The success of the Danish economy in recent years has led to claims that the Danish employment system constitutes a unique model. Danish legislation provides for a low level of employment protection, allowing employers to dismiss workers with short notice. As a result, the Danish employment system has a level of numerical flexibility that is comparable to that of liberal labour markets like those of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. At the same time, through its social security system and active labour market programmes, Denmark resembles other Nordic welfare states in providing a tightly knit safety net for its citizens. The Danish model thus illustrates a possible trade-off between a very flexible employment relation and a social protection system, which, combined with active labour market programmes, defends individuals from the potential costs of a low level of employment security. The model thus represents a genuine alternative to the widespread view that it is desirable to develop a high level of individual employment protection at the company level. ❖❖❖ SommaireLe succès de l'économie danoise ces dernières années a suscité des affirmations selon lesquelles le système d'emploi danois constitue un modèle unique. La législation danoise prévoit un niveau bas de protection de l'emploi, permettant aux employeurs de licencier les travailleurs moyennant un court préavis. En conséquence, le système d'emploi danois détient un niveau de flexibilité numé-rique qui est comparable à celui des marchés du travail libéraux comme au Canada, en Irlande, au Royaume-Uni et aux Etats-unis. En même temps, grâce à son système de sécurité sociale et à des programmes actifs du marché du travail, le Danemark ressemble aux autres Etats-providence nordiques car il prévoit un système de protection extrêmement solide pour ses citoyens. Le modèle danois illustre ainsi un échange possible entre une relation d'emploi très flexible et un système de protection sociale, qui, combiné à des programmes actifs du marché du travail, protège les individus des coûts éventuels d'un bas niveau de sécurité d'emploi. Le modèle représente ainsi une véri-table alternative à l'opinion généralement répandue qu'il est souhaitable de développer un niveau élevé de protection individuelle de l'emploi au niveau de l'entreprise. Zusammenfassung Angesichts des Erfolgs der dänischen Wirtschaft in den letzten Jahren ist behauptet worden, dass das dänische Beschäftigungssystem ein einzigartiges Modell darstelle. Die dänischen Rechtsvorschriften sehen einen geringen Beschäftigungsschutz vor und gestatten Arbeitgebern, ihre Beschäftigten kurzfristig zu entlassen. Infolgedessen ist die numerische Flexibilität des dänischen Beschäftigungssystems ähnlich hoch wie an liberalen Arbeitsmärkten wie in Kanada, Irland, Großbritannien oder den USA. Gleichzeitig ähnelt Dänemark durch sein Sozialversicherungssystem und seine aktiven Arbeitsmarktprogramme insofern den anderen nordischen Wohlfahrtsstaaten, als es seine Bürger durch ein engmaschiges soziales ...

Near-infrared spectrophotometry-determined cerebral (ScO2) and muscle oxygen saturations (SmO2) were followed in 15 volunteers during passive 50 degrees head-up-tilt-induced central hypovolaemia, and in nine volunteers during ventilatory manoeuvres affecting arterial carbon dioxide tension. During head-up tilt, mean arterial pressure [MAP, 88 (77-118) to 97 (80-136) mmHg, median and range] and heart rate [HR; 66 (49-77) to 87 (42-132) beats min-1 P < 0.01] increased, but after 22 (1-45) min they declined [to 61 (40-91) mmHg and 69 (38-109) beats min-1, respectively, P = 0.001] and pre-syncopal symptoms developed. Central hypovolaemia was indicated by an increased thoracic electrical impedance, and a decreased cardiac output and central venous oxygen saturation. The arterial oxygen saturation, pulmonal oxygen uptake and skin temperatures remained constant. The ScO2 remained stable at 72 (62-77)% until the pre-syncopal incidence, when it decreased to 62 (31-73)% (P = 0.001), and tilt down made it increase to 75 (36-87)% (P < 0.05) before the recovery value was established. In contrast, SmO2 decreased during tilting [75(70-87) to 65 (53-70)%], and recovered to 70 (53-83)%, P < 0.01) during the hypotensive episode. The end-tidal CO2 tension decreased only during tilt-up. The ScO2 decreased, and SmO2 increased during hyperventilation, and ScO2 increased during breathing of 5% carbon dioxide. Rebreathing from a bag made SmO2 decrease and resulted in a biphasic ScO2 response: it first increased and subsequently decreased. Cardiovascular changes during tilt were not reflected in skin temperature. The ScO2 reflected the maintained autoregulation of cerebral blood flow until the perfusion pressure decreased markedly. In contrast, SmO2 mirrored muscle vasoconstriction early during tilt, and vasodilatation when pre-syncopal symptoms appeared.

Thirty patients with acute pancreatitis were allocated to indomethacin suppositories, 50 mg twice daily, or identical-looking placebo suppositories for 7 days in a controlled double-blind trial. The groups of patients were not different with regard to age, sex, etiology, or number of Ranson criteria. The number of days with pain and number of opiate injections were significantly less in patients treated with indomethacin. The median values of serum amylase and serum calcium were not different before or at any day during treatment. Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract was not seen.