scholarly journals Systematic literature review of the impact and effectiveness of monovalent meningococcal C conjugated vaccines when used in routine immunization programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Myint Tin Tin Htar ◽  
Sally Jackson ◽  
Paul Balmer ◽  
Lidia Cristina Serra ◽  
Andrew Vyse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Routine Immunization ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Disease Evolution ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Monovalent meningococcal C conjugate vaccine (MCCV) was introduced into the routine immunization program in many countries in Europe and worldwide following the emergence of meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) in the late 1990s. This systematic literature review summarizes the immediate and long-term impact and effectiveness of the different MCCV vaccination schedules and strategies employed. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search for peer-reviewed, scientific publications in the databases of MEDLINE (via PubMed), LILACS, and SCIELO. We included studies from countries where MCCV have been introduced in routine vaccination programs and studies providing the impact and effectiveness of MCCV published between 1st January 2001 and 31st October 2017. Results Forty studies were included in the review; 30 studies reporting impact and 17 reporting effectiveness covering 9 countries (UK, Spain, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands). Following MCCV introduction, significant and immediate reduction of MenC incidence was consistently observed in vaccine eligible ages in all countries with high vaccine uptake. The reduction in non-vaccine eligible ages (especially population > 65 years) through herd protection was generally observed 3–4 years following introduction. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was mostly assessed through screening methods and ranged from 38 to 100%. The VE was generally highest during the first year after vaccination and waned over time. The VE was better maintained in countries employing catch-up campaigns in older children and adolescents, compared to routine infant only schedules. Conclusions MCCV were highly effective, showing a substantial and sustained decrease in MenC invasive meningococcal disease. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease is in constant transition, and some vaccination programs now include adolescents and higher valent vaccines due to the recent increase in cases caused by serogroups not covered by MCCV. Continuous monitoring of meningococcal disease is essential to understand disease evolution in the setting of different vaccination programs.

scholarly journals Identifying Gaps in the Investigation of the Vredefort Granophyre Dikes: A Systematic Literature Review

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 306
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Huber ◽  
Elizaveta Kovaleva
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Age Dating ◽  
Crater Floor ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
The Core ◽  
Mineral Components ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
The Impact

The Vredefort impact structure is among the oldest and largest impact structures preserved on Earth. An understanding of its key features can serve as a guide for learning about the development of basin-sized impact structures on Earth and other planetary bodies. One of these features is the so-called Vredefort granophyre dikes, which formed when molten material from the impact melt sheet was emplaced below the crater floor. The importance of these dikes has been recognized since the earliest studies of the Vredefort structure, nearly 100 years ago. The present study is a systematic literature review to determine the extent to which peer-reviewed scientific publications have generated unique data regarding the granophyre dikes and to investigate how scientific methods used to investigate the granophyre have changed over time. In total, 33 unique studies have been identified. Of those, more studies have been performed into the core-collar dikes than the core dikes. The majority of the studies have focused on field analyses, bulk geochemistry, and the studies of mineral components. The granophyre has long been recognized as a product of post-deformational processes and thus has been a target of age dating to constrain the minimum age of the impact event. In the last 25 years, studies of stable isotopes and shock deformation of minerals in lithic clasts within the dikes have taken place. A small number of geophysical studies relevant to the granophyre dikes have also been undertaken. Overall, there has been a relatively small number of studies on this important rock type, and the studies that have taken place tend to focus on two particular dikes. Several of the dikes have only been investigated by regional studies and have not been specifically targeted. The use of modern techniques has been lacking. More fieldwork, as well as geophysical, isotopic, microstructural studies, and application of novel techniques, are necessary for the granophyre dikes to be truly understood.

