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1When in 1931 Emile Brehier produced his famous article: “Y‐a‐t‐il une philosophic chre‐tienne?,” Revue de Metaphysique et de Morale, XXXVIII, 133ff., many voices answered “No,” a few said “Yes.” Now additional voices ate being raised to answer “Yes.” The mote current works are: H. Dooyeweetd, A New Critique of Theoretical Thought, Vols. 1‐2, Phila., 1953, 1955. M. Foster, Mystery and Philosophy, London, 1957. E. Gilson, The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, London: Gallancz, 1957. L. Hodgson, Toward A Christian Philosophy, London: Nisbet, 1946. I. Trethowan, An Essay in Christian Philosophy, London: Longmans, 1954. J. Wild, Human Freedom and Social Order (An Essay in Chtistian Philosophy), Durham, N. C: Duke University Press, 1959 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

SOCIOECONOMICS and CHRISTIANITY

The thrust of the present paper has been that "social economics" -- aside from that specific, Anglo-American form -- is not the "emerging" or (relatively) new field or discipline as it has been represented or insinuated to be in several prominent recent works. In response to the rhetorical title of Brian Showler's resurrective article in the maiden issue of the IJSE (Vol. 1 No. 1, 1974), viz., "Social Economics: Branch or New Roots?", we here answer with a resounding Yes! But, first, new roots sinking to where? Not merely what we have resurrected or resuscitated on both sides of the pond as a revitalisation of efforts on the parts of such as J.M. Clark, the Catholic Economic Association, et al. in the 1930s and 1940s.
In its guise of "Social Catholicism (Christianisme)" we recognise today that Pope John XXIII (MM, 1961; PT 1963) and Vatican II (especially Gaudiam et Spes, 1965) admitted fresh air and breathed new life into that movement usually traced (only) back to Eeo XIII (RN, 1891) and the works of Heinrich Pesch, SJ (1895-1925) and his disciples. (Cf. G&R/R-R, 1947/48, IV.ii vs. Fellner, p. 6). However, three-score years before that already, Roman-Catholic conomie sociale as "l'conomie politique chrtienne" had already been so christened and introduced by de Coux (1832, etc) and Villeneuve-Bargemont (1834/37), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a continous quality improvement (CQI) program for anesthesia services based on self- reporting of critical incidents and negative outcomes through a dichotomous (yes/no) response on the anes thesia record. Immediate case investigation provides data for systematic peer review of anesthesia man agement. Trend analysis of the database of critical incidents and negative outcomes identifies opportu nities for improvement. The CQI program resulted in the reporting of nearly twice as many problems re lated to anesthesia management (5% of all anes thetics) as did the checklist it replaced (2.7%). Esca lation of patient care (3.2%) and operational ineffi ciencies (2.2%) were more common than patient injury (1.5% of all anesthetics). Among the 537 cases with anesthesia management problems were 119 hu man errors and equipment problems (22%). Regional nerve blocks and airway management represented the most common problem areas. Improvement in anesthesia services was made through prompt imple mentation of strategies for problem prevention de vised by the practitioners themselves through peer review, literature review, and clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BOROOAH V. K., McGREGOR P. P. L. and McKEE P. M. (1995) Working wives and income inequality in the UK, Reg. Studies 29, 477–487. The purpose of this paper is to use Family Expenditure Survey data to chart the rise in the numbers of working wives, to describe the salient features of this process and to analyse the impact of this rise upon overall income inequality between families. While there has been, over 1979–93, a significant rise in the proportion of married couple families in which both spouses work, this rise cannot be explained simply in terms of changing female and male employment. Moreover, the incidence of working women was fairly independent of husbands' income. The rise in the number of working wives was mirrored in the increasing contribution that women made to their families' income. However, on the moot question as to whether the growing incidence of working wives (and their tendency to be married to working men) has increased income inequality, our finding is ‘yes’, but not by much. Indeed, on our analysis it is the growth in inequality in the earnings of husbands, rather than the fact that wives of employed men go to work, that is responsible for the UK's income divide. BOROOAH V. K., McGREGOR P. P. L. et McKEE P. M. (1995) Les femmes au travail mariées et les inégalités des revenus au Royaume-Uni, Reg. Studies 29, 477–487. Cet article cherche à utiliser l'enquête sur les dépenses ménagères afin d'enregistrer la montée du nombre des femmes actives mariées, de présenter les aspects essentiels de ce processus et d'analyser l'impact de cette montée sur les inégalités des revenus globales entre les familles. Alors qu'il y a eu sur la période de 1979 à 1993 une augmentation sensible de la proportion des familles dont les deux époux travaillent, cette montée ne s'explique pas simplement en termes de l'évolution de l'emploi féminin et masculin. En outre, le taux d'activité féminin est assez indépendant du revenu du mari. La montée du nombre des femmes actives mariées se réflète dans la part croissante du revenu ménager assurée par les femmes. Cependant, à la question discutable concernant le taux d'activité féminin croissant (et le fait que les femmes ont tendance à se marier avec des hommes actifs) et son rapport éventuelle avec l'augmentation des inégalités des revenus, notre réponse est ‘Oui’, le rapport existe, mais il est négligeable. En fait, à partir de notre analyse, l'écart des revenus qui persiste au Royaume-Uni s'explique plutôt par la croissance des inégalités des revenus des maris que par le taux d'activité des femmes dont les hommes travaillent. BOROOAH V. K., McGREGOR P. P. L. und McKEE P. M. (1995) Erwerbstätige Ehefrauen und Einkommensungleichheit im Vereinigten Königreich, Reg. Studies 29, 477–487. Der Zweck dieses Aufsatzes ist die mittels Daten einer Untersuchung von Familienausgaben vorgenommene Erfassung des Anstiegs in der Zahl erwerbstätiger Ehefrauen, um die hervorstechenden Züge dieses Vorgangs zu beschreiben, und die Auswirkung des Anstiegs auf die Gesamteinkommensungleichheit zwischen Familien zu analysieren. Obschon im Zeitraum 1979–93 eine signifikante Zunahme im Verhältnis von Ehepaarfamilien stattgefunden hat, in denen beide Partner erwerbstätig sind, läßt sich diese Zunahme nicht einfach als Wandel in der Erwerbstätigkeit beider Geschlechter erklären. Zudem erwies sich das Auftreten erwerbstätiger Frauen als ziemlich unabhängig vom Einkommen des Ehemannes. Die Zunahme der Zahl erwerbstätiger Ehefrauen spiegelte sich im Anstieg des Beitrags wider, den Frauen zum Familieeinkommen leisteten. Die umstrittene Frage, ob die zunehmende Zahl erwerbstätiger Ehefrauen (und die Tatsache, daß sie dazu tendieren, mit erwerbstätigen Männern verheiratet zu sein), zu vermehrter Einkommensungleichheit geführt hat, wird durch die Befunde der Autoren positiv beantwortet, jedoch nur geringfügig so. Ihrer Analyse nach ist es nicht so sehr die Tatsache, daß Ehefrauen erwerbstätiger Männer erwerbstätig sind, als vielmehr die Zunahme der Ungleichheit in den Einkommen der Ehemänner, die die Kluft zwischen den Einkommen des Vereinigten Königreichs verursacht. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

