Medical and Research Library News
DSHS Medical and Research Library publishes MRL News, a monthly newsletter that highlights training opportunities, trending topics, and journal articles for public health professionals.
To subscribe to MRL News, HHS employees may join the distribution list.
HHS employees may email the Medical and Research Library to receive research assistance, learn how to access electronic resources featured in the newsletter, or obtain the full text of articles mentioned in this month’s news.
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities. The links were working at the time they were created.
Medical and Research Library News By Month
Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
Training opportunities
Note: The following webinars and online classes are not affiliated with DSHS or the DSHS Library. They are presented here as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are in Central Time.
May 4, 2023; 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Advocacy in Rare Disease: Surveying the Landscape.
This webinar from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will explore advocacy in rare disease and will examine the advocacy landscape, asking: what does advocacy entail, who are advocates, what organizations are involved with rare disease advocacy, what determines how umbrella organizations allocate resources, and what is effective—examining success stories of when advocacy has worked.
May 18, 2023; 1-2 p.m. Grant Inspection Checklist: Assessing Your Application Readiness for Federal Funding.
Applying to a federal funding opportunity requires organizations to commit valuable time and effort. How can an organization assess if they have the capacity to apply for a specific grant? This webinar from the American Public Health Association (APHA) will offer attendees information and steps for assessing organizational readiness to apply for a federal environmental justice grant, best practices for fielding other funding opportunities that align with organizational goals and capacities, and a 50-point checklist for assessing application readiness.
May 25, 2023; 12-1 p.m. From Problem to Prevention: Evidence-Based Public Health.
Curious about evidence-based public health (EBPH) but not sure where to start? This class from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) will explain the basics of EBPH and highlight essentials of the EBPH process such as identifying the problem, forming a question, searching the literature, and evaluating the intervention. The purpose of this class is to introduce the world of evidence based public health and to give those already familiar with EBPH useful information that can be applied in their practices.
May 25, 2023; 1-2:30 p.m. Structural Competency: Identifying and Addressing the Upstream Causes of Diabetes and COVID-19.
Health Outreach Partners invites you to join a 90-minute training that will provide an overview of structural factors that create health disparities, with an emphasis on diabetes and COVID-19. This is an opportunity for health centers and community organizations to learn strategies on how to address these factors.
May 30, 2023; 12-1 p.m. Strategies to Improve Staff Retention in Health Center Settings.
The rate of staff turnover at health center facilities is staggering and was exacerbated by the complexities and stressful circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the important implications of staff turnover, health centers have made significant attempts to understand its underlying reasons and devise solutions to decrease it. This webinar, hosted by National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH), will explore strategies to improve staff retention in health center settings.
Websites and reports on trending topics
Achieving Whole Health: A New Approach for Veterans and the Nation – This publication provides guidance on how to fill gaps and create processes to accelerate the transformation to whole health care for veterans, both inside and outside the VA system, and the rest of the U.S. population. The resulting report presents findings and recommendations that provide a roadmap for improving health and well-being for veterans and the nation.
AGRICOLA: National Agricultural Library – This bibliographic resource covers publications encompassing all aspects of agriculture and allied disciplines including: animal and veterinary sciences, entomology, plant sciences, forestry, aquaculture, economics, education, food and human nutrition, and earth and environmental sciences.
Climate Change and Children’s Health Report – This multi-sector report quantifies projected health effects to children from climate change. The report considers factors such as extreme heat, air quality, changing seasons, flooding, and infectious diseases. Where possible, the analyses consider the extent to which these risks disproportionately fall on children from overburdened populations.
eCLIPSE Ultimate Access - This resource from the DSHS Library provides access to The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’s (CLSI) full library of standards. eCLIPSE Ultimate Access is an enhanced, premium platform with advanced features to help you access standards quickly and easily. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.
