Last data update: May 20, 2024. (Total: 46824 publications since 2009)
Records 1-5 (of 5 Records) |
Query Trace: Boulay D [original query] |
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Serologic testing of U.S. blood donations to identify SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies: December 2019-January 2020.
Basavaraju SV , Patton ME , Grimm K , Rasheed MAU , Lester S , Mills L , Stumpf M , Freeman B , Tamin A , Harcourt J , Schiffer J , Semenova V , Li H , Alston B , Ategbole M , Bolcen S , Boulay D , Browning P , Cronin L , David E , Desai R , Epperson M , Gorantla Y , Jia T , Maniatis P , Moss K , Ortiz K , Park SH , Patel P , Qin Y , Steward-Clark E , Tatum H , Vogan A , Zellner B , Drobeniuc J , Sapiano MRP , Havers F , Reed C , Gerber S , Thornburg NJ , Stramer SL . Clin Infect Dis 2020 72 (12) e1004-e1009 BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, with subsequent worldwide spread. The first U.S. cases were identified in January 2020. METHODS: To determine if SARS-CoV-2 reactive antibodies were present in sera prior to the first identified case in the U.S. on January 19, 2020, residual archived samples from 7,389 routine blood donations collected by the American Red Cross from December 13, 2019 to January 17, 2020, from donors resident in nine states (California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin) were tested at CDC for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Specimens reactive by pan-immunoglobulin (pan Ig) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the full spike protein were tested by IgG and IgM ELISAs, microneutralization test, Ortho total Ig S1 ELISA, and receptor binding domain / Ace2 blocking activity assay. RESULTS: Of the 7,389 samples, 106 were reactive by pan Ig. Of these 106 specimens, 90 were available for further testing. Eighty four of 90 had neutralizing activity, 1 had S1 binding activity, and 1 had receptor binding domain / Ace2 blocking activity >50%, suggesting the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies. Donations with reactivity occurred in all nine states. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may have been introduced into the United States prior to January 19, 2020. |
Anthrax Toxin-Expressing Bacillus cereus Isolated from an Anthrax-Like Eschar.
Marston CK , Ibrahim H , Lee P , Churchwell G , Gumke M , Stanek D , Gee JE , Boyer AE , Gallegos-Candela M , Barr JR , Li H , Boulay D , Cronin L , Quinn CP , Hoffmaster AR . PLoS One 2016 11 (6) e0156987 Bacillus cereus isolates have been described harboring Bacillus anthracis toxin genes, most notably B. cereus G9241, and capable of causing severe and fatal pneumonias. This report describes the characterization of a B. cereus isolate, BcFL2013, associated with a naturally occurring cutaneous lesion resembling an anthrax eschar. Similar to G9241, BcFL2013 is positive for the B. anthracis pXO1 toxin genes, has a multi-locus sequence type of 78, and a pagA sequence type of 9. Whole genome sequencing confirms the similarity to G9241. In addition to the chromosome having an average nucleotide identity of 99.98% when compared to G9241, BcFL2013 harbors three plasmids with varying homology to the G9241 plasmids (pBCXO1, pBC210 and pBFH_1). This is also the first report to include serologic testing of patient specimens associated with this type of B. cereus infection which resulted in the detection of anthrax lethal factor toxemia, a quantifiable serum antibody response to protective antigen (PA), and lethal toxin neutralization activity. |
Assessing the impact of public health interventions on the transmission of pandemic H1N1 influenza a virus aboard a Peruvian navy ship
Vera DM , Hora RA , Murillo A , Wong JF , Torre AJ , Wang D , Boulay D , Hancock K , Katz JM , Ramos M , Loayza L , Quispe J , Reaves EJ , Bausch DG , Chowell G , Montgomery JM . Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2014 8 (3) 353-9 BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on transmission dynamics and effectiveness of control measures for influenza in confined settings. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the transmission dynamics of a 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A outbreak aboard a Peruvian Navy ship and quantify the effectiveness of the implemented control measures. METHODS: We used surveillance data and a simple stochastic epidemic model to characterize and evaluate the effectiveness of control interventions implemented during an outbreak of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A aboard a Peruvian Navy ship. RESULTS: The serological attack rate for the outbreak was 49.1%, with younger cadets and low-ranking officers at greater risk of infection than older, higher-ranking officers. Our transmission model yielded a good fit to the daily time series of new influenza cases by date of symptom onset. We estimated a reduction of 54.4% in the reproduction number during the period of intense control interventions. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the patient isolation strategy and other control measures put in place during the outbreak reduced the infectiousness of isolated individuals by 86.7%. Our findings support that early implementation of control interventions can limit the spread of influenza epidemics in confined settings. |