RATINGS of hospitals and MEDICATION errors

Aims To demonstrate an epidemiological method to assess predictors of prescribing errors. Methods A retrospective case-control study, comparing prescriptions with and without errors. Results Only prescriber and drug characteristics were associated with errors. Prescriber characteristics were medical specialty (e.g. orthopaedics: OR: 3.4, 95% CI 2.1, 5.4) and prescriber status (e.g. verbal orders transcribed by nursing staff: OR: 2.5, 95% CI 1.8, 3.6). Drug characteristics were dosage form (e.g. inhalation devices: OR: 4.1, 95% CI 2.6, 6.6), therapeutic area (e.g. gastrointestinal tract: OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.2, 2.4) and continuation of preadmission treatment (Yes: OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.3, 2.3). Conclusions Other hospitals could use our epidemiological framework to identify their own error predictors. Our findings suggest a focus on specific prescribers, dosage forms and therapeutic areas. We also found that prescriptions originating from general practitioners involved errors and therefore, these should be checked when patients are hospitalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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PREDATION, PODISUS, HEMIPTERA, STINKBUGS, VIBURNUM, BEETLES, CHRYSOMELIDAE, PREDATORY insects, and NYMPHS (Insects)

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ENDOCRINE disruptors, HOMEOSTASIS, FISH reproduction, REPORTER genes, BETA-galactosidase, and SACCHAROMYCES

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PROTEIN-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, GENE transfection, EPIDERMAL growth factor, ENDOTHELIAL growth factors, TUMORS, PHARMACOKINETICS, and PATIENTS

