Effectiveness of BNT162b2 COVID-19 primary series vaccination in children aged 5-17 years in the United States: a cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for use in children in the United States; real-world assessment of vaccine effectiveness in children is needed. This study's objective was to estimate the effectiveness of receiving a complete primary series of monovalent BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine in US children.

Methods: This cohort study identified children aged 5-17 years vaccinated with BNT162b2 matched with unvaccinated children.

Effectiveness of monovalent COVID-19 booster/additional vaccine doses in the United States.

Background: Monovalent booster/additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines were first authorized in August 2021 in the United States. We evaluated the real-world effectiveness of receipt of a monovalent booster/additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine compared with receiving a primary vaccine series without a booster/additional dose.

Methods: Cohorts of individuals receiving a COVID-19 booster/additional dose after receipt of a complete primary vaccine series were identified in 2 administrative insurance claims databases (Optum, CVS Health) supplemented with state immunization information system data between August 2021 and March 2022.

Reasons for Guideline Nonadherence at Heart Failure Discharge.

Background Cardiology has advanced guideline development and quality measurement. Recognizing the substantial benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy, this study aims to measure and explain apparent deviations in heart failure ( HF ) guideline adherence by clinicians at hospital discharge and describe any impact on readmission rates. Methods and Results The extent of decongestion and prescription of neurohormonal therapy were recorded prospectively for 226 HF discharges, including 132 (58%) from an academic hospital and 94 (42%) from a community hospital.

Implementation of a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP) for Food Challenges.

Background: Oral food challenges (OFCs) are routinely used to confirm ongoing food allergy. Serum-specific IgE (sIgE) and skin prick testing (SPT) are imperfect predictors of which patients will pass OFCs.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the design and implementation of a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP) to study and iteratively improve sIgE and SPT thresholds to determine when and where to conduct OFCs for patients.

Association of PNC, BC, and PM2.5 measured at a central monitoring site with blood pressure in a predominantly near highway population.

Elevated blood pressure is an indicator of cardiovascular stress and increased risk of cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. There is emerging evidence suggesting air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), could promote hypertension, thereby increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Repeated measurement analyses were conducted to examine the associations of three types of PM with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) in 220 participants, (mean age=58.

Positional error and time-activity patterns in near-highway proximity studies: an exposure misclassification analysis.

Background: The growing interest in research on the health effects of near-highway air pollutants requires an assessment of potential sources of error in exposure assignment techniques that rely on residential proximity to roadways.

Methods: We compared the amount of positional error in the geocoding process for three different data sources (parcels, TIGER and StreetMap USA) to a "gold standard" residential geocoding process that used ortho-photos, large multi-building parcel layouts or large multi-unit building floor plans. The potential effect of positional error for each geocoding method was assessed as part of a proximity to highway epidemiological study in the Boston area, using all participants with complete address information (N = 703).

Intensity-modulated versus conventional radiation therapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma: long-term dysphagia and tumor control outcomes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative clinical benefits of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) versus conventional radiotherapy (CRT) in the treatment of patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: We compared tumor control and toxicity outcomes in 132 patients with stage III to IVA/B oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiation in the human papillomavirus (HPV) era.

Results: Patients treated with IMRT had lower rates of xerostomia (p = .

Clinical factors predicting for prolonged enteral supplementation in patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with chemoradiation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the pre-treatment clinical factors associated with prolonged enteral feeding in patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with chemoradiation.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and nine patients with stage III-IVB oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiation were analyzed. Feeding tube usage was defined as the duration of active usage for nutritional purposes.