Defining poverty based on relative income,intended to identify individuals who are significantly worse off than the mainstream living standard—is widely adopted by more developed countries and regions,such as those i...Defining poverty based on relative income,intended to identify individuals who are significantly worse off than the mainstream living standard—is widely adopted by more developed countries and regions,such as those in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD).There are,however,different ways income is counted,sometimes only counting earnings(e.g.,from employment),sometimes counting government transfers(e.g.,social welfare distributions),sometimes counting that generated from savings and investments as well.While some simpler form of income may be used for calculating relative poverty for ease of measurement(or other practical considerations),the intention of the relative poverty definition should be based on full income from all sources(including assets).This paper studies a method for evaluating the inaccuracy caused by using a simpler(and easier to measure)income distribution and understanding where the inaccuracy comes from.We test our method by using a 2000-household dataset from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,to evaluate the relative poverty approach once adopted there.We also recommend practical alternatives:focusing on economically active households only or using disposable income instead of market income.We show how much such alternatives can improve accuracy and explain why.展开更多
Background:Horseshoe kidney is a rare congenital anomaly commonly complicated by urolithiasis.Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy(ESWL),ureteroscopy(URS),and percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)are treatment options fo...Background:Horseshoe kidney is a rare congenital anomaly commonly complicated by urolithiasis.Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy(ESWL),ureteroscopy(URS),and percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)are treatment options for horseshoe kidney stones.The aim of this systematic review is to compare the benefits and risks of these management options.Methods:MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to February 2022.A total of 516 nonduplicate studies were screened against the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Studies comparing at least 2 interventions with>10 patients per intervention were included.Results:Nine retrospective observational studies published from 2007 to 2021 with a total of 565 patients were included.Reported mean±SD or mean(range)stone sizes ranged between 17.90±2.43 mm and 27.9±8.6 mm for PCNL,8.4(2-25)mm and 22.3±9.1 mm for URS,and 11.9±2.0 mm and 16.8±4.4 mm for ESWL.There was no difference in single-session and overall stone-free rate(SFR)between PCNL and URS,with a risk ratio of 1.04(95%confidence interval,0.95-1.13;I2=20.63%).Ureteroscopy had better stone clearance than ESWL,with an overall SFR risk ratio of1.38(95%confidence interval,1.04-1.82;I2=0%).There was no statistically significant difference in overall SFR between PCNL and ESWL.Most patients who underwent URS and ESWL experienced Clavien-Dindo(CD)gradeⅠ-Ⅱcomplications.Percutaneous nephrolithotomy was associated with the highest complication rates,including 5 CD gradeⅢand 3 CD gradeⅣcomplications and a mean postoperative hemoglobin drop of 0.47 to 1.83 g/dL.There were no CD grade V complications across all studies.Conclusions:There was no difference in SFR between PCNL and URS.Ureteroscopy was associated with a smaller stone burden and fewer and less severe complications.Ureteroscopy was found to be more effective than ESWL with a higher SFR and comparable safety profile.Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.展开更多
基金supported by the Oxfam Hong Kong(No.C2202-P2)additional matching grant support(No.ISG220208)by Saint Francis University.
文摘Defining poverty based on relative income,intended to identify individuals who are significantly worse off than the mainstream living standard—is widely adopted by more developed countries and regions,such as those in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD).There are,however,different ways income is counted,sometimes only counting earnings(e.g.,from employment),sometimes counting government transfers(e.g.,social welfare distributions),sometimes counting that generated from savings and investments as well.While some simpler form of income may be used for calculating relative poverty for ease of measurement(or other practical considerations),the intention of the relative poverty definition should be based on full income from all sources(including assets).This paper studies a method for evaluating the inaccuracy caused by using a simpler(and easier to measure)income distribution and understanding where the inaccuracy comes from.We test our method by using a 2000-household dataset from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,to evaluate the relative poverty approach once adopted there.We also recommend practical alternatives:focusing on economically active households only or using disposable income instead of market income.We show how much such alternatives can improve accuracy and explain why.
文摘Background:Horseshoe kidney is a rare congenital anomaly commonly complicated by urolithiasis.Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy(ESWL),ureteroscopy(URS),and percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)are treatment options for horseshoe kidney stones.The aim of this systematic review is to compare the benefits and risks of these management options.Methods:MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to February 2022.A total of 516 nonduplicate studies were screened against the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Studies comparing at least 2 interventions with>10 patients per intervention were included.Results:Nine retrospective observational studies published from 2007 to 2021 with a total of 565 patients were included.Reported mean±SD or mean(range)stone sizes ranged between 17.90±2.43 mm and 27.9±8.6 mm for PCNL,8.4(2-25)mm and 22.3±9.1 mm for URS,and 11.9±2.0 mm and 16.8±4.4 mm for ESWL.There was no difference in single-session and overall stone-free rate(SFR)between PCNL and URS,with a risk ratio of 1.04(95%confidence interval,0.95-1.13;I2=20.63%).Ureteroscopy had better stone clearance than ESWL,with an overall SFR risk ratio of1.38(95%confidence interval,1.04-1.82;I2=0%).There was no statistically significant difference in overall SFR between PCNL and ESWL.Most patients who underwent URS and ESWL experienced Clavien-Dindo(CD)gradeⅠ-Ⅱcomplications.Percutaneous nephrolithotomy was associated with the highest complication rates,including 5 CD gradeⅢand 3 CD gradeⅣcomplications and a mean postoperative hemoglobin drop of 0.47 to 1.83 g/dL.There were no CD grade V complications across all studies.Conclusions:There was no difference in SFR between PCNL and URS.Ureteroscopy was associated with a smaller stone burden and fewer and less severe complications.Ureteroscopy was found to be more effective than ESWL with a higher SFR and comparable safety profile.Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