Background: JNJ-26483327 is an oral, potent, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibiting kinases of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-1, -2 and -4, rearranged during transfection (RET) receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3 and Src family (Lyn, Fyn, Yes) at low nanomolar concentrations. This phase I, accelerated titration study assessed maximum tolerated dose, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of JNJ-26483327.Methods: Nineteen patients with advanced cancers received JNJ-26483327 continuous twice daily (BID) in escalating dose cohorts ranging from 100 to 2100 mg. Pharmacodynamic effects were assessed in paired skin biopsies and blood.Results: JNJ-26483327 was well tolerated in doses up to 1500 mg BID, with target-inhibition-related toxicity such as diarrhoea and skin rash, and other common reported toxicities being nausea, vomiting, anorexia and fatigue. At 2100 mg, two episodes of dose-limiting toxicity were observed, consisting of grade 3 anorexia and a combination of grade 3 anorexia and fatigue, respectively. Pharmacokinetics were dose proportional up to 1500 mg in which plasma levels were obtained showing anti-tumour activity in xenograft mouse models. Pharmacodynamic analysis did not show a substantial effect on expression of Ki-67, p27(kip1), phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphorylated Akt and EGFR, and serum levels of sVEGFR-2, VEGF-C and VEGF-D remained unchanged. Stable disease was noted in six patients (32%).Conclusion: JNJ-26483327 is well tolerated and shows a predictable pharmacokinetic profile; the recommended dose for further studies is 1500 mg BID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NUTRITIONAL assessment, FOOD consumption, INGESTION, OLDER people physiology, and POLISH people

Purpose: The aim of the research was to conduct a mini-nutritional assessment in relation to the food intake model and food intake variety for Polish older persons.Material and Methods: The research included 420 people aged 65+. Using the food consumption frequency method (by a FIVeQ questionnaire), the weekly intake of 63 groups of products was assessed (yes, no). Food intake variety was assessed with the use of food intake variety index (FIVeI), which was calculated as the total number of products eaten per week in the amounts exceeding trace quantities. Four models of food intake were established: "ordinary" (S1), "rich varied" (S2), "ordinary with a tendency to vary" (S3) and "moderate connoisseur" (S4). The risk of malnutrition or the incidence of malnutrition was determined based on the questionnaire of the mini nutritional assessment (MNA).Results: The good nutritional status of Polish older persons was affected by better results obtained in three parts of the questionnaire: "global evaluation" (MNA-2), "assessment of dietetic habits" (MNA-3) and "subjective assessment of self-perceived quality of health and nutrition" (MNA-4). It confirms the significance of those parts of the questionnaire in detecting malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition in older persons and suggests a lower share of the MNA-1 part which concerns anthropometric indicators. It was found that S2 and S3 persons were characterized by a greater food intake variety index (the median of 36 and 34 products eaten per week, respectively) and more often by a good nutritional status (88% and 79%, respectively) in comparison to S4 and S1 persons, who had a lower food intake variety index (the median of 4 and 30 products eaten per week, respectively) and more often occurring malnutrition (17% and 1% respectively) or a risk of malnutrition (17% and 30%, respectively).Conclusion: To conclude, a larger variety of food intake favoured better nutritional status of older persons, while a lower food intake variety increased the risk of malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BANANA varieties, FRUIT drying, OSMOTIC potential of plants, DEEP frying, MOISTURE content of plants, and FRUIT quality

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PHYSICS education, ENERGY conservation, ENVIRONMENTAL physics, THERMODYNAMICS education, and MECHANICS (Physics)

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NILE tilapia, MARICULTURE, FISH feeds, FISH growth, and WATER quality

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OVERACTIVE bladder, DISEASE prevalence, BLADDER diseases, PROGNOSTIC tests, DIAGNOSIS of diseases in women, DIAGNOSIS, and DISEASE risk factors

Copyright of Suelo Pélvico is the property of Ediciones Mayo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

FIRE, COOKING, HUMAN evolution, ARCHAEOLOGY, PRIMATOLOGY, and EVOLUTIONARY psychology

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MILK yield, BEEF cattle feeding & feeds, GRAZING, GRASSLANDS, BODY weight, CALVES, and ANIMAL weaning

