Medical and Research Library News
DSHS Medical and Research Library publishes MRL News, a monthly newsletter that highlights training opportunities, trending topics, and journal articles for public health professionals.
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Medical and Research Library News By Month
Medical and Research Library News
June 2024
Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
New books
Training opportunities
The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are
in Central Time.
June 12, 2024; 1–2 p.m. Air Quality Matters: Improving Health and Lung Function with Healthy People 2030 Objectives.
This webinar from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) will present on three Healthy People 2030 featured objectives related to indoor and outdoor air quality and health. The webinar will also feature a presentation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics to share the latest data on the three featured objectives and a presentation by Healthy People 2030 Champion, the American Lung Association, to share details on their efforts to inform the public about the impact of air quality on their health and ways to reduce harmful pollution.
Jun 18, 2024; 1-2 p.m. Keeping First Things First: Prioritizing When Everything, Everywhere, All-at-Once Goes Awry.
Pandemic onset, occurrence, and aftermath continue to reveal deficiencies in emergency and disaster preparedness. In law, we see how force majeure clauses might be insufficient to address evolving causes of delays, interruptions, and shutdowns. In the supply cycle, theoretical redundancies failed, and global interconnectivities proved fragile in their complexity. In the years subsequent, we have seen how certain decisions validated or disproved leadership choices, how governance and compliance measures preserved structures, and how frameworks are evolving. Join this webinar from the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) to hear more on these topics.
June 24, 2024; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. MyHealth Access Network.
This webinar is offered by the DSHS Office of Practice and Learning Grand Rounds program. DSHS Grand Rounds explores the science and evidence-based practice of population health and awards continuing education credits/contact hours for various disciplines. Visit the Grand Rounds calendar to see information on upcoming sessions. Held monthly on the fourth Wednesday, sessions last 90 minutes with the final 20 minutes for Q&A.
June 27, 2024; 1–2:30 p.m. 5 Steps to an Accessible Document.
This 90-minute, hands-on class from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) will cover how to make documents created in Word and PowerPoint accessible to those who use screen reader assistive technology.
Websites and reports on trending topics
ASABE Technical Library - The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is a professional and technical organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Their online library provides online access to ASABE standards, meeting and conference papers, textbooks, and monographs.
Behavioral Health among Older Adults: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health – This infographic report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlights substance use and mental health indicators among older adults aged 60 or older in the United States.
FastStats A to Z – From the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NCHS), this site provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance and is organized alphabetically. Links are provided to publications that include the statistics presented, to sources of more data, and to related web pages.
PSNet – From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Patient Safety Network (PSNet) features a collection of the latest news and resources on patient safety, innovations and toolkits, opportunities for free CME and trainings. The platform provides searching and browsing capability, as well as the ability for users to customize the site around their interests.
Journal articles of note
Benjamin RH, Nguyen JM, Drummond-Borg M, et al. Classification of isolated versus multiple birth defects: An automated process for population-based registries. Am J Med Genet A. Published online May 21, 2024. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.63714
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies of birth defects often conduct separate analyses for cases that have isolated defects (e.g., spina bifida only) and cases that have multiple defects (e.g., spina bifida and a congenital heart defect). However, in some instances, cases with additional defects (e.g., spina bifida and clubfoot) may be more appropriately considered as isolated because the co-occurring defect (clubfoot) is believed to be developmentally related to the defect of interest. Determining which combinations should be considered isolated can be challenging and potentially resource intensive for registries. Thus, we developed automated classification procedures for differentiating between isolated versus multiple defects, while accounting for developmentally related defects, and applied the approach to data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (1999-2018 deliveries). Among 235,544 nonsyndromic cases in Texas, 89% of cases were classified as having isolated defects, with proportions ranging from 25% to 92% across 43 specific defects analyzed. A large proportion of isolated cases with spina bifida (44%), lower limb reduction defects (44%), and holoprosencephaly (32%) had developmentally related defects. Overall, our findings strongly support the need to account for isolated versus multiple defects in risk factor association analyses and to account for developmentally related defects when doing so, which has implications for interpreting prior studies.
