A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Community Perceptions of Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines at Turtle Creek Primary Care Center.

Background: Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 vaccination rates are subpar across the US, especially in racial and/or socioeconomic minority groups who are understudied in public health literature.

Objective: The objective of this mixed-methods study was to elucidate attitudes of patients at the Turtle Creek Primary Care Center, a clinic that cares for ∼70% non-white patients, towards flu and COVID-19 vaccines, with the goal of establishing vaccine education gaps and increasing vaccine uptake in minority communities.

Design/patients: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratios and Infections after Traumatic Brain Injury: Associations with Hospital Resource Utilization and Long-Term Outcome.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces immune dysfunction that can be captured clinically by an increase in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). However, few studies have characterized the temporal dynamics of NLR post-TBI and its relationship with hospital-acquired infections (HAI), resource utilization, or outcome. We assessed NLR and HAI over the first 21 days post-injury in adults with moderate-to-severe TBI ( = 196) using group-based trajectory (TRAJ), changepoint, and mixed-effects multivariable regression analysis to characterize temporal dynamics.

Plasma 1,3-β-d-glucan levels predict adverse clinical outcomes in critical illness.

BACKGROUNDThe fungal cell wall constituent 1,3-β-d-glucan (BDG) is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern that can stimulate innate immunity. We hypothesized that BDG from colonizing fungi in critically ill patients may translocate into the systemic circulation and be associated with host inflammation and outcomes.METHODSWe enrolled 453 mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) without invasive fungal infection and measured BDG, innate immunity, and epithelial permeability biomarkers in serially collected plasma samples.

Temporal Acute Serum Estradiol and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Associations and Risk of Death after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) activates a robust systemic response that involves inflammatory and other factors, including estradiol (E2), associated with increased deaths. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a significant mediator of systemic shock, and it is an extra-gonadal transcription factor for E2 production. The study objectives were to test the hypotheses: (1) a positive feedback relationship exists between acute serum TNFα and E2; and (2) acute concentrations of E2 and TNFα are prognostic indicators of death after severe TBI.