Ninety-six Hereford cow-calf pairs grazing Campo grasslands were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design that evaluated stocking rate (high [H] vs low [L]) and creep feeding (CF; yes or no). Creep-fed calves grazing L had a greater average daily gain (1.07 ± 0.03 kg/d) than CF calves grazing H (0.96 ± 0.03 kg/d;P< 0.05), but L − CF (0.78 ± 0.03 kg/d) and H − CF calves (0.73 ± 0.03 kg/d) had similar average daily gains (P> 0.05). Similarly, L + CF calves were heavier at weaning (172 ± 3 kg) than H + CF calves (160 ± 3 kg), but weaning weights between L − CF (144 ± 3 kg) and H − CF (138 ± 3 kg;P> 0.05) did not differ. Creep-fed calves grazed less (39 ± 10%) than non-supplemented calves (58 ± 15%;P< 0.05). Creep feeding had no effect on milk production, body condition and live weight of the dams, so it had no impact on their reproductive performance. We conclude that CF promotes greater live weight gains and weaning weights of Hereford calves grazing Campo grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Daycare attendance is an established risk factor for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and acute otitis media (AOM). Whether this results in higher use of healthcare resources during childhood remains unknown. We aim to assess the effect of first year daycare attendance on the timing and use of healthcare resources for URTI and AOM episodes during early childhood.Methods: In the Wheezing-Illnesses-STudy-LEidsche-Rijn birth cohort, 2,217 children were prospectively followed up to age six years. Children were categorized according to first-year daycare attendance (yes versus no) and age at entry when applicable (age 0 to 2 months, 3 to 5 months and 6 to 12 months). Information on general practitioner (GP) diagnosed URTI and AOM, GP consultations, antibiotic prescriptions and specialist referral was collected from medical records. Daycare attendance was recorded by monthly questionnaires during the first year of life.Results: First-year daycare attendees and non-attendees had similar total six-year rates of GP-diagnosed URTI and AOM episodes (59/100 child-years, 95% confidence interval 57 to 61 versus 56/100 child-years, 53 to 59). Daycare attendees had more GP-diagnosed URTI and AOM episodes before the age of one year and fewer beyond the age of four years than non-attendees (Pinteraction <0.001). Daycare attendees had higher total six-year rates for GP consultation (adjusted rate ratio 1.15, 1.00 to 1.31) and higher risk for specialist referrals (hazard ratio: 1.43, 1.01 to 2.03). The number of antibiotic prescriptions in the first six years of life was only significantly increased among children who entered daycare between six to twelve months of age (rate ratio 1.32, 1.04 to 1.67). This subgroup of child-care attendees also had the highest overall URTI and AOM incidence rates, GP consultation rates and risk for specialist referral.Conclusions: Children who enter daycare in the first year of life, have URTI and AOM at an earlier age, leading to higher use of healthcare resources compared to non-attendees, especially when entering daycare between six to twelve months. These findings emphasize the need for improved prevention strategies in daycare facilities to lower infection rates at the early ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAUSEA, PAIN, PREVENTIVE medicine, ACUPUNCTURE, CHI-squared test, EMERGENCY medical services, HOSPITAL emergency services, PATIENT satisfaction, PATIENT safety, RESEARCH funding, T-test (Statistics), U-statistics, PILOT projects, PATIENT refusal of treatment, VISUAL analog scale, DATA analysis software, DESCRIPTIVE statistics, and PREVENTION