Factors associated with asthma control among adults in five New England states, 2006-2007
Nguyen K , Zahran H , Iqbal S , Peng J , Boulay E . J Asthma 2011 48 (6) 581-8 BACKGROUND: Despite the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines that specify the goals of asthma control and management strategies, the number of patients with uncontrolled asthma remains high, and factors associated with uncontrolled asthma are unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the relationship between asthma control and socio-demographic characteristics, health-care access and use, asthma education, and medication use among adults with active asthma residing in New England. METHODS: Data from the 2006-2007 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System Adult Asthma Call-Back Survey were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Asthma control was categorized as "well controlled," "not well controlled," or "very poorly controlled" according to the NAEPP guidelines. RESULTS: Of the respondents (n = 3079), 30% met the criteria for well-controlled asthma, 46% for not well-controlled asthma, and 24% for very poorly controlled asthma. Being of Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-13.7), unemployed or unable to work (OR = 17.9; 95% CI = 6.0-53.4), high school educated or less (OR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.6-4.7), current smokers (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.3-5.1), or being unable to see a doctor or specialist for asthma care or unable to buy medication for asthma because of cost (OR = 7.6; 95% CI = 3.4-17.1) were associated with very poorly controlled asthma. In addition, having Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.5-4.5), two or more routine checkups for asthma (OR = 4.5; 95% CI = 2.3-8.9), or an emergency department visit, urgent care facility visit, and hospitalization in the past year (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 2.1-7.3) were also associated with having very poorly controlled asthma. Using controller medication in the past year (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.6-4.2) and taking a course on how to manage asthma (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.2-7.8) were significantly associated with poor asthma control. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence (70%) of not well-controlled asthma and poorly controlled asthma in this study emphasizes the need to identify factors associated with poor asthma control for development of targeted intervention. A health policy of increasing asthma education, health-care access, and smoking cessation may be effective and result in better asthma control and management. |
Quality-of-life and cost-benefit analysis of a home environmental assessment program in Connecticut
Nguyen KH , Boulay E , Peng J . J Asthma 2011 48 (2) 147-55 BACKGROUND: The National Asthma Education Prevention Program's (NAEPP) Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3) guidelines have stressed the need for environmental control measures for asthma, but there is limited evidence of their efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of an in-home asthma intervention program for children and adults in Connecticut, we conducted a panel study to analyze quality-of-life indicators for asthmatic patients and the cost-benefit relationship in preventive care versus acute care. METHODS: The Asthma Indoor Reduction Strategies (AIRS) program was developed to reduce acute asthma episodes and improve asthma control through patient education and a home environmental assessment. Follow-up was conducted at 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month intervals. Measured quality-of-life indicators included number of unscheduled acute care visits, days absent from school/work due to asthma, times rescue inhaler used, and number of symptom-free days. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether significant differences exist in quality-of-life indicators at follow-up compared to that at the initial visit. Cost-benefit analysis was conducted by tabulating costs associated with physician office visits and emergency department (ED) visits due to asthma for children and adults separately. RESULTS: Twenty percent of participants in the program met the criteria for well-controlled asthma, 16% for not well-controlled asthma, and 64% for very poorly controlled asthma. At 6 months follow-up, the mean number of unscheduled acute care visits, days absent from school/work due to asthma, and times rescue inhaler used in the past week decreased by 87%, 82%, and 74%, respectively, whereas the mean number of symptom-free days increased by 27% compared to the initial visit. Furthermore, the percent of participants with very poorly controlled asthma decreased from 64% at initial visit to 13% at 6 months follow-up. All changes were statistically significant at p < 0.05. A net savings of $26,720 per 100 participants was estimated at 6 months follow-up due to decreases in unscheduled acute care visits for adults and children. CONCLUSION: Significant improvement in quality-of-life and decreases in healthcare resource utilization and costs were found after implementation of the AIRS program in Connecticut. |
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