Evidence of neuroinflammation and immunotherapy responsiveness in individuals with down syndrome regression disorder.

Background: Down syndrome regression disorder is a symptom cluster consisting of neuropsychiatric regression without cause. This study evaluated the incidence of neurodiagnostic abnormalities in individuals with Down syndrome regression disorder and determined if abnormalities are indicative of responses to therapeutic intervention.

Methods: A retrospective, multi-center, case-control study was performed.

A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to Hurricane Katrina: When Disasters, Environmental Health Threats, and Disparities Collide.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina resulted in long-term flooding of 80% of New Orleans, Louisiana. Mold-infested homes gave rise to concerns about increased childhood asthma. To address these concerns, a diverse community-academic partnership used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to implement the Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL) study in 2007.

An Unusual Cause of Frequent, Sudden, Transient, Unexplained Falls and New-Onset Status Epilepticus: Case Report and Mini-Review.

We report a 14-year old adolescent Caucasian female, who presented with frequent, sudden, transient, and unexplained falls leading to multiple serious injuries to her head and extremities requiring several visits to the emergency department. She was evaluated numerous times and imaging studies, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and electroencephalogram studies were all normal. She eventually presented to outside emergency department with dystonic posturing and status epilepticus and was transferred to our pediatric intensive care unit for further management.

A comparison of seasonal trends in asthma exacerbations among children from geographic regions with different climates.

Background: The fall peak in childhood asthma exacerbations is thought to be related to an increase in viral infections and allergen exposure when children return to school. Whether the seasonality of asthma attacks among children from different geographic regions follows similar trends is unclear.

Objective: To compare seasonal trends in asthma exacerbations among school-age children who lived in different geographic locations, with different climates, within the United States.

From Design to Dissemination: Implementing Community-Based Participatory Research in Postdisaster Communities.

Objectives: To review how disasters introduce unique challenges to conducting population-based research and community-based participatory research (CBPR).

Methods: From 2007-2009, we conducted the Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL) Study in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in a Gulf Coast community facing an unprecedented triple burden: Katrina's and other disasters' impact on the environment and health, historic health disparities, and persistent environmental health threats.

Results: The unique triple burden influenced every research component; still, most existing CBPR principles were applicable, even though full adherence was not always feasible and additional tailored principles govern postdisaster settings.