Digital Commons Network^™

Transcriptional And Immunohistological Assessment Of Immune Infiltration In Pancreatic Cancer., Brady Bernard, Venkatesh Rajamanickam, Christopher Dubay, Brian D. Piening, Emilio Alonso, Zeljka Jutric, Ephraim Tang, Pippa Newell, Paul D Hansen, Terry R Medler, Andrew J Gunderson, Kristina H Young, Carlo Bifulco, Joanna Pucilowska, Marka R Crittenden, Michael J. Gough

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is characterized by a complex tumor environment with a wide diversity of infiltrating stromal and immune cell types that impact the tumor response to conventional treatments. However, even in this poorly responsive tumor the extent of T cell infiltration as determined by quantitative immunohistology is a candidate prognostic factor for patient outcome. As such, even more comprehensive immunophenotyping of the tumor environment, such as immune cell type deconvolution via inference models based on gene expression profiling, holds significant promise. We hypothesized that RNA-Seq can provide a comprehensive alternative to quantitative immunohistology for immunophenotyping pancreatic cancer. We performed RNA-Seq …

Parasitic Infections Represent A Significant Health Threat Among Recent Immigrants In Chicago, Jesica A. Herrick, Monica Nordstrom, Patrick M. Maloney, Miguel Rodriguez, Kevin Naceanceno, Gloria Gallo, Rojelio Mejia, Ron Hershow

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Parasitic infections are likely under-recognized among immigrant populations in the USA. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate if such infections have health impacts among recent immigrants in Chicago and to identify predictive factors for parasitic infections. A total of 133 recent immigrants were enrolled, filling out a standardized medical questionnaire and providing blood and stool samples. Appriximately 12% of subjects (15/125) who provided a blood or stool sample for testing were found to have evidence of current or prior infection with a pathogenic parasite, of which Toxocara spp. (8 subjects, 6.4%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (5 subjects, 4%) were most …

Single Cell Transcriptomics Implicate Novel Monocyte And T Cell Immune Dysregulation In Sarcoidosis, Lori Garman, Richard C. Pelikan, Astrid Rasmussen, Caleb A. Lareau, Kathryn A. Savoy, Umesh S. Deshmukh, Harini Bagavant, Albert M. Levin, Salim Daouk, Wonder P. Drake, Courtney G. Montgomery

Public Health Sciences Articles

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by infiltration of immune cells into granulomas. Previous gene expression studies using heterogeneous cell mixtures lack insight into cell-type-specific immune dysregulation. We performed the first single-cell RNA-sequencing study of sarcoidosis in peripheral immune cells in 48 patients and controls. Following unbiased clustering, differentially expressed genes were identified for 18 cell types and bioinformatically assessed for function and pathway enrichment. Our results reveal persistent activation of circulating classical monocytes with subsequent upregulation of trafficking molecules. Specifically, classical monocytes upregulated distinct markers of activation including adhesion molecules, pattern recognition receptors, and chemokine receptors, as well …

Editorial: Structure, Isotypes, Targets, And Post-Translational Modifications Of Immunoglobulins And Their Role In Infection, Inflammation And Autoimmunity, Jean Harb, Bridget S. Wilson, Sylvie Hermouet

Pathology Research and Scholarship

EDITORIAL published: 07 August 2020 doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01761 Frontiers in Immunology | www.frontiersin.org 1 August 2020 | Volume 11 | Article 1761 Edited by: Deborah K. Dunn-Walters, University of Surrey, United Kingdom Reviewed by: Roberta Pelanda, University of Colorado School of Medicine, United States *Correspondence: Sylvie Hermouet [email protected] Specialty section: This article was submitted to B Cell Biology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology Received: 29 May 2020 Accepted: 30 June 2020 Published: 07 August 2020 Citation: Harb J, Wilson BS and Hermouet S (2020) Editorial: Structure, Isotypes, Targets, and Post-translational Modifications of Immunoglobulins and Their Role in Infection, …

Recommendations For Clinical Laboratory Testing For Antithrombin Deficiency; Communication From The Ssc Of The Isth, Elizabeth M. Van Cott, Christelle Orlando, Gary W. Moore, Peter C. Cooper, Piet Meijer, Richard Marlar, Subcommittee On Plasma Coagulation Inhibitors