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of delivering acupuncture in an emergency department (ED) to patients presenting with pain and/or nausea. Methods: A feasibility study (with historical controls) undertaken at the Northern Hospital ED in Melbourne, Australia, involving people presenting to ED triage with pain (VAS 0–10) and/or nausea (Morrow Index 1–6) between January and August 2010 (n=400). The acupuncture group comprised 200 patients who received usual medical care and acupuncture; the usual care group comprised 200 patients with retrospective data closely matched from ED electronic health records. Results: Refusal rate was 31%, with ‘symptoms under control owing to medical treatment before acupuncture’ the most prevalent reason for refusal (n=36); 52.5% of participants responded ‘definitely yes’ for their willingness to repeat acupuncture, and a further 31.8% responded ‘probably yes’. Over half (57%) reported a satisfaction score of 10 for acupuncture treatment. Musculoskeletal conditions were the most common conditions treated n=117 (58.5%), followed by abdominal or flank pain n=49 (24.5%). Adverse events were rare (2%) and mild. Pain and nausea scores reduced from a mean±SD of 7.01±2.02 before acupuncture to 4.72±2.62 after acupuncture and from 2.6±2.19 to 1.42±1.86, respectively. Conclusions: Acupuncture in the ED appears safe and acceptable for patients with pain and/or nausea. Results suggest combined care may provide effective pain and nausea relief in ED patients. Further high-quality, sufficiently powered randomised studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of the add-on effect of acupuncture are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Crescimento e Desenvolvimento Humano is the property of Centro de Estudos de Crescimento e Desenvolvimento do Ser Humano and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study assessed the long-term effects of feeding diets containing either a gelling fibre (alginate (ALG)), or a fermentable fibre (resistant starch (RS)), or both, on feeding patterns, behaviour and growth performance of growing pigs fed ad libitum for 12 weeks. The experiment was set up as a 2×2 factorial arrangement: inclusion of ALG (yes or no) and inclusion of RS (yes or no) in the control diet, resulting in four dietary treatments, that is, ALG−RS− (control), ALG+RS−, ALG−RS+, and ALG+RS+. Both ALG and RS were exchanged for pregelatinized potato starch. A total of 240 pigs in 40 pens were used. From all visits to an electronic feeding station, feed intake and detailed feeding patterns were calculated. Apparent total tract digestibility of energy, dry matter (DM), and CP was determined in week 6. Pigs’ postures and behaviours were scored from live observations in weeks 7 and 12. Dietary treatments did not affect final BW and average daily gain (ADG). ALG reduced energy and DM digestibility (P<0.01). Moreover, ALG increased average daily DM intake, and reduced backfat thickness and carcass gain : digestible energy (DE) intake (P<0.05). RS increased feed intake per meal, meal duration (P<0.05) and inter-meal intervals (P=0.05), and reduced the number of meals per day (P<0.01), but did not affect daily DM intake. Moreover, RS reduced energy, DM and CP digestibility (P<0.01). Average daily DE intake was reduced (P<0.05), and gain : DE intake tended to be increased (P=0.07), whereas carcass gain : DE intake was not affected by RS. In week 12, ALG+RS− increased standing and walking, aggressive, feeder-directed, and drinking behaviours compared with ALG+RS+ (ALG×RS interaction, P<0.05), with ALG−RS− and ALG−RS+ in between. No other ALG×RS interactions were found. In conclusion, pigs fed ALG compensated for the reduced dietary DE content by increasing their feed intake, achieving similar DE intake and ADG as control pigs. Backfat thickness and carcass efficiency were reduced in pigs fed ALG, which also showed increased physical activity. Pigs fed RS changed feeding patterns, but did not increase their feed intake. Despite a lower DE intake, pigs fed RS achieved similar ADG as control pigs by increasing efficiency in DE use. This indicates that the energy utilization of RS in pigs with ad libitum access to feed is close to that of enzymatically digestible starch. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To assess whether in early (rheumatoid) arthritis (RA) patients, metacarpal bone mineral density (BMD) loss after 4 months predicts radiological progression after 1 year of antirheumatic treatment. Methods: Metacarpal BMD was measured 4 monthly during the first year by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR-BMD) in patients participating in the IMPROVED study, a clinical trial in 610 patients with recent onset RA (2010 criteria) or undifferentiated arthritis, treated according to a remission (disease activity score<1.6) steered strategy. With Sharp/van der Heijde progression ≥0.5 points after 1 year (yes/no) as dependent variable, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Of 428 patients with DXR-BMD results and progression scores available, 28 (7%) had radiological progression after 1 year. Independent predictors for radiological progression were presence of baseline erosions (OR (95% CI) 6.5 (1.7 to 25)) and early DXR-BMD loss (OR (95% CI) 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0)). In 366 (86%) patients without baseline erosions, early DXR-BMD loss was the only independent predictor of progression (OR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.4 to 2.9)). Conclusions: In early RA patients, metacarpal BMD loss after 4 months of treatment is an independent predictor of radiological progression after 1 year. In patients without baseline erosions, early metacarpal BMD loss is the main predictor of radiological progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess whether in early (rheumatoid) arthritis (RA) patients, metacarpal bone mineral density (BMD) loss after 4 months predicts radiological progression after 1 year of antirheumatic treatment. Methods Metacarpal BMD was measured 4 monthly during the first year by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR-BMD) in patients participating in the IMPROVED study, a clinical trial in 610 patients with recent onset RA (2010 criteria) or undifferentiated arthritis, treated according to a remission (disease activity score<1.6) steered strategy. With Sharp/van der Heijde progression >0.5 points after 1 year (yes/no) as dependent variable, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Of 428 patients with DXR-BMD results and progression scores available, 28 (7%) had radiological progression after 1 year. Independent predictors for radiological progression were presence of baseline erosions (OR (95% CI) 6.5 (1.7 to 25)) and early DXR-BMD loss (OR (95% CI) 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0)). In 366 (86%) patients without baseline erosions, early DXR-BMD loss was the only independent predictor of progression (OR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.4 to 2.9)). Conclusions In early RA patients, metacarpal BMD loss after 4 months of treatment is an independent predictor of radiological progression after 1 year. In patients without baseline erosions, early metacarpal BMD loss is the main predictor of radiological progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited evidence about the impact of treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, especially among older people.Aim: To investigate the variation in GP treatment strategies for older patients with subclinical hypothyroidism depending on country and patient characteristics.Design and Setting: Case-based survey of GPs in the Netherlands, Germany, England, Ireland, Switzerland, and New Zealand.Method: The treatment strategy of GPs (treatment yes/no, starting-dose thyroxine) was assessed for eight cases presenting a woman with subclinical hypothyroidism. The cases differed in the patient characteristics of age (70 versus 85 years), vitality status (vital versus vulnerable), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration (6 versus 15 mU/L).Results: A total of 526 GPs participated (the Netherlands n = 129, Germany n = 61, England n = 22, Ireland n = 21, Switzerland n = 262, New Zealand n = 31; overall response 19%). Across countries, differences in treatment strategy were observed. GPs from the Netherlands (mean treatment percentage 34%), England (40%), and New Zealand (39%) were less inclined to start treatment than GPs in Germany (73%), Ireland (62%), and Switzerland (52%) (P = 0.05). Overall, GPs were less inclined to start treatment in 85-year-old than in 70-year-old females (pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.74 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.63 to 0.87]). Females with a TSH of 15 mU/L were more likely to get treated than those with a TSH of 6 mU/L (pooled OR 9.49 [95% CI = 5.81 to 15.5]).Conclusion: GP treatment strategies of older people with subclinical hypothyroidism vary largely by country and patient characteristics. This variation underlines the need for a new generation of international guidelines based on the outcomes of randomised clinical trials set within primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INDUSTRIAL hygiene, JOB performance, STATISTICAL hypothesis testing, and REGRESSION analysis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure work capabilities based on Amartya Sen's capability approach and evaluate its validity. Methods: The development of the questionnaire was based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods: interviews, literature study, and an expert meeting. Additionally, in a survey, the validity was evaluated by means of hypotheses testing (using correlations and regression analyses). Results: The questionnaire consists of a set of seven capability aspects for work. For each aspect, it is determined whether it is part of a worker's capability set, ie, when the aspect is considered valuable, is enabled in work, and is realized. The capability set was significantly correlated with work role functioning-flexibility demands (-0,187), work ability (-0.304), work performance (-0.282), worked hours (-0.073), sickness absence (yes/no) (0.098), and sickness absence days (0.105). The capability set and the overall capability item are significantly associated with all work outcomes (P<0.010). Conclusions: The new capability set for work questionnaire appears to be a valid instrument to measure work capabilities. The questionnaire is unique because the items include the valued aspects of work and incorporate whether a worker is able to achieve what (s)he values in his/her work. The questionnaire can be used to evaluate the capability set of workers in organizations to identify aspects that need to be addressed in interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ACUTE otitis media, ANTIBIOTICS, DISEASE relapse, DRUG efficacy, DRUG prescribing, and THERAPEUTICS

