Last data update: May 20, 2024. (Total: 46824 publications since 2009)
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Query Trace: Hutchins S[original query] |
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Predicting causal citations without full text (preprint)
Hoppe TA , Arabi S , Hutchins BI . bioRxiv 2022 07 Citation analysis generally assumes that each citation documents causal knowledge transfer that informed the conception, design, or execution of the main experiments. Citations may exist for other reasons. In this paper we identify a subset of citations that are unlikely to represent causal knowledge flow. Using a large, comprehensive feature set of open access data, we train a predictive model to identify such citations. The model relies only on the title, abstract, and reference set and not the full-text or future citations patterns, making it suitable for publications as soon as they are released, or those behind a paywall. We find that the model identifies, with high prediction scores, citations that were likely added during the peer review process, and conversely identifies with low prediction scores citations that are known to represent causal knowledge transfer. Using the model, we find that federally funded biomedical research publications represent 30% of the estimated causal knowledge transfer from basic studies to clinical research, even though these comprise only 10% of the literature, a three-fold overrepresentation in this important type of knowledge transfer. This finding underscores the importance of federal funding as a policy lever to improve human health. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license. |
Predicting substantive biomedical citations without full text
Hoppe TA , Arabi S , Hutchins BI . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023 120 (30) e2213697120 Insights from biomedical citation networks can be used to identify promising avenues for accelerating research and its downstream bench-to-bedside translation. Citation analysis generally assumes that each citation documents substantive knowledge transfer that informed the conception, design, or execution of the main experiments. Citations may exist for other reasons. In this paper, we take advantage of late-stage citations added during peer review because these are less likely to represent substantive knowledge flow. Using a large, comprehensive feature set of open access data, we train a predictive model to identify late-stage citations. The model relies only on the title, abstract, and citations to previous articles but not the full-text or future citations patterns, making it suitable for publications as soon as they are released, or those behind a paywall (the vast majority). We find that high prediction scores identify late-stage citations that were likely added during the peer review process as well as those more likely to be rhetorical, such as journal self-citations added during review. Our model conversely gives low prediction scores to early-stage citations and citation classes that are known to represent substantive knowledge transfer. Using this model, we find that US federally funded biomedical research publications represent 30% of the predicted early-stage (and more likely to be substantive) knowledge transfer from basic studies to clinical research, even though these comprise only 10% of the literature. This is a threefold overrepresentation in this important type of knowledge flow. |
Notes from the field: Exposures to mpox among cases in children aged 12 years - United States, September 25-December 31, 2022
Nemechek K , Stefanos R , Miller EL , Riser A , Kebede B , Galang RR , Hufstetler K , Descamps D , Balenger A , Hennessee I , Neelam V , Hutchins HJ , Labuda SM , Davis KM , McCormick DW , Marx GE , Kimball A , Ruberto I , Williamson T , Rzucidlo P , Willut C , Harold RE , Mangla AT , English A , Brikshavana D , Blanding J , Kim M , Finn LE , Marutani A , Lockwood M , Johnson S , Ditto N , Wilton S , Edmond T , Stokich D , Shinall A , Alravez B , Crawley A , Nambiar A , Gateley EL , Schuman J , White SL , Davis K , Milleron R , Mendez M , Kawakami V , Segaloff HE , Bower WA , Ellington SR , McCollum AM , Pao LZ . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023 72 (23) 633-635 During May 17–December 31, 2022, 125 probable or confirmed U.S. monkeypox (mpox)† cases were reported among patients aged <18 years, including 45 (36%) in children aged ≤12 years. Eighty-three cases in persons aged <18 years diagnosed during May 17–September 24, 2022 were previously described (1); 28 (34%) of these were in children aged ≤12 years, 29% of whom did not have reported information on exposure. Among 20 (71%) of 28 patients with documented information on exposure, most were exposed by a household contact. This report updates the previous report using data collected during September 25–December 31, 2022, proposes possible mpox exposure routes in children aged ≤12 years, and describes three U.S. mpox cases in neonates. Household members or caregivers with mpox, including pregnant women and their health care providers, should be informed of the risk of transmission to persons aged <18 years, and strategies to protect persons aged <18 years at risk for exposure, including isolating household contacts with mpox, should be implemented immediately. | | During September 25–December 31, 2022, 17 children aged ≤12 years with probable or confirmed mpox were identified through national surveillance. CDC provided a questionnaire to state and local health departments for collection of the child’s history of exposure to any person with mpox§ during the previous 3 weeks, exposure settings, types of contact (e.g., skin-to-skin, being held or cuddled, diaper change, or toilet use), and precautions taken by the person with mpox (e.g., practiced isolation or covered lesions). This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.¶ |
