Objectives One of the main objectives of the Targeted Subsidies Law (TSL) in Iran was to improve equity in healthcare financing. This study aimed at measuring the effects of the TSL, which was implemented in Iran in 2010, on equity in healthcare financing. Methods: Segmented regression analysis was applied to assess the effects of TSL implementation on the Gini and Kakwani indices of outcome variables in Iranian households. Data for the years 1977-2014 were retrieved from formal databases. Changes in the levels and trends of the outcome variables before and after TSL implementation were assessed using Stata version 13. Results: In the 33 years before the implementation of the TSL, the Gini index decreased from 0.401 to 0.381. The Gini index and its intercept significantly decreased to 0.362 (p<0.001) 5 years after the implementation of the TSL. There was no statistically significant change in the gross domestic product or inflation rate after TSL implementation. The Kakwani index significantly increased from -0.020 to 0.007 (p<0.001) before the implementation of the TSL, while we observed no statistically significant change (p=0.81) in the Kakwani index after TSL implementation. Conclusions: The TSL reform, which was introduced as part of an economic development plan in Iran in 2010, led to a significant reduction in households’ income inequality. However, the TSL did not significantly affect equity in healthcare financing. Hence, while measuring the long-term impact of TSL is paramount, healthcare decision-makers need to consider the efficacy of the TSL in order to develop plans for achieving the desired equity in healthcare financing.
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This is to study the incidence of Diabetes and its risk factors in the impaired glucose tolerance group. 1084 subjects who had been examined 3 times for regular check-up in one human dock center under the university hospital were studied between 1986~1993. The results are as follows; Prevalence rate of diabetes was 3.56%, and that of impaired glucose tolerance was 30.90% as of initial examination. The rate of diabetes was increasing with the age where 1.2% at age group 30~39, 3.21% at age group 40~49, 5.84% at age group 50~59, 14.28% at age group 60 and over. And also the rate of impaired glucose tolerance was increasing with the age where 21.29% at age group 30~39, 31.42% at age group 40~49, 38.91% at age group 50~59, 33.33% at age group 60 and over. Of the examinees who were initially examined, total incidence rate of diabetes who developed to obvious diabetes at the 3rd follow-up examination from the initially impaired glucose tolerance group was 4.63% and it was 11.3 times higher than from the normal group (0.41%). After controlling for the effects of both age and obesity, the risk of subsequent diabetes for subjects with impaired glucose tolerance remained significantly higher than for normal subjects (Relative Risk, 10.48). Test for trends for developing to diabetes by the increasing level of fasting blood sugar and 1 hr blood sugar at the initial examination were statistically significant in either normal and impaired glucose tolerance group. To determine the risk factor for developing to diabetes, logistic regression test was applied. Only fasting blood sugar and 1 hr blood sugar were predictors for developing diabetes from the impaired glucose tolerance group at initial examination.
Finances of health insurance can be explained by factors determining benefit expense and premium collection. This study was conducted to analyze factors contributing to the financial status of rural health insurance. Nationwide 134 health insurance associations except the six pilot project counties were analyzed and obtained the followings. 1. In univariate analysis, statistically significant variables that explain 1) outpatient benefit expenditures include public health center utilization, proportion of pregnant women, premium and collection rate of premium 2) inpatient benefit expenditures include public health center utilization, proportion of old age, proportion of pregnant women, premium and collection rate of premium 3) profits include public health center utilization, proportion of old age, proportion of pregnant women and collection rate of premium. 2. In multiple regression analysis, statistically significant determinants in 1) outpatient benefit include premium and public health utilization 2) inpatient benefit include premium 3) profit include public health center utilization, premium and collection rate of premium.
OBJECTIVES The determination of oxalate in urine is required for the diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperoxaluria, idiopathic stone disease and various intestinal diseases. We examined the possibility of using Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy analysis to quantitate urinary oxalate. The practical advantages of this method include ease of the sample preparation and operation technique, the absence of sample pre-treatments, rapid determination and noninvasiveness. METHODS: The range of oxalate concentration in standard urine solutions was 0-221 mg/l. These 80 different samples were scanned in the region of 780-1,300 nm with a 0.5 nm data interval by a Spectrum One NTS FT-NIR spectrometer. PCR, PLSR and MLR regression models were used to calculate and evaluate the calibration equation. RESULTS: The PCR and PLSR calibration models were obtained from the spectral data and they are exactly same. The standard error of estimation (SEE) and the % variance were 10.34 mg/l and 97.86%, respectively. After full cross validation of this model, the standard error of estimation was 5.278 mg/l, which was much smaller than that of the pre-validation. Furthermore, the MCC (multiple correlation coefficient) was 0.998, which was compatible with the 0.923 or 0.999 obtained from the previous enzymatic methods. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that FT-NIR spectroscopy can be used for rapid determination of the concentration of oxalate in human urine samples.