66 research outputs found
European Seafloor Observatory Offers New Possibilities For Deep Sea Study
The Geophysical and Oceanographic Station for Abyssal Research (GEOSTAR), an autonomous seafloor observatory that collects measurements benefiting a number of disciplines during missions up to 1 year long, will begin the second phase of its first mission in 2000. The 6-8 month investigation will take place at a depth of 3400 m in the southern Tyrrhenian basin of the southern Tyrrhenian basin of the central Mediterranean.
GEOSTAR was funded by the European Community (EC) for 2 million (US dollars), will carry equipment for chemical, biological and isotopic analyses not used in the first phase, which will broaden the data collection effort.Published45, 48-492.5. Laboratorio per lo sviluppo di sistemi di rilevamento sottomariniN/A or not JCRreserve
Single-frame multiparameter platforms for seafloor geophysical and environmental observations: projects and missons from GEOSTAR to ORION
The paper presents an overview of recent seafloor long-term single-frame multiparameter platform developed in the framework of the European Commission and Italian projects starting from the GEOSTAR prototype. The main features of the different systems are described as well as the sea missions that led to their validation. The ORION seafloor observatory network recently developed, based on the GEOSTAR-type platforms and engaged in a deep-sea mission at 3300 m w.d. in the Mediterranean Sea, is also describe
Estimating the global burden of endemic canine rabies
Background: Rabies is a notoriously underreported and neglected disease of lowincome
countries. This study aims to estimate the public health and economic burden
of rabies circulating in domestic dog populations, globally and on a country-by-country
basis, allowing an objective assessment of how much this preventable disease costs
endemic countries.<p></p>
Methodology/Principal Findings: We established relationships between rabies mortality
and rabies prevention and control measures, which we incorporated into a model
framework. We used data derived from extensive literature searches and
questionnaires on disease incidence, control interventions and preventative measures
within this framework to estimate the disease burden. The burden of rabies impacts on
public health sector budgets, local communities and livestock economies, with the
highest risk of rabies in the poorest regions of the world. This study estimates that
globally canine rabies causes approximately 59,000 (95% Confidence Intervals: 25-
159,000) human deaths, over 3.7 million (95% CIs: 1.6-10.4 million) disability-adjusted
life years (DALYs) and 8.6 billion USD (95% CIs: 2.9-21.5 billion) economic losses
annually. The largest component of the economic burden is due to premature death
(55%), followed by direct costs of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP, 20%) and lost
income whilst seeking PEP (15.5%), with only limited costs to the veterinary sector due
to dog vaccination (1.5%), and additional costs to communities from livestock losses
(6%).<p></p>
Conclusions/Significance: This study demonstrates that investment in dog vaccination,
the single most effective way of reducing the disease burden, has been inadequate
and that the availability and affordability of PEP needs improving. Collaborative
investments by medical and veterinary sectors could dramatically reduce the current
large, and unnecessary, burden of rabies on affected communities. Improved
surveillance is needed to reduce uncertainty in burden estimates and to monitor the
impacts of control efforts.<p></p>
Cost-Effectiveness of Adolescent Pertussis Vaccination for The Netherlands: Using an Individual-Based Dynamic Model
BACKGROUND: Despite widespread immunization programs, a clear increase in pertussis incidence is apparent in many developed countries during the last decades. Consequently, additional immunization strategies are considered to reduce the burden of disease. The aim of this study is to design an individual-based stochastic dynamic framework to model pertussis transmission in the population in order to predict the epidemiologic and economic consequences of the implementation of universal booster vaccination programs. Using this framework, we estimate the cost-effectiveness of universal adolescent pertussis booster vaccination at the age of 12 years in the Netherlands. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We designed a discrete event simulation (DES) model to predict the epidemiological and economic consequences of implementing universal adolescent booster vaccination. We used national age-specific notification data over the period 1996-2000--corrected for underreporting--to calibrate the model assuming a steady state situation. Subsequently, booster vaccination was introduced. Input parameters of the model were derived from literature, national data sources (e.g. costing data, incidence and hospitalization data) and expert opinions. As there is no consensus on the duration of immunity acquired by natural infection, we considered two scenarios for this duration of protection (i.e. 8 and 15 years). In both scenarios, total pertussis incidence decreased as a result of adolescent vaccination. From a societal perspective, the cost-effectiveness was estimated at €4418/QALY (range: 3205-6364 € per QALY) and €6371/QALY (range: 4139-9549 € per QALY) for the 8- and 15-year protection scenarios, respectively. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the outcomes are most sensitive to the quality of life weights used for pertussis disease. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge we designed the first individual-based dynamic framework to model pertussis transmission in the population. This study indicates that adolescent pertussis vaccination is likely to be a cost-effective intervention for The Netherlands. The model is suited to investigate further pertussis booster vaccination strategies
Meta-Analysis of the Immunogenicity and Tolerability of Pandemic Influenza A 2009 (H1N1) Vaccines
Background: Although the 2009 (H1N1) influenza pandemic officially ended in August 2010, the virus will probably circulate in future years. Several types of H1N1 vaccines have been tested including various dosages and adjuvants, and meta-analysis is needed to identify the best formulation. