Assessment of varicella vaccine effectiveness in Germany: a time-series approach

A multivariate time-series regression model was developed in order to describe the 2005-2008 age-specific time-course of varicella sentinel surveillance data following the introduction of a varicella childhood vaccination programme in Germany. This ecological approach allows the assessment of vaccine effectiveness under field conditions by relating vaccine coverage in cohorts of 24-month-old children to the mean number of cases per reporting unit in the sentinel network. For the 1-2 years age group, which is directly affected by the vaccination programme, a one-dose vaccine effectiveness of 83·2% (95% CI 80·2-85·7) was estimated which corresponds to previous approaches assessing varicella vaccine effectiveness in the field in the US

Communication

The geometry of reaction compartments can affect the local outcome of interface-restricted reactions. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are commonly used to generate cell-sized, membrane-bound reaction compartments, which are, however, always spherical. Herein, we report the development of a microfluidic chip to trap and reversibly deform GUVs into cigar-like shapes. When trapping and elongating GUVs that contain the primary protein of the bacterial Z ring, FtsZ, we find that membrane-bound FtsZ filaments align preferentially with the short GUV axis. When GUVs are released from this confinement and membrane tension is relaxed, FtsZ reorganizes reversibly from filaments into dynamic rings that stabilize membrane protrusions; a process that allows reversible GUV deformation. We conclude that microfluidic traps are useful for manipulating both geometry and tension of GUVs, and for investigating how both affect the outcome of spatially-sensitive reactions inside them, such as that of protein self-organization.We acknowledge the MPIB Biochemistry Core Facility for assistance in protein purification

Quantitative motor assessment of muscular weakness in myasthenia gravis: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Muscular weakness in myasthenia gravis (MG) is commonly assessed using Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score (QMG). More objective and quantitative measures may complement the use of clinical scales and might detect subclinical affection of muscles. We hypothesized that muscular weakness in patients with MG can be quantified with the non-invasive Quantitative Motor (Q-Motor) test for Grip Force Assessment (QGFA) and Involuntary Movement Assessment (QIMA) and that pathological findings correlate with disease severity as measured by QMG. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional pilot study investigating patients with confirmed diagnosis of MG. Data was compared to healthy controls (HC). Subjects were asked to lift a device (250 and 500 g) equipped with electromagnetic sensors that measured grip force (GF) and three-dimensional changes in position and orientation. These were used to calculate the position index (PI) and orientation index (OI) as measures for involuntary movements due to muscular weakness. RESULTS: Overall, 40 MG patients and 23 HC were included. PI and OI were significantly higher in MG patients for both weights in the dominant and non-dominant hand. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with clinically ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) also showed significantly higher values for PI and OI in both hands and for both weights. Disease severity correlates with QIMA performance in the non-dominant hand. CONCLUSION: Q-Motor tests and particularly QIMA may be useful objective tools for measuring motor impairment in MG and seem to detect subclinical generalized motor signs in patients with OMG. Q-Motor parameters might serve as sensitive endpoints for clinical trials in MG

Varicella vaccination coverage of children under two years of age in Germany

Background: Since July 2004, routine varicella vaccination is recommended by the German Standing Vaccination Committee in Germany. Health Insurance Funds started to cover vaccination costs at different time points between 2004 and 2006 in the Federal States. Nationwide representative data on vaccination coverage against varicella of children under two years of age are not available. We aimed to determine varicella vaccination coverage in statutory health insured children under two years of age in twelve German Federal States using data from associations of statutory health insurance physicians (ASHIPs), in order to investigate the acceptance of the recommended routine varicella vaccination programme. Methods: We analysed data on varicella vaccination from 13 of 17 ASHIPs of the years 2004 to 2007. The study population consisted of all statutory health insured children under two years of age born in 2004 (cohort 2004) or 2005 (cohort 2005) in one of the studied regions. Vaccination coverage was determined by the number of children vaccinated under 2 years of age within the study population. Results: Varicella vaccination coverage of children under two years of age with either one dose of the monovalent varicella vaccine or two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine increased from 34% (cohort 2004) to 51% (cohort 2005) in the studied regions (p < 0.001). More than half of the vaccinated children of cohort 2004 and two third of cohort 2005 were immunised at the recommended age 11 to 14 months. The level of vaccination coverage of cohort 2004 was significantly associated with the delay in introduction of cost coverage since the recommendation of varicella vaccination (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study shows increasing varicella vaccination coverage of young children, indicating a growing acceptance of the routine varicella vaccination programme by the parents and physicians. We recommend further monitoring of vaccination coverage using data from ASHIPs to investigate acceptance of the routine vaccination programmes over time