Promotion of early childhood development and mental health in quality rating and improvement systems for early care and education: A review of state quality indicators
Hutchins H , Abercrombie J , Lipton C . Early Child Res Q 2023 64 229-241 In the United States (U.S.), quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) are used by many states to incentivize quality in ECE and may be a viable lever for promoting early childhood development and mental health on a population level. We conducted a qualitative review of publicly available data on state QRIS indicators to better understand how states incorporate evidence-informed early childhood development and mental health promotion standards in QRIS. We systematically compared QRIS indicators for 41 U.S. states with child development and mental health promotion quality standards from Caring for Our Children National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition, as of March/April 2020. Of those, 39 states included at least one indicator consistent with child development or mental health promotion standards, including practices that can lead to early detection of developmental delays such as developmental monitoring, activities or curriculum addressing developmental domains, and regular communication and resource-sharing with parents/guardians. Opportunities exist within states for incorporating more specific guidance within indicators, such as use of childcare health consultants and advocates, validated screening tools, parent/guardian participation or input in developmental monitoring and screening, and staff training on family engagement. We found that in most states QRIS indicators offer guidance for ECE systems to support and monitor early development and foster mental health, with opportunities to enhance guidance. Findings point to QRIS as a viable opportunity for promotion of early childhood development and mental health standards in ECE systems. © 2023 |
Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Physical and Mental Health Conditions in Childhood, and the Relative Role of Other Adverse Experiences
Hutchins HJ , Barry CM , Wanga V , Bacon S , Njai R , Claussen AH , Ghandour RM , Lebrun-Harris LA , Perkins K , Robinson LR . Advers Resil Sci 2022 3 (2) 181-194 Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor health. Childhood experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination and other forms of racism may underlie or exacerbate other ACEs. We explored health-related associations with perceived racial/ethnic discrimination relative to other ACEs, using data from 2016-2019 National Survey of Children's Health, an annual cross-sectional, nationally representative survey. Parent responses for 88,183 children ages 6-17 years with complete data for ACEs (including racial/ethnic discrimination) were analyzed for associations between racial/ethnic discrimination, other ACEs, demographics, and physical and mental health conditions with weighted prevalence estimates and Wald chi-square tests. To assess associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and health conditions relative to other ACEs, we used weighted Poisson regressions, adjusted for exposure to other ACEs, age, and sex. We assessed effect modification by race/ethnicity. Prevalence of other ACEs was highest among children with racial/ethnic discrimination, and both racial/ethnic discrimination and other ACEs were associated with having one or more health conditions. Adjusted associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and health conditions differed by race/ethnicity (interaction P-values < 0.001) and were strongest for mental health conditions among Hispanic/Latino (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR)=1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24-2.10) and non-Hispanic/Latino Asian American (aPR=2.25, 95% CI: 1.37-3.71) children. Results suggest racial/ethnic discrimination and other ACEs are associated with child health conditions, with differences in relative associations by race/ethnicity. Public health efforts to prevent childhood adversity, including racial/ethnic discrimination and other forms of racism could be associated with improvements in child health. |
All in the family A systematic review and meta-analysis of parenting and family environment as risk factors for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children
