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murine typhus: endemic rickettsia in southwest texas.murine typhus is a zoonosis caused by the organism rickettsia typhi and is transmitted to humans by fleas. it is endemic in several areas of texas, california and hawaii where the vector is supported predominantly by rodents in addition to opossums, domestic and feral cats and domestic dogs. we present a typical case in an adult from corpus christi, located in one of the four endemic areas in texas. included is an overview of the organism's pathogenicity and our host responses, both influencing ...201222693777
a temperature-limited assessment of the risk of rift valley fever transmission and establishment in the continental united states of america.the rapid spread of west nile virus across north america after its introduction in 1999 highlights the potential for foreign arboviruses to become established in the united states of america. of particular concern is rift valley fever virus (rvfv), which has been responsible for multiple african epidemics resulting in death of both humans and livestock, as well as major economic disruption due to livestock loss and trade restrictions. modern globalization, travel, and commerce allow viruses to e ...201222639118
temporal association between land-based runoff events and california sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) protozoal mortalities.toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona have caused significant morbidity and mortality in threatened southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) along the central california coast. because only terrestrial animals are known to serve as definitive hosts for t. gondii and s. neurona, infections in otters suggest a land to sea flow of these protozoan pathogens. to better characterize the role of overland runoff in delivery of terrestrially derived fecal pathogens to the near shore, we assessed t ...201222493114
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
[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
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
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
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
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
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
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
human disturbance influences reproductive success and growth rate in california sea lions (zalophus californianus).the environment is currently undergoing changes at both global (e.g., climate change) and local (e.g., tourism, pollution, habitat modification) scales that have the capacity to affect the viability of animal and plant populations. many of these changes, such as human disturbance, have an anthropogenic origin and therefore may be mitigated by management action. to do so requires an understanding of the impact of human activities and changing environmental conditions on population dynamics. we in ...201121436887
food packaging and bisphenol a and bis(2-ethyhexyl) phthalate exposure: findings from a dietary intervention.bisphenol a (bpa) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dehp) are high-production-volume chemicals used in plastics and resins for food packaging. they have been associated with endocrine disruption in animals and in some human studies. human exposure sources have been estimated, but the relative contribution of dietary exposure to total intake has not been studied empirically.201121450549
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
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
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
planning for the control of pandemic influenza a (h1n1) in los angeles county and the united states.mathematical and computer models can provide guidance to public health officials by projecting the course of an epidemic and evaluating control measures. the authors built upon an existing collaboration between an academic research group and the los angeles county, california, department of public health to plan for and respond to the first and subsequent years of pandemic influenza a (h1n1) circulation. the use of models allowed the authors to 1) project the timing and magnitude of the epidemic ...201121427173
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
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
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
decision-making style and gender moderation of the self-efficacy-condom use link among adolescents and young adults: informing targeted sti/hiv prevention programs.to test the moderating effects of decision-making style and gender on the relationship between condom use self-efficacy (cuse) and condom use behavior among sexually active adolescents and young adults.201121464380
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
a review of adult mortality due to 2009 pandemic (h1n1) influenza a in california.while children and young adults had the highest attack rates due to 2009 pandemic (h1n1) influenza a (2009 h1n1), studies of hospitalized cases noted high fatality in older adults. we analyzed california public health surveillance data to better characterize the populations at risk for dying due to 2009 h1n1.201121483677