Britton M, Chen TA, Martinez Leal I, et al. Lung cancer screening eligibility and referral practices in Texas organizations serving people with substance use disorders. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(7):2073. Published 2023 Mar 30. doi:10.3390/cancers15072073
Abstract
For people at elevated risk for lung cancer, lung cancer screening (LCS) reduces lung cancer mortality. People with non-nicotine substance use disorders (SUDs) have elevated rates of smoking compared with the general population, highlighting them as a priority population for LCS consideration. Although research has shown LCS is underutilized, there is little literature to inform whether organizations that serve individuals with SUDs have existing clinical protocols surrounding LCS. In the current study, we examine the LCS eligibility and referral practices among these organizations. We conducted a statewide needs assessment survey in 2021 to discern how tobacco use was being addressed at Texas organizations that provide treatment or services to individuals with SUDs. Respondents were asked to report on their center's LCS eligibility and referral practices. The analytic sample consists of 125 respondents who represented 23 federally qualified health centers, 29 global local mental health authorities (LMHAs), 12 substance use treatment programs in LMHAs, and 61 standalone substance use treatment centers. Very few respondents indicated that healthcare providers at their center made referrals to LCS for patients (8.8%); a few respondents indicated that their healthcare providers assessed patients' eligibility for LCS but did not make referrals (3.2%). Intervention and implementation efforts are needed in these and other SUD healthcare settings to bolster organizational capacity and ensure that patients are being navigated to lung cancer screening at multiple touch points across the care continuum.
Brown TH, Homan P. The future of social determinants of health: Looking upstream to structural drivers. Milbank Q. 2023;101(S1):36-60. doi:10.1111/1468-0009.12641
Abstract
Policy Points Policies that redress oppressive social, economic, and political conditions are essential for improving population health and achieving health equity. Efforts to remedy structural oppression and its deleterious effects should account for its multilevel, multifaceted, interconnected, systemic, and intersectional nature. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services should facilitate the creation and maintenance of a national publicly available, user-friendly data infrastructure on contextual measures of structural oppression. Publicly funded research on social determinants of health should be mandated to (a) analyze health inequities in relation to relevant data on structural conditions and (b) deposit the data in the publicly available data repository.
Dunajcik A, Haire K, Thomas JD, et al. Travel history among persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the United States, December 2020-February 2021. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023;3(3):e0001252. Published 2023 Mar 29. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001252
Abstract
The first three SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic lineages classified as variants of concern (VOCs) in the United States (U.S.) from December 15, 2020 to February 28, 2021, Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Gamma (P.1) lineages, were initially detected internationally. This investigation examined available travel history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reported in the U.S. in whom laboratory testing showed one of these initial VOCs. Travel history, demographics, and health outcomes for a convenience sample of persons infected with a SARS-CoV-2 VOC from December 15, 2020 through February 28, 2021 were provided by 35 state and city health departments, and proportion reporting travel was calculated. Of 1,761 confirmed VOC cases analyzed, 1,368 had available data on travel history. Of those with data on travel history, 1,168 (85%) reported no travel preceding laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 and only 105 (8%) reported international travel during the 30 days preceding a positive SARS-CoV-2 test or symptom onset. International travel was reported by 92/1,304 (7%) of persons infected with the Alpha variant, 7/55 (22%) with Beta, and 5/9 (56%) with Gamma. Of the first three SARS-CoV-2 lineages designated as VOCs in the U.S., international travel was common only among the few Gamma cases. Most persons infected with Alpha and Beta variant reported no travel history, therefore, community transmission of these VOCs was likely common in the U.S. by March 2021. These findings underscore the importance of global surveillance using whole genome sequencing to detect and inform mitigation strategies for emerging SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
Neo DT, Desrosiers TA, Martin CL, et al. Neighborhood-level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy and risk of gastroschisis [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 28]. Epidemiology. 2023. doi:10.1097/EDE.0000000000001621
Abstract
Background: Neighborhood-level socioeconomic position has been shown to influence birth outcomes, including selected birth defects. This study examines the understudied association between neighborhood-level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy and risk of gastroschisis, an abdominal birth defect of increasing prevalence.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 1,269 gastroschisis cases and 10,217 controls using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997 - 2011). To characterize neighborhood-level socioeconomic position, we conducted principal component analysis to construct two indices - Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI) and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Position Index (nSEPI). We created neighborhood-level indices using census socioeconomic indicators corresponding to census tracts associated with addresses where mothers lived the longest during the periconceptional period. We used generalized estimating equations to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with multiple imputation for missing data and adjustment for maternal race-ethnicity, household income, education, birth year, and duration of residence.