Pathology Research and Scholarship

Hereditary deficiency of antithrombin, a natural anticoagulant, causes a thrombophilia with a high risk for venous thromboembolism. Guidance for laboratory testing to diagnose antithrombin deficiency include the use of an activity assay for initial testing, performing an antigen test and activity-to-antigen ratio when the activity level is low, using pediatric reference ranges until the age of 6 months, excluding acquired causes of low antithrombin (e.g. liver dysfunction, proteinuria, heparin, disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombosis, surgery) or falsely normal/elevated results (e.g. argatroban, bivalirudin, dabigatran in factor IIa-based assays; rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, but not betrixaban in Xa-based assays). Molecular testing, if available, may …

Diagnostic Performance Of Two Molecular Assays For The Detection Of Vaginitis In Symptomatic Women, Alexandra Thompson, Karen Timm, Noelle Borders, Liz Montoya, Karissa Culbreath

Pathology Research and Scholarship

The three main causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV). Two multiplex assays are commercially available for detection of DNA from organisms associated with vaginitis: BD Affirm™ VPIII Microbial Identification Test (Affirm) and BD MAX™ Vaginal Panel (MAX VP). Here, the performance of MAX VP was compared to that of Affirm, which was considered the standard of care. Four vaginal swabs were collected from each subject with the following: BD Affirm™ VPIII Ambient Temperature Transport System (ATTS), BD MAX™ UVE Specimen Collection Kit, Hologic Aptima® Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection Kit, and BD ESwab™ collection …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis On The Effectiveness Of An Invasive Strategy Compared To A Conservative Approach In Patients > 65 Years Old With Non-St Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome, Joan Dymphna P. Reaño, Louie Alfred B. Shiu, Karen V. Miralles, Maria Grethel C. Dimalala, Noemi S. Pestaño, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Bernadette Tumanan-Mendoza, Michael Joseph T. Reyes, Rafael R. Castillo

Pathology Research and Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Patients 65 years old and older largely represent (>50%) hospital-admitted patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Data are conflicting comparing efficacy of early routine invasive (within 48-72 hours of initial evaluation) versus conservative management of ACS in this population.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of routine early invasive strategy compared to conservative treatment in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events in patients 65 years old and older with non-ST elevation (NSTE) ACS.

DATA SOURCES: We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar database.

STUDY SELECTION: The studies included were …

Getting The Gist Of A Schwannoma, Rishabh Gulati, Joshua A. Hanson, Gulshan Parasher, Daniel Castresana

Pathology Research and Scholarship

A small subepithelial esophageal lesion was seen 21 cm from the incisors in an otherwise unremarkable examination. Subsequent upper-EUS examination revealed a 14 mm by 21 mm well-circumscribed, hypoechoic lesion originating from the muscularis propria (layer 4). The initial EUS impression was suggestive of a GI stromal tumor, however, examination of EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy specimens showed a haphazard arrangement of spindle cells in a fibrotic stoma.

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Associated With Collection Of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells By Apheresis, Jay S. Raval, Yara A. Park, Irina Perjar, Marshall A. Mazepa, Benjamin G. Vincent, Alice D. Ma, Marian A. Rollins-Raval

Pathology Research and Scholarship

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) can occur following exposure to heparin and is characterized by thrombocytopenia with increased risk for thrombosis. This condition is mediated by formation of immunoglobulin G antibodies against platelet factor 4/heparin complexes that can subsequently lead to platelet activation. Herein, we detail the clinical and laboratory findings, treatments, and outcomes of two patients who developed HIT and thrombosis after undergoing collection of hematopoietic progenitor cells by apheresis (HPC-A) for autologous HPC transplant. Given that heparin may be used during HPC-A collections, these cases emphasize the importance of prompt consideration of HIT in patients that develop thrombocytopenia and thrombosis …

A Multicenter Evaluation Of A Sample To Answer Real-Time Pcr Assay For Toxigenic C. Difficile In Symptomatic Subjects, Preeti Pancholi, Steve Young, R Widen, Suzane Silbert, B Schmitt, R Dunn, A Drain, S A. Weissfeld

