Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing invasive disease in the Republic of Ireland.

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was included in the routine infant immunization schedule in Ireland in September 2008. We determined the serotype of 977 S. pneumoniae isolates causing invasive disease between 2000-2002 and 2007-2008, assessed for the presence of the recently described serotype 6C and determined the susceptibility of isolates during 2007-2008 to penicillin and cefotaxime.

Fitness costs associated with mounting a social immune response.

Social immune systems comprise immune defences mounted by individuals for the benefit of others (sensuCotter & Kilner 2010a). Just as with other forms of immunity, mounting a social immune response is expected to be costly but so far these fitness costs are unknown. We measured the costs of social immunity in a sub-social burying beetle, a species in which two or more adults defend a carrion breeding resource for their young by smearing the flesh with antibacterial anal exudates.

Vision therapy/orthoptics for symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children: treatment kinetics.

Purpose: To evaluate the kinetics of change in symptoms and signs of convergence insufficiency (CI) during 12 weeks of treatment with commonly prescribed vision therapy/orthoptic treatment regimens.

Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 221 children aged 9 to 17 years with symptomatic CI were assigned to home-based pencil push-ups (HBPP), home-based computer vergence/accommodative therapy and pencil push-ups (HBCVAT+), office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement (OBVAT), or office-based placebo therapy with home reinforcement (OBPT). Symptoms and signs were measured after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment.

Hepatitis B immunisation programmes in European Union, Norway and Iceland: where we were in 2009?

In January 2009 25 European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), Norway and Iceland, participated in a survey seeking information on national hepatitis B vaccination programmes. Details of vaccination policy, schedule, population groups targeted for vaccination, programme funding, vaccine coverage and methods of monitoring of vaccine coverage were obtained. Twenty (74%) countries reported that they have a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme, in addition to immunisation of at risk groups; seven (26%) countries recommend HBV for high risk groups only (with some inter-country variation on groups considered at high risk).

Spotlight on measles 2010: measles outbreak in Ireland 2009-2010.

Measles cases are increasing in Ireland, with 320 cases notified since August 2009. Nearly two-thirds of these cases (n=206) were unvaccinated. In the early stages of the outbreak a substantial number of cases were linked to the Traveller community with some cases also reported among the Roma community, other citizens from eastern Europe and children whose parents objected to vaccination.

A randomized trial comparing Bangerter filters and patching for the treatment of moderate amblyopia in children.

Objective: To determine whether visual acuity improvement with Bangerter filters is similar to improvement with patching as initial therapy for children with moderate amblyopia.

Design: Randomized, clinical trial.

Participants: We enrolled 186 children, 3 to <10 years old, with moderate amblyopia (20/40-20/80).

Effect of examiner experience and technique on the alternate cover test.

Purpose: To compare the repeatability of the alternate cover test between experienced and inexperienced examiners and the effects of dissociation time and examiner bias.

Methods: Two sites each had an experienced examiner train 10 subjects (inexperienced examiners) to perform short and long dissociation time alternate cover test protocols at near. Each site conducted testing sessions with an examiner triad (experienced examiner and two inexperienced examiners) who were masked to each other's results.

Anisometropia in Hispanic and african american infants and young children the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease study.

Purpose: To determine anisometropia prevalence and associated risk factors in Hispanic and African American preschoolers.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study.

Participants: We included 3030 Hispanic and 2994 African American children aged 6 to 72 months from Inglewood, California.

Enhanced surveillance of initial cases of pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza in Ireland, April-July 2009.

From 28 April to 18 July 2009 there were 156 cases of pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza confirmed in Ireland. During this time, Ireland was in containment phase, and detailed case-based epidemiological information was gathered on all cases presenting in the community and acute health care setting. Active case finding was performed among contacts of cases.

Early childhood refractive error and parental history of myopia as predictors of myopia.

Purpose: To determine the utility of a child's first grade refractive error and parental history of myopia as predictors of myopia onset between the second and eighth grades.

Methods: Subjects were nonmyopic children in the first grade who were enrolled in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error (CLEERE) Study. Myopia was defined as -0.

