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Papers by Amy Davidow

... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers f... more ... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 5 6 Corresponding author's email: peter.oh@cdph.ca.gov Sixty percent of tuberculosis ...

... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers f... more ... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 5 6 Corresponding author's email: peter.oh@cdph.ca.gov Sixty percent of tuberculosis ...

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Sep 1, 2005

Mutations at position 306 of embB (embB306) have been proposed as a marker for ethambutol resista... more Mutations at position 306 of embB (embB306) have been proposed as a marker for ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, recent reports of embB306 mutations in ethambutol-susceptible isolates caused us to question the biological role of this mutation. We tested 1,020 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates with different drug susceptibility patterns and of different geographical origins for associations between embB306 mutations, drug resistance patterns, and major genetic group. One hundred isolates (10%) contained a mutation in embB306; however, only 55 of these mutants were ethambutol resistant. Mutations in embB306 could not be uniquely associated with any particular type of drug resistance and were found in all three major genetic groups. A striking association was observed between these mutations and resistance to any drug (P < 0.001), and the association between embB306 mutations and resistance to increasing numbers of drugs was highly significant (P < 0.001 for trend). We examined the association between embB306 mutations and IS6110 clustering (as a proxy for transmission) among all drug-resistant isolates. Mutations in embB306 were significantly associated with clustering by univariate analysis (odds ratio, 2.44; P ‫؍‬ 0.004). In a multivariate model that also included mutations in katG315, katG463, gyrA95, and kasA269, only mutations in embB306 (odds ratio, 2.14; P ‫؍‬ 0.008) and katG315 (odds ratio, 1.99; P ‫؍‬ 0.015) were found to be independently associated with clustering. In conclusion, embB306 mutations do not cause classical ethambutol resistance but may predispose M. tuberculosis isolates to the development of resistance to increasing numbers of antibiotics and may increase the ability of drug-resistant isolates to be transmitted between subjects.

Pediatrics

BACKGROUND Intellectual ability predicts functional outcomes for children with autism spectrum di... more BACKGROUND Intellectual ability predicts functional outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is essential to classify ASD children with and without intellectual disability (ID) to aid etiological research, provide services, and inform evidence-based educational and health planning. METHODS Using a cross-sectional study design, data from 2000 to 2016 active ASD surveillance among 8-year-olds residing in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area were analyzed to determine ASD prevalence with and without ID. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to identify trends for ASD with ID (ASD-I) and without ID (ASD-N). RESULTS Overall, 4661 8-year-olds were identified with ASD. Those that were ASI-I were 1505 (32.3%) and 2764 (59.3%) were ASD-N. Males were 3794 (81.4%), 946 (20.3%) were non-Hispanic Black (Black), 1230 (26.4%) were Hispanic, and 2114 (45.4%) were non-Hispanic white (white). We observed 2-fold and 5-fold increases in the prevalence of ASD-I and ...

The Journal of Immunology

Depo-Provera (Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA) is associated with an increased risk of HIV... more Depo-Provera (Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA) is associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition; however, its impact on the cervicovaginal immune milieu and HIV infectivity ex vivo is not well characterized. In a longitudinal study, we investigated the impact of Depo-Provera use by healthy women on levels of cervical immune mediators, expression of immune markers for HIV preference (CCR5, integrin a4b7, CD38) on cervical CD4+ T cells, and HIV infectivity ex vivo at baseline (visit 1), one month (visit 2) and three months (visit 3) after Depo-Provera treatment. Forty-seven healthy women who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled (median age 26, IQR 22.5–30). Cervical cytobrush cells and secretions from vaginal, endocervical, and rectal swabs were collected. Flow cytometry analysis indicated a significant increase in the frequency of cervical CCR5+CD4+T cells at visit 3 compared to visit 1. There was also an increasing trend in the frequency of cervical CD4+ cells ex...

