Economic burden of cardiorespiratory hospitalizations associated with respiratory syncytial virus among United States adults in 2017-2019.

Morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults and those with underlying health conditions can be potentially alleviated through vaccination. To assist vaccine policy decision-makers and payers, we estimated the annual economic burden of RSV-associated cardiorespiratory hospitalizations among insured US adults aged ≥18 y in the Merative MarketScan claims database from September through August of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the number of RSV-associated cardiorespiratory hospitalizations using MarketScan-identified cardiorespiratory diagnosis codes in the presence or absence of RSV circulation per weekly laboratory test positivity percentages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Real-world comparative effectiveness of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccines among immunocompromised adults identified in administrative claims data in the United States.

Introduction: Head-to-head studies comparing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine effectiveness in immunocompromised individuals, who are vulnerable to severe disease are lacking, as large sample sizes are required to make meaningful inferences.

Methods: This observational comparative effectiveness study was conducted in closed administrative claims data from the US HealthVerity database (December 11, 2020-January 10, 2022, before omicron). A 2-dose mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2 regimen was assessed for preventing medically-attended breakthrough COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalizations among immunocompromised adults.

Polygenic risk score for the prediction of breast cancer is related to lesser terminal duct lobular unit involution of the breast.

Terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the predominant anatomical structures where breast cancers originate. Having lesser degrees of age-related TDLU involution, measured as higher TDLUs counts or more epithelial TDLU substructures (acini), is related to increased breast cancer risk among women with benign breast disease (BBD). We evaluated whether a recently developed polygenic risk score (PRS) based on 313-common variants for breast cancer prediction is related to TDLU involution in the background, normal breast tissue, as this could provide mechanistic clues on the genetic predisposition to breast cancer.

Who Is Keeping Their Unused Opioids and Why?

Objective: To better understand patients' reasoning for keeping unused opioid pills.

Methods: As part of a larger study, patients were asked their plans for their unused opioids. Responses were categorized as "dispose," "keep," and "don't know.

Test-retest reliability of the Newest Vital Sign health literacy instrument: In-person and remote administration.

Objective: To determine the reliability of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) administered via telephone by examining test-retest properties of the measure.

Methods: Data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial promoting opioid safe use. Participants were 18 or older and English-speaking.

Pictograms, Units and Dosing Tools, and Parent Medication Errors: A Randomized Study.

Background And Objectives: Poorly designed labels and dosing tools contribute to dosing errors. We examined the degree to which errors could be reduced with pictographic diagrams, milliliter-only units, and provision of tools more closely matched to prescribed volumes.

Methods: This study involved a randomized controlled experiment in 3 pediatric clinics.

Liquid Medication Dosing Errors by Hispanic Parents: Role of Health Literacy and English Proficiency.

Objective: Hispanic parents in the United States are disproportionately affected by low health literacy and limited English proficiency (LEP). We examined associations between health literacy, LEP, and liquid medication dosing errors in Hispanic parents.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from a multisite randomized controlled experiment to identify best practices for the labeling/dosing of pediatric liquid medications (SAFE Rx for Kids study); 3 urban pediatric clinics.

Parent Preferences and Perceptions of Milliliters and Teaspoons: Role of Health Literacy and Experience.

Background And Objectives: A recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommends milliliter-exclusive dosing for pediatric liquid medications. Little is known about parent preferences regarding units, perceptions about moving to milliliters only, and the role of health literacy and prior milliliter-dosing experience.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a randomized controlled study in 3 urban pediatric clinics (SAFE Rx for Kids study).

Association between breast cancer genetic susceptibility variants and terminal duct lobular unit involution of the breast.

Terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the predominant source of future breast cancers, and lack of TDLU involution (higher TDLU counts, higher acini count per TDLU and the product of the two) is a breast cancer risk factor. Numerous breast cancer susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified, but whether they are associated with TDLU involution is unknown. In a pooled analysis of 872 women from two studies, we investigated 62 established breast cancer SNPs and relationships with TDLU involution.

Relation of Serum Estrogen Metabolites with Terminal Duct Lobular Unit Involution Among Women Undergoing Diagnostic Image-Guided Breast Biopsy.

Higher levels of circulating estrogens and estrogen metabolites (EMs) have been associated with higher breast cancer risk. In breast tissues, reduced levels of terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU) involution, as reflected by higher numbers of TDLUs and acini per TDLU, have also been linked to elevated breast cancer risk. However, it is unknown whether reduced TDLU involution mediates the risk associated with circulating EMs.

Effect of Medication Label Units of Measure on Parent Choice of Dosing Tool: A Randomized Experiment.

Objective: Some experts recommend eliminating "teaspoon" and "tablespoon" terms from pediatric medication dosing instructions, because these terms could inadvertently encourage use of nonstandard tools (ie, kitchen spoons), which are associated with dosing errors. We examined whether use of "teaspoon" or "tsp" on prescription labels affects parents' choice of dosing tools, and the role of health literacy and language.

Methods: Analysis of data collected as part of a controlled experiment (SAFE Rx for Kids [Safe Administration For Every Prescription for Kids] study), which randomized English- and Spanish-speaking parents (n = 2110) of children 8 years of age and younger to 1 of 5 groups, which varied in unit of measurement pairings on medication labels and dosing tools.

