HIV disease duration, but not active brain infection, predicts cortical amyloid beta deposition.

Objective: Abnormal deposition of the antimicrobial peptide amyloid beta (Aβ) is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. The objective of this study was to elucidate risk factors for brain Aβ in a cohort enriched for HIV and other neurotropic pathogens.

Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.

Prevalence and Characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Pork Carcasses and in Swine Colon Contents from Provincially Licensed Abattoirs in Alberta, Canada.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in colon contents and on carcasses from pigs slaughtered at provincially licensed abattoirs (PLAs) in Alberta, Canada. In 2017, carcass sponge samples and colon content samples were collected from 504 healthy market hogs at 39 PLAs and analyzed for E. coli O157:H7.

Crash rates over time among younger and older drivers in the SHRP 2 naturalistic driving study.

Objective: To examine crash rates over time among 16-17-year-old drivers compared to older drivers.

Methods: Data were from a random sample of 854 of the 3,500 study participants in SHRP 2, a U.S.

Characteristics of Motor Dysfunction in Longstanding Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has decreased, but milder forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist along with motor dysfunction. The HIV Motor Scale (HMS) is a validated tool that captures motor abnormalities on routine neurologic examination and which is associated with cognitive impairment in HIV. In this study, we applied a modified HMS (MHMS) to a nationwide cohort of people with longstanding HIV to characterize and understand the factors contributing to motor dysfunction.

Kinematic risky driving behavior among younger and older drivers: Differences over time by age group and sex.

This research examined the incidence rates of elevated gravitational force events (kinematic risky driving, KRD) among 16- to 17-year-old drivers compared to those of 18- to 20-year-old, 21- to 25-year-old, and 35- to 55-year-old drivers over a 12-month period. Data were sampled from the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) naturalistic driving study that recruited a U.S.

Frailty in medically complex individuals with chronic HIV.

Objectives: Multimorbidity and frailty are consequences of aging with HIV, yet not everyone with medical disease is frail. Our objective was to identify factors associated with frailty in a multimorbid HIV-infected cohort.

Design: Analysis of a prospective, observational, longitudinal cohort.

The integrated National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium database: a rich platform for neuroHIV research.

Herein we present major updates to the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) database. The NNTC's ongoing multisite clinical research study was established to facilitate access to ante-mortem and post-mortem data, tissues and biofluids for the neurohuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research community. Recently, the NNTC has expanded to include data from the central nervous system HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effects Research (CHARTER) study.

Treatment of Geographic Atrophy with Intravitreal Sirolimus: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Ancillary Study.

Objective/purpose: To evaluate efficacy and safety of monthly intravitreal injections of sirolimus, an immunosuppressive drug, for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration associated geographic atrophy (GA).

Design: Randomized, controlled, single-masked multi-center phase 2 clinical trial of intravitreal sirolimus vs. sham therapy in AREDS2 clinical centers.

Visualization of Dietary Patterns and Their Associations With Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: We aimed to visualize the relationship of predominant dietary patterns and their associations with AMD.

Methods: A total of 8103 eyes from 4088 participants in the baseline Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) were classified into three groups: control (n = 2739), early AMD (n = 4599), and advanced AMD (n = 765). Using principle component analysis, two major dietary patterns and eight minor dietary patterns were characterized.

Statistical Monitoring in Clinical Trials: Best Practices for Detecting Data Anomalies Suggestive of Fabrication or Misconduct.

Background: Traditional site-monitoring techniques are not optimal in finding data fabrication and other nonrandom data distributions with the greatest potential for jeopardizing the validity of study results. TransCelerate BioPharma conducted an experiment testing the utility of statistical methods for detecting implanted fabricated data and other signals of noncompliance.

Methods: TransCelerate tested statistical monitoring on a data set from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinical study with 178 sites and 1554 subjects.

The relationship of major American dietary patterns to age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: We hypothesized that major American dietary patterns are associated with risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: We classified 8103 eyes in 4088 eligible participants in the baseline Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).

A risk score for the prediction of advanced age-related macular degeneration: development and validation in 2 prospective cohorts.

Purpose: To develop a clinical eye-specific prediction model for advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) cohort followed up for 8 years served as the training dataset, and the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) cohort followed up for 10 years served as the validation dataset.

Participants: A total of 4507 AREDS participants (contributing 1185 affected vs.

Central site monitoring: results from a test of accuracy in identifying trials and sites failing Food and Drug Administration inspection.

Background: Site monitoring and source document verification account for 15%-30% of clinical trial costs. An alternative is to streamline site monitoring to focus on correcting trial-specific risks identified by central data monitoring. This risk-based approach could preserve or even improve the quality of clinical trial data and human subject protection compared to site monitoring focused primarily on source document verification.

