Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-21 (of 21 Records) |
Query Trace: Poole M[original query] |
---|
Heavy metals, organic solvents, and multiple sclerosis: An exploratory look at gene-environment interactions.
Napier MD , Poole C , Satten GA , Ashley-Koch A , Marrie RA , Williamson DM . Arch Environ Occup Health 2016 71 (1) 26-34 Exposure to heavy metals and organic solvents are potential etiologic factors for multiple sclerosis (MS), but their interaction with MS-associated genes is under-studied. The authors explored the relationship between environmental exposure to lead, mercury, and solvents and 58 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MS-associated genes. Data from a population-based case-control study of 217 prevalent MS cases and 496 age-, race-, gender-, and geographically matched controls were used to fit conditional logistic regression models of the association between the chemical, gene, and MS, adjusting for education and ancestry. MS cases were more likely than controls to report lead (odds ratio [OR] = 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07, 3.86) and mercury exposure (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.08, 3.91). Findings of potential gene-environment interactions between SNPs in TNF-α, TNF-β, TCA-β, VDR, MBP, and APOE, and lead, mercury, or solvents should be considered cautiously due to limited sample size. |
Cross-sectional study of soil-transmitted helminthiases in Black Belt Region of Alabama, USA
Poole C , Barker T , Bradbury R , Capone D , Chatham AH , Handali S , Rodriguez E , Qvarnstrom Y , Brown J . Emerg Infect Dis 2023 29 (12) 2461-2470 We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) in areas of rural Alabama, USA, that have sanitation deficits. We enrolled 777 children; 704 submitted stool specimens and 227 a dried blood spot sample. We microscopically examined stool specimens from all 704 children by using Mini-FLOTAC for helminth eggs. We tested a subset by using molecular techniques: real-time PCR analysis for 5 STH species, TaqMan Array Cards for enteric helminths, and digital PCR for Necator americanus hookworm. We analyzed dried blood spots for Strongyloides stercoralis and Toxocara spp. roundworms by using serologic testing. Despite 12% of our cohort reporting living in homes that directly discharge untreated domestic wastewater, stool testing for STH was negative; however, 5% of dried blood spots were positive for Toxocara spp. roundworms. Survey data suggests substantial numbers of children in this region may be exposed to raw sewage, which is itself a major public health concern. |
2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Exercise, Rehabilitation, Diet, and Additional Integrative Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis
England BR , Smith BJ , Baker NA , Barton JL , Oatis CA , Guyatt G , Anandarajah A , Carandang K , Chan KK , Constien D , Davidson E , Dodge CV , Bemis-Dougherty A , Everett S , Fisher N , Fraenkel L , Goodman SM , Lewis J , Menzies V , Moreland LW , Navarro-Millan I , Patterson S , Phillips LR , Shah N , Singh N , White D , AlHeresh R , Barbour KE , Bye T , Guglielmo D , Haberman R , Johnson T , Kleiner A , Lane CY , Li LC , Master H , Pinto D , Poole JL , Steinbarger K , Sztubinski D , Thoma L , Tsaltskan V , Turgunbaev M , Wells C , Turner AS , Treadwell JR . Arthritis Rheumatol 2023 75 (8) 1299-1311 OBJECTIVE: To develop initial American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines on the use of exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional interventions in conjunction with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as part of an integrative management approach for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: An interprofessional guideline development group constructed clinically relevant Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) questions. A literature review team then completed a systematic literature review and applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to rate the certainty of evidence. An interprofessional Voting Panel (n = 20 participants) that included 3 individuals with RA achieved consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. RESULTS: The Voting Panel achieved consensus on 28 recommendations for the use of integrative interventions in conjunction with DMARDs for the management of RA. Consistent engagement in exercise received a strong recommendation. Of 27 conditional recommendations, 4 pertained to exercise, 13 to rehabilitation, 3 to diet, and 7 to additional integrative interventions. These recommendations are specific to RA management, recognizing that other medical indications and general health benefits may exist for many of these interventions. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides initial ACR recommendations on integrative interventions for the management of RA to accompany DMARD treatments. The broad range of interventions included in these recommendations illustrates the importance of an interprofessional, team-based approach to RA management. The conditional nature of most recommendations requires clinicians to engage persons with RA in shared decision-making when applying these recommendations. |
2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional integrative interventions for rheumatoid arthritis
England BR , Smith BJ , Baker NA , Barton JL , Oatis CA , Guyatt G , Anandarajah A , Carandang K , Chan KK , Constien D , Davidson E , Dodge CV , Bemis-Dougherty A , Everett S , Fisher N , Fraenkel L , Goodman SM , Lewis J , Menzies V , Moreland LW , Navarro-Millan I , Patterson S , Phillips LR , Shah N , Singh N , White D , AlHeresh R , Barbour KE , Bye T , Guglielmo D , Haberman R , Johnson T , Kleiner A , Lane CY , Li LC , Master H , Pinto D , Poole JL , Steinbarger K , Sztubinski D , Thoma L , Tsaltskan V , Turgunbaev M , Wells C , Turner AS , Treadwell JR . Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023 75 (8) 1603-1615 OBJECTIVE: To develop initial American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines on the use of exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional interventions in conjunction with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as part of an integrative management approach for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: An interprofessional guideline development group constructed clinically relevant Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) questions. A literature review team then completed a systematic literature review and applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to rate the certainty of evidence. An interprofessional Voting Panel (n = 20 participants) that included 3 individuals with RA achieved consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. RESULTS: The Voting Panel achieved consensus on 28 recommendations for the use of integrative interventions in conjunction with DMARDs for the management of RA. Consistent engagement in exercise received a strong recommendation. Of 27 conditional recommendations, 4 pertained to exercise, 13 to rehabilitation, 3 to diet, and 7 to additional integrative interventions. These recommendations are specific to RA management, recognizing that other medical indications and general health benefits may exist for many of these interventions. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides initial ACR recommendations on integrative interventions for the management of RA to accompany DMARD treatments. The broad range of interventions included in these recommendations illustrates the importance of an interprofessional, team-based approach to RA management. The conditional nature of most recommendations requires clinicians to engage persons with RA in shared decision-making when applying these recommendations. |
Improving the efficiency of integrated cancer screening delivery across multiple cancers: case studies from Idaho, Rhode Island, and Nebraska
Tangka FKL , Subramanian S , Hoover S , Cariou C , Creighton B , Hobbs L , Marzano A , Marcotte A , Norton DD , Kelly-Flis P , Leypoldt M , Larkins T , Poole M , Boehm J . Implement Sci Commun 2022 3 (1) 133 BACKGROUND: Three current and former awardees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Colorectal Cancer Control Program launched integrated cancer screening strategies to better coordinate multiple cancer screenings (e.g., breast, cervical, colorectal). By integrating the strategies, efficiencies of administration and provision of screenings can be increased and costs can be reduced. This paper shares findings from these strategies and describes their effects. METHODS: The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare developed a Baseline Assessment Checklist for six health systems to assess the current state of policies regarding cancer screening. We analyzed the checklist and reported the percentage of checklist components completed. In Rhode Island, we collaborated with a nurse-patient navigator, who promoted cancer screening, to collect details on patient navigation activities and program costs. We then described the program and reported total costs and cost per activity. In Nebraska, we described the experience of the state in administering an integrated contracts payment model across colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening and reported cost per person screened. Across all awardees, we interviewed key stakeholders. RESULTS: In Idaho, results from the checklist offered guidance on areas for enhancement before integrated cancer screening strategies, but identified challenges, including lack of capacity, limited staff availability, and staff turnover. In Rhode Island, 76.1% of 1023 patient navigation activities were for colorectal cancer screening only, with a much smaller proportion devoted to breast and cervical cancer screening. Although the patient navigator found the discussions around multiple cancer screening efficient, patients were not always willing to discuss all cancer screenings. Nebraska changed its payment system from fee-for-service to fixed cost subawards with its local health departments, which integrated cancer screening funding. Screening uptake improved for breast and cervical cancer but was mixed for colorectal cancer screening. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the case studies show that there are barriers and facilitators to integrating approaches to increasing cancer screening among primary care facilities. However, more research could further elucidate the viability and practicality of integrated cancer screening programs. |
CC16 polymorphisms in asthma, asthma subtypes, and asthma control in adults from the Agricultural Lung Health Study.
