Examining the Association Between Exposure to the #ShesWell Campaign and Black Women's Conversations with Healthcare Providers About Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Low uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention among Black women has been partly attributed to barriers related to patient-provider communication. The goal of this paper was to investigate the association between exposure to the #ShesWell campaign and Black women's communication about PrEP with a healthcare provider (HCP). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 403 sexually active, Black women after the initial phase of #ShesWell and used multivariable regression models to analyze whether exposure to #ShesWell was associated with talking to an HCP about PrEP or intention to discuss PrEP with an HCP in the future.

Improving data on homelessness and health: partnering with community-based organizations.

Background: Community-based organizations (CBOs) provide critical services to people experiencing homelessness and played a unique role in data collection throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Although data from CBOs filled a critical need, many jurisdictions faced challenges with timely and integrated data collection. We gathered expert opinions from CBO leaders on homelessness and health to identify how to support CBO data collection to best inform public health practices.

Diagnosis and Clinical Description of Leptospirosis Cases Identified Through Hospital-Based Active Surveillance in Puerto Rico, 2019-2021.

Leptospirosis is endemic to Puerto Rico, affecting people through seasonal increases and outbreaks. This report describes the diagnostic approach and clinical characteristics of leptospirosis cases identified through active undifferentiated acute febrile illness (UAFI) surveillance in Puerto Rico. From 2019 to 2021, active surveillance was conducted in four emergency departments (EDs), with standardized recruitment of patients aged ≥ 5 years, presenting with fever or a history of fever of unknown origin within the past two weeks.

Hearing Loss, Retinal Abnormality, and Seizures in People With Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy.

Introduction/aims: Few studies describing comorbidities in individuals with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) are available. We used data from the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking and Research Network (MD STARnet) to identify and describe the prevalence of three comorbidities-hearing loss, retinal abnormalities, and seizures-in individuals with FSHD.

Methods: We analyzed retrospective population-based data from 548 individuals diagnosed with FSHD who had at least one health visit during 2008-2019.

An Analysis of Anti-Bullying Laws in the United States.

Bullying is a public health concern that results in diminished well-being for children and adolescents. One approach that lawmakers have taken to address bullying is enacting anti-bullying laws, which require school districts to establish bullying prevention policies. In this study, researchers used standard legal epidemiology methods to systematically retrieve and analyze anti-bullying laws in the United States (US).

Mpox Stigma During the 2022 Outbreak Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States.

Mpox emerged on the global scale in 2022 and predominately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Stigma related to mpox is a potential harm for individuals experiencing multiple levels of marginalization who may already be discriminated against in family, healthcare, and other social domains. To understand perceived mpox stigma among cisgender GBMSM in the United States (US), we conducted a study within the American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS) with 824 cisgender GBMSM ≥15 years from August 5-15, 2022.

Exploring lingering COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in three diverse U.S. states: Alabama, Illinois, and Texas.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine uptake was slower than expected, with some people experiencing concern about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine even after being vaccinated. This manuscript explores a phenomenon called lingering hesitancy, or the concern that people experience even after receiving an initial dose of a vaccine. Leveraging survey findings from three individual Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) in Alabama, Illinois, and Texas, we compare the attitudes of individuals across three vaccine status groups: those who received their complete COVID-19 vaccine series, those who received an initial dose but no subsequent doses (lingering hesitancy), and those who remained unvaccinated.

Midodrine exposure trends and outcomes reported to United States poison centers: 2000-2023.

Introduction: Midodrine is an oral alpha-1 adrenergic agonist used to treat orthostatic hypotension. Its vasoconstrictive properties can lead to hypertension and reflex bradycardia. We characterized midodrine exposures reported to United States poison centers from 2000 to 2023.

Immune Response to MVA-BN and Prior Smallpox Vaccination in People With HIV or at Risk for HIV Acquisition.

Little is known about the serologic response elicited by the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccination (JYNNEOS) against mpox in elderly individuals with or without HIV. In this study, we measured levels of antibody against orthopoxvirus in selected participants (n = 114) with HIV or at risk for HIV acquisition from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study/Women's Interagency HIV Study Combined Cohort Study, who had no prior reported history of mpox. Participants reported MVA-BN vaccination history via questionnaires.

A Framework for Classifying Disease Trends Applied to Influenza-Associated Hospital Admissions in the United States.

Using Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) data, we established thresholds for weekly hospitalization rate differences to categorize changes. We applied thresholds to National Healthcare Safety Network influenza admissions from the 2022/2023-2023/2024 seasons. This metric identified more large increases and decreases in 2022/2023 and facilitated rapid trend assessment.

Impact of Delays in Diagnosis on Healthcare Costs Associated With Blastomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis, and Histoplasmosis in a Commercially Insured Population.

Among patients with blastomycosis ( = 281), coccidioidomycosis ( = 1920), and histoplasmosis ( = 2180), 62% experienced diagnostic delays (mean 29 days). Patients who experienced delays incurred average excess healthcare costs of up to $15 648 (95% confidence interval: $8600-$22 695) compared with those without a delay. Earlier diagnosis may help reduce excess costs.

