Publications by authors named "Kathryn Edwards"

Background: Recurrent tonsillitis is a common indication for tonsillectomy in children and has phenotypic overlap with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome. We sought to characterize symptoms associated with PFAPA among children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Methods: Parents/guardians of children undergoing tonsillectomy at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital over a six-week period were queried regarding symptoms of recurrent fever.

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Colonization by Clostridioides difficile is common in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and complicates both the management of IBD and the diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI). There is a paucity of data on rates, risk factors, and outcomes associated with asymptomatic C.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The EPIC study analyzed data from 2,272 adults hospitalized for pneumonia to understand the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) using PCR testing on throat swabs from 2010 to 2012.
  • - Only 43 patients (1.8%) tested positive for Mp, primarily affecting younger adults (median age: 45), with some experiencing severe cases leading to ICU admissions, but no in-hospital deaths were reported.
  • - Factors linked to higher Mp detection included being younger and having certain radiographic findings, indicating the need for better testing methods to improve diagnosis and treatment options for pneumonia patients.
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Objective: We explored HPV vaccine concerns and healthcare provider communication among Hispanic/Latinx hesitant parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how those concerns and provider communications compared for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. As a secondary aim, we explored communication needs and strategies for these recommended vaccines.

Design: We applied a concurrent, multi-method study design (survey and interview) with 23 Hispanic/Latinx American parents of adolescents aged 11-18 years.

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  • The study focused on understanding the causes and severity of pneumonia in children by analyzing their blood RNA to find specific gene expressions linked to different microbial infections.
  • Researchers examined 222 hospitalized children with pneumonia and identified 11 genes that help differentiate between viral and bacterial infections, as well as 16 genes that distinguish between typical and atypical bacterial strains.
  • The findings reveal 19 genes related to pneumonia severity, suggesting that these genetic markers could enhance future diagnostic and prognostic methods for childhood pneumonia.
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Objective: This study measured anatalline and nicotelline, two minor tobacco alkaloids, to discriminate between exclusive smokeless tobacco (SLT) use, exclusive electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use, exclusive cigarette use, dual SLT and cigarette use, and dual ENDS and cigarette use.

Methods:  = 664 urine samples from participants in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study were analyzed for anatalline and nicotelline. Geometric means and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for biomarker levels and their ratios.

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  • The aging global population makes vaccination crucial for promoting healthy aging.
  • Challenges like weakened immune response in older adults and vaccine skepticism hinder the effectiveness of adult vaccines.
  • To maximize adult vaccination benefits, it's important to improve immunization programs, combat misinformation, and increase research on aging and immunity.
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Background: The mechanisms by which cigarette smoking increases the risk of respiratory disease have been studied. However, less is known about risks of respiratory symptoms and outcomes associated with smoking cigars, and risks by cigar types have not been previously explored. The aim of this study was to examine associations between cigar use, including traditional cigars, cigarillos, filtered cigars, and dual cigar and cigarette use, and functionally important respiratory symptoms (FIRS), lifetime asthma diagnosis, uncontrolled asthma, and new cases of FIRS.

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  • The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program started in December 2020 and has played a crucial role in reducing illness and death caused by the virus, with safety monitoring being a key part of this effort.
  • The government established multiple safety monitoring systems, utilizing both passive and active surveillance to track potential adverse events, especially focusing on vulnerable groups like pregnant individuals.
  • The report highlights how systems worked together to quickly identify and manage issues like myocarditis after mRNA vaccinations, ensuring effective communication of safety data to healthcare providers and the public.
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Introduction: We compare real-world trends in population-level cigarette discontinuation rates among adults (ages ≥21) who smoked cigarettes, by electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use.

Aims And Methods: U.S nationally representative data from adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (2013/14-2021, Waves 1-6) who smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days (P30D) were analyzed (n = 13 640).

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  • Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that poses a significant risk to infants before they receive their vaccinations, making vaccination during pregnancy crucial for reducing the risk of severe infection and death in newborns.
  • A high-throughput multiplex assay was developed to measure IgG antibodies against various pertussis vaccine components and other related vaccines in serum and breast milk, demonstrating strong reliability and effectiveness.
  • Analysis showed differences in antibody profiles among pregnant women based on vaccination history, with postpartum vaccination resulting in sustained IgG levels for up to 24 months and effective antibody transfer to breast milk, highlighting the importance of maternal immunization.
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Introduction: The study assessed longitudinal transitions among adult (18 and older) past 30-day daily and non-daily dual users of cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

Methods: Using data from Wave 4 (W4; 2016/17) and Wave 5 (W5; 2018/19) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US adults, multivariable regressions were conducted among W4 dual users of cigarettes and ENDS to examine past 30-day cigarette smoking at W5. The study also analyzed changes in frequency of past 30-day smoking and cigarettes smoked per day between W4 and W5, stratified by W4/W5 daily/non-daily ENDS use among W4 daily and non-daily cigarette smokers.

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  • * The CDC formed an independent group called the ACIP COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group (VaST) to monitor vaccine safety and address any concerns that arose post-authorization.
  • * VaST met regularly from November 2020 to April 2023, collaborating with federal agencies to review safety data and inform vaccination policies while ensuring the effective assessment of safety during the rollout of multiple COVID-19 vaccines.
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Background: MF59-adjuvanted gB subunit (gB/MF59) vaccine demonstrated approximately 50% efficacy against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) acquisition in multiple clinical trials, suggesting that efforts to improve this vaccine design might yield a vaccine suitable for licensure.

Methods: A messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccine candidate encoding HCMV gB and pentameric complex (PC), mRNA-1647, is currently in late-stage efficacy trials. However, its immunogenicity has not been compared to the partially effective gB/MF59 vaccine.

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The intestinal microbiome influences growth and disease progression in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA), the newest pharmaceutical modulator for CF, restores the function of the pathogenic mutated CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel. We performed a single-center longitudinal analysis of the effect of ELX/TEZ/IVA on the intestinal microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and clinical parameters in children with CF.

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The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children has fortunately been lower than what has been seen in adults. However, even previously healthy children have developed severe disease, sometimes with subsequent mortality, and those who are infants or adolescents, are from racial and ethnic minority groups, or have certain chronic conditions are at higher risk of these outcomes. During the pandemic, extensive studies of therapeutic agents, including antivirals and immunomodulators, were conducted in adults.

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This study examined associations between established cigar use and prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD; congestive heart failure, stroke, or heart attack/needed bypass surgery) among U.S. adults, 40 years or older.

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Background: Avian influenza viruses pose significant risk to human health. Vaccines targeting the hemagglutinin of these viruses are poorly immunogenic without the use of adjuvants.

Methods: Twenty healthy men and women (18-49 years of age) were randomized to receive 2 doses of inactivated influenza A/H5N1 vaccine alone (IIV) or with AS03 adjuvant (IIV-AS03) 1 month apart.

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Introduction: We examined the association between tobacco product use and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Waves 1-5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Methods: Adults ≥40 years with an ever COPD diagnosis were included in cross-sectional (Wave 5) and longitudinal (Waves 1 to 5) analyses. Tobacco use included 13 mutually exclusive categories of past 30-day (P30D) single use and polyuse with P30D exclusive cigarette use and ≥5-year cigarette cessation as reference groups.

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