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detection of dirofilaria immitis and ehrlichia species in coyotes (canis latrans), from rural oklahoma and texas.there is a lack of knowledge regarding the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis and ehrlichia spp. in coyotes in oklahoma and texas. documenting the prevalence of these vector-borne disease agents in coyotes from oklahoma and texas underscores the importance of wild canids as reservoir hosts that infect companion animals and humans. to learn more about the sylvatic cycle of d. immitis and ehrlichia spp. in coyotes from oklahoma and texas, we tested for infection with and exposure to, respectively, ...201222448722
application of phylogenetic microarray analysis to discriminate sources of fecal pollution.conventional methods for fecal source tracking typically use single biomarkers to systematically identify or exclude sources. high-throughput dna sequence analysis can potentially identify all sources of microbial contaminants in a single test by measuring the total diversity of fecal microbial communities. in this study, we used phylogenetic microarray analysis to determine the comprehensive suite of bacteria that define major sources of fecal contamination in coastal california. fecal wastes w ...201222360280
variation in inbreeding depression and plasticity across native and non-native field environments.background and aimssince the early 1990s, research on genetic variation of phenotypic plasticity has expanded and empirical research has emphasized the role of the environment on the expression of inbreeding depression. an emerging question is how these two evolutionary ecology mechanisms interact in novel environments. interest in this area has grown with the need to understand the establishment of populations in response to climate change, and to human-assisted transport to novel environments. ...201222247124
cancer in children with nonchromosomal birth defects.objective: to examine whether the incidence of childhood cancer is elevated in children with birth defects but no chromosomal anomalies. study design: we examined cancer risk in a population-based cohort of children with and without major birth defects born between 1988 and 2004, by linking data from the california birth defects monitoring program, the california cancer registry, and birth certificates. cox proportional hazards models generated hazard ratios (hrs) and 95% cis based on person-yea ...201222244463
high antipredatory efficiency of insular lizards: a warning signal of excessive specimen collection?we live-captured lizards on islands in the gulf of california and the baja california peninsula mainland, and compared their ability to escape predation. contrary to expectations, endemic lizard species from uninhabited islands fled from humans earlier and more efficiently than those from peninsular mainland areas. in fact, 58.2% (n=146) of the lizards we tried to capture on the various islands escaped successfully, while this percentage was only 14.4% (n=160) on the peninsular mainland. separat ...201122216244
Mosquito host selection varies seasonally with host availability and mosquito density.Host selection by vector mosquitoes is a critical component of virus proliferation, particularly for viruses such as West Nile (WNV) that are transmitted enzootically to a variety of avian hosts, and tangentially to dead-end hosts such as humans. Culex tarsalis is a principal vector of WNV in rural areas of western North America. Based on previous work, Cx. tarsalis utilizes a variety of avian and mammalian hosts and tends to feed more frequently on mammals in the late summer than during the res ...201122206038
Determining the Frequency of Asbestos Use in Automotive Brakes from a Fleet of On-Road California Vehicles.Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, and recent regulation in California limits asbestiform fibers in brakes to trace levels beginning in 2014, although there is no corresponding federal requirement. In order to gauge the current prevalence of asbestos use in automotive brake applications, the California Air Resources Board tested brake linings from 137 light- and medium-duty vehicles and 54 heavy-duty vehicles. Only about 3% of the light- and medium-duty vehicle brake linings contained chrys ...201122191788
Racial patterns of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, in California: a population-based study.In order to investigate whether the clinical behaviour of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) varies by race within a geographic region, we identified a total of 213 non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics and Asians/Pacific islanders (APIs) diagnosed with ENKTL in the California Cancer Registry between 2001 and 2008. The incidence and outcomes of the disease in these racial groups were analysed. The incidence rates in non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics and APIs were 0·05, 0·18 and ...201122188140
a proposed model of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in the domestic rabbit.osteoarthritis affects one in eight american adults over the age of 25 y and is a leading cause of chronic disability in the us. translational research to investigate treatments for this naturally occurring joint disease requires an appropriate animal model. the authors conducted a retrospective study to assess the potential of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in the domestic rabbit as a model of the human disease. analysis of radiographic images showed that the presence and severity of osteoa ...201122184086
steady advance of stem cell therapies: report from the 2011 world stem cell summit, pasadena, california, october 3-5.stem cell research and related therapies (including regenerative medicine and cellular therapies) could have a significant near-term impact on worldwide public health and aging. one reason is the industry's strong linkage between policy, science, industry, and patient advocacy, as was clear in the attendance and programming at the 7(th) annual world stem cell summit held in pasadena, california, october 3-5, 2011. a special conference session sponsored by the sens foundation discussed how stem c ...201122175514
arterial spin labeled cmr detects clinically relevant increase in myocardial blood flow with vasodilation.this study sought to determine whether arterial spin labeled (asl) cardiac magnetic resonance (cmr) is capable of detecting clinically relevant increases in regional myocardial blood flow (mbf) with vasodilator stress testing in human myocardium.201122172781
Hepatitis e virus in rats, los angeles, california, USA.The role of rats in human hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections remains controversial. A genetically distinct HEV was recently isolated from rats in Germany, and its genome was sequenced. We have isolated a genetically similar HEV from urban rats in Los Angeles, California, USA, and characterized its ability to infect laboratory rats and nonhuman primates. Two strains of HEV were isolated from serum samples of 134 wild rats that had a seroprevalence of antibodies against HEV of ˜80%. Virus was tran ...201122172320
