Analyzing Racial Disparities in Pediatric Atopic Comorbidity Emergency Department Visitation Using Electronic Health Records.

Background: Although atopic diseases and associated comorbidities are prevalent in children, little is known about racial differences in emergency department (ED) visitation.

Objective: We sought to examine racial differences in ED visitation among children with allergic comorbidities.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients (<21 years) who visited the ED at a large pediatric hospital for atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergy (FA), asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) from 2015 to 2019.

Racial differences in length of stay and readmission for asthma in the all of us research program.

Background: This study addresses the limited research on racial disparities in asthma hospitalization outcomes, specifically length of stay (LOS) and readmission, across the U.S.

Methods: We analyzed in-patient and emergency department visits from the All of Us Research Program, identifying various risk factors (demographic, comorbid, temporal, and place-based) associated with asthma LOS and 30-day readmission using Bayesian mixed-effects models.

Multilevel Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Hospitalization among Children with Allergies.

Previous studies have identified risk factors for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hospitalization in children. However, these studies have been limited in their ability to disentangle the contribution of racial disparities, allergic comorbidities, and environmental exposures to the development of severe COVID-19 in at-risk children with allergies. To examine racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospitalization and their links to potentially underlying allergic comorbidities and individual and place-based factors in children with allergies.

Understanding racial disparities in childhood asthma using individual- and neighborhood-level risk factors.

Background: Racial disparities in childhood asthma outcomes result from a complex interplay of individual- and neighborhood-level factors.

Objectives: We sought to examine racial disparities in asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits between African American (AA) and European American (EA) children.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients younger than 18 years who visited the ED at Cincinnati Children's for asthma from 2009 to 2018.

Associated health and social determinants of mobile populations across HIV epidemic gradients in Southern Africa.

Background: Growing travel connectivity and economic development have dramatically increased the magnitude of human mobility in Africa. In public health, vulnerable population groups such as mobile individuals are at an elevated risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

Methods: The population-based Demographic Health Survey data of five Southern African countries with different HIV epidemic intensities (Angola, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) were used to investigate the association between HIV serostatus and population mobility adjusting for socio-demographic, sexual behavior and spatial covariates.

The epidemiological landscape of anemia in women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

The role of geographical disparities of health-related risk factors with anemia are poorly documented for women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to determine the contribution of potential factors and to identify areas at higher risk of anemia for women in reproductive age in SSA. Our study population comprised 27 nationally representative samples of women of reproductive age (15-49) who were enrolled in the Demographic and Health Surveys and conducted between 2010 and 2019 in SSA.

Identification of Vulnerable Populations and Areas at Higher Risk of COVID-19-Related Mortality during the Early Stage of the Epidemic in the United States.

We characterized vulnerable populations located in areas at higher risk of COVID-19-related mortality and low critical healthcare capacity during the early stage of the epidemic in the United States. We analyze data obtained from a Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 database to assess the county-level spatial variation of COVID-19-related mortality risk during the early stage of the epidemic in relation to health determinants and health infrastructure. Overall, we identified highly populated and polluted areas, regional air hub areas, race minorities (non-white population), and Hispanic or Latino population with an increased risk of COVID-19-related death during the first phase of the epidemic.

Spatiotemporal transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on critical healthcare capacity.

The role of geospatial disparities in the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic is poorly understood. We developed a spatially-explicit mathematical model to simulate transmission dynamics of COVID-19 disease infection in relation with the uneven distribution of the healthcare capacity in Ohio, U.S.

Identification of Vulnerable Populations and Areas at Higher Risk of COVID-19 Related Mortality in the U.S.

Background: The role of health-related disparities including sociodemographic, environmental, and critical care capacity in the COVID-19 pandemic are poorly understood. In the present study, we characterized vulnerable populations located in areas at higher risk of COVID-19 related mortality and low critical healthcare capacity in the U.S.

Computer Imagery and Neurological Rehabilitation: On the Use of Augmented Reality in Sensorimotor Training to Step Up Naturally Occurring Cortical Reorganization in Patients Following Stroke.

This work promotes the use of computer-generated imagery -as visual illusions- to speed up motor learning in rehabilitation. In support of this, we adhere the principles of experience-dependent neuroplasticity and the positive impact of virtual reality (VR) thereof. Specifically, post-stroke patients will undergo motor therapy with a surrogate virtual limb that fakes the paralyzed limb.