Gribben KC , Wyss AB , Poole JA , Farazi PA , Wichman C , Richards-Barber M , BeaneFreeman LE , Henneberger PK , Umbach DM , London SJ , LeVan TD , Gribben KC . Respir Res 2022 23 (1) 305 BACKGROUND: The club cell secretory protein (CC16) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and is a potential early biomarker of lung damage. The CC16 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3741240 risk allele (A) has been inconsistently linked to asthma; other tagging SNPs in the gene have not been explored. The aim was to determine whether CC16 tagging polymorphisms are associated with adult asthma, asthma subtypes or asthma control in the Agricultural Lung Health Study (ALHS). METHODS: The ALHS is an asthma case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study cohort. Asthma cases were individuals with current doctor diagnosed asthma, likely undiagnosed asthma, or asthma-COPD overlap defined by questionnaire. We also examined asthma subtypes and asthma control. Five CC16 tagging SNPs were imputed to 1000 Genomes Integrated phase 1 reference panel. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between CC16 SNPs and asthma outcomes adjusted for covariates. RESULTS: The sample included 1120 asthma cases and 1926 controls of European ancestry, with a mean age of 63 years. The frequency of the risk genotype (AA) for rs3741240 was 12.5% (n=382). CC16 rs3741240 was not associated with adult asthma outcomes. A tagging SNP in the CC16 gene, rs12270961 was associated with uncontrolled asthma (n=208, OR(adj)= 1.4, 95% CI 1.0, 1.9; p=0.03). CONCLUSION: This study, the largest study to investigate associations between CC16 tagging SNPs and asthma phenotypes in adults, did not confirm an association of rs3741240 with adult asthma. A tagging SNP in CC16 suggests a potential relationship with asthma control. |
The role of stress in breast cancer incidence: risk factors, interventions, and directions for the future
Bowen DJ , Poole SF , White M , Lyn R , Flores DA , Haile HG , Williams DR . Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 18 (4) 1-15 Stress is a common belief among breast cancer patients and the public to explain variation in breast cancer incidence. Epidemiological studies interrogating the relationship between stress and cancer have reported mixed results. The impact of the topic and the lack of consensus has sparked this review of the literature to investigate gaps in knowledge and identify areas of research. We first present a brief summary of the biopsychosocial model generally used to conduct research on stress. We then divide the overview of the literature into areas of research focus. These include the role of distressing life events in breast cancer incidence, the role of adverse childhood events in later breast cancer incidence, the importance of race and socioeconomic status (SES) as social determinants of breast cancer incidence, and the specific role of chronic stress in relation to breast cancer. For each topic, we discuss the potential of stress as a risk factor and possible intervention strategies that could reduce the effects of stress. We then identify further research questions to be probed to fill the gaps in knowledge. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions for stress research as it relates to breast cancer incidence. |
The detection of anti-dengue virus IgM in urine in participants enrolled in an acute febrile illness study in Puerto Rico
Caraballo E , Poole-Smith BK , Tomashek KM , Torres-Velasquez B , Alvarado LI , Lorenzi OD , Ramos C , Carrion J , Hunsperger E . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 14 (1) e0007971 BACKGROUND: Dengue is an important arboviral disease with about 100 million dengue cases per year, of which, ~5% result in severe disease. Clinical differentiation of dengue from other acute febrile illnesses (AFI) is difficult, and diagnostic blood tests are costly. We evaluated the utility of anti-DENV IgM in urine to identify dengue cases among AFI patients enrolled in a clinical study. METHODS: Between May 2012-March 2013, 1538 study participants with fever for </=7 days were enrolled, a medical history was obtained, and serum and urine specimens were collected. Serum was tested for DENV RNA and anti-DENV IgM. Urine was tested for anti-DENV IgM, and its sensitivity and specificity to detect sera laboratory-positive dengue cases were calculated. We evaluated if urine anti-DENV IgM positivity early (</=5 days post-illness onset [DPO]) and late (6-14 DPO) in the clinical course was associated with dengue severity. RESULTS: Urine anti-DENV IgM sensitivity and specificity were 47.4% and 98.5%, respectively, when compared with serum anti-DENV IgM ELISA results, and 29.7% and 91.1% when compared with serum rRT-PCR results. There was no correlation between urine anti-DENV IgM positivity and patient sex or pre-existing chronic disease. Early in the clinical course, a significantly higher proportion of those who developed dengue with warning signs had anti-DENV IgM in their urine when compared to those without warning signs (20.4% vs. 4.3%). There was no difference in the proportion with urine anti-DENV IgM positivity between severity groups late in the clinical course. CONCLUSION: While detection of urine anti-DENV IgM lacked adequate diagnostic sensitivity, it is a highly specific marker for laboratory-positive dengue, and its presence early in the clinical course may distinguish those with more severe disease. Further assessment of urine anti-DENV IgM by DPO is warranted to determine its utility as an early diagnostic (and possibly prognostic) marker for dengue. |
