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An Investigation Into The Possibility Of Transmission Of Tick-Borne Pathogens Via Blood Transfusion, P. M. Arguin, J. Singleton, L. D. Rotz, E. Marston, T. A. Treadwell, K. Slater, M. Chamberland, A. Schwartz, L. Tengelsen, J. G. Olson, J. E. Childs

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BACKGROUND: Tick-borne illnesses were diagnosed in a group of National Guard members, including some who had donated blood a few days before the onset of symptoms. A voluntary recall of those blood components was issued and a multistate investigation was conducted to determine if transfusion-transmitted illness had occurred.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors and recipients were asked to complete questionnaires regarding symptoms and risk factors for infection and to provide blood samples for laboratory analysis.

RESULTS: Among National Guard personnel who donated blood, 12 individuals were found to have a confirmed or probable case of Rocky Mountain …

An Investigation Into The Possibility Of Transmission Of Tick-Borne Pathogens Via Blood Transfusion, P. M. Arguin, J. Singleton, L. D. Rotz, E. Marston, T. A. Treadwell, K. Slater, M. Chamberland, A. Schwartz, L. Tengelsen, J. G. Olson, J. E. Childs, Transfusion-Associated Tick-Borne Illness Task Force

Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne illnesses were diagnosed in a group of National Guard members, including some who had donated blood a few days before the onset of symptoms. A voluntary recall of those blood components was issued and a multistate investigation was conducted to determine if transfusion-transmitted illness had occurred.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors and recipients were asked to complete questionnaires regarding symptoms and risk factors for infection and to provide blood samples for laboratory analysis.
RESULTS: Among National Guard personnel who donated blood, 12 individuals were found to have a confirmed or probable case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever or …

Annual Report To The Nation On The Status Of Cancer, 1973–1996, With A Special Section On Lung Cancer And Tobacco Smoking, Phyllis A. Wingo, Lynn A. G. Ries, Gary A. Giovino, Daniel S. Miller, Harry M. Rosenberg, Donald R. Shopland, Michael J. Thun, Brenda K. Edwards

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Background: The American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), provide the second annual report to the nation on progress in cancer prevention and control, with a special section on lung cancer and tobacco smoking.
Methods: Age-adjusted rates (using the 1970 U.S. standard population) were based on cancer incidence data from NCI and underlying cause of death data compiled by NCHS. The prevalence of tobacco use was derived from CDC surveys. Reported P values are two-sided.
Results: From 1990 through 1996, cancer incidence …

American Indians And Crime, Lawrence A. Greenfeld, Steven K. Smith

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This report represents a compilation and new analysis of data on the effects and consequences of violent crime among American Indians. The report uses data from a wide variety of sources, including statistical series maintained by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the FBI, and the Bureau of the Census. Data are reported from American Indian crime victims on how they were affected by the victimization and about who victimized them. The report also includes the first BJS estimates of the total number of American Indians under the custody or supervision of the justice system.
The findings reveal a disturbing …

Hepatitis C Virus And Other Flaviviridae Viruses Enter Cells Via Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor, Vincent Agnello, György Ábel, Mutasim Elfahal, Glenn B. Knight, Qing-Xiu Zhang

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Endocytosis of the Flaviviridae viruses, hepatitis C virus, GB virus Cyhepatitis G virus, and bovine viral diarrheal virus (BVDV) was shown to be mediated by low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors on cultured cells by several lines of evidence: by the demonstration that endocytosis of these virus correlated with LDL receptor activity, by complete inhibition of detectable endocytosis by anti-LDL receptor antibody, by inhibition with anti-apolipoprotein E and -apolipoprotein B antibodies, by chemical methods abrogating lipoproteinyLDL receptor interactions, and by inhibition with the endocytosis inhibitor phenylarsine oxide. Confirmatory evidence was provided by the lack of detectable LDL receptor on cells known …

Preventing Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Virus Infections In End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: Back To Basics, Scott Kellerman, Miriam Alter

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In this issue of HEPATOLOGY, Mathurin et al. report the results of a 10-year retrospective study of kidney transplant recipients that compared rates of patient and graft survival among patients with and without chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.¹ Following this cohort of patients at intervals of 5 and 10 years, the investigators found a statistically significant decrease in survival in the HBV-infected group at both 5 and 10 years and a similar decrease at 10 years in the HCV-infected group. The findings of this study underscore the importance of preventing these infections in …