Results: Mothers residing in moderate (NDI Tertile 2 aOR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.5 and nSEPI Tertile 2 aOR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.5) or low socioeconomic neighborhoods (NDI Tertile 3 aOR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.6 and nSEPI Tertile 3 aOR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.6) were more likely to deliver an infant with gastroschisis compared with mothers residing in high socioeconomic neighborhoods.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that lower neighborhood-level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy is associated with elevated odds of gastroschisis. Additional epidemiologic studies may aid in confirming this finding and evaluating potential mechanisms linking neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors and gastroschisis.
Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
In honor of NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK, please join the DSHS Library and Information Science program for a series of interesting and informative webinars:
5S for Success
Monday, April 24, 2023, 10-11 a.m.
Join Chris Holmes, Senior Process Improvement Specialist, HHSC Office of Transformation and Innovation as he explains the 5S methodology - a systematic approach to workplace organization using the five steps of Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. 5S is an effective tool for identifying and eliminating wasteful practices from your workplace. Created and perfected by Toyota, 5S incorporates a system of visual cues that help reduce waste and achieve more consistent operational results by maintaining an orderly workplace.
Feedback - Friend or Foe
Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 11 a.m. - Noon
Learning how to effectively give feedback is not only a vital skill in life, but also in the workplace. Feedback, when given correctly, can make you a friend. Give feedback in the wrong way (or never deliver it) and it can make you a foe. Lexie Perez, MPH, Learning Training and Development Specialist, DSHS Center for Public Health Policy & Practice, will provide you with an overview of successfully navigating the world of feedback.
Finding e-Treasures in TexShare Databases
Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 2-3 p.m.
Many exciting changes have happened with TexShare Databases, which provide Texans access to more than 27,000 journals, 171,000 e-books, and 15 million images, videos, and interactive resources. Anne Tarpey, Senior Medical and Research Librarian, will highlight the latest changes to the TexShare Databases. Find out more about the newest TexShare content from Gale’s Cengage Learning and Proquest.
Highlights of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Thursday, April 27, 2023, 10-11 a.m.
Join Ted Manning, Management Analyst with DSHS Business Support and Planning, as he shares highlights from world-renowned author Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This webinar will provide an overview of the 7 habits and show you how to put them into action to become more successful in whatever you want to achieve.
Note: The following webinars and online classes are not affiliated with DSHS or the DSHS Library. They are presented here as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are in Central Time.
April 11, 2023; 12-1:30 p.m. Every Step of the Way Through the 1,000 Days Breastfeeding Champions and Community Changemakers.
This webinar from National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will focus on Recommendation 7 of the Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support: A Blueprint for Communities: “assume a community champion role, beyond the provision of direct services, by identifying and engaging key stakeholders to identify and help remove structural barriers to chest/breastfeeding within systems, organizations, and the community.” Presenters will review the recommendation, spotlight how individuals and organizations have created multi-sectoral coalitions and embodied allyship, and will invite webinar attendees to share how they have served as connectors, coalition builders, and advocates within their community—inspiring and celebrating each other.
April 12, 2023; 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Opening a Window of Opportunity: Reframing Treatment Strategies to Prevent Damage from Chronic Inflammation.
