Anti-filarial antibodies are sensitive indicators of lymphatic filariasis transmission and enable identification of high-risk populations and hotspots.

Objectives: Circulating filarial antigen (Ag) is used by elimination programs to monitor lymphatic filariasis (LF) transmission; however, antifilarial antibodies (Ab) may be more sensitive than Ag for detecting LF. Our objectives were to describe Ab seroprevalence, identify risk factors for Ab seropositivity, investigate age-specific associations between Ag and Ab, and evaluate geographic clustering of seropositivity.

Methods: Community-based serosurveys of participants aged ≥5 years were conducted in 35 primary sampling units (PSUs).

shinyMBA: a novel R shiny application for quality control of the multiplex bead assay for serosurveillance studies.

The multiplex bead assay (MBA) based on Luminex xMAP technology can be used as a tool to measure seroprevalence as part of population immunity evaluations to multiple antigens in large-scale serosurveys. However, multiplexing several antigens presents challenges for quality control (QC) assessments of the data because multiple parameters must be evaluated for each antigen. MBA QC parameters include monitoring bead counts and median fluorescence intensity (MFI) for each antigen in plate wells, and performance of assay controls included on each plate.

Toxicity and Patient-Reported Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Prostate Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy With Focal Boost to Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Identified Prostate Cancer Lesions: Results of a Phase 2 Trial.

Purpose: In this prospective phase 2 trial, we investigated the toxicity and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes in patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to the prostate gland and a simultaneous focal boost to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-identified intraprostatic lesions while also de-escalating dose to the adjacent organs at risk.

Methods And Materials: Eligible patients included low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer (Gleason score ≤7, prostate specific antigen ≤20, T stage ≤2b). SBRT was prescribed to 40 Gy in 5 fractions delivered every other day to the prostate, with any areas of high disease burden (MRI-identified prostate imaging reporting and data system 4 or 5 lesions) simultaneously escalated to 42.

Treponemal Antibody Seroprevalence Using a Multiplex Bead Assay from Samples Collected during the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey: Searching for Yaws in Nigeria.

Yaws is a chronic, relapsing disease of skin, bone, and cartilage caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue. Yaws was last reported in Nigeria in 1996, although neighboring countries have recently reported cases.

Assessment of 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT and PET/MR quantitative parameters for reference standard organs: Inter-reader, inter-modality, and inter-patient variability.

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-based radiotracers have shown promise for prostate cancer assessment. Evaluation of quantitative variability and establishment of reference standards are important for optimal clinical and research utility. This work evaluates the variability of PSMA-based [18F]DCFPyL (PyL) PET quantitative reference standards.

Tetanus and Diphtheria Seroprotection among Children Younger Than 15 Years in Nigeria, 2018: Who Are the Unprotected Children?

Serological surveys provide an objective biological measure of population immunity, and tetanus serological surveys can also assess vaccination coverage. We undertook a national assessment of immunity to tetanus and diphtheria among Nigerian children aged <15 years using stored specimens collected during the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey, a national cross-sectional household-based survey. We used a validated multiplex bead assay to test for tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-antibodies.

Lessons learned from the implementation of integrated serosurveillance of communicable diseases in the Americas.

Objective: Systematize the experience and identify challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of an initiative for integrated serosurveillance of communicable diseases using a multiplex bead assay in countries of the Americas.

Methods: Documents produced in the initiative were compiled and reviewed. These included concept notes, internal working papers, regional meetings reports, and survey protocols from the three participating countries (Mexico, Paraguay, and Brazil) and two additional countries (Guyana and Guatemala) where serology for several communicable diseases was included in neglected tropical diseases surveys.

Development of a Bead-Based Multiplex Assay for Use in Multianalyte Screening and Surveillance of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Syphilis, and Herpes.

Diagnostic assays that can simultaneously determine the presence of infection with multiple pathogens are key for diagnosis and surveillance. Current multiplex diagnostic assays are complex and often have limited availability. We developed a simple, multianalyte, pathogen detection assay for screening and serosurveillance using the Luminex Magpix platform that is high throughput and can be helpful in monitoring multiple diseases.