Claussen AH , Holbrook JR , Hutchins HJ , Robinson LR , Bloomfield J , Meng L , Bitsko RH , O'Masta B , Cerles A , Maher B , Rush M , Kaminski JW . Prev Sci 2022 1-23 Parenting and family environment have significant impact on child development, including development of executive function, attention, and self-regulation, and may affect the risk of developmental disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This paper examines the relationship of parenting and family environment factors with ADHD. A systematic review of the literature was conducted in 2014 and identified 52 longitudinal studies. A follow-up search in 2021 identified 7 additional articles, for a total of 59 studies that examined the association of parenting factors with ADHD outcomes: ADHD overall (diagnosis or symptoms), ADHD diagnosis specifically, or presence of the specific ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. For parenting factors that were present in three or more studies, pooled effect sizes were calculated separately for dichotomous or continuous ADHD outcomes, accounting for each study's conditional variance. Factors with sufficient information for analysis were parenting interaction quality (sensitivity/warmth, intrusiveness/reactivity, and negativity/harsh discipline), maltreatment (general maltreatment and physical abuse), parental relationship status (divorce, single parenting), parental incarceration, and child media exposure. All factors showed a significant direct association with ADHD outcomes, except sensitivity/warmth which had an inverse association. Parenting factors predicted diagnosis and overall symptoms as well as inattentive and hyperactive symptoms when measured, but multiple factors showed significant heterogeneity across studies. These findings support the possibility that parenting and family environment influences ADHD symptoms and may affect a child's likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD. Prevention strategies that support parents, such as decreasing parenting challenges and increasing access to parent training in behavior management, may improve children's long-term developmental health. |
Psychometric Assessment of Pilot Language and Communication Items on the 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children's Health
Hutchins H , Robinson L , Charania S , Ghandour R , Hirsh-Pasek K , Zubler J . Acad Pediatr 2021 22 (7) 1133-1141 OBJECTIVE: Until recently, normative data on language and communication development among children in the United States have not been available to inform critical efforts to promote language development and prevent impairments. This study represents the first psychometric assessment of nationally representative data derived from a National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) pilot measure of language and communication development among children ages 1-5 years. METHODS: We analyzed 14,573 parent responses to language and communication items on the 2018 and 2019 NSCH to evaluate whether the newly added 11 items represent a single latent trait for language and communication development and to determine normative age of success on each item. We applied weighted, one-parameter Item Response Theory to rate and cluster items by difficulty relative to developmental language ability. We examined Differential Item Functioning (DIF) using weighted logistic regression by demographic factors. RESULTS: Together, exploratory factor analysis resulting in a single factor > 1 and explaining 93% of the variance and positive correlations indicated unidimensionality of the measure. Item characteristic curves indicated groupings were overall concordant with proposed milestone ages and representative of an approximate 90% success cut-point by child age. Indicated normative age cut-points for three of the items differed slightly from proposed milestone ages. Uniform DIF was not observed and potential nonuniform DIF was observed across 5 items. CONCLUSIONS: Results have the potential to enhance understanding of risk and protective factors, inform efforts to promote language and communication development, and guide programmatic efforts on early detection of language delays.Psychometric Assessment of Pilot Language and Communication Items on the 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children's Health. |
Evidence base review of couple- and family-based psychosocial interventions to promote infant and early childhood mental health, 2010-2019
Kaminski JW , Robinson LR , Hutchins HJ , Newsome KB , Barry CM . J Marital Fam Ther 2021 48 (1) 23-55 Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) has been defined as the capacity of infants and young children to regulate their emotions, form secure relationships, and explore their environments. For this special issue, we conducted a review of IECMH outcomes from evaluations of couple- and family-based psychosocial interventions not explicitly designed for trauma exposure published from 2010 through 2019, following Evidence Base Update criteria and the current convention of classifying general categories of intervention approaches rather than the former practice of evaluating specific brand-name packaged programs. Full-text review of 695 articles resulted in 39 articles eligible for categorization into intervention approaches, taking into consideration the theoretical orientation of the treatment, the population served, the intervention participants, the target outcomes, the treatment theory of change, and the degree to which the intervention was standardized across participants. Four intervention approaches were identified in this review as Probably Efficacious: Behavioral Interventions to Support Parents of Toddlers, Interventions to Support Adolescent Mothers, Tiered Interventions to Provide Support Based on Assessed Risk, and Home Visiting Interventions to Provide Individualized Support to Parents. Other intervention approaches were classified as Possibly Efficacious, Experimental, or did not have sufficient evidence in this time period to classify under these criteria. Further research could explore how to ensure that all families who need support can receive it, such as by increasing the reach of effective programs and by decreasing the number of families needing additional support. |
COVID-19 Mitigation Behaviors by Age Group - United States, April-June 2020.
