BACKGROUND The single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay, the accepted method for determining potency of inactivated influenza vaccines, measures an immunogenic form of the influenza hemagglutinin. Nevertheless, alternative methods for measuring vaccine potency have been explored to address some of the weaknesses of the SRID assay, including limited sensitivity and the requirement for large am...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incremental increase in new onset diabetes from higher potency statins compared with lower potency statins when used for secondary prevention. DESIGN Eight population based cohort studies and a meta-analysis. SETTING Six Canadian provinces and two international databases from the UK and US. PARTICIPANTS 136,966 patients aged ≥ 40 years newly treated with statins ...

1. Introduction Water Distribution Systems (WDSs) capable of supplying a sufficient quantity of potable water are one of the key infrastructures for a modern sustainable city. The service quality of WDSs is closely related to water conservation and various detrimental disturbances in WDSs, such as pipe bursts and leaks, will result in significant water loss. World-widely, it is reported that 11...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of introducing named accountable general practitioners (GPs) for patients aged 75 years on patterns of general practice utilisation, including continuity of care. DESIGN Regression discontinuity design applied to data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink to estimate the treatment effect for compliers aged 75. SETTING 200 general practices in England. ...

BACKGROUND Influenza vaccines are effective in protecting against illness and death caused by this seasonal pathogen. The potency of influenza vaccines is measured by single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay that quantifies antigenic forms of hemagglutinin (HA). Hydrostatic pressure results in loss of binding of influenza virus to red blood cells, but it is not known whether this infers loss ...