Secular trends in the epidemiology of shingles in Alberta.

Varicella vaccine was licensed in Canada in 1998, and a publicly funded vaccination programme introduced in the province of Alberta in 2001. In theory the vaccination programme might increase the burden of disease from shingles, making it important to develop baseline data against which future comparisons can be made. The study's aim was to describe the epidemiology of non-fatal cases of shingles for which publicly funded health services were utilized for the period 1986-2002.

The changing epidemiology of chickenpox in Alberta.

Background: Varicella vaccine was licensed in Canada in 1998. The province of Alberta introduced a universal publicly funded varicella vaccination program in 2001.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of non-fatal cases of chickenpox for which publicly funded health services were utilized for the period 1986-2002.

Physician resistance to the late whiplash syndrome.

Objective: The biopsychosocial model of the late whiplash syndrome is based in part on the concept of symptom expectation--that the commonly held view of whiplash injury as a serious injury and anticipation of chronic pain and disability engenders a post-injury behavior that encourages chronic pain. We sought to determine if an unselected group of physicians (who might be expected to view whiplash as benign compared to most accident victims) would report a more benign outcome to their injuries than a group of nonphysicians.

Methods: This survey compares the self-reported outcome of whiplash-type injuries (neck sprain) in physicians and nonphysicians working at a university hospital.

Chandra X-Ray Detection of the Radio Hot Spots of 3C 295.

An observation of the radio galaxy 3C 295 during the calibration phase of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory reveals X-ray emission from the core of the galaxy, from each of the two prominent radio hot spots, and from the previously known cluster gas. We discuss the possible emission processes for the hot spots and argue that a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model is preferred for most or all of the observed X-ray emission. SSC models with near-equipartition fields thus explain the X-ray emission from the hot spots in the two highest surface brightness FR II radio galaxies, Cygnus A and 3C 295.