Environmental sources of community-acquired legionnaires' disease: A review.

Background: Most Legionnaires' disease in the US and abroad is community-acquired and believed to be sporadic, or non-outbreak associated. Most patients are exposed to numerous water sources, thus making it difficult to focus environmental investigations. Identifying known sources of sporadic community-acquired Legionnaires' disease will inform future sporadic Legionnaires' disease investigations as well as highlight directions for research.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 Outbreak Associated with Restaurant Beef Grinding.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a common cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Beef ground at establishments regulated by the U.S.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in eastern Pennsylvania: an assessment of registry reporting.

Background: Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has been reportable to the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry (PCR) since the 1980s, but the completeness of reporting is unknown. This study assessed CML reporting in eastern Pennsylvania where a cluster of another myeloproliferative neoplasm was previously identified.

Methods: Cases were identified from 2 sources: 1) PCR case reports for residents of Carbon, Luzerne, or Schuylkill County with International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) codes 9875 (CML, BCR-ABL+), 9863 (CML, NOS), and 9860 (myeloid leukemia) and date of diagnosis 2001-2009, and 2) review of billing records at hematology practices.

Underrepresentation of heroin involvement in unintentional drug overdose deaths in Allegheny County, PA.

Drugs contributing to overdose deaths are listed on death certificates, but their validity is rarely studied. To assess the accuracy of "morphine" and "codeine" listings on death certificates for unintentional overdose deaths in Allegheny County, PA, investigative and laboratory reports were reviewed. Deaths were reclassified as heroin-related if documentation showed 6-monoacetylmorphine in blood or urine, "stamp bags" or drug paraphernalia at scene, history of heroin use, or track marks.

Cancer incidence in elderly West Virginians.

West Virginia has one of the oldest populations in the nation. Cancer is a common disease among the elderly. With the projected growth of the elderly population (defined as 65 years and older), cancer will become a major public health burden.

Estimation of short-term effects of air pollution on stroke hospital admissions in Wuhan, China.

Background And Objective: High concentrations of air pollutants have been linked to increased incidence of stroke in North America and Europe but not yet assessed in mainland China. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between stroke hospitalization and short-term elevation of air pollutants in Wuhan, China.

Methods: Daily mean NO2, SO2 and PM10 levels, temperature and humidity were obtained from 2006 through 2008.

Morbidity associated with golf-related injuries among children: findings from a pediatric trauma center.

Objective: To describe injuries due to golf-related activities among pediatric patients requiring hospital admission.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all sports-related injuries from 2000 to 2006 using a level 1 trauma center database.

Results: Of 1005 children admitted with sports-related injuries, 60 (6%) had golf-related injuries.

Falls among adults: the association of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity with walking-related falls.

Background: Falls are a major cause of deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits in the U.S., but circumstances surrounding falls are not well described.

Changes in motorcycle-related head injury deaths, hospitalizations, and hospital charges following repeal of Pennsylvania's mandatory motorcycle helmet law.

To evaluate the 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet law, we assessed changes in helmet use and compared motorcycle-related head injuries with non-head injuries from 2001-2002 to 2004-2005. Helmet use among riders in crashes decreased from 82% to 58%. Head injury deaths increased 66%; nonhead injury deaths increased 25%.

Asthma management practices among children in Georgia.

Background: Asthma self-management, the involvement of patients or their caregivers in the management of their disease, reduces healthcare visits and costs. We assessed selected asthma self-management practices among a representative sample of children in Georgia to guide statewide asthma control programs.

Methods: A random-digit-dialed telephone survey of 2,121 households with 3,896 children 17 years of age or younger was conducted.

A survey of sexually transmitted diseases/HIV coinfection testing and reporting practices among health care providers in New Jersey.

Objectives: A survey was conducted to ascertain the adherence of health care providers (HCPs) to national guidelines recommending human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among persons with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and STD testing among HIV-infected persons.

Study: A random sample of HCPs reporting STD and HIV cases in New Jersey were surveyed regarding their STD/HIV testing and reporting practices.

Results: Questionnaires were returned by 90 of 162 (55.

Administrative data as a tool for arthritis surveillance: estimating prevalence and utilization of services.

The public health burden of arthritis and related conditions is incompletely described by commonly used public health surveillance systems. We examined the potential of administrative data as a supplement. The administrative data sources we used underestimated the prevalence of arthritis and overestimated service utilization for persons with arthritis when data from only one year were used.

Findings from STD screening of adolescents and adults entering corrections facilities: implications for STD control strategies.

Background: Persons entering corrections facilities are at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) because of risky sexual behavior and lack of access to routine screening.

Goal: The goal of the study was to develop a national picture of STD prevalence in this population.

Study Design: We analyzed information on age, race/ethnicity, urethral symptoms (men only), and test results for approximately 85,000 chlamydia, 157,000 gonorrhea, and 293,000 syphilis tests for persons entering 23 jails and 12 juvenile detention centers in 13 US counties from 1996 through 1999.

Screening women in jails for chlamydial and gonococcal infection using urine tests: feasibility, acceptability, prevalence, and treatment rates.

Background: Women entering jails are at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases; however, screening for chlamydial and gonococcal infection is not routinely performed in most jails. New urine tests have made it easier to screen for these infections in nonclinical settings.

Goal: The feasibility and acceptability of urine-based screening for women entering jails and the prevalence of and treatment rates for chlamydial and gonococcal infections were determined.