BACKGROUND In randomised trials, rather than comparing randomised groups directly some researchers carry out a significance test comparing a baseline with a final measurement separately in each group. METHODS We give several examples where this has been done. We use simulation to demonstrate that the procedure is invalid and also show this algebraically. RESULTS This approach is biased and ...

An important determinant of health system performance is contracting. Providers often respond to financial incentives, despite the ethical underpinnings of medicine, and payers can craft contracts to influence performance. Yet contracting is highly imperfect in both single-payer and multi-payer health systems. Arguably, in a competitive, multi-payer environment, contractual innovation may occur...

NOTE: Totals represent vital events, which occurred in Rhode Island for the reporting periods listed above. Monthly provisional totals should be analyzed with caution because the numbers may be small and subject to seasonal variation. REPORTING PERIOD VITAL EVENTS DECEMBER 2012 12 MONTHS ENDING WITH DECEMBER 2012 Number Number Rates Live Births 901 11,748 11.2* Deaths 863 9,551 9.1* Infant Deat...

A new series of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole analogs containing a methyl sulfonyl COX-2 pharmacophore was synthesized and evaluated for their COX-2 inhibitory activity. According to in-vitro COX-1/COX-2 inhibition data, all compounds (6a-g) were selective inhibitors of COX-2 isoenzyme with IC50 values in the highly potent 0.08-0.16 mM range. These results indicated that both potency and selectivity o...

In this paper, we examine whether the business cycle plays a role in marriage and divorce. We use data on Spain, since the differences between recession and expansion periods across regions are quite pronounced in that country. We find that the unemployment rate is negatively associated with the marriage rate, pointing to a procyclical evolution of marriage; however the response of the divorce ...