Uyeki TM, Milton S, Abdul Hamid C, et al. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in a dairy farm worker. N Engl J Med. Published online May 3, 2024.
doi:10.1056/NEJMc2405371
Sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, with a wide spectrum of clinical severity and a cumulative case fatality of more than 50%, have been reported in 23 countries over more than 20 years. HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses have spread widely among wild birds worldwide since 2020–2021, resulting in outbreaks in poultry and other animals. Recently, HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses were identified in dairy cows, and in unpasteurized milk samples, in multiple U.S. states. We report a case of HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection in a dairy farm worker in Texas.
Varney SM, Alindogan AA, Stuteville H, et al. Fasciotomy following North American pit viper envenomation in Texas 2004-2021. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Published online May 28, 2024. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2338559
Abstract
Introduction: North American pit viper envenomation occurs over 4,000 times annually in the United States, with polyvalent Fab antivenom being the primary treatment. Fasciotomy is occasionally performed due to concerns about compartment syndrome. We utilized our direct access to Texas Poison Center Network data to create a new snakebite abstraction form and database on relevant available information between 2004 and 2021 and to identify, describe, and estimate the incidence of fasciotomy following pit viper envenomation in Texas.
Methods: We searched the Texas Poison Center Network database for cases during 2004-2021 using keywords such as fasciotomy, surgery, compartment pressure, and compartment syndrome. Descriptive statistics summarized the data.
Results: Of 16,911 reported envenomations, 0.69 percent involved fasciotomies (n = 117). Most common bite sites were digits/hands and lower extremities. Patients who underwent fasciotomy were typically male, aged 20-59, and 10 years younger than the total snakebite population. Only 6 percent of reported compartment syndrome cases had a compartment pressure measurement. Antivenom was administered in 101 (86.3 percent) cases, 92 (91.1 percent) of which received only Fab antivenom product. Patients with bites from rattlesnakes (47.9 percent) were associated with most fasciotomies.
Discussion: Our findings suggest a potential increase in snakebite exposures, accompanied by a decrease in fasciotomies. Overall, copperheads constituted the majority of snakebites, but most fasciotomies were from rattlesnake envenomations (47.9 percent). In this cohort, compartment syndrome diagnosis and decisions regarding fasciotomy were primarily based on clinical evaluation/surgeon expertise without compartment pressure measurements. Despite the efficacy of antivenom, only 86.3 percent of patients in our study received antivenom.
Conclusions: Fasciotomy after North American pit viper envenomation in Texas is uncommon (0.69 percent) and has decreased over time, possibly due to increased antivenom use or surgeon comfort with nonsurgical management.
Yaseen A, DeSantis SM, Sabharwal R, et al. Baseline characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine non-responders in a large population-based sample. PLoS One. 2024;19(5):e0303420. Published 2024 May 13. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0303420
Abstract
Introduction: Studies indicate that individuals with chronic conditions and specific baseline characteristics may not mount a robust humoral antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. In this paper, we used data from the Texas Coronavirus Antibody REsponse Survey (Texas CARES), a longitudinal state-wide seroprevalence program that has enrolled more than 90,000 participants, to evaluate the role of chronic diseases as the potential risk factors of non-response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in a large epidemiologic cohort.
Methods: A participant needed to complete an online survey and a blood draw to test for SARS-CoV-2 circulating plasma antibodies at four-time points spaced at least three months apart. Chronic disease predictors of vaccine non-response are evaluated using logistic regression with non-response as the outcome and each chronic disease + age as the predictors.
Results: As of April 24, 2023, 18,240 participants met the inclusion criteria; 0.58% (N = 105) of these are non-responders. Adjusting for age, our results show that participants with self-reported immunocompromised status, kidney disease, cancer, and "other" non-specified comorbidity were 15.43, 5.11, 2.59, and 3.13 times more likely to fail to mount a complete response to a vaccine, respectively. Furthermore, having two or more chronic diseases doubled the prevalence of non-response.
