Methods to Adjust for Confounding in Test-Negative Design COVID-19 Effectiveness Studies: Simulation Study.

Background: Real-world COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies are investigating exposures of increasing complexity accounting for time since vaccination. These studies require methods that adjust for the confounding that arises when morbidities and demographics are associated with vaccination and the risk of outcome events. Methods based on propensity scores (PS) are well-suited to this when the exposure is dichotomous, but present challenges when the exposure is multinomial.

Comorbidities and Healthcare Utilization Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects by Down Syndrome Status-Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and wellbeinG, 2016-2019.

Background: Almost half of individuals born with Down syndrome (DS) have congenital heart defects (CHDs). Yet, little is known about the health and healthcare needs of adults with CHDs and DS. Therefore, we examined comorbidities and healthcare utilization of this population.

Clinical characteristics and cause analysis of false-positive results in treponemal testing among patients.

Background: Currently, there is a dearth of systematic research data on the phenomenon of false-positive reactions in treponemal tests. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics and influencing factors associated with false-positive treponemal tests in patients, so as to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of syphilis and mitigate misdiagnosis-induced incorrect treatment.

Methods: From January 2017 to December 2023, a total of 759 cases with false-positive results for treponema were screened for blood transfusion, surgery, or other medical interventions at Jinling hospital.

Secreted small RNAs of are biomarkers for diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Rapid and accurate diagnostics are needed to effectively detect and treat primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by (). Delayed diagnosis and similarities to other causes of meningitis contribute to a case mortality rate of >97%. Thus, there is an unmet medical need for a non-invasive liquid biopsy diagnostic method.

Global impact of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumococcal meningitis in all ages: the PSERENADE project.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduced in childhood national immunization programs lowered vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), but replacement with non-vaccine-types persisted throughout the PCV10/13 follow-up period. We assessed PCV10/13 impact on pneumococcal meningitis incidence globally.

Methods: The number of cases with serotyped pneumococci detected in cerebrospinal fluid and population denominators were obtained from surveillance sites globally.

Estimating the generation time for influenza transmission using household data in the United States.

The generation time, representing the interval between infections in primary and secondary cases, is essential for understanding and predicting the transmission dynamics of seasonal influenza, including the real-time effective reproduction number (Rt). However, comprehensive generation time estimates for seasonal influenza, especially since the 2009 influenza pandemic, are lacking. We estimated the generation time utilizing data from a 7-site case-ascertained household study in the United States over two influenza seasons, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.

Unstable Housing Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questioning, and Other-Identifying (LGBQ+) Youth - National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021.

Purpose: To examine differences in unstable housing and health-risk behaviors and experiences by sexual identity among U.S. high school students.

Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns.

Background: Gestational exposure to non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. While many EDCs affect the endocrine system, their effects on endocrine-related metabolic pathways remain unclear. This study aims to explore the global metabolome changes associated with EDC biomarkers at delivery.

Evaluating the accuracy of multiple rapid diagnostic tests for HIV detection in serum samples analysed during point-of-care proficiency testing assessments.

Background: HIV rapid diagnostic tests are crucial for timely diagnosis, especially in resource-limited settings. The World Health Organization recommends sensitivity ≥99 % and specificity ≥98 %. This study assessed RDT performance across South Africa's provinces using a proficiency testing program.

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection among children in Uzbekistan: Impact of vaccination.

Background: Uzbekistan, a highly endemic country for hepatitis B virus (HBV), introduced infant vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) in 2001. Since 2002, it had ≥90 % reported immunization coverage for ≥3 doses of HepB (HepB3) and the birth dose (HepB-BD). However, the impact of HepB vaccination and the progress towards achieving the regional hepatitis B control and global viral hepatitis B elimination goals had not been assessed.

Health Associations of Positive Childhood Experiences: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

We report the results of a scoping review of the literature investigating associations between positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and selected health outcomes to identify which have the highest level of research activity based on the indexed academic literature. Yielded articles underwent title/abstract (Ti/Ab) and full text screening utilizing inclusion/exclusion criteria. The review was guided by PCE categories from the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences framework: relationships, environment, engagement, and emotional growth.

Effects of Investments From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant on Health Departments' Capacity to Address Public Health Emergencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic magnified long-standing health disparities, showing that certain populations are at higher risk for effects of public health emergencies than others. The pandemic response also put demands on the nation's health departments and stretched their limited resources. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities (hereinafter, COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant) to reduce COVID-19 health disparities and advance health equity.