The Journal of Immunology

ASD is a behaviorally defined syndrome and encompasses markedly heterogeneous subjects. Some ASD ... more ASD is a behaviorally defined syndrome and encompasses markedly heterogeneous subjects. Some ASD subjects reveal markedly fluctuating behavioral symptoms following immune insults and persistent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms; categorized as the ASD-inflammatory subtype (ASD-IS) (N=20) in this study. Cyotkine production by purified PB monocytes from ASD-IS subjects in response to TLR2/6, TLR4, TLR7/8, and Dectin 1 agonists were assessed in comparison with cells from control ASD subjects with and without non-IgE mediated food allergy (NFA) (ASD/NFA N=16, ASD/non-NFA children; N=18), non-ASD controls (non-ASD/NFA; N=13, normal controls; N=12, non-ASD/PANS N=18). ASD-IS subjects had no siblings diagnosed with ASD and ASD-IS children are noted to have a higher frequency of recurrent sinopulmonary infection than ASD/non-ASD controls; 8/20 ASD-IS children were diagnosed with antibody deficiency syndrome (ADS). ASD-IS PB monocytes produced higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12 with or wit...

The Journal of Immunology

We have previously described fluorescence in situ hybridization for mRNA detection combined with ... more We have previously described fluorescence in situ hybridization for mRNA detection combined with flow cytometry (FISH-Flow) as a novel method to detect gene expression at a single-cell level. Using mRNA as analyte in flow cytometry presents multiple, biological and technical advantages. Proof-of-principle experiments have also shown that FISH-Flow can detect rare events including antigen-specific T cell responses. Whether the method is applicable to a biomedical problem remains to be determined. Here we applied FISH-Flow to detection of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI), a condition affecting approximately a third of the world population. LTBI diagnosis is based on measuring IFN-γ release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated ex vivo with M. tuberculosis antigen. We obtained PBMC from 60 donors equally distributed between LTBI+ and LTBI- individuals, stimulated them for 6 hrs with M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD), and measured ex...

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

The Flu-FIT program aims to increase colorectal cancer screening rates by offering a home fecal i... more The Flu-FIT program aims to increase colorectal cancer screening rates by offering a home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) at the time of annual influenza immunization. This program was piloted at a VA campus in New Jersey during the 2018-2019 influenza season, with a 9% increase in colorectal cancer screening rates. In the 2019-2020 season, the program was implemented in 6 primary care teams; 6 additional teams maintaining standard of care served as a comparison group. A total of 816 patients aged 50 to 75 years were eligible for participation; 509 patients were available for analysis, 242 in the Flu-FIT group and 267 in the comparison group. The Flu-FIT group patients were 2.4 times more likely to accept FIT kits (95% confidence interval: 1.6-3.6, P = .001). The colorectal cancer screening rates increased 77.0% to 81.9% in the Flu-FIT group and 77.0% to 79.8% in the comparison group (P > .05).

JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 2022

Objectives: To estimate the association between safety perception on vaccine acceptance and adopt... more Objectives: To estimate the association between safety perception on vaccine acceptance and adoptions of risk mitigation strategies among dental health care workers (DHCWs). Methods: A survey was emailed to DHCWs in the New Jersey area from December 2020 to January 2021. Perceived safety from regular SARS-CoV-2 testing of self, coworkers, and patients and its association with vaccine hesitancy and risk mitigation were ascertained. Risk Mitigation Strategy (RiMS) scores were computed from groupings of office measures: 1) physical distancing (reduced occupancy, traffic flow, donning of masks, minimal room crowding), 2) personal protective equipment (fitted for N95; donning N95 masks; use of face shields; coverings for head, body, and feet), and 3) environmental disinfection (suction, air filtration, ultraviolet, surface wiping). Results: SARS-CoV-2 testing of dental professionals, coworkers, and patients were perceived to provide safety at 49%, 55%, and 68%, respectively. While dentis...

☯ These authors contributed equally to this work.

clerkship in achieving both academic honors(i.e., AlphaOmegaAlphahonorsociety) andacompetitive re... more clerkship in achieving both academic honors(i.e., AlphaOmegaAlphahonorsociety) andacompetitive residency-training program. Pro-gramdirectorsandresidencyselectioncommit-tees feel thatagradeofhonorsin themedicineclerkship is animportantcriterion in theselec-tion of candidates for their training pro-grams.

