Quantitative ultraviolet measurements on wetted thin-layer chromatography plates using a charge-coupled device camera

This paper presents the first study of the UV imaging of spots on thin-layer chromatographic plates whilst still wet with solvent. Imaging of spots of benzophenone during and after development was carried out using a charge-coupled device camera. Limits of detection were found to be 5 ng on a wetted plate and 3 ng for a dry plate and the relationship between peak area and sample loading was found to be linear in the low nanograrn range over an order of magnitude for both wet and dry modes with r(2) values > 0.99. It was found that UV measurements on wet glass-backed plates suffer from low sensitivity; however, the use of aluminium-backed plates gave increased sensitivity. The apparent absorption coefficient (epsilon(app)) of 10AU m(2) g(-1) at 254 nm is consistent with reflection of the light from the aluminium surface with a double pass through the sorbent layer, and suggests that use of aluminium-backed plates should enable monitoring of separations by UV absorbance during TLC development. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Considering consumer choice in the economic evaluation of mandatory health programmes: A review

Objective: Governments are increasing their focus on mandatory public health programmes following positive economic evaluations of their impact. This review aims to examine whether loss of consumer choice should be included in economic evaluations of mandatory health programmes (MHP). Method: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify economic evaluations of MHP, whether they discuss the impact on consumer choice and any methodological limitations. Results: Overall 39 economic evaluations were identified, of which 10 discussed the loss of consumer choice and 6 attempted to place a value on the loss of consumer choice. Methodological limitations included: measuring the marginal cost of compliance, unavailability of price elasticity estimates, the impact of income effects, double counting health impacts, biased willingness-to-pay responses, and "protest" responses. Overall it was found that the inclusion of the loss of consumer choice rarely impacted on the final outcome of the study. Conclusion: The impact of MHP on the loss of consumer choice has largely been ignored in economic evaluations. Its importance remains uncertain due to its infrequent inclusion and significant methodological limitations. Further research regarding which methodology is best for valuing the loss of consumer choice and whether it is important to the final implementation decision is warranted. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Measuring the Impact of Genetic and Environmental Risk and Protective Factors on Speech, Language, and Communication Development-Evidence from Australia

Speech and language acquisition is one of the key development indicators of optimal literacy development in infancy and early childhood. Over the last decade there has been increasing interest in the development of theoretical frameworks which underpin the underlying complexity of a child's language developmental landscapes. This longitudinal study aims to measure the impact of genetic and environmental risk and protective factors on speech, language, and communication development (SLCN) among 5000 infants in Australia. Using robust panel fixed-effects models, the results demonstrate that there are clear and consistent effects of protective factors and SLCN associated with the infant's family [coefficient (SD) = 0.153, 95% standard error (SE) = 8.76], the in utero environment [coefficient (SD) = 0.055, standard error (SE) = 3.29] and early infant health [coefficient (SD) = 0.074, standard error (SE) = 5.28]. The impact of family and in utero health is dominant at aged 2 to 3 years (relative to 0 to 1 years) across the domains of language and communication and more dominant from birth to 1 years for speech acquisition. In contrast, the evidence for the impact of genetics on SLCN acquisition in infancy, is less clear. The evidence from this study can be used to inform intervention policies

Current Issues in Health Technology Assessment of Cancer Therapies: A Survey of Stakeholders and Opinion Leaders in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to find ways of bridging the gap in opinions concerning health technology assessment (HTA) in reimbursement submission between manufacturers and payers to avoid access delays for patients of vital medicines such as oncology drugs. This was done by investigating differences and similarities of opinion among key stakeholders in Australia. METHODS: The survey comprised of nine sections: background demographics, general statements on HTA, clinical claim, extrapolations, quality of life, costs and health resource utilization, agreements, decision making, and capability/capacity. Responses to each question were summarized using descriptive statistics and comparisons were made using chi-square statistics. RESULTS: There were ninety-seven respondents in total, thirty-seven from the public sector (academia/government) and sixty from the private sector (industry/consultancies). Private and public sector respondents had similar views on clinical claims. They were divided when it came to extrapolation of survival data and costs and health resource utilization. However, they generally agreed that rebates are useful, outcomes-based agreements are difficult to implement, managed entry schemes are required when data are limited, and willingness to pay is higher in cancer compared to other therapeutic areas. They also agreed that training mostly takes place through on the job training and that guideline updates were a least favored opportunity for continued training. CONCLUSIONS: Private sector respondents favor methods that reduce the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio when compared to the public sector respondents. There still exist a number of challenges for HTA in oncology and many research opportunities as a result of this study