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and nine clinical trial registries to April 2011, in any language for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on healthy children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Primary outcome was the seroconversion rate according to hemagglutinination-inhibition (HI); secondary outcomes were adverse events. For the primary outcome, we used head-to-head meta-analysis and multiple-treatments meta-analysis. Results: Eighteen RCTs could be included in all primary analyses, for a total of 76 arms (16,725 subjects). After 2 doses, all 2009 H1N1 split/subunit inactivated vaccines were highly immunogenic and overcome CPMP seroconversion criteria. After 1 dose only, all split/subunit vaccines induced a satisfactory immunogenicity (> = 70%) in adults and adolescents, while only some formulations showed acceptable results for children and elderly (non-adjuvanted at high-doses and oil-in-water adjuvanted vaccines). Vaccines with oil-in-water adjuvants were more immunogenic than both nonadjuvanted and aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines at equal doses and their immunogenicity at doses < = 6 μg (even with as little as 1.875 μg of hemagglutinin antigen) was not significantly lower than that achieved after higher doses. Finally, the rate of serious vaccine-related adverse events was low for all 2009 H1N1 vaccines (3 cases, resolved in 10 days, out of 22826 vaccinated subjects). However, mild to moderate adverse reactions were more (and very) frequent for oil-in-water adjuvanted vaccines. Conclusions: Several one-dose formulations might be valid for future vaccines, but 2 doses may be needed for children, especially if a low-dose non-adjuvanted vaccine is used. Given that 15 RCTs were sponsored by vaccine manufacturers, future trials sponsored by non-industry agencies and comparing vaccines using different types of adjuvants are needed
Relationship between haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody titres and clinical protection against influenza: development and application of a bayesian random-effects model
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antibodies directed against haemagglutinin, measured by the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay are essential to protective immunity against influenza infection. An HI titre of 1:40 is generally accepted to correspond to a 50% reduction in the risk of contracting influenza in a susceptible population, but limited attempts have been made to further quantify the association between HI titre and protective efficacy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We present a model, using a meta-analytical approach, that estimates the level of clinical protection against influenza at any HI titre level. Source data were derived from a systematic literature review that identified 15 studies, representing a total of 5899 adult subjects and 1304 influenza cases with interval-censored information on HI titre. The parameters of the relationship between HI titre and clinical protection were estimated using Bayesian inference with a consideration of random effects and censorship in the available information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significant and positive relationship between HI titre and clinical protection against influenza was observed in all tested models. This relationship was found to be similar irrespective of the type of viral strain (A or B) and the vaccination status of the individuals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although limitations in the data used should not be overlooked, the relationship derived in this analysis provides a means to predict the efficacy of inactivated influenza vaccines when only immunogenicity data are available. This relationship can also be useful for comparing the efficacy of different influenza vaccines based on their immunological profile.</p
Estimating the global burden of endemic canine rabies
Rabies is a fatal viral disease largely transmitted to humans from bites by infected animals
—predominantly from domestic dogs. The disease is entirely preventable through prompt
administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to bite victims and can be controlled
through mass vaccination of domestic dogs. Yet, rabies is still very prevalent in developing
countries, affecting populations with limited access to health care. The disease is also
grossly underreported in these areas because most victims die at home. This leads to insufficient
prioritization of rabies prevention in public health agendas. To address this lack of
information on the impacts of rabies, in this study, we compiled available data to provide a
robust estimate of the health and economic implications of dog rabies globally. The most
important impacts included: loss of human lives (approximately 59,000 annually) and productivity
due to premature death from rabies, and costs of obtaining PEP once an exposure
has occurred. The greatest risk of developing rabies fell upon the poorest regions of the
world, where domestic dog vaccination is not widely implemented and access to PEP is
most limited. A greater focus on mass dog vaccination could eliminate the disease at
source, reducing the need for costly PEP and preventing the large and unnecessary burden
of mortality on at-risk communities.S1 Text. Supporting bibliography.S1 Table. Estimates by country of rabies deaths, exposures, PEP use, prevented deaths, dog
vaccination coverage, probability that a dog is rabid (RP), of bite victims receiving PEP
(PP), DALYs, costs and 95% confidence intervals of estimates. Clusters to which countries
are assigned are shown and inputs used for estimating parameters including the human development
index and whetehr a country s rabies-free or endemic (RISK). Estimates of years of life
lost (YLL) and DALYs (due to rabies and to adverse events from the use of nerve tissue vaccines) are shown under different assumptions (estimates under the assumption of no time
discounting or age-weighting should be directly comparable to the 2010 Global Burden of Disease
study).S1 Fig. Division of costs associated with rabies, prevention and control across sectors by
cluster. Inset shows proportional expenditure in different clusters. Full details of countries by
cluster are given in S1 Table. Asia 4 comprises: Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand (High PEP
use); Asia 3 comprises Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan (Himalayan region); Asia 2 comprises
Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;
SADC comprises countries in the Southern African Development Community, Eurasia comprises
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.S1 Dataset. Model code and input data files including references, rationale and detail of
Delphi process. The code folder contains seven R scripts: burden_model.R runs the model
using data compiled in burden_1.R, after estimating parameters using: FitCovInc.R, FitPP.R,
and creating Fig 2 (RabiesBurdenFig2.R). The script burden_results.R summarizes findings
using the output of burden_model.R and burden_sensitivity.R runs the sensitivity analyses. The
data folder contains 12 csv files called by the R code for the analyses, and one excel file (Vet.
xlsx) with additional details about the data sources in vcountry2.csv and vcluster2.csv and with
Delphi process estimates for dog vaccination coverage. Data sources are detailed in the relevant
data sources and the details of the sources of data used in the analysis are in the supporting bibliography,
S1 text.This study was funded by the UBS
Optimus Foundation (http://www.ubs.com/optimusfoundation)
and the Wellcome Trust (095787/Z/11/Z).http://www.plosntds.orgam201
Ceftiofur hydrochloride affects the humoral and cellular immune response in pigs after vaccination against swine influenza and pseudorabies
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