islanders.
HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minority races and ethnicities in the United States. To reduce rates of HIV/AIDS in these populations, effective and culturally appropriate prevention interventions must be developed and implemented.
We argue that a sensible measure of the aggregate value of human capital is the ratio of total labor income per capita to the wage of a person with zero years of schooling. The reason is that total ...labor income not only incorporates human capital but also physical capital: given human capital regions with higher physical capital will tend to have higher wages for all workers and, therefore, higher labor income. We find that one way to net out the effect of aggregate physical capital on labor income is to divide labor income by the wage of a zero-schooling worker.
For the average U.S. state, our measure suggests that the value of human capital during the 1980s grew at a much larger rate than schooling. The reason has to do with movements in the relative productivities of the different workers: in some sense, some workers and some types of schooling became more relevant in the 1980s and, as a result, measured human capital increased.
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