Cost-effectiveness of Palivizumab for Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Systematic Review.

Context: Palivizumab prophylaxis is used as passive immunization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, because of its high cost, the value of this intervention is unclear.

Objective: To systematically review the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis compared with no prophylaxis in infants <24 months of age.

Outcomes for the First Year of Ontario's Birth Center Demonstration Project.

Introduction: In 2014, Ontario opened 2 stand-alone midwifery-led birth centers. Using mixed methods, we evaluated the first year of operations for quality and safety, client experience, and integration into the maternity care community. This article reports on our study of safety and quality of care.

Therapeutic strategies, including a high surgical ligation rate, for patent ductus arteriosus closure in extremely premature infants in a North American centre.

Objective: To document the rate of surgical ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extremely premature infants who had received more than one course of indomethacin. Outcomes were compared among three subgroups (ligation, further indomethacin and no further treatment) of infants who received at least one course of indomethacin, and between two subgroups (one course of indomethacin and more than one course) among infants who underwent ligation.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review of all 23 weeks+0 days to 26 weeks+6 days' gestational age infants with a PDA born between 1994 and 2005 was performed.

Assessment and management of older prisoners.

People over 60 make up the fastest growing age group in prison, but their specialist health and social needs may be difficult to accommodate on general wings. The author discusses the development of an assessment she has devised for prisoners aged over 65 at Jurby Prison on the Isle of Man to gather information on physical, social and mental health needs. Agreed plans of care covering continence, mental health, mobility, nutrition, sensory impairment and communication difficulties are also explored.

(Correcting) misdiagnoses of asthma: a cost effectiveness analysis.

Background: The prevalence of physician-diagnosed-asthma has risen over the past three decades and misdiagnosis of asthma is potentially common.

Objective: to determine whether a secondary-screening-program to establish a correct diagnosis of asthma in those who report a physician diagnosis of asthma is cost effective.

Method: Randomly selected physician-diagnosed-asthmatic subjects from 8 Canadian cities were studied with an extensive diagnostic algorithm to rule-in, or rule-out, a correct diagnosis of asthma.

Cost-effectiveness of epinephrine and dexamethasone in children with bronchiolitis.

Objective: Using data from the Canadian Bronchiolitis Epinephrine Steroid Trial we assessed the cost-effectiveness of treatments with epinephrine and dexamethasone for infants between 6 weeks and 12 months of age with bronchiolitis.

Methods: An economic evaluation was conducted from both the societal and health care system perspectives including all costs during 22 days after enrollment. The effectiveness of therapy was measured by the duration of symptoms of feeding problems, sleeping problems, coughing, and noisy breathing.

Depressive symptoms are associated with medication use and lower health-related quality of life in overweight women with binge eating disorder.

Background: Depression is a most burdensome illness, with personal and societal costs surpassing those of any other illness. Furthermore, depression affects women at a much higher rate than men. The most prevalent eating disorder among adult women is binge eating disorder (BED).