Evidence is mounting that treating inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, within a particular timeframe can offer significant benefits. This concept, referred to as the “window of opportunity,” may have far-reaching applications in the treatment of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases and even cancer. In this webinar, experts will discuss the basic mechanisms that create the window of opportunity as well as what the research says about how to apply this concept in a clinical setting. Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).April 13, 2023; 5-6 p.m. Black Maternal Health Week Panel Discussion: Current Issues in Black Maternal Health.
This live event from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) will feature the insight of a panel of three leaders in Black Maternal Health. Each panelist will present a lightning talk about current issues in Black Maternal Health, and the remainder of the presentation will be a moderated Q&A with attendees.
April 18, 2023; 12-1 p.m. Preparing for Extreme Heat, Rural Health, and Climate Change.
The increasing frequency of extreme heat creates new risks and challenges: heat stroke for outdoor workers, challenges with medication management, poor air quality, blackouts, and grid failures, etc. This presentation and panel discussion from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will address these challenges from a health equity lens and review resources for community health centers to support rural populations.
Websites and reports on trending topics
Academic Video Online – This TexShare resource provides unlimited remote access to more than 63,000 videos. The database includes scholarly video material of virtually every video type: documentaries, interviews, performances, news programs and newsreels, field recordings, commercials, demonstrations, original and raw footage including tens of thousands of exclusive tiles. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.
AMA Manual of Style Online – The DSHS Library provides access to the online edition of the AMA Manual of Style. This ebook provides search functionality across the full text of the manual, online only updates, quizzes, and options for downloading and sharing content. Please contact the library for remote access instructions. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.
The Annual Review of Public Health – This publication covers significant developments in the field of public health, including key developments and issues in epidemiology and biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, social environment and behavior, health services, and public health practice and policy.
Think. Check. Submit. – Through a range of tools and practical resources, this international, cross-sector initiative aims to educate researchers, promote integrity, and build trust in credible research and publications.
It guides users through deciding where to submit articles for publication
and includes a checklist for assessing journal quality.
Journal Articles of Note
Gutiérrez Tyler C, Salinas A, Guevara A, Alva H, Ruiz M, Prot EY. Assessing 2019 Hurricane Harvey recovery in Aransas County, Texas through Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER). Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2023;17:e366. Published 2023 Mar 23. doi:10.1017/dmp.2023.12
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess recovery of Aransas County, Texas households 2 years after Category 4 Hurricane Harvey made landfall.
Methods: A 2-stage cluster sampling method used to conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) on May 3 - 4 and May 18 - 19, 2019. A household-based survey was administered through face-to-face interviews, selected through systematic random sampling using weighted analysis of the county population. Field teams collected 175 surveys (83.3% completion rate).
Results: Approximately 57% households experienced repairable damage, 23% had destroyed homes, and 19% had minimal damage. 38% stated having 'no need,' 18% needed financial assistance, 16% needed household repairs, and over 8% had behavioral health needs. 17% experiencing a behavioral health concern were seeking services. Of the 35% of households who did not seek services, 14% felt there was no need, and 4% were not aware of the resources available.
Conclusions: Households reported high levels of preparedness, but gaps remain in evacuation intention and behavioral health care access. CASPERs are effective in assessing long-term recovery of communities impacted by major disasters.
Martin-Giacalone BA, Lin AE, Rasmussen SA, et al. Prevalence and descriptive epidemiology of Turner syndrome in the United States, 2000-2017: A report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 15]. Am J Med Genet A. 2023. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.63181
Abstract
The lack of United States population-based data on Turner syndrome limits assessments of prevalence and associated characteristics for this sex chromosome abnormality. Therefore, we collated 2000-2017 data from seven birth defects surveillance programs within the National Birth Defects Prevention Network. We estimated the prevalence of karyotype-confirmed Turner syndrome diagnosed within the first year of life. We also calculated the proportion of cases with commonly ascertained birth defects, assessed associations with maternal and infant characteristics using prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and estimated survival probability. The prevalence of Turner syndrome of any pregnancy outcome was 3.2 per 10,000 female live births (95% CI = 3.0-3.3, program range: 1.0-10.4), and 1.9 for live birth and stillbirth (≥20 weeks gestation) cases (95% CI = 1.8-2.1, program range: 0.2-3.9). Prevalence was lowest among cases born to non-Hispanic Black women compared to non-Hispanic White women (PR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.4-0.6). Coarctation of the aorta was the most common defect (11.6% of cases), and across the cohort, individuals without hypoplastic left heart had a five-year survival probability of 94.6%. The findings from this population-based study may inform surveillance practices, prenatal counseling, and diagnosis. We also identified racial and ethnic disparities in prevalence, an observation that warrants further investigation.
