Ambient Toxic Air Contaminants in the Maternal Residential Area during Pregnancy and Cerebral Palsy in the Offspring.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common permanent neuromotor disorder diagnosed in childhood. Although most cases have unknown etiology, emerging evidence suggests environmental risk factors of CP.

Objectives: We investigated whether ambient toxic air contaminants (TACs) in the maternal residential area during pregnancy, specifically volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals, were associated with offspring CP risk in California.

"A torch, a rope, a belly laugh": engaging with the multiple voices of support groups for people living with rare dementia.

Purpose: Rare forms of dementia bring unique difficulties related to age of onset, impact on family commitments, employment and finances, and also bring distinctive needs for support and care. The aim of the present study was to explore and better understand what the concept of support means for people living with different rare dementia (PLwRD) and their care-partners who attend ongoing support groups.

Methods: Representing seven types of rare dementia, source material was collected from 177 PLwRD and care-partners attending in-person support groups, with the goal of developing research-informed group poems, co-constructed by a facilitating poet.

Estimating the burden of RSV- and influenza-associated hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths across age and socioeconomic groups in New York State, 2005-2019.

Background: Multiple prophylactic products are now available to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in different age groups. Assessing the pre-intervention burden of RSV infections across various severity levels and risk groups is crucial, as it provides a baseline for evaluating the impact of these products.

Methods: We obtained monthly time series data on hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and deaths by age group, ZIP code, and cause for New York state from 2005 to 2019.

Factors associated with tuberculosis treatment initiation among bacteriologically negative individuals evaluated for tuberculosis: An individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Globally, over one-third of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnoses are made based on clinical criteria after a negative bacteriological test result. There is limited information on the factors that determine clinicians' decisions to initiate TB treatment when initial bacteriological test results are negative.

Methods And Findings: We performed a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis using studies conducted between January 2010 and December 2022 (PROSPERO: CRD42022287613).

Demographic inequities and cumulative environmental burdens within communities near superfund sites on Long Island, New York.

Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, New York are densely populated and contain 34 federally-designated and 449 state-designated Superfund sites, potentially exposing communities to toxic releases. We conducted a distributive justice analysis assessing proximity to Superfund sites, community socio-demographics, and other environmental burdens. Socio-demographic and environmental variables for 665 census tracts were obtained from the United States Census and Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool.