The mitigating effect of low firearm background check requirements on firearm homicides in border states.

Background: Firearm-related violence is a significant public health issue in the US. Research has found an increase in guns used in crimes sourced from low gun law states into high gun law states. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of distance from states without universal background checks (UBC), background checks at shows (BCS), or permit to purchase (PTP) laws on firearm homicide rates in states with them.

Pregnant Adolescents As Perpetrators and Victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

The role of pregnant adolescents as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is not well understood. Socioecological factors associated with IPV (physical assault and injury, and psychological aggression) perpetrated by pregnant adolescents and the association between IPV and attitudes toward the use of physical punishment to discipline children were examined among 246 pregnant adolescents. Pregnant adolescents were more likely to report perpetrating both physical assault (24%) and psychological aggression (52.

Multilevel Provider-Based Sampling for Recruitment of Pregnant Women and Mother-Newborn Dyads.

Objective: In 2010, the National Children's Study launched 3 alternative recruitment methods to test possible improvements in efficiency compared with traditional household-based recruitment and participant enrollment. In 2012, a fourth method, provider-based sampling (PBS), tested a probability-based sampling of prenatal provider locations supplemented by a second cohort of neonates born at a convenience sample of maternity hospitals.

Methods: From a sampling frame of 472 prenatal care provider locations and 59 maternity hospitals, 49 provider and 7 hospital locations within or just outside 3 counties participated in study recruitment.

Consenting postpartum women for use of routinely collected biospecimens and/or future biospecimen collection.

The National Children's Study (NCS) Harris County, Texas Study Center participated in the NCS Provider Based Sampling (PBS) substudy of the NCS Vanguard Phase pilot. As part of the hospital-based birth cohort component of the PBS substudy, we conducted a secondary data analysis to evaluate the proportion of postpartum women who consented to future biospecimen collection alone and to both future collection and use of residual birth biospecimens. In phase 1, 32 postpartum women at one hospital were asked to consent only to maternal future biospecimen collection.

Choice of Postpartum Contraception: Factors Predisposing Pregnant Adolescents to Choose Less Effective Methods Over Long-Acting Reversible Contraception.

Purpose: The purposes were to determine contraceptive methods pregnant adolescents intend to use postpartum and to understand factors that predispose intention to use less effective birth control than long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).

Methods: Participants were 247 pregnant minority adolescents in a prenatal program. Intention was assessed by asking "Which of the following methods of preventing pregnancy do you intend to use after you deliver?" Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with intent to use nonhormonal (NH) contraception (male/female condoms, abstinence, withdrawal and no method) or short-/medium-acting hormonal (SMH) contraception (birth control pill, patch, vaginal ring, injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate) compared with LARC (implant and intrauterine device) postpartum.

Human adipose tissue as a reservoir for memory CD4+ T cells and HIV.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether adipose tissue functions as a reservoir for HIV-1.

Design: We examined memory CD4(+) T cells and HIV DNA in adipose tissue-stromal vascular fraction (AT-SVF) of five patients [four antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated and one untreated]. To determine whether adipocytes stimulate CD4(+) T cells and regulate HIV production, primary human adipose cells were cocultured with HIV-infected CD4(+) T cells.

A Socioecological Framework to Assessing Depression Among Pregnant Teens.

To examine individual, interpersonal, family, and community correlates associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among pregnant adolescents. A total of 249 primarily African American and Hispanic pregnant adolescents ages 15-18 years were recruited into either an intervention group utilizing Centering Pregnancy prenatal care and case management, or to a comparison group receiving case management only. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were defined as a score ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

Granzyme B secretion by human memory CD4 T cells is less strictly regulated compared to memory CD8 T cells.

Background: Granzyme B (GrzB) is a serine proteinase expressed by memory T cells and NK cells. Methods to measure GrzB protein usually involve intracellular (flow cytometry) and extracellular (ELISA and ELISpot) assays. CD8 T cells are the main source of GrzB during immunological reactions, but activated CD4 T cells deploy GrzB as well.

HIV replication in conjunction with granzyme B production by CCR5+ memory CD4 T cells: Implications for bystander cell and tissue pathologies.

Granzyme B (GrzB) is expressed by activated T cells and mediates cellular apoptosis. GrzB also acts as an extracellular protease involved in tissue degradation. We hypothesized that GrzB production from activated memory CD4 T cells may be associated with HIV pathogenesis.

Duration of protection after infant hepatitis B vaccination series.

Background: Little is known about duration of protection after the infant primary series of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine in settings of low HB endemicity. This study sought to determine the proportion of adolescents immunized as infants who had protective titers of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) before and after a challenge dose of vaccine.

Methods: US-born 16- through 19-year-olds who received a recombinant HB vaccine 3-dose series initiated within 7 days of birth (group 1) or at ≥4 weeks of age (group 2) and completed by 12 months of age were enrolled.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of asymptomatic Clostridium difficile colonization and rising C. difficile-associated disease rates.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) detection, after hospital CDAD rates significantly increased following real-time PCR initiation for CDAD diagnosis.

Design: Hospital-wide surveillance study following examination of CDAD incidence density rates by interrupted time series design.

Setting: Large university-based hospital.

Randomized trial to evaluate nutritional status and absorption of enteral feeding after brain death.

Context: Catecholamines and inflammatory mediators, with elevated levels after brain death, are associated with reduced function and survival of transplanted organs. Enteral nutrition reduces tissue damage and may benefit organs.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of immunomodulating enteral nutrition in organ donors.

Effects of route of inoculation and viral genetic variation on antibody responses to polyomavirus SV40 in Syrian golden hamsters.