Use of human immunoglobulin in addition to glucocorticoids for the initial treatment of dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Objective: To determine the utility of human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) for the initial treatment of canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).

Design: Blinded, randomized, clinical trial.

Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital.

Children's Ocular Components and Age, Gender, and Ethnicity.

Purpose: This cross-sectional report includes ocular component data as a function of age, gender, and ethnicity from the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error (CLEERE) Study.

Methods: The ocular components of 4881 school-aged children were examined using cycloplegic autorefraction (refractive error), keratometry (corneal curvature), ultrasonography (axial dimensions), and videophakometry (lens curvature).

Results: The average age (+/-SD) was 8.

Lack of evidence of pregnancy-induced alloantibodies in dogs.

Background: It is controversial whether or not pregnant bitches become sensitized to red blood cell (RBC) antigens.

Hypothesis: Bitches do not develop alloantibodies to RBC antigens during gestation and can be used safely as blood donors.

Animals: The study group included 35 healthy female dogs with a prior history of 1 (n = 12), 2 (n = 14), or >or= 3 (n = 9) pregnancies.

Hepatitis C virus transmission in hemodialysis units: importance of infection control practices and aseptic technique.

We investigated 4 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection outbreaks at hemodialysis units to identify practices associated with transmission. Apparent failures to follow recommended infection control precautions resulted in patient-to-patient HCV transmission, through cross-contamination of the environment or intravenous medication vials. Fastidious attention to aseptic technique and infection control precautions are essential to prevent HCV transmission.

Sexual division of antibacterial resource defence in breeding burying beetles, Nicrophorus vespilloides.

1. A key component of parental care involves defending resources destined for offspring from a diverse array of potential interspecific competitors, such as social parasites, fungi and bacteria. 2.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of parvovirus B19 infections in Ireland, January 1996-June 2008.

Parvovirus B19 infection may be mistakenly reported as measles or rubella if laboratory testing is not performed. As Europe is seeking to eliminate measles, an accurate diagnosis of fever/rash illnesses is needed. The main purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological pattern of parvovirus B19, a common cause of rash, in Ireland between January 1996 and June 2008, using times series analysis of laboratory diagnostic data from the National Virus Reference Laboratory.

Treatment of severe amblyopia with weekend atropine: results from 2 randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of weekend atropine for severe amblyopia from strabismus, anisometropia, or both combined among children 3 to 12 years of age.

Methods: We enrolled children into 2 prospective, randomized multicenter clinical trials of amblyopia therapy. Herein we report the results for severe amblyopia, 20/125 to 20/400.

Structural basis for the differential binding affinities of the HsfBD1 and HsfBD2 domains in the Haemophilus influenzae Hsf adhesin.

Haemophilus influenzae is a human-specific gram-negative coccobacillus that causes a variety of human infections ranging from localized respiratory infections to invasive diseases. Hsf is the major nonpilus adhesin in encapsulated strains of H. influenzae and belongs to the trimeric autotransporter family of proteins.

Visual acuity norms in pre-school children: the Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study.

Purpose: To provide population-based normative data for monocular visual acuity (VA) and interocular differences in VA (IOD) in Black and Hispanic children 30 to 72 months of age without visually significant refractive errors or ophthalmic abnormalities.

Methods: In a population-based cohort of children in the Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study, monocular HOTV VA measurements using the Amblyopia Treatment Study protocol were analyzed using continuous and dichotomous outcomes for VA and IOD, after excluding subjects with ophthalmic abnormalities or refractive error.

Results: The analysis cohort consisted of 1722 Black and Hispanic children aged 30 to 72 months.

Treatment of convergence insufficiency in childhood: a current perspective.

Purpose: To provide a current perspective on the management of convergence insufficiency (CI) in children by summarizing the findings and discussing the clinical implications from three recent randomized clinical trials in which we evaluated various treatments for children with symptomatic CI. We then present an evidence-based treatment approach for symptomatic CI based on the results of these trials. Finally, we discuss unanswered questions and suggest directions for future research in this area.