Issue 16, April 22, 2013

The report consists of four components:

• Top Ten Articles of the Week
• CDC-authored publications
• Key scientific articles in featured topic areas (this week featuring Maternal and Child Health - Autistic Disorders)
• Public health articles noted in the media

Attention to past and possible future pandemics leads off this week's Science Clips features. XM Davis and colleagues review data from travelers who "imported" H1n1pdm09 influenza virus, concluding that detection of such importations was a reliable indicator of sustained transmission within the country where the traveler was exposed. In a study led by DA Harnish, a properly fitted NIOSH certified filtering facepiece respirator appears to reduce airborne exposure to H1N1 influenza virus. Bringing concerns up to the present, a New England Journal of Medicine commentary by TM Uyeki and NJ Cox summarizes the emergence of influenza A (H7N9) infections in China.

In-depth investigations of recent and ongoing outbreaks and epidemics also feature prominently this week. A trio of CDC researchers led by SD Bennett describes foodborne outbreaks caused by toxin-producing enteropathogens from 1998 through 2008; the authors note the very frequent occurrence of errors in food handling. A more clinically focused investigation lead authored by SD Holmberg finds that an index of serum markers of liver fibrosis can be used to differentiate stages of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. A multidisciplinary investigation of Puerto Rico's recent epidemic of Dengue by TM Sharp et al finds differences in rates of infection by Dengue virus type and age, emphasizing the need for enhanced primary prevention strategies.

Chronic disease prevention and control requires up to date data and innovative policies. One important data source, the National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the U.S. Population, is featured in the article by CM Pfeiffer and colleagues. A Slonim et al, writing in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease, summarize expert informant interviews on strategies to increase preventive service use among older adults.

Important data focused on vulnerable population groups at different ends of the age spectrum rounds out the featured articles for this week. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics highlights declines in United States infant mortality from 2005-2011. EL Petsonk, writing with non-CDC colleagues in an article focused on coal mine dust lung disease, reminds us that coal miners remain at risk from occupational exposures.

John Iskander
Editor, Science Clips

1. Top Ten Articles of the Week

   
   Selected weekly by a senior CDC scientist from the standard sections listed below.

   • Chronic Diseases and Conditions

     • Strategic priorities to increase use of clinical preventive services among older US adults
       Slonim A, Benson W, Anderson LA, Jones E.
       Prev Chronic Dis. 2013 ;10:E52.
       

   • Communicable Diseases

     • International travelers as sentinels for sustained influenza transmission during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic
       Davis XM, Hay KA, Plier DA, Chaves SS, Lim PL, Caumes E, Castelli F, Kozarsky PE, Cetron MS, Freedman DO.
       J Travel Med. 2013 May;20(3):177-84.
       
     • Global concerns regarding novel influenza A (H7N9) virus infections
       Uyeki TM, Cox NJ.
       N Engl J Med. 2013 Apr 11.
       
     • Virus-specific differences in rates of disease during the 2010 dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico
       Sharp TM, Hunsperger E, Santiago GA, Munoz-Jordan JL, Santiago LM, Rivera A, Rodriguez-Acosta RL, Gonzalez Feliciano L, Margolis HS, Tomashek KM.
       PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013 Apr;7(4):e2159.
       

   • Food Safety

     • Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Staphylococcus aureus, United States, 1998-2008
       Bennett SD, Walsh KA, Gould LH.
       Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Apr 16.
       

   • Laboratory Sciences

     • Non-invasive serum fibrosis markers for screening and staging chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients in a large U.S. cohort
       Holmberg SD, Lu M, Rupp LB, Lamerato LE, Moorman AC, Vijayadeva VX, Boscarino JA, Henkle EW, Gordon SC.
       Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Apr 16.
       

   • Nutritional Sciences

     • The CDC's second National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the U.S. Population is a valuable tool for researchers and policy makers
       Pfeiffer CM, Sternberg MR, Schleicher RL, Haynes BM, Rybak ME, Pirkle JL.
       J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
       

   • Occupational Safety and Health

     • Challenge of N95 filtering facepiece respirators with viable H1N1 influenza aerosols
       Harnish DA, Heimbuch BK, Husband M, Lumley AE, Kinney K, Shaffer RE, Wander JD.
       Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2013 May;34(5):494-499.
       

   • Occupational Safety and Health - Mining

     • Coal mine dust lung diseases: new lessons from an old exposure
       Petsonk EL, Rose C, Cohen R.
       Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Apr 5.
       

   • Vital Statistics

     • Recent declines in infant mortality in the United States, 2005-2011
       MacDorman MF, Hoyert DL, Mathews TJ.
       NCHS Data Brief. 2013 Apr(120):1-8.
       