Brain and Behavior, 2020

Background and purposeCanine distemper virus (CDV) is a candidate agent in the etiology of multip... more Background and purposeCanine distemper virus (CDV) is a candidate agent in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Elevated anti‐CDV levels were previously found in the sera from MS patients compared with controls. We now investigated whether there was an age‐related association with the presence of antibodies specific to CDV‐hemagglutinin (H) protein in MS.MethodsSera from patients with MS, other neurological diseases, and inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases, and healthy individuals were screened for anti‐CDV in an ELISA using linear peptides of the CDV‐H protein as antigen. Antibody levels to measles and varicella‐zoster virus were measured and served as controls.ResultsAnalysis of the new cohort of MS patients and controls confirmed our initial finding of elevated anti‐CDV‐H levels in MS patients. An increase in measles but not varicella‐zoster virus antibody levels was found in MS patients compared with healthy controls. Data from the new cohort of patients and controls wer...

Blood, 2016

OBJECTIVE: According to standard protocol, the earliest post treatment marker of response followi... more OBJECTIVE: According to standard protocol, the earliest post treatment marker of response following intensive induction therapy in patients with AML is a D14 marrow biopsy. Some controversy has surrounded this practice. This study aims to evaluate response to induction therapy based on D14 marrow assessment meeting genetic risk classifications as defined by the ELN. METHODS: In a single center, retrospective chart analysis subjects diagnosed with AML treated with 7+3 therapy were included if they had molecular and cytogenetic testing performed at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Baseline characteristics and treatment results at these time points were extracted. Sample demographics and treatment were described descriptively. Risk ratios were calculated to investigate the likelihood of achieving a chemo-ablated[1] bone marrow biopsy at Day 14 across the ELN risk classifications. All analyses were performed using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). RESULTS: One hundred thirty eight pt...

Sexually transmitted diseases, Jan 14, 2017

Efforts to identify and link HIV-infected persons to medical care are the first steps to achievin... more Efforts to identify and link HIV-infected persons to medical care are the first steps to achieving viral suppression. In the United States, the goals are to link 85% of newly diagnosed persons to medical care in ≤30 days and for 80% to become virally suppressed, by 2020. Among newly diagnosed residents from 2007-2015, in New Jersey, we evaluated the impact of a Rapid Testing Algorithm (RTA) on linkage to medical care and viral suppression. This is a retrospective review of data from New Jersey's Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System for residents, newly diagnosed at aged ≥13 years, from 2007-2015. We used survival analysis methods to estimate the proportion of residents and time to linkage to medical care and viral suppression. Of 8,508 newly diagnosed residents, 60.3% and 72.3% were linked to medical care in ≤ 30 and ≤90 days, respectively; 45.7% achieved viral suppression in ≤ 365 days. Linkage to medical care in ≤ 90 days and viral suppression in ≤ 365 days were more likely amon...

Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, Dec 29, 2017

We characterized evacuations related to Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey on Oct... more We characterized evacuations related to Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2012. We analyzed data from the 2014 New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. The proportion of respondents reporting evacuation was used to estimate the number of New Jersey adults who evacuated. We determined evacuation rates in heavily impacted and less-impacted municipalities, as well as evacuation rates for municipalities under and not under mandatory evacuation orders. We tested associations between demographic and health factors, such as certain chronic health conditions, and evacuation. Among respondents, 12.7% (95% CI: 11.8%-13.6%) reported evacuating, corresponding to approximately 880,000 adults. In heavily impacted municipalities, 17.0% (95% CI: 15.2%-18.7%) evacuated, compared with 10.1% (95% CI: 9.0%-11.2%) in less-impacted municipalities. In municipalities under mandatory evacuation orders, 42.5% (95% CI: 35.1%-49.8%) evacuated, compared with 11.8% (95% CI: 10.9%...

The Journal of pediatrics, Jan 28, 2017

To determine whether there are substantial differences by state between 2 large population-based ... more To determine whether there are substantial differences by state between 2 large population-based datasets in the proportion of children with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs); to identify states in which the percentage of elevated BLLs is high in either or both datasets; and to compare the percentage of elevated BLLs in individual states with those of children living in Flint, Michigan, during the months when these children were exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water. Tables of BLLs for individual states from the Quest Diagnostics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention datasets for 2014-2015, containing more than 3 million BLLs of young children < 6 years old, were constructed to compare the Quest Diagnostics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data with one another and with BLLs available for Flint children for 2014-2015. For some states, the percentages of BLLs ≥5.0 µg/dL are similar in the 2 datasets, whereas for other states, the datasets differ su...