Pathology Research and Scholarship

We evaluated the performance of the Luminex ARIES® C. difficile Assay on 984 stool specimens prospectively collected from patients being tested for CDI at 4 clinical laboratories in the United States. Results were compared to direct and enriched toxigenic culture. Positive percent agreement (PPA) of the ARIES® C. difficile Assay was 98.1% versus direct toxigenic culture, and sensitivity versus direct plus enriched toxigenic culture was 90.5%. Negative percent agreement (NPA) of the ARIES® C. difficile Assay against direct culture was 92.6%, and specificity versus direct plus enriched toxigenic culture was 95.8%. The ARIES® C. difficile Assay was also compared to …

A Head-To-Head Comparison Of The Efficacy And Safety Of Ixekizumab And Adalimumab In Biological-Naïve Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis: 24-Week Results Of A Randomised, Open-Label, Blinded-Assessor Trial., Philip Mease, Josef S Smolen, Frank Behrens, Peter Nash, Soyi Liu Leage, Lingnan Li, Hasan Tahir, Melinda Gooderham, Eswar Krishnan, Hong Liu-Seifert, Paul Emery, Sreekumar G Pillai, Philip S Helliwell

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVES: To compare efficacy and safety of ixekizumab (IXE) to adalimumab (ADA) in biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naïve patients with both active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and skin disease and inadequate response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARDs).

METHODS: Patients with active PsA were randomised (1:1) to approved dosing of IXE or ADA in an open-label, head-to-head, blinded assessor clinical trial. The primary objective was to evaluate whether IXE was superior to ADA at week 24 for simultaneous achievement of a ≥50% improvement from baseline in the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR50) and a 100% improvement from baseline in the …

Unmet Need In Rheumatology: Reports From The Targeted Therapies Meeting 2019., Kevin L Winthrop, Michael E Weinblatt, Joan Bathon, Gerd R Burmester, Philip Mease, Leslie Crofford, Vivian Bykerk, Maxime Dougados, James Todd Rosenbaum, Xavier Mariette, Joachim Sieper, Fritz Melchers, Bruce N Cronstein, Ferry C Breedveld, Joachim Kalden, Josef S Smolen, Daniel Furst

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVES: To detail the greatest areas of unmet scientific and clinical needs in rheumatology.

METHODS: The 21st annual international Advances in Targeted Therapies meeting brought together more than 100 leading basic scientists and clinical researchers in rheumatology, immunology, epidemiology, molecular biology and other specialties. During the meeting, breakout sessions were convened, consisting of 5 disease-specific groups with 20-30 experts assigned to each group based on expertise. Specific groups included: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. In each group, experts were asked to identify unmet clinical and translational research needs in general …

Safety And Efficacy Of Tocilizumab In The Treatment Of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Atul Patel, Kinjal Shah, Mitkumar Dharsandiya, Ketan Patel, Tushar Patel, Mukesh Patel, Tea Reljic, Ambuj Kumar

All publications

Background: Cytokine release storm (CRS) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) is thought to be the cause for organ damage and death which is independent of the actual viral burden. Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist, is approved for the treatment of CRS. We describe the efficacy and safety of TCZ in SARS CoV-2 pneumonia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from April 20 2020 to May 21 2020. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of a composite of either need for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with invasive mechanical …

Comparative Analysis Of Covid-19 Guidelines From Six Countries: A Qualitative Study On The Us, China, South Korea, The Uk, Brazil, And Haiti, Ji Youn Yoo, Samia Valeria Ozorio Dutra, Dany Fanfan, Sarah Sniffen, Hao Wang, Jamile Siddiqui, Hyo-Suk Song, Sung Hwan Bang, Dong Eun Kim, Shihoon Kim, Maureen Groer

All publications

Background: In late January, a worldwide crisis known as COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. Within only a few weeks, the outbreak took on pandemic proportions, affecting over 100 countries. It was a significant issue to prevent and control COVID-19 on both national and global scales due to the dramatic increase in confirmed cases worldwide. Government guidelines provide a fundamental resource for communities, as they guide citizens on how to protect themselves against COVID-19, however, they also provide critical guidance for policy makers and healthcare professionals on how to take action to decrease …

