Economic evaluations of interventions against influenza at workplaces: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The burden of influenza is mostly felt by employees and employers because of increased absenteeism rates, loss of productivity and associated direct costs. Even though interventions against influenza among working adults are effective, patronage and compliance to these measures especially vaccination are low compared to other risk groups. AIMS: This study was aimed to assess evidence of economic evaluations of interventions against influenza virus infection among workers or in the workplace setting. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guideline for systematic reviews was followed. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Science and EconLit, were searched using keywords to identify relevant articles from inception till 25 October 2020. Original peer-reviewed papers that conducted economic evaluations of influenza interventions using cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis methods focused on working-age adults or work settings were eligible for inclusion. Two independent teams of co-authors extracted and synthesized data from identified studies. RESULTS: Twenty-four articles were included: 21 were cost-benefit analyses and 3 examined cost-effectiveness analyses. Two papers also presented additional cost-utility analysis. Most of the studies were pharmaceutical interventions (n = 23) primarily focused on vaccination programs while one study was a non-pharmaceutical intervention examining the benefit of paid sick leave. All but two studies reported that interventions against influenza virus infection at the workplace were cost-saving and cost-effective regardless of the analytic approach. CONCLUSIONS: Further cost-effectiveness research in non-pharmaceutical interventions against influenza in workplace settings is warranted. There is a need to develop standardized methods for reporting economic evaluation methods to ensure comparability and applicability of future research findings.

High Frequency Oscillations in the Ripple Band (80-250 Hz) in Scalp EEG: Higher Density of Electrodes Allows for Better Localization of the Seizure Onset Zone.

High frequency oscillations (HFO) are known as markers of epileptic areas in intracranial EEG and possibly scalp EEG. We compared distributions of HFO in the ripple band (80-250 Hz) in intracranial and scalp EEG with either a conventional 10-20-montage (10-20-EEG) or a high density recording using 128 electrodes (HD-EEG). HFO were visually identified, in all intracranial EEG channels (80-500 Hz) and all channels of the 10-20-EEG (scalp EEG 80-250 Hz). For the HD-EEG, HFO were analyzed in regions of interest using areas with HFO as seen on the 10-20-EEG as well as areas in the clinically-defined seizure onset zone (SOZ). 13 patients were included in the study, of whom 12 showed HFO in the ripple band. In 8 patients HD-EEG revealed additional regions of ripples compared to the 10-20-EEG. With HD-EEG, areas of highest ripple rates were corresponding between scalp and intracranial EEG in 7 patients (58%) and 8 (67%) patients showed highest ripple rates over the SOZ. In contrast, with 10-20-EEG only 2 patients (17%) had corresponding areas of highest ripple rates and only 3 patients (23%) showed highest ripple rates over the SOZ. HD-EEG proved to be better to identify scalp HFO in the ripple band compared to standard 10-20-EEG. Moreover, ripples in 10-20-EEG seem to lead to false localization of epileptic areas. In contrast ripples detected with HD-EEG were located over the seizure onset zone and maybe a promising tool to localize epileptic tissue in the future.

[Procedures for on-line minimizing of eyelid and vertical eye movement artefacts in the EEG]. / Verfahren zur on-line-Minimierung von Lidschlag- und vertikalen Augenbewegungsartefakten im EEG.

The analysis of electroencephalograms and event-related potentials may be difficult by the presence of eyelid and eye movement artifacts. In this paper a method is described, which allows a relatively simple on-line correction of vertical ocular activity, measurable by electro-oculogram, in several EEG channels. Eyelid and eye movement artifacts are being manifest in a different extension at a different EEG recording position. Using the electrooculogram, with the aid of a simple electronic device it is possible to differ between eyelid and eye movement artifacts, which will be corrected selectively. If only midline derivations are evaluated (Fz, Cz, Pz) the vertical EOG is sufficient and horizontal EOG may be left out from the correcting procedure. The efficiency of the procedure is proved by EEG and ERP records.

ERP analysis of reafferent information processing during the performance of an arithmetical task.

Reafferent information processing accomplished by distributed cerebral systems was studied by analysing concomitant event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by weak electrical stimulation of the skin of the hand. The subjects were instructed to interpret this stimulus as feedback information indicating whether their solution of an arithmetical task was correct or not. ERPs elicited by positive or negative feedback signals showed striking differences. ERPs were also influenced by the subject's confidence in the correctness of the solution, while probability of stimulus occurrence was less important in the design. Neurophysiological implications of ERP-disclosed influences on feedback processing are discussed.

Off-line removal of ocular artifacts from event-related potentials using a multiple linear regression model.

A method for correction of event-related potentials (ERP) and cortical DC shifts, disturbed by eyeblink and eye movement potentials, is described. The correcting algorithm employs a multiple linear regression model with random regressors which prevents an incorrect calculation of the propagation factor when both ocular potentials and event-related cortical potentials occur together. This propagation factor is calculated for each event-related EEG record. Segmentation of the record into 2.56 s time intervals guarantees, moreover, calculation of different propagation factors for eyeblinks and eye movements within a single trial. The correcting algorithm is executed off-line with the propagation factors calculated from the experimental data proper. A correction is carried out only when the EOG has a significant influence on ERP. The application of the procedure is illustrated by individual examples.

Inducing tumor immunity by specific tumor antigens.

A handy experimental model for testing anti-tumor agents and for studying tumor immunity is the use of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in Long-Evans hooded rats. This neoplasm is so easily transplantable and growth is so rapid that a large series of animals can be studied in a relatively short period of time.