Methods used in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Choosing an optimum set of child health interventions for maximum mortality impact is important within resource poor policy environments. The Lives Saved Tool (LiST) is a computer model that estimates the mortality and stillbirth impact of scaling up proven maternal and child health interventions. This paper will describe the methods used to estimate the impact of scaling up interventions on neonatal and child mortality.</p> <p>Model structure and assumptions</p> <p>LiST estimates mortality impact via five age bands 0 months, 1-5 months, 6-11 months, 12-23 months and 24 to 59 months. For each of these age bands reductions in cause specific mortality are estimated. Nutrition interventions can impact either nutritional statuses or directly impact mortality. In the former case, LiST acts as a cohort model where current nutritional statuses such as stunting impact the probability of stunting as the cohort ages. LiST links with a demographic projections model (DemProj) to estimate the deaths and deaths averted due to the reductions in mortality rates.</p> <p>Using LiST</p> <p>LiST can be downloaded at <url>http://www.jhsph.edu/dept/ih/IIP/list/</url> where simple instructions are available for installation. LiST includes default values for coverage and effectiveness for many less developed countries obtained from credible sources.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The development of LiST is a continuing process. Via technical inputs from the Child Health Epidemiological Group, effectiveness values are updated, interventions are adopted and new features added.</p

New genera and species of early Tertiary palynomorphs from Gulf Coast

16 p., 5 pl.http://paleo.ku.edu/contributions.htm

Resource requirements to fight HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVES: Economists and epidemiologists from 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reviewed the methods used to develop estimates for resource requirements to address HIV/AIDS prevention and care in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: They applied their country-specific knowledge to re-estimate the costs, coverage, and capacity of their health and education systems to expand HIV/AIDS interventions by 2005. A discrepancy of 173 million US dollars exists between the model estimates and those of country specialists. RESULTS: The most important difference between the model estimates and those of country specialists was in the estimated future price of highly active antiretroviral therapy. To a large extent, the estimates of the model reflect the efficiency gains that could result from purchasing arrangements that lead LAC countries to lower prices for antiretroviral drugs. CONCLUSION: This preliminary exercise with 10 LAC countries confirmed the validity of the use of these estimates as tools at the international level, given current data limitations, both to guide the allocation of resources across diseases and countries, and for advocacy and resource mobilization. In addition, with the country revisions, these estimates have also been shown to be key tools for country-level strategic planning

Educational Shortages in the Bookkeeping Courses of Study in the Indianapolis Public High Schools in 1942

The major purpose of this investigation is to make a limited but definite contribution to the task of revising the course of study in bookkeeping for the Indianapolis high schools

Classroom Societies and Common Markets: The Gem Fair

In-class societies such as the Mini-Society an

Use of In Vivo Complementation in \u3cem\u3eMycobacterium tuberculosis\u3c/em\u3e to Identify a Genomic Fragment Associated with Virulence

Novel molecular tools and genetic methods were developed to isolate genomic fragments of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that may be associated with virulence. We sought to restore virulence, a characteristic of M. tuberculosis that is correlated with growth rate in mouse spleen and lung tissue, to the avirulent strain H37Ra by complementation. A representative library of the virulent M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv was constructed and transformed into H37Ra. Enrichment for individual faster-growing recombinants was achieved by passage of pools of H37Ra transformants harboring the H37Rv library through mice. A molecular strategy was devised to isolate and clone the H37Rv genomic DNA fragment ivg, which conferred a more rapid in vivo growth rate to H37Ra

Pilot randomized trial of an electronic symptom monitoring and reporting intervention for hospitalized adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Purpose: Patients undergoing a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) have varied symptoms during their hospitalization. This study examined whether daily symptom reporting (with electronic patient-reported outcomes [PROs]) in an inpatient bone marrow transplant clinic reduced symptom burden on post-transplant days +7, +10, and +14. Methods: A prospective, single-institution1:1 pilot randomized, two-arm study recruited HCT patients. HCT inpatients (N=76) reported daily on 16 common symptoms using the PRO version of the Common Terminology for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). Fisher’s exact test was used to examine differences in the proportion of patients reporting individual symptoms. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to examine group differences in peak symptom burden, while controlling for symptom burden at baseline, age, comorbidity, and transplantation type (autologous or allogeneic). Results: HCT patients receiving the PRO intervention also experienced lower peak symptom burden (average of 16 symptoms) at days +7, +10, and +14 (10.4 vs 14.5, p =0.03). Conclusions: Daily use of electronic symptom reporting to nurses in an inpatient bone marrow transplant clinic reduced peak symptom burden and improved individual symptoms during the two weeks post-transplant. A multi-site site trial is warranted to demonstrate the generalizability, efficacy, and value of this intervention

Expression and function of Dlx genes in the osteoblast lineage

AbstractOur laboratory and others have shown that overexpression of Dlx5 stimulates osteoblast differentiation. Dlx5−/−/Dlx6−/− mice have more severe craniofacial and limb defects than Dlx5−/−, some of which are potentially due to defects in osteoblast maturation. We wished to investigate the degree to which other Dlx genes compensate for the lack of Dlx5, thus allowing normal development of the majority of skeletal elements in Dlx5−/− mice. Dlx gene expression in cells from different stages of the osteoblast lineage isolated by FACS sorting showed that Dlx2, Dlx5 and Dlx6 are expressed most strongly in less mature osteoblasts, whereas Dlx3 is very highly expressed in differentiated osteoblasts and osteocytes. In situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of endogenous Dlx3 mRNA within osteoblasts and osteocytes. Dlx3 strongly upregulates osteoblastic markers with a potency comparable to Dlx5. Cloned chick or mouse Dlx6 showed stimulatory effects on osteoblast differentiation. Our results suggest that Dlx2 and Dlx6 have the potential to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation and may compensate for the absence of Dlx5 to produce relatively normal osteoblastic differentiation in Dlx5 knockout mice, while Dlx3 may play a distinct role in late stage osteoblast differentiation and osteocyte function