Sok P, Sabo A, Almli LM, et al. Exome-wide assessment of isolated biliary atresia: A report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study using child-parent trios and a case-control design to identify novel rare variants [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 21]. Am J Med Genet A. 2023. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.63185
Abstract
The etiology of biliary atresia (BA) is unknown, but recent studies suggest a role for rare protein-altering variants (PAVs). Exome sequencing data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study on 54 child-parent trios, one child-mother duo, and 1,513 parents of children with other birth defects were analyzed. Most (91%) cases were isolated BA. We performed (1) a trio-based analysis to identify rare de novo, homozygous, and compound heterozygous PAVs and (2) a case-control analysis using a sequence kernel-based association test to identify genes enriched with rare PAVs. While we replicated previous findings on PKD1L1, our results do not suggest that recurrent de novo PAVs play important roles in BA susceptibility. In fact, our finding in NOTCH2, a disease gene associated with Alagille syndrome, highlights the difficulty in BA diagnosis. Notably, IFRD2 has been implicated in other gastrointestinal conditions and warrants additional study. Overall, our findings strengthen the hypothesis that the etiology of BA is complex.
Stierman EK, O'Brien BT, Stagg J, et al. Statewide perinatal quality improvement, teamwork, and communication activities in Oklahoma and Texas [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 7]. Qual Manag Health Care. 2023. doi:10.1097/QMH.0000000000000407
Abstract
Background and objective: The purpose of this study was to describe statewide perinatal quality improvement (QI) activities, specifically implementation of Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) patient safety bundles and use of teamwork and communication tools in obstetric units in Oklahoma and Texas.
Methods: In January-February 2020, we conducted a survey of AIM-enrolled hospitals in Oklahoma (n = 35) and Texas (n = 120) to gather data on obstetric unit organization and QI processes. Data were linked to hospital characteristics information from the 2019 American Hospital Association survey and hospitals' maternity levels of care from state agencies. We generated descriptive statistics for each state and created an index to summarize adoption of QI processes. We fitted linear regression models to examine how this index varied by hospital characteristics and self-reported ratings for patient safety and AIM bundle implementation.
Results: Most obstetric units had standardized clinical processes for obstetric hemorrhage (94% Oklahoma; 97% Texas), massive transfusion (94% Oklahoma; 97% Texas), and severe hypertension in pregnancy (97% Oklahoma; 80% Texas); regularly conducted simulation drills for obstetric emergencies (89% Oklahoma; 92% Texas); had multidisciplinary QI committees (61% Oklahoma; 83% Texas); and conducted debriefs after major obstetric complications (45% Oklahoma; 86% Texas). Few obstetric units offered recent staff training on teamwork and communication to their staff (6% Oklahoma; 22% Texas); those who did were more likely to employ specific strategies to facilitate communication, escalate concerns, and manage staff conflicts. Overall, adoption of QI processes was significantly higher in hospitals in urban than rural areas, teaching than nonteaching, offering higher levels of maternity care, with more staff per shift, and greater delivery volume (all P < .05). The QI adoption index scores were strongly associated with respondents' ratings for patient safety and implementation of maternal safety bundles (both P < .001).
Conclusions: Adoption of QI processes varies across obstetric units in Oklahoma and Texas, with implications for implementing future perinatal QI initiatives. Notably, findings highlight the need to reinforce support for rural obstetric units, which often face greater barriers to implementing patient safety and QI processes than urban units.
