Advancing Patient Advocacy in Mycology: Cultivating Collaboration in Education, Research, and Policy.

In the healthcare landscape, diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS have benefited from the patient's perspective. For fungal diseases, the patient voice remains absent in critical areas such as policy formulation, funding decisions, and research priorities. Patients affected by fungal disease, along with their caregivers and advocacy groups, possess invaluable insights into the challenges and unmet needs they face.

Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and hybrid immunity in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic COVID-19 among adults in the United States.

Background: Understanding protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection by vaccine and hybrid immunity is important for informing public health strategies as new variants emerge.

Methods: We analyzed data from three cohort studies spanning September 1, 2022-July 31, 2023, to estimate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic COVID-19 among adults with and without prior infection in the United States. Participants collected weekly nasal swabs, irrespective of symptoms, annual blood draws, and completed periodic surveys, which included vaccination status and prior infection history.

Predictors of Cryptococcus gattii clinical presentation and outcome: An international study.

Background: Infection by Cryptococcus gattii can lead to pulmonary or central nervous system (CNS) disease, or both. Whether site of infection and disease severity are associated with C. gattii species and lineages or with certain underlying medical conditions, or both is unclear.

Outbreak of Rotavirus Diarrheal Infection among Adults in King County, Washington, January-June 2023.

Rotavirus is a leading cause of diarrhea among children but less known as a cause among adults. We describe clinical, epidemiologic, and genotype characteristics of a rotavirus outbreak among adults in King County, Washington occurring January-June 2023. Adult rotavirus incidence in 2023 was ten times higher than the same period in 2022 (5% versus 0.

Incidence of Norovirus-Associated Acute Gastroenteritis across Age Groups in a Peruvian Andean Community.

Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) globally. Few longitudinal studies have assessed norovirus-associated AGE incidence across age groups in community settings in Latin America. During April 2015-April 2019, active surveillance for AGE among community members of all ages was conducted through household visits two to three times per week in San Jeronimo, Cusco, Peru.

Delay of innate immune responses following influenza B virus infection affects the development of a robust antibody response in ferrets.

Unlabelled: Due to its natural influenza susceptibility, clinical signs, transmission, and similar sialic acid residue distribution, the ferret is the primary animal model for human influenza research. Antibodies generated following infection of ferrets with human influenza viruses are used in surveillance to detect antigenic drift and cross-reactivity with vaccine viruses and circulating strains. Inoculation of ferrets, with over 1,500 human clinical influenza isolates (1998-2019) resulted in lower antibody responses (HI <1:160) to 86% (387 out of 448) influenza B viruses (IBVs) compared to 2.

Development of a Large-Volume Concentration Method to Recover Infectious Avian Influenza Virus from the Aquatic Environment.

Since late 2021, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus have caused a record number of mortalities in wild birds, domestic poultry, and mammals in North America. Wetlands are plausible environmental reservoirs of avian influenza virus; however, the transmission and persistence of the virus in the aquatic environment are poorly understood. To explore environmental contamination with the avian influenza virus, a large-volume concentration method for detecting infectious avian influenza virus in waterbodies was developed.

HIV Replication Under High-Level Cabotegravir Is Associated with the Appearance of 3'-PPT Mutations, Circular DNA Transcription and Recombination.

The HIV integrase inhibitor, dolutegravir (DTG), in the absence of eliciting integrase (int) resistance, has been reported to select mutations in the virus 3'-polypurine tract (3'-PPT) adjacent to the 3'-LTR U3. An analog of DTG, cabotegravir (CAB), has a high genetic barrier to drug resistance and is used in formulations for treatment and long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis. We examined whether mutations observed for DTG would emerge in vitro with CAB.

Assessment of Simplified Surveillance for Congenital Rubella Syndrome in Sudan, 2014-2017.

Background/objectives: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a constellation of serious multi-organ birth defects following rubella virus infection during early pregnancy. Countries in which rubella vaccination has not yet been introduced can have a high burden of this disease. Data on CRS burden and epidemiology are needed to guide the introduction of a rubella vaccine and monitor progress for rubella elimination, but the multi-system nature of CRS manifestations and required specialized testing creates a challenge for conducting CRS surveillance in developing settings such as Sudan.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programs in the Americas: A Platform for Sustainable Life-Course Immunization and Its Role for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

Vaccination is one of the most effective measures to prevent influenza illness and its complications. Since the 1980s, countries and territories in the Americas have progressively implemented influenza vaccination operations in high-risk priority groups-such as older adults, pregnant persons, persons with comorbidities and health workers. In this review, we present the history and progress of the seasonal influenza program in the Americas, how the program contributed to the efficient and timely roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, and how the program can be used to promote immunization operations across the life span for existing and future vaccines.

Evaluation of Integrated Child Health Days as a Catch-Up Strategy for Immunization in Three Districts in Uganda.

Uganda's Integrated Child Health Day (ICHD) initiative aims to improve children's access to vaccinations. Although widely used as a catch-up vaccination strategy, the effectiveness of the ICHD program in increasing immunization coverage, especially among vulnerable populations, has not been recently evaluated. This study assessed the reach and uptake of ICHD for immunizations in Uganda.