Conclusion: Consistent with smaller targeted studies, a large epidemiologic cohort bears the same conclusion and demonstrates immunocompromised, cancer, kidney disease, and the number of diseases are associated with vaccine non-response. This study suggests that those individuals, with chronic diseases with the potential to affect their immune system response, may need increased doses or repeated doses of COVID-19 vaccines to develop a protective antibody level.
New Books in the Library
Carville’s cure: leprosy, stigma, and the fight for justice by Pam Fessler.
CHES exam review: certification guide for health education specialists by Elizabeth M. Felter.
Deep work: rules for focused success in a distracted world by Cal Newport.
Eliminating the gobbledygook: secrets to writing plain language procedures by Kathy Walsh.
Fight heart disease like cancer by Michael V. McConnell.
The people’s hospital: hope and peril in American medicine by Ricardo Nuila.
For a complete list of all library titles, visit the Library Online Catalog.
For more information, employees may email the Medical and Research Library at library@dshs.texas.gov to receive research assistance, learn how to access electronic materials, or to obtain the full text of articles mentioned in this month’s news.
The Medical and Research Library News is sent out once a month or when important library news or events occur. Recent issues of the MRL News are online. If any of the links do not open for you, please email library@dshs.texas.gov and we will send you what you need. Thank you!
If you would like to subscribe, please send an email to library@dshs.texas.gov with Subscribe in the subject line.
Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
Training opportunities
The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are
in Central Time.
May 9, 2024; 12–1:30 p.m. Relationship Between Parental Mental Health and Child Development.
This webinar from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living and presented by Catherine Monk, PhD, will cover: Dr. Monk's extensive research into the relationship between maternal pre & postnatal mental health and early development; the postnatal depression prevention protocol Practical Resources for Effective Postpartum Parenting (PREPP).
May 21, 2024; 1–2 p.m. Beyond Borders: Understanding Oldways Heritage Diets and Reducing Health Disparities.
This presentation from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) will explore the essential components of nutritionally balanced culturally-relevant diets, spotlighting their significance in promoting overall health and well-being. Moreover, the discussion will examine the culinary landscapes of the African Diaspora, Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean, unveiling the key characteristics of healthy traditional diets unique to each region. Through this exploration, attendees will better understand the diverse foods and flavors that contribute to these culinary traditions.
May 29, 2024; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Navigating Multidimensional Strain and Identifying Mitigation Strategies in Rapidly Growing 'Hot Cities'.
This webinar is offered by the DSHS Office of Practice and Learning Grand Rounds program. DSHS Grand Rounds explores the science and evidence-based practice of population health and awards continuing education credits/contact hours for various disciplines. Visit the Grand Rounds calendar to see information on upcoming sessions. Held monthly on the fourth Wednesday, sessions last 90 minutes with the final 20 minutes for Q&A.
May 30, 2024; 1–2 p.m. Burning Contagion: Organized Arson in Response to Quarantine Facilities and Pest Houses, 1858-1901.
Throughout the 19th century, communities in the United States committed arson against healthcare facilities that housed the diseased. Local and national newspapers often described the resulting damage as the actions of a “lawless mob.” A closer reading of these incidents reveals local communities put at risk by facilities that actively caused them harm while benefitting other parties. This talk sponsored by the National Library of Medicine’s History of Medicine Division suggests that these events were organized acts of self-defense borne of medical knowledge, rather than rash mobs acting through fear or ignorance, and will highlight two such incidents, one in Staten Island, New York and another in Orange, New Jersey.
Websites and reports on trending topics
AGRICOLA - A bibliographic resource from the National Agricultural Library with millions of citations relating to the field of agriculture for journal articles, book chapters, theses, patents, and technical reports to support agricultural research.
Concentration of Healthcare Expenditures and Selected Characteristics of Persons With High Expenses, United States Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2018-2021 - In this statistical brief from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's MEPS-HC are used to describe the overall concentration of healthcare expenditures across the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2021 compared with 2018, 2019, and 2020. The most commonly treated conditions among persons in the top expenditure groups are identified, and the shares of expenses by age group, race/ethnicity, type of medical service, and source of payment are illustrated for 2021.
eCLIPSE Ultimate Access - This MRL resource provides access to The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’s (CLSI) full library of standards. eCLIPSE Ultimate Access is an enhanced, premium platform with advanced features to help you access standards quickly and easily. Login with username: TX@clsi.org password: TX123
Portal to Texas History Created and maintained by the University of North Texas Libraries, the Portal of Texas History offers a digital gateway to rich collections held in Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and private collections and includes agency produced annual reports, newsletters, and pamphlets.