Return to top
Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
Note: The following webinars and online classes are not affiliated with DSHS or the DSHS Library. They are presented here as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are in Central Time.
March 8, 2023; 12-3:45 p.m. The Fatal Overdose Landscape.
This workshop from the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration will open with informative presentations detailing the recent trends found in toxicology reports, economic reasons fentanyl has displaced heroin from the illicit market, and more. Engaging panel discussions and additional presentations will follow, exploring a variety of perspectives on managing opioid overdose. Attendees will gain an understanding of the current landscape of fatal overdoses in the U.S., including changes in patterns of drug use, trends in the illicit drug supply, and real-world experience of overdose.
March 9, 2023; 12-1 p.m. Tobacco, Vaping, & Cannabis: Implications for Patients Discussion.
This session from Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) Behavioral Health (BH) Technical Assistance (TA) will address the rapidly changing products and patterns of tobacco and other substance use among their patients. This interactive, discussion-based session will facilitate a greater understanding of the oral health effects and overall health implications of cigarettes, non-cigarette tobacco, and other substances to provide
proper patient treatment and counseling.
March 14, 2023; 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Big Science for Drug and Vaccine Discovery: From Billion-Compound Supercomputer Screening to Precision Neutron Crystallography.
This webinar from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will describe experimentally-validated HPC-derived chemical probes for a number of therapeutic indications including antibiotic resistance, diabetes and Covid-19. Structure-based computational approaches for the design of vaccines against Group A Streptococcus and pancreatic cancer are also described. Detailed work using neutron crystallography localizes hydrogen atoms in drug-binding sites and has provided a detailed description of many protein targets including critical information on controversial questions concerning the mechanism of action of HIV protease and the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.
March 21, 2023; 1-2 p.m. The Importance of Preventive Services and Lessons Learned from the Pandemic.
This webinar from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) will focus on preventive services and highlight progress to date on three Healthy People 2030 objectives:
- IID-09: Increase the proportion of persons who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza (Leading Health Indicator).
- MICH-08: Increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care.
- STI-04: Reduce congenital syphilis.
During this event, the National Association of County and City Health Officials will share their work with local health departments and lessons learned about preventive services uptake during the pandemic.
March 23, 2023; 1-2:30 p.m. How PubMed Works: Automatic Term Mapping (ATM).
This 90-minute class from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) on PubMed's Automatic Term Mapping (ATM) feature looks at the inner workings of the three translation tables used to map your search terms and looks in-depth at search details.
Objectives:
- Describe the contents of the 3 Translation Tables.
- Explain the order of ATM.
- Analyze Search Details to verify term mapping.
- Locate PubMed's list of indexed phrases.
- Describe 3 Ways to bypass ATM.
Websites and reports on trending topics
National Health Statistics Surveys and Reports - This resource from the National Center for Health Statistics provides annual data summaries and analyses on a variety of health topics. These reports provide annual data summaries, present analyses of health topics, or present new information on methods or measurement issues. This list of all National Health Statistics Reports (NHSR) that have been released to date is presented in an interactive, searchable, and sortable data tables format.
PrePubMed - In academic publishing, a preprint is a version of a scholarly
or scientific paper that precedes formal peer review and publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly or scientific journal. The preprint may be available, often as a non-typeset version available free, before and/or after a paper is published in a journal. PrePubMed indexes preprints from arXiv q-bio, PeerJ Preprints, bioRxiv, F1000Research, preprints.org, The Winnower, Nature Precedings, and Wellcome Open Research. Articles are not stored on PrePubMed, but you will be linked to the article at the respective site.
PsycINFO - This database, provided by the DSHS Library, is the American Psychological Association’s (APA) resource for abstracts of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations. It is the largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health,
and contains records and summaries dating as far back as the 1600s. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.