Water flowing north of the border: export agriculture and water politics in a rural community in Baja California.Favored by neoliberal agrarian policies, the production of fresh crops for international markets has become a common strategy for economic development in Mexico and other Latin American countries. But as some scholars have argued, the global fresh produce industry in developing countries in which fresh crops are produced for consumer markets in affluent nations implies “virtual water flows,” the transfer of high volumes of water embedded in these crops across international borders. This article ...201122171411
zygomaticomaxillary suture shape analyzed with digital morphometrics: reassessing patterns of variation in american indian and european populations.typological classification of human zygomaticomaxillary suture (zms) shape is often used in forensic assessment of ancestry, following earlier studies reporting higher frequencies of "angled" sutures among american indians and higher frequencies of "curved" sutures among caucasians. in this paper we present a new method of digital morphometrics to quantify and compare zms shape in 60 american indian and 60 european crania. suture outlines were recorded as three-dimensional (3d) contours on digit ...201122154439
Amebiasis-Related Mortality among United States Residents, 1990-2007.Abstract. Despite the endemic nature of Entamoeba histolytica infection in the United States there is a lack of data on amebiasis-related mortality. We analyzed national death certificate data from 1990 to 2007 to assess the occurrence of amebiasis-related deaths and determine demographic and regional associations. A total of 134 deaths were identified. Mortality rates were highest in males, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and persons 75 years of age and older. An association with human immu ...201122144440
environmental- and injury-related epidemic-assistance investigations, 1946-2005.this paper summarizes environmental investigations (n = 458) conducted during the first 60 years of the epidemic-assistance investigation program at the centers for disease control and prevention. these investigations were grouped into 10 categories: toxic chemicals (n = 102), indoor air quality and outdoor air toxics (n = 21), new or rare epidemic diseases and unexplained syndromes (n = 29), natural disasters (n = 81), terrorism and unintentional human-made disasters (n = 9), substance use and ...201122135395
high polybrominated diphenyl ether levels in california house cats: house dust a primary source?polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes) are brominated flame retardants that act as endocrine disruptors, affecting thyroid hormone homeostasis. as a follow-up to a recent study showing high pbde levels in household cats and linking pbde levels with cat hyperthyroidism, we measured pbdes, polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), and organochlorinated pesticides (ocps) in serum samples from 26 california household cats (16 hyperthyroid, 10 controls) using liquid-liquid extraction and high-resolution gas ...201122105974
accuracy of data entry of patient race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language in an ambulatory care setting.to describe data collection methods and to audit staff data entry of patient self-reported race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language (r/e/a/l) information.201122092342
population-based study of erectile dysfunction and polypharmacy.study type - symptom prevalence (population cohort) level of evidence 1b what's known on the subject? and what does the study add? it is known that medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and prescribed medications cause erectile dysfunction (ed). this has been studied at the molecular level and reported in population studies. the present study shows that, after accounting for known medical problems, there is a dose-response relationship, in which wors ...201122085284
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes), polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) and neuropsychological status among older adults in new york.polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes) are emerging environmental contaminants, but little is known about their possible human health effects. the objective of this study is to evaluate the association between exposure to pbdes and neuropsychological function among older adults and the possibility of effect modification with polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). serum samples were analyzed for concentrations of 9 pbde and 30 pcb congeners and 34 tests of cognitive and motor function, affective state ...201122079442
when tuberculosis comes back: who develops recurrent tuberculosis in california?recurrent tuberculosis suggests potentially modifiable gaps in tuberculosis treatment and control activities. the frequency of late recurrences following treatment completion has not been well-studied. we determined the frequency of, and risk factors associated with, tuberculosis that recurs at least one year after completion of anti-tuberculosis therapy in california.201122069456
roundtable on public policy affecting patient safety.on april 15, 2010, patient safety experts were assembled to discuss the adequacy of the public policy response to the institute of medicine report "to err is human" 10 years after its publication. the experts concluded that additional government actions should be considered. actions that deserve consideration include the development of an educational campaign to improve public and provider understanding of the issue as a means to support change similar to successful public health campaigns, supp ...201122026014
[Current events in vaccination].The annual meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) ; which brought together nearly 5000 participants from over 80 countries in Vancouver, Canada, October 21 to 24, 2010 ; provided a review of the influenza (H1N1) 2009 pandemic, evaluated vaccination programmes and presented new vaccines under development. With 12,500 deaths in the United States in 2009-2010, the influenza (H1N1) 2009 pandemic was actually less deadly than the seasonal flu. But it essentially hit the young, an ...201122019286
a pilot study of pesticides and pcbs in the breast milk of women residing in urban and agricultural communities of california.currently, there is no nationally representative human milk biomonitoring program in the united states (u.s.) and no studies have reported non-persistent pesticides in the milk of u.s. women. in this pilot study we developed a multiresidue laboratory method to measure non-persistent and persistent pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) congeners in human milk samples from women residing in the agricultural region of salinas, ca (n = 13) and the urban san francisco bay area, ca (n = 21). s ...201122009134
docosahexaenoic acid supplementation improved lipocentric but not glucocentric markers of insulin sensitivity in hypertriglyceridemic men.abstract background: increase in obesity and metabolic syndrome are associated with increases in insulin resistance (ir) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. results from animal intervention studies and human epidemiological studies suggest that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can prevent and reverse ir, but results from human intervention studies have varied. results from some human and animal studies suggest that docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; dha) may be more effective than eicosapentaenoic acid ( ...201121999398
Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants and neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in the CHAMACOS study.Studies published in the last 3 decades have demonstrated global human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. A growing body of literature suggests that PBDEs may disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis. Although thyroid hormones play an essential role in brain development, few studies have investigated relations between prenatal exposure to PBDEs and neonatal thyroid hormone levels, and none have measured thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in neonates. The authors ...201121984658
timing of antiretroviral therapy initiation and its impact on disease progression in perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection.: treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart) reduces overall perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) type 1-related mortality. the effect of timing of haart initiation on reduction of morbidity is not well defined. we evaluated the association of timing of haart initiation on progression to moderate or severe disease.201121979798
trypanosoma cruzi and chagas' disease in the united states.chagas' disease is caused by the protozoan parasite trypanosoma cruzi and causes potentially life-threatening disease of the heart and gastrointestinal tract. the southern half of the united states contains enzootic cycles of t. cruzi, involving 11 recognized triatomine vector species. the greatest vector diversity and density occur in the western united states, where woodrats are the most common reservoir; other rodents, raccoons, skunks, and coyotes are also infected with t. cruzi. in the east ...201121976603
Revisiting the 1976 "swine flu" vaccine clinical trials: cross-reactive hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antibodies and their role in protection against the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus in mice.The 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses are genetically similar to A/New Jersey/76 H1N1 virus (NJ/76), the strain selected for the 1976 "swine flu" vaccines. Approximately 45 million people in the United States were vaccinated against NJ/76 30 years ago, but the impact of this nationwide immunization on the current pandemic is largely unknown.201121976461
surveillance of autoimmune conditions following routine use of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine.abstract.  chao c, klein np, velicer cm, sy ls, slezak jm, takhar h, ackerson b, cheetham tc, hansen j, deosaransingh k, emery m, liaw k-l, jacobsen sj (kaiser permanente southern california, pasadena, ca; kaiser permanente vaccine study center, kaiser permanente northern california, oakland, ca; merck research laboratories, upper gwynedd, pa; south bay medical center, kaiser permanente southern california, los angeles, ca; and kaiser permanente southern california, downey, ca, usa). surveillanc ...201121973261
Projected evolution of California's San Francisco Bay-Delta-river system in a century of climate change.Accumulating evidence shows that the planet is warming as a response to human emissions of greenhouse gases. Strategies of adaptation to climate change will require quantitative projections of how altered regional patterns of temperature, precipitation and sea level could cascade to provoke local impacts such as modified water supplies, increasing risks of coastal flooding, and growing challenges to sustainability of native species.201121957451
clusters of acute respiratory illness associated with human enterovirus 68--asia, europe, and united states, 2008-2010.in the past 2 years, cdc has learned of several clusters of respiratory illness associated with human enterovirus 68 (hev68), including severe disease. hev68 is a unique enterovirus that shares epidemiologic and biologic features with human rhinoviruses (hrv). first isolated in california in 1962 from four children with bronchiolitis and pneumonia, hev68 has been reported rarely since that time and the full spectrum of illness that it can cause is unknown. the six clusters of respiratory illness ...201121956405
Sexual and reproductive health behaviors of California community college students.To explore the sexual and reproductive health behaviors of students from 13 community college campuses in California.201121950256
The provision of diabetes-monitoring exams to older Latinos.To explore factors associated with the provision of diabetes-monitoring practices among older Latinos with type 2 diabetes.201121948771
Legionella steelei sp. nov. isolated from human respiratory specimens in California and South Australia.Legionella-like bacteria were isolated from the respiratory tract of two humans in California and South Australia, but not thought to cause disease. These bacteria, strains F2632 and IMVS-3376, were found to have identical Legionella macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) sequences, and were therefore further characterized to determine their genetic and phenotypic relatedness and properties. Both of these Gram-negative bacterial strains grew on buffered charcoal yeast extract medium, were cyst ...201121948093
acute illnesses associated with insecticides used to control bed bugs--seven states, 2003--2010.the common bed bug, cimex lectularius, is a wingless, reddish-brown insect that requires blood meals from humans, other mammals, or birds to survive. bed bugs are not considered to be disease vectors, but they can reduce quality of life by causing anxiety, discomfort, and sleeplessness. bed bug populations and infestations are increasing in the united states and internationally. bed bug infestations often are treated with insecticides, but insecticide resistance is a problem, and excessive use o ...201121937972
Cultural competency assessment tool for hospitals: Evaluating hospitals' adherence to the culturally and linguistically appropriate services standards.BACKGROUND:: The U.S. national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) in health care provide guidelines on policies and practices aimed at developing culturally competent systems of care. The Cultural Competency Assessment Tool for Hospitals (CCATH) was developed as an organizational tool to assess adherence to the CLAS standards. PURPOSES:: First, we describe the development of the CCATH and estimate the reliability and validity of the CCATH measures. Second, we ...201221934511
detection of coccidioides immitis in kern county, california, by multiplex pcr.coccidioides immitis is a fungal human pathogen endemic to semiarid soils in southern california and baja california (mexico). results of culture-dependent detection of c. immitis in the past indicated a spotty distribution and unreliable prediction of c. immitis growth sites and accumulation sites. in this project we investigated bulk soil samples for the presence of the pathogen in nonagricultural loamy soils at nine different locations around bakersfield, kern county, california, for almost 2 ...201121933931
longitudinal variability of time-location/activity patterns of population at different ages: a longitudinal study in california.longitudinal time-activity data are important for exposure modeling, since the extent to which short-term time-activity data represent long-term activity patterns is not well understood. this study was designed to evaluate longitudinal variations in human time-activity patterns.201121933379