Reassessing the cost-effectiveness of Nivolumab for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma based on mature survival data, updated safety and lower comparator price.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of nivolumab versus everolimus for second-line treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) based on mature data, updated safety and decreased everolimus price. Materials and methods: A 3-state (pre-progression/progression-free disease, progressive disease and death) Markov model was developed from the perspective of the Australian health care system. Two scenarios were tested. Scenario 1 used 30-months clinical data and scenario 2 used updated 80-months clinical data with updated everolimus price. Inputs for quality-of-life and costs were informed by the literature and government sources. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality adjusted life years (QALY) gained was reported and an ICER threshold of AU$75,000 was assumed. Threshold analysis was performed, and uncertainty was explored using one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results: In scenario 1, the model estimated 1.73 QALYs at a cost of AU$105,000 for nivolumab and 1.48 QALYs at AU$38,000 for everolimus with an ICER = AU$266,871/QALY gained. A rebate of 54.4% was needed for nivolumab to reach the ICER threshold. For scenario 2, 1.93 QALYs at AU$111,418 was estimated for nivolumab and 1.60 QALYs at AU$31,942 for everolimus with an ICER of AU$213,320/QALY gained. The rebate needed to reach the ICER threshold was 54.9%. One-way sensitivity analyses for both scenarios showed that the cost of nivolumab, time horizon and utilities were main drivers. The cost-effectiveness acceptability curves highlighted the differences in cost-effectiveness of the two scenarios, as well as significant uncertainty in the results. Conclusions: A 54% rebate of the published price is needed for nivolumab to be cost-effective in Australia for the treatment of RCC. At that rebate, nivolumab remains cost-effective despite severe price erosion of everolimus because of improved longer term follow-up data. We recommend that generic price erosion should be accounted for when performing cost-effectiveness analysis

Taking a student's product concept idea to manufacturing industry - a case study of the learning experience for both tutor and student

This paper explores the ways in which a product design student's idea for an innovative new product, with considered real commercial potential, was taken to manufacturing industry. It is based on a student concept for an innovative adjustable hairbrush design that has been developed and submitted to relevant industries for their consideration. The idea has now been both patented and exclusively licensed to a company, Albyn of Stonehaven Ltd, for manufacture and sales of the product. The areas reviewed and discussed in detail are concept development to a standard for both industrial presentation and Patent application, concept presentation with a view to licensing the product and the progression of discussions and negotiations for a licence agreement. More importantly, the impact of all of these areas in terms of both the tutor and student learning experience is reviewed. The particular benefits that can be derived are critically evaluated, with a view to demonstrating how these benefits are not just applicable to these two parties, but also how they can be integrated as an improvement to the course of study as a whole

Cost Effectiveness of a Community-Delivered Consultation to Improve Infant Sleep Problems and Maternal Well-Being

© 2018 Objectives: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of a community-delivered consultation aimed at improving infant sleep and maternal well-being. Methods: A decision-analytic model was developed that compared the costs and benefits of an infant sleep consultation with usual care. The effectiveness of the consultation was based on clinical evidence, and improvements in maternal quality of life were estimated by mapping the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores to published utility scores. Cost effectiveness was calculated as the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained (QALY). Results: The statistically significant improvements in mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores at 4- and 16-month follow-ups were used to estimate the benefit in terms of QALYs. The modeled results demonstrated that the infant sleep consultation is low-cost (A$436), more effective in terms of QALYs gained (0.017), and cost-effective. The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was A$ 4031/QALY gained. The main drivers of the model were the use of early parenting centers and nurse training costs. Conclusions: Community-based nurse-delivered infant sleep consultations aid infant sleep, improve maternal quality of life, and are cost-effective compared with usual care and lead to improvements in quality of life through a reduction in postnatal depression