PubChem – From the National Library of Medicine, PubChem is a open chemistry database and the largest freely accessible reference tool for chemical information. Search chemicals by name, molecular formula, structure, and other identifiers. Find chemical and physical properties, biological activities, safety and toxicity information, patents, literature citations and more.
Chandra M, Yu R, Shete S. Association between employer-based health promotion programs and adherence to breast cancer screening in Texas. Prev Med Rep. 2023;32:102128. Published 2023 Feb 4. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102128
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in Texas. Although adherence to recommended screening mammogram guidelines enables early detection and reduces breast cancer risks, screening mammogram adherence is low in Texas. With the rising percentage of women in the workforce, employer-based health promotion programs could be an effective measure in increasing mammogram adherence, thereby reducing breast cancer risk in Texas. Although employer-based health programs are common in the state, little is known about their effectiveness in increasing screening mammogram adherence among age-eligible employed females. The study survey was administered using Qualtrics and the study participants were representative of the Texas population. The study population included 318 females from Texas who were 50-74 years old. Among those who had access to employer-based health promotion programs, 65.4 % were adherent and 34.6 % were non-adherent to the guidelines. Population-weighted survey logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between access to employer-based health promotion programs and mammogram adherence for employed women (AOR: 0.85 [0.15-4.79], p-value = 0.86). However, access to healthcare coverage (AOR: 7.58 [2.89-19.88], p-value < 0.001), those who disagree with the fatalistic belief that everything causes cancer (AOR: 2.99 [1.45-6.19], p-value < 0.001), and those who perceive cancer screening important (AOR: 12.36 [2.26-67.47], p < 0.05) were found as significant determinants of mammogram adherence among females in Texas. The study concluded that access to employer-based health promotion programs alone was insufficient to improve breast cancer screening. The employers and the insurance companies, with support from the government, should develop
a comprehensive program that addresses all structural and psychosocial barriers to employee breast cancer screening adherence.
DeSantis SM, Yaseen A, Hao T, et al. Incidence and predictors of breakthrough and severe breakthrough infections of SARS-CoV-2 after primary series vaccination in adults: A population-based survey of 22,575 participants [published online ahead of print, 2023 Feb 2]. J Infect Dis. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiad020
Abstract
Background: Breakthrough infections of SARS-CoV-2 are well-documented. The current study estimates breakthrough incidence across pandemic waves, and evaluates predictors of breakthrough and severe breakthrough infections (defined as those requiring hospitalization).
Methods: 89,762 participants underwent longitudinal antibody surveillance. Incidence rates were calculated using total person-days contributed. Bias-corrected and age-adjusted logistic regression determined multivariable predictors of breakthrough and severe breakthrough infection, respectively.
Results: The incidence was 0.45 (0.38, 0.50) during pre-Delta, 2.80 (2.25, 3.14) during Delta, and 11.2 (8.80, 12.95) during Omicron, per 10,000 person-days. Factors associated with elevated odds of breakthrough included Hispanic ethnicity (vs non-Hispanic White, OR=1.243[1.073, 1.441]), larger household size (OR=1.251 [1.048, 1.494] for 3-5 vs. 1 and OR=1.726 [1.317, 2.262] for more than 5 vs. 1 person), rural vs urban living (OR=1.383 [1.122, 1.704]), receiving Pfizer or Johnson&Johnson vs. Moderna, and multiple comorbidities. Of the 1,700 breakthrough infections, 1,665 reported on severity; 112 (6.73%) were severe. Higher BMI, Hispanic ethnicity, vaccine type, asthma, and hypertension predicted severe breakthroughs.
Conclusion: Breakthrough infection was 4-25 times more common during the Omicron-dominant wave versus earlier waves. Higher burden of severe breakthrough infections was identified in subgroups.
Papi A, Ison MG, Langley JM, et al. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prefusion F Protein Vaccine in Older Adults. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(7):595-608. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2209604
Abstract
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of acute respiratory infection, lower respiratory tract disease, clinical complications, and death in older adults. There is currently no licensed vaccine against RSV infection.