clinically significant drug interactions in younger and older human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.to characterize clinically significant drug interactions (csdis) in younger and older human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positive patients who were receiving antiretroviral therapy.201121923429
molecular characterization reveals distinct genospecies of anaplasma phagocytophilum from diverse north american hosts.anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging tick-borne pathogen that infects humans, domestic animals and wildlife throughout the holarctic. in the far-western united states, multiple rodent species have been implicated as natural reservoirs for a. phagocytophilum. however, the presence of multiple a. phagocytophilum strains has made it difficult to determine which reservoir hosts pose the greatest risk to humans and domestic animals. here we characterized three genetic markers (23s-5s rrna interge ...201121921109
California Hispanic nurses: analysis of 1997, 2004, 2006, 2008 survey data.Using data from the California Board of Registered Nursing Surveys of 1997, 2004, 2006 and 2008, this study explores demographic, human capital, and work environment changes in the Hispanic RN population and compared these changes to those occurring among non-Hispanic Whites. Results find several significant differences between the two groups. The most important finding is that Hispanic RNs enter and leave the profession at younger ages than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. There is an abr ...201121917760
[epidemiology of influenza a/california/07/09 (h1n1) in foreign countries in 2009 - 2010 season].study of spread ofa new influenza variant a(h1n1) in the world in 2009.201121913386
The fecal viral flora of wild rodents.The frequent interactions of rodents with humans make them a common source of zoonotic infections. To obtain an initial unbiased measure of the viral diversity in the enteric tract of wild rodents we sequenced partially purified, randomly amplified viral RNA and DNA in the feces of 105 wild rodents (mouse, vole, and rat) collected in California and Virginia. We identified in decreasing frequency sequences related to the mammalian viruses families Circoviridae, Picobirnaviridae, Picornaviridae, A ...201121909269
Sequence and Simple-Sequence Repeat Analyses of the Fungal Pathogen Seiridium cardinale Indicate California Is the Most Likely Source of the Cypress Canker Epidemic for the Mediterranean Region.ABSTRACT Seiridium cardinale is the pathogenic fungus of unknown origin responsible for a world pandemic known as cypress canker affecting several species of Cupressaceae in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. In this study, a comparative genetic analysis of worldwide populations was performed using sequence analysis of a portion of the ?-tubulin locus and seven polymorphic simple-sequence repeat (SSR) loci on 96 isolates. Sequence analysis identified two distinct ?-tubulin alleles, bot ...201121879790
transportation resource requirements for hospital evacuation.hospitals are physical structures with the same risk as other large buildings; the physical plant is vulnerable to acts of nature and man. when hospitals need to evacuate the patient population, logistical support for patient transport will be required. however, a disaster impacting a hospital will likely also affect the surrounding community, and transport resources such as ambulances may be limited as they will also be needed to support the community response. to determine the most efficient d ...201121870666
Preparing for an influenza pandemic: policy implications for rural Latino populations.Abstract:The purpose of this study was to assess influenza preparedness levels among Spanish-speaking adults ages 18 and older in two rural communities in Central California. Data were collected from 209 participants using the 21-item Emergency Preparedness Measurement Scale, an instrument designed and validated for this study. Results suggest that adult Spanish-speaking Latinos are not prepared for a pandemic influenza regardless of their gender, age, number of years living in the United States ...201121857139
impact of pentoxifylline on platelet function profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease on dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel.the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the phosphodiesterase (pde) inhibitor pentoxifylline on platelet function profiles in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (dapt).201121851906
evidence of neutron leakage at the fukushima nuclear plant from measurements of radioactive 35s in california.a recent earthquake and the subsequent tsunami have extensively damaged the fukushima nuclear power plant, releasing harmful radiation into the environment. despite the obvious implication for human health and the surrounding ecology, there are no quantitative estimates of the neutron flux leakage during the weeks following the earthquake. here, using measurements of radioactive (35)s contained in sulfate aerosols and so(2) gas at a coastal site in la jolla, california, we show that nearly 4-á+ù ...201121844372
histologic and molecular analyses of colonic perineurial-like proliferations in serrated polyps: perineurial-like stromal proliferations are seen in sessile serrated adenomas.colonic perineuriomas are recently described benign mucosal polyps that are composed of a bland spindle cell proliferation surrounding crypts that often demonstrate hyperplastic/serrated epithelial changes. however, the origin of this unique stromal proliferation is still unclear, and the association with serrated polyps, including sessile serrated adenomas, has not been fully described. we evaluated the pathologic and molecular features of colonic polyps associated with perineurial-like prolife ...201121836484
the incidence of hepatosplenic t-cell lymphoma in a large managed care organization, with reference to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy, northern california, 2000-2006.background: hepatosplenic t-cell lymphoma (hstcl), a rare and rapidly progressive subtype of peripheral t-cell lymphoma, has been reported following tnf-+¦-blocker therapy. to better understand this relationship, we conducted an epidemiologic study in the kaiser permanente membership. methods: the retrospective cohort study was conducted among northern california members of all ages. the kaiser permanente cancer registry, supplemented with review of medical charts and pathology slides, was used ...201121823196
west nile virus disease and other arboviral diseases --- united states, 2010.arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes and ticks. since west nile virus (wnv) was first detected in the western hemisphere in 1999, it has become the leading cause of neuroinvasive arboviral disease in the united states. however, several other arboviruses continue to cause sporadic cases and seasonal outbreaks of neuroinvasive disease (i.e., meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis). this report summarizes su ...201121814163