Feasibility of implementing viral hepatitis services into a correctional service facility in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are estimated to be of the most prevalent infectious diseases in correctional settings worldwide. However, viral hepatitis services have not been routinely integrated into South African correctional facilities. We aimed to assess prevalence of HBV infection and HCV infection among people accessing HIV services and assess the feasibility of viral hepatitis service integration in a South African correctional centre.

Community and familial dynamics influencing risk behavior for HIV acquisition among adolescent girls and young women in Uganda: Qualitative analysis using Protective Motivation Theory.

Background: In Uganda, adolescent girls', and young women's (AGYW-15-24 years) current HIV prevalence is fourfold compared with their male counterparts due to compounded social, economic, and environmental factors. Using the Protective Motivation Theory (PMT), we explored HIV-acquisition risk sources and perceived protective factors from AGYW and caregivers' perspective.

Materials And Methods: During 2018, we conducted a qualitative study guided by PMT to explore factors influencing HIV acquisition among AGYW.

Level of tuberculosis-related stigma and associated factors in Ugandan communities.

Tuberculosis (TB) stigma remains a significant barrier to TB control efforts globally, especially in countries with a high TB burden. Studies about TB stigma done in Uganda so far have been limited in scope and focused on data collected health facilities. In this study we report TB related stigma at community level for the period 2021/2022.

Health and Health Care Utilization Outcomes for Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study.

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in new onset of comorbidities and limited studies suggest health care utilization following TBI may be high. Setting, Participants, Mean Measures, and Design: This study used 2018 and 2019 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters data to examine differences in longitudinal health outcomes (health care utilization and new diagnoses) by various demographic factors (age, sex, U.S.

Kalamari: a representative set of genomes of public health concern.

Kalamari is a resource that supports genomic epidemiology and pathogen surveillance. It consists of representative genomes and common contaminants. Kalamari also contains a custom taxonomy and software for downloading and formatting the data.

Adenoviral Vector-Based Vaccine Expressing Hemagglutinin Stem Region with Autophagy-Inducing Peptide Confers Cross-Protection Against Group 1 and 2 Influenza A Viruses.

An effective universal influenza vaccine is urgently needed to overcome the limitations of current seasonal influenza vaccines, which are ineffective against mismatched strains and unable to protect against pandemic influenza. In this study, bovine and human adenoviral vector-based vaccine platforms were utilized to express various combinations of antigens. These included the H5N1 hemagglutinin (HA) stem region or HA2, the extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 of influenza A virus, HA signal peptide (SP), trimerization domain, excretory peptide, and the autophagy-inducing peptide C5 (AIP-C5).

Laboratory Comparison of Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests for Lymphatic Filariasis: STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) Versus Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS).

Accurate rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are needed to diagnose lymphatic filariasis (LF) in global elimination programmes. We evaluated the performance of the new STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) against the Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting antigen (Ag) in laboratory conditions, using serum (n = 195) and plasma (n = 189) from LF-endemic areas (Samoa, American Samoa and Myanmar) and Australian negative controls (n = 46). The prior Ag status of endemic samples (54.

Public Health Travel Restrictions Implemented for Persons at Risk of Transmitting SARS-CoV-2 Infection-United States, January 1, 2020-April 6, 2022.

Context: Federal public health travel restrictions (FPHTR) in the United States are implemented for persons who meet specific criteria to prevent spread of communicable diseases of public health concern. FPHTR can mitigate the risk of disease transmission during air travel and mitigating disease translocation between geographic areas.

Objective: To characterize and determine the extent of FPHTR implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exposure to specific polyfluoroalkyl chemicals is associated with cardiovascular disease in US adults: a population-based study.

Background: Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) present potential health risks due to their persistence and bioaccumulation. However, there is currently insufficient evidence regarding their impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Consequently, it is imperative to investigate the correlation between PFCs and CVD.

Differences in influenza testing and treatment in micropolitan versus metropolitan areas in the U.S. using medicare claims data from 2010 to 2016.

Background: To improve understanding of influenza and rurality, we investigated differences in influenza testing and anti-viral treatment rates between micropolitan (muSAs) and metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) using national medical claims data over multiple influenza seasons.

Methods: Using billing data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for those aged 65 years and older, we estimated weekly rates of ordered rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) and antivirals (AV) among Medicare enrollees by core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) during 2010-2016. We used Negative Binomial generalized mixed models to estimate adjusted rate ratios (aRR) between MSAs and muSAs, adjusting for clustering by CBSA plus explanatory variables.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Exposure in the U.S. Population: NHANES 1999-March 2020.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals" because of their persistence in the environment, have been used in many commercial applications since the 1940s. Of late, the detection of PFAS in drinking water throughout the United States has raised public and scientific concerns. To understand PFAS exposure trends in the general U.