a review of methodological design choices

Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.This systematic literature review aimed to provide an overview of the characteristics and methods used in studies applying the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) concept for infectious diseases within European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and the United Kingdom. Electronic databases and grey literature were searched for articles reporting the assessment of DALY and its components. We considered studies in which researchers performed DALY calculations using primary epidemiological data input sources. We screened 3,053 studies of which 2,948 were excluded and 105 studies met our inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 22 were multi-country and 83 were single-country studies, of which 46 were from the Netherlands. Food- and water-borne diseases were the most frequently studied infectious diseases. Between 2015 and 2022, the number of burden of infectious disease studies was 1.6 times higher compared to that published between 2000 and 2014. Almost all studies (97%) estimated DALYs based on the incidence- and pathogen-based approach and without social weighting functions; however, there was less methodological consensus with regards to the disability weights and life tables that were applied. The number of burden of infectious disease studies undertaken across Europe has increased over time. Development and use of guidelines will promote performing burden of infectious disease studies and facilitate comparability of the results.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

An improved biosensor for acetaldehyde determination using a bienzymatic strategy at poly(neutral red) modified carbon film electrodes

Improved biosensors for acetaldehyde determination have been developed using a bienzymatic strategy, based on a mediator-modified carbon film electrode and co-immobilisation of NADH oxidase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. Modification of the carbon film electrode with poly(neutral red) mediator resulted in a sensitive, low-cost and reliable NADH detector. Immobilisation of the enzymes was performed using encapsulation in a sol-gel matrix or cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The bienzymatic biosensors were characterized by studying the influence of pH, applied potential and co-factors. The sol-gel and glutaraldehyde biosensors showed a linear response up to 60 [mu]M and 100 [mu]M, respectively, with detection limits of 2.6 [mu]M and 3.3 [mu]M and sensitivities were 1.7 [mu]A mM-1 and 5.6 [mu]A mM-1. The optimised biosensors showed good stability and good selectivity and have been tested for application for the determination of acetaldehyde in natural samples such as wine.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TF4-4NBH223-4/1/df3a7ae65fbb5f9739654441b2c733e

Linking the heart and the brain: Neurodevelopmental disorders in patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

International audienceBACKGROUND:Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an uncommon inherited arrhythmia disorder characterized by adrenergically evoked ventricular arrhythmias. Mutations in the cardiac calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor gene (RYR2) are identified in the majority of patients with CPVT. RyR2 is also the major RyR isoform expressed in the brain.OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of intellectual disability (ID) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in RYR2-associated CPVT (CPVT1) and to study the characteristics of these patients.METHODS:We reviewed the medical records of all CPVT1 patients from 12 international centers and analyzed the characteristics of all CPVT1 patients with concomitant NDDs. We functionally characterized the mutations to assess their response to caffeine activation. We did not correct for potential confounders.RESULTS:Among 421 CPVT1 patients, we identified 34 patients with ID (8%; 95% confidence interval 6%-11%). Median age at diagnosis was 9.3 years (interquartile range 7.0-14.5). Parents for 24 of 34 patients were available for genetic testing, and 13 of 24 (54%) had a de novo mutation. Severity of ID ranged from mild to severe and was accompanied by other NDDs in 9 patients (26%). Functionally, the ID-associated mutations showed a markedly enhanced response of RyR2 to activation by caffeine. Seventeen patients (50%) also had supraventricular arrhythmias. During median follow-up of 8.4 years (interquartile range 1.8-12.4), 15 patients (45%) experienced an arrhythmic event despite adequate therapy.CONCLUSION:Our study indicates that ID is more prevalent among CPVT1 patients (8%) than in the general population (1%-3%). This subgroup of CPVT1 patients reveals a malignant cardiac phenotype with marked supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias

Burden of infectious disease studies in Europe and the United Kingdom: a review of methodological design choices

This systematic literature review aimed to provide an overview of the characteristics and methods used in studies applying the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) concept for infectious diseases within European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and the United Kingdom. Electronic databases and grey literature were searched for articles reporting the assessment of DALY and its components. We considered studies in which researchers performed DALY calculations using primary epidemiological data input sources. We screened 3,053 studies of which 2,948 were excluded and 105 studies met our inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 22 were multi-country and 83 were single-country studies, of which 46 were from the Netherlands. Food- and water-borne diseases were the most frequently studied infectious diseases. Between 2015 and 2022, the number of burden of infectious disease studies was 1.6 times higher compared to that published between 2000 and 2014. Almost all studies (97%) estimated DALYs based on the incidence- and pathogen-based approach and without social weighting functions; however, there was less methodological consensus with regards to the disability weights and life tables that were applied. The number of burden of infectious disease studies undertaken across Europe has increased over time. Development and use of guidelines will promote performing burden of infectious disease studies and facilitate comparability of the results