Hippokratia
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Fiscal federalism and fiscal decentralization are distinct policy options in public services in general and healthcare in particular, with possibly opposed effects on equity, effectiveness, and efficiency. However, the pertinent discourse often reflects confusion between the concepts or conflation thereof. ⋯ If public resources are and remain adequate, allocation follows equitable criteria, and local communities are involved in the decision-making debate, fiscal federalism -rather than fiscal decentralization- appear to be an adequate policy option to improve the healthcare services and population's health nationwide and achieve health sector economic decentralization. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(3): 107-113.
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In recent years, accumulating evidence has linked vitamin D deficiency to cognitive dysfunction and dementia. This study aimed at determining the relevance of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older Greek adults. It also examined whether the vitamin D level could be considered a predisposing factor for conversion from MCI to AD. ⋯ The present study reveals that serum vitamin D levels are significantly decreased in subjects with MCI and patients with AD compared to HS. Additionally, individuals with MCI who progressed to AD presented significantly lower vitamin D levels than those who remained MCI. These results suggest that preserving adequate vitamin D status in older adults could delay or prevent cognitive decline. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(3): 120-126.
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The idea of implementing theatrical acts in medical education has recently been gaining attention, with the inclusion of art-based programs in medical curricula being a growing trend. This study aimed to present an innovative pilot program of presenting medical emergencies through theatrical presentation. ⋯ Students find the theatrical approach of emergency cases entertaining and educational, facilitating teaching in medicine and enhancing their efficacy to recognize medical emergencies and the commonest pitfalls in their diagnosis and management. Such events may be established as a supplementary educational tools to the classical amphitheatric didactic lectures. Future studies with specific objective tools are needed to validate the abovementioned tasks. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(3): 127-132.
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Recent studies have demonstrated an association between a new onset of smell or taste loss and COVID-19. We investigated the prevalence of smell and/or taste loss and the clinical characteristics and recovery in a comprehensive cohort of consecutive patients treated by two COVID-19 reference hospitals and evaluated late persistence of hyposmia. ⋯ Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent and early symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The great majority recover their smell, but nearly one out of ten have not recovered in two months. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(2): 66-71.