do frogs get their kicks on route 66? continental u.s. transect reveals spatial and temporal patterns of batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection.the chytrid fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) has been devastating amphibians globally. two general scenarios have been proposed for the nature and spread of this pathogen: bd is an epidemic, spreading as a wave and wiping out individuals, populations, and species in its path; and bd is endemic, widespread throughout many geographic regions on every continent except antarctica. to explore these hypotheses, we conducted a transcontinental transect of united states department of defense ( ...201121811576
the oncofetal protein imp3: a novel molecular marker to predict aggressive meningioma.context.-one of the major clinical challenges is to predict recurrence of meningioma. recently, we have found that imp3, an oncofetal rna-binding protein, is a biomarker to predict aggressive tumors. objective.-to investigate whether imp3 can be used as a new biomarker to predict the recurrence and overall survival of patients with meningiomas. design.-one hundred seven patients with primary meningiomas were investigated for expression of imp3 by immunohistochemistry and whether expression of th ...201121809995
governing change: land-use change and the prevention of nonpoint source pollution in the north coastal basin of california.many rural areas in the united states and throughout much of the postindustrial world are undergoing significant ecological, socioeconomic, and political transformations. the migration of urban and suburban dwellers into rural areas has led to the subdivision of large tracts of land into smaller parcels, which can complicate efforts to govern human-environmental problems. non-point source (nps) pollution from private rural lands is a particularly pressing human-environmental challenge that may b ...201121805381
early warning system for west nile virus risk areas, california, usa.the dynamic continuous-area space-time (dycast) system is a biologically based spatiotemporal model that uses public reports of dead birds to identify areas at high risk for west nile virus (wnv) transmission to humans. in 2005, during a statewide epidemic of wnv (880 cases), the california department of public health prospectively implemented dycast over 32,517 km2 in california. daily risk maps were made available online and used by local agencies to target public education campaigns, surveill ...201121801622
determinants of serum polybrominated diphenyl ether (pbde) levels among pregnant women in the chamacos cohort.we measured levels of 10 polybrominated diphenyl ether (pbde) congeners in serum collected during pregnancy and at delivery from 416 pregnant, predominantly immigrant, women living in monterey county, ca. the most frequently detected congeners were bde-47, -99, -100, and -153, all components of the penta mixture, detected in >97% of samples. we used multivariable regression models to examine factors associated with exposure to individual pbde congeners as well as their total summed concentration ...201121793581
sewage exfiltration as a source of storm drain contamination during dry weather in urban watersheds.separating storm drains and sanitary sewers is expected to control sewage pollution, for example from combined sewer overflows, and to reduce excessive stormwater flow to wastewater treatment plants. however, sewage contamination has been found in municipal separate storm drain systems in urban areas during dry weather flow. to determine if transmission of sewage is occurring from leaking sanitary sewers directly to leaking separated storm drains, field experiments were performed in three waters ...201121786744
application of an integrated community analysis approach for microbial source tracking in a coastal creek.high fecal indicator bacterial (fib) concentrations signal urban coastal water quality impairments that can threaten public health. however fib (total and fecal coliform plus enterococcus sp.) are not specific to human waste and thus microbial source tracking (mst) is employed to assess public health risks and remediation alternatives. currently, water quality diagnosis requires several simultaneous mst assays. relatively unexplored is a community analysis approach for mst where the overall micr ...201121786742
[immunogenicity of inactivated subunit adsorbed monovalent vaccine against influenza a/california/7/2009 (h1n1) strain].the immunogenicity of pandeflu subunit vaccine against influenza a/california/7/2009 (h1n1) was evaluated in 70 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 60 years. the vaccine was intramuscularly injected twice at an interval of 28 days. each dose (0.5 ml) contains a(hin1) influenza virus hemagglutinin (15 +/- 2.2 microg), aluminum hydroxide (denmark) (0.475 +/- 0.075 microg), and the preservative thiomerosal (merthiolate) (50 +/- 7.5 microg). the level of antibodies was determined in the microneutralizatio ...201121786622
genome-wide association study of the child behavior checklist dysregulation profile.a potentially useful tool for understanding the distribution and determinants of emotional dysregulation in children is a child behavior checklist profile, comprising the attention problems, anxious/depressed, and aggressive behavior clinical subscales (cbcl-dp). the cbcl-dp indexes a heritable trait that increases susceptibility for later psychopathology, including severe mood problems and aggressive behavior. we have conducted a genome-wide association study of the cbcl-dp in children with att ...201121784300
assessing allergenic fungi in house dust by floor wipe sampling and quantitative pcr.in the present study, we modified an existing surface wipe sampling method for lead and other heavy metals to create a protocol to collect fungi in floor dust followed by real-time quantitative pcr (qpcr)-based detection. we desired minimal inconvenience for participants in residential indoor environmental quality and health studies. accuracy, precision, and method detection limits (mdls) were investigated. overall, mdls ranged from 0.6-25 cell/cm(2) on sampled floors. overall measurement precis ...201121767317
cost-effectiveness of targeted human immunodeficiency virus screening in an urban emergency department.academic emergency medicine 2011; 18:745-753 © 2011 by the society for academic emergency medicine abstract: objectives: although targeted screening of patients at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection in the emergency department (ed) improves patient outcomes and may prevent hiv transmission, ed-based screening programs incur additional costs and have thus not been widely scaled up. the objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ed-based targeted hiv ...201121762236
human embryonic stem cell research and proposition 71. reflections on californiaôçös response to federal policy.in response to former president george w. bush's funding limitations on human embryonic stem cell (hesc) research, california voters in 2004 passed proposition 71, the most expansive state-funded medical research initiative in united states history. this study examines california's experiment in the life sciences, a particularly fitting analysis now as president barack obama has freed up additional federal funding for hesc research. in addition to exploring the general pitfalls of states, rather ...201021761982