Quantifying The Impact Of Covid-19 Control Measures Using A Bayesian Model Of Physical Distancing, Sean C. Anderson, Andrew M. Edwards, Madi Yerlanov, Nicola Mulberry, Jessica E. Stockdale, Sarafa A. Iyaniwura, Rebeca C. Falcao, Michael C. Otterstatter, Michael A. Irvine, Naveed Z. Janjua, Daniel Coombs, Caroline Colijn

All publications

Extensive non-pharmaceutical and physical distancing measures are currently the primary interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. It is therefore urgent to estimate the impact such measures are having. We introduce a Bayesian epidemiological model in which a proportion of individuals are willing and able to participate in distancing, with the timing of distancing measures informed by survey data on attitudes to distancing and COVID-19. We fit our model to reported COVID-19 cases in British Columbia (BC), Canada, and five other jurisdictions, using an observation model that accounts for both underestimation and the delay between symptom onset and reporting. We …

Using A Rapid Assessment Methodology To Identify And Address Immediate Needs Among Low-Income Households With Children During Covid-19, Shreela V. Sharma, Amier Haidar, Jacqueline Noyola, Jacqueline Tien, Melinda Rushing, Brittni M. Naylor, Ru-Jye Chuang, Christine Markham

All publications

Objective: Brighter Bites is a school-based health promotion program that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income children and families. Due to COVID-19-related school closures, states were under "shelter in place" orders, and Brighter Bites administered a rapid assessment survey to identify social needs among their families. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the methodology used to identify those with greatest social needs during this time ("high risk"), and to describe the response of Brighter Bites to these "high risk" families.

Methods: The rapid assessment survey was collected in April 2020 across Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, and …

Development And Validation Of A Model For Individualized Prediction Of Hospitalization Risk In 4,536 Patients With Covid-19, Lara Jehi, Xinge Ji, Alex Milinovich, Serpil Erzurum, Amy Merlino, Steve Gordon, James B. Young, Michael W. Kattan

All publications

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a pandemic that is straining healthcare resources, mainly hospital beds. Multiple risk factors of disease progression requiring hospitalization have been identified, but medical decision-making remains complex.

Objective: To characterize a large cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, their outcomes, develop and validate a statistical model that allows individualized prediction of future hospitalization risk for a patient newly diagnosed with COVID-19.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of patients with COVID-19 applying a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression algorithm to retain the most predictive features for hospitalization risk, followed by validation in a temporally …

Modeling The Role Of Asymptomatics In Infection Spread With Application To Sars-Cov-2, Hana M. Dobrovolny

All publications

SARS-CoV-2 started causing infections in humans in late 2019 and has spread rapidly around the world. While the number of symptomatically infected and severely ill people is high and has overwhelmed the medical systems of many countries, there is mounting evidence that some of the rapid spread of this virus has been driven by asymptomatic infections. In this study, we use a compartmental mathematical model of a viral epidemic that includes asymptomatic infection to examine the role of asymptomatic individuals in the spread of the infection. We apply the model to epidemics in California, Florida, New York, and Texas, finding …

Implementation Of A Medical Student-Run Telemedicine Program For Medications For Opioid Use Disorder During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Marcus Castillo, Brianna Conte, Sam Hinkes, Megan Mathew, C J Na, Ainhoa Norindr, David P. Serota, David W. Forrest, Amar R. Deshpande, Tyler S. Bartholomew, Hansel E. Tookes

All publications

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of the IDEA syringe services program medical student-run free clinic in Miami, Florida. In an effort to continue to serve the community of people who inject drugs and practice compassionate and non-judgmental care, the students transitioned the clinic to a model of TeleMOUD (medications for opioid use disorder). We describe development and implementation of a medical student-run telemedicine clinic through an academic medical center-operated syringe services program.

Methods: Students advertised TeleMOUD services at the syringe service program on social media and created an online sign-up form. They coordinated appointments and interviewed patients …

Pharmacist-Led Chronic Care Management For Medically Underserved Rural Populations In Florida During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Madison Como, Chenita White Carter, Margareth Larose-Pierre, Kellie O'Dare, Cynthia R Hall, Jason Mobley, Gervin Robertson, Jason Leonard, Lindsey Tew

All publications

Medically underserved patients in rural areas are more vulnerable to poor health outcomes, including the risks associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Pharmacists, student pharmacists, and other health care professionals are working together to implement new, innovative ways to deliver the same standard of care during the COVID-19 pandemic to these vulnerable patients. These services include telehealth with virtual and telephone medication therapy management sessions led by ambulatory care pharmacists and student pharmacists. Pharmacists, student pharmacists, and other health care professionals should continue to adapt to these new technologies to improve health outcomes for their patients during the pandemic.

