Absence of Antibody Reponses and Severe COVID-19 in Patients on Hemodialysis Following mRNA Vaccination.

Inpatient dialysis patients cannot isolate, resulting in a higher rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, with increased severity and higher mortality rate [1]. We present 2 African American dialysis patients who developed severe COVID-19 infections after vaccination. Both patients had not mounted antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine or to hepatitis B vaccination.

Factors Associated with Lower HIV Testing Rates in an Insured Urban Population.

Background: As of 2017 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were over one million individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the United States (CDC, 2017). Regionally the epicenter of HIV infection is in Washington DC with a prevalence rate of 1.9% (HAHSTA, 2018).

Adherence to Combination Antiretroviral Therapy among Pregnant Women Enrolled in a HIV Prevention Program in Rural North-central Nigeria.

Objective: Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant women is essential to attaining the goal of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to determine which factors affect adherence to ART among HIV-positive women enrolled in a large prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) trial in rural north-central Nigeria.

Methods: The parent study included 372 HIV-positive pregnant women enrolled in a cluster-randomized control trial conducted at 12 health facilities in Nigeria between 2013 and 2015.

The Importance of 4th Generation HIV Testing in an Urban Emergency Department.

Early Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (eAHI) diagnosis, via 4th generation testing methodology, presents an opportunity for earlier detection and immediate linkage to care for infected persons. We report on two patients with high-risk behaviors for HIV infection, presenting with atypical symptoms of eAHI in an urban Emergency Department (ED). This case report should raise the index of suspicion for HIV among ED physicians as well as underscore the importance of reducing HIV transmission through earlier detection.

Correlates of HIV testing refusal among emergency department patients in the opt-out testing era.

Opt-out HIV screening is recommended by the CDC for patients in all healthcare settings. We examined correlates of HIV testing refusal among urban emergency department (ED) patients. Confidential free HIV screening was offered to 32,633 ED patients in an urban tertiary care facility in Washington, DC, during May 2007-December 2011.

A model for routine hospital-wide HIV screening: lessons learned and public health implications.

Background: Approximately 232700 (21%) of Americans are unaware of their HIV-seropositive status; this represents a potential for virus transmission. Revised recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control for HIV screening promote routine screening in the health care setting. We describe the implementation of a hospital-wide routine HIV screening program in the District of Columbia.

The Howard University Hospital experience with routineized HIV screening: a progress report.

Background: Howard University Hospital (HUH) is the first hospital in the nation to have instituted a hospital-wide routine rapid HIV screening campaign as recommended by the CDC for healthcare settings.

Methods: HUH developed a protocol and implemented a hospital-wide routine HIV screening in October 2006. Rapid oral fluid-based HIV testing was conducted throughout the hospital using the OraSure OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test.

Correlates of serum lipoprotein (A) in children and adolescents in the United States. The third National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES-III).

Objective: To determine the correlates of serum lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) in children and adolescents in the United States.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using representative data from a US national sample for persons aged 4-19 years participating in The Third National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES-III).

Results: We observed ethnicity-related differences in levels of Lp(a) > 30 mg/dl, with values being markedly higher in African American (black) than nonhispanic white (white) and Mexican American children in multivariate model (P < 0.