Integrated Approaches for the Delivery of Maternal and Child Health Services with Childhood Immunization Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Review Update 2011-2020.

: The integration of maternal and child health services (MCH) with routine immunization is an important global health strategy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, evidence is lacking regarding the best practices for service integration and the effect of integration on immunization and linked health service outcomes. : We searched publication databases and gray literature for articles published between 2011 and 2020 that include approaches to integrating MCH services with immunizations during the first two years of life in LMICs.

Associations Between Knowledge of Health Conditions and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among US Adults, 2021.

Background: Frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is associated with an increased risk of some health outcomes.

Objective: We investigated the relationships between knowledge of health risks related to SSB and SSB intake among adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2021 SummerStyles survey.

Immunodeficiency-Related Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (iVDPV) Infections: A Review of Epidemiology and Progress in Detection and Management.

Individuals with certain primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) may be unable to clear poliovirus infection after exposure to oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Over time, vaccine-related strains can revert to immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived poliovirus (iVDPVs) that can cause paralysis in the patient and potentially spread in communities with low immunity. We reviewed the efforts for detection and management of PID patients with iVDPV infections and the epidemiology through an analysis of 184 cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) during 1962-2024 and a review of polio program and literature reports.

Association Between Lead Exposure and Red Blood Cell Folate Concentrations in U.S. Children Aged 2-17 Years: An Analysis of Data from NHANES 2007-2018.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of low blood lead levels (BLLs) on the red blood cell folate concentrations in U.S. children aged 2-17 years.

PTGS2/GRP78 Activation Triggers Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Leading to Lipid Metabolism Disruption and Cell Apoptosis, Exacerbating Damage in Bovine Mastitis.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), an organic acid of Gram-positive bacteria, is closely related to mastitis in dairy cows. This study evaluates the effect of LTA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) in vitro using MAC-T (mammary epithelial cells) and in dairy cows with mastitis. LTA stimulation significantly increases ER stress and apoptosis-related factors in MAC-T.

Seasonal activity patterns of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus in the United States.

Knowledge of seasonal activity patterns of human-biting life stages of tick species serving as vectors of human disease agents provides basic information on when during the year humans are most at risk for tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Although there is a wealth of published information on seasonal activity patterns of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus in the United States, a critical review of the literature for these important tick vectors is lacking. The aims of this paper were to: (i) review what is known about the seasonal activity patterns of I.

Adverse childhood experiences and adult alcohol use during pregnancy - 41 U.S. jurisdictions, 2019-2023.

Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. Alcohol use during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and a range of lifelong behavioral, intellectual, and physical disabilities in the child. Limited research has examined the relationship between ACEs and alcohol use in pregnancy; available studies might not reflect current trends in this relationship.

Adverse Childhood Experiences: Increased Likelihood Of Socioeconomic Disadvantages For Young Adults.

More than 60 percent of US adults report that they had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). For this study of 930,000 children born during the period 1999-2003, we used linked administrative, survey, and criminal justice data to measure the association between ACEs (parental death; separation; incarceration; or criminal charge for intimate partner violence, substance use disorder, or child sexual or nonsexual abuse) and socioeconomic disadvantages at ages 18-22 during 2017-21. After childhood socioeconomic status was controlled for, young adults with ACEs were more likely to have been charged with felonies, have become teenage parents, live in a household with poverty or housing assistance, be enrolled in Medicaid, and be employed, and were less likely to be enrolled in an educational institution.

Long-term impact of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among children <5 years, Uganda, 2014-2021.

Pneumonia is the second leading cause of hospital admissions and deaths among children <5 years in Uganda. In 2014, Uganda officially rolled out the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into routine immunization schedule. However, little is known about the long-term impact of PCV on pneumonia admissions and deaths.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against medically attended outpatient illness, United States, 2023-24 season.

Background: The 2023-24 U.S. influenza season was characterized by a predominance of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus circulation with co-circulation of A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses.

Evaluating the ingress of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) specifically naphthalene through firefighter hoods and base layers.

Structural firefighters are exposed to an array of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a result of incomplete combustion of both synthetic and natural materials. PAHs are found in both the particulate and vapor phases in the firefighting environment and are significantly associated with acute and chronic diseases, including cancer. Using a fireground exposure simulator (FES) and standing mannequins dressed in four different firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) conditions, each with varying levels of protective hood interface and particulate-blocking features, the efficacy of the hoods was assessed against the ingress of PAHs (specifically, naphthalene).

Apnea After 2-Month Vaccinations in Hospitalized Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Preterm infants are recommended to receive most vaccinations at the same postnatal age as term infants. Studies have inconsistently observed an increased risk for postvaccination apnea in preterm infants.

Objective: To compare the proportions of hospitalized preterm infants with apnea and other adverse events in the 48 hours after 2-month vaccinations vs after no vaccinations.

Assessing Non-Oral PrEP Alternatives Among Young Black Women in the Southern USA.

Young Black women in the southern US face a high HIV burden. While daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can effectively prevent HIV, its use is low among Black women. The acceptability of and perceived intention to use emerging PrEP products among young Black women in the southern US are not well understood.