Molecular microbiology, Jan 18, 2016

Invasion of hepatocytes by sporozoites is essential for Plasmodium to initiate infection of the m... more Invasion of hepatocytes by sporozoites is essential for Plasmodium to initiate infection of the mammalian host. The parasite's subsequent intracellular differentiation in the liver is the first developmental step of its mammalian cycle. Despite their biological significance, surprisingly little is known of the signalling pathways required for sporozoite invasion. We report that sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes requires signalling through two second-messengers - cGMP mediated by the parasite's cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), and Ca(2+) , mediated by the parasite's calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (CDPK4). Sporozoites expressing a mutated form of Plasmodium berghei PKG or carrying a deletion of the CDPK4 gene are defective in invasion of hepatocytes. Using specific and potent inhibitors of Plasmodium PKG and CDPK4, we demonstrate that PKG and CDPK4 are required for sporozoite motility, and that PKG regulates the secretion of TRAP, an adhesin that is essential for ...

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2015

SETTING-Tuberculosis (TB) patients and their contacts enrolled in nine states and the District of... more SETTING-Tuberculosis (TB) patients and their contacts enrolled in nine states and the District of Columbia from 16 December 2009 to 31 March 2011. OBJECTIVE-To evaluate characteristics of TB patients that are predictive of tuberculous infection in their close contacts. DESIGN-The study population was enrolled from a list of eligible African-American and White TB patients from the TB registry at each site. Information about close contacts was abstracted from the standard reports of each site. RESULTS-Close contacts of African-American TB patients had twice the risk of infection of contacts of White patients (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.1, 95%CI 1.3-3.4). Close contacts of patients whose sputum was positive for acid-fast bacilli on sputum smear microscopy had 1.6 times the risk of tuberculous infection compared to contacts of smear-negative patients (95%CI 1.1-2.3). TB patients with longer (>3 months) estimated times to diagnosis did not have higher proportions of infected contacts (aRR 1.2, 95%CI 0.9-1.6). CONCLUSION-African-American race and sputum smear positivity were predictive of tuberculous infection in close contacts. This study did not support previous findings that longer estimated time to diagnosis predicted tuberculous infection in contacts.

... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers f... more ... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 5 6 Corresponding author's email: peter.oh@cdph.ca.gov Sixty percent of tuberculosis ...

... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers f... more ... 1 2 3 4 Research Institute, Houston, TX, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 5 6 Corresponding author's email: peter.oh@cdph.ca.gov Sixty percent of tuberculosis ...

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Sep 1, 2005

Mutations at position 306 of embB (embB306) have been proposed as a marker for ethambutol resista... more Mutations at position 306 of embB (embB306) have been proposed as a marker for ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, recent reports of embB306 mutations in ethambutol-susceptible isolates caused us to question the biological role of this mutation. We tested 1,020 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates with different drug susceptibility patterns and of different geographical origins for associations between embB306 mutations, drug resistance patterns, and major genetic group. One hundred isolates (10%) contained a mutation in embB306; however, only 55 of these mutants were ethambutol resistant. Mutations in embB306 could not be uniquely associated with any particular type of drug resistance and were found in all three major genetic groups. A striking association was observed between these mutations and resistance to any drug (P < 0.001), and the association between embB306 mutations and resistance to increasing numbers of drugs was highly significant (P < 0.001 for trend). We examined the association between embB306 mutations and IS6110 clustering (as a proxy for transmission) among all drug-resistant isolates. Mutations in embB306 were significantly associated with clustering by univariate analysis (odds ratio, 2.44; P ‫؍‬ 0.004). In a multivariate model that also included mutations in katG315, katG463, gyrA95, and kasA269, only mutations in embB306 (odds ratio, 2.14; P ‫؍‬ 0.008) and katG315 (odds ratio, 1.99; P ‫؍‬ 0.015) were found to be independently associated with clustering. In conclusion, embB306 mutations do not cause classical ethambutol resistance but may predispose M. tuberculosis isolates to the development of resistance to increasing numbers of antibiotics and may increase the ability of drug-resistant isolates to be transmitted between subjects.

