Background: After reaching an all-time low in 2000, syphilis incidence in the United States has increased as the burden shifted from heterosexuals to men who have sex with men (MSM). Houston, Texas, experienced 2 outbreaks of syphilis during this transformation in trends. Further evaluation is necessary to determine if these outbreaks occurred among the same subpopulations.
Methods: Surveillance data collected on all reported infectious syphilis cases in Houston from 1971 to 2013 were analyzed. Trends in incidence among MSM and human immunodeficiency virus-positive Houston residents were examined. Peak syphilis years subsequent to 1999, years 2007 and 2012, were compared to determine if outbreaks arose in distinctive subpopulations. Categorical variables between these years were compared using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, whereas further associations between the years were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Incidence among MSM was 20.9 to 32.1 times higher than other men from 2005 to 2013. After adjusting for covariates, cases in 2012 were significantly more likely to be Hispanic (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.03-2.53), reported meeting partners via the Internet (AOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.18-2.58), and engaged in anonymous sex (AOR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.40-2.63) in comparison to cases in 2007.
Conclusions: We found marked disparities of syphilis by subpopulation in Houston. Herein, we present evidence that outbreaks have been distinct in a major southern city with a high burden of syphilis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000488 | DOI Listing |
Front Sociol
January 2025
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
Existing HIV-related literature affirms that Black women in the US have a low perceived risk of HIV. Yet, Black women consistently experience higher HIV incidence than other women. The ability of HIV risk perception to influence HIV prevention behaviors remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Transl Radiat Oncol
March 2025
Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Aim: This study leveraged standard-of-care CT scans of patients receiving unilateral radiotherapy (RT) for early tonsillar cancer to detect volumetric changes in the carotid arteries, and determine whether there is a dose-response relationship.
Methods: Disease-free cancer survivors (>3 months since therapy and age > 18 years) treated with intensity modulated RT for early (T1-2, N0-2b) tonsillar cancer with pre- and post-therapy contrast-enhanced CT scans available were included. Patients treated with definitive surgery, bilateral RT, or additional RT before the post-RT CT scan were excluded.
Crohns Colitis 360
January 2025
Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Background: Despite advancements in the therapeutic armamentarium for Crohn's disease (CD), biologic and small molecule monotherapies are associated with sub-optimal response and remission rates. Utilizing dual biologic therapy (DBT) holds the potential to increase efficacy in the treatment of refractory or partially responsive CD. Evidence pertaining to this strategy remains limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hepatocell Carcinoma
January 2025
Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) disproportionately affects Hispanic persons with higher age-specific incidence and increased mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic Whites. These high rates of incidence and mortality may be explained by the variation in risk factors. Given the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) among the Hispanic population, we aimed to assess the risk and prognosis of HCC in Mexican Americans with type 2 DM with consideration of treatment for DM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Cardiovasc Med
January 2025
Center for Preclinical Surgical & Interventional Research, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
The evolution of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) from large, pulsatile systems to compact, continuous-flow pumps has significantly improved implantation outcomes and patient mobility. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have emerged that offer reduced morbidity and enhanced recovery for LVAD recipients. Innovations in wireless power transfer technologies aim to mitigate driveline-related complications, enhancing patient safety and quality of life.
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