Annual influenza vaccination is therefore commonly recommended for people with cystic fibrosis. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of influenza vaccination for people with cystic fibrosis. Search methods We searched

the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register which comprises of references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearching of relevant journals and abstract books of conference proceedings. We also contacted the companies which market the influenza vaccines used in the trials to obtain further information about randomised controlled trials. Date of the most recent search of the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group’s Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register: 08 July 2013. Selection criteria All randomised and quasi-randomised trials (published GSK621 solubility dmso or unpublished) comparing any influenza vaccine with a placebo or with another type of influenza vaccine. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently assessed study quality and extracted data. Additional information was obtained by contacting the investigators when it was indicated. Main results Four studies enrolling a total of 179 participants with cystic fibrosis (143 (80%) were children aged 1 to 16 years) were included in this review.

There was no study comparing a vaccine to a placebo or a whole virus vaccine to a subunit or split virus vaccine. Two studies compared an intranasal applied live NVP-BSK805 vaccine to an intramuscular inactivated vaccine and the other two studies compared a split virus to a subunit vaccine and a virosome to a subunit vaccine (all intramuscular). The incidence of all reported adverse events was high depending on the type of

influenza vaccine. The total adverse event rate ranged from 48 out of 201 participants (24%) for the intranasal live vaccine Nocodazole cell line to 13 out of 30 participants (43%) for the split virus vaccine. With the limitation of a statistical low power there was no significant difference between the study vaccinations. None of the events were severe. All study influenza vaccinations generated a satisfactory serological antibody response. No study reported other clinically important benefits. Authors’ conclusions There is currently no evidence from randomised studies that influenza vaccine given to people with cystic fibrosis is of benefit to them. There remains a need for a well-constructed clinical study, that assesses the effectiveness of influenza vaccination on important clinical outcome measures.”
“Mathematics is beautiful and precise and often necessary to understand complex biological phenomena. And yet biologists cannot always hope to fully understand the mathematical foundations of the theory they are using or testing. How then should biologists behave when mathematicians themselves are in dispute? Using the on-going controversy over Hamilton’s rule as an example, I argue that biologists should be free to treat mathematical theory with a healthy dose of agnosticism.