blood-feeding patterns of the culex pipiens complex in sacramento and yolo counties, california.mosquitoes in the culex pipiens complex are competent vectors of west nile virus (wnv; family flaviviridae, genus flavivirus) in the laboratory, and field-collected mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus in california and elsewhere. a better understanding of cx. pipiens complex blood-feeding patterns will help define the threat that these mosquitoes pose to human health and their role in wnv amplification in northern california. we collected blood-engorged cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes f ...201121485380
high postnatal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes) and polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) via breast milk in california: does bde-209 transfer to breast milk?breast milk samples collected during 2003-2005 from 82 first-time mothers in 24 communities located throughout california contained levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (∑(tri-hexa (8))pbdes; median = 53.3 ng/g lw, range = 9.60-1291) and polychlorinated biphenyls (∑(12)pcbs; median = 73.4 ng/g lw, range = 22.2-433) that are among the highest in the world. pbde levels varied 100-fold. bde-47 was the dominant pbde congener, with levels exceeding the u.s.epa reference dose (rfd) for neurodevelo ...201121495631
the spice of life: an analysis of nutmeg exposures in california.nutmeg is widely used as a household spice. numerous citations in the medical literature report its abuse as a psychoactive agent, primarily for its purported hallucinogenic effects that are thought to be due to the compound myristicin; these are primarily limited to case reports.201121495887
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
what is the role of human contamination by environmental chemicals in the development of type 1 diabetes?the increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes (t1d) in children around the world is unexplained. even though various environmental chemicals have been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes as well as other autoimmune diseases, the possibility that environmental chemicals may contribute to the development of t1d has not been adequately evaluated. there is preliminary epidemiological evidence that exposure to certain chemicals, such as n-nitroso compounds, air pollutants and persistent organi ...201121502091
tobacco litter costs and public policy: a framework and methodology for considering the use of fees to offset abatement costs.growing concern over the costs, environmental impact and safety of tobacco product litter (tpl) has prompted states and cities to undertake a variety of policy initiatives, of which litter abatement fees are part. the present work describes a framework and methodology for calculating tpl costs and abatement fees.201121504923
pandemic 2009 influenza a (h1n1) in 71 critically ill pregnant women in california.we sought to describe the characteristics and clinical management of 71 critically ill pregnant women with pandemic 2009 influenza a (h1n1 [2009 h1n1]). this was a retrospective case series from april 23, 2009, through march 18, 2010, of pregnant women with 2009 h1n1 in intensive care units in california. among 71 critically ill pregnant women with 2009 h1n1, rapid decline in clinical status was noted with a median duration of 1 day from hospital admission to intensive care unit admission. adver ...201121514554
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
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
[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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
risk of cervical precancer and cancer in women aged 30 years and older with an hpv-negative low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion screening result.to characterize the 6- and 18-month cumulative risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (cin 2+) and grade 3 or worse (cin 3+) in women aged 30 years and older after a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (lsil) cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (hpv)-negative screening result in routine clinical practice.201121192178
angiopoietin-like 4 (angptl4) gene polymorphisms and risk of brain arteriovenous malformations.brain arteriovenous malformations (bavm) are high-flow vascular lesions prone to intracranial hemorrhage (ich). abnormal angiogenesis is a key characteristic of bavm tissue. angiopoietin-like 4 (angptl4), a secreted glycoprotein, is thought to be involved in angiogenesis and required for proper postnatal blood vessel partitioning. we investigated whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) in angptl4 were associated with risk of bavm or ich.201121212665
the humoral immune response of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients to as03-adjuvanted a/california/7/2009 (h1n1)v-like virus vaccine during the 2009 pandemic.we evaluated the formation of hemagglutination-inhibition (hi) antibodies in response to vaccination of 55 allogeneic and 23 autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (hsct) recipients with 3.75 μg inactivated influenza a/california/7/2009 (h1n1)v-like virus adjuvanted with as03, given towards the end of the 2009 influenza pandemic. the 78 hsct recipients, aged 11-72 (median 50) years, were vaccinated 1-290 (median 27) months post-hsct. of the 55 allogeneic hsct recipients, 50.9% receiv ...201121216315