Exploratory analysis of United States-based cannabis product health benefit claims on online marketplaces.

Background And Aims: Cannabis-derived products (CDPs), including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products, are widely diverse and readily available through physical and online retail channels in the United States (US) marketplace and may also include claims of treating or providing benefit for health issues. This study aimed to systematically classify the various types of health benefit claim(s) present on CDP listings based on publicly available online marketplace data.

Design: Exploratory analysis to identify health benefit claims.

Evaluation of possible human papillomavirus (HPV) type replacement after vaccine introduction, overall and by race/ethnicity, United States.

Investigations of type replacement after human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine introduction have found increases in some non-vaccine types, but findings have been inconsistent. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used to explore potential type replacement through 12 years after introduction of the U.S.

Quantitative headform fit evaluation and predictive modeling to assist with selecting N95 filtering facepiece respirators to mitigate respiratory hazards.

Ensuring that respiratory protection is effective for all can be difficult if limited resources are available to assist with selecting a well-fitting respirator model and user guidance. To better understand how various N95 filtering facepiece respirator models fit on a variety of face sizes, a quantitative fit evaluation was performed on 12 different N95 respirators distributed by the Strategic National Stockpile using five manikin headform sizes representative of most of the U.S.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Adolescents With and Without Autism.

Objectives: We sought to examine differences in caregiver-reported adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adolescents with and without autism and explore associations between ACEs and behavioral and emotional problems in those with ACEs.

Methods: Children were classified as having autism, another developmental disability (DD), or population comparison (POP) after a comprehensive evaluation in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) between 2 to 5 years of age. Caregivers of these same children completed the SEED Teen survey and answered questions about ACEs and current behavioral and emotional problems at 12 to 16 years of age.

Emergence of a Novel Canine Distemper Virus Variant in Urbanized Free-Ranging Marmosets ().

The black-tufted marmoset (), commonly found in urban areas of Central Brazil, is vulnerable to pathogen spillover from domestic animals and humans. Here, we report an outbreak of natural canine distemper virus (CDV) infection among urbanized free-ranging black-tufted marmosets. Five fatalities occurred in marmosets living in a neighborhood with unvaccinated dogs.

Development of avian influenza A(H5) virus datasets for Nextclade enables rapid and accurate clade assignment.

The 2022 panzootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses has led to unprecedented transmission to multiple mammalian species. Avian influenza A viruses of the H5 subtype circulate globally among birds and are classified into distinct clades based on their haemagglutinin (HA) genetic sequences. Thus, the ability to accurately and rapidly assign clades to newly sequenced isolates is key to surveillance and outbreak response.

Prophylactic protection from lethal henipavirus disease mediated by Nipah-derived defective interfering particles is influenced by challenge virus strain and viral species.

Background: Henipaviruses, including Nipah and Hendra viruses, are zoonotic pathogens that can cause severe respiratory and neurological diseases with high mortality rates in humans. Due to the severity of the disease, the high pandemic potential of these viruses, and the lack of approved treatments, the development of safe and effective medical countermeasures against henipaviruses is a critical priority.

Methods: Here, we evaluate treatment efficacy of defective interfering particles (DIPs)-naturally occurring virus-like particles that lack substantial portions of the viral genome-against henipaviruses in the Syrian hamster model of disease.

Trends and Prevalence of Modifiable Risk Factors for Birth Defects Among U.S. Women of Reproductive Age: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007 to March 2020.

Introduction: Congenital heart defects, orofacial clefts, and neural tube defects share similar modifiable risk factors. The prevalence and trends of risk factors for these selected birth defects were assessed among nonpregnant, nonlactating women of reproductive age (aged 12-49 years) in the U.S.

Molecular epidemiology and genomic features of Bordetella pertussis in Tianjin, China, 2023.

Background: Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis (BP), poses challenges due to genomic variation that may contribute to its persistence in vaccinated populations and the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Methods: In this study, we characterized 27 BP isolates collected from Tianjin, China in 2023, using whole-genome sequencing and multilocus genotyping (MGT) to explore their genomic diversity. For comparative analysis, we selected 165 international BP genomes to examine the genomic diversity and evolutionary traits of Tianjin strains within a global context.

Asthma and Allergy Comorbidity Among the US Population Aged 2 Years or Older, National Health Interview Survey, 2021.

Objectives: Asthma has substantial morbidity and impact on quality of life. Symptoms can worsen when asthma coexists with allergy. We assessed the prevalence of asthma-allergy comorbidity in a nationally representative sample.

Discovery of a novel lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain associated with severe human disease in immunocompetent patient, New Mexico.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is an underreported emerging pathogen and was recently included as a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) priority pathogen. LCMV is an important cause of aseptic meningitis and has high morbidity and mortality during congenital and organ-transplant transmission. The house mouse, , is a reservoir for LCMV, and human infection occurs through exposure to aerosolized virus from the mouse excreta.