OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the course of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) and its relationship with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes (DM). METHODS: Data were collected at 3 time points from 845 Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project participants (2/3 women, 1/3 African-Americans, mean age 60 years) with and without HOA, CVD, or DM. A diagnosis of radiographic hand osteoarthritis (rHOA) required a Kellgren-Lawrence severity grade of >/=2 in at least 3 joints in each hand. A four-state progressive model included transitions based on rHOA and pain or function as defined using the AUStralian CANadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN). Markov multi-state models estimated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (aHR [95%]) for associations between DM or CVD and specific state transitions, adjusting for baseline and time-varying covariates. RESULTS: Participants with DM (vs those without DM) were more likely to experience worsening pain with rHOA. Individuals who had or developed CVD (vs those who did not) were significantly less likely to experience symptomatic improvement, regardless of rHOA status. Those with DM or CVD (vs those without these comorbidities) were less likely to experience improvement in function, although this was statistically significant only for those with DM and no rHOA. CONCLUSION: Overall, having or developing DM and/or CVD reduced the likelihood of symptomatic and functional improvement over time, suggesting an impact of comorbid CVD and DM on the clinical and radiographic course of HOA. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

On June 26, 2017, a hospital in southern Utah notified the Utah Department of Health of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 infections in two children from a small community on the Arizona-Utah border. Both children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, characterized by hemolytic anemia, acute kidney failure, and thrombocytopenia and died within a few days of illness onset. Over the next few days, several more STEC-associated illnesses were reported in residents of the community. A joint investigation by local and state health agencies from Arizona and Utah and CDC was initiated to identify the outbreak source and prevent additional cases; a total of 12 cases were identified, including the two children who died. Investigators initially explored multiple potential sources of illness; epidemiologic and environmental information revealed cow manure contact as the likely initial cause of the outbreak, which was followed by subsequent person-to-person transmission. One of the outbreak strains was isolated from bull and horse manure collected from a yard near a community household with two ill children. Local health agencies made recommendations to the public related to both animal contact and hand hygiene to reduce the risk for STEC transmission. Animal or animal manure contact should be considered a potential source of STEC O157:H7 during outbreaks in communities where ruminants are kept near the home.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria in HIV-infected individuals has been associated with poorer outcomes. We examined risk factors associated with the development of proteinuria in a national registry of HIV-infected veterans. METHODS: 21,129 HIV-infected veterans of black and white race without pre-existing kidney disease were receiving health care in the Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) medical system between 1997 and 2011. Using the VHA electronic record system, we identified kidney-related risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), and HIV-related risk factors (CD4 lymphocyte count, HIV RNA level, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus) for developing proteinuria. Proteinuria was defined by 2 consecutive dipstick measures of 1 or higher. The Fine-Gray competing risk model was used to estimate association between clinical variables and incident proteinuria, while accounting for intervening mortality events. RESULTS: During follow-up (median=5.3 years), 7,031 patients developed proteinuria. Overall, black race compared with white race was associated with a higher risk of proteinuria (HR[95% CI]=1.51[1.43-1.59]), but the association was stronger at younger ages (p interaction<0.001). Age-stratified risk of proteinuria for blacks relative to whites was greatest amongst veterans<30 years (2.19[1.66-2.89]) and the risk diminished with increasing age (1.14[0.97-1.34] for >60 years). We found the race difference to be stronger for the outcome of 2 or higher proteinuria (2.13[1.89-2.39]). Both HIV-related and traditional risk factors were also associated with incident proteinuria (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with whites, risk of proteinuria was higher in black veterans with HIV-infection, particularly at younger ages. In both races, HIV and kidney-related risk factors were associated with higher proteinuria risk.

Over 1200 cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 (pH1N1) have been identified in Kenya since the first case in June 2009. In April 2010 the Kenyan government launched a program to immunize high-risk groups and healthcare workers (HCWs) with pH1N1 vaccines donated by the World Health Organization. To characterize HCWs' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding pH1N1 vaccination, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative survey in 20 healthcare facilities across Kenya between January 11 and 26, 2010. Of 659 HCWs interviewed, 55% thought there was a vaccine against pH1N1, and 89% indicated that they would receive pH1N1 vaccine if it became available. In focus group discussions, many HCWs said that pH1N1 virus infection did not cause severe disease in Kenyans and questioned the need for vaccination. However, most were willing to accept vaccination if they had adequate information on safety and efficacy. In order for the influenza vaccination campaign to be successful, HCWs must understand that pH1N1 can cause severe disease in Kenyans, that pH1N1 vaccination can prevent HCWs from transmitting influenza to their patients, and that the vaccine has been widely used globally with few recognized adverse events.