Methods: In an ongoing, international, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, adults 60 years of age or older to receive a single dose of an AS01E-adjuvanted RSV prefusion F protein-based candidate vaccine (RSVPreF3 OA) or placebo before the RSV season. The primary objective was to show vaccine efficacy of one dose of the RSVPreF3 OA vaccine against RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease, confirmed
by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), during one RSV season. The criterion for meeting the primary objective was a lower limit of the confidence interval around the efficacy estimate of more than 20%. Efficacy against severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease
and RSV-related acute respiratory infection was assessed, and analyses according to RSV subtype (A and B) were performed. Safety was evaluated.
Results: A total of 24,966 participants received one dose of the RSVPreF3 OA vaccine (12,467 participants) or placebo (12,499). Over a median follow-up of 6.7 months, vaccine efficacy against RT-PCR-confirmed RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease was 82.6% (96.95% confidence interval [CI], 57.9 to 94.1), with 7 cases (1.0 per 1000 participant-years) in the vaccine group and 40 cases (5.8 per 1000 participant-years) in the placebo group. Vaccine efficacy was 94.1% (95% CI, 62.4 to 99.9) against severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease (assessed on the basis of clinical signs or by the investigator) and 71.7% (95% CI, 56.2 to 82.3) against RSV-related acute respiratory infection. Vaccine efficacy was similar against the RSV A and B subtypes (for RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease: 84.6% and 80.9%, respectively; for RSV-related acute respiratory infection: 71.9% and 70.6%, respectively). High vaccine efficacy was observed in various age groups and in participants with coexisting conditions. The RSVPreF3 OA vaccine was more reactogenic than placebo, but most adverse events for which reports were solicited were transient, with mild-to-moderate severity. The incidences of serious adverse events and potential immune-mediated diseases were similar in the two groups.
Conclusions: A single dose of the RSVPreF3 OA vaccine had an acceptable safety profile and prevented RSV-related acute respiratory infection and lower respiratory tract disease and severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease in adults 60 years of age or older, regardless of RSV subtype and the presence of underlying coexisting conditions. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals; AReSVi-006 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04886596).
Taetzsch SJ, Swaney EM, Gee JE, et al. Melioidosis in Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca Fascicularis) Imported to the United States from Cambodia. Comp Med. 2022;72(6):394-402. doi:10.30802/AALAS-CM-22-000024
Abstract
Melioidosis, a potentially fatal infectious disease of humans and animals, including nonhuman primates (NHPs), is caused by the high-consequence pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei. This environmental bacterium is found in the soil and water of tropical regions, such as Southeast Asia, where melioidosis is endemic. The global movement of humans and animals can introduce B. pseudomallei into nonendemic regions of the United States, where environmental conditions could allow establishment of the organism. Approximately 60% of NHPs imported into the United States originate in countries considered endemic for melioidosis. To prevent the introduction of infectious agents to the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires newly imported NHPs to be quarantined for at least 31 d, during which time their health is closely monitored. Most diseases of public health concern that are transmissible from imported NHPs have relatively short incubation periods that fall within the 31-d quarantine period. However, animals infected with B. pseudomallei may appear healthy for months to years before showing signs of illness, during which time they can shed the organism into the environment. Melioidosis presents diagnostic challenges because it causes nonspecific clinical signs, serologic screening can produce unreliable results, and culture isolates are often misidentified on rapid commercial testing systems. Here, we present a case of melioidosis in a cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) that developed a subcutaneous abscess after importation from Cambodia to the United States. The bacterial isolate from the abscess was initially misidentified on a commercial test. This case emphasizes the possibility of melioidosis in NHPs imported from endemic countries and its associated diagnostic challenges. If melioidosis is suspected, diagnostic samples and culture isolates should be submitted to a laboratory in the CDC Laboratory Response Network for conclusive identification and characterization of the pathogen.