Quantifying the potential value of antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19: a modelling analysis.

Background: Testing plays a critical role in treatment and prevention responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to nucleic acid tests (NATs), antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) can be more accessible, but typically have lower sensitivity and specificity. By quantifying these trade-offs, we aimed to inform decisions about when an Ag-RDT would offer greater public health value than reliance on NAT.

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Vascular Malformation Questionnaire: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To develop and validate the Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Vascular Malformation (PROVAM) questionnaire to assess the health-related quality of life in patients with vascular malformations.

Materials And Methods: We developed and validated PROVAM using a mixed methods design during a prospective clinical trial at a vascular anomalies clinic. From July 2019 to February 2020, 108 consecutive patients completed 130 questionnaires.

APOL1 variant alleles associate with reduced risk for opportunistic infections in HIV infection.

Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), an innate immune factor against African trypanosoma brucei, inhibits HIV-1 in vitro. The impact of APOL1 G1-G2 variants on HIV-1-associated opportunistic infections (OIs) is unknown. Here, we report findings from a metaanalysis of four HIV/AIDS prospective cohorts (ALIVE, LSOCA, MACS, and WIHS) including 2066 African American participants.

Characteristics associated with the transition to partial breastfeeding prior to 6 months of age: Data from seven sites in a birth cohort study.

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. However, the transition of the infants' diet to partial breastfeeding with the addition of animal milks and/or solids typically occurs earlier than this. Here, we explored factors associated with the timing of an early transition to partial breastfeeding across seven sites of a birth cohort study in which twice weekly information on infant feeding practices was collected.

A Social-Return-On-Investment Analysis Of Bon Secours Hospital's 'Housing For Health' Affordable Housing Program.

Community health programs aimed at addressing the social determinants of health often face challenges demonstrating their impact through traditional economic evaluation methods of return-on-investment analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, or cost-benefit analysis. Using a social-return-on-investment (SROI) analysis, we evaluated the broader social, environmental, and economic benefits of Bon Secours Hospital's Housing for Health program, an affordable housing program aimed at addressing the social and environmental determinants affecting its community's health in Baltimore, Maryland. Bon Secours currently has 801 units of affordable housing across twelve properties in West Baltimore.

Association between the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and NAFLD in participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background: Inflammation is key in the pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) - a common progressive liver disease. The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) attenuates inflammatory signaling; low levels of sRAGE are correlated with increased inflammation.

Aim: We sought to describe associations between sRAGE and NAFLD.

Factors hindering health care delivery in nomadic communities: a cross-sectional study in Timbuktu, Mali.

Background: In Mali, nomadic populations are spread over one third of the territory. Their lifestyle, characterized by constant mobility, excludes them from, or at best places them at the edge of, health delivery services. This study aimed to describe nomadic populations' characteristics, determine their perception on the current health services, and identify issues associated with community-based health interventions.

Effect of an Adenovirus-Vectored Universal Influenza Virus Vaccine on Pulmonary Pathophysiology in a Mouse Model.

Current influenza vaccines, live attenuated or inactivated, do not protect against antigenically novel influenza A viruses (IAVs) of pandemic potential, which has driven interest in the development of universal influenza vaccines. Universal influenza vaccine candidates targeting highly conserved antigens of IAV nucleoprotein (NP) are promising as vaccines that induce T cell immunity, but concerns have been raised about the safety of inducing robust CD8 T cell responses in the lungs. Using a mouse model, we systematically evaluated effects of recombinant adenovirus vectors (rAd) expressing IAV NP (A/NP-rAd) or influenza B virus (IBV) NP (B/NP-rAd) on pulmonary inflammation and function after vaccination and following live IAV challenge.

Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the Management of Obesity: an Update.

Purpose Of Review: Comprehensive lifestyle programs are cornerstones of obesity management, but clinician referrals may be limited by program availability. Commercial weight loss programs may be an alternative, but clinicians may be unaware of their efficacy and safety. This review describes the evidence for commercial programs, particularly 12-month weight loss, among individuals with obesity.

A Failure to Communicate? How Public Messaging Has Strained the COVID-19 Response in the United States.

A pandemic, especially when caused by a novel virus, induces tremendous uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. To mitigate panic and encourage appropriate behavioral action, communication is critical. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) guidance is designed to assist public health authorities, government officials, and other stakeholders in using risk communication during an emergency.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Rhode Island From a Statewide Random Sample.

To characterize statewide seroprevalence and point prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Rhode Island. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of randomly selected households across Rhode Island in May 2020. Antibody-based and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests for SARS-CoV-2 were offered.

