Jan Dyer

More people are reporting cognitive impairment, according to CDC researchers. Overall, the rate of self-reported cognitive impairment rose from 5.7% in 1997 to 6.7% in 2015. Among non-Hispanic white respondents, the rate went from 5.2% to 6.1%. The researchers found no significant trends in cognitive impairment among non-Hispanic black, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian respondents.

Respondents to the National Health Survey were asked whether any family member was “limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because of experiencing periods of confusion.” The rate of cognitive impairment increased with age in all 5 racial/ethnic groups. The rate was lowest among non-Hispanic white respondents until the 1943-1947 birth cohort. The data are “interesting,” the researchers say, because other recent studies that used data from cognitive tests and clinical assessments found a declining trend in dementia in the U.S. Direct comparisons among studies is inappropriate, however, they note, because of different study designs. Their own findings “might suggest that awareness of cognitive impairment has improved in the United States, especially in recent years,” in part due to heightened public attention to Alzheimer disease.

More public education may be needed to promote awareness, the researchers say, especially among the minority groups. Minorities had lower rates of self-reporting, perhaps because of different cultural beliefs about disease and aging, or because they are less likely to seek treatment for depression, which can contribute to cognitive decline.

More people are reporting cognitive impairment, according to CDC researchers. Overall, the rate of self-reported cognitive impairment rose from 5.7% in 1997 to 6.7% in 2015. Among non-Hispanic white respondents, the rate went from 5.2% to 6.1%. The researchers found no significant trends in cognitive impairment among non-Hispanic black, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian respondents.

Respondents to the National Health Survey were asked whether any family member was “limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because of experiencing periods of confusion.” The rate of cognitive impairment increased with age in all 5 racial/ethnic groups. The rate was lowest among non-Hispanic white respondents until the 1943-1947 birth cohort. The data are “interesting,” the researchers say, because other recent studies that used data from cognitive tests and clinical assessments found a declining trend in dementia in the U.S. Direct comparisons among studies is inappropriate, however, they note, because of different study designs. Their own findings “might suggest that awareness of cognitive impairment has improved in the United States, especially in recent years,” in part due to heightened public attention to Alzheimer disease.

More public education may be needed to promote awareness, the researchers say, especially among the minority groups. Minorities had lower rates of self-reporting, perhaps because of different cultural beliefs about disease and aging, or because they are less likely to seek treatment for depression, which can contribute to cognitive decline.

More people are reporting cognitive impairment, according to CDC researchers. Overall, the rate of self-reported cognitive impairment rose from 5.7% in 1997 to 6.7% in 2015. Among non-Hispanic white respondents, the rate went from 5.2% to 6.1%. The researchers found no significant trends in cognitive impairment among non-Hispanic black, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian respondents.

Respondents to the National Health Survey were asked whether any family member was “limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because of experiencing periods of confusion.” The rate of cognitive impairment increased with age in all 5 racial/ethnic groups. The rate was lowest among non-Hispanic white respondents until the 1943-1947 birth cohort. The data are “interesting,” the researchers say, because other recent studies that used data from cognitive tests and clinical assessments found a declining trend in dementia in the U.S. Direct comparisons among studies is inappropriate, however, they note, because of different study designs. Their own findings “might suggest that awareness of cognitive impairment has improved in the United States, especially in recent years,” in part due to heightened public attention to Alzheimer disease.

More public education may be needed to promote awareness, the researchers say, especially among the minority groups. Minorities had lower rates of self-reporting, perhaps because of different cultural beliefs about disease and aging, or because they are less likely to seek treatment for depression, which can contribute to cognitive decline.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) keeps viral load of HIV at undetectable levels. The key is taking it daily. But it may be possible for patients to temporarily stop ART without long-lasting or irreversible damage to the immune system.

That approach is called analytical treatment interruption (ATI), and it is the subject of a study by NIH researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. They analyzed blood samples from 10 volunteers who participated in a clinical trial that evaluated whether infusions of a broadly neutralizing antibody could control HIV in the absence of ART.

During the trial, participants temporarily stopped taking ART, resuming 22 to 115 days after stopping. In that hiatus, HIV reservoirs expanded and viral load increased. The researchers also observed abnormalities in the participants’ immune cells. However, 6 to 12 months after the participants resumed ART, the size of the HIV reservoirs and the immune parameters returned to the pre-ATI levels.