Pediatrics

BACKGROUND Intellectual ability predicts functional outcomes for children with autism spectrum di... more BACKGROUND Intellectual ability predicts functional outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is essential to classify ASD children with and without intellectual disability (ID) to aid etiological research, provide services, and inform evidence-based educational and health planning. METHODS Using a cross-sectional study design, data from 2000 to 2016 active ASD surveillance among 8-year-olds residing in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area were analyzed to determine ASD prevalence with and without ID. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to identify trends for ASD with ID (ASD-I) and without ID (ASD-N). RESULTS Overall, 4661 8-year-olds were identified with ASD. Those that were ASI-I were 1505 (32.3%) and 2764 (59.3%) were ASD-N. Males were 3794 (81.4%), 946 (20.3%) were non-Hispanic Black (Black), 1230 (26.4%) were Hispanic, and 2114 (45.4%) were non-Hispanic white (white). We observed 2-fold and 5-fold increases in the prevalence of ASD-I and ...

The Journal of Immunology

Depo-Provera (Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA) is associated with an increased risk of HIV... more Depo-Provera (Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA) is associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition; however, its impact on the cervicovaginal immune milieu and HIV infectivity ex vivo is not well characterized. In a longitudinal study, we investigated the impact of Depo-Provera use by healthy women on levels of cervical immune mediators, expression of immune markers for HIV preference (CCR5, integrin a4b7, CD38) on cervical CD4+ T cells, and HIV infectivity ex vivo at baseline (visit 1), one month (visit 2) and three months (visit 3) after Depo-Provera treatment. Forty-seven healthy women who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled (median age 26, IQR 22.5–30). Cervical cytobrush cells and secretions from vaginal, endocervical, and rectal swabs were collected. Flow cytometry analysis indicated a significant increase in the frequency of cervical CCR5+CD4+T cells at visit 3 compared to visit 1. There was also an increasing trend in the frequency of cervical CD4+ cells ex...

The Journal of Immunology

ASD is a behaviorally defined syndrome and encompasses markedly heterogeneous subjects. Some ASD ... more ASD is a behaviorally defined syndrome and encompasses markedly heterogeneous subjects. Some ASD subjects reveal markedly fluctuating behavioral symptoms following immune insults and persistent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms; categorized as the ASD-inflammatory subtype (ASD-IS) (N=20) in this study. Cyotkine production by purified PB monocytes from ASD-IS subjects in response to TLR2/6, TLR4, TLR7/8, and Dectin 1 agonists were assessed in comparison with cells from control ASD subjects with and without non-IgE mediated food allergy (NFA) (ASD/NFA N=16, ASD/non-NFA children; N=18), non-ASD controls (non-ASD/NFA; N=13, normal controls; N=12, non-ASD/PANS N=18). ASD-IS subjects had no siblings diagnosed with ASD and ASD-IS children are noted to have a higher frequency of recurrent sinopulmonary infection than ASD/non-ASD controls; 8/20 ASD-IS children were diagnosed with antibody deficiency syndrome (ADS). ASD-IS PB monocytes produced higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12 with or wit...

The Journal of Immunology

We have previously described fluorescence in situ hybridization for mRNA detection combined with ... more We have previously described fluorescence in situ hybridization for mRNA detection combined with flow cytometry (FISH-Flow) as a novel method to detect gene expression at a single-cell level. Using mRNA as analyte in flow cytometry presents multiple, biological and technical advantages. Proof-of-principle experiments have also shown that FISH-Flow can detect rare events including antigen-specific T cell responses. Whether the method is applicable to a biomedical problem remains to be determined. Here we applied FISH-Flow to detection of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI), a condition affecting approximately a third of the world population. LTBI diagnosis is based on measuring IFN-γ release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated ex vivo with M. tuberculosis antigen. We obtained PBMC from 60 donors equally distributed between LTBI+ and LTBI- individuals, stimulated them for 6 hrs with M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD), and measured ex...

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

The Flu-FIT program aims to increase colorectal cancer screening rates by offering a home fecal i... more The Flu-FIT program aims to increase colorectal cancer screening rates by offering a home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) at the time of annual influenza immunization. This program was piloted at a VA campus in New Jersey during the 2018-2019 influenza season, with a 9% increase in colorectal cancer screening rates. In the 2019-2020 season, the program was implemented in 6 primary care teams; 6 additional teams maintaining standard of care served as a comparison group. A total of 816 patients aged 50 to 75 years were eligible for participation; 509 patients were available for analysis, 242 in the Flu-FIT group and 267 in the comparison group. The Flu-FIT group patients were 2.4 times more likely to accept FIT kits (95% confidence interval: 1.6-3.6, P = .001). The colorectal cancer screening rates increased 77.0% to 81.9% in the Flu-FIT group and 77.0% to 79.8% in the comparison group (P > .05).

JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 2022

Objectives: To estimate the association between safety perception on vaccine acceptance and adopt... more Objectives: To estimate the association between safety perception on vaccine acceptance and adoptions of risk mitigation strategies among dental health care workers (DHCWs). Methods: A survey was emailed to DHCWs in the New Jersey area from December 2020 to January 2021. Perceived safety from regular SARS-CoV-2 testing of self, coworkers, and patients and its association with vaccine hesitancy and risk mitigation were ascertained. Risk Mitigation Strategy (RiMS) scores were computed from groupings of office measures: 1) physical distancing (reduced occupancy, traffic flow, donning of masks, minimal room crowding), 2) personal protective equipment (fitted for N95; donning N95 masks; use of face shields; coverings for head, body, and feet), and 3) environmental disinfection (suction, air filtration, ultraviolet, surface wiping). Results: SARS-CoV-2 testing of dental professionals, coworkers, and patients were perceived to provide safety at 49%, 55%, and 68%, respectively. While dentis...

☯ These authors contributed equally to this work.

clerkship in achieving both academic honors(i.e., AlphaOmegaAlphahonorsociety) andacompetitive re... more clerkship in achieving both academic honors(i.e., AlphaOmegaAlphahonorsociety) andacompetitive residency-training program. Pro-gramdirectorsandresidencyselectioncommit-tees feel thatagradeofhonorsin themedicineclerkship is animportantcriterion in theselec-tion of candidates for their training pro-grams.

Brain and Behavior, 2020

Background and purposeCanine distemper virus (CDV) is a candidate agent in the etiology of multip... more Background and purposeCanine distemper virus (CDV) is a candidate agent in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Elevated anti‐CDV levels were previously found in the sera from MS patients compared with controls. We now investigated whether there was an age‐related association with the presence of antibodies specific to CDV‐hemagglutinin (H) protein in MS.MethodsSera from patients with MS, other neurological diseases, and inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases, and healthy individuals were screened for anti‐CDV in an ELISA using linear peptides of the CDV‐H protein as antigen. Antibody levels to measles and varicella‐zoster virus were measured and served as controls.ResultsAnalysis of the new cohort of MS patients and controls confirmed our initial finding of elevated anti‐CDV‐H levels in MS patients. An increase in measles but not varicella‐zoster virus antibody levels was found in MS patients compared with healthy controls. Data from the new cohort of patients and controls wer...

Blood, 2016

OBJECTIVE: According to standard protocol, the earliest post treatment marker of response followi... more OBJECTIVE: According to standard protocol, the earliest post treatment marker of response following intensive induction therapy in patients with AML is a D14 marrow biopsy. Some controversy has surrounded this practice. This study aims to evaluate response to induction therapy based on D14 marrow assessment meeting genetic risk classifications as defined by the ELN. METHODS: In a single center, retrospective chart analysis subjects diagnosed with AML treated with 7+3 therapy were included if they had molecular and cytogenetic testing performed at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Baseline characteristics and treatment results at these time points were extracted. Sample demographics and treatment were described descriptively. Risk ratios were calculated to investigate the likelihood of achieving a chemo-ablated[1] bone marrow biopsy at Day 14 across the ELN risk classifications. All analyses were performed using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). RESULTS: One hundred thirty eight pt...

Sexually transmitted diseases, Jan 14, 2017

Efforts to identify and link HIV-infected persons to medical care are the first steps to achievin... more Efforts to identify and link HIV-infected persons to medical care are the first steps to achieving viral suppression. In the United States, the goals are to link 85% of newly diagnosed persons to medical care in ≤30 days and for 80% to become virally suppressed, by 2020. Among newly diagnosed residents from 2007-2015, in New Jersey, we evaluated the impact of a Rapid Testing Algorithm (RTA) on linkage to medical care and viral suppression. This is a retrospective review of data from New Jersey's Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System for residents, newly diagnosed at aged ≥13 years, from 2007-2015. We used survival analysis methods to estimate the proportion of residents and time to linkage to medical care and viral suppression. Of 8,508 newly diagnosed residents, 60.3% and 72.3% were linked to medical care in ≤ 30 and ≤90 days, respectively; 45.7% achieved viral suppression in ≤ 365 days. Linkage to medical care in ≤ 90 days and viral suppression in ≤ 365 days were more likely amon...

Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, Dec 29, 2017

We characterized evacuations related to Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey on Oct... more We characterized evacuations related to Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2012. We analyzed data from the 2014 New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. The proportion of respondents reporting evacuation was used to estimate the number of New Jersey adults who evacuated. We determined evacuation rates in heavily impacted and less-impacted municipalities, as well as evacuation rates for municipalities under and not under mandatory evacuation orders. We tested associations between demographic and health factors, such as certain chronic health conditions, and evacuation. Among respondents, 12.7% (95% CI: 11.8%-13.6%) reported evacuating, corresponding to approximately 880,000 adults. In heavily impacted municipalities, 17.0% (95% CI: 15.2%-18.7%) evacuated, compared with 10.1% (95% CI: 9.0%-11.2%) in less-impacted municipalities. In municipalities under mandatory evacuation orders, 42.5% (95% CI: 35.1%-49.8%) evacuated, compared with 11.8% (95% CI: 10.9%...

The Journal of pediatrics, Jan 28, 2017

To determine whether there are substantial differences by state between 2 large population-based ... more To determine whether there are substantial differences by state between 2 large population-based datasets in the proportion of children with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs); to identify states in which the percentage of elevated BLLs is high in either or both datasets; and to compare the percentage of elevated BLLs in individual states with those of children living in Flint, Michigan, during the months when these children were exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water. Tables of BLLs for individual states from the Quest Diagnostics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention datasets for 2014-2015, containing more than 3 million BLLs of young children < 6 years old, were constructed to compare the Quest Diagnostics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data with one another and with BLLs available for Flint children for 2014-2015. For some states, the percentages of BLLs ≥5.0 µg/dL are similar in the 2 datasets, whereas for other states, the datasets differ su...

Molecular microbiology, Jan 18, 2016

Invasion of hepatocytes by sporozoites is essential for Plasmodium to initiate infection of the m... more Invasion of hepatocytes by sporozoites is essential for Plasmodium to initiate infection of the mammalian host. The parasite's subsequent intracellular differentiation in the liver is the first developmental step of its mammalian cycle. Despite their biological significance, surprisingly little is known of the signalling pathways required for sporozoite invasion. We report that sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes requires signalling through two second-messengers - cGMP mediated by the parasite's cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), and Ca(2+) , mediated by the parasite's calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (CDPK4). Sporozoites expressing a mutated form of Plasmodium berghei PKG or carrying a deletion of the CDPK4 gene are defective in invasion of hepatocytes. Using specific and potent inhibitors of Plasmodium PKG and CDPK4, we demonstrate that PKG and CDPK4 are required for sporozoite motility, and that PKG regulates the secretion of TRAP, an adhesin that is essential for ...

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2015

SETTING-Tuberculosis (TB) patients and their contacts enrolled in nine states and the District of... more SETTING-Tuberculosis (TB) patients and their contacts enrolled in nine states and the District of Columbia from 16 December 2009 to 31 March 2011. OBJECTIVE-To evaluate characteristics of TB patients that are predictive of tuberculous infection in their close contacts. DESIGN-The study population was enrolled from a list of eligible African-American and White TB patients from the TB registry at each site. Information about close contacts was abstracted from the standard reports of each site. RESULTS-Close contacts of African-American TB patients had twice the risk of infection of contacts of White patients (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.1, 95%CI 1.3-3.4). Close contacts of patients whose sputum was positive for acid-fast bacilli on sputum smear microscopy had 1.6 times the risk of tuberculous infection compared to contacts of smear-negative patients (95%CI 1.1-2.3). TB patients with longer (>3 months) estimated times to diagnosis did not have higher proportions of infected contacts (aRR 1.2, 95%CI 0.9-1.6). CONCLUSION-African-American race and sputum smear positivity were predictive of tuberculous infection in close contacts. This study did not support previous findings that longer estimated time to diagnosis predicted tuberculous infection in contacts.