Does the economic freedom hinder the underground economy? Evidence from a cross-country analysis.

We evaluate the impact that the economic freedom exerts on the shadow economy for a sample of 152 countries from 1995 to 2017. In order to solve endogeneity issues, we rely on an instrumental variable approach and find that a change in the economic freedom index, induced by the level of independence of financial markets from government actions, adversely affects the hidden economy. To corroborate the interpretation of our results we also show how each subcomponent of the economic freedom index explains the downward change registered in the shadow economy.

Tax evasion and government size: evidence from Italian provinces.

We analyze the impact of government size, measured by total spending per capita, on tax evasion at the provincial level in Italy over the period 2001-2015. In order to solve endogeneity issues we rely on a system GMM and find that public expenditure negatively affects tax evasion, as taxpayers perceive the government is efficiently spending resources coming from the tax levy. Results are confirmed when we (1) consider expenditures related to long-term investments, namely capital spending per capita, and (2) directly test the impact of government efficiency on tax evasion.

Choice of dialysis treatment and type of medical unit (private vs public): application of a recursive bivariate probit.

ESRD patients have to deal with two choices: the first is related to the dialysis modality; the second concerns the type of dialysis unit (public vs private) where to undertake the treatment. Such a choice is related to unobservable factors, among which there might be patients' clinical factors as well as factors related to the characteristics of each unit. We employ a recursive bivariate probit estimation on a sample of ESRD Sicilian patients in order to evaluate the impact of these factors.

Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in pregnancy.

The authors have studied the behaviour of plasma glucose, insulinaemia and insulin-glucose ratio in 2 groups of pregnant women with BMI values > or = or <26, respectively. Each group was divided into 3 subgroups on the basis of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) response: GIGT (gestational impaired glucose tolerance), GD (gestational diabetes), and C (normal controls). Data from non-obese pregnant women demonstrate that both basal and OGTT-stimulated glucose levels were significantly different in all subgroups.

Changes in the plasma levels of proteins C and S in young women on low-dose oestrogen oral contraceptives.

The physiological importance of proteins C and S as natural anticoagulants is demonstrated by the increased risk of thromboembolic disease among subjects with hereditary deficiency of both proteins. In the present study the effects were evaluated of low-dose oestrogen oral contraceptives (OC) on the plasma levels of immunological protein S, as free (PS-f), and in reversible complex with C4b-binding protein as well as functional protein C (PC) in a homogeneous group of 20 young healthy women. The participants were randomly given either gestodene (75 micrograms) or desogestrel (150 micrograms) in combination with ethinyl oestradiol (30 micrograms).

Sex hormone binding globulin, cortisol binding globulin, thyroxine binding globulin, ceruloplasmin: changes in treatment with two oral contraceptives low in oestrogen.

It is generally assumed that the oral contraceptives cause the carrier proteins to change. Notoriously this effect is used to evaluate indirectly their estrogenicity/gestagenicity ratio. In order to assess the residual intrinsic androgenic activity of two new 19-nor-derivative components, Desogestrel (DG) 150 micrograms and Gestodene (GD) 75 micrograms, both in association with Ethinylestradiol (EE) 30 micrograms, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, Thyroxine Binding Globulin, Ceruloplasmin and Free Androgen Index (FAI), were studied in 40 young normally cycling healthy volunteers, matched for body mass index and age.

Effects of desogestrel and gestodene in low-dose oral contraceptive combinations on lipid and lipoprotein status. A randomized prospective study.

This study was designated to assess the effects of two low-dose oral contraceptives (OC) on serum lipids and lipoproteins and to compare, at same oestrogen dose (30 micrograms), the effects of desogestrel (DG) with those of a new progestin, gestodene (GD). Fifty-four young women, matched for Quetelet's Index, age, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise habits, were randomly assigned to one of two regimens. Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total triglycerides (T) and cholesterol (C), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) were measured prior to the OC commencement and after 6-cycle treatment.

Treatment of hirsutism related to micropolycystic ovary syndrome (MPCO) with two low-dose oestrogen oral contraceptives: a comparative randomized evaluation.

In order to evaluate the clinical and endocrinological efficacy of two low-dose oral contraceptives (OC) containing 30 micrograms Ethinylestradiol (EE) and 150 micrograms Desogestrel (DG) and 75 micrograms Gestodene (GD), respectively, an open randomized study was carried out in 34 young hirsute women, matched for body mass index and age. All of them met endocrine and ultrasonic criteria for Micropolycystic Ovary Syndrome (MPCO). The participants were randomly assigned to one of two pill groups (each of 17).

Effectiveness of short term canrenone treatment in idiopathic hirsutism.

In order to verify the anti-androgenic effects of canrenone, the major metabolite of spironolactone, 9 normally cycling women with post-puberal hirsutism, were orally administered the drug (200 mg per day for three months). In all patients, the clinical score, according to the method of Ferriman and Gallwey (F.G.

