ABSTRACT
Antecedentes La colaboración entre investigadores tiene una gran importancia, pues permite compartir conocimiento, garantiza la mejora de los métodos empleados y de los resultados obtenidos y, en definitiva, consolida el quehacer científico. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar las redes de colaboración en drogodependencias entre países latinoamericanos y de la Unión Europea, aplicando metodologías procedentes de la bibliometría y del análisis de redes sociales. Métodos Las bases de datos consultadas fueron Science Citation Index Expanded y Social Sciences Citation Index de la ISI Web of Science (WOS). Se utilizaron ecuaciones de búsqueda específicas en drogodependencias basadas en estudios previos. Los resultados de las búsquedas se depuraron con la exclusión de artículos correspondientes a categorías WOS que no eran propiamente sanitarias, así como los que no abordaban directamente aspectos biopsicosociales de drogodependencias. Se identificaron 228 artículos colaborativos durante la década 2001 y 2010. Resultados El país europeo con mayor cantidad de artículos de colaboración fue España (n=69) y Brasil el latinoamericano (n=73). Estados Unidos tuvo un papel muy activo en las redes de colaboración, participando en 85 artículos. La institución y el autor más productivo correspondieron a México. La colaboración entre América Latina y la Unión Europa se ha incrementado desde 2001 (n=4) a 2010 (n=50). El análisis mostró que la colaboración fue mayor entre España y Brasil (n=27), así como entre España y Colombia (n=23). Conclusiones En la última década se ha observado un incremento significativo de la colaboración científica entre los países latinoamericanos y europeos en drogodependencias, entre los que sobresalen Brasil y México, por un lado, y España e Italia por el otro. Destaca el papel de liderazgo de los Estados Unidos en las redes internacionales de investigación identificadas, ocupando un papel de intermediación en la colaboración entre diferentes países y continentes.
Background The importance of collaboration among research groups in the drug abuse field has been increasingly reinforced. These collaborations consolidate the scientific activity and guarantee the improvement of methods and outcomes. This study aims at analyzing the collaboration networks on drug abuse between Latin American and European countries by means of applying bibliometric methods and collaboration networks analysis. Methods The search was conducted through the Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index from ISI Web of Science data base. A total of 228 articles were found by using a specific drug abuse search strategy during the period 2001-2010. Articles belonging to WOS categories non-related to health sciences were excluded. Results The European country with the higher amount of collaborative articles was Spain (n=69) and Brazil was the Latin American country (n=73). United States of America had an active role in the collaboration networks (n=85). The most productive institution and author were from Mexico. The collaborative work between Latin America and Europe has increased from 2001 (n=4) to 2010 (n=50). The collaboration networks analysis showed that Spain and Brazil (n=27) as well as Spain and Colombia (n=23) were the countries with the highest joint production. Conclusions The last decade has seen a significant increase in the scientific collaboration between Latin American and European in drug addiction studies, where Brazil and Mexico stand out in Latin American countries, as well as Spain and Italy in Europe. The role of the United States leadership in international research networks is emphazided and identified, occupying an intermediary role in the collaboration between different countries and continents.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The increase in meningococcal disease caused by serogroup C in the Autonomous Community of Valencia during the 1996-1997 period gave rise to an A + C meningococcal vaccination campaign having been conducted targeting the population ranging from 18 months to 19 years of age. The purpose of this study is that of analyzing the impact of this campaign regarding the epidemiology, clinical aspects and evolution of meningococcal disease and the vaccination status of the youth population for the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of this vaccination. METHODS: The data was taken from the clinical records of the children under 15 years of age who showed clinical signs and symptoms suggesting an invasive disease with isolation of Neisseria meningitidis and/or which meet the established case definition criteria which had been treated at all of the public hospital in the Autonomous Community of Valencia within the 1996-2000 period. The trend of incidence was evaluated by means of incidence rates. The clinical aspects and their progress (sequelae and lethality) by frequency and distribution by serogroup and age. The vaccination efficacy was calculated using the Orestein equation. RESULTS: A total of 302 cases of invasive disease caused by N. Meningitidis were recorded. The rate of incidence by serogroup C in children under age 15 dropped following the vaccination campaign from 5.82/10(5) habitants in 1997 to 1.68/10(5) habitants in 1998. Rates similar to those prior to the time prior to the vaccination recorded three years subsequent to the campaign, showing an increase in the disease caused by serogroup B over the last 2 years. Sixty-one percent of the sequelae were among children under 5 years of age. Lethality was higher for serogroup C. Vaccination efficacy three years subsequent to the campaign was 83.7% for the 5-14 age range and 69.1% for the 19 month-4 year age range. CONCLUSION: The polysaccharide vaccine was shown to be effective for halting the outbreak. The drop in the incidence of serogroup C can be attributed to the vaccination efficacy achieved.
Subject(s)
Brain/microbiology , Meningitis, Meningococcal/epidemiology , Meningitis, Meningococcal/microbiology , Adolescent , Catchment Area, Health , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Meningitis, Meningococcal/prevention & control , Meningococcal Vaccines/therapeutic use , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The introduction of a conjugate type b Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) vaccine for children has led to a sharp drop in the incidence of H. influenzae disease. The purpose of this study is that of analyzing the major characteristics of invasive disease due to H. influenzae as regards epidemiology, clinical aspects, evolution and immunization status among the infantile population of the Autonomous Community of Valencia for the 1996-2000 period. METHOD: The data was taken from the clinical records of those children under age 15, who have shown clinical signs and symptoms indicative of invasive disease entailing isolation of Haemophilus influenzae and/or meeting the established case definition requirements, who were treated at all of the public hospitals in the Autonomous Community of Valencia throughout the 1996-2000 period. The trend of incidence was assessed by mean of incidence rates. The clinical pattern and the evolution there of (sequelae and life-threatening aspects) by frequency and age range. RESULTS: A total of 36 cases of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae were recorded. The incidence rate among children under age 15 dropped from 3.56/10(5) in 1996 to 1.07/10(5) in 1997 (coinciding with the immunization campaign and the subsequent including of the conjugate Hib vaccine in the Routine Vaccination Schedule of the Autonomous Community of Valencia) and 0.30/10(5) in 1998, this being a situation which has continued over the following years. Fifty-three percent (53%) of the cases occur in children under age 18 months. Both the sequelae as well as the deaths occurred throughout the period prior to the routine use of the conjugate vaccine. No child properly immunized died. Two cases of non-b type H. influenzae occurred in immunized children. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infection due to type b Haemophilus influenzae dropped drastically as of the start of the routine immunization of the infantile population.