These findings support the use of ATI in clinical trials of therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving sustained ART-free remission, the researchers say. They are now conducting a clinical trial to monitor the impact of short-term ATI on a variety of parameters in people living with HIV.

Source:
National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-supports-use-short-term-hiv-treatment-interruption-clinical-trials. Published January 11, 2018. Accessed February 8, 2018.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) keeps viral load of HIV at undetectable levels. The key is taking it daily. But it may be possible for patients to temporarily stop ART without long-lasting or irreversible damage to the immune system.

That approach is called analytical treatment interruption (ATI), and it is the subject of a study by NIH researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. They analyzed blood samples from 10 volunteers who participated in a clinical trial that evaluated whether infusions of a broadly neutralizing antibody could control HIV in the absence of ART.

During the trial, participants temporarily stopped taking ART, resuming 22 to 115 days after stopping. In that hiatus, HIV reservoirs expanded and viral load increased. The researchers also observed abnormalities in the participants’ immune cells. However, 6 to 12 months after the participants resumed ART, the size of the HIV reservoirs and the immune parameters returned to the pre-ATI levels.

These findings support the use of ATI in clinical trials of therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving sustained ART-free remission, the researchers say. They are now conducting a clinical trial to monitor the impact of short-term ATI on a variety of parameters in people living with HIV.

Source:
National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-supports-use-short-term-hiv-treatment-interruption-clinical-trials. Published January 11, 2018. Accessed February 8, 2018.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) keeps viral load of HIV at undetectable levels. The key is taking it daily. But it may be possible for patients to temporarily stop ART without long-lasting or irreversible damage to the immune system.

That approach is called analytical treatment interruption (ATI), and it is the subject of a study by NIH researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. They analyzed blood samples from 10 volunteers who participated in a clinical trial that evaluated whether infusions of a broadly neutralizing antibody could control HIV in the absence of ART.

During the trial, participants temporarily stopped taking ART, resuming 22 to 115 days after stopping. In that hiatus, HIV reservoirs expanded and viral load increased. The researchers also observed abnormalities in the participants’ immune cells. However, 6 to 12 months after the participants resumed ART, the size of the HIV reservoirs and the immune parameters returned to the pre-ATI levels.

These findings support the use of ATI in clinical trials of therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving sustained ART-free remission, the researchers say. They are now conducting a clinical trial to monitor the impact of short-term ATI on a variety of parameters in people living with HIV.

Source:
National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-supports-use-short-term-hiv-treatment-interruption-clinical-trials. Published January 11, 2018. Accessed February 8, 2018.

For a group of clinicians in Australia, the diagnosis of meningococcal arthritis was “straightforward” except for abnormal serum total protein, anemia, and immunoglobulin results, which suggested their patient might have a hematological disorder such as myeloma.

The patient came to the hospital after 4 days of worsening knee and arm pain so severe he could not stand. His knees and both wrists showed swelling but no palpable lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly. The patient’s medical history showed he was taking no regular medications.

Joint aspiration grew Neisseria meningitidis. The patient’s blood tests showed hemoglobin 126 g/dL, white blood cell count 15.3 x 10⁹/L, an unusually high total protein level (100 g/L), and an IgM kappa paraprotein band of 45 g/L on protein electrophoresis. A computed tomography scan showed widespread lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and multilevel thoracic vertebral collapse. A bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of a lymphocytic infiltrate, with lymphoplasmacytoid differentiation.

The histology best fitted a diagnosis of nodal marginal zone lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation, the clinicians say. Having ruled out other possibilities, they settled on non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Initially, the suspicion was that the patient had septic arthritis due to Staphylococcus aureus (the most common organism isolated in septic arthritis), and he was given piperacillin/tazobactam. That was changed to flucloxacillin and then to ceftriaxone after the result of N meningitidis. The patient also was treated with rituximab and bendamustine for the lymphoma with a complete remission.

Meningococcal infection presenting as septic arthritis in the case of invasive meningococcemia is rare, the clinicians say, but primary meningococcal arthritis is even rarer. The case highlights the important aspect that “diagnosis of one condition can lead to diagnosis of another”—in this case, the lymphoma-weakened immune system led to the symptoms of polyarthropathy and the diagnosis of primary meningococcal arthritis. The clinicians also cited a case of a patient who presented with meningococcal meningitis and arthritis who was found to have an underlying Waldenström disease, and a patient whose HIV was diagnosed again after the patient presented with meningococcal arthritis symptoms.