[Solitary and multiple thyroid nodular pathology (results of 1,300 surgical interventions)].

To evaluate the results of single and multinodular thyropathies surgical treatment, 1.300 cases operated on from january 1974 to december 1987 were reviewed. 842 patients (64.

Short-term treatment of hirsutism related to micropolycystic ovary syndrome with a combination type oral contraceptive containing desogestrel.

The antiandrogen effects of an oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg. Ethinyl Oestradiol and 0.

"Etiological characterization of hirsutism by means of a chemometric technique: the linear discriminant analysis".

This preliminary study concerns the evaluation of a chemometric technique, the so called Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) for an adequate nosological characterization of the more common forms of hirsutism: i.e., the Micropolycystic Ovary Syndrome (MPCO) and the Idiopathic Hirsutism (I.

Abnormal daily periodicity of serum thyrotropin (TSH) and evidence for defective TSH suppression in a case of non-neoplastic syndrome of inappropriate TSH secretion.

A non-neoplastic syndrome of inappropriate secretion of TSH (ITSHS) was diagnosed in a hemithyroidectomized and clinically euthyroid 44-yr-old man, who also exhibited limping (Perthes' disease), genu valgum, pes supinatus and lateral nystagmus. Computed tomography demonstrated an enlarged sella turcica due to empty sella. Baseline serum T3, T4, free T3, free T4 and TSH fluctuated between 179 and 274 ng/dl, 6.

Abnormalities in pituitary thyroid axis function tests in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias.

The study was carried out on 60 consecutive patients (23 males and 37 females) aged between 20 and 83 years (means +/- SD, 40.7 +/- 16) who arrived at our Cardiologic Unit with paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias (PSVA) including junctional paroxysmal tachycardia (n = 32), atrial fibrillation (n = 13), atrial flutter (n = 1), premature beats (n = 13) and with no obvious cardiovascular causes. Serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine were normal in all patients and thyroid scintiscan revealed normal shape and size thyroids without autonomously functioning nodule(s).

[Changes in the levels of reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) during and after surgery of the thyroid gland].

The thyroid activity of twenty euthyroid patients, with single or multiple "cold" nodules was investigated, with determination of seric T3, T4, reverse-T3 (rT3) and TSH. The blood-drags were performed respectively, during (with seric samples from the inferior thyroid vein ipsilateral to the affected lobe) and after (1, 3 and 7 days) surgery. The results of this study--and particularly the significative decrease of T3 and the rapid rT3 increase, either during or after operation - suggests a condition similar to the described "Low T3 syndrome", as expression of both the stress determined by surgery and the correlated thyroid metabolic "adaptation".

[Cytologic aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis and therapy of solitary cystic nodular thyropathies].

Between January and December 1983, 36 patients with single and benign cystic thyroid nodules underwent fine needle aspiration. They received, after fine needle aspiration, medical treatment (antiinflammatory drugs and L-T4). Clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up was performed either 6 and 18 months after FNA, to evaluate the lesion evolution.

[Intraoperative functional study of unilateral cold thyroid nodules].

The authors studied 7 patients (age between 22 and 52 years, mean 40.2 +/- 6.55 S.

[Functional evaluation of cystic thyroid nodules].

7 patients (age between 22 and 52 years, mean 38.2 +/- 10.6 SD) with cystic nodules have been subjected to the same diagnostic screening (scintiscanning and echography, needle aspiration); in every subject hormonal pattern has been studied at the cyst and periphery level.

[Reciprocal changes in T3 nd rT3 serum concentrations in digestive diseases resulting in childhood protein-calorie malnutrition (author's transl)].

In 14 children affected by digestive diseases producing protein-calorie malnutrition T3 and rT3, T4, TSH serum levels and TBG and TBPA maximum binding capacity were measured at the moment of the hospitalisation and up to their clinical and biochemical amelioration. No changes in serum T4 and TSH levels and in TBGcap values were detected. TBPAcap was found to be persistently low.

Thyroid function in thalassaemia major.

Serum concentrations of T4, T3, rT3, and TSH were measured by radioimmunoassay in 45 patients suffering from beta-thalassaemia. A TRH stimulation test was performed and the binding capacity of TBG and TBPA for T3 and T4 measured by reverse flow zone electrophoresis in a group of these patients. Mean T4 serum concentration was lower in thalassaemic patients than controls; T3, rT3, TSH levels, and the pituitary response to TRH were normal.

[Radioimmunologic determination of triiodothyronine in essential obesity].

A new convenient, specific, precise radioimmunoassay for measurement of T3 has been studied. The assay, set up in presence of ANS (to inhibit aspecific binding of T3 with TBP) and of T3 free serum in Standard curves, allows to measure serum T3 ranging between 6.25 and 800 ng/100 ml.