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Synbiotics are mixtures of prebiotics and probiotics that enhance the activity of probiotic bacteria when co-administered to provide greater benefits to the host. Traditionally, the synbiotics that have been discovered enhance gut probiotic strains and are nutritionally complex molecules that survive digestive breakdown until they reach the later stages of the intestinal tract. Here, we screened and identified sugars or sugar substitutes as synbiotics for the oral probiotic strains Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12 and BLIS M18. Using a modified deferred antagonism assay, we found that 0.5% (w/v) galactose and 2.5% (w/v) raffinose were the best candidates for use as synbiotics with BLIS K12 and M18, as they trigger enhanced antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria representing species from the mouth, gut, and skin. Using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR, we found that this enhanced antimicrobial activity was caused by the upregulation of the lantibiotic genes salA, salB, and sal9 in either K12 or M18. This led to the conclusion that either 2.5% (w/v) raffinose or 0.5% (w/v) galactose, respectively, are suitable synbiotics for use in conjunction with BLIS K12 and M18 to enhance probiotic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, countries have agreed to pursue the progressive realization of universal health coverage (UHC) and there is now a high level of political commitment to providing universal coverage of essential health services while ensuring that individuals are financially protected against high health spending. The aim of this paper is to help policy- makers think through the progressive realization of UHC. First, the pitfalls of applying global normative expenditure targets in estimating the national revenue required for UHC are discussed. Then, several recommendations on estimating national revenue are made by moving beyond the question of how much UHC will cost and focusing instead on the national health-care reforms and policy choices needed to progress towards UHC. In particular, costing exercises are recommended as a tool for comparing different service delivery options and investment in data infrastructure is recommended for improving the information needed to identify the best policies. These recommendations are intended to assist health policy-makers and international and national agencies who are developing country plans for the progressive realization of UHC. A l'echelle mondiale, les pays sont convenus de poursuivre la realisation progressive de la couverture sanitaire universelle, et l'on observe desormais un fort niveau d'engagement politique en faveur de la couverture universelle des services de sante essentiels en veillant a ce que les individus soient financierement a l'abri de toute depense de sante elevee. L'objectif de cet article est d'aider les responsables politiques a effectuer un examen minutieux en vue de la realisation progressive de la couverture sanitaire universelle. Pour commencer, nous examinons les ecueils lies a l'application d'objectifs de depenses normatifs mondiaux au moment d'estimer le revenu national requis pour la couverture sanitaire universelle. Nous formulons ensuite plusieurs recommandations concernant l'estimation du revenu national, en depassant la question du cout de la couverture sanitaire universelle pour nous concentrer sur les reformes nationales en matiere de soins de sante et sur les choix politiques necessaires pour faire progresser la couverture sanitaire universelle. Nous recommandons notamment de proceder a des exercices d'etablissement des couts pour comparer differentes options de prestation de services et d'investir dans des infrastructures de donnees pour ameliorer les informations necessaires a l'identification des meilleures politiques. Ces recommandations visent a aider les responsables des politiques de sante et les organismes internationaux et nationaux qui elaborent des plans nationaux pour la realisation progressive de la couverture sanitaire universelle. A nivel mundial, los paises han acordado procurar la realizacion progresiva de la cobertura sanitaria universal (universal health coverage, UHC) y ahora existe un alto nivel de compromiso politico para proporcionar una cobertura universal de los servicios sanitarios esenciales, al tiempo que se garantiza la proteccion financiera de las personas frente a los elevados gastos sanitarios. El objetivo de este documento es ayudar a los responsables de formular politicas a pensar en la realizacion progresiva de la UHC. Primero, se discuten las trampas en la aplicacion de las metas globales de gastos normativos al estimar los ingresos nacionales requeridos para la UHC. Luego, se hacen varias recomendaciones sobre la estimacion de los ingresos nacionales al ir mas alla de la cuestion de cuanto costara la UHC y enfocarse en cambio en las reformas nacionales de salud y en las opciones de politicas necesarias para progresar hacia la UHC. En particular, se recomiendan ejercicios de calculo de costos como herramienta para comparar diferentes opciones de prestacion de servicios y se recomienda invertir en infraestructura de datos para mejorar la informacion necesaria con el fin de identificar las mejores politicas. Estas recomendaciones tienen por objeto ayudar a los responsables de formular politicas de salud y a los organismos internacionales y nacionales que estan elaborando planes nacionales para la realizacion progresiva de la UHC., Introduction In 2015, United Nations' Member States agreed to pursue the progressive realization of universal health coverage (UHC) as part of their commitment to the sustainable development goals. The World [...]

Background: Public or patient versions of guidelines (PVGs) are derivative documents that "translate" recommendations and their rationale from clinical guidelines for health professionals into a more easily understandable and usable format for patients and the public. PVGs from different groups and organizations vary considerably in terms of quality of their reporting. In order to address this issue, we aimed to develop a reporting checklist for developers of PVGs and other potential users.Methods: First, we collected a list of potential items through reviewing a sample of PVGs, existing guidance for developing and reporting PVGs or other similar evidence-based patient tools, as well as qualitative studies on original studies of patients' needs about the content and/or reporting of information in PVGs or similar evidence-based patient tools. Second, we conducted a two-round Delphi consultation to determine the level of consensus on the items to be included in the final reporting checklist. Third, we invited two external reviewers to provide comments on the checklist.Results: We generated the initial list of 45 reporting items based on a review of a sample of 30 PVGs, four PVG guidance documents, and 46 relevant studies. After the two-round Delphi consultation, we formed a checklist of 17 items grouped under 12 topics for reporting PVGs.Conclusion: The RIGHT-PVG reporting checklist provides an international consensus on the important criteria for reporting PVGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study of China health services and financial protection between 2003 and 2011. It says that the National Health Services Survey (NHSS) from 2003, 2008, and 2011 was used to select 94 counties out of 2859 counties from China, in which health activities and financial protection was examined. It says that based on data from 2003, 2008, and 201, increase in health services were showed particularly in rural areas and greater attention to financial protection is needed.