Journal articles of note
Mayfield H, Davila V, Penedo E. Coccidioidomycosis-related hospital visits, Texas, USA, 2016-2021. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024;30(5):882-889. doi:10.3201/eid3005.231624
Abstract
We analyzed hospital discharge records of patients with coccidioidomycosis-related codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, Clinical Modification, to estimate the prevalence of hospital visits associated with the disease in Texas, USA. Using Texas Health Care Information Collection data for 2016-2021, we investigated the demographic characteristics and geographic distribution of the affected population, assessed prevalence of hospital visits for coccidioidomycosis, and examined how prevalence varied by demographic and geographic factors. In Texas, 709 coccidioidomycosis-related inpatient and outpatient hospital visits occurred in 2021; prevalence was 3.17 cases per 100,000 total hospital visits in 2020. Geographic location, patient sex, and race/ethnicity were associated with increases in coccidioidomycosis-related hospital visits; male, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic patients had the highest prevalence of coccidioidomycosis compared with other groups. Increased surveillance and healthcare provider education and outreach are needed to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of coccidioidomycosis in Texas and elsewhere.
Sandoval MN, McClellan SP, Pont SJ, et al. Prozone masks elevated SARS-CoV-2 antibody level measurements. PLoS One. 2024;19(3):e0301232. Published 2024 Mar 28.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301232
Abstract
We report a prozone effect in measurement of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody levels from an antibody surveillance program. Briefly, the prozone effect occurs in immunoassays when excessively high antibody concentration disrupts the immune complex formation, resulting in a spuriously low reported result. Following participant inquiries, we observed anomalously low measurement of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody levels using the Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay from participants in the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Research survey (Texas CARES), an ongoing prospective, longitudinal antibody surveillance program. In July, 2022, samples were collected from ten participants with anomalously low results for serial dilution studies, and a prozone effect was confirmed. From October, 2022 to March, 2023, serial dilution of samples detected 74 additional cases of prozone out of 1,720 participants' samples. Prozone effect may affect clinical management of at-risk populations repeatedly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein through multiple immunizations or serial infections, making awareness and mitigation of this issue paramount.
Schraw JM, Rudolph KE, Shumate CJ, Gribble MO. Direct potable reuse and birth defects prevalence in Texas: An augmented synthetic control method analysis of data from a population-based birth defects registry. Environ Epidemiol. 2024;8(2):e300. Published 2024 Mar 18. doi:10.1097/EE9.0000000000000300
Abstract
Background: Direct potable reuse (DPR) involves adding purified wastewater that has not passed through an environmental buffer into a water distribution system. DPR may help address water shortages and is approved or is under consideration as a source of drinking water for several water-stressed population centers in the United States, however, there are no studies of health outcomes in populations who receive DPR drinking water. Our objective was to determine whether the introduction of DPR for certain public water systems in Texas was associated with changes in birth defect prevalence.
Methods: We obtained data on maternal characteristics for all live births and birth defects cases regardless of pregnancy outcome in Texas from 2003 to 2017 from the Texas Birth Defects Registry and birth and fetal death records. The ridge augmented synthetic control method was used to model changes in birth defect prevalence (per 10,000 live births) following the adoption of DPR by four Texas counties in mid-2013, with county-level data on maternal age, percent women without a high school diploma, percent who identified as Hispanic/Latina or non-Hispanic/Latina Black, and rural-urban continuum code as covariates.
Results: There were nonstatistically significant increases in prevalence of all birth defects collectively (average treatment effect in the treated = 53.6) and congenital heart disease (average treatment effect in the treated = 287.3) since June 2013. The estimated prevalence of neural tube defects was unchanged.
Conclusions: We estimated nonstatistically significant increases in birth defect prevalence following the implementation of DPR in four West Texas counties. Further research is warranted to inform water policy decisions.