smoking in top-grossing movies --- united states, 2010.the national cancer institute has concluded that studies indicate a causal relationship between exposure to depictions of smoking in movies and youth smoking initiation. adolescents in the top quartile of exposures to onscreen tobacco incidents have been found to be approximately twice as likely to begin smoking as those in the bottom quartile. the 2010 u.s. department of health and human services strategic plan to reduce tobacco use includes reducing youth exposure to onscreen smoking. to monit ...201121753743
basic subsistence needs and overall health among human immunodeficiency virus-infected homeless and unstably housed women.some gender differences in the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection have been attributed to delayed treatment among women and the social context of poverty. recent economic difficulties have led to multiple service cuts, highlighting the need to identify factors with the most influence on health in order to prioritize scarce resources. the aim of this study was to empirically rank factors that longitudinally impact the health status of hiv-infected homeless and unstably ho ...201121749972
strawberry anthocyanin and its association with postprandial inflammation and insulin.the present study investigates the effect of strawberry antioxidants in beverage form on meal-induced postprandial inflammatory and insulin responses in human subjects. overweight adults (n 24) consumed a high-carbohydrate, moderate-fat meal (hcfm) accompanied by either a strawberry or a placebo beverage in a cross-over design. postprandial changes in plasma anthocyanins, their metabolites, insulin, glucose and inflammatory markers were assessed for 6-áh. the postprandial concentrations of pelar ...201121736853
distribution and phylogenetic comparisons of a novel mosquito flavivirus sequence present in culex tarsalis mosquitoes from western canada with viruses isolated in california and colorado.in a previous study, a new flavivirus genome sequence was identified in culex tarsalis mosquitoes obtained in alberta, canada and was shown to be genetically related to but distinct from members of the insect-specific flaviviruses. nonstructural protein 5-encoding sequences amplified from cx. tarsalis pools from western canada have shown a high similarity to genome sequences of novel flaviviruses isolated from mosquitoes in california and colorado. despite wide distribution of this virus, design ...201121734143
role of the gender-linked norm of toughness in the decision to engage in treatment for depression.given their prevalence and persuasive power in our culture, gender norms--commonly described as socially reinforced, learned expectations of what it means to be a man or a woman--likely contribute to sex differences in service utilization for depression. this study investigated whether sex differences in toughness, a gender-linked norm characterized by a desire to hide pain and maintain independence, were associated with a preference to wait for depression to resolve on its own without active pr ...201121724786
acrylamide formation in almonds (prunus dulcis): influences of roasting time and temperature, precursors, varietal selection, and storage.acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen that is found in many roasted and baked foods. this paper describes two sensitive and reliable lc-(esi)ms/ms methods for the analysis of (1) acrylamide and (2) common acrylamide precursors (i.e., glucose, fructose, asparagine, and glutamine) in raw and roasted almonds. these methods were used to evaluate the impact of roasting temperatures (between 129 and 182 °c) and times on acrylamide formation. controlling the roasting temperature at or below 146 °c ...201121721575
costs of necrotizing enterocolitis and cost-effectiveness of exclusively human milk-based products in feeding extremely premature infants.abstract objective: this study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a 100% human milk-based diet composed of mother's milk fortified with a donor human milk-based human milk fortifier (hmf) versus mother's milk fortified with bovine milk-based hmf to initiate enteral nutrition among extremely premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (nicu). methods: a net expected costs calculator was developed to compare the total nicu costs among extremely premature infants who were fed either a bo ...201121718117
linking dissolved and particulate phosphorus export in rivers draining california's central valley with anthropogenic sources at the regional scale.pollution of water resources by phosphorus (p) is a critical issue in regions with agricultural and urban development. in this study, we estimated p inputs from agricultural and urban sources in 24 catchments draining to the central valley in california and compared them with measured river p export to investigate hydrologic and anthropogenic factors affecting regional p retention and export. using spatially explicit information on fertilizer use, livestock population, agricultural production, a ...201121712599
field evaluation of a new plastic film (vapor safe) to reduce fumigant emissions and improve distribution in soil.preplant soil fumigation is an important pest management practice in coastal california strawberry production regions. potential atmospheric emissions of fumigants from field treatment, however, have drawn intensive environmental and human health concerns; increasingly stringent regulations on fumigant use have spurred research on low-emission application techniques. the objectives of this research were to determine the effects of a new low-permeability film, commonly known as totally impermeabl ...201121712589
fluorescence in situ hybridization and k-ras analyses improve diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of solid pancreatic masses.objectives:: endoscopic ultrasound (eus)-guided fine-needle aspiration (fna) is the main diagnostic modality for pancreatic mass lesions. however, cytology is often indeterminate, leading to repeat fnas and delay in care. here, we evaluate whether combining routine cytology with fluorescence in situ hybridization (fish) and k-ras/p53 analyses improves diagnostic yield of pancreatic eus-fna. methods:: fifty eus-fnas of pancreatic masses in 46 patients were retrospectively analyzed. mean follow-up ...201121705950
fine particulate matter from urban ambient and wildfire sources from california's san joaquin valley initiate differential inflammatory, oxidative stress, and xenobiotic responses in human bronchial epithelial cells.environmental particulate matter (pm) exposure has been correlated with pathogenesis of acute airway inflammatory disease such as asthma and copd. pm size and concentration have been studied extensively, but the additional effects of particulate components such as biological material, transition metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could also impact initial disease pathogenesis. in this study, we compared urban ambient particulate matter (apm) collected from fresno, california with wildf ...201121703343
