Neuraminidase inhibitor (NI) dispensing has emerged as a possible automated data source for influenza surveillance. We aimed to evaluate its timeliness, correlation, and predictive accuracy in relation to influenza activity in Quebec, Canada, 2010–2013. Our secondary objective was to use the same metrics to compare NI dispensing to visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) in emergency departments (EDs). Provincial weekly counts of positive influenza laboratory tests were used as a reference measure for the level of influenza circulation. We applied ARIMA models to account for serial correlation. We computed cross-correlations to measure the strengths of association and lead-lag relationships between NI dispensing, ILI ED visits, and our reference indicator. Finally, using an ARIMA model, we evaluated the ability of NI dispensing and ILI ED visits to predict laboratory-confirmed influenza. NI dispensing was significantly correlated (R = 0·68) with influenza activity with no lag. The maximal correlation of ILI ED visits was not as strong (R = 0·50). Both NI dispensing and ILI ED visits were significant predictors of laboratory-confirmed influenza in a multivariable model; predictive potential was greatest when NI counts were lagged to precede laboratory surveillance by 2 weeks. We conclude that NI dispensing data provides timely and valuable information for influenza surveillance.

Many countries are currently studying the possibility of mass vaccination against varicella. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive picture of the pre-vaccine epidemiology of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) to aid in the design of immunization programs and to adequately measure the impact of vaccination. Population-based data including physician visit claims, sentinel surveillance and hospitalization data from Canada and the United Kingdom were analysed. The key epidemiological characteristics of varicella and zoster (age specific consultation rates, seasonality, force of infection, hospitalization rates and inpatient days) were compared. Results show that the overall epidemiology of varicella and zoster is remarkably similar between the two countries. The major difference being that, contrary to Canada, the epidemiology of varicella seems to be changing in the United Kingdom with an important decrease in the average age at infection that coincides with a significant increase in children attending preschool. Furthermore, differences exist in the seasonality between the United Kingdom and Canada, which seem to be primarily due to the school calendar. These results illustrate that school and preschool contact patterns play an important role in the dynamics of varicella. Finally, our results provide baseline estimates of varicella and zoster incidence and morbidity for VZV vaccine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a malabsorptive disorder of the small intestine resulting from ingestion of gluten. The HLA risk factors involved in CD are well known but do not explain the whole genetic susceptibility. Several regions of potential linkage on chromosomes 3q, 5q, 10q, 11q, 15q and 19q have already been reported in the literature. These six regions were analyzed with the Maximum Lod Score method on a dense set of markers. A new sample of 89 Italian sibpairs was available for study. There was no evidence for linkage for any of the regions tested, except for chromosome 5q. For this region, our data, as well as a sample of 93 sibpairs from our first genome screen (Greco et al. 1998), are compatible with the presence of a risk factor for CD with a moderate effect.

The use of high dose carbon ion implantation in Si for the production of ultrathin membranes is investigated. Carbon implantations with doses up to 1018 cm-8 and energies up to 300 keV, at room temperature and 500°C were used, followed by 10 hours annealing at 1150°C. Structural and chemical analysis has been performed (including TEM, XPS, Raman and IR spectroscopies), and the etch properties have been investigated for KOH and TMAH etchants. It is found that doses higher than 1017 cm-2 are needed to obtain efficient etch-stop layers in TMAH, independently of the annealing conditions, while in contrast with previous work, it was not possible to obtain satisfactory results using KOH. According to this, ultrathin crystalline membranes (below 500 nm thick) with average surface roughness as low as 4.8 nm, measured by AFM, were obtained, and the structural analysis revealed the formation of a highly stable buried layer of crystalline β-SiC precipitates aligned with the Si matrix. These results corroborate the ability of high dose C ion implantation to obtain buried layers usable for micomachining applications.

In view of the increasing importance of the transportation of newborn and premature infants in distress, we have felt the need to create a mobile unit for pediatric reanimation. Therefore, it was important to build a very well-defined and specially adapted mobile unit for these kinds of particularly delicate transportations.

For this purpose, and with the agreement of the pediatricians, we have adopted a solution that seems compatible with this kind of work.