pilot biomonitoring of adults and children following use of chlorpyrifos shampoo and flea collars on dogs.pesticide handlers and pet owners who use products such as shampoos and dips and insecticide-impregnated collars to treat and control fleas on companion animals are exposed to a variety of active ingredients. chlorpyrifos exposures of adults and children were measured using urine biomonitoring following use of over-the-counter products on dogs. age and gender-specific measurements of urinary 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (tcpy) revealed modest elevations of biomarker excretion following shampoo/ ...201121240711
antiretroviral therapy adherence, medication use, and health care costs during 3 years of a community pharmacy medication therapy management program for medi-cal beneficiaries with hiv/aids.the types of pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (mtm) services provided to patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (hiv/aids) and the effects of mtm on medication adherence and patient outcomes have only recently begun to be studied. although available studies suggest that patients receiving mtm services have better antiretroviral therapy (art) adherence and outcomes, only 1 study has examined a large group of patients with hiv/aids, and none ...201121434698
professor emeritus philip sunshine: a true renaissance man. 201121448190
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
determinants of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in house dust.estimation of human exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) is often desired for the epidemiological studies of cancer. one way to obtain information about indoor levels of pahs is to measure these chemicals in house dust. in this study, we evaluated the predictive value of self-reported and geographic data for estimating measured levels of nine pahs in house dust from 583 households in the northern california childhood leukemia study (nccls). using multivariable linear regression m ...201120040932
cyp2c9 allele frequency differences between populations of mexican-mestizo, mexican-tepehuano, and spaniards.earlier we had found that the cyp2c9*2 allelic frequency was lower in mexican-americans living in california than in spaniards (sp). this was assumed to be related to the low cyp2c9*2 and *3 allele frequencies in orientals. this study was therefore aimed at analyzing whether there were also differences in cyp2c9 allele frequencies between mexican-tepehuanos (mt) and mexican-mestizos (mm) living in northwestern mexico and sp. the cyp2c9*2 frequency was expected to be lower in the indigenous mt th ...201120458343
metagenomic detection of phage-encoded platelet-binding factors in the human oral cavity.the human oropharynx is a reservoir for many potential pathogens, including streptococcal species that cause endocarditis. although oropharyngeal microbes have been well described, viral communities are essentially uncharacterized. we conducted a metagenomic study to determine the composition of oropharyngeal dna viral communities (both phage and eukaryotic viruses) in healthy individuals and to evaluate oropharyngeal swabs as a rapid method for viral detection. viral dna was extracted from 19 p ...201120547834
linkage scan of nicotine dependence in the university of california, san francisco (ucsf) family alcoholism study.nicotine dependence has been shown to represent a heritable condition, and several research groups have performed linkage analysis to identify genomic regions influencing this disorder though only a limited number of the findings have been replicated.201120594377
limited novel influenza a (h1n1) 09 infection in travelling high-school tour group.a single case of novel influenza a (h1n1) 09 infection was identified by pcr among a new zealand high-school group that toured california in april 2009. close monitoring of the tour group and their new zealand contacts identified 11 other tour members with respiratory symptoms who were investigated. in all nine instances where nasopharyngeal swabs were indicated, tests were negative for novel influenza a (h1n1) 09 by pcr.201121138540
identification of group affinity from cross-sectional contours of the human midfacial skeleton using digital morphometrics and 3d laser scanning technology.identifying group affinity from human crania is a long-standing problem in forensic and physical anthropology. many craniofacial differences used in forensic skeletal identification are difficult to quantify, although certain measurements of the midfacial skeleton have shown high predictive value for group classifications. this study presents a new method for analyzing midfacial shape variation between different geographic groups. three-dimensional laser scan models of 90 crania from three popul ...201121306381
a novel risk factor for a novel virus: obesity and 2009 pandemic influenza a (h1n1).many critically ill patients with 2009 pandemic influenza a (h1n1) (2009 h1n1) infection were noted to be obese, but whether obesity, rather than its associated co-morbidities, is an independent risk factor for severe infection is unknown.201121208911