sources and fate of salmonella and fecal indicator bacteria in an urban creek.this research aimed to understand the sources and fate of salmonella and fecal bacteria in urban surface waters. an urban creek (san pedro creek, california, usa) that had unusually high levels of salmonella and fecal bacteria relative to other nearby waterbodies was chosen as a model field site. state of the art microbiological methods were used in concert with modeling to investigate salmonella and fecal bacteria sources, and determine field-relevant dark inactivation and photoinactivation rat ...201121687857
nidicolous ticks of small mammals in anaplasma phagocytophilum-enzootic sites in northern california.ixodes spp. tick-borne zoonotic diseases are present across the holarctic in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. small mammals are reservoirs for the rickettsial pathogen anaplasma phagocytophilum and tick vectors may include catholic-feeding bridge vectors as well as host-specialist or nidicolous ticks. far western north american communities in which a. phagocytophilum is maintained are complex ecologically, with multiple reservoir host and tick species, multiple strains of the bacterial pa ...201121686062
reconciling incongruous qualitative and quantitative findings in mixed methods research: exemplars from research with drug using populations.mixed methods research is increasingly being promoted in the health sciences as a way to gain more comprehensive understandings of how social processes and individual behaviours shape human health. mixed methods research most commonly combines qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis strategies. often, integrating findings from multiple methods is assumed to confirm or validate the findings from one method with the findings from another, seeking convergence or agreement between ...201121680168
circulating angiopoietins-1 and -2, angiopoietin receptor tie-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor-a as biomarkers of acute myocardial infarction: a prospective nested case-control study.angiogenesis is up-regulated in myocardial ischemia. however, limited data exist assessing the value of circulating angiogenic biomarkers in predicting future incidence of acute myocardial infarction (ami). our aim was to examine the association between circulating levels of markers of angiogenesis with risk of incident acute myocardial infarction (ami) in men and women.201121672190
takeru higuchi, the man and the scientist.madison (united states), december 7th 1941. it is early in the morning. takeru higuchi is listening to the radio when the programme is suddenly interrupted: part of the american naval fleet has just been destroyed in an air-raid on pearl harbour. for the united states, their involvement in the world war is now inevitable. for takeru higuchi, the son of japanese immigrants, this was the beginning of an inner struggle. as a student of physical chemistry at the university of wisconsin, he had recei ...201121640808
evaluation of ammonia, human sweat, and bovine blood as attractants for the female canyon fly, fannia conspicua (diptera: muscidae), in southern california.human sweat, liquid ammonia, and bovine blood are known to be attractive to some hematophagous flies. these materials were evaluated with and without carbon dioxide (co(2) ) for their ability to increase capture of female "canyon flies" (fannia conspicua malloch) using cdc-type suction traps (without light). ammonia acted synergistically with co(2) to increase trap catch 89.9% over co(2) alone. there was no synergistic effect of human sweat or bovine blood with co(2) . in the absence of co(2) , ...201121635641
serum metalloproteinases mmp-2, mmp-9, and metalloproteinase tissue inhibitors in patients are associated with arteriovenous fistula maturation.objective: many vascular surgeons construct arteriovenous fistulas (avfs) for hemodialysis access as the primary choice access. a significant number of avfs fail to mature, however, leading to patient frustration and repeated operations. metalloproteinase (mmp) activity, particularly mmp-2 and mmp-9, may be important for avf maturation. we therefore sought to identify whether serum mmp levels could serve as a biomarker for predicting future successful avf maturation. methods: blood was collected ...201121620625
"man-ing" up and getting drunk: the role of masculine norms, alcohol intoxication and alcohol-related problems among college men.compared to college women, college men face elevated risks for problematic drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences. these risks highlight the critical need to investigate gender issues and risk factors contributing to intoxication and related problems among men. theoretical models suggest that conforming to masculine norms or the beliefs and expectations of what it means to be a man, may help explain patterns of problematic drinking among men. the current study advances the literature ...201121620570
terrestrial sources homogenize bacterial water quality during rainfall in two urbanized watersheds in santa barbara, ca.microbiological contamination from runoff is a human health concern in urbanized coastal environments, but the contamination sources are often unknown. this study quantified fecal indicator bacteria and compared the distributions of human-specific genetic markers and bacterial community composition during dry and wet weather in urban creeks draining two neighboring watersheds in santa barbara, ca. in a prior study conducted during exclusively dry weather, the creeks were contaminated with human ...201121617896
human jamestown canyon virus infection --- montana, 2009.jamestown canyon virus (jcv) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen belonging to the california serogroup of bunyaviruses. although jcv is widely distributed throughout temperate north america, reports of human jcv infection in the united states are rare. this is the first report of human jcv infection detected in montana, one of only 15 cases reported in the united states since 2004, when jcv became reportable. on may 26, 2009, a man aged 51 years with no travel history outside of montana went t ...201121617630
genetic characterization of swine influenza viruses (h3n2) isolated from minnesota in 2006-2007.triple-reassortant (tr) h3n2 swine influenza viruses (siv) are a major cause of respiratory disease in swine worldwide, causing considerable morbidity and mortality. continuous surveillance of circulating siv strains is imperative for effective control and prediction of new emerging strains with interspecies transmission potential. the current study characterized siv isolates from commercial swine population in usa (2006-2007). nine isolates were completely sequenced, and the molecular evolution ...201121603982
mortality among antiretroviral-eligible patients in an urban public clinic.among 1651 antiretroviral therapy (art)-eligible patients attending an urban united states hiv clinic, four-year mortality was 10.0% in 2000-2004 and 11.0% in 2005-2009. despite universal art availability, only 72 (42%) of 172 patients who died, compared to 69% of survivors, ever achieved an hiv viral load <400 copies/mm. leading causes of death were aids (56%), violence/overdose (16%), and pulmonary disease (6%). disadvantaged sub-populations in the developed world can experience high mortality ...201121602697
