COVID-19 Contact Tracing Outcomes in Washington State, August and October 2020.

Case investigation and contact tracing are important tools to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, particularly when implemented efficiently. Our objective was to evaluate participation in and timeliness of COVID-19 contact tracing and whether these measures changed over time. We retrospectively assessed COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing surveillance data from the Washington State centralized program for August 1-31, 2020 and October 1-31, 2020.

Poly-helminth Infection in East Guatemalan School Children.

Background: Soil transmitted helminths (STH) remain a global public health concern in spite of occasional dosing campaigns.

Aims: To determine baseline prevalence and intensity of STH infection in east Guatemalan school children, and describe the associated epidemiology of anemia, stunting, and wasting in this population.

Setting And Design: Ten schools in Izabal province (eastern Guatemala) were identified, and 1,001 school children were selected for this study.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha blockade restores growth hormone signaling in murine colitis.

Background & Aims: Cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) may create a state of growth hormone (GH) resistance in Crohn's disease. Anabolic effects of GH are mediated via phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5b transcription factor. Although GH resistance in other settings has been linked to a defect in janus kinase-STAT signaling, the molecular basis for GH resistance in colitis was not known.

Alterations in growth hormone receptor abundance regulate growth hormone signaling in murine obstructive cholestasis.

Children with cholestatic liver diseases, in particular biliary atresia, may develop an acquired growth hormone (GH) resistance. This is characterized by normal GH secretion, reduced liver GH receptor (GHR) abundance, and reduced circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Consequences include linear growth failure, reduced muscle mass, and increased perioperative morbidity and mortality.