   
   

2. CDC Authored Publications

   
   The names of CDC authors are indicated in bold text.
   Articles published in the past 6-8 weeks authored by CDC or ATSDR staff.

   • Chronic Diseases and Conditions

     1. Mesothelioma incidence in 50 states and the District of Columbia, United States, 2003-2008
        Henley SJ, Larson TC, Wu M, Antao VC, Lewis M, Pinheiro GA, Eheman C.
        Int J Occup Environ Health. 2013 Jan-Mar;19(1):1-10.
        
     2. Comparative effectiveness research in cancer: what has been funded and what knowledge gaps remain?
        Glasgow RE, Doria-Rose VP, Khoury MJ, Elzarrad M, Brown ML, Stange KC.
        J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Apr 11.
        

   • Communicable Diseases

     3. Prolonged university outbreak of meningococcal disease associated with a serogroup B strain rarely seen in the US
        Mandal S, Wu HM, Macneil JR, Machesky K, Garcia J, Plikaytis BD, Quinn K, King L, Schmink SE, Wang X, Mayer LW, Clark TA, Gaskell JR, Messonnier NE, Diorio M, Cohn AC.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Apr 17.
        
     4. Missed opportunities for preventing congenital syphilis infection
        Introcaso CE, Bradley H, Gruber D, Markowitz LE.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2013 May;40(5):431.
        
     5. Is there evidence of the new variant Chlamydia trachomatis in the United States?
        Won H, Ramachandran P, Steece R, Van Der Pol B, Moncada J, Schachter J, Gaydos C.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2013 May;40(5):352-3.
        
     6. The hidden epidemic of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States: occult transmission and burden of disease
        Ward JW.
        Top Antivir Med. 2013 Feb/Mar;21(1):15-19.
        

   • Disease Reservoirs and Vectors

     7. Systematics and ecology of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus
        Gray J, Dantas-Torres F, Estrada-Pena A, Levin M.
        Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2013 Apr;4(3):171-80.
        
     8. Evaluation of imidacloprid-treated traps as an attract and kill system for filth flies during contingency operations
        Dunford JC, Hoel DF, Hertz JC, England DB, Dunford KR, Stoops CA, Szumlas DE, Hogsette JA.
        US Army Med Dep J. 2013 Apr-Jun:73-9.
        
     9. Effects of low-temperature flea maintenance on the transmission of Yersinia pestis by Oropsylla montana
        Williams SK, Schotthoeffer AM, Montenieri JA, Holmes JL, Vetter SM, Gage KL, Bearden SW.
        Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2013 Apr 16.
        

   • Epidemiology and Surveillance

     10. Surveillance during an era of rapidly changing poliovirus epidemiology in India: the role of one vs. two stool specimens in poliovirus detection, 2000-2010
         Cardemil CV, Rathee M, Gary H, Wannemuehler K, Anand A, Mach O, Bahl S, Wassilak S, Chu SY, Khera A, Jafari HS, Pallansch MA.
         Epidemiol Infect. 2013 Apr 18:1-9.
         
     11. Correlates of self-reported pelvic inflammatory disease treatment in sexually experienced reproductive-aged women in the United States, 1995 and 2006-2010
         Leichliter JS, Chandra A, Aral SO.
         Sex Transm Dis. 2013 May;40(5):413-8.
         
     12. Forecasting invasive pneumococcal disease trends after the introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the United States, 2010-2020
         Link-Gelles R, Taylor T, Moore MR.
         Vaccine. 2013 Apr 11.
         

   • Health Behavior and Risk

     13. Correlates of health attitudes among homosexual and bisexual men
         Gust DA, Shinde S, Pals SL, Hardnett F, Chen RT, Sanchez T.
         J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2013 March;3(1):31-39.
         

   • Healthcare Associated Infections

     14. Fatal adenovirus encephalomyeloradiculitis in an umbilical cord stem cell transplant recipient
         Awosika OO, Lyons JL, Ciarlini P, Phillips RE, Alfson ED, Johnson EL, Koo S, Marty F, Drew C, Zaki S, Folkerth RD, Klein JP.
         Neurology. 2013 Apr 17.
         

   • Healthcare Economics

     15. The cost-effectiveness of screening men who have sex with men for rectal chlamydial and gonococcal infection to prevent HIV infection
         Chesson HW, Bernstein KT, Gift TL, Marcus JL, Pipkin S, Kent CK.
         Sex Transm Dis. 2013 May;40(5):366-71.
         
     16. Utilization and cost of diagnostic methods for sexually transmitted infection screening among insured American youth, 2008
         Owusu-Edusei K, Nguyen HT, Gift TL.
         Sex Transm Dis. 2013 May;40(5):354-61.
         