could the health decline of prehistoric california indians be related to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) from natural bitumen?background: the negative health effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) are well established for modern human populations, but have so far not been studied in prehistoric contexts. pahs are the main component of fossil bitumen, a naturally occurring material used by past societies such as california's chumash indians as an adhesive, as a waterproofing agent, and for medicinal purposes. the rich archaeological and ethnohistoric record of the coastal chumash suggests that they were expo ...201121596651
extensive geographical mixing of human h1n1/09 influenza a virus in a single university community.despite growing interest in the molecular epidemiology of influenza virus, the pattern of viral spread within individual communities remains poorly understood. to determine the phylogeography of influenza virus in a single population we examined the spatial diffusion of h1n1/09 influenza a virus within the student body of the university of california, san diego (ucsd), sampling for a one month period between october-november 2009. despite the highly focused nature of our study, an analysis of co ...201121593168
jean-louis vignes: california's forgotten winemaker.this article represents a first step in the process of restoring the legacy of pioneer california winemaker jean-louis vignes (1780–1862). vignes was a native of france who established and operated a commercial winery (el aliso) in los angeles for 22 years (1833–1855). the article includes the first known photograph of vignes discovered by the author. while prominent twentieth-century american wine historians have acknowledged vignes, the author emphasizes a key distinction made by french histor ...201121591314
recent decline in the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection among california men who have sex with men.monitoring the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection among men who have sex with men (msm) is imperative for developing targeted prevention programs and evaluating their effectiveness. the authors used california counseling and testing data to estimate the temporal trend in hiv incidence among msm in california. hiv incidence rates were retrospectively calculated among msm who had received at least 1 hiv test at a public california counseling and testing site between 1997 and ...201121586631
from the cover: isocyanic acid in the atmosphere and its possible link to smoke-related health effects.we measured isocyanic acid (hnco) in laboratory biomass fires at levels up to 600 parts per billion by volume (ppbv), demonstrating that it has a significant source from pyrolysis/combustion of biomass. we also measured hnco at mixing ratios up to 200 pptv (parts-per-trillion by volume) in ambient air in urban los angeles, ca, and in boulder, co, during the recent 2010 fourmile canyon fire. further, our measurements of aqueous solubility show that hnco is highly soluble, as it dissociates at phy ...201121576489
implementation of an inexpensive method of vitrification and warming of human cleavage-stage embryos using cut standard straws.the aim of this report is to describe our experience and results with implementation of a cut standard straw technique for vitrification and warming of day 3 cleavage-stage human embryos. detailed description of the method and results of 63 frozen embryo transfers performed with this technology are discussed, and it is concluded that this method provides a reliable, inexpensive, and effective option of embryo vitrification at a cleaved stage.201121575948
finding solutions for bird restoration and livestock management: comparing grazing exclusion levels.riparian habitats in the western united states support high avian abundance and diversity and are important areas for livestock grazing, although grazing contributes to the degradation of riparian vegetation. complete removal of livestock is generally the most beneficial for bird communities, but alternative management approaches allowing for seasonal livestock grazing may also increase avian habitat quality. determining management approaches that integrate conservation priorities and human use ...201121563584
glycemic control among latinos with type 2 diabetes: the role of social-environmental support resources.objective: although active diabetes self-management is required to achieve glycemic control, adherence is poor among ethnic minorities, especially latinos. research shows that individuals who report greater social-environmental support resources for disease management manage their diabetes more effectively than those with fewer support resources. methods: path analysis was conducted to investigate the value of a multiple-mediator model in explaining how support resources for disease management i ...201121553968
parent attitudes about school requirements for human papillomavirus vaccine in high-risk communities of los angeles, ca.background: human papillomavirus (hpv) immunization requirements for school entry could increase hpv vaccine uptake but are controversial. this study assessed parents' attitudes about hpv immunization requirements.methods: during october 2007-june 2008, we conducted telephone surveys with 484 parents of girls attending middle/high schools serving communities in los angeles county with elevated cervical cancer rates.results: parents were mostly hispanic (81%) or african-american (15%); 71% respon ...201121551243
asymmetric dimethylarginine and coronary artery calcium scores are increased in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.objective: patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) have an increased risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. elevated concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (adma), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, are associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. the objective of this study was to determine whether plasma adma levels are increased in patients infected with hiv and whether this is associated with cardiovascular ri ...201121549379
cross cultural birth: it's a human rights issue. 201121524002
clinical efficacy of raltegravir against b and non-b subtype hiv-1 in the startmrk and benchmrk studies.objective: we evaluated the long-term efficacy of raltegravir according to hiv-1 subtype (b and non-b) using data from 3 phase iii studies in treatment-experienced (benchmrk) and treatment-naïve (startmrk) hiv-infected patients. methods: hiv-1 subtypes were identified from baseline plasma specimens using genotypic data of the phenosense gt test (monogram biosciences). non-b subtypes were combined for the current analyses due to small numbers of each specific subtype. an observed failure (of) app ...201021522004
intervention to influence behaviors linked to risk of chronic diseases: a multisite randomized controlled trial with african-american hiv-serodiscordant heterosexual couples.background: the high morbidity and mortality in african americans associated with behavior-linked chronic diseases are well documented. methods: we tested the efficacy of an intervention to increase multiple health-related behaviors in african americans. in a multisite cluster-randomized controlled trial, groups of african american human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-serodiscordant heterosexual couples in atlanta (georgia), los angeles (california), new york (new york), and philadelphia (pennsylv ...201121518939
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