Shah M, Dansky Z, Nathavitharana R, et al. NTCA guidelines for respiratory isolation and restrictions to reduce transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis in community settings. Clin Infect Dis. Published online April 18, 2024. doi:10.1093/cid/ciae199
These guidelines are intended to be used by individuals within TB public health programs to make decisions related to community-based RIR for public health purposes and may include but are not limited to clinicians, health officers, or other designated practitioners at state or local health departments. Guidance for the prevention of TB in healthcare settings and high-risk congregate living facilities has been provided elsewhere. TB programs are encouraged to update or develop local guidelines and practices and involve physician and public health consultants with TB expertise, to ensure local practices reflect current scientific evidence and concepts and recommendations outlined in this work.
For more information, employees may email the Medical and Research Library at library@dshs.texas.gov to receive research assistance, learn how to access electronic materials, or to obtain the full text of articles mentioned in this month’s news.
Fine print section: The Medical and Research Library News is sent out once a month
or when important library news or events occur. Recent issues of the MRL News are online. If any of the links do not open for you, please email library@dshs.texas.gov and we will send you what you need. Thank you!
If you would like to subscribe, please send an email to library@dshs.texas.gov with Subscribe in the subject line.
National Library Week
Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
National Library Week
In honor of NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK, please join the DSHS Library and Information Science program for a series of interesting and informative webinars:
Grant Writing Essentials.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Grant Writing Essentials is an introduction to grant development presented by Betsy Cox, DSHS Grant Development Center. Learn how to prepare your organization for grants, identify the right funders, understand how to read a Request for Proposal (RFP), avoid mistakes, and create persuasive proposals. Whether you’re new or experienced in grant writing, this webinar is designed to highlight best practices to help you plan proposals that funders want to read.
The Power of PubMed - The Best Free Database for Clinical Research.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 1–2 p.m.
Join Anne Tarpey, DSHS Medical & Research Senior Librarian, as she guides you through using the PubMed database, the premier resource for biomedical and life sciences literature. Learn advanced search techniques and tips to streamline your searching and stay updated with the latest scientific publications.
Mindful Productivity for Knowledge Professionals and Teams.
Thursday, April 11, 2024, 10–11 a.m.
Join Jess Williams, Director of Teaching & Learning, Texas State University Libraries, as she shows how to discover practical strategies to enhance productivity while maintaining well-being. Explore frameworks, technology, and collaborative practices specifically tailored to reduce friction and frustration while increasing sustainability and creativity. Participants will leave with actionable insights, templates, and recommended tools to optimize their work processes and foster a balanced, mindful approach to work.
The Imposition of Imposter Syndrome
Friday, April 12, 2024, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Everyone experiences Imposter Syndrome at some point. But do we have to? What are the impacts of it? And what can we do about it? Join Chan McDermott, Workforce Development Coordinator at HHSC Family Health Services, as she defines and explains Imposter Syndrome. She will also examine why it’s so prevalent, especially in the workplace. Strategies to work through it will also be discussed.
Training opportunities
The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are
in Central Time.
Forest Bathing Research.
April 3, 2024; 2–3 p.m.
This webinar from Texas Children in Nature will explore the research that explains the connection between spending time in nature and improved well-being. There will be an opportunity to increase your understanding of the major theories surrounding this connection and take a closer look at Attention Restoration Theory, specifically. This focus will also identify how the human/nature connection is effectively supported through the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing.
Best Practices in Youth Nutrition Education.
April 16, 2024; 12-1 p.m.
Join CATCH Global Foundation for a panel discussion with youth nutrition education expert, Dr. Deanna Hoelscher, who has led multiple CATCH scientific studies. Participants will learn about current and emerging trends and best practices shaping youth nutrition education. Anyone who works with youth and supports healthy nutrition will want to be a part of this discussion. Webinar sponsored by Quest Food Management Services.
Environmental Chemicals and Breast Cancer: What Do We Know? What Can We Do?
April 17, 2024; 12–1 p.m.