Diphtheria and tetanus seroepidemiology among children in Ukraine, 2017.

Background: The drastic decline of Ukraine's immunization coverage since 2009 led to concerns about potential resurgence diphtheria and tetanus, along with other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Methods: To assess population immunity against diphtheria and tetanus, we tested specimens from the serosurvey conducted in 2017 among children born in 2006-2015, the birth cohorts targeted by the nationwide outbreak response immunization following a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 outbreak in Zakarpattya province in 2015. We surveyed four regions of Ukraine, using cluster sampling in Zakarpattya, Sumy, and Odessa provinces and simple random sampling in Kyiv City.

Parasitic Disease Surveillance, Mississippi, USA.

Surveillance for soil-transmitted helminths, strongyloidiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis was conducted in Mississippi, USA. PCR performed on 224 fecal samples for all soil-transmitted helminths and on 370 samples for only Necator americanus and Strongyloides stercoralis identified 1 S. stercoralis infection.

Combining Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy and Microwave Ablation Appears Safe and Feasible for Renal Cell Carcinoma in an Early Series.

Microwave (MW) ablation and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) are both used in treating inoperable renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MW ablation and SBRT have potentially complementary advantages and limitations. Combining SBRT and MW ablation may optimize tumor control and toxicity for patients with larger (> 5 cm) RCCs or those with vascular involvement.

No Serological Evidence of Trachoma or Yaws Among Residents of Registered Camps and Makeshift Settlements in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Successful achievement of global targets for elimination of trachoma as a public health problem and eradication of yaws will require control efforts to reach marginalized populations, including refugees. Testing for serologic evidence of transmission of trachoma and yaws in residents of registered camps and a Makeshift Settlement in Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh, was added to a serosurvey for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) conducted April-May 2018. The survey was primarily designed to estimate remaining immunity gaps for VPDs, including diphtheria, measles, rubella, and polio.

High variation in immune responses and parasite phenotypes in naturally acquired Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a captive non-human primate breeding colony in Texas, USA.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of human Chagas disease, is endemic to the southern region of the United States where it routinely infects many host species. The indoor/outdoor housing configuration used in many non-human primate research and breeding facilities in the southern of the USA provides the opportunity for infection by T. cruzi and thus provides source material for in-depth investigation of host and parasite dynamics in a natural host species under highly controlled and restricted conditions.

Parasitic Infection Surveillance in Mississippi Delta Children.

Some recent studies suggest ongoing transmission of parasitic diseases in the American South; however, surveys in Mississippi children are lacking. We enrolled 166 children (median age 8 years, range 4-13 years) from the Mississippi Delta region and carried out multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for , , and on their stool samples. Dried blood spots were obtained for multiplex serology antibody detection.

Seroprevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and immunity to measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria among schoolchildren aged 6-7 years old in the Solomon Islands, 2016.

The Western Pacific Region (WPR) established a goal to decrease chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among children to <1% and to achieve ≥95% hepatitis B vaccine birth dose (HepB-BD) and ≥95% three-dose (HepB3) coverage by 2017. In 2016, we conducted a national serosurvey in the Solomon Islands among 6-7-year-old school children to assess progress towards the control goal and immunity to measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria. Eighty schools were selected systematically proportional to their 6-7-year-old population; all 6-7-year-olds were enrolled.

Vaccination coverage survey and seroprevalence among forcibly displaced Rohingya children, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, 2018: A cross-sectional study.

Background: During August 2017-January 2018, more than 700,000 forcibly displaced Rohingyas crossed into Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. In response to measles and diphtheria cases, first documented in September and November 2017, respectively, vaccination campaigns targeting children <15 years old were mobilized during September 2017-March 2018. However, in a rapidly evolving emergency situation, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, and lack of access to safe water and healthcare can increase susceptibility to infectious diseases, particularly among children.

Screening for malaria antigen and anti-malarial IgG antibody in forcibly-displaced Myanmar nationals: Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh, 2018.