Antibiotic prescribing for children in United States emergency departments: 2009-2014
Poole NM , Shapiro DJ , Fleming-Dutra KE , Hicks LA , Hersh AL , Kronman MP . Pediatrics 2019 143 (2) OBJECTIVES: To characterize and compare ambulatory antibiotic prescribing for children in US pediatric and nonpediatric emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study of patients aged 0 to 17 years discharged from EDs in the United States was conducted by using the 2009-2014 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey ED data. We estimated the proportion of ED visits resulting in antibiotic prescriptions, stratified by antibiotic spectrum, class, diagnosis, and ED type ("pediatric" defined as >75% of visits by patients aged 0-17 years, versus "nonpediatric"). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors independently associated with first-line, guideline-concordant prescribing for acute otitis media, pharyngitis, and sinusitis. RESULTS: In 2009-2014, of the 29 million mean annual ED visits by children, 14% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10%-20%) occurred at pediatric EDs. Antibiotics overall were prescribed more frequently in nonpediatric than pediatric ED visits (24% vs 20%, P < .01). Antibiotic prescribing frequencies were stable over time. Of all antibiotics prescribed, 44% (95% CI: 42%-45%) were broad spectrum, and 32% (95% CI: 30%-34%, 2.1 million per year) were generally not indicated. Compared with pediatric EDs, nonpediatric EDs had a higher frequency of prescribing macrolides (18% vs 8%, P < .0001) and a lower frequency of first-line, guideline-concordant prescribing for the respiratory conditions studied (77% vs 87%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Children are prescribed almost 7 million antibiotic prescriptions in EDs annually, primarily in nonpediatric EDs. Pediatric antibiotic stewardship efforts should expand to nonpediatric EDs nationwide, particularly regarding avoidance of antibiotic prescribing for conditions for which antibiotics are not indicated, reducing macrolide prescriptions, and increasing first-line, guideline-concordant prescribing. |
The progress of tobacco control research in sub-Saharan Africa in the past 50 years: A systematic review of the design and methods of the studies
Mamudu HM , Subedi P , Alamin AE , Veeranki SP , Owusu D , Poole A , Mbulo L , Ogwell Ouma AE , Oke A . Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 15 (12) Over one billion of the world's population are smokers, with increasing tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries. However, information about the methodology of studies on tobacco control is limited. We conducted a literature search to examine and evaluate the methodological designs of published tobacco research in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past 50 years. The first phase was completed in 2015 using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. An additional search was completed in February 2017 using PubMed. Only tobacco/smoking research in SSA countries with human subjects and published in English was selected. Out of 1796 articles, 447 met the inclusion criteria and were from 26 countries, 11 of which had one study each. Over half of the publications were from South Africa and Nigeria. The earliest publication was in 1968 and the highest number of publications was in 2014 (n = 46). The majority of publications used quantitative methods (91.28%) and were cross-sectional (80.98%). The commonest data collection methods were self-administered questionnaires (38.53%), interviews (32.57%), and observation (20.41%). Around half of the studies were among adults and in urban settings. We conclud that SSA remains a "research desert" and needs more investment in tobacco control research and training. |
Non-human primate antibody response to mosquito salivary proteins: Implications for dengue virus transmission in Puerto Rico
Hemme RR , Poole-Smith BK , Hunsperger EA , Felix GE , Horiuchi K , Biggerstaff BJ , Lopez-Ortiz R , Barrera R . Acta Trop 2016 164 369-374 An important step to incriminate a mosquito as a vector of a disease pathogen is finding evidence of direct contact between the mosquito and humans. Typically, this is accomplished through landing/biting catches, or host blood meal analysis in engorged mosquitoes via immunologic assays. An alternate approach is to identify the presence of specific mosquito anti-saliva protein antibodies in the blood of exposed hosts. Following the discovery of dengue infected, free roaming non-human primates in Puerto Rico, we investigated which mosquito species had bitten these primates using a serologic assay. Serum samples from 20 patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) and two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were used to evaluate mosquito bite exposure to Aedes aegypti, Aedes mediovittatus, Aedes taeniorhynchus, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Of 22 non-human primates examined 20 (90%), 17 (77%), 13 (59%), and 7 (31%) were positive for exposure to Ae. mediovittatus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. taeniorhynchus, and Ae. aegypti, respectively. Our findings indicated that free-roaming primates in Puerto Rico were exposed to the bites of one proven dengue vector, Ae. aegypti and one potential dengue vector, Ae. mediovittatus. |
