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Objective To study the impact on measles case incidence of a nationwide measles immunization campaign in Viet Nam, while considering differences in disease surveillance before and after the campaign. Methods A nationwide mass immunization campaign was conducted in the north and south of Viet Nam in 2002 and 2003, respectively. During the campaign, a second vaccination dose was given to children aged 9 months to 9 years, and the reported coverage reached 99% in both zones. National measles case-based surveillance data collected during 2001-2006 were reviewed and analysed. Surveillance performance was assessed in terms of case investigation and specimen collection rates and reporting sensitivity for febrile rash cases. Fisher&apos;s exact test was used to test for differences in indicator values before and after the campaign at the national and regional levels; the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used at the provincial level. Findings Despite significant improvements in disease surveillance, a dramatic reduction in observed measles incidence was noted nationwide after the immunization campaign, with a drop in the national incidence of confirmed measles cases per 100 000 population from 5.44 in 2001 to 0.14 after the campaign (i.e. 2003 in the north and 2004 in the south; P < 0.001). Rapid measles resurgence was observed in 2005 and 2006 only in the north-western mountainous region of the country. The north did not show a statistically significant age shift for new cases (median age: 9 years in 2001 versus 8 years in 2003; P = 0.113), whereas the south did (median age: 7 years versus 12 years; P< 0.001). Conclusion A campaign approach for controlling measles in developing parts of Asia can prove effective. The swift re-emergence of disease in the north-western region was probably due to suboptimal coverage by the campaign and by the subsequent routine expanded programme on immunization in the north-western mountainous region. Objectif Etudier l&apos;impact d&apos;une campagne nationale de vaccination antirougeoleuse de masse au Viet Nam sur l&apos;incidence des cas de rougeole, en considerant les variations des resultats de la surveillance de cette maladie avant et apres la campagne. Methodes Une campagne nationale de vaccination de masse a ete menee dans le Nord, puis dans le Sud du pays, en 2002 et 2003 respectivement. Dans le cadre de cette campagne, une deuxieme dose de vaccin a ete administree aux enfants de 9 mois a 9 ans et le taux de couverture rapporte a atteint 99 % dans les deux zones. Les donnees de surveillance nationale de la rougeole a partir des cas recenses, recueiliies sur la periode 2001-2006, ont ete examinees et analysees. Les resultats de la surveillance ont ete evalues en termes de taux d&apos;investigation des cas et de collecte d&apos;echantillon, et d&apos;apres la sensibilite de la notification pour les cas d&apos;eruption febrile. On a utilise le test exact de Fisher pour rechercher des differences entre les valeurs indicatrices avant et apres la campagne, au niveau du pays et des regions et on a fait appel au test de Wilcoxon (test des rangs signes) au niveau provincial. Resultats Malgre de grandes ameliorations dans la surveillance de la maladie, on a observe une forte chute de l&apos;incidence de la rougeole a l&apos;issue de la campagne de vaccination, avec une baisse de l&apos;incidence nationale des cas confirmes pour 100 000 habitants de 5,44 en 2001 a 0, 14 apres la campagne (c&apos;est-a-dire en 2003 dans le Nord et en 2004 dans le Sud, p < 0,001). Une resurgence rapide de la rougeole a ete observee en 2005 et 2006, mais seulement dans la region montagneuse du Nord-Ouest. On n&apos;a pas observe dans le Nord de decalage statistiquement significatif de l&apos;age median des nouveaux cas (age median : 9 ans en 2001 contre 8 ans en 2003, p = 0,113), en revanche ce fut le cas dans le Sud (age median passant de 7 ans en 2001 a 12 ans en 2003, p < 0,001). Conclusion Une demarche de type campagne vaccinale peut s&apos;averer efficace pour endiguer la rougeole dans les regions en developpement d&apos;Asie. La reemergence de cette maladie dans la region du Nord-Ouest etait probablement due a une couverture sous-optimale de cette region par la campagne et par le programme etendu de vaccination systematique ulterieurement mis en place. Objetivo Estudiar el impacto en la incidencia de casos de sarampion de una campana nacional de inmunizacion antisarampionosa en Viet Nam, teniendo en cuenta la diferente eficacia de la vigilancia de la enfermedad antes y despues de la campana. Metodos Se Ilevo a cabo una campana nacional de inmunizacion masiva en el norte y el sur de Viet Nam en 2002 y en 2003, respectivamente. Durante la campana, se administro una segunda dosis a los ninos de 9 meses a 9 anos de edad, con una cobertura notificada que alcanzo el 99% en las dos zonas. Se analizaron los datos nacionales de vigilancia de los casos de sarampion reunidos durante el periodo 2001-2006. La eficacia de la vigilancia se determino en funcion de las tasas de investigacion de casos y de recogida de muestras, asi como de la sensibilidad de la notificacion de los casos de exantema febril. Se empleo la prueba exacta de Fisher para analizar las diferencias entre los indicadores antes y despues de la campana a nivel nacional y regional; con los datos de nivel provincial se aplico la prueba de rangos con signo de Wilcoxon. Resultados Pese a mejorar considerablemente la vigilancia de la enfermedad, tras la campana de inmunizacion se registro una muy marcada reduccion de la incidencia observada de sarampion a nivel nacional, con una caida de la incidencia nacional de casos confirmados por 100 000 habitantes de 5,44 en 2001 a 0,14 despues de la campana (esto es, en 2003 en el norte y en 2004 en el sur; p < 0,001). El rapido resurgimiento de casos de sarampion observado en 2005 y 2006 se iimito a la region montanosa noroccidental del pais. En el norte no se observo un desplazamiento estadisticamente significativo de la edad en los nuevos casos (mediana de la edad: 9 anos en 2001, frente a 8 anos en 2003; p = 0,113), mientras que en el sur si se dio tal desplazamiento (mediana: 7 anos, frente a 12 anos; p < 0,001). Conclusion La realizacion de campanas puede ser un arma eficaz para controlar el sarampion en las zonas en desarrolio de Asia. La subita reaparicion de la enfermedad en la region montanosa noroccidental se debio probablemente a una cobertura suboptima tanto de la campana como del posterior programa ampliado de inmunizacion sistematica en dicha region., Introduction Measles is a childhood viral disease associated with a relatively high casefatality rate, especially in malnourished populations in developing countries. (1) It also causes numerous complications. (2-4) The disease [...]

