Vape Shop Proliferation and Noncompliance in Pennsylvania: A Pre- and Post-tax Analysis.

Background: The growing use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among adolescents is a public health concern. Taxation of these products is a viable approach to reduce ENDS use, particularly among adolescents. Opponents of taxation posit that it puts specialty retailers (ie, vape shops) out of business, thereby reducing availability of ENDS for adult smokers seeking harm reduction.

Spatial Methods to Enhance Public Health Surveillance and Resource Deployment in the Opioid Epidemic.

Objectives: To improve public health surveillance and response by using spatial optimization.

Methods: We identified cases of suspected nonfatal opioid overdose events in which naloxone was administered from April 2013 through December 2016 treated by the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. We used spatial modeling to identify areas hardest hit to spatially optimize naloxone distribution among pharmacies in Pittsburgh.

Spatial clustering of measles vaccination coverage among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: During the past two decades, vaccination programs have greatly reduced global morbidity and mortality due to measles, but recently this progress has stalled. Even in countries that report high vaccination coverage rates, transmission has continued, particularly in spatially clustered subpopulations with low vaccination coverage.

Methods: We examined the spatial heterogeneity of measles vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months in ten Sub-Saharan African countries.

Air pollutants may be environmental risk factors in chronic rhinosinusitis disease progression.

Background: Little is known about the role of environmental exposures in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). In this study, we measured the impact of air pollutants (particulate matter 2.5 [PM ] and black carbon [BC]) on CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP).

How to allocate limited healthcare resources: Lessons from the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in rural Mozambique.

Proper allocation of limited healthcare resources is a challenging task for policymakers in developing countries. Allocation of and access to these resources typically varies based on how need is defined, thus determining how individuals access and acquire healthcare. Using the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in southern Mozambique as an example, we examine alternative definitions of need for rural populations and how they might impact the allocation of this vital health service.