Hutchins HJ , Wolff B , Leeb R , Ko JY , Odom E , Willey J , Friedman A , Bitsko RH . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020 69 (43) 1584-1590 CDC recommends a number of mitigation behaviors to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Those behaviors include 1) covering the nose and mouth with a mask to protect others from possible infection when in public settings and when around persons who live outside of one's household or around ill household members; 2) maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) of distance from persons who live outside one's household, and keeping oneself distant from persons who are ill; and 3) washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or, if soap and water are not available, using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol (1). Age has been positively associated with mask use (2), although less is known about other recommended mitigation behaviors. Monitoring mitigation behaviors over the course of the pandemic can inform targeted communication and behavior modification strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Data Foundation COVID Impact Survey collected nationally representative data on reported mitigation behaviors during April-June 2020 among adults in the United States aged ≥18 years (3). Reported use of face masks increased from 78% in April, to 83% in May, and reached 89% in June; however, other reported mitigation behaviors (e.g., hand washing, social distancing, and avoiding public or crowded places) declined marginally or remained unchanged. At each time point, the prevalence of reported mitigation behaviors was lowest among younger adults (aged 18-29 years) and highest among older adults (aged ≥60 years). Lower engagement in mitigation behaviors among younger adults might be one reason for the increased incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases in this group, which have been shown to precede increases among those >60 years (4). These findings underscore the need to prioritize clear, targeted messaging and behavior modification interventions, especially for young adults, to encourage uptake and support maintenance of recommended mitigation behaviors to prevent the spread of COVID-19. |
Practical Guidance to Implementing Quality Management Systems in Public Health Laboratories Performing Next Generation Sequencing: Personnel, Equipment, and Process Management (Phase 1).
Hutchins RJ , Phan KL , Saboor A , Miller JD , Muehlenbachs A . J Clin Microbiol 2019 57 (8) Quality standards as part of an effective quality management system (QMS) are the cornerstone for generating high-quality test results. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to improve both clinical diagnostics and public health surveillance efforts in multiple areas, including infectious diseases. However, the laboratories adopting NGS methods face significant challenges due to the complex and modular process design. This document summarizes the first phase of quality system guidance developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) NGS Quality Workgroup. The quality system essentials of personnel, equipment, and process management (quality control and validation) were prioritized based on a risk assessment using information gathered from participating CDC laboratories. Here, we present a prioritized QMS framework, including procedures and documentation tools, to assist laboratory implementation and maintenance of quality practices for NGS workflows. |
Vaccination differences among U.S. adults by their self-identified sexual orientation, National Health Interview Survey, 2013-2015
Srivastav A , O'Halloran A , Lu PJ , Williams WW , Hutchins SS . PLoS One 2019 14 (3) e0213431 INTRODUCTION: Very few studies have explored the associations between self-identified sexual orientation and comprehensive vaccination coverage. Most of the previous studies that reported health disparities among lesbian, gay and bisexual populations were not based on a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Starting in 2013, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) included questions to ascertain the adult's self-identified sexual orientation that allowed national level vaccination estimation by sexual orientation. This study examined associations of self-reported vaccination coverage for selected vaccines among U.S. adults by their sexual orientation. METHODS: We analyzed combined data from 2013-2015 NHIS, a nationally representative probability-based health survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population >/=18 years. For vaccines other than influenza, weighted proportions were calculated. Influenza coverage was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier procedure. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted prevalence differences for each vaccine overall and stratified by sexual orientation and to identify factors independently associated with vaccination. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed by sexual orientation for self-reported receipt of human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A (HepA), hepatitis B (HepB), and influenza vaccination. Bisexual females (51.6%) had higher HPV coverage than heterosexual females (40.2%). Gay males (40.3% and 53.6%, respectively) had higher HepA and HepB coverage than heterosexual males (25.4% and 32.6%, respectively). Bisexual females (33.9% and 58.5%, respectively) had higher HepA and HepB coverage than heterosexual females (23.5% and 38.4%, respectively) and higher HepB coverage than lesbian females (45.4%). Bisexual adults (34.1%) had lower influenza coverage than gay/lesbian (48.5%) and heterosexual adults (43.8%). Except for the association of having self-identified as gay/lesbian orientation with greater likelihood of HepA, HepB, and influenza vaccination, sexual orientation was not associated with higher or lower likelihood of vaccination. Health status or other behavioral characteristics studied had no consistent relationship with vaccination among all populations. CONCLUSION: Differences were identified in vaccination coverage among the U.S. adult population by self-reported sexual orientation. This study is the first to assess associations of sexual orientation with a comprehensive list of vaccinations. Findings from this study can serve as a baseline for monitoring changes over time. All populations could benefit from improved vaccination. |
Public health agency responses and opportunities to protect against health impacts of climate change among US populations with multiple vulnerabilities
Hutchins SS , Bouye K , Luber G , Briseno L , Hunter C , Corso L . J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2018 5 (6) 1159-1170 During the past several decades, unprecedented global changes in climate have given rise to an increase in extreme weather and other climate events and their consequences such as heavy rainfall, hurricanes, flooding, heat waves, wildfires, and air pollution. These climate effects have direct impacts on human health such as premature death, injuries, exacerbation of health conditions, disruption of mental well-being, as well as indirect impacts through food- and water-related infections and illnesses. While all populations are at risk for these adverse health outcomes, some populations are at greater risk because of multiple vulnerabilities resulting from increased exposure to risk-prone areas, increased sensitivity due to underlying health conditions, and limited adaptive capacity primarily because of a lack of economic resources to respond adequately. We discuss current governmental public health responses and their future opportunities to improve resilience of special populations at greatest risk for adverse health outcomes. Vulnerability assessment, adaptation plans, public health emergency response, and public health agency accreditation are all current governmental public health actions. Governmental public health opportunities include integration of these current responses with health equity initiatives and programs in communities. |
Value of a small control group for estimating intervention effectiveness: results from simulations of immunization effectiveness studies
Hutchins SS , Brown C , Mayberry R , Sollecito W . J Comp Eff Res 2015 4 (3) 1-12 AIM: To improve evidence for public health practice, the conduct of effectiveness studies by practitioners is needed and may be stimulated if knowledge that smaller than usual samples may provide the same reliability of intervention effect size as larger samples. MATERIALS & METHODS: We examined reliability of intervention effect using computerized simulations of 2000 hypothetical immunization effectiveness studies from an actual study population and by small (30 and 60) and larger (100 and 200) control groups compared with an intervention group of 200 participants. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Across simulated studies, the mean intervention effect (14%) and effect sizes were equivalent regardless of control group size and equal to the actual study effect. These results are relevant for similarly designed and executed studies and indicate that studies with smaller control groups can generate valid and accurate evidence for effective public health practice in communities. |
Evaluation of automated and manual DNA purification methods for detecting Ricinus communis DNA during ricin investigations.
