Geographic disparities impacting oral vaccine performance: Observations and future directions.

Oral vaccines have several advantages compared with parenteral administration: they can be relatively cheap to produce in high quantities, easier to administer, and induce intestinal mucosal immunity that can protect against infection. These characteristics have led to successful use of oral vaccines against rotavirus, polio, and cholera. Unfortunately, oral vaccines for all three diseases have demonstrated lower performance in the highest-burden settings where they are most needed.

Raising the case of hepatitis E: Report from the 2nd international HEV symposium.

The 2nd International Hepatitis E Virus Symposium was held on April 28 and 29, 2023, in London, UK. The conference was hosted by the International Vaccine Institute and brought together key clinicians, researchers, and private and public stakeholders for a dedicated forum on hepatitis E virus (HEV). The scientific program spanned multiple facets of HEV, from updates on clinical research and diagnostic advances to vaccine development.

Uncovering individualised treatment effects for educational trials.

Large-scale Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) are widely regarded as "the gold standard" for testing the causal effects of school-based interventions. RCTs typically present the statistical significance of the average treatment effect (ATE), which captures the effect an intervention has had on average for a given population. However, key decisions in child health and education are often about individuals who may be very different from those averages.

Topical Vitamin D Prevents Bone Loss and Inflammation in a Mouse Model.

There is a strong association between vitamin D levels and periodontal disease based on numerous epidemiological studies. We have previously shown that experimental deficiency of serum vitamin D in mice leads to gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss. Treatment of cultured oral epithelial cells with the active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH) vitamin D (1,25(OH)D), inhibits the extracellular growth and intracellular invasion of bacteria associated with periodontal disease.

A National Survey of Perceptions Around Conditions Associated With Pharmacy Faculty Workload Equity.

Objective: To assess pharmacy faculty members' perceptions of conditions associated with workload equity and factors that can improve workload equity.

Methods: A 26-item survey instrument was developed and distributed via email to members of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Council of Faculties. Questions pertained to the workload distribution, fairness in assignment, and perception of the conditions associated with workload equity (transparency, context, credit, clarity, norms, and accountability) as well as institutional and individual demographics.