Разработка и внедрение системы мотивации персонала на основе ключевых критериев результатив-ности

Выпускная квалификационная работа содержит 119 с., 1 рис., 17 табл., 46 источников, 6 приложений. Ключевые слова: мотивация, система мотивации персонала, ключевые критерии/показатели результативности, мотивация на основе ключевых показателей результативности, управление персоналом, управление результативностью. Объектом исследования выпускной квалификационной работы является система менеджмента качества ООО «Томскводоканал». Целью данной работы является разработка и внедрение системы мотивации персонала на основе ключевых критериев результативности на предприятии ООО «Томскводоканал». В результате исследования будут разработаны ключевые показатели результативности и методика расчета по вычислению премии за достижение каждого показателя сотрудниками организации.Final qualifying work contains 119 p., 1 fig., 17 tab., 46 sources, 6 applications. Keywords: motivation, motivation system, key performance indicators, motivation based on key performance indicators, personnel management, performance management. The object of study of final qualifying work is the quality management system "Tomskvodokanal". The aim of this work is the development and implementation of personnel motivation system based on key performance indicators of the company "Tomskvodokanal". The study will develop key performance indicators and the method of calculation for the calculation of premiums for the achievement of each indicator in the organization

Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Relationships Between Skinfold Thicknesses Obtained by Ultrasonography and Body Fat Estimates Produced by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Ultrasonography (US) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are frequently used to assess body composition. Although sometimes compared cross-sectionally, their agreement longitudinally requires further exploration. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between total and segmental raw skinfold thicknesses obtained by US and total and segmental body composition estimates produced by DXA over the course of an overfeeding study. Methods: Twenty healthy, resistance-trained males (mean ± SD; age: 22.0 ± 2.6 years; height: 179.1 ± 7.0 cm; body mass: 74.8 ± 11.5 kg, body fat: 17.5 ± 4.5%) completed a 6-week intervention that included 3 weekly sessions of supervised resistance training (RT) and the consumption of a hypercaloric diet. Before and after the 6-week intervention, body composition was assessed using DXA and B-mode US on seven measurement locations specified by Jackson and Pollock. Relationships between DXA and US variables were examined using Pearson\u27s product-moment correlation (r) and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Additional validity metrics were also calculated. Results: Cross-sectionally, correlations were observed between whole body DXA fat mass (FM) and total subcutaneous tissue thickness (r = 0.88 [95% CI: 0.72, 0.95]). Longitudinally, a significant correlation was observed between total DXA FM changes and total subcutaneous thickness changes (r = 0.49, CCC = 0.38). Correlations of similar magnitudes were observed for the upper body and trunk. In contrast, DXA FM changes were unrelated to changes in subcutaneous tissue thicknesses for the lower body and arms. Cross-sectionally, 2-compartment (2C) FM estimates from US and DXA FM were correlated (r = 0.91, CCC = 0.83). However, the mean difference between these FM estimates was 2.2 ± 2.1 kg (mean ± SD), and the total error (TE) between DXA and US FM estimates was 2.97 kg. Longitudinally, a weaker correlation was observed than that cross-sectionally (r = 0.47, CCC = 0.33), and the TE between DXA and US FM changes was 1.80 kg. Conclusion: Results from this study showed generally good agreement between DXA and US cross-sectionally, but a much weaker relationship longitudinally. In addition, DXA FM changes were unrelated to changes in subcutaneous tissue thicknesses for the lower body and arms, indicating better agreement when examining the upper body as compared to the lower body. Future research with US or calipers should report raw skinfold thicknesses, and the differences between common body composition estimation techniques should be considered when examining longitudinal body fat changes