a regional mass balance of methylmercury in san francisco bay, california, usa.the san francisco bay (california, usa) is a water body listed as impaired because of hg contamination in sport fish for human consumption, as well as possible effects on resident wildlife. a legacy of hg mining in local watersheds and hg used in au mining in the sierra nevada (usa) has contributed to contamination seen in the bay, with additional more recent and ongoing inputs from various sources. methylmercury is the species of hg most directly responsible for contamination in biota, so bette ...201120872899
an academic-community partnership to improve care for the underserved.despite the need for a robust primary care workforce, the number of students and residents choosing general internal medicine careers continues to decline. in this article, the authors describe their efforts at the university of california, davis school of medicine to bolster interest in internal medicine careers and improve the quality of care for medically underserved populations through a tailored third-year residency track developed in partnership with the sacramento county department of hea ...201121169777
a novel member of the family hepeviridae from cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarkii).beginning in 1988, the chinook salmon embryo (chse-214) cell line was used to isolate a novel virus from spawning adult trout in the state of california, usa. termed the cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarkii) virus (ctv), the small, round virus was not associated with disease, but was subsequently found to be present in an increasing number of trout populations in the western usa, likely by a combination of improved surveillance activities and the shipment of infected eggs to new locations. here ...201121458509
evaluation of the performance characteristics of 6 rapid hiv antibody tests.since 2002, the us food and drug administration has approved 6 rapid human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) tests for use in the united states. to date, there has been no direct comparison of the performance of all 6 tests.201121288853
genetics behind barbed wire: masuo kodani, émigré geneticists, and wartime genetics research at manzanar relocation center.this article explores the sociopolitical backdrop of genetics research during the politically turbulent decades of the mid-20th century that saw the persecution, displacement, and relocation of unpopular minorities in both the united states and europe. it explores how geneticists in the united states accommodated these disruptions through formal and informal émigré networks and how the subsequent war affected their research programs and their lives. it does so by focusing on the career and life ...201121307394
effects of management of domestic dogs and recreation on carnivores in protected areas in northern california.in developed countries dogs (canis lupus familiaris) are permitted to accompany human visitors to many protected areas (e.g., >96% of protected lands in california, u.s.a.), and protected-area management often focuses on regulating dogs due to concerns about predation, competition, or transmission of disease and conflicts with human visitors. in 2004 and 2005, we investigated whether carnivore species richness and abundance were associated with management of domestic dogs and recreational visita ...201121309853
teaching about genetic testing issues in the undergraduate classroom: a case study.educating undergraduates about current genetic testing and genomics can involve novel and creative teaching practices. the higher education literature describes numerous pedagogical approaches in the laboratory designed to engage science and liberal arts students. often these experiences involve students analyzing their own genes for various polymorphisms, some of which are associated with disease states such as an increased risk for developing cancer. while the literature acknowledges possible ...201121373958
timely detection of localized excess influenza activity in northern california across patient care, prescription, and laboratory data.timely detection of clusters of localized influenza activity in excess of background seasonal levels could improve situational awareness for public health officials and health systems. however, no single data type may capture influenza activity with optimal sensitivity, specificity, and timeliness, and it is unknown which data types could be most useful for surveillance. we compared the performance of 10 types of electronic clinical data for timely detection of influenza clusters throughout the ...201121312219
genetic testing for aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 deficiency in young adults. 201121321583
cxcl5 plasma levels decrease in patients with chronic liver disease.cxcl5 (chemokine [c-x-c motif] ligand 5, also known as epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide 78 [ena78]) belongs to the cxc chemokine family and has been shown to have promitotic effects on hepatocytes. the aim of our study was to assess cxcl5 plasma levels in patients with chronic liver disease.201121332547
biogeographic and ecological regulation of disease: prevalence of sin nombre virus in island mice is related to island area, precipitation, and predator richness.the relative roles of top-down and bottom-up forces in affecting disease prevalence in wild hosts is important for understanding disease dynamics and human disease risk. we found that the prevalence of sin nombre virus (snv), the agent of a severe disease in humans (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome), in island deer mice from the eight california channel islands was greater with increased precipitation (a measure of productivity), greater island area, and fewer species of rodent predators. in findin ...201121508614
