Cost-effectiveness of interventions for increasing the possession of functioning smoke alarms in households with pre-school children: a modelling study

Background The UK has one of the highest rates for deaths from fire and flames in children aged 0-14 years compared to other high income countries. Evidence shows that smoke alarms can reduce the risk of fire-related injury but little exists on their cost-effectiveness. We aimed to compare the cost effectiveness of different interventions for the uptake of 'functioning' smoke alarms and consequently for the prevention of fire-related injuries in children in the UK. Methods We carried out a decision model-based probabilistic cost-effectiveness analysis. We used a hypothetical population of newborns and evaluated the impact of living in a household with or without a functioning smoke alarm during the first 5 years of their life on overall lifetime costs and quality of life from a public health perspective. We compared seven interventions, ranging from usual care to more complex interventions comprising of education, free/low cost equipment giveaway, equipment fitting and/or home safety inspection. Results Education and free/low cost equipment was the most cost-effective intervention with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of [pound sign]34,200 per QALY gained compared to usual care. This was reduced to approximately £4,500 per QALY gained when 1.8 children under the age of 5 were assumed per household. Conclusions Assessing cost-effectiveness, as well as effectiveness, is important in a public sector system operating under a fixed budget restraint. As highlighted in this study, the more effective interventions (in this case the more complex interventions) may not necessarily be the ones considered the most cost-effective

Neuroimmunomodulatory effect of highly toxic organophosphorus compound on the development of Trichinella spiralis infection.

The highly toxic organophosphorus compound (isopropylmethylphosphonofluoridate — IMPF) belonging to the group of the so called toxic of warfare agents can impair immune effector mechanisms determining the development of parasitic infection. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that IMPF delays elimination of adults Trichinella spiralis forms from the intestine of C57B1/6 mice and B6C3F1 hybrids. Besides, the studied compound modifies the proliferative activity of T-cells in the above mentioned mice and reduces the production of anti-SRBC antibodies in C57B1/6 strain. The mechanisms are discussed of the organophosphorus compound effect on neuroimmunological processes connected with antiparasitic immunity, paying attention also to the function of these processes by the parasitic infection itself, in host-parasite relationship. The probability is also considered of increased sensitivity to Leishmania infection in humans poisoned with IMPF and/or other organophosphorus compounds

Ocena wartości rzeźnej kurcząt z trzech materiałów genetycznych

The study was conducted to examine slaughter parameters of three genotypes of meat type chicken: F1 crossbred derived from crossing of light hen of indigenous breed Greenleg Partridge with heavy meat type cocks, F2 crossbred being an effect of re-crossing obtained crossbred C x GP with meat type males and medium growing Hubbard JA 957, designed for a longer, 9-week production. Chicken were reared till 63rd day of age. Examined parameters were: dressing percentage, breast and leg meat yield and fatness. F1 crossbred (C x GP) were characterized by rather low body weight, typical for slow growing chicken and good musculature, especially breast. Re-crossing with meat type cocks affected significant (P < 0.01) improvement of the slaughter parameters. F2 crossbred (C x (C x GP) reached high body weight, typical for medium growing chicken. In comparison with Hubbard JA 957 F2 crossbred had lower body weight, the same dressing percentage, better breast and worse leg musculature, and less abdominal fat. High breast meat percentage in carcass and less fatness suggested, that these chickens can be used in meat production, as a medium growing material designed for a longer fattening period (9 weeks).Ocena wartości rzeźnej kurcząt z trzech materiałów genetycznych. W badaniach porównano kurczęta z trzech grup genetycznych: mieszańce F1 powstałe ze skrzyżowania lekkich kur rasy Zielononóżka kuropatwiana z ciężkimi kogutami typu mięsnego, mieszańce F2, efekt powtórnego krzyżowania powstałego mieszańca Cobb x Zk z kogutami typu mięsnego oraz Hubbard JA 957, przeznaczone do dłuższego chowu (9 tygodni). Kurczęta odchowywano do wieku 63 dni. Oceniano wydajność rzeźną, umięśnienie i otłuszczenie tuszek. Mieszańce F1 (C x Zk) charakteryzowała dość mała masa ciała, typowa dla kurcząt wolno rosnących, oraz dobre umięśnienie, zwłaszcza piersi. Ponowne skrzyżowanie z kogutami typu mięsnego wpłynęło na istotną (P < 0,01) poprawę parametrów oceny poubojowej. Mieszańce F2 (C x (C x Zk)) uzyskały dużą masę ciała, typową dla kurcząt średniorosnących. W porównaniu do kurcząt Hubbard JA 957 mieszańce F2 miały małą masę ciała, taką samą wydajność rzeźną, lepsze umięśnienie piersi, gorsze nóg i mniejsze otłuszczenie. Duży udział mięśni piersiowych w tuszce oraz małe otłuszczenie wskazują na przydatność tych kurcząt w użytkowaniu mięsnym jako materiał średnio rosnący, przeznaczony do dłuższego, 9-tygodniowego chowu

Rozwoj infekcji bakteryjnej u myszy zarazonych Trichinella spiralis lub Trichinella pseudospiralis

The aim of this study was to estimate the development of P. aeruginosa infection in mice infected with T. spiralis or T. pseudospiralis. The investigations were carried out on the following strains of mice: C57B1, C3H and B6C3F1-. 20 days post parasitic infection P. aeruginosa were administrated by inhalation or by intraperitoneal injection. After 4 hrs development of infection in mice was evaluated (the number of bacteria in lung or in the liver tissue were counted by plating). It was found that the bacterial infection developed with the highest rate in C3H mice followed by C57B1/6, in comparison with control mice. In C3H mice infected with T. pseudospiralis, the number of bacteria was higher in lung and liver tissue, in comparison with those infected with T. spiralis. In B6C3F1 hybrid the infection rate was significantly lower after intraperitoneal administration in T. spiralis infected mice. In our experiments, the development of P. aeruginosa infection in mice with trichinellosis was dependent on the strain of mice and the routes of bacteria administration