scholarly journals AB0602 IMPACT OF SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ON PAIN AND FUNCTION IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1337.2-1337
Author(s):  
T. W. Swinnen ◽  
M. Willems ◽  
I. Jonkers ◽  
F. P. Luyten ◽  
J. Vanrenterghem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Intervention Effects ◽  
Socioeconomic Outcomes ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Background:The personal and societal burden of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) urges the research community to identify factors that predict its onset and progression. A mechanistic understanding of disease is currently lacking but needed to develop targeted interventions. Traditionally, risk factors for KOA are termed ‘local’ to the joint or ‘systemic’ referring to whole-body systems. There are however clear indications in the scientific literature that contextual factors such as socioeconomic position merit further scientific scrutiny, in order to justify a more biopsychosocial view on risk factors in KOA.Objectives:The aims of this systematic literature review were to assess the inclusion of socioeconomic factors in KOA research and to identify the impact of socioeconomic factors on pain and function in KOA.Methods:Major bibliographic databases, namely Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane, were independently screened by two reviewers (plus one to resolve conflicts) to identify research articles dealing with socioeconomic factors in the KOA population without arthroplasty. Included studies had to quantify the relationship between socioeconomic factors and pain or function. Main exclusion criteria were: a qualitative design, subject age below 16 years and articles not written in English or Dutch. Methodological quality was assessed via the Cochrane risk of bias tools for randomized (ROB-II) and non-randomized intervention studies (ROBIN-I) and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for assessing the quality of non-randomised studies. Due to heterogeneity of studies with respect to outcomes assessed and analyses performed, no meta-analysis was performed.Results:Following de-duplication, 7639 articles were available for screening (120 conflicts resolved without a third reader). In 4112 articles, the KOA population was confirmed. 1906 (25%) were excluded because of knee arthroplasty and 1621 (21%) because of other issues related to the population definition. Socioeconomic factors could not be identified in 4058 (53%) papers and were adjusted for in 211 (3%) articles. In the remaining papers covering pain (n=110) and/or function (n=81), education (62%) and race (37%) were most frequently assessed as socioeconomic factors. A huge variety of mainly dichotomous or ordinal socioeconomic outcomes was found without further methodological justification nor sensitivity analysis to unravel the impact of selected categories. Although the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was the most popular instrument to assess pain and function, data pooling was not possible as socioeconomic factors estimates were part of multilevel models in most studies. Overall results showed that lower education and African American race were consistent predictors of pain and poor function, but those effects diminished or disappeared when psychological aspects (e.g. discrimination) or poverty estimates were taken into account. When function was assessed using self-reported outcomes, the impact of socioeconomic factors was more clear versus performance-based instruments. Quality of research was low to moderate and the moderating or mediating impact of socioeconomic factors on intervention effects in KOA is understudied.Conclusion:Research on contextual socioeconomic factors in KOA is insufficiently addressed and their assessment is highly variable methodologically. Following this systematic literature review, we can highlight the importance of implementing a standardised and feasible set of socioeconomic outcomes in KOA trials1, as well as the importance of public availability of research databases including these factors. Future research should prioritise the underlying mechanisms in the effect of especially education and race on pain and function and assess its impact on intervention effects to fuel novel (non-)pharmacological approaches in KOA.References:[1]Smith TO et al. The OMERACT-OARSI Core Domain Set for Measurement in Clinical Trials of Hip and/or Knee Osteoarthritis J Rheumatol 2019. 46:981–9.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

scholarly journals Sustainability of Biosimilars in Europe: A Delphi Panel Consensus with Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 400
Author(s):  
Arnold G. Vulto ◽  
Jackie Vanderpuye-Orgle ◽  
Martin van der Graaff ◽  
Steven R. A. Simoens ◽  
Lorenzo Dagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Modified Delphi ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Supply Risks ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Biosimilars have the potential to enhance the sustainability of evolving health care systems. A sustainable biosimilars market requires all stakeholders to balance competition and supply chain security. However, there is significant variation in the policies for pricing, procurement, and use of biosimilars in the European Union. A modified Delphi process was conducted to achieve expert consensus on biosimilar market sustainability in Europe. Methods: The priorities of 11 stakeholders were explored in three stages: a brainstorming stage supported by a systematic literature review (SLR) and key materials identified by the participants; development and review of statements derived during brainstorming; and a facilitated roundtable discussion. Results: Participants argued that a sustainable biosimilar market must deliver tangible and transparent benefits to the health care system, while meeting the needs of all stakeholders. Key drivers of biosimilar market sustainability included: (i) competition is more effective than regulation; (ii) there should be incentives to ensure industry investment in biosimilar development and innovation; (iii) procurement processes must avoid monopolies and minimize market disruption; and (iv) principles for procurement should be defined by all stakeholders. However, findings from the SLR were limited, with significant gaps on the impact of different tender models on supply risks, savings, and sustainability. Conclusions: A sustainable biosimilar market means that all stakeholders benefit from appropriate and reliable access to biological therapies. Failure to care for biosimilar market sustainability may impoverish biosimilar development and offerings, eventually leading to increased cost for health care systems and patients, with fewer resources for innovation.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE METHODS IN IMPACT STUDIES