Exposure to Baby-Friendly Hospital Practices and Breastfeeding Outcomes of WIC Participants in Maryland.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is an effective intervention to support maternal practices around breastfeeding. However, adherence of hospitals to the Baby-Friendly 10 Steps, as determined from the perspective of women participating in the United States Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, has not been assessed.

Research Aims: (1) To compare maternal perceptions about maternity practices in Baby-Friendly Hospitals and non-Baby-Friendly Hospitals; (2) to evaluate the associations between degree of exposure to the Baby-Friendly 10 Steps and breastfeeding practices through the first 6 months; and (3) to evaluate whether the receipt of specific Steps was associated with breastfeeding practices through 6 months.

Durable SARS-CoV-2 B cell immunity after mild or severe disease.

Multiple studies have shown loss of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific (SARS-CoV-2-specific) antibodies over time after infection, raising concern that humoral immunity against the virus is not durable. If immunity wanes quickly, millions of people may be at risk for reinfection after recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, memory B cells (MBCs) could provide durable humoral immunity even if serum neutralizing antibody titers decline.

Time to Revisit a Voluntary FDA Comparative Effectiveness Pathway.

Given the renewed policy focus on drug pricing and pharmaceutical innovation, this article examines the historical backdrop of efforts to integrate comparative effectiveness research into the FDA drug review process. Noting previous policy efforts over a decade ago, we characterize industry challenges and suggest a path forward.

Native Youth Participating in the Together on Diabetes 12-Month Home-Visiting Program Reported Improvements in Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 Diet Quality Domains Likely to Be Associated With Blood Pressure and Glycemic Control.

Background: The Together on Diabetes (TOD) intervention was a home-visiting diabetes prevention and management program for Native youth.

Objectives: (1) Examine the impact of the TOD program on diet quality using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010); (2) determine association between diet quality and cardiometabolic health.

Design: The TOD program was conducted from October 2012 to June 2014 and was evaluated using a pretest-posttest study design from baseline to 12 months.

Fungal immunity and pathogenesis in mammals versus the invertebrate model organism Galleria mellonella.

In recent decades, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) have emerged as a model system to explore experimental aspects of fungal pathogenesis. The benefits of the G. mellonella model include being faster, cheaper, higher throughput and easier compared with vertebrate models.

Institutions For Mental Diseases Medicaid Waivers: Impact On Payments For Substance Use Treatment Facilities.

The Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion prohibits use of federal Medicaid funds to treat enrollees ages 21-64 in psychiatric residential treatment facilities that have more than sixteen beds. In 2015 the federal government created a streamlined application pathway for state waivers of this rule to allow Medicaid coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in residential facilities. Nine states received IMD waivers during the period 2015-18.

Comparative Effectiveness of Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass Versus Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy for Sustained Remission of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Bariatric surgery results in rapid weight loss and resolution of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to determine whether the type of surgical procedure-vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)-was associated with sustained remission from T2DM, and to identify other independent predictors of sustained remission.

Methods: Using the IBM MarketScan database of privately insured patients in the United States, we performed a retrospective cohort study on individuals aged 18-65 y with T2DM on hypoglycemic medication, who underwent either VSG or RYGB from 2010 to 2016.

A glycan FRET assay for detection and characterization of catalytic antibodies to the capsule.

Classic antibody functions include opsonization, complement activation, and enhancement of cellular antimicrobial function. Antibodies can also have catalytic activity, although the contribution of catalysis to their biological functions has been more difficult to establish. With the ubiquity of catalytic antibodies against glycans virtually unknown, we sought to advance this knowledge.

Hypoglycemia Communication in Primary Care Visits for Patients with Diabetes.

Background: Hypoglycemia is a common and serious adverse effect of diabetes treatment, especially for patients using insulin or insulin secretagogues. Guidelines recommend that these patients be assessed for interval hypoglycemic events at each clinical encounter and be provided anticipatory guidance for hypoglycemia prevention.

Objective: To determine the frequency and content of hypoglycemia communication in primary care visits.

Transforming Mental Health And Addiction Services.

Even with great advances in behavioral health policy in the last decade, the problems of mental illness and addiction persist in the United States-so more needs to be done. In this article, which is part of the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative, we describe the steps needed to improve outcomes, focusing on three strategies. We argue for transforming the behavioral health system to meet people where they are, decriminalizing mental illness and substance use disorders to facilitate recovery, and raising awareness of social context and social needs as essential to effective care.

The Legal and Empirical Case for Firearm Purchaser Licensing.

This article argues that state government actors concerned about gun violence prevention should prioritize enactment of robust firearm purchaser regimes at the state level. First, the article outlines the empirical evidence base for purchaser licensing. Then, the article describes how state governments can design this policy.