   • Immunity and Immunization

     17. A systematic review of anti-rotavirus serum IgA antibody titer as a potential correlate of rotavirus vaccine efficacy
         Patel M, Glass R, Jiang B, Santosham M, Lopman B, Parashar U.
         J Infect Dis. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     18. A survey of US travelers to Asia to assess compliance with recommendations for the use of Japanese encephalitis vaccine
         Duffy MR, Reed C, Edelson PJ, Blumensaadt S, Crocker K, Griggs A, Biggerstaff BJ, Delorey MJ, Hayes EB, Fischer M.
         J Travel Med. 2013 May;20(3):165-70.
         
     19. Enterovirus 71 encephalitis: a new vaccine on the horizon?
         Pallansch MA, Oberste MS.
         Lancet. 2013 March;381(9871):976-977.
         
     20. Differential profiles and inhibitory effect on rotavirus vaccines of non-antibody components in breast milk from mothers in developing and developed countries
         Moon SS, Tate JE, Ray P, Dennehy PH, Archary D, Coutsoudis A, Bland R, Newell ML, Glass RI, Parashar U, Jiang B.
         Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Apr 11.
         
     21. Vitamin D is not associated with serologic response to influenza vaccine in adults over 50 years old
         Sundaram ME, Talbot HK, Zhu Y, Griffin MR, Spencer S, Shay DK, Coleman LA.
         Vaccine. 2013 Apr 12;31(16):2057-61.
         

   • Laboratory Sciences

     22. Serological diagnosis of North American paragonimiasis by Western blot using Paragonimus kellicotti adult worm antigen
         Fischer PU, Curtis KC, Folk SM, Wilkins PP, Marcos LA, Weil GJ.
         Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Apr 15.
         
     23. Neuraminidase inhibitor susceptibility testing of influenza type B viruses in China during 2010 and 2011 identifies viruses with reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir and zanamivir
         Wang D, Sleeman K, Huang W, Nguyen HT, Levine M, Cheng Y, Li X, Tan M, Xing X, Xu X, Klimov AI, Gubareva LV, Shu Y.
         Antiviral Res. 2013 Mar;97(3):240-4.
         
     24. Apoptosis induced by tungsten carbide-cobalt nanoparticles in JB6 cells involves ROS generation through both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways
         Zhao J, Bowman L, Magaye R, Leonard SS, Castranova V, Ding M.
         Int J Oncol. 2013 Apr;42(4):1349-59.
         
     25. Is bleach-sedimented smear microscopy an alternative to direct microscopy under programme conditions in India?
         Vishnu PH, Bhat P, Bansal A, Satyanarayana S, Alavadi U, Ohri BS, Rao Shrinivas MS, Desikan P, Jaju J, Rao VG, Moonan PK.
         Public Health Action. 2013 March;3(1):23-25.
         
     26. Identifying and classifying bloodstream infections among hemodialysis patients
         Kallen AJ.
         Semin Dial. 2013 Apr 18.
         
     27. Activation and cell death in human dendritic cells infected with Nipah virus
         Gupta M, Lo MK, Spiropoulou CF.
         Virology. 2013 Apr 12.
         

   • Nutritional Sciences

     28. Selected physiologic variables are weakly to moderately associated with 29 biomarkers of diet and nutrition, NHANES 2003-2006
         Haynes BM, Pfeiffer CM, Sternberg MR, Schleicher RL.
         J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     29. Race-ethnicity is related to biomarkers of iron and iodine status after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables in NHANES 2003-2006
         Pfeiffer CM, Sternberg MR, Caldwell KL, Pan Y.
         J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     30. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables are compound- and class-specific correlates of urine phytoestrogen concentrations in the U.S. population
         Rybak ME, Sternberg MR, Pfeiffer CM.
         J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     31. Race-ethnicity is a strong correlate of circulating fat-soluble nutrient concentrations in a representative sample of the U.S. population
         Schleicher RL, Sternberg MR, Pfeiffer CM.
         J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     32. Regression modeling plan for 29 biochemical indicators of diet and nutrition measured in NHANES 2003-2006
         Sternberg MR, Schleicher RL, Pfeiffer CM.
         J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     33. Among 10 sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, smoking is strongly associated with biomarkers of acrylamide exposure in a representative sample of the U.S. population
         Vesper HW, Sternberg MR, Frame T, Pfeiffer CM.
         J Nutr. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     34. Behaviors and attitudes associated with low drinking water intake among US adults, Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey, 2007
         Goodman AB, Blanck HM, Sherry B, Park S, Nebeling L, Yaroch AL.
         Prev Chronic Dis. 2013 ;10:E51.
         

