Monitoring infectious agents in L.vannamei farms in choebdeh-Abadan

The introduction of L. vannamei to Iran from Hawaii was initiated when high mortality occurred in shrimp farms of Abadan in 2002 than in Bushehr during summer of 2004. Inspection of L. vannamei for infectious agents (Bacteria , virus , fungi and parasite ) , determine total plate count and total vibrio in Bahmanshir Rivers, shrimps and farms water , examination physicochemical factors of farms water , Identification of carriers of wssv in wild shrimp and crabs , the main objectives of this study , which was held in 2007 . 540 shrimp samples (pl12 pl15) and subadults were collected from different shrimp farms in khouzestan province and then check for identity bacteria, fungi and parasite. Also 280 samples of L. vannamei , wild shrimps ( Metapenaeus af inis , Exopalaemon styliferus ) and crabs (Grapsus sp .and Sesarma sp. ) were Collected from Bahmanshir river for virology studies by PCR procedure (Iq2000 kit WSSV , IHHNV , TSV ) . 120 samples of L. vannamei for histopathology had been collected randomly and preserved in Davidson’s fixation and then transferred to 75% ethyl alcohol for storage. (Hepatopancreas gills). Physicochemical parameters of water in culture ponds comprising of pH DO, BOD, NO_3, NO_2, salinity. Total. Hardness and NH3 were measured all over culture period for 340 times. Finally it has been detected 10 genus and species of bacteria consisting of V . alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. proteolyticus , plesiomonas shigelloides ; 6 genus and species of fungi specially Aspergilus niger , Asp.fumigatus and Asp.flavus and two genus of parasites vorticella sp. And Zoothamnium sp. were isolated. Crab (Sesarma sp.) were tested by using Iq2000 diagnostic kit for WSSV that positive for WSSV. There was a positive result (three viruses TSV, IHHNV and WSSV) for postlarvae and subadults of L.vannamei by using Iq2000 kit and IFRO kit (Internal kit). Histopathological studies have shown inclusion bodies of TSV, WSSV, IHHNV, MBV and HPV in various tissues. Results demonstrated the mean of vibrio count (0. 01×103 - 1.96 ×103) and tolal plate count (0 .21 ×103 - 14.25 ×10 3). physicochemical parameters of water were measured as follows : salinity (12.3 22.5 ppt ).BOD5 ( 1.98 10.21 ppm ) , DO (3.17 11.25 ppm ) , NH3(0.02 3.45 ppm ) and temperature (20 31. 5 c) . Keywords: L.vannamei, bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite Histo pathology - physicochemical parameters of water- Abadan khouzestan province

Designing and establishment of ISO/IEC 17025 in laboratories of national inland water aquaculture center and south Iran aquaculture research center

The project was carried out between June of 2011 and November of 2012,8 laboratories of research center in Anzali (Plankton, Algae, Hydrochemistry, Physiology, Ichthyology, Bentose, Parazitology, Virology) and 7 laboratories of research center in Ahvaz (Clinical pathology, Plankton, Hydrochemistry, Physiology, Ichthyology, Bentose, Parazitology, Virology) were selected for accreditation. The main stages for establishment of the system consisted of: 1-Conducting a gap analysis to compare the present state of the laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 2-Training General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories Validation of methods Estimation of uncertainty Internal audits 3- Performing of technical and management requirements 4-Submit of quality manual to ASCB center in England in order to accredit In August of 2012 The main results were including: 1-Increase the accuracy of measurement in laboratories 2-Improvement of the Repeatability and Reproducibility of the test methods 3-Traceability and standardization of test methods 4- Calibration of measurement instruments 6- Updating of test methods 7-Standardization of physical condition of the laboratories 8- Getting the certification from ASCB center i

Use of Value of Information in Healthcare Decision Making: Exploring Multiple Perspectives

