Per Med
November 2023
Noninvasive prenatal tests for monogenic diseases (NIPT-SGG) have recently been reported as helpful in early-stage antenatal screening. Our study describes the clinical and genetic features of cases identified by NIPT-SGG. In a cohort pregnancy with abnormal sonograms, affected cases were confirmed by invasive diagnostic tests concurrently, with NIPT-SGG targeting 25 common dominant single-gene diseases.
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September 2023
Over 60% of single-gene diseases in newborns are autosomal dominant variants. Noninvasive prenatal testing for monogenic conditions (NIPT-SGG) is cost-effective and timesaving, but not widely applied. This study introduces and validates NIPT-SGG in detecting 25 monogenic conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is a theoretical concern, unconfirmed by population-based challenge data, that clinically significant, immunologically mediated hypersensitivity occurs among β-lactams sharing side chains.
Objective: To determine the population-based allergy incidence associated with the use of β-lactams sharing exact R1 side chains (ampicillin, cephalexin, and cefaclor [ACC]), with or without a current ACC allergy or a sulfonamide antibiotic allergy for comparison.
Methods: All courses of ACC and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole used by any Kaiser Permanente California members in 2017 and 2018, with follow-up through January 2019, were identified along with their preexisting antibiotic allergy status and all new antibiotic-specific allergies reported within 30 days of course initiation.
Importance: Electronic health records (EHRs) often include default alerts that can influence physician selection of antibiotics, which in turn may be associated with a suboptimal choice of agents and increased antibiotic resistance.
Objective: To examine whether removal of a default alert in the EHR to avoid cephalosporin use in patients with penicillin allergies is associated with changes in cephalosporin dispensing or administration in these patients.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study of a natural experiment included data on patients who had received antibiotic treatment in the hospital or outpatient setting in 2 regions of a large, integrated health system in California from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018.
The rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among health care workers that is caused by sharps injuries is higher in the Caribbean and Latin America than in other regions of the world. To respond to and reduce occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens while also strengthening capacities in the Caribbean, needlestick injury prevention training programs for health care workers were implemented, beginning in 2011. The programs included lectures, workshops, policy reviews, evaluations of safety devices, and workplace assessment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeglecting occupational safety and health (OSH) can have adverse and even deadly consequences. While OSH is important in any nation, the issue is particularly concerning in developing countries, including ones in the Caribbean. The purpose of this study, which was carried out in 2012 and 2013, was to examine the reasons for an apparent fundamental lack of awareness of OSH in the Caribbean.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Asthma is a multifactorial disease composed of endotypes with varying risk profiles and outcomes. African Americans experience a high burden of asthma and of psychosocial stress, including racial discrimination. It is unknown which endotypes of asthma are vulnerable to racial/ethnic discrimination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The nutmeg industry is a major contributor to the Grenadian economy. However, workers in the industry face many environmental and occupational health risks.
Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate respiratory health problems and possible related occupational exposures among nutmeg production workers.
Although there are observed relationships between agriculture and respiratory health problems, little attention has been given to relationship between lower and upper airway problems among farmers in the United States. The objective was to investigate the possible relationship between occupational risk factors and "united airway disease" among farmers in eastern North Carolina. Farmers and farm workers were selected from eastern North Carolina by using a cluster sampling method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany developed countries around the world have implemented regulations to phase out or greatly restrict the use of pesticides. Pesticides are still utilized with minimal restrictions, however, in fumigating agricultural commodities in developing countries such as Grenada. This special report presents the case of a nutmeg factory worker in Grenada who worked with various pesticides including methyl bromide, magnesium phosphide (magtoxin), and aluminum phosphide (phostoxin) without the proper awareness and utilization of health and safety measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Allergy Asthma Immunol
October 2006
Background: High-dose corticosteroid exposure is associated with increased risk of bone loss and osteoporotic fractures.
Objective: To examine high-dose corticosteroid use and osteoporosis screening and treatment trends in patients receiving high-dose oral or inhaled corticosteroids in a large managed care organization.
Methods: We reviewed electronic records of inhaled and oral corticosteroid use and osteoporosis intervention in 2002 among patients 20 years or older and developed algorithms to quantitate high cumulative exposure to corticosteroids.