International chicken trade and increased risk for introducing or reintroducing highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) to uninfected countries.

Every year billions of chickens are shipped thousands of miles around the globe in order to meet the ever increasing demands for this cheap and nutritious protein source. Unfortunately, transporting chickens internationally can also increase the chance for introducing zoonotic viruses, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) to new countries. Our study used a retrospective analysis of poultry trading data from 2003 through 2011 to assess the risk of H5N1 poultry infection in an importing country.

The differential associations of preexisting conditions with trauma-related outcomes in the presence of competing risks.

Introduction: Pre-existing chronic conditions (PECs) pose a unique problem for the care of aging trauma populations. However, the relationships between specific conditions and outcomes after injury are relatively unknown. Evaluation of trauma patients is further complicated by their discharge to care facilities, where mortality risk remains high.

Disease Severity and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project.

Objective: To determine the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease severity on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with and without autoimmune diseases.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted using the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project. Pregnant women with RA enrolled between 2005 and 2013 were selected if they (1) delivered a live-born singleton infant; and (2) completed 3 telephone-based measures of RA disease severity prior to 20 weeks' gestation, including the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), pain score, and patient's global scale.

Epidemiology of pathogen-specific respiratory infections among three US populations.

Background: Diagnostic tests for respiratory infections can be costly and time-consuming. Improved characterization of specific respiratory pathogens by identifying frequent signs, symptoms and demographic characteristics, along with improving our understanding of coinfection rates and seasonality, may improve treatment and prevention measures.

Methods: Febrile respiratory illness (FRI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance was conducted from October 2011 through March 2013 among three US populations: civilians near the US-Mexico border, Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries, and military recruits.

Abscess and self-treatment among injection drug users at four California syringe exchanges and their surrounding communities.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of soft tissue infections and self-treatment among injection drug users (IDUs) in California. The study interviewed 864 IDUs in California using computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) from 2003 to 2005. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine adjusted associations for recent abscess and abscess self-treatment.

The role of social support and acculturative stress in health-related quality of life among day laborers in Northern San Diego.

There is evidence to suggest that Latino day laborers experience higher levels of acculturative stress than Latinos in employment sectors in the US. Given the stress-buffering role that social support plays in minimizing the negative physical and mental health outcomes of stress, this study examined this relationship in a sample of 70 Latino Day laborers in the northern San Diego area(100% male, mean age = 27.7, SD = 9.

Increasing hookah use in California.

Hookah use is gaining popularity nationwide. We determined the correlates and trends for hookah use from the California Tobacco Survey. Between 2005 and 2008 hookah use increased more than 40%, and in 2008, 24.

Determinants of hookah use among high school students.

Introduction: Hookah use is increasing among young people, but there are limited data on its use among high school-age populations. We examined hookah use initiation, prevalence, cessation, and psychosocial risk factors of hookah use among high school students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 689 students from three high schools in San Diego County was used to compare characteristics of hookah ever-users to nonusers and factors associated with current and former hookah use.

Missed and missing cases of abusive injuries: the magnitude and the measurement of the problem.

Objective: The authors' objective is to describe the disparity between the case-fatality rates for inflicted versus unintentional injuries of children, and to emphasize its utility as a way of estimating the effectiveness of the ascertainment of inflicted injuries of children.

Method: Determination, comparison, and explanation of the case-fatality-rate disparity in four injury databases were derived from hospitalized injury cases.

Results: The CFR disparity is 6-14-fold in the 4 injury databases.

The association between family meals, TV viewing during meals, and fruit, vegetables, soda, and chips intake among Latino children.

Objective: Examine the relationship of family meals to children's consumption of fruit and vegetables as well as soda and chips. Additionally, to assess the relationship between viewing TV during family meals and children's diet.

Design: Cross-sectional study that used a questionnaire completed by parents.

Prevalence and psychological correlates of traumatic brain injury in operation iraqi freedom.

