Evaluation of Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Assays Compared to Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for the Detection of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09

Performance of indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assays and rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was evaluated, along with the relative effects of age and illness severity on test accuracy. Clinicians and laboratories submitted specimens on patients with respiratory illness to public health from April to mid October 2009 for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing as part of pandemic H1N1 surveillance efforts in Orange County, CA; IFA and RIDT were performed in clinical settings. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain, now officially named influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, were calculated for 638 specimens. Overall, approximately 30% of IFA tests and RIDTs tested by PCR were falsely negative (sensitivity 71% and 69%, respectively). Sensitivity of RIDT ranged from 45% to 84% depending on severity and age of patients. In hospitalized children, sensitivity of IFA (75%) was similar to RIDT (84%). Specificity of tests performed on hospitalized children was 94% for IFA and 80% for RIDT. Overall sensitivity of RIDT in this study was comparable to previously published studies on pandemic H1N1 influenza and sensitivity of IFA was similar to what has been reported in children for seasonal influenza. Both diagnostic tests produced a high number of false negatives and should not be used to rule out influenza infection

Community Design and Access to Recreational Facilities as Correlates of Adolescent Physical Activity and Body-Mass Index

Background:Neighborhood-level environmental features have been associated with adult physical activity and weight status, but this link has not been established for adolescents.Methods:Community design and access to recreational facilities variables were derived using geographic information systems (GIS) for 799 adolescents (age 11 to 15 y, mean = 12.8 y, 53% girls, 43% ethnic minority). Environment variables were calculated for a 1-mile buffer around each participant’s residence. Accelerometers measured min/d of physical activity.Results:Number of nearby recreation facilities and number of nearby parks correlated positively with girls’ physical activity, and intersection density inversely related to girls’ physical activity. Retail floor area ratio correlated positively with boys’ physical activity. No community design or access to recreation variables were related to BMI-percentile.Conclusions:There was limited evidence that both community design and access to recreation facilities variables were associated with adolescent physical activity, but additional built environment variables need to be studied that have particular relevance for youth.</jats:sec

Comparison of Sensitivity for RIDT and IFA Tests by Severity and Age using PCR as the Gold Standard.

<p>Comparison of Sensitivity for RIDT and IFA Tests by Severity and Age using PCR as the Gold Standard.</p

Sensitivity of IFA tests and RIDTs for the detection of pandemic H1N1 influenza.

<p>Sensitivity was calculated using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction as the gold standard. IFA results for other groups were not available due to lack of data.</p

Comparison of Specificity for RIDT and IFA Tests by Severity and Age using PCR as the Gold Standard.

<p>Comparison of Specificity for RIDT and IFA Tests by Severity and Age using PCR as the Gold Standard.</p

The fragility of a discipline when a model has monopoly status

We consider the consequences of a scientific literature with only one model of an important phenomenon. The falsification of the model would mean falsification of the science. Scientists who would prefer not to have their discipline falsified will be tempted to find ad hoc explanations to excuse the failure. To test this hypothesis we propose a study of the economic forecasts of the comparative Soviet and American growth rates in the years before a public choice model of central planning was a viable alternative to the public interest model. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2006Central planning, Economic forecasts, Preferences over estimates, Robust political economy,