Monthly Archives: November 2010

Protective Efficacy of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination. Part 2

Randomization. Randomization lists were prepared by a biostatistician (B.J.C.). Eligible study participants were randomly allocated to the TIV group or placebo group in the ratio 3:2 using a random number generator (R software). A block‐randomization sequence was generated with randomly permuted block sizes of 5, 10, and 15. More households were allocated to the TIV […]

Protective Efficacy of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

Serum specimens were collected from study subjects at baseline immediately before vaccination (November–December 2008), 1 month after vaccination, after the winter influenza season (“mid‐season”; April 2009) and at the end of the follow‐up period (August–October 2009). Serum specimens were also collected from all household contacts at baseline, at mid‐season, and post‐season. All subjects and household […]

Protective Efficacy of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) is effective in preventing infection and illness associated with influenza A and B viruses in children during seasons when the vaccine components closely match circulating strains. On the basis of evidence from ecological studies, intervention trials, and simulation models, some health authorities have recommended vaccination of school‐age children against seasonal […]

How Did the 2008–2009 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Affect the Pandemic? Part 2

Canadian investigators published the results of 4 observational studies in April 2010 that purported to show an association between the 2008 TIV and nH1N1 illness. The 4 studies were a test‐negative case‐control study based on the Canadian sentinel vaccine effectiveness monitoring system in 4 provinces, a conventional case‐control design in Quebec that used population control […]

How Did the 2008–2009 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Affect the Pandemic?

A novel influenza A(H1N1) virus appeared in Mexico in March 2009. The prototype strain, A/California/09/2009(H1N1), was identified in April 2009, and the virus was found to have surface antigens that are distinct from those of the circulating seasonal influenza A(H1N1) virus. An early survey of antibody prevalence suggested that many persons 60 years of age […]

Use of High‐Dose, Twice‐Yearly Albendazole and Ivermectin to Suppress Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilarial Levels. Part 5

Ivermectin and albendazole are broad‐spectrum anthelmintics that have been shown to decrease the prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminth infections in the setting of mass distribution programs for lymphatic filariasis, providing additional benefit to treated communities. In contrast, the effect of standard‐dose annual ivermectin and albendazole on M. perstans infection has been unimpressive. In the […]

Use of High‐Dose, Twice‐Yearly Albendazole and Ivermectin to Suppress Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilarial Levels. Part 4

Although no patients had test results negative for W. bancrofti circulating antigen by 24 months, circulating antigen levels decreased in both groups over time. Median percentages of pretreatment levels at 12, 18, and 24 months were 21%, 97%, and 28% in the twice‐yearly treatment group, compared with 23%, 60%, and 31% in the annual treatment […]

Use of High‐Dose, Twice‐Yearly Albendazole and Ivermectin to Suppress Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilarial Levels. Part 3

Study population. Patients were recruited and screened in April 2007 and began treatment in July 2007. On the basis of the screening results, 51 eligible patients were identified and randomized to receive standard, annual therapy or high‐dose, twice‐yearly therapy. Seven patients (3 in the annual group and 4 in the twice‐yearly group) declined to participate […]

Use of High‐Dose, Twice‐Yearly Albendazole and Ivermectin to Suppress Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilarial Levels. Part 2

Nonpregnant volunteers of both sexes, 14–65 years of age, were screened with a brief medical history and physical examination and venipuncture between 10 pm and 2 am for detection of W. bancrofti microfilariae by calibrated thick smear of 60 μL of blood, assessment of W. bancrofti circulating antigen levels by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (TropBio), and […]

Use of High‐Dose, Twice‐Yearly Albendazole and Ivermectin to Suppress Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilarial Levels. Part 1

More than 120 million people in approximately 80 countries are infected with the mosquito‐transmitted filarial nematodes, Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia species. Furthermore, it is estimated that >40 million people have chronic, disabling disease manifestations, including lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis. Despite successful elimination programs in some countries, transmission of lymphatic filariasis remains a problem in many […]