PubMed · 11639175
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P Di Pietro. [Not Available].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11639175/
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BACKGROUND: In 2003, criteria for assessing the structural quality of rehabilitation units for inpatient treatment were developed in cooperation with the German statutory pension insurance and health insurance. The aim of this study was to assess this quality using predefined valuation criteria and to test their applicability. METHODS: In the context of the Quality Assurance Programme for Rehabilitation provided by the German statutory health insurance, the structural quality of 18 neurological rehabilitation units was assessed applying the criteria for the first time. RESULTS: On average, the 18 rehabilitation units fulfilled 93.9% of the basic criteria. Despite this high proportion, variability in the degree of realisation in the individual rehabilitation units could be demonstrated. The basic criteria are realistic in respect to the structural requirements, without leveling out the differences between the centres. CONCLUSION: Assessing the structural quality of rehabilitation units on the basis of defined standards allows for a benchmark between units as well as for improvements within the individual units.
BACKGROUND: Confidence in hexavalent vaccines has recently been shattered in Germany, after 5 infant deaths occurred shortly after such a vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of hexavalent vaccines over a time period of 2 years. MATERIAL/METHODS: With the written informed consent of the parents, we enrolled in the study all healthy infants who attended our office for a primary scheduled infant immunization during the study period from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2003. This period was divided into two parts: (1) In a pilot study (July 1 to December 31, 2001), the two hexavalent vaccines licensed in Germany, Hexavac and Infanrix hexa, were compared to each other to evaluate if one of these vac-cines would be better tolerated. (2) During the follow-up study period (January 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003), that hexavalent vaccine was to be used, if any, which had been shown to have lower side effects during the pilot period. The trivalent measles-mumps-rubella vaccine Priorix was applied to all infants during both study periods. The parents were advised to immediately consult our office in any case of suspected or proven side effect from the vaccination. RESULTS: 3,658 polyvalent (hexavalent and trivalent) vaccinations were applied to 1997 infants. Local reactions were observed after application of Priorix in 0.0%, of Infanrix hexa in 0.46%, and of Hexavac in 3.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The safety of Priorix and Infanrix hexa in particular could be established. Hexavalent vaccines can be recommended for introduction in all European countries for primary scheduled infant immunizations.
Discrete survival models have been extended in several ways. More flexible models are obtained by including time-varying coefficients and covariates which determine the hazard rate in an additive but not further specified form. In this paper, a general model is considered which comprises both types of covariate effects. An additional extension is the incorporation of smooth interaction between time and covariates. Thus, in the linear predictor smooth effects of covariates which may vary across time are allowed. It is shown how simple duration models produce artefacts which may be avoided by flexible models. For the general model which includes parametric terms, time-varying coefficients in parametric terms and time-varying smooth effects estimation procedures are derived which are based on the regularized expansion of smooth effects in basis functions. The approach is used to model the sojourn time in a psychiatric hospital. It is demonstrated how initial conditions which have non-linear influence are damped over time.