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 123-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL LORZ ◽  
SUSAN MUELLER ◽  
THIERRY VOLERY
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Impact Studies ◽  
Entrepreneurial Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

The majority of studies that analyze the impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial attitudes, intentions, and venture activities report positive influences. However, several scholars have recently cast doubts about research methods and the generalizability of entrepreneurship education impact studies. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review of the methods used in entrepreneurship education impact studies. Our results uncover significant methodological deficiencies and question the overwhelmingly positive impact of entrepreneurship education. Based on this evidence, we propose a series of recommendations to improve the reliability and validity of entrepreneurship education impact studies and we outline promising topics which are currently under-researched.

A systematic review of e-tail product returns and an agenda for future research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamrul Ahsan ◽  
Shams Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Product Returns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People Skills ◽  
New Research ◽  
Returns Management ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study conducts a systematic literature review of e-tail product returns research. E-tail product returns are essentially acquisition of products that have been sold through purely online or brick-and-click channels and then returned by consumer to business.Design/methodology/approachUsing a systematic literature review protocol, we identified 75 peer-reviewed articles on e-tail product returns, conducted bibliometric analysis and content analysis of the articles and summarised our findings.FindingsThe findings reveal that the subject of e-tail returns is a new research area; academics have started to investigate several aspects of e-tail returns through different research methodologies and theoretical foundations. Further research is required in leading e-commerce countries and on key areas such as omni-channel returns management, customer satisfaction and service, the impact of resources such as people skills, the benefits of technology and IT systems in managing e-tail returns.Practical implicationsThe study offers a summative account of current e-tail knowledge areas, which can serve as a reference guide for e-tailers to develop strategies for more efficient and competitive product returns.Originality/valueThis study contributes theoretically by developing clusters of key themes or knowledge areas about e-tail returns. It also provides a conceptual framework for e-tail returns management, which can be used as a springboard for further empirical research.

THE DIFFERENT SCREENING METHODS FOR THE CERVICAL LESION DIAGNOSTIC AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF SCREENING AMONG FEMALE POPULATION

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Codrin Gheorge ◽  
Verginica Schröder ◽  
Ramona Stoicescu ◽  
Irina Dumitru
Keyword(s):  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Cervix Uteri ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Cellular Diagnostics ◽  
Budgetary Level ◽  
The Impact

"The study aims to compare different screening methods that are currently being used to confirm a cervical intraepithelial lesion (CIN) underlying the inherent advantages of the varied examination procedures. In this study we are looking at the quality contrast of the different paraclinical examinations relative to the cost, invasiveness and cultural acceptance of such procedures. Every year, more than 100,000 women in EU countries are diagnosed with cervix uteri cancers (CCU). This type of cancer can be prevented if precancerous cells are detected and treated. HPV is found in over 90% of cervix uteri cancers. In Europe, more than half of the countries have implemented screening programs for cervical cancer, and most European countries now have national HPV vaccination programs, however target populations vary depending on the epidemiological evidence and the budgetary level of each countries health system. In this study we evaluated and compared the current and modern techniques used for cervix cellular diagnostics. Also, this study helps improve the understanding on the economic and social implications of screening among female population and the impact it has on healthcare system relieving. Romania recorded an incidence of 22.6 cases of cervix uteri cancers / 100.000 women (age standardized rate), and a mortality of 9.6 / 100.000, ranking second highest in the EU zone."

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document