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.

Wearable heart rate variability analysis system based on ionic conductive hydrogels.

Developing a wearable device that can continuously and reliably detect and evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) parameters is critical for the diabetic population with cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). In this work, we proposed a zwitterionic conducting hydrogel that enabled a reliable and comfortable wearable device for the evaluation and detection of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The hydrogel can achieve a strain of 2003 %, an electrical conductivity of 190 mS/m, and is capable of adhering to a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and glass.

Updates to HIV transmission rate estimates along the HIV care continuum in the United States, 2019.

Background: In 2019, there were an estimated 1.2 million persons with HIV (PWH) and 35,100 new infections in the United States. The HIV care continuum has a large influence on transmission dynamics.

Tuberculosis in the US Kidney Failure Population.

Background: People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher risk for progression to tuberculosis disease following infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We produced a nationwide incidence estimate and description of tuberculosis among people with kidney failure.

Methods: We completed a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of people with a reported case of tuberculosis in the United States between 2010 and 2021.

Exposure to Secondhand Cannabis Smoke Among Children.

Importance: The degree that in-home cannabis smoking can be detected in the urine of resident children is unclear.

Objective: Test association of in-home cannabis smoking with urinary cannabinoids in children living at home.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used baseline data from Project Fresh Air, a 2012-2016 randomized clinical trial to reduce fine particulate matter levels.

Folate and Vitamin B12 Status among Non-Pregnant, Non-Lactating Women of Reproductive Age and Predicted Risk for Neural Tube Defects, Morogoro Region, Tanzania.

Introduction: Population risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) can be determined using red blood cell (RBC) folate. However, a paucity of biomarker and surveillance data among non-lactating, non-pregnant women of reproductive age (NPWRA) from Africa limits accurate assessment. Our study assessed folate and vitamin B12 status among non-lactating NPWRA and predicted population risk of NTDs in Tanzania.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of pyrazinamide resistance-India, 2018-2020.

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a key first-line antituberculosis drug that plays an important role in eradicating persister (TB) bacilli and shortening the duration of tuberculosis treatment. However, PZA-resistance is on the rise, particularly among persons with multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. This nationwide study was conducted to explore the prevalence of mutations conferring PZA resistance, catalogue mutation diversity, investigate the associations of PZA resistance with specific lineages, examine co-resistance to 13 first- and second-line drugs, and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of sequencing A and D genes for predicting PZA resistance.

Population Size Estimation of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Google Trends Analysis.

Background: Population size estimation (PSE) for key populations is needed to inform HIV programming and policy.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the utility of applying a recently proposed method using Google Trend (GT) internet search data to generate PSE (Google Trends Population Size Estimate [GTPSE]) for men who have sex with men (MSM) in 54 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

Methods: We examined GT relative search volumes (representing the relative internet search frequency of specific search terms) for "porn" and, as a comparator term, "gay porn" for the year 2020.

Impact of fluconazole on outcomes of patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis: a commercial health insurance claims-based, propensity score matched analysis.

Background: Patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis often experience prolonged symptoms lasting weeks to months. Limited data exist regarding whether fluconazole prevents development of disseminated disease or shortens symptom duration. We describe factors associated with fluconazole receipt and assess its effect on outcomes among patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing in Non-Industrial Spaces: A Summary of Emissions Evaluations in 11 School Settings.

Background: Additive manufacturing or 3-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology with increasing prevalence in non-industrial settings such as university and school settings. However, printers are often located in spaces not designed for this purpose.

Methods: 3D-printer use in 11 university and K-12 schools was evaluated by identifying emissions using area air sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particle counting instruments (PCIs) measuring ultrafine particulate (UFP) and evaluating controls to reduce potential exposure.

Evaluating the potential of Kalanchoe pinnata, Piper amalago amalago, and other botanicals as economical insecticidal synergists against Anopheles gambiae.

Background: Synergists reduce insecticide metabolism in mosquitoes by competing with insecticides for the active sites of metabolic enzymes, such as cytochrome P450s (CYPs). This increases the availability of the insecticide at its specific target site. The combination of both insecticides and synergists increases the toxicity of the mixture.

Additive Value of Polygenic Risk Score to Family History for Type 2 Diabetes Prediction: Results From the All of Us Research Database.

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the additive value of considering type 2 diabetes (T2D) polygenic risk score (PRS) in addition to family history for T2D prediction.

Research Design And Methods: Data were obtained from the All of Us (AoU) research database. First-degree T2D family history was self-reported on the personal family history health questionnaire.

Cost-effectiveness of monitoring and liver cancer surveillance among patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) have an increased risk for death from liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the United States, only an estimated 37% of adults with chronic hepatitis B diagnosis without cirrhosis receive monitoring with at least an annual alanine transaminase (ALT) and hepatitis B deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and an estimated 59% receive antiviral treatment when they develop active hepatitis or cirrhosis. A Markov model was used to calculate the costs, health impact and cost-effectiveness of increased monitoring of adults with HBeAg negative inactive or HBeAg positive immune tolerant CHB who have no cirrhosis or significant fibrosis and are not recommended by the current American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) clinical practice guidelines to receive antiviral treatment, and to assess whether the addition of HCC surveillance would be cost-effective.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years in rural America, by Census region and select demographic characteristics: 2020.

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are a significant public health concern characterized by memory decline that, over time, leads to loss of independence. This study reports ADRD diagnosis rates among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years in rural America.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage enrollees using administrative Medicare data from 2020.

Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Fungal Infections in the Intensive Care Unit: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a morbid superinfection that can arise in critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection. Studies evaluating the full spectrum of COVID-19-associated fungal infections remain limited.

Methods: Single-center retrospective study assessing IFD in patients with COVID-19, hospitalized for ≥ 72 h in the intensive care unit (ICU) between 02/25/20 and 02/28/22 (n = 1410).