Incidence and risk factors for developing dengue-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Puerto Rico, 2008 - 2013
Ellis EM , Sharp TM , Perez-Padilla J , Gonzalez L , Poole-Smith BK , Lebo E , Baker C , Delorey MJ , Torres-Velasquez B , Ochoa E , Rivera-Garcia B , Diaz-Pinto H , Clavell L , Puig-Ramos A , Janka GE , Tomashek KM . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016 10 (8) e0004939 BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, potentially fatal disorder characterized by fever, pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and increased serum ferritin. HLH is being increasingly reported as a complication of dengue, a common tropical acute febrile illness. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: After a cluster of pediatric dengue-associated HLH patients was identified during the 2012-2013 dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico, active surveillance and a case-control investigation was conducted at four referral hospitals to determine the incidence of HLH in children and identify risk factors for HLH following dengue. Patients with dengue-associated HLH (cases) were matched by month of illness onset and admission hospital to dengue patients that did not develop HLH (controls). During 2008-2013, a total of 33 HLH patients were identified, of which 22 (67%) were associated with dengue and 1 died (dengue-associated HLH case-fatality rate: 4.5%). Two patients with dengue-associated HLH had illness onset in 2009, none had illness onset during the 2010 dengue epidemic, and 20 had illness onset during the 2012-2013 epidemic. Frequency of infection with either dengue virus (DENV)-1 or DENV-4 did not differ between cases and controls. Cases were younger than controls (median age: 1 vs. 13 years, p < 0.01), were hospitalized longer (18 vs. 5 days, p < 0.01), and were admitted more frequently to pediatric intensive care units (100% vs. 16%, p < 0.01). Cases had co-infection (18.2% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.04), recent influenza-like illness (54.5% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.01), and longer duration of fever (7 vs. 5 days; p < 0.01). Cases were more likely to have lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, anemia, and elevated liver transaminases (p ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: During this cluster of dengue-associated HLH cases that was temporally associated with the 2012-2013 epidemic, most patients with dengue-associated HLH were infants and had higher morbidity than dengue inpatients. Physicians throughout the tropics should be aware of HLH as a potential complication of dengue, particularly in patients with anemia and severe liver injury. |
Development and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies against monomeric dengue virus non-structural glycoprotein 1 (NS1)
Gelanew T , Poole-Smith BK , Hunsperger E . J Virol Methods 2015 222 214-23 Dengue virus (DENV) nonstructural-1 (NS1) glycoprotein is useful for diagnosis of DENV infections in the first 8 days of illness with any of the four serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4). However, NS1 diagnostics are less sensitive for secondary DENV infections so the utility of NS1 diagnostics in dengue endemic countries where there is predominantly secondary infections is being questioned. Heat-mediated immunecomplex dissociation (ICD) prior to testing serum samples can significantly improve NS1 test sensitivity in secondary infections but requires monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive to heat-denatured NS1. In order to incorporate a simple heat-mediated ICD step, a crucial step was to develop new MAbs with high affinity and specificity to heat-denatured DENV NS1 protein. In the present study, six new MAbs were isolated from BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant monomeric NS1 of DENV-1 and DENV-2. Characterization using three different methods: indirect ELISA, fixed cell ELISA and western blot revealed that all six MAbs are serotype-cross-reactive and capable of recognizing dimeric and hexameric isoforms as well as heat-denatured NS1 from all four DENV serotypes. No cross-reactivity to NS1 of West Nile virus and Yellow fever virus was observed on western blot and indirect ELISA. Five of the six MAbs mapped to the DENV NS1 region of 105-119 amino acids. The remaining MAb mapped to DENV NS1 region of 25-39 amino acids. These two NS1 regions were found to be highly conserved among all four DENV serotypes by sequences analysis and database comparison. These MAbs were used to develop an NS1 capture ELISA and tested using a small panel of clinical specimens. The results from the NS1 capture ELISA indicated at least a three-fold increase in NS1 antigen detection in heat-denatured samples compared to untreated specimens. Furthermore, artificial immunecomplexed results also demonstrated the binding efficiency of these MAbs to heat denatured NS1. Taken together, these MAbs allow for the incorporation of a heat dissociation step to improve the sensitivity of DENV NS1 antigen detection in secondary infections. |