Background: Several refugee settlements in Bangladesh have provided housing and medical care for the forcibly-displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN, also known as Rohingya) population. The identification of malaria infection status in the refugee settlements is useful in treating infected persons and in developing malaria prevention recommendations. Assays for Plasmodium antigens and human IgG against Plasmodium parasites can be used as indicators to determine malaria infection status and exposure.

Biannual versus annual mass azithromycin distribution and malaria seroepidemiology among preschool children in Niger: a sub-study of a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Biannual mass azithromycin administration to preschool children reduces all-cause mortality, but the mechanism for the effect is not understood. Azithromycin has activity against malaria parasites, and malaria is a leading cause of child mortality in the Sahel. The effect of biannual versus annual azithromycin distribution for trachoma control on serological response to merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1), a surrogate for malaria incidence, was evaluated among children in Niger.

Pgp3 seroprevalence and associations with active trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Malawi: cross-sectional surveys in six evaluation units.

Background: Following one to five years of antibiotic mass drug administration (MDA) for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem, programmes must conduct impact surveys to inform decisions on whether MDA is still needed. These decisions are currently based on the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF), which, after MDA, correlates poorly with prevalence of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Methodology/principal Findings: Impact surveys in six evaluation units (EUs) of Malawi were used as a platform to explore associations between the prevalence of TF, ocular C.

Enteropathogen antibody dynamics and force of infection among children in low-resource settings.

Little is known about enteropathogen seroepidemiology among children in low-resource settings. We measured serological IgG responses to eight enteropathogens (, enterotoxigenic , , norovirus) in cohorts from Haiti, Kenya, and Tanzania. We studied antibody dynamics and force of infection across pathogens and cohorts.

Integration of Real-Time Electronic Health Records and Wireless Technology in a Mobile Stroke Unit.

Background: UCHealth's Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) at University of Colorado Hospital is an ambulance equipped with a computed tomography (CT) scanner and tele-stroke capabilities that began clinical operation in Aurora, Colorado January 2016. As one of the first MSU's in the United States, it was necessary to design unique and dynamic information technology infrastructure. This includes high-speed cellular connectivity, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, cloud-based and remote access to electronic medical records (EMR), and reliable and rapid image transfer.

Community-level chlamydial serology for assessing trachoma elimination in trachoma-endemic Niger.

Background: Program decision-making for trachoma elimination currently relies on conjunctival clinical signs. Antibody tests may provide additional information on the epidemiology of trachoma, particularly in regions where it is disappearing or elimination targets have been met.

Methods: A cluster-randomized trial of mass azithromycin distribution strategies for trachoma elimination was conducted over three years in a mesoendemic region of Niger.

Patients’ attitude towards travelling for breast services versus waiting longer for local services.

Geographical access is a cornerstone of health care provision. However, prolonged waiting for breast clinic appointments in local services results in delayed diagnosis and excessive anxiety for patients. In this study, we present a patient satisfaction survey results of an initiative to offer out-patient clinic appointments for non-urgent patients referred to the breast unit in Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH), Ireland, and exceeded the recommended waiting period of 12 weeks.

Distinct Treatment Outcomes of Antiparasitic Therapy in -Infected Children Is Associated With Early Changes in Cytokines, Chemokines, and T-Cell Phenotypes.

In contrast to adults, -infected children have more broadly functional -specific T cells, and the total T-cell compartment exhibits fewer signs of immune exhaustion. However, not much is known about the link between immunocompetence and the treatment efficacy for human Chagas disease. Using cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) polychromatic flow cytometry, cytometric bead assay, multiplex serological assays and quantitative PCR, we evaluated -specific T-cell and antibody immune responses, T-cell phenotypes and parasitemia in children in the early chronic phase of Chagas disease undergoing anti- treatment.

Latent class modeling to compare testing platforms for detection of antibodies against the Chlamydia trachomatis antigen Pgp3.

Latent class modeling can be used to combine the results of multiple tests to compare the sensitivity and specificity of those tests in the absence of a gold standard. Seroepidemiology for chlamydia infection may be useful for determining the cumulative risk of infection within a population. Initial studies using the Chlamydia trachomatis immunodominant antigen Pgp3 have shown utility for seroepidemiology of sexually transmitted chlamydia and the eye disease trachoma.