The clinicans say such cases underscore the importance of screening for an underlying impaired immune response in patients presenting with rare conditions such as meningococcal arthritis.

For a group of clinicians in Australia, the diagnosis of meningococcal arthritis was “straightforward” except for abnormal serum total protein, anemia, and immunoglobulin results, which suggested their patient might have a hematological disorder such as myeloma.

The patient came to the hospital after 4 days of worsening knee and arm pain so severe he could not stand. His knees and both wrists showed swelling but no palpable lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly. The patient’s medical history showed he was taking no regular medications.

Joint aspiration grew Neisseria meningitidis. The patient’s blood tests showed hemoglobin 126 g/dL, white blood cell count 15.3 x 10⁹/L, an unusually high total protein level (100 g/L), and an IgM kappa paraprotein band of 45 g/L on protein electrophoresis. A computed tomography scan showed widespread lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and multilevel thoracic vertebral collapse. A bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of a lymphocytic infiltrate, with lymphoplasmacytoid differentiation.

The histology best fitted a diagnosis of nodal marginal zone lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation, the clinicians say. Having ruled out other possibilities, they settled on non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Initially, the suspicion was that the patient had septic arthritis due to Staphylococcus aureus (the most common organism isolated in septic arthritis), and he was given piperacillin/tazobactam. That was changed to flucloxacillin and then to ceftriaxone after the result of N meningitidis. The patient also was treated with rituximab and bendamustine for the lymphoma with a complete remission.

Meningococcal infection presenting as septic arthritis in the case of invasive meningococcemia is rare, the clinicians say, but primary meningococcal arthritis is even rarer. The case highlights the important aspect that “diagnosis of one condition can lead to diagnosis of another”—in this case, the lymphoma-weakened immune system led to the symptoms of polyarthropathy and the diagnosis of primary meningococcal arthritis. The clinicians also cited a case of a patient who presented with meningococcal meningitis and arthritis who was found to have an underlying Waldenström disease, and a patient whose HIV was diagnosed again after the patient presented with meningococcal arthritis symptoms.

The clinicans say such cases underscore the importance of screening for an underlying impaired immune response in patients presenting with rare conditions such as meningococcal arthritis.

For a group of clinicians in Australia, the diagnosis of meningococcal arthritis was “straightforward” except for abnormal serum total protein, anemia, and immunoglobulin results, which suggested their patient might have a hematological disorder such as myeloma.

The patient came to the hospital after 4 days of worsening knee and arm pain so severe he could not stand. His knees and both wrists showed swelling but no palpable lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly. The patient’s medical history showed he was taking no regular medications.

Joint aspiration grew Neisseria meningitidis. The patient’s blood tests showed hemoglobin 126 g/dL, white blood cell count 15.3 x 10⁹/L, an unusually high total protein level (100 g/L), and an IgM kappa paraprotein band of 45 g/L on protein electrophoresis. A computed tomography scan showed widespread lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and multilevel thoracic vertebral collapse. A bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of a lymphocytic infiltrate, with lymphoplasmacytoid differentiation.

The histology best fitted a diagnosis of nodal marginal zone lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation, the clinicians say. Having ruled out other possibilities, they settled on non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Initially, the suspicion was that the patient had septic arthritis due to Staphylococcus aureus (the most common organism isolated in septic arthritis), and he was given piperacillin/tazobactam. That was changed to flucloxacillin and then to ceftriaxone after the result of N meningitidis. The patient also was treated with rituximab and bendamustine for the lymphoma with a complete remission.

Meningococcal infection presenting as septic arthritis in the case of invasive meningococcemia is rare, the clinicians say, but primary meningococcal arthritis is even rarer. The case highlights the important aspect that “diagnosis of one condition can lead to diagnosis of another”—in this case, the lymphoma-weakened immune system led to the symptoms of polyarthropathy and the diagnosis of primary meningococcal arthritis. The clinicians also cited a case of a patient who presented with meningococcal meningitis and arthritis who was found to have an underlying Waldenström disease, and a patient whose HIV was diagnosed again after the patient presented with meningococcal arthritis symptoms.

The clinicans say such cases underscore the importance of screening for an underlying impaired immune response in patients presenting with rare conditions such as meningococcal arthritis.

Why do some people need more—or less—sleep than others do? Scientists from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say they have identified a group of genes that might help answer that question.

Using 13 generations