Should Men who have sex with Men be allowed to donate blood in Israel?

Background: The present permanent deferral policy in Israel for MSM was established in 1977 and was based on the previous (now outdated) USA Food and Drug Administration standards. This study analyses epidemiological data regarding blood donations among MSM, in order to estimate the risk for HIV transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) if the policy is changed to allow at-risk MSM to donate blood.

Methods: An Excel based spreadsheet model integrated demographic, epidemiological data from the HIV National Register, laboratory, blood donation and testing data in order to calculate TTI due to false-negatives in known HIV+ donors, windows period donations, asymptomatic carriers and laboratory misclassification errors.

Screening, prevention and treatment of cervical cancer -- a global and regional generalized cost-effectiveness analysis.

The paper calculates regional generalized cost-effectiveness estimates of screening, prevention, treatment and combined interventions for cervical cancer. Using standardised WHO-CHOICE methodology, a cervical cancer model was employed to provide estimates of screening, vaccination and treatment effectiveness. Intervention effectiveness was determined via a population state-transition model (PopMod) that simulates the evolution of a sub-regional population accounting for births, deaths and disease epidemiology.

Cost-utility analysis of vaccination against HPV in Israel.

Using WHO-CHOICE methodology, we calculated cost-utility ratios for various interventions (PAP smear, HPV-DNA testing, VIA and vaccination against HPV) at various frequencies to reduce the burden of cervical cancer and condyloma (in the case of the HPV vaccination) in Israel, which has a low prevalence of cervical cancer. Assuming non-waning efficacy, HPV vaccinations will become cost-effective, very cost-effective and cost saving when the cost per dose falls below $96.85, $50.

The burden of uncomplicated cases of chickenpox in Israel.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the direct medical burden and work loss associated with uncomplicated chickenpox in Israel.

Methods: A total of 155 otherwise healthy children and adolescents with chickenpox were recruited from 10 physician offices in central Israel. Direct and indirect medical burdens were determined by caregiver interview.