The gonadal hormone inhibin regulates daily sperm production (DSP) indirectly through negative feedback control of FSH secretion and may also affect DSP via direct actions within the testis. Studies attempting to increase DSP through the immunization against inhibin have yielded equivocal results. The current study compared 2 inhibin antigens for effects on DSP and hormone secretion. Hampshire ram lambs (BW = 42 [+ or -] 2 kg; age = 113 [+ or -] 3 d) were assigned randomly to 3 groups: 1) control (n = 4); 2) [alpha]-peptide conjugate (PTC, n = 6); and 3) [alpha]-subunit (SUB, n = 6). Antigen PTC consisted of an [alpha]-inhibin, N-terminal, 25-amino acid peptide conjugated to ovalbumin. Antigen SUB was the complete inhibin [alpha]-subunit. Lambs were immunized on d 0 (June 19, 2006), 18, 38, and 63. Body weight was recorded on immunization days and scrotal circumference on d 63. Blood samples were collected on d 0, 7, 14, 18, 28, 35, 38, 49, 56, 63, and 70. Rams were slaughtered on d 71. Testes were weighed, and parenchyma was obtained for DSP determination. Plasma [alpha]-inhibin antibody titer and LH, FSH, and testosterone concentrations were measured. [alpha]-Inhibin antibody titer was first detectable on d 14 in both PTC- and SUB-immunized ram lambs and generally increased thereafter. Mean DSP per gram of testis (DSP/g) was increased (P < 0.01) 26% in PTC- and SUB-immunized ram lambs over that in control ram lambs. Total DSP per ram lamb and testes weight did not differ among the 3 treatment groups. Variation in DSP per ram lamb and testes weight were greater (P = 0.05) in PTC- and SUB-immunized ram lambs than in control ram lambs. Plasma FSH concentrations were similar in PTC- and SUB-immunized ram lambs. Immunization against either [alpha]-inhibin antigen did not alter LH, testosterone, BW, or scrotal circumference. Findings indicate that 1) the 2 [alpha]-inhibin antigens increase DSP/g to similar extents; 2) [alpha]-inhibin antibody may act at least in part through an intratesticular mechanism because DSP/g was increased in some animals without concomitant increases in FSH; and 3) immunization against [alpha]-inhibin may affect testes weight by actions independent of those that regulate DSP/g. Key words: immunization, inhibin, ram lamb, sperm production, testes weight

While the impact of immunisation on childhood mortality and morbidity has been great, its full potential has yet to be reached (United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 2003). For [...]

West and central Africa are on the verge of the largest polio epidemic in recent years, warned experts from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The warning followed a confirmation on [...]