Two thirds of Americans think that cancers – including breast cancers -- are mostly due to inherited genes. The truth is that less than a third of breast cancer risk is due to inherited genes, according to research estimates. Misconceptions stand in the way of actions to prevent the disease. This webinar from the Network of the National Library of Medicine will:
(1) review the science on how everyday chemical exposures can influence breast cancer risk.
(2) identify resources to help people reduce their exposures by taking simple actions as individuals and community members.
(3) show how misleading information, including from sources that people expect to be reliable, can play into industry’s dismissive strategies, echoing the early campaigns against tobacco control.
The Future is Now: Advances in HIV Prevention and Treatment in 2024.
April 24, 2024; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Texas remains one of the epicenters of the US HIV epidemic, with Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio all recognized as priority jurisdictions for Ending the HIV Epidemic efforts. This session will highlight the current state of the HIV epidemic in Texas and globally and discuss innovative new strategies to prevent and treat HIV. We will also discuss the future of HIV treatment including long-acting medications for prevention and treatment and recent advances in HIV vaccine development. This webinar is offered by the DSHS Office of Practice and Learning Grand Rounds program.
Websites and reports on trending topics
Academic Video Online – This TexShare resource provides unlimited remote access to more than 63,000 videos. The database includes scholarly video material of virtually every video type: documentaries, interviews, performances, news programs and newsreels, field recordings, commercials, demonstrations, original and raw footage including tens of thousands of exclusive tiles. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.
AMA Manual of Style Online – The DSHS Library provides access to the online edition of the AMA Manual of Style. This ebook provides search functionality across the full text of the manual, online only updates, quizzes, and options for downloading and sharing content. Please contact the library for remote access instructions. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.
The Annual Review of Public Health – This publication covers significant developments in the field of public health, including key developments and issues in epidemiology and biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, social environment and behavior, health services, and public health practice and policy.
Think. Check. Submit. – Through a range of tools and practical resources, this international, cross-sector initiative aims to educate researchers, promote integrity, and build trust in credible research and publications. It guides users through deciding where to submit articles for publication
and includes a checklist for assessing journal quality.
Journal articles of note
Dieussaert I, Hyung Kim J, Luik S, et al. RSV prefusion F protein-based maternal vaccine - preterm birth and other outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(11):1009-1021.
doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2305478
Abstract
Background: Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during pregnancy may protect infants from RSV disease. Efficacy and safety data on a candidate RSV prefusion F protein-based maternal vaccine (RSVPreF3-Mat) are needed.
Methods: We conducted a phase 3 trial involving pregnant women 18 to 49 years of age to assess the efficacy and safety of RSVPreF3-Mat. The women were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive RSVPreF3-Mat or placebo between 24 weeks 0 days and 34 weeks 0 days of gestation. The primary outcomes were any or severe medically assessed RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in infants from birth to 6 months of age and safety in infants from birth to 12 months of age. After the observation of a higher risk of preterm birth in the vaccine group than in the placebo group, enrollment and vaccination were stopped early, and exploratory analyses of the safety signal of preterm birth were performed.
Results: The analyses included 5328 pregnant women and 5233 infants; the target enrollment of approximately 10,000 pregnant women and their infants was not reached because enrollment was stopped early. A total of 3426 infants in the vaccine group and 1711 infants in the placebo group were followed from birth to 6 months of age; 16 and 24 infants, respectively, had any medically assessed RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (vaccine efficacy, 65.5%; 95% credible interval, 37.5 to 82.0), and 8 and 14, respectively, had severe medically assessed RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (vaccine efficacy, 69.0%; 95% credible interval, 33.0 to 87.6). Preterm birth occurred in 6.8% of the infants (237 of 3494) in the vaccine group and in 4.9% of those (86 of 1739) in the placebo group (relative risk, 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.74; P = 0.01); neonatal death occurred in 0.4% (13 of 3494) and 0.2% (3 of 1739), respectively (relative risk, 2.16; 95% CI, 0.62 to 7.56; P = 0.23), an imbalance probably attributable to the greater percentage of preterm births in the vaccine group. No other safety signal was observed.