Liquid Medication Errors and Dosing Tools: A Randomized Controlled Experiment.

Background And Objectives: Poorly designed labels and packaging are key contributors to medication errors. To identify attributes of labels and dosing tools that could be improved, we examined the extent to which dosing error rates are affected by tool characteristics (ie, type, marking complexity) and discordance between units of measurement on labels and dosing tools; along with differences by health literacy and language.

Methods: Randomized controlled experiment in 3 urban pediatric clinics.

Relationships between mammographic density, tissue microvessel density, and breast biopsy diagnosis.

Background: Women with high levels of mammographic density (MD) have a four- to six-fold increased risk of developing breast cancer; however, most neither have a prevalent tumor nor will they develop one. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that background parenchymal enhancement, an indicator of vascularity, is related to increased breast cancer risk. Correlations of microvessel density (MVD) in tissue, MD and biopsy diagnosis have not been defined, and we investigated these relationships among 218 women referred for biopsy.

Ages at menarche- and menopause-related genetic variants in relation to terminal duct lobular unit involution in normal breast tissue.

Reduced levels of terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU) involution, as reflected by higher numbers of TDLUs and acini per TDLU, have been associated with higher breast cancer risk. Younger age at menarche and older age at menopause have been previously related to lower levels of TDLU involution. To determine a possible genetic link, we examined whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously established in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for ages at menarche and menopause are associated with TDLU involution.

Circulating insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and terminal duct lobular unit involution of the breast: a cross-sectional study of women with benign breast disease.

Background: Terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the primary structures from which breast cancers and their precursors arise. Decreased age-related TDLU involution and elevated mammographic density are both correlated and independently associated with increased breast cancer risk, suggesting that these characteristics of breast parenchyma might be linked to a common factor. Given data suggesting that increased circulating levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) factors are related to reduced TDLU involution and increased mammographic density, we assessed these relationships using validated quantitative methods in a cross-sectional study of women with benign breast disease.

Relationship of Terminal Duct Lobular Unit Involution of the Breast with Area and Volume Mammographic Densities.

Elevated mammographic density (MD) is an established breast cancer risk factor. Reduced involution of terminal duct lobular units (TDLU), the histologic source of most breast cancers, has been associated with higher MD and breast cancer risk. We investigated relationships of TDLU involution with area and volumetric MD, measured throughout the breast and surrounding biopsy targets (perilesional).

Leukocyte telomere length and its association with mammographic density and proliferative diagnosis among women undergoing diagnostic image-guided breast biopsy.

Background: Elevated mammographic density (MD) is a strong breast cancer risk factor but the mechanisms underlying the association are poorly understood. High MD and breast cancer risk may reflect cumulative exposures to factors that promote epithelial cell division. One marker of cellular replicative history is telomere length, but its association with MD is unknown.

Relationship of serum estrogens and metabolites with area and volume mammographic densities.

Elevated mammographic density is a breast cancer risk factor, which has a suggestive, but unproven, relationship with increased exposure to sex steroid hormones. We examined associations of serum estrogens and estrogen metabolites with area and novel volume mammographic density measures among 187 women, ages 40-65, undergoing diagnostic breast biopsies at an academic facility in Vermont. Serum parent estrogens, estrone and estradiol, and their 2-, 4-, and 16-hydroxylated metabolites were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Circulating sex hormones and terminal duct lobular unit involution of the normal breast.

Background: Terminal duct lobular units (TDLU) are the predominant source of breast cancers. Lesser degrees of age-related TDLU involution have been associated with increased breast cancer risk, but factors that influence involution are largely unknown. We assessed whether circulating hormones, implicated in breast cancer risk, are associated with levels of TDLU involution using data from the Susan G.

Terminal duct lobular unit involution of the normal breast: implications for breast cancer etiology.

Background: Greater degrees of terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU) involution have been linked to lower breast cancer risk; however, factors that influence this process are poorly characterized.

Methods: To study this question, we developed three reproducible measures that are inversely associated with TDLU involution: TDLU counts, median TDLU span, and median acini counts/TDLU. We determined factors associated with TDLU involution using normal breast tissues from 1938 participants (1369 premenopausal and 569 postmenopausal) ages 18 to 75 years in the Susan G.

Comparison of mammographic density assessed as volumes and areas among women undergoing diagnostic image-guided breast biopsy.

Background: Mammographic density (MD), the area of non-fatty-appearing tissue divided by total breast area, is a strong breast cancer risk factor. Most MD analyses have used visual categorizations or computer-assisted quantification, which ignore breast thickness. We explored MD volume and area, using a volumetric approach previously validated as predictive of breast cancer risk, in relation to risk factors among women undergoing breast biopsy.

Long-term overall and disease-specific mortality associated with benign gynecologic surgery performed at different ages.

Objective: As bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is frequently performed with hysterectomy for nonmalignant conditions, defining health outcomes associated with benign bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy performed at different ages is critical.

Methods: We assessed mortality risk associated with benign total abdominal hysterectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy among 52,846 Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project follow-up study participants. Surgery and risk factor data were ascertained via baseline interview (1979-1986) and three questionnaires (1987-1998).