Genetic variants of polyomavirus SV40 are powerful agents with which to define viral effects on cells and carcinogenesis pathways. We hypothesized that differences in biologic variation among viral strains affect the process of viral infection and are reflected in antibody responses to the viral nonstructural large T-antigen (TAg) protein but not in neutralizing antibody responses against the inoculated viral particles. We analyzed the production of TAg antibody and neutralizing antibody in Syrian golden hamsters that were inoculated with SV40 viral strains by intracardiac, intravenous, or intraperitoneal routes and remained tumor free.

The effect of obesity on the ED(95) of propofol for loss of consciousness in children and adolescents.

Introduction: Anesthesiologists face a dilemma in determining appropriate dosing of anesthetic drugs in obese children. In this study we determined the dose of propofol that caused loss of consciousness in 95% (ED(95)) of obese and nonobese children as determined by loss of eye lash reflex.

Methods: Forty obese (body mass index [BMI] > 95th percentile for age and gender) and 40 normal weight (BMI 25th to 84th percentile) healthy ASA 1 to 2 children ages 3 to 17 years presenting for surgical procedures were studied using a biased coin design.

Granzyme B- and Fas ligand-mediated cytotoxic function induced by mitogenic CD28 stimulation of human memory CD4+ T cells.

Some human memory CD4(+) T cells have cytotoxic functions best understood in the context of viral infections; however, their possible role in pathologic processes is understudied. The novel discovery that mitogenic CD28 antibodies induced proliferation and expansion of Tregs offered therapeutic promise for autoimmune disorders. However, the failed TGN1412 trial forced reassessment of this concept.

Myelosuppression and infectious complications in children with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Children with Down syndrome (DS) bear an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and treatment complications. We compared blood counts and toxicities in 22 DS and 44 non-DS ALL patients. Patients with DS had deeper, longer neutrophil and monocyte count nadirs; more toxicities (HR 2.

Lymphotropism of Merkel cell polyomavirus infection, Nova Scotia, Canada.

To test the hypothesis that Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) can infect cells of the lymphoid system, we analyzed 353 specimens, including 152 non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 44 Hodgkin lymphomas, 110 benign lymph nodes, 27 lymph nodes with metastasis, and 20 extranodal tissue samples. MCPyV DNA was detected by quantitative PCR in 13 (6.6%) of 196 lymphomas, including 5 (20.

Direct and indirect effectiveness of influenza vaccination delivered to children at school preceding an epidemic caused by 3 new influenza virus variants.

Background: Influenza is an uncontrolled epidemic disease that is vaccine preventable. New recommendations for universal immunization present a challenge to the implementation of vaccine delivery. This field trial examines the effectiveness of school-based clinics for vaccine delivery before an epidemic caused by 3 new influenza virus variants not contained in the vaccine.

Rate of decline of ferritin in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as a prognostic variable for mortality.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is difficult to diagnose and treat. Highly elevated ferritin is strongly associated with HLH and levels may provide a prognostic marker. A comprehensive review of ferritin data from our patients during treatment was analyzed with respect to mortality.

An effective, low-cost approach to implementing HIV/AIDS education programs in low literacy populations: an example from rural Haiti.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic disproportionately afflicts regions of the world that have minimal access to formal schooling and low literacy rates. Health educational interventions are difficult to evaluate efficiently in these settings because standard approaches such as written questionnaires cannot easily be employed. Here, we describe a novel method of rapidly assessing health interventions among large groups that does not require the ability to read or write.

Efficacy of a motivational behavioral intervention to promote chlamydia and gonorrhea screening in young women: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Seeking screening and treatment for chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) by young women is critical to reduction of asymptomatic cervicitis and its complications.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a client-centered motivational behavioral intervention (MBI), to promote seeking of sexually tranmitted infection (STI) checkups by young women.

Methods: Three hundred seventy-six of 770 eligible sexually active, nonpregnant, English-speaking women (mean age 18.

LDH concentration in nasal-wash fluid as a biochemical predictor of bronchiolitis severity.

Objective: Because the decision to hospitalize an infant with bronchiolitis is often supported by subjective criteria and objective indicators of bronchiolitis severity are lacking, we tested the hypothesis that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is released from injured cells, is a useful biochemical indicator of bronchiolitis severity.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a study of children <24 months old presenting to the emergency department with bronchiolitis. Demographic, clinical information, nasal wash (NW), and serum specimens were obtained.

Correlates of consistent condom use with main-new and main-old sexual partners.

An exploratory study identified correlates of consistent condom use for young women reporting Main-new or Main-old partners in the past 3 months: frequency of vaginal sex (across partner types); perceived likelihood of getting a STI (Main-new); age and STI history (Main-old). To enhance programmatic efficacy in community clinics, these key correlates of condom use for main partner types should be incorporated in STI risk reduction counseling.

Variable frequency of polyomavirus SV40 and herpesvirus EBV in lymphomas from two different urban population groups in Houston, TX.

Background: Studies have reported differing frequencies of detection of polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40) in association with human lymphomas.

Objective: We addressed the hypothesis that SV40 positivity in lymphomas can vary among sampled populations.

Study Design: Archival paraffin-embedded lymphoma specimens (n=171) from patients at two urban hospitals in Houston, TX, USA, were analyzed following a cross-sectional study design.

Investigation of obstacles to accessing information regarding private medical insurance coverage and physician reimbursement for adolescent vaccination.

Purpose: To investigate accessing insurance company vaccine reimbursement and coverage information.

Method: A telephone survey was conducted from June 2006 to August 2006. Participating organizations were insurance companies in the states of New York, Oregon, and Texas.