Contains fulltext : 167277.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Value of information (VOI) is a tool that can be used to inform decisions concerning additional research in healthcare. VOI estimates the value of obtaining additional information and indicates the optimal design for additional research. Although it is recognized as good practice in handling uncertainty, it is still hardly used in decision making in the Netherlands. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to examine the potential value of VOI, barriers and facilitators and the way forward with the use of VOI in the decision-making process for reimbursement of pharmaceuticals in the Netherlands. METHODS: Three focus group interviews were conducted with researchers, policy makers, and representatives of pharmaceutical companies. RESULTS: The results revealed that although all stakeholders recognize the relevance of VOI, it is hardly used and many barriers to the performance and use of VOI were identified. One of these barriers is that not all uncertainties are easily incorporated in VOI, and the results may be biased if structural uncertainties are ignored. Furthermore, not all research designs indicated by VOI may be feasible in practice. CONCLUSIONS: To fully embed VOI into current decision-making processes, a threshold incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and guidelines that clarify when and how VOI should be performed are needed. In addition, it should be clear to all stakeholders how the results of VOI are used in decision making

Value of Information Analysis from a Societal Perspective: A Case Study in Prevention of Major Depression

Objectives: Productivity losses usually have a considerable impact on cost-effectiveness estimates while their estimated values are often relatively uncertain. Therefore, parameters related to these indirect costs play a role in setting priorities for future research from a societal perspective. Until now, however, value of information analyses have usually applied a health care perspective for economic evaluations. Hence, the effect of productivity losses has rarely been investigated in such analyses. The aim of the current study therefore was to investigate the effects of including or excluding productivity costs in value of information analyses. Methods: Expected value of information analysis (EVPI) was performed in cost-effectiveness evaluation of prevention from both societal and health care perspectives, to give us the opportunity to compare different perspectives. Priorities for future research were determined by partial EVPI. The program to prevent major depression in patients with subthreshold depression was opportunistic screening followed by minimal contact psychotherapy. Results: The EVPI indicated that regardless of perspective, further research is potentially worthwhile. Partial EVPI results underlined the importance of productivity losses when a societal perspective was considered. Furthermore, priority setting for future research differed according to perspective. Conclusions: The results illustrated that advise for future research will differ for a health care versus a societal perspective and hence the value of information analysis should be adjusted to the perspective that is relevant for the decision makers involved. The outcomes underlined the need for carefully choosing the suitable perspective for the decision problem at hand

Evaluation of patient registries supporting reimbursement decisions: The case of oxaliplatin for treatment of stage III colon cancer

__Abstract__ Background Access with evidence development has been established for expensive intramural drugs in The Netherlands. The procedure involves a 4-year period of conditional reimbursement. During this period, additional evidence has to be gathered usually through a patient registry. Given the costs and time involved in gathering the data, it is important to carefully evaluate the registry. Objectives This study aimed to develop a model for the regular evaluation of patient registries during an access with evidence development process and find the optimal length of the registry period. Methods We used data from a recent registry in The Netherlands on oxaliplatin as a treatment option for stage III colon cancer. We added simulated follow-up data to the empirical data available and applied value of information analysis to balance the gains of extending the period and amount of data gathering against the costs of registering patients. Results We show that given the assumptions on cohort size, follow-up time, and purpose of the registry, the current (partly simulated) registry was not very efficient. Notably, the observation period could have been stopped to make a definite reimbursement decision after a maximum of 2 years rather than the fixed 4-year period. Conclusions Patient registries may be an efficient way to gather data on new medical treatments, but they need to be carefully designed and evaluated, in particular regarding their follow-up time. For each purpose, data gathering can be tailored to make sure decisions are taken at the moment that sufficient data are available

Training Mahalanobis Kernels by Linear Programming

Contains fulltext : 167277.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Value of information (VOI) is a tool that can be used to inform decisions concerning additional research in healthcare. VOI estimates the value of obtaining additional information and indicates the optimal design for additional research. Although it is recognized as good practice in handling uncertainty, it is still hardly used in decision making in the Netherlands. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to examine the potential value of VOI, barriers and facilitators and the way forward with the use of VOI in the decision-making process for reimbursement of pharmaceuticals in the Netherlands. METHODS: Three focus group interviews were conducted with researchers, policy makers, and representatives of pharmaceutical companies. RESULTS: The results revealed that although all stakeholders recognize the relevance of VOI, it is hardly used and many barriers to the performance and use of VOI were identified. One of these barriers is that not all uncertainties are easily incorporated in VOI, and the results may be biased if structural uncertainties are ignored. Furthermore, not all research designs indicated by VOI may be feasible in practice. CONCLUSIONS: To fully embed VOI into current decision-making processes, a threshold incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and guidelines that clarify when and how VOI should be performed are needed. In addition, it should be clear to all stakeholders how the results of VOI are used in decision making