Global and regional risk of disabling sequelae from bacterial meningitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Few data sources are available to assess the global and regional risk of sequelae from bacterial meningitis. We aimed to estimate the risks of major and minor sequelae caused by bacterial meningitis, estimate the distribution of the different types of sequelae, and compare risk by region and income. We systematically reviewed published papers from 1980 to 2008.

Incremental system costs of introducing combined DTwP-hepatitis B-Hib vaccine into national immunization services in Ethiopia.

Objective: With support from the GAVI Alliance a fully liquid combined DTwP-HepB-Hib (pentavalent) vaccine in a single dose vial was introduced into Ethiopia's routine immunization services in March 2007. This vaccine was substituted with DTwP in a 10-dose vial. We aimed to estimate the incremental system costs of pentavalent vaccine delivery.

Commercialism, choice and consumer protection: regulation of complementary medicines in Australia.

Controls on the supply and promotion of complementary medicines in Australia are weak. We used weight-loss products as an example to compare the regulation in Australia of listed complementary medicines and registered pharmaceutical products. Complementary medicines are listed without evaluation for efficacy, while conventional pharmaceutical products are registered after evaluation for quality, safety and efficacy.