Aging effects on oropharyngeal swallow and the role of dental care in oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Difficulty with oropharyngeal swallow requires careful diagnosis and treatment from a team of professionals including the patients' physicians and the speech-language pathologist specializing in dysphagia. The dentist can be a critical team member in prevention, early identification, and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia. This manuscript reviews the physiology of normal oropharyngeal swallow and the effects of normal aging on this physiology.

Neurovirological correlation with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and encephalitis in a HAART-era cohort.

Objective: Replicating HIV-1 in the brain is present in HIV encephalitis (HIVE) and microglial nodule encephalitis (MGNE) and is putatively linked with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). A cliniconeurovirological correlation was conducted to elucidate the relationship between brain viral load and clinical phenotype. SUBJECTS AND ASSAYS: HIV gag/pol RNA and DNA copies were quantified with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or polymerase chain reaction in 148 HAART-era brain specimens.

Phenotypic and genetic characterization of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella serovars isolated from retail meats in Alberta, Canada.

This study determined the prevalence of Salmonella serovars, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and resistance genes in Salmonella isolated from retail meats purchased in Alberta, Canada. Samples were collected during one year period (May 2007-April 2008) on weekly basis from 19 census divisions in Alberta. A total of 564 samples including chicken (n = 206), turkey (n = 91), beef (n = 134) and pork (n = 133) were purchased.

Microbiological baseline study of beef and pork carcasses from provincially inspected abattoirs in Alberta, Canada.

In 2006 and 2007 beef and pork carcass swabs from provincially inspected abattoirs in Alberta, Canada were tested to determine the levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, and generic Escherichia coli, and the prevalence of Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Shiga toxin-producing E.

Substance abuse increases the risk of neuropathy in an HIV-infected cohort.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients commonly develop distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). Age, ethnicity, and toxic exposures may influence the risk. In this study we examined the association between substance use, antiretrovirals, ethnicity, and incident neuropathy in an HIV-infected cohort.

Associations between genetic polymorphisms of insulin-like growth factor axis genes and risk for age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate whether insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis genes, together with a novel dietary risk factor, the dietary glycemic index (dGI), and body mass index (BMI) affect the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This case-control study involved 962 subjects originally recruited through the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Genetic Repository. After those with missing covariates or invalid calorie intake (n = 23), diabetes (n = 59), and non-Caucasian race (n = 16) were excluded, 864 participants were used, including 209 AREDS category 1 participants (control group), 354 category 2 or 3 participants (drusen group), and 301 category 4 participants (advanced AMD group).

C-reactive protein and CFH, ARMS2/HTRA1 gene variants are independently associated with risk of macular degeneration.

Purpose: Genetic variants CFH and ARMS2/HTRA1 gene regions as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We evaluated their independent and combined effects on risk of AMD, as well as their interactions.

Design: Case-control study.

Natural history of drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration: Age-Related Eye Disease Study Report No. 28.

Objective: To describe the natural history of eyes with drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments (DPEDs) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Multicenter, clinic-based, prospective cohort study.

Participants: Among 4757 participants enrolled in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), 255 were identified as having DPED in at least 1 eye and having 5 or more years of follow-up after the initial detection of the DPED.

Evaluation of associations between feed withdrawal and other management factors with Salmonella contamination of broiler chickens at slaughter in Alberta.

Salmonellosis is one of the most common bacterial foodborne diseases of public health concern in industrialized countries. Poultry products are considered an important source of Salmonella-related foodborne disease in humans. This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between various management factors including feed withdrawal and transportation time with Salmonella contamination in crops, ceca, and carcasses of broiler chickens at slaughter in Alberta.

Change in area of geographic atrophy in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS report number 26.

Objective: To characterize progression of geographic atrophy (GA) associated with age-related macular degeneration in AREDS as measured by digitized fundus photographs.

Methods: Fundus photographs from 181 of 4757 AREDS participants with a GA area of at least 0.5 disc areas at baseline or from participants who developed bilateral GA during follow-up were scanned, digitized, and evaluated longitudinally.

Does eating particular diets alter the risk of age-related macular degeneration in users of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study supplements?

Background: Recent information suggests that the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) supplement, enhanced intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and reducing dietary glycaemic index (dGI) are protective against advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Dietary information was collected at baseline, and fundus photograph grades were obtained during the 8-year trial period from 2924 eligible AREDS AMD trial participants. Using the eye as the unit of analysis and multifailure Cox proportional-hazards regression, the risk of AMD progression was related to dietary intake in the four arms of the trial.

Evaluation of environmental sampling methods and rapid detection assays for recovery and identification of Listeria spp. from meat processing facilities.

Studies that isolated Listeria spp. from the environment of two meat processing facilities were conducted. Samples were collected in the processing environment of the facilities with three different sampling methods (cotton swab, sterile sponge, and composite-ply tissues) to evaluate their ability to recover Listeria spp.