Epilogue: Randomization and Social Policy Evaluation Revisited

Author(s):  
James J. Heckman

This chapter examines the case for randomized controlled trials in economics. It revisits the author’s previous paper “Randomization and Social Policy Evaluation” and updates its message. The chapter presents a brief summary of the history of randomization in economics. It identifies two waves of enthusiasm for the method as “Two Awakenings” because of the near-religious zeal associated with each wave. The First Wave substantially contributed to the development of microeconometrics because of the awed nature of the experimental evidence. The Second Wave has improved experimental designs to avoid some of the technical statistical issues identified by econometricians in the wake of the First Wave. However, the deep conceptual issues about parameters estimated, and the economic interpretation and the policy relevance of the experimental results have not been addressed in the Second Wave.

Author(s):  
Joanna Innes ◽  
Michael J. Braddick

The Introduction offers a brief overview of Paul Slack’s contribution to early modern history, distinguishing between an earlier phase concerned with social policy and the ideas which informed it, and a later phase concerned with the history of political economy, and particularly the shifting discourse of happiness which, he argued, informed it. It then explores recent interest in the history of emotions, distinguishing a variety of approaches to that subject. Reviewing three broad approaches taken by the contributors to the volume, it goes on to suggest that the history of emotions is most stimulating when seen as a focal point for different kinds of history rather than as a discrete subject of enquiry. A further implication is that a variety of forms of expertise need to be brought to bear.


Author(s):  
Dimitri Gugushvili ◽  
Tijs Laenen

Abstract Over two decades ago, Korpi and Palme (1998) published one of the most influential papers in the history of social policy discipline, in which they put forward a “paradox of redistribution”: the more countries target welfare resources exclusively at the poor, the less redistribution is actually achieved and the less income inequality and poverty are reduced. The current paper provides a state-of-the-art review of empirical research into that paradox. More specifically, we break down the paradox into seven core assumptions, which together form a causal chain running from institutional design to redistributive outcomes. For each causal assumption, we offer a comprehensive and critical review of the relevant empirical literature, also including a broader range of studies that do not aim to address Korpi and Palme’s paradox per se, but are nevertheless informative about it.


Author(s):  
Najla Shamsi

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a prevalent chronic disease with several macrovascular and microvascular complications. Cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease and stroke are common macrovascular complication that reduces the quality of life and lead to early mortality. Additionally, they pose enormous socioeconomic burden on the societies and the governments. Therefore, any intervention that reduces the cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes will have positive impact of the patients and the society. Thus, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular events after metabolic surgery in comparison with the new classes of glucose lowering agents in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The review included 11 randomized controlled trials to both GLP-1 RA and SGLT-2 i groups. It also included 7 metabolic surgery studies, 2 of these are randomized controlled trials and the other 5 are observational studies. These studies were the most relevant studies to the research question. The results revealed different baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between the medication trials and metabolic surgery studies. Moreover, it revealed significant reduction in cardiovascular events in metabolic surgery studies when compared to medication trials. It also showed significant HbA1c and weight reduction in the metabolic surgery group. The remission of diabetes was very high in the metabolic surgery group while none of medication trials accomplished diabetes recovery. However, both medication and surgery groups had adverse events. In conclusion, the review is consistent with previous literature. It suggests that metabolic surgery is more effective than medical therapy in reducing cardiovascular events. Although this conclusion should be interpreted with caution due to the differences in baseline characteristics between studies. In general, the review recommends younger adult diabetic patients with obesity and history of established cardiovascular diseases to undergo metabolic surgery. Whereas, older patients with history of cardiovascular disease should be advised to take one of the medications that has been proved to reduce cardiovascular events. Future studies that compare metabolic surgery and the new classes of the glucose lowering agents is recommended to confirm the findings in this review.


Author(s):  
C. SEAUX ◽  
K. GOEDSEELS ◽  
J. DE LEPELEIRE

Sexually inappropriate behaviour in a patient with dementia: literature review and case report In this paper, the medical history of a 75-year-old man with dementia and sexually inappropriate behaviour (SIB) is described. An overview of the literature regarding the approach and treatment of SIB in persons with dementia was performed. PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane database were consulted, and thirteen articles selected. There are no randomised controlled trials available. The literature is limited to case studies and reviews of case studies. Non-pharmacological treatments are perceived to be the first step, although they are rarely studied. There is no consensus regarding a pharmacological approach. However, all studies suggest the paradigm of “start low and go slow”. A variety of drugs have been described. When starting a pharmacological treatment, it is recommended to keep in mind comorbidities and possible side-effects. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) seem to be the preferred first line treatment if the behaviour is not too harmful. If the behaviour is intrusive, anti-androgens seem to be the drug of choice. Further research is needed: a consensus regarding the definition and the development of a screening tool could support randomised controlled trials concerning pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Research concerning ethical dilemmas should, however, not be neglected.


2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (38) ◽  
pp. 1483-1487
Author(s):  
Vilmos Bíró

Abstract: The author summarizes briefly the history of hand allograft transplantation, the basics of the operative technics, and the medicinal treatment of the immunosuppression. He establishes that this operation requires complicated team-work: many specialists must be united in the interest of the successful final outcome. The biggest problem is not the technical challenge of the complicated operation, but the ineffectiveness of immunosuppression, its complications; even though significant development has happened in this field and experimental results are also encouraging. The author discusses these questions in this publication in the mirror of literature data. He states, that a successful hand transplantation, with its sensory and motoric functions can increase quality of life, in contrast with the ortheses. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(38): 1483–1487.


Author(s):  
Shanmuga Vadivoo Natarajan ◽  
B Usha

COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) is an emerging infectious disease that has caused increased mortality & morbidity in India during this second wave of the pandemic. The country has reported more than 30,000 cases and over 2,000 deaths by Mucormycosis so far, according to sources from Union Health Ministry. CAM is now a notifiable disease. At our Tertiary care teaching hospital, which caters for COVID 19 management, we are reporting the first case of Rhino orbital CAM, which was caused by Rhizopus spp. Our patient had a history of contact with a suspected COVID 19 patient and was recently diagnosed with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. A direct KOH microscopic examination of purulent material aspirated from the sinonasal polyp of the patient revealed fungal elements, and Rhizopus spp was isolated. Due to a shortage of Amphotericin B, the patient was referred to a government higher speciality centre for further management. The patient was followed up & was noted that he was treated with antifungal and discharged following recovery.


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