Diagnosis and treatment of cuff tear arthropathy.

Rotator cuff tears account for a significant majority of shoulder pain presentations. Without diagnosis and management, advanced cuff tears may progress to cuff tear arthropathy, a degenerative arthritis condition of the shoulder. This article discusses the causes and management of cuff tear arthropathy, including definitive treatment with reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Recognizing and managing infections in total joint arthroplasty.

Periprosthetic joint infections are a devastating complication of joint arthroplasty procedures, affecting 1% to 4% of patients. With the increasing demand for joint replacement, the clinical and financial burden of periprosthetic joint infections is challenging. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of periprosthetic joint infections.

Pharmaceuticals, political money, and public policy: a theoretical and empirical agenda.

Why, when confronted with policy alternatives that could improve patient care, public health, and the economy, does Congress neglect those goals and tailor legislation to suit the interests of pharmaceutical corporations? In brief, for generations, the pharmaceutical industry has convinced legislators to define policy problems in ways that protect its profit margin. It reinforces this framework by selectively providing information and by targeting campaign contributions to influential legislators and allies. In this way, the industry displaces the public's voice in developing pharmaceutical policy.

Health care access and utilization among Hispanic manufacturing workers along the Texas-Mexico border.

Disparities in health care access, including utilization of preventive health services, are well-documented among ethnic minority populations. This study examines factors associated with health care access and utilization among Hispanic manufacturing employees along the Texas-Mexico border. A cross-sectional survey was administered in 2010 to 228 mostly male (71%) workers.