Comparison of vector competence of Aedes mediovittatus and Aedes aegypti for dengue virus: implications for dengue control in the Caribbean
Poole-Smith BK , Hemme RR , Delorey M , Felix G , Gonzalez AL , Amador M , Hunsperger EA , Barrera R . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015 9 (2) e0003462 BACKGROUND: Aedes mediovittatus mosquitoes are found throughout the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean and often share the same larval habitats with Ae. Aegypti, the primary vector for dengue virus (DENV). Implementation of vector control measures to control dengue that specifically target Ae. Aegypti may not control DENV transmission in Puerto Rico (PR). Even if Ae. Aegypti is eliminated or DENV refractory mosquitoes are released, DENV transmission may not cease when other competent mosquito species like Ae. Mediovittatus are present. To compare vector competence of Ae. Mediovittatus and Ae. Aegypti mosquitoes, we studied relative infection and transmission rates for all four DENV serotypes. METHODS: To compare the vector competence of Ae. Mediovittatus and Ae. Aegypti, mosquitoes were exposed to DENV 1-4 per os at viral titers of 5-6 logs plaque-forming unit (pfu) equivalents. At 14 days post infectious bloodmeal, viral RNA was extracted and tested by qRT-PCR to determine infection and transmission rates. Infection and transmission rates were analyzed with a generalized linear model assuming a binomial distribution. RESULTS: Ae. Aegypti had significantly higher DENV-4 infection and transmission rates than Ae. mediovittatus. CONCLUSIONS: This study determined that Ae. Mediovittatus is a competent DENV vector. Therefore dengue prevention programs in PR and the Caribbean should consider both Ae. Mediovittatus and Ae. Aegypti mosquitoes in their vector control programs. |
The first association of a primary amebic meningoencephalitis death with culturable Naegleria fowleri in tap water from a U.S. treated public drinking water system
Cope JR , Ratard RC , Hill VR , Sokol T , Causey JJ , Yoder JS , Mirani G , Mull B , Mukerjee KA , Narayanan J , Doucet M , Qvarnstrom Y , Poole CN , Akingbola OA , Ritter J , Xiong Z , da Silva A , Roellig D , Van Dyke R , Stern H , Xiao L , Beach MJ . Clin Infect Dis 2015 60 (8) e36-42 BACKGROUND: Naegleria fowleri is a climate-sensitive, thermophilic ameba found in warm, freshwater lakes and rivers. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is almost universally fatal, occurs when N. fowleri-containing water enters the nose, typically during swimming, and N. fowleri migrates to the brain via the olfactory nerve. In August 2013, a 4-year-old child died of meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology in a Louisiana hospital. METHODS: Clinical and environmental testing and a case investigation were initiated to determine the cause of death and to identify potential exposures. RESULTS: Based on testing of CSF and brain specimens, the child was diagnosed with PAM. His only reported water exposure was tap water; in particular, tap water that was used to supply water to a lawn water slide on which the child had played extensively prior to becoming ill. Water samples were collected from both the home and the water distribution system that supplied the home and tested; N. fowleri were identified in water samples from both the home and the water distribution system. CONCLUSIONS: This case is the first reported PAM death associated with culturable N. fowleri in tap water from a U.S. treated drinking water system. This case occurred in the context of an expanding geographic range for PAM beyond southern tier states with recent case reports from Minnesota, Kansas, and Indiana. This case also highlights the role of adequate disinfection throughout drinking water distribution systems and the importance of maintaining vigilance when operating drinking water systems using source waters with elevated temperatures. |
Discovery and characterization of potential prognostic biomarkers for dengue hemorrhagic fever
Poole-Smith BK , Gilbert A , Gonzalez AL , Beltran M , Tomashek KM , Ward BJ , Hunsperger EA , Ndao M . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014 91 (6) 1218-26 Half a million patients are hospitalized with severe dengue every year, many of whom would die without timely, appropriate clinical intervention. The majority of dengue cases are uncomplicated; however, 2-5% progress to severe dengue. Severe dengue cases have been reported with increasing frequency over the last 30 years. To discover biomarkers for severe dengue, we used surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyze dengue virus positive serum samples from the acute phase of infection. Using this method, 16 proteins were identified as candidate biomarkers for severe dengue. From these 16 biomarkers, three candidates were selected for confirmation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot: vitronectin (Vtn, 55.1 kDa), hemopexin (Hx, 52.4 kDa), and serotransferrin (Tf, 79.2 kDa). Vitronectin, Hx, and Tf best differentiated between dengue and severe dengue. |