Objective: To describe the prevalence and psychological correlates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among injured male combatants in the Iraq conflict.

Participants: A total of 781 men injured during military combat between September 2004 and February 2005.

Main Outcome Measures: Mental health diagnosis (ICD-9 290-319), particularly posttraumatic stress disorder and mood/anxiety disorders, assigned through November 2006.

Injury-specific predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an important source of morbidity in military personnel, but its relationship with characteristics of battle injury has not been well defined. The aim of this study was to characterise the relationship between injury-related factors and PTSD among a population of battle injuries.

Patients And Methods: A total of 831 American military personnel injured during combat between September 2004 and February 2005 composed the study population.

Psychological correlates of battle and nonbattle injury among Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.

Limited research exists on the relationship between physical injury and PTSD within military populations. The present study assessed postinjury rates of PTSD and other psychological correlates among battle and non-battle injuries. A total of 1,968 men (831 battle injuries and 1,137 nonbattle injuries) injured between September 2004 and February 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) composed the study sample.

Comparison of overall obesity and body fat distribution in predicting risk of mortality.

Results of studies comparing overall obesity and abdominal adiposity or body fat distribution with risk of mortality have varied considerably. We compared the relative importance and joint association of overall obesity and body fat distribution in predicting risk of mortality. Participants included 5,799 men and 6,429 women aged 30-102 years enrolled in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who completed a baseline health examination during 1988-1994.

Overall obesity and abdominal adiposity as predictors of mortality in u.s. White and black adults.

Purpose: The association of overall obesity and abdominal adiposity in predicting risk of all-cause mortality in white and black adults was compared.

Methods: This prospective study included a national sample of 3219 non-Hispanic white and 2,561 non-Hispanic black adults 30 to 64 years of age enrolled in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 1988-1994. Multiple measures of adiposity were measured and calculated, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR).

The relation of leptin and insulin with obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors in US adults.

Previous studies of leptin with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have been limited by clinical samples or lack of representation of the general population. This cross-sectional study, designed to examine whether leptin or insulin may mediate the endogenous relation of obesity with metabolic, inflammatory, and thrombogenic cardiovascular risk factors, included 522 men and 514 women aged >or=40 years who completed a physical examination during the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were free of existing CVD, cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer), diabetes, or respiratory disease.

Impact of the San Diego Serial Inebriate Program on use of emergency medical resources.

Study Objective: We determine the impact of a treatment strategy called the San Diego Serial Inebriate Program on the use of emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency department (ED) and inpatient services by individuals repeatedly arrested for public intoxication.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of health care utilization records (EMS, ED, and inpatient) of 529 individuals from 2000 to 2003. Judges offered individuals a 6-month outpatient treatment program in lieu of custody (Serial Inebriate Program).

Pragmatic strategies that enhance the reliability of data abstracted from medical records.

The processes and procedures used to promote interrater reliability in the abstraction of data from medical records are described. Several proactive strategies that serve the purpose of leading to standard interpretations of clinical data are discussed. These include (a) establishment of priorities for the sources of information; (b) creation of orders of value for the likeliness of validity of recorded data; (c) standardization of terminology; and (d) reaffirmation of decisions, based on an evolving body of evidence.

Lower rates of low birthweight and preterm births in the California Black Infant Health Program.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of prenatal interventions in the California Black Infant Health (BIH) Program on low birthweight (LBW) and preterm births (PTB) outcomes.

Methods: A prospective observational study design with a comparison group was used. BIH participants with a delivery recorded between July 1996 and September 1998 were included in the birthweight and PTB analyses.

Four-year review of the use of race and ethnicity in epidemiologic and public health research.

To determine how current researchers address the use of race and ethnicity as variables in epidemiologic and public health studies, the authors conducted a comprehensive review of 1,198 articles published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and the American Journal of Public Health from 1996 to 1999. Seventy-seven percent (n = 919) of the articles referred to race or ethnicity. The number of variable categories ranged from 0 to 24, with an average of 3.