Influenza vaccination should have no border: cost-effectiveness of cross-border subsidy.

Background: Influenza is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality for Israel and the Palestinian territory. Given the extensive interaction between the two populations, vaccination in one population may indirectly benefit the other via reduced transmission. Due to the mobility and extensive contacts, Palestinians employed in Israel could be a prime target for vaccination.

Cost-Effectiveness of Pertussis Vaccination Schedule in Israel.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that primarily affects infants. To optimize the pertussis vaccination schedule in Israel and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies that add or remove booster doses, we developed an age-structured model for pertussis transmission. Our model was calibrated using 16 years of data from laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases in Israel.

Unhealthy Lifestyle and Gut Dysbiosis: A Better Understanding of the Effects of Poor Diet and Nicotine on the Intestinal Microbiome.

The study of the intestinal or gut microbiome is a newer field that is rapidly gaining attention. Bidirectional communication between gut microbes and the host can impact numerous biological systems regulating immunity and metabolism to either promote or negatively impact the host's health. Habitual routines, dietary choices, socioeconomic status, education, host genetics, medical care and environmental factors can all contribute to the composition of an individual's microbiome.

Accounting for the spread of vaccination behavior to optimize influenza vaccination programs.

Vaccination is the most efficient means of preventing influenza infection and its complications. While previous studies have considered the externalities of vaccination that arise from indirect protection against influenza infection, they have often neglected another key factor-the spread of vaccination behavior among social contacts. We modeled influenza vaccination as a socially contagious process.

Bridging the Gap: Patient Navigation Increases Colonoscopy Follow-up After Abnormal FIT.

Introduction: Recent studies indicate low rates of follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) within safety net health systems. A patient navigation (PN) program is an evidence-based strategy that has been shown to improve colonoscopy completion in private and public healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a PN program to encourage follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal FIT within a large safety net hospital system.