Everyday Experiences of Physical Function and Awareness of Fall Risk in Older Adulthood.

Background And Objectives: Falls, the leading cause of death and disability among older adults, occur in daily life when the demands of daily activities surpass the ability to maintain balance. An estimated 30% of older adults misestimate their physical function, placing them at greater risk of falling. This study examined how experiences of physical function are linked to awareness of fall risk in daily life.

Bacterial Genotype, Carrier Risk Factors, and an Antimicrobial Stewardship Approach Relevant To Methicillin-resistant Prevalence in a Population of Macaques Housed in a Research Facility.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) remains a significant problem for human and animal health and can negatively affect the health status of macaques and other nonhuman primates (NHP) in research colonies. However, few publications provide guidance on the prevalence, genotype, or risk factors for macaques with MRSA and even fewer on how to effectively respond to MRSA once identified in a population. After having a clinical case of MRSA in a rhesus macaque, we sought to determine the MRSA carrier prevalence, risk factors, and genotypes of MRSA in a population of research NHPs.

Factors affecting adherence to disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis: systematic review.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) face challenges adhering to disease-modifying drug (DMD) treatment. Poor adherence to treatment reduces its clinical effectiveness which can adversely impact disease progression, MS-related hospitalisation, and mortality rates. Understanding the barriers to adherence is essential to addressing these issues in clinical practice and a consolidation of the literature had not yet been carried out.

COVID-19 Trends in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area from a Mobile Testing Program: Last Quarter of 2020.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a public health concern, and Arizona has once again been a COVID-19 hotspot, peaking at 118.3 cases per 100,000. Understanding the trends in COVID-19 positivity rates over time is crucial in planning and mitigation of the virus.

Clinical Correlates of Aortic Stiffness and Wave Amplitude in Black Men and Women in the Community.

Background Black individuals have greater risk for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) than whites. Identifying CVD risk factors associated with abnormal aortic hemodynamics in blacks may optimize CVD prevention and treatment strategies. Methods and Results Jackson Heart Study participants underwent applanation tonometry (2011-2016) with assessment of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity ( CFPWV ) and forward wave amplitude ( FWA ).

A Resident-Based Telepsychiatry Supervision Pilot Program in Liberia.

Worldwide, attention to mental disorders lags far behind the staggering morbidity attributed to them. In low-resource settings, the majority of people with serious mental illness go untreated, and a major reason for this treatment gap is the worldwide shortage of mental health professionals. In Liberia, this shortfall has been addressed by training and licensing nurses, midwives, and physician assistants as mental health clinicians (MHCs) via an intensive 6-month training program.

Relations of Microvascular Function, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, and Aortic Stiffness in Blacks: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background Blacks have more severe endothelial dysfunction and aortic stiffening as compared with whites. We aimed to investigate the association between aortic stiffness and microvascular function in the black community. Methods and Results We assessed the association between forearm vascular reactive hyperemia (an indicator of microvascular function) and aortic stiffness in 1458 black participants (N=965 [66% women]; mean age: 66±11 years) in the Jackson Heart Study.

Real-time, portable genome sequencing for Ebola surveillance.

The Ebola virus disease epidemic in West Africa is the largest on record, responsible for over 28,599 cases and more than 11,299 deaths. Genome sequencing in viral outbreaks is desirable to characterize the infectious agent and determine its evolutionary rate. Genome sequencing also allows the identification of signatures of host adaptation, identification and monitoring of diagnostic targets, and characterization of responses to vaccines and treatments.

Addressing obesity and diabetes among African American men: examination of a community-based model of prevention.

The Save Our Sons study is a community-based, culturally responsive, and gender-specific intervention aimed at reducing obesity and diabetes among a small sample (n = 42) of African American men. The goals of the study were to: (1) test the feasibility of implementing a group health education and intervention model to reduce the incidence of diabetes and obesity among African American men; (2) improve regular access to and utilization of health care services and community supportive resources to promote healthy lifestyles among African American men; and (3) build community networks and capacity for advocacy and addressing some of the health needs of African American men residing in Lorain County, Ohio. Trained community health workers facilitated activities to achieve program aims.

African-American injection drug users: tensions and barriers in HIV/AIDS prevention.

This exploratory study utilized a focus group methodology to explore tensions and barriers in HIV/AIDS prevention among African-American injection drug users. Participants discussed HIV infection risks, national/community HIV prevention effectiveness, prevention barriers, ideas on barrier removal, and the tensions which exist between users and the larger African-American community. Recognizing the inevitability of continued drug use for many injectors, participants requested basic harm-reduction supplies including condoms, needle exchange programs, additional drug user treatment services, and the use of culturally- and gender-matched peer-led prevention and treatment outreach.