a brief history of the bioengineering institute of california and the uc system-wide symposia.the plan to establish a multicampus research unit (mru) on bioengineering in the university of california (uc) system started in august 1999. the cooperative efforts of the uc campuses led to the formal establishment of the bioengineering institute of california (bic) in october 2003. three years prior to the bic establishment, the system-wide annual bioengineering symposium was started at uc davis. the symposia were then hosted sequentially by uc santa barbara, uc berkeley, ucsd, uc santa cruz, ...201121384235
2009 h1n1 influenza pandemic: field and epidemiologic investigations in the united states at the start of the first pandemic of the 21st century.in april, 2009, cdc identified a novel influenza a virus detected from 2 children with febrile respiratory illness in southern california. the virus quickly emerged and spread globally and by 5 may, confirmed cases had been reported from 41 us states and 21 countries worldwide. since the virus had never been identified before, little was known about the characteristics of the virus and how the pandemic would progress-would it be severe, how efficient would viral transmission be, would transmissi ...201121342879
building regional threat-based networks for estuaries in the western united states.estuaries are ecologically and economically valuable and have been highly degraded from both land and sea. estuarine habitats in the coastal zone are under pressure from a range of human activities. in the united states and elsewhere, very few conservation plans focused on estuaries are regional in scope; fewer still address threats to estuary long term viability.we have compiled basic information about the spatial extent of threats to identify commonalities. to do this we classify estuaries int ...201121387006
epidemiology of 2009 pandemic influenza a (h1n1) in the united states.in april 2009, the centers for disease control and prevention confirmed 2 cases of 2009 pandemic influenza a (h1n1) virus infection in children from southern california, marking the beginning of what would be the first influenza pandemic of the twenty-first century. this report describes the epidemiology of the 2009 h1n1 pandemic in the united states, including characterization of cases, fluctuations of disease burden over the course of a year, the age distribution of illness and severe outcomes ...201121342884
direct measurement of perchlorate exposure biomarkers in a highly exposed population: a pilot study.exposure to perchlorate is ubiquitous in the united states and has been found to be widespread in food and drinking water. people living in the lower colorado river region may have perchlorate exposure because of perchlorate in ground water and locally-grown produce. relatively high doses of perchlorate can inhibit iodine uptake and impair thyroid function, and thus could impair neurological development in utero. we examined human exposures to perchlorate in the imperial valley among individuals ...201121394205
variable risk of cervical precancer and cancer after a human papillomavirus-positive test.to explore the effect of screening history on the risk of cervical precancer and cancer after an human papillomavirus (hpv)-positive test.201121343769
zoonotic pathogens isolated from wild animals and environmental samples at two california wildlife hospitals.to determine types and estimate prevalence of potentially zoonotic enteric pathogens shed by wild animals admitted to either of 2 wildlife hospitals and to characterize distribution of these pathogens and of aerobic bacteria in a hospital environment.201121401435
statewide estimation of racial/ethnic populations of men who have sex with men in the u.s.men who have sex with men (msm) bear the greatest burden of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) in every state in the u.s., but their populations are poorly defined. we estimated and compared populations of msm in 2007 by region, state, and race/ethnicity.201121351396
coastal pollution limits pelagic larval dispersal.the ecological impact of large coastal human populations on marine ecosystems remains relatively unknown. here, we examine the population structure of patiria miniata, the bat star, and correlate genetic distances with a model based on flow rates and proximity to p. miniata populations for the four major stormwater runoff and wastewater effluent sources of the southern california bight. we show that overall genetic connectivity is high (f(st)~0.005); however, multivariate analyses show that gene ...201121407192
human papillomavirus (hpv) genotypes in women with cervical precancer and cancer at kaiser permanente northern california.the human papillomavirus (hpv) persistence and progression cohort is a natural history study of carcinogenic hpv positive women. here, we present the hpv genotypes found in first ~500 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (cin3) or more severe disease (cin3+) diagnosed at the study baseline.201121415357
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