Statewide Implementation Of Virtual Perinatal Home Visiting During Covid-19, Jennifer Marshall, Laura Kihlström, Acadia Buro, Vidya Chandran, Concha Prieto, Rafaella Stein-Elger, Keryden Koeut-Futch, Allison Parish, Katie Hood

All publications

Purpose: This evaluation describes efforts taken by MIECHV administrators and staff during the pandemic using data collected from 60 MIECHV staff surveys and nine statewide weekly focus groups.

Description: The Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Initiative funds perinatal home visiting for pregnant women and families with infants throughout the state. Florida MIECHV has shown resilience to disasters and times of crises in the past, while generating a culture of adaptation and continuous quality improvement among local implementing agencies. Florida MIECHV responded to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis within the first few days of the first reported case …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Hiv Treatment And Research: A Call To Action., Tiffany Chenneville, Kemesha Gabbidon, Patricia Hanson, Cashea Holyfield

All publications

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is far reaching, with devastating effects on individuals, communities, and societies across the world. People with chronic health conditions may be at greater risk of contracting or experiencing complications from COVID-19. In addition to illness or death for those who contract the virus, the physical distancing required to flatten the curve of new cases is having a negative impact on the economy, the effects of which intersect with mental health and other existing health concerns, thus affecting marginalized communities. Given that HIV also has a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, COVID-19 is affecting people …

Aerosol And Surface Contamination Of Sars-Cov-2 Observed In Quarantine And Isolation Care, Joshua L. Santarpia, Danielle N. Rivera, Vicki L. Herrera, M. Jane Morwitzer, Hannah M. Creager, George W. Santarpia, Kevin K. Crown, David Brett-Major, Elizabeth R. Schnaubelt, M. Jana Broadhurst, James V. Lawler, St. Patrick Reid, John Lowe

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019, and its resulting coronavirus disease, COVID-19, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The rapid global spread of COVID-19 represents perhaps the most significant public health emergency in a century. As the pandemic progressed, a continued paucity of evidence on routes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission has resulted in shifting infection prevention and control guidelines between classically-defined airborne and droplet precautions. During the initial isolation of 13 individuals with COVID-19 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, we collected air …

Real-Time Public Health Communication Of Local Sars-Cov-2 Genomic Epidemiology, Chaney C. Kalinich, Cole G. Jensen, Peter Neugebauer, Mary E. Petrone, Mario Peña-Hernández, Isabel M. Ott, Anne L. Wyllie, Tara Alpert, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Joseph R. Fauver, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Anderson F. Brito

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Genomic epidemiology can provide a unique, real-time understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission patterns. Yet the potential for genomic analyses to guide local policy and community-based behavioral decisions is limited because they are often oriented towards specially trained scientists and conducted on a national or global scale. Here, we propose a new paradigm: Phylogenetic analyses performed on a local level (municipal, county, or state), with results communicated in a clear, timely, and actionable manner to strengthen public health responses. We believe that presenting results rapidly, and tailored to a non-expert audience, can serve as a template for effective public health response to …

Acute Encephalopathy With Elevated Csf Inflammatory Markers As The Initial Presentation Of Covid-19, Shelli Farhadian, Laura R. Glick, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Jared Thomas, Jennifer Chiarella, Arnau Casanovas-Massana, Jing Zhou, Camila Odio, Pavithra Vijayakumar, Bertie Geng, John Fournier, Santos Bermejo, Joseph R. Fauver, Tara Alpert, Anne L. Wyllie, Cynthia Turcotte, Matthew Steinle, Patrick Paczkowski, Charles Dela Cruz, Craig Wilen, Albert I. Ko, Sean Mackay, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Serena Spudich, Lydia Aoun Barakat

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus SARS-CoV-2. It is widely recognized as a respiratory pathogen, but neurologic complications can be the presenting manifestation in a subset of infected patients.

CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 78-year old immunocompromised woman who presented with altered mental status after witnessed seizure-like activity at home. She was found to have SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated neuroinflammation. In this case, we undertake the first detailed analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokines during COVID-19 infection and find a unique pattern of inflammation in CSF, but no evidence of viral neuroinvasion.

CONCLUSION: Our findings …

Motor Vehicle Fatalities During Memorial Day Weekends, 1981-2016, Yuni Tang, Kendra Ratnapradipa, Henry Xiang, Motao Zhu

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury death in the United States, and Memorial Day weekend is one of six holiday periods with an increased number of motor vehicle fatalities in the United States. However, few motor vehicle fatality comparisons were made between Memorial Day weekend and non-holiday periods. Our aims were to determine which day(s) during the holiday had highest motor vehicle fatality risk compared to non-holiday travel and to identify potential risk factors.

RESULTS: Of 43,457 traffic fatalities studied, 15,292 (35%) occurred during the holiday, with Saturday being deadliest but Monday having highest odds of …

An Evaluation Of Florida’S Zika Response Using The Who Health Systems Framework: Can We Apply These Lessons To Covid-19?, Jennifer Marshall, Blake Scott, Jennifer Delva, Cedrick Ade, Santiago Hernandez, Jaladhikumar Patel, Mantero Moreno-Cheek, Dogeli Rojas, Jean-Paul Tanner, Russell S. Kirby

All publications

Objectives: From 2016 to 2018 Florida documented 1471 cases of Zika virus, 299 of which were pregnant women (Florida Department of Health, https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/mosquito-bornediseases/surveillance.html , 2019a). Florida's response required unprecedented rapid and continuous cross-sector communication, adaptation, and coordination. Zika tested public health systems in new ways, particularly for maternal child health populations. The systems are now being challenged again, as the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic spreads throughout Florida. This qualitative journey mapping evaluation of Florida's response focused on care for pregnant women and families with infants exposed to Zika virus.

Methods: Fifteen focus groups and interviews were conducted with 33 public health …

Us-County Level Variation In Intersecting Individual, Household And Community Characteristics Relevant To Covid-19 And Planning An Equitable Response: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Taylor Chin, Rebecca Kahn, Ruoran Li, Jarvis T. Chen, Nancy Krieger, Caroline O. Buckee, Satchit Balsari, Mathew V. Kiang

All publications

Objectives: To illustrate the intersections of, and intercounty variation in, individual, household and community factors that influence the impact of COVID-19 on US counties and their ability to respond.

Design: We identified key individual, household and community characteristics influencing COVID-19 risks of infection and survival, guided by international experiences and consideration of epidemiological parameters of importance. Using publicly available data, we developed an open-access online tool that allows county-specific querying and mapping of risk factors. As an illustrative example, we assess the pairwise intersections of age (individual level), poverty (household level) and prevalence of group homes (community-level) in US counties. …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Chest Computed Tomography Scans For Suspected Patients With Covid-19: Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve Analysis, Lianpin Wu, Qike Jin, Jie Chen, Jiawei He, David Brett-Major, Jianghu James Dong

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) scans are increasingly available in clinical care globally. They enable a rapid and detailed assessment of tissue and organ involvement in disease processes that are relevant to diagnosis and management, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to identify differences in the CT scan findings of patients who were COVID-19 positive (confirmed via nucleic acid testing) to patients who were confirmed COVID-19 negative.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was proposed to compare patient clinical characteristics and CT scan findings in suspected COVID-19 cases. A multivariable logistic model with …

Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake: Differences Between Rural And Urban Privately-Insured Population, Mesnad Alyabsi, Jane L. Meza, K. M. Monirul Islam, Amr Soliman, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Earlier studies investigated rural-urban colorectal cancer (CRC) screening disparities among older adults or used surveys. The objective was to compare screening uptake between rural and urban individuals 50-64 years of age using private health insurance. Data were analyzed from 58,774 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska beneficiaries. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between rural-urban and CRC screening use. Results indicate that rural individuals were 56% more likely to use the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) compared with urban residents, but rural females were 68% less likely to use FOBT. Individuals with few Primary Care Physician (PCP) visits …