Practice and child characteristics associated with influenza vaccine uptake in young children.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine both practice and child characteristics and practice strategies associated with receipt of influenza vaccine in young children during the 2004-2005 influenza season, the first season for the universal influenza vaccination recommendation for all children who are aged 6 to 23 months.

Methods: Clinical and demographic data from randomly selected children who were aged 6 to 23 months were obtained by chart review from a community-based cohort study in 3 US counties. The proportion of children who were vaccinated by April 5, 2005, in each practice was obtained.

High costs of influenza: Direct medical costs of influenza disease in young children.

This study determined direct medical costs for influenza-associated hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits. For 3 influenza seasons, children <5 years of age with laboratory-confirmed influenza were identified through population-based surveillance. The mean direct cost per hospitalized child was $5402, with annual cost burden estimated at $44 to $163 million.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children 6 to 59 months of age during 2 influenza seasons: a case-cohort study.

Objective: To measure vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing influenza-related health care visits among children aged 6 to 59 months during 2 consecutive influenza seasons.

Design: Case-cohort study estimating effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing inpatient/outpatient visits (emergency department [ED] and outpatient clinic). We compared vaccination status of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases with a cluster sample of children from a random sample of practices in 3 counties (subcohort) during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons.

Clinical and pharmacoeconomic evaluation of switch to olanzapine in veterans with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Background: Second-generation atypical antipsychotics improve the outcome of patients with schizophrenia, although studies of their cost efficacy in comparison to first-generation conventional antipsychotics have yielded mixed results.

Objectives: This study examines the cost effectiveness outcome of olanzapine treatment in veterans with schizophrenia (n 5 22) or schizoaffective disorder (n 5 4).

Methods: Health-care utilization and costs associated with prospective olanzapine treatment were compared with those of retrospective first-generation neuroleptic treatment in a mirror-image design.

The impact of conjugate pneumococcal vaccination on routine childhood vaccination and primary care use in 2 counties.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine immunization recommendations were rapidly implemented by primary care providers. Before the recommendations, concern was expressed that adding pneumococcal conjugate vaccine might result in delays in other vaccinations or preventive services.

Objectives: The study objectives were to measure whether incorporation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine by primary care providers delayed other vaccinations or added primary health care visits.

Effect of telephone reminder/recall on adolescent immunization and preventive visits: results from a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To measure the effect of telephone-based reminder/recall on immunization and well-child care (WCC) visit rates among adolescents in urban practices.

Design: Randomized clinical trial of telephone-based reminder/recall over 18 months.

Setting: Four urban primary care practices.

Treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in combat veterans with citalopram: an open trial.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental illness which exhibits significant impairment of psychosocial and occupational function. At present, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) show therapeutic promise for the treatment of PTSD. However, results in the veteran population have been less robust or often negative.

Divalproex for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: a retrospective chart review.

Objective. Open label trials of divalproex in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show positive results. The objective of this study was to examine the therapeutic effects of divalproex in a larger naturalistic sample of patients with PTSD.

A placebo-controlled study of nefazodone for the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study.

Nefazodone is a unique serotonergic antidepressant that acts as both a presynaptic serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a postsynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor antagonist. Based on the positive results of open-label trials of nefazodone, including one from our group, we tested nefazodone's efficacy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) under placebo-controlled conditions. Forty-one patients with chronic PTSD, predominantly male combat veterans, were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial of nefazodone.

Baclofen treatment for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

Objective: Previous studies have shown the efficacy of gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABA(B)) receptor agonists in treating anxiety in patients with panic disorder and in treating depression and anxiety in alcoholic patients. We hypothesized that baclofen, a GABA(B) agonist, would be an effective treatment in the symptomatic management of veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: Fourteen male veterans with chronic, combat-related PTSD were enrolled in an open-label, 8-week, monotherapy trial of baclofen titrated to a maximum of 80 mg/d in 3 divided doses.

Physician perspectives regarding pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Objectives: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was first licensed for routine administration to young children in February 2000. The objective of this study was to assess physician perspectives about the use of PCV, to ascertain which children were being given the vaccine soon after licensure, and to determine how the addition of PCV to the schedule of recommended childhood vaccines may affect the timing of other vaccinations.

Methods: A 30-item survey containing questions about the use of PCV was sent to all pediatricians and family physicians who provide primary care to young children in Monroe County (Rochester, NY) and Davidson County (Nashville, TN) in October 2000.