Relative Effectiveness and Immunogenicity of Quadrivalent Recombinant Influenza Vaccine Versus Egg-Based Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years: Results and Experience From a Randomized, Double-Blind Trial.

Background: Immunogenicity studies suggest that recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) may provide better protection against influenza than standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccines (SD IIV). This randomized trial evaluated the relative vaccine effectiveness (VE) and immunogenicity of RIV versus SD IIV in frontline workers and students aged 18-64 years.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive RIV or SD IIV and followed for reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed influenza during the 2022-2023 influenza season.

Airway inflammation accelerates pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis.

Airway inflammation underlies cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbations. In a prospective multicenter study of randomly selected, clinically stable adolescents and adults, we assessed relationships between 24 inflammation-associated molecules and the future occurrence of CF pulmonary exacerbation using proportional hazards models. We explored relationships for potential confounding or mediation by clinical factors and assessed sensitivities to treatments including CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein synthesis modulators.

Evaluation of Rapid Syphilis Testing Using the Syphilis Health Check in Florida, 2015-2016.

The Syphilis Health Check (SHC) had low estimated specificity (91.5%) in one Florida county. We investigated use of SHC by a range of Florida publicly-funded programs between 2015 and 2016 to estimate specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), field staff acceptance, and impacts on programmatic outcomes.

Structural Characteristics of Tree Cover and the Association with Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health in Tampa, FL.

Urban tree cover can provide several ecological and public health benefits. Secondary datasets for Tampa, FL, including sociodemographic variables (e.g.

Prospective multicenter randomized patient recruitment and sample collection to enable future measurements of sputum biomarkers of inflammation in an observational study of cystic fibrosis.

Background: Biomarkers of inflammation predictive of cystic fibrosis (CF) disease outcomes would increase the power of clinical trials and contribute to better personalization of clinical assessments. A representative patient cohort would improve searching for believable, generalizable, reproducible and accurate biomarkers.

Methods: We recruited patients from Mountain West CF Consortium (MWCFC) care centers for prospective observational study of sputum biomarkers of inflammation.

Evaluation of Food Insecurity in Adults and Children With Cystic Fibrosis: Community Case Study.

Advances in the care and treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) have led to improved mortality rates; therefore, considerably more individuals with CF are living into adulthood. With an increased number of CF patients advancing into adulthood, there is the need for more research that surrounds the aging adult CF patient. It is important to conduct research and collect results on the aging CF population to help better prepare the CF patient, who is dealing with the heavy treatment and financial burden of their disease, build autonomy and increase their quality of life.

Absorption and Safety With Sustained Use of RELiZORB Evaluation (ASSURE) Study in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Receiving Enteral Feeding.

Objectives: Pancreatic insufficiency (PI) and malabsorption of fats lead to reduced caloric intake, inability to maintain weight, and increased gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, enteral nutrition (EN) is used in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and poor nutritional status. The current study evaluated safety, tolerability, and improvement of fatty acid (FA) status in red blood cell (RBC) membranes, a marker of long-term FA absorption, with an in-line digestive cartridge (RELiZORB) that hydrolyzes fat in enteral formula.

Azithromycin for Early Pseudomonas Infection in Cystic Fibrosis. The OPTIMIZE Randomized Trial.

Rationale: New isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is generally treated with inhaled antipseudomonal antibiotics such as tobramycin inhalation solution (TIS). A therapeutic approach that complements traditional antimicrobial therapy by reducing the risk of pulmonary exacerbation and inflammation may ultimately prolong the time to Pa recurrence.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that the addition of azithromycin to TIS in children with cystic fibrosis and early Pa decreases the risk of pulmonary exacerbation and prolongs the time to Pa recurrence.

Increased Fat Absorption From Enteral Formula Through an In-line Digestive Cartridge in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

Objectives: Supplemental enteral nutrition (EN) is used by approximately 12% of people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and fat absorption of a new in-line digestive cartridge (Relizorb) that hydrolyzes fat in enteral formula provided to patients with CF.

Methods: Patients with CF receiving EN participated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, crossover trial with an open-label safety evaluation period.

Historical Data Analysis of Hospital Discharges Related to the Amerithrax Attack in Florida.

Interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) can be used to identify, quantify, and evaluate the magnitude and direction of an event on the basis of time-series data. This study evaluates the impact of the bioterrorist anthrax attacks ("Amerithrax") on hospital inpatient discharges in the metropolitan statistical area of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties in the fourth quarter of 2001. Three statistical methods-standardized incidence ratio (SIR), segmented regression, and an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)-were used to determine whether Amerithrax influenced inpatient utilization.

Perspectives of Stakeholders on Implementing a Farm-to-University Program at an HBCU.

Objective: To explore the perspectives of various stakeholders on whether an HBCU has the resources to establish a farm-to-university program that can improve fruits and vegetables intake among African American students. Additionally, this study assessed students' satisfaction with fruits and vegetables served in University dining halls, and their desire for changes in policies to increase local fruits and vegetables access on campus.

Methods: This study employed a mixed method data collection strategy.

Directly sampling the lung of a young child with cystic fibrosis reveals diverse microbiota.

Rationale: The airways of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) are chronically infected with a variety of bacterial species. Although routine culture methods are usually used to diagnose these infections, culture-independent, DNA-based methods have identified many bacterial species in CF respiratory secretions that are not routinely cultured. Many prior culture-independent studies focused either on microbiota in explanted CF lungs, reflecting end-stage disease, or those in oropharyngeal swabs, which likely sample areas in addition to the lower airways.

Maternal factors and disparities associated with oral clefts.

Introduction: The epidemiology of oral clefts continually unfolds. Researchers have not reached consensus concerning the significance of maternal smoking, weight gain, diabetes, age, and education and the risk of oral clefts. The purpose of this study was to examine these factors associated with oral clefts in the US population.

Disparities in the receipt of cardiac revascularization procedures between blacks and whites: an analysis of secular trends.

Introduction: Mortality rates for coronary heart disease (CHD) have declined markedly since the early 1970s. However, CHD remains the number one cause of death in the United States. The decline in mortality has been attributed to declines in CHD risk factors (tobacco use, hypertension) and the increase in protective behaviors (exercise, weight control).

Social and Environmental Risk Factors for Hypertension in African Americans.

This study tests the hypothesis that disparities of hypertension risk in African Americans is related to lead exposure, perceptions of racism, and stress, among urban (Roxbury, MA) and rural (Gadsden, FL) communities. Analysis of preliminary data from Phase I reveal 60% in Gadsden and 39% in Roxbury respondents self-reported having hypertension. In Gadsden 80% people did not know if their residence contained lead paint, compared to 45% in Roxbury.

Clinical inquiries: What are safe sleeping arrangements for infants?

Non-supine sleep position and parental tobacco use are known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recent studies show that co-sleeping (bed sharing) slightly increases the overall risk of SIDS (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B) and is greatest for infants less than 11 weeks old (SOR: B). The relationship between bed sharing and SIDS is strongest for infants whose parents use tobacco (SOR: B).

Mutational analysis of the flagellar protein FliG: sites of interaction with FliM and implications for organization of the switch complex.

The switch complex at the base of the bacterial flagellum is essential for flagellar assembly, rotation, and switching. In Escherichia coli and Salmonella, the complex contains about 26 copies of FliG, 34 copies of FliM, and more then 100 copies of FliN, together forming the basal body C ring. FliG is involved most directly in motor rotation and is located in the upper (membrane-proximal) part of the C ring.

Crystal structure of the flagellar rotor protein FliN from Thermotoga maritima.

FliN is a component of the bacterial flagellum that is present at levels of more than 100 copies and forms the bulk of the C ring, a drum-shaped structure at the inner end of the basal body. FliN interacts with FliG and FliM to form the rotor-mounted switch complex that controls clockwise-counterclockwise switching of the motor. In addition to its functions in motor rotation and switching, FliN is thought to have a role in the export of proteins that form the exterior structures of the flagellum (the rod, hook, and filament).

Crystal structure of the middle and C-terminal domains of the flagellar rotor protein FliG.

The FliG protein is essential for assembly, rotation and clockwise/counter-clockwise (CW/CCW) switching of the bacterial flagellum. About 25 copies of FliG are present in a large rotor-mounted assembly termed the 'switch complex', which also contains the proteins FliM and FliN. Mutational studies have identified the segments of FliG most crucial for flagellar assembly, rotation and switching.