Hutchins AS , Astwood MJ , Saah JR , Michel PA , Newton BR , Dauphin LA . Forensic Sci Int 2014 236C 10-15 In April of 2013, letters addressed to the President of United States and other government officials were intercepted and found to be contaminated with ricin, heightening awareness about the need to evaluate laboratory methods for detecting ricin. This study evaluated commercial DNA purification methods for isolating Ricinus communis DNA as measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four commercially available DNA purification methods (two automated, MagNA Pure compact and MagNA Pure LC, and two manual, MasterPure complete DNA and RNA purification kit and QIAamp DNA blood mini kit) were evaluated. We compared their ability to purify detectable levels of R. communis DNA from four different sample types, including crude preparations of ricin that could be used for biological crimes or acts of bioterrorism. Castor beans, spiked swabs, and spiked powders were included to simulate sample types typically tested during criminal and public health investigations. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that the QIAamp kit resulted in the greatest sensitivity for ricin preparations; the MasterPure kit performed best with spiked powders. The four methods detected equivalent levels by real-time PCR when castor beans and spiked swabs were used. All four methods yielded DNA free of PCR inhibitors as determined by the use of a PCR inhibition control assay. This study demonstrated that DNA purification methods differ in their ability to purify R. communis DNA; therefore, the purification method used for a given sample type can influence the sensitivity of real-time PCR assays for R. communis. |
Periodontitis among adults aged ≥30 years - United States, 2009-2010
Thornton-Evans G , Eke P , Wei L , Palmer A , Moeti R , Hutchins S , Borrell LN . MMWR Suppl 2013 62 (3) 129-35 Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a chronic infection of the hard and soft tissue supporting the teeth and is a leading cause of tooth loss in older adults. Tooth loss impairs dental function and quality of life in older adults. The chronic infections associated with periodontitis can increase the risk for aspiration pneumonia in older adults and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation that impairs general health. The severity of periodontal disease can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe on the basis of multiple measurements of periodontal pocket depth, attachment loss, and gingival inflammation around teeth. |
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and adenocarcinoma in situ: comparison of ICD-9 codes and pathology results--Kaiser Permanente, United States, 2000-2005
Surie D , Dunne EF , Naleway AL , Weinmann S , Klein NP , Baxter R , Hutchins K , Gee J , Markowitz L . Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2013 22 (6) 1129-32 BACKGROUND: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3+ (CIN3+) and adenocarcinoma in situ incidence will be an important measure of HPV vaccine impact. Integrated healthcare delivery systems, such as Kaiser Permanente, could be used to monitor CIN3+ trends; however, limited evaluations of data from healthcare delivery systems for CIN3+ surveillance exist. METHODS: We compared CIN3+ diagnoses by ICD-9 code with CIN3+ diagnoses by pathology results among 121,211 females aged 11 to 30 years who were continuously enrolled from 2000 to 2005 in either Kaiser Permanente Northern California or Kaiser Permanente Northwest. We calculated sensitivity and positive predictive value of diagnosis by ICD-9 codes using pathology CIN3+ diagnosis as the gold standard. RESULTS: There were 1,090 women with at least one CIN3+ diagnosis by ICD-9 code 233.1 and 1,200 women with at least one CIN3+ diagnosis by pathology results. The sensitivity of the ICD-9 code for detecting a woman with at least one pathology diagnosis for CIN3+ was 62% (740/1,200); positive predictive value was 68% (740/1,090). Among women with at least one CIN3+ diagnosis by ICD-9 code, 679 (62%) had more than one visit with this code; whereas, among women with at least one CIN3+ diagnosis by pathology, 466 (39%) had more than one CIN3+ pathology result. CONCLUSIONS: ICD-9 codes may underestimate the number of women with at least one CIN3+ diagnosis. IMPACT: Pathology results, when available, may provide better estimates of CIN3+ incidence. |
Use of home-obtained vaginal swabs to facilitate rescreening for Chlamydia trachomatis infections: two randomized controlled trials
