BACKGROUND This study examines changes in the extent of inequalities in life expectancy at birth and other ages in the United States between 1980 and 2000 by gender and socioeconomic deprivation levels. METHODS A factor-based deprivation index consisting of 11 education, occupation, wealth, income distribution, unemployment, poverty, and housing quality indicators was used to define deprivati...

BACKGROUND Studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with prostate cancer, and darker skin reduces the body's ability to generate vitamin D from sunshine. The impact of sunshine on racial disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality is unknown. METHODS Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database, the authors calculated age-adjusted pro...

BACKGROUND Little is known about surgeon characteristics associated with common bile duct injury (CBDI) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Risk-taking preferences can influence physician behavior and practice. We evaluated self-reported differences in characteristics and risk-taking preference among surgeons with and without a reported history of CBDI. STUDY DESIGN A mailed survey was ...

BACKGROUND The rapid increase in mobile telephone use has generated concern about possible health risks related to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from this technology. METHODS An interview-based case-control study with 2708 glioma and 2409 meningioma cases and matched controls was conducted in 13 countries using a common protocol. RESULTS A reduced odds ratio (OR) related to ever hav...

BACKGROUND An evidence-based approach is needed to identify women with breast symptoms who are most likely to have breast cancer so that timely and appropriate referral can take place. AIM To report the development and validation of a clinical prediction rule for the diagnosis of breast cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING Cohort study with two prospective groups of women: those presenting to a sympt...

BACKGROUND Leisure-time physical activity and strength training participation levels are low and socioeconomically distributed. Fitness trainers (e.g. gym/group instructors) may have a role in increasing these participation levels. However, it is not known whether the training location and characteristics of Australian fitness trainers vary between areas that differ in socioeconomic status. M...

INTRODUCTION SIGAPS score determines to a great extent each university hospital's funding for research. This score is considered to reflect the scientific production. Due to its financial impact, he may modify authors' attitudes leading them to publish their articles in French. Our objective was to evaluate the association between the SIGAPS score and publications in French. METHODS Based on ...

BACKGROUND Variation in outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) may reflect differences in quality of care. To date, however, we lack a methodology to monitor and improve national hospital 30-day mortality rates among patients undergoing PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS We developed hierarchical logistic regression models to calculate hospital risk-standardized 30-day all-cause PCI m...

BACKGROUND Growing mortality differences between socioeconomic groups have been reported in both Finland and elsewhere. While health behaviours and other lifestyle factors are important in contributing to health differences, some researchers have suggested that some of the mortality differences attributable to lifestyle factors could be preventable by health policy measures and that health care...

Economists tend to favor Pigouvian taxes or cap-and-trade programs to correct the negative externalities of climate change and local pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Arguments against energy taxes, and gasoline taxes more specifically, often include concerns about the regressivity of the tax. Other concerns relate to the geographic incidence of the tax. We study the effect of a ...