Conclusions: The results of this trial, in which enrollment was stopped early because of safety concerns, suggest that the risks of any and severe medically assessed RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease among infants were lower with the candidate maternal RSV vaccine than with placebo but that the risk of preterm birth was higher with the candidate vaccine.
Estep AS, Sanscrainte ND, Stuck J, et al. The L1014F knockdown resistance mutation is not a strong correlate of phenotypic resistance to pyrethroids in Florida populations of Culex quinquefasciatus. Insects. 2024;15(3):197. doi:10.3390/insects15030197
Abstract
Culex quinquefasciatus is an important target for vector control because of its ability to transmit pathogens that cause disease. Most populations are resistant to pyrethroids and often to organophosphates, the two most common classes of active ingredients used by public health agencies. A knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation, resulting in an amino acid change from a leucine to phenylalanine in the voltage gated sodium channel, is one mechanism contributing to the pyrethroid resistant phenotype. Enzymatic resistance has also been shown to play a very important role. Recent studies have shown strong resistance in populations even when kdr is relatively low, which indicates that factors other than kdr may be larger contributors to resistance. In this study, we examined, on a statewide scale (over 70 populations), the strength of the correlation between resistance in the CDC bottle bioassay and the kdr genotypes and allele frequencies. Spearman correlation analysis showed only moderate (-0.51) or weak (-0.29) correlation between the kdr genotype and permethrin or deltamethrin resistance, respectively. The frequency of the kdr allele was an even weaker correlate than genotype. These results indicate that assessing kdr in populations of Culex quinquefasciatus is not a good surrogate for phenotypic resistance testing.
Kim Y, Rangel J, Colabianchi N. Food environments and cardiovascular disease: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study. Am J Prev Med. Published online March 12, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2024.03.004
Abstract
Introduction: Residential food environments are one of the important determinants of cardiovascular health. However, past literature has been limited by short-term follow-ups, time-invariant environmental measurements at baseline, and/or not investigating both healthy and unhealthy aspects of the food environment. This study examines the effects of time-varying healthy and unhealthy food environments on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) over ten years, extracting data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016; N=10,413).
Methods: Cox proportional hazards modeling was performed with inverse probability weighting to assess the association between time-varying food environmental measures (i.e., densities of grocery stores, supercenters/club stores, full-service restaurants, and fast-food restaurants) and incident CVD over 10 years. Education level and race/ethnicity were tested as potential moderators. Analyses were conducted in 2022-2023.
Results: Race/ethnicity had a significant interaction effect with supercenters/club stores and indicated that a 1-standard-deviation increase in the density of supercenters/club stores was associated with a 6-8% lower risk of incident CVD in non-Hispanic Black (HR=0.78, 95% CI=0.70-0.87) and Hispanic older adults (HR=0.69, 95% CI=0.50-0.96), but not non-Hispanic White older adults. Additionally, education had a significant interaction effect with full-service restaurants, indicating that a 1-standard-deviation increase in the density of full-service restaurants was associated with a 10% lower risk of incident CVD in individuals with 13+ years of schooling, but not those with zero to 12 years of schooling.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that public policymakers should be aware of the benefits and nuances of varying food environment components as they can contribute to positive or negative cardiovascular health.
Talal AH, Dharia A, Kapadia SN, et al. Hepatitis C virus elimination programs in Louisiana and Washington: Importance of screening and surveillance systems. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2024;30(2):208-212. doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000001808
Abstract
The US government has established a national goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030. To date, most HCV elimination planning and activity have been at the state level. Fifteen states presently have publicly available HCV elimination plans. In 2019, Louisiana and Washington were the first states to initiate 5-year funded HCV elimination programs. These states differ on motivation for pursuing HCV elimination and ranking on several indicators. Simultaneously, however, they have emphasized several similar elimination components including HCV screening promotion through public awareness, screening expansion, surveillance enhancement (including electronic reporting and task force development), and harm reduction. The 13 other states with published elimination plans have proposed the majority of the elements identified by Louisiana and Washington, but several have notable gaps. Louisiana's and Washington's comprehensive plans, funding approaches, and programs provide a useful framework that can move states and the nation toward HCV elimination.
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