Durability of humoral immune responses to rubella following MMR vaccination

BackgroundWhile administration of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR-II®) vaccine has been effective at preventing rubella infection in the United States, the durability of humoral immunity to the rubella component of MMR vaccine has not been widely studied among older adolescents and adults.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, we sought to assess the durability of rubella virus (RV)-specific humoral immunity in a healthy population (n = 98) of adolescents and young adults at two timepoints: ~7 and ~17 years after two doses of MMR-II® vaccination. Levels of circulating antibodies specific to RV were measured by ELISA and an immune-colorimetric neutralization assay. RV-specific memory B cell responses were also measured by ELISpot.ResultsRubella-specific IgG antibody titers, neutralizing antibody titers, and memory B cell responses declined with increasing time since vaccination; however, these decreases were relatively moderate. Memory B cell responses exhibited a greater decline in men compared to women.ConclusionsCollectively, rubella-specific humoral immunity declines following vaccination, although subjects’ antibody titers remain well above the currently recognized threshold for protective immunity. Clinical correlates of protection based on neutralizing antibody titer and memory B cell ELISpot response should be defined.     

Balancing financial incentives during COVID-19: A comparison of provider payment adjustments across 20 countries

Provider payment mechanisms were adjusted in many countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Our objective was to review adjustments for hospitals and healthcare professionals across 20 countries.We developed an analytical framework distinguishing between payment adjustments compensating income loss and those covering extra costs related to COVID-19. Information was extracted from the Covid-19 Health System Response Monitor (HSRM) and classified according to the framework. We found that income loss was not a problem in countries where professionals were paid by salary or capitation and hospitals received global budgets. In countries where payment was based on activity, income loss was compensated through budgets and higher fees. New FFS payments were introduced to incentivize remote services. Payments for COVID-19 related costs included new fees for out- and inpatient services but also new PD and DRG tariffs for hospitals. Budgets covered the costs of adjusting wards, creating new (ICU) beds, and hiring staff.We conclude that public payers assumed most of the COVID-19-related financial risk. In view of future pandemics policymakers should work to increase resilience of payment systems by: (1) having systems in place to rapidly adjust payment systems; (2) being aware of the economic incentives created by these adjustments such as cost-containment or increasing the number of patients or services, that can result in unintended consequences such as risk selection or overprovision of care; and (3) periodically evaluating the effects of payment adjustments on access and quality of care.     

轨迹分析模型在流行病学研究中的应用

通过对60 名青少年4 次脂肪发育数据的分析, 介绍轨迹分析模型在流行病学研究中的应用。结果显示, 正常脂肪组、偏高脂肪组、超高脂肪组具有不同的发展趋势。轨迹分析模型在拟合异质性追踪数据方面具有较好的优势。     

国家及省级疾病预防控制机构学术影响力分析研究

运用h指数、ESI高被引论文、ESI热点论文等文献计量学指标分析Web of Science^TM上2007-2016年间中国疾病预防控制中心及省级疾病预防控制中心的论文,对比中国疾病预防控制中心、5个SCI论文量最多的省级疾病预防控制中心的学术影响力,提出发挥中国疾病预防控制中心的学术带头作用、各省级疾病预防控制中心在各自研究领域继续发挥所长等建议。     

协同办公平台设计与实现

分析协同办公平台应用现状与发展趋势,阐述中国疾病预防控制中心协同办公平台功能及架构设计,包括认证管理、权限管理、LDAP目录服务、工作流引擎、网络拓扑等方面,指出该平台有助于实现信息共享,充分利用各种资源提高工作效率和管理水平。     

登革热监测系统概念数据模型构建

介绍概念数据模型的内涵以及应用概念数据模型的优势,应用场景分析方法对我国登革热监测各项活动进行梳理,构建由实体类以及实体类关联关系组成的登革热监测概念数据模型,为疾病监测相关信息系统建立统一的业务概念。     

Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in Europe in 2008

Up-to-date statistics on cancer occurrence and outcome are essential for the planning and evaluation of programmes for cancer control. Since the relevant information for 2008 is not generally available as yet, we used statistical models to estimate incidence and mortality data for 25 cancers in 40 European countries (grouped and individually) in 2008. The calculations are based on published data. If not collected, national rates were estimated from national mortality data and incidence and mortality data provided by local cancer registries of the same or neighbouring country. The estimated 2008 rates were applied to the corresponding country population estimates for 2008 to obtain an estimate of the numbers of cancer cases and deaths in Europe in 2008.There were an estimated 3.2 million new cases of cancer and 1.7 million deaths from cancer in 2008. The most common cancers were colorectal cancers (436,000 cases, 13.6% of the total), breast cancer (421,000, 13.1%), lung cancer (391,000, 12.2%) and prostate cancer (382,000, 11.9%). The most common causes of death from cancer were lung cancer (342,000 deaths, 19.9% of the total), colorectal cancer (212,000 deaths, 12.3%), breast cancer (129,000, 7.5%) and stomach cancer (117,000, 6.8%).