   • Occupational Safety and Health

     35. Chemical exposure and hearing loss
         Campo P, Morata TC, Hong O.
         Dis Mon. 2013 Apr;59(4):119-138.
         
     36. Finger tendon travel associated with sequential trigger nail gun use
         Lowe B, Albers J, Hudock S, Krieg E.
         IIE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors. 2013 2013/04/01;1(2):109-118.
         
     37. Depression, social factors, and farmworker health care utilization
         Georges A, Alterman T, Gabbard S, Grzywacz JG, Shen R, Nakamoto J, Carroll DJ, Muntaner C.
         J Rural Health. 2013 .
         
     38. Conceptual heuristic models of the interrelationships between obesity and the occupational environment
         Pandalai SP, Schulte PA, Miller DB.
         Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013 Apr 15.
         

   • Physical Activity

     39. Annual deaths attributable to physical inactivity: whither the missing 2 million?
         Lee IM, Bauman AE, Blair SN, Heath GW, Kohl IW, Pratt M, Hallal PC.
         Lancet. 2013 March;381(9871):992-993.
         

   • Public Health Law

     40. Government's role in protecting health and safety
         Frieden TR.
         N Engl J Med. 2013 Apr 17.
         
     41. A historical note on the association between the legal status of expedited partner therapy and physician practice
         Cramer R, Hogben M, Handsfield HH.
         Sex Transm Dis. 2013 May;40(5):349-51.
         

   • Zoonoses

     42. The global availability of rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine in clinics providing direct care to travelers
         Jentes ES, Blanton JD, Johnson KJ, Petersen BW, Lamias MJ, Robertson K, Franka R, Briggs D, Costa P, Lai I, Quarry D, Rupprecht CE, Marano N, Brunette GW.
         J Travel Med. 2013 May;20(3):148-58.
         
   
   

3. Key Scientific Articles in Featured Topic Areas

   
   Subject matter experts decide what topic to feature, and articles are selected from the last 3 to 6 months of published literature. Key topic coincides monthly with other CDC products (e.g. Vital Signs).

   • Maternal and Child Health - Autistic Disorders

     43. Measurement issues: screening and diagnostic instruments for autism spectrum disorders - lessons from research and practice
         Charman T, Gotham K.
         Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2013 Feb 1;18(1):52-63.
         
     44. Obesity in young children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence and associated factors
         Egan AM, Dreyer ML, Odar CC, Beckwith M, Garrison CB.
         Child Obes. 2013 Apr;9(2):125-31.
         
     45. The International Collaboration for Autism Registry Epidemiology (iCARE): multinational registry-based investigations of autism risk factors and trends
         Schendel DE, Bresnahan M, Carter KW, Francis RW, Gissler M, Gronborg TK, Gross R, et al.
         J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Apr 7.
         
     46. The predictors of distress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder
         Firth I, Dryer R.
         J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2013 Mar 19.
         
     47. Increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines is not associated with risk of autism
         Destefano F, Price CS, Weintraub ES.
         J Pediatr. 2013 Mar 29.
         
     48. Autism risk across generations: a population-based study of advancing grandpaternal and paternal age
         Frans EM, Sandin S, Reichenberg A, Langstrom N, Lichtenstein P, McGrath JJ, Hultman CM.
         JAMA Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 20:1-6.
         
   
   

4. Public Health Articles Noted in the Media

   
   Articles about important public health topics that have been mentioned in the press.

   • MMWR in the Media

     49. Incidence and trends of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food - Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. sites, 1996-2012
         MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013 Apr 19;62(15):283-287.
         
     50. Motor vehicle traffic-related pedestrian deaths - United States, 2001-2010
         MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013 Apr 19;62(15):277-282.
         

   • Maternal and Child Health

     51. Association between total duration of breastfeeding and iron deficiency
         Maguire JL, Salehi L, Birken CS, Carsley S, Mamdani M, Thorpe KE, Lebovic G, Khovratovich M, Parkin PC.
         Pediatrics. 2013 Apr 15.
         
   
   

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CDC Science Clips Production Staff:

• John Iskander, MD MPH, Editor
• Rebecca Satterthwaite, MS, Librarian
• Gail Bang, MLIS, Librarian
• Deidre Mallett, MLS, Librarian
• Kathleen Connick, MSLS, Librarian
• Barbara Landreth, MLS, Librarian
• Joseph Dunlap, Web Developer
• Joe Bryce, Web Developer

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DISCLAIMER: Articles listed in the CDC Science Clips are selected by the Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library to provide current awareness of the public health literature. An article's inclusion does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the Clips, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.