Acrylamide hemoglobin adduct levels and ovarian cancer risk: a nested case-control study
Xie J , Terry KL , Poole EM , Wilson KM , Rosner BA , Willett WC , Vesper HW , Tworoger SS . Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2013 22 (4) 653-60 BACKGROUND: Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen formed during cooking of starchy foods. Two large prospective cohort studies of dietary acrylamide intake and ovarian cancer risk observed a positive association, although two other studies reported no association. METHODS: We measured acrylamide exposure using red blood cell acrylamide and glycidamide hemoglobin adducts among women in two large prospective cohorts: the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II. Between blood collection and 2010, we identified 263 incident cases of epithelial ovarian cancer, matching two controls per case. We used logistic regression models to examine the association between acrylamide exposure and ovarian cancer risk, adjusting for matching factors, family history of ovarian cancer, tubal ligation, oral contraceptive use, body mass index, parity, alcohol intake, smoking, physical activity, and caffeine intake. RESULTS: The multivariate-adjusted relative risk (RR) of ovarian cancer comparing the highest versus lowest tertile of total acrylamide adducts was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.50-1.24, P trend = 0.08). The comparable RR of ovarian cancer among non-smokers at blood draw was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.57-1.27, P trend = 0.14). The association did not differ by tumor histology (serous invasive versus not), P for heterogeneity = 0.86. Individual adduct types (acrylamide or glycidamide) were not associated with risk. CONCLUSIONS: We observed no evidence that acrylamide exposure as measured by adducts to hemoglobin is associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. IMPACT: Our finding indicates that acrylamide intake may not increase risk of ovarian cancer. |
HIV-1 protease inhibitors and clinical malaria: a secondary analysis of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5208 study
Porter KA , Cole SR , Eron JJ Jr , Zheng Y , Hughes MD , Lockman S , Poole C , Skinner-Adams TS , Hosseinipour M , Shaffer D , D'Amico R , Sawe FK , Siika A , Stringer E , Currier JS , Chipato T , Salata R , McCarthy JS , Meshnick SR . Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012 56 (2) 995-1000 HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs) have antimalarial activity in vitro and in murine models. The potential beneficial effect of HIV-1 PIs on malaria has not been studied in clinical settings. We used data from Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5208 sites where malaria is endemic to compare the incidence of clinically diagnosed malaria among HIV-infected adult women randomized to either lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) or to nevirapine (NVP)-based ART. We calculated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We conducted a recurrent events analysis that included both first and second clinical malarial episodes and also conducted analyses to assess the sensitivity of results to outcome misclassification. Among the 445 women in this analysis, 137 (31%) received a clinical diagnosis of malaria at least once during follow-up. Of these 137, 72 (53%) were randomized to LPV/r-based ART. Assignment to the LPV/r treatment group (n = 226) was not consistent with a large decrease in the hazard of first clinical malarial episode (hazard ratio = 1.11 [0.79 to 1.56]). The results were similar in the recurrent events analysis. Sensitivity analyses indicated the results were robust to reasonable levels of outcome misclassification. In this study, the treatment with LPV/r compared to NVP had no apparent beneficial effect on the incidence of clinical malaria among HIV-infected adult women. Additional research concerning the effects of PI-based therapy on the incidence of malaria diagnosed by more specific criteria and among groups at a higher risk for severe disease is warranted. |
Whole blood lead levels are associated with biomarkers of joint tissue metabolism in African American and white men and women: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project
Nelson AE , Chaudhary S , Kraus VB , Fang F , Chen JC , Schwartz TA , Shi XA , Renner JB , Stabler TV , Helmick CG , Caldwell K , Robin Poole A , Jordan JM . Environ Res 2011 111 (8) 1208-14 PURPOSE: To examine associations between biomarkers of joint tissue metabolism and whole blood lead (Pb), separately for men and women in an African American and Caucasian population, which may reflect an underlying pathology. METHODS: Participants in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project Metals Exposure Sub-Study (329 men and 342 women) underwent assessment of whole blood Pb and biochemical biomarkers of joint tissue metabolism. Urinary cross-linked N telopeptide of type I collagen (uNTX-I) and C-telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (uCTX-II), serum cleavage neoepitope of type II collagen (C2C), serum type II procollagen synthesis C-propeptide (CPII), and serum hyaluronic acid (HA) were measured using commercially available kits; the ratio of [C2C:CPII] was calculated. Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) was measured by an in-house assay. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations between continuous blood Pb and biomarker outcomes, adjusted for age, race, current smoking status, and body mass index. Results are reported as estimated change in biomarker level for a 5-unit change in Pb level. RESULTS: The median Pb level among men and women was 2.2 and 1.9mug/dL, respectively. Correlations were noted between Pb levels and the biomarkers uNTX-I, uCTX-II, and COMP in women, and between Pb and uCTX-II, COMP, CPII, and the ratio [C2C:CPII] in men. In adjusted models among women, a 5-unit increase in blood Pb level was associated with a 28% increase in uCTX-II and a 45% increase in uNTX-I levels (uCTX-II: 1.28 [95% CI: 1.04-1.58], uNTX-I: 1.45 [95% CI:1.21-1.74]). Among men, levels of Pb and COMP showed a borderline positive association (8% increase in COMP for a 5-unit change in Pb: 1.08 [95% CI: 1.00-1.18]); no other associations were significant after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon known biomarker origins, the novel associations between blood Pb and biomarkers appear to be primarily reflective of relationships to bone and calcified cartilage turnover among women and cartilage metabolism among men, suggesting a potential gender-specific effect of Pb on joint tissue metabolism that may be relevant to osteoarthritis. |
Prenatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure and early childhood body mass index
Braun JM , Daniels JL , Poole C , Olshan AF , Hornung R , Bernert JT , Khoury J , Needham LL , Barr DB , Lanphear BP . Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2010 24 (6) 524-534 Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of childhood overweight body mass index (BMI). Less is known about the association between prenatal secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and childhood BMI. We followed 292 mother-child dyads from early pregnancy to 3 years of age. Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy was quantified using self-report and serum cotinine biomarkers. We used linear mixed models to estimate the association between tobacco smoke exposure and BMI at birth, 4 weeks, and 1, 2 and 3 years. During pregnancy, 15% of women reported SHS exposure and 12% reported active smoking, but 51% of women had cotinine levels consistent with SHS exposure and 10% had cotinine concentrations indicative of active smoking. After adjustment for confounders, children born to active smokers (self-report or serum cotinine) had higher BMI at 2 and 3 years of age, compared with unexposed children. Children born to women with prenatal serum cotinine concentrations indicative of SHS exposure had higher BMI at 2 (mean difference [MD] 0.3 [95% confidence interval -0.1, 0.7]) and 3 (MD 0.4 [0, 0.8]) years compared with unexposed children. Using self-reported prenatal exposure resulted in non-differential exposure misclassification of SHS exposures that attenuated the association between SHS exposure and BMI compared with serum cotinine concentrations. These findings suggest active and secondhand prenatal tobacco smoke exposure may be related to an important public health problem in childhood and later life. In addition, accurate quantification of prenatal secondhand tobacco smoke exposures is essential to obtaining valid estimates. |
The impact of differences in methodology and population characteristics on the prevalence of hypertension in US adults in 1976-1980 and 1999-2002
Wright JD , Stevens J , Poole C , Flegal KM , Suchindran C . Am J Hypertens 2010 23 (6) 620-6 BACKGROUND: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicate that hypertension prevalence declined by 9% points from 34% in 1976-1980 to 25% in 1999-2002 in adults 20-74 years. The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact on hypertension prevalence of measurement error and selected risk factors. METHODS: Using cross-sectional survey data from NHANES, we estimated the effect on hypertension of incorrect blood pressure (BP) cuff size and zero end-digit preference and the effect of changes in the distribution of age, body mass index (BMI), sex, race-ethnicity, smoking, and education. The analytic sample of persons 20-74 years consisted of 11,563 from 1976-1980 and 7,901 from 1999-2002 NHANES. Covariate-adjusted prevalences were calculated using log-linear regression models to produce predictive margins. RESULTS: After adjustment to age, BMI, sex, race-ethnicity, smoking, and education, the prevalence difference became higher, changing from -9% (95% confidence interval (CI): -11, -6) to -14% (95 CI: -17, -11). After adjustment to these risk factors and correction for measurement error the prevalence difference was -9% (95 CI: -11, -6). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement error, mainly from cuff size differences, inflated the temporal decline in hypertension prevalence. The results indicate that age, sex, race-ethnicity, smoking, or education did not fully explain the lower prevalence of measured hypertension in all BMI groups and suggest that a change in some unmeasured factor or factors contributed to the decline.American Journal of Hypertension 2010; doi:10.1038/ajh.2010.40. |
- Page last reviewed:Feb 1, 2024
- Page last updated:May 06, 2024
- Content source:
- Powered by CDC PHGKB Infrastructure