Pregnancy and severe influenza infection in the 2013-2014 influenza season.

Objective: To describe the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of critically ill pregnant and postpartum women with influenza infection reported in the 2013-2014 season.

Methods: The California Department of Public Health conducts surveillance for patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza who die or require hospitalization in intensive care units. For this case series, we reviewed data on pregnant and postpartum (6 weeks or less from delivery) women reported in the 2013-2014 influenza season.

Lack of association between childhood immunizations and encephalitis in California, 1998-2008.

Objective: A number of new and combination vaccines have been introduced for children in the past two decades. Encephalitis cases occurring within defined time windows following administration of pertussis- or measles-containing vaccines are eligible for compensation by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Due to increased parental concerns about vaccine safety and potential neurologic adverse events following immunization with new and multiple vaccines administered at the same visit, our aim was to determine whether immunizations are associated with an increased risk of encephalitis within defined risk windows.

Tuberculosis among persons born in the Philippines and living in the United States, 2000-2007.

Objectives: We examined demographic, clinical, and treatment outcome characteristics of Filipinos with tuberculosis (TB) in the United States.

Methods: We calculated TB case rates from US Census Bureau population estimates and National Tuberculosis Surveillance System data for US-born non-Hispanic Whites and for US residents born in the Philippines, India, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Korea--countries that are major contributors to the TB burden in the United States. We compared Filipinos with the other groups through univariate and multivariate analyses.

Assessing breast cancer risk and providing treatment recommendations: immediate impact of an educational session.

The widespread availability of information regarding advancements in breast cancer care has heightened public awareness about risk and prevention, but there is limited knowledge as to the translation of these evolving advancements into physician practice patterns. The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine current practice patterns/treatment recommendations for evaluating patients at high-risk for breast cancer and (b) measure the immediate effect of an educational session on new knowledge acquired for high-risk patients. Five thousand and one health care provider surveys were sent to physicians in the greater Chicago area.