Applying activity-based costing to healthcare settings.

Activity-based costing (ABC) focuses on processes that drive cost. By tracing healthcare activities back to events that generate cost, a more accurate measurement of financial performance is possible. This article uses ABC principles and techniques to determine costs associated with the x-ray process in a midsized outpatient clinic.

Autism with hyperlexia: a distinct syndrome?

Family and medical histories, autistic and dysmorphic features, and neurological status of 5 children with autism and hyperlexia and 5 sex and IQ-matched children with autism and no hyperlexia were compared. Results showed that the children with hyperlexia displayed more persistent echolalia, superior visual motor performance, and more favorable response to vestibular stimulation. These children performed better than did their matched controls in the physical and neurological assessment.

Personality and behavior patterns of heroin-dependent American servicemen in Thailand.

The authors compared a groups of heroin-dependent American servicemen stationed in Thailand with a matched control groups of men not dependent on heroin. The data gathered regarding social history, attitudes, work record, previous drug use, personality, and intelligence show significant differences between the heroin-dependent men and the control group in four areas: intelligence, work record, number of years of schooling and number of drug used before using heroin. The data suggest that many of the heroin-dependent men had difficulties related to a distant or negative relationship to their fathers; however, in contrast to previous studies of heroin addicts, they do not confirm a relationship between heroin dependence and any particular personality pattern.