Objective: Antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) has been suggested to increase the risk of future AOM episodes by causing unfavorable shifts in microbial flora. Because current evidence on this topic is inconclusive and long-term follow-up data are scarce, we wanted to estimate the effect of antibiotic treatment for a first AOM episode occurring during infancy on AOM recurrences and AOM-related health care utilization later in life. Methods: We obtained demographic information and risk factors from data of the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn, a prospective birth cohort study in which all healthy newborns born in Leidsche Rijn (between 2001 and 2012), The Netherlands, were enrolled. These data were linked to children’s primary care electronic health records up to the age of four. Children with at least one family physician-diagnosed AOM episode before the age of two were included in analyses. The exposure of interest was the prescription of oral antibiotics (yes vs no) for a child’s first AOM episode before the age of two years. Results: 848 children were included in analyses and 512 (60%) children were prescribed antibiotics for their first AOM episode. Antibiotic treatment was not associated with an increased risk of total AOM recurrences (adjusted rate ratio: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.78–1.13), recurrent AOM (≥3 episodes in 6 months or ≥4 in one year; adjusted risk ratio: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.57–1.11), or with increased AOM-related health care utilization during children’s first four years of life. Conclusions: Oral antibiotic treatment of a first AOM episode occurring during infancy does not affect the number of AOM recurrences and AOM-related health care utilization later in life. This information can be used when weighing the pros and cons of various AOM treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]