Xu F , Stoner BP , Taylor SN , Mena L , Tian LH , Papp J , Hutchins K , Martin DH , Markowitz LE . Obstet Gynecol 2011 118 231-9 OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of home-based, self-obtained vaginal swabs among women who were treated for Chlamydia infection can increase rescreening rates in comparison with clinic-based rescreening, and to identify subgroups in which rescreening could be enhanced using self-obtained vaginal swabs. METHODS: Two randomized trials were conducted: one with enrollment in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and the other in family planning clinics. Study participants were recruited from STD (n=880) and family planning clinics (n=412) in three cities. Females aged 16 years or older who were treated for Chlamydia infection were randomly assigned to the home group (swab collection kits mailed to home) or the clinic group (made clinic appointments) for rescreening at 3 months after treatment, with reminder calls about 2 weeks before the scheduled rescreening date. RESULTS: Groups were similar with respect to age and other demographic characteristics. Women assigned to the home group had higher rescreening rates than those in the clinic group. In STD clinics, rescreening rates were 26.7% (home) compared with 19.1% (clinic) (P=.01). In family planning clinics, rescreening rates were 40.8% (home) compared with 20.7% (clinic) (P<.001). Among women reached by reminder calls, rescreening rates were also significantly higher in the home groups: 43.5% compared with 33.0% in STD clinic participants and 59.2% compared with 37.8% in family planning clinic participants (both P<.05). The rates of reinfection ranged from 12.9% to 19.4%, and the differences by group were not statistically significant (P≥.3). CONCLUSION: In STD and family planning clinics, use of home-based, self-obtained vaginal swabs resulted in significant increases in rescreening rates compared with rescreening in the clinic. Home-based specimen collection can be an alternative to clinic-based rescreening for Chlamydia infection in women. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT 00132457. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I. |
Cross-platform evaluation of commercial real-time reverse transcription PCR master mix kits using a quantitative 5'nuclease assay for Ebola virus
Stephens KW , Hutchins RJ , Dauphin LA . Mol Cell Probes 2010 24 (6) 370-5 Selection of optimal reaction master mix reagents is essential to obtain the best performance with diagnostic real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Every year the number of commercially available master mix kits increases, so it is prudent to periodically evaluate kits on the market. In this study we evaluated five commercial real-time RT-PCR master mix kits, the RealMasterMix RT-PCR ROX kit, the AgPath-ID One-Step RT-PCR kit, the SuperScript III Platinum One-step Quantitative RT-PCR system, the QuantiTect Probe RT-PCR kit, and the LightCycler RNA HybProbe amplification kit, using a 5'nuclease assay for Ebola virus. The kits were evaluated using the manufacturer's recommended conditions, as well as conditions which have been used with the Ebola virus assay during outbreaks. When evaluated for use in Ebola virus RNA detection, the AgPath-ID kit resulted in the greatest sensitivity in comparison to the other four kits. The efficacy of the AgPath-ID kit was instrument-independent in the five real-time PCR platforms tested. This study demonstrated that Ebola virus RNA detection was not equivalent among the master mix reagents studied and, thus, that this variable can affect real-time RT-PCR assay sensitivity. Furthermore, this study rates the master mix reagents for their suitability, providing diagnostic laboratories the option to select from these kits to suit their specific laboratory needs for real-time RT-PCR. |
Evaluation of automated and manual commercial DNA extraction methods for the recovery of Brucella spp. DNA from suspensions and spiked swabs
Dauphin LA , Hutchins RJ , Bost LA , Bowen MD . J Clin Microbiol 2009 47 (12) 3920-6 This study evaluated automated and manual commercial DNA extraction methods for their ability to recover DNA from Brucella species in PBS suspension and from spiked swab specimens. Six extraction methods, representing several of the methodologies which are commercially available for DNA extraction, as well as representing varying throughput capacities, were evaluated: the MagNA Pure Compact and the MagNA Pure LC instruments, the IT 1-2-3 DNA Sample Purification Kit, the MasterPure Complete DNA and RNA Purification Kit, the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit, and the UltraClean Microbial DNA Isolation Kit. These six extraction methods were performed upon three pathogenic Brucella species: B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis. Viability testing of the DNA extracts indicated that all six extraction methods were efficient at inactivating virulent Brucella spp. Real-time PCR analysis using Brucella genus- and species-specific TaqMan assays revealed that use of the MasterPure kit resulted in superior levels of detection from bacterial suspensions, while the MasterPure and the MagNA Pure Compact kits performed equally well for extraction of spiked swab samples. This study demonstrated that DNA extraction methodologies differ in their ability to recover Brucella DNA from PBS bacterial suspensions and from swab specimens and thus that the extraction method used for a given type of sample matrix can influence the sensitivity of real-time PCR assays for Brucella. |
Pandemic influenza preparedness and response among public-housing residents, single-parent families, and low-income populations
Bouye K , Truman BI , Hutchins S , Richard R , Brown C , Guillory JA , Rashid J . Am J Public Health 2009 99 S287-93 During the early stages of an influenza pandemic, a pandemic vaccine likely will not be available. Therefore, interventions to mitigate pandemic influenza transmission in communities will be an important component of the response to a pandemic. Public-housing residents, single-parent families, and low-income populations may have difficulty complying with community-wide interventions. To enable compliance with community interventions, stakeholders recommended the following: (1) community mobilization and partnerships, (2) culturally specific emergency communications planning, (3) culturally specific education and training programs, (4) evidence-based measurement and evaluation efforts, (5) strategic planning policies, (6) inclusion of community members as partners, and (7) policy and program changes to minimize morbidity and mortality. |
Protecting vulnerable populations from pandemic influenza in the United States: a strategic imperative
Hutchins SS , Truman BI , Merlin TL , Redd SC . Am J Public Health 2009 99 S243-8 Protecting vulnerable populations from pandemic influenza is a strategic imperative. The US national strategy for pandemic influenza preparedness and response assigns roles to governments, businesses, civic and community-based organizations, individuals, and families. Because influenza is highly contagious, inadequate preparedness or untimely response in vulnerable populations increases the risk of infection for the general population. Recent public health emergencies have reinforced the importance of preparedness and the challenges of effective response among vulnerable populations. We explore definitions and determinants of vulnerable, at-risk, and special populations and highlight approaches for ensuring that pandemic influenza preparedness includes these populations and enables them to respond appropriately. We also provide an overview of population-specific and cross-cutting articles in this theme issue on influenza preparedness for vulnerable populations. |
Protection of racial/ethnic minority populations during an influenza pandemic
Hutchins SS , Fiscella K , Levine RS , Ompad DC , McDonald M . Am J Public Health 2009 99 S261-70 Racial/ethnic minority populations experience worse health outcomes than do other groups during and after disasters. Evidence for a differential impact from pandemic influenza includes both higher rates of underlying health conditions in minority populations, increasing their risk of influenza-related complications, and larger socioeconomic (e.g., access to health care), cultural, educational, and linguistic barriers to adoption of pandemic interventions. Implementation of pandemic interventions could be optimized by (1) culturally competent preparedness and response that address specific needs of racial/ethnic minority populations, (2) improvements in public health and community health safety net systems, (3) social policies that minimize economic burdens and improve compliance with isolation and quarantine, and (4) relevant, practical, and culturally and linguistically tailored communications. |
Brief counseling for reducing sexual risk and bacterial STIs among drug users-Results from project RESPECT
Semaan S , Neumann MS , Hutchins K , D'Anna LH , Kamb ML , Project Respect Study Group . Drug Alcohol Depend 2009 106 (1) 7-15 OBJECTIVE: Project RESPECT's brief risk reduction counseling (BRRC) reduced sexual risk and bacterial STIs among at-risk heterosexuals and has been packaged for use with this population. We assessed BRRC's efficacy with RESPECT participants who used drugs and examined BRRC's applicability to present-day users of heroin, cocaine, speedball, or crack. METHODS: We compared baseline demographic and economic variables, risk behaviors, and prevalence and correlates of bacterial STIs for ever-injectors ([EIs], N=335) and never-injectors ([NIs], N=3963). We assessed changes in risk behaviors and bacterial STIs for EIs and NIs at 12 months. We compared prevalence of HSV-2, hepatitis B core antigen virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and trichomonas among EIs with recently reported rates among drug users. RESULTS: At baseline, 19% of EIs and 29% of NIs had bacterial STIs. Both groups had similar baseline STI correlates. At 12 months, 4% of EIs and 7% of NIs had bacterial STIs. Twelve-month cumulative incidence of bacterial STIs in BRRC was 21% lower among EIs and 18% lower among NIs compared to the informational condition. At 12 months, EIs reported fewer sexual risk behaviors than at baseline. Baseline positivity rates of trichomoniasis in EIs (female: 15%) and in male and female EIs of HSV-2 (39%, 68%), HBV (41%, 37%), and HCV (60%, 58%) were similar to rates in present-day drug users. CONCLUSION: Efficacy of BRRC in reducing sexual risk and bacterial STIs in EIs, and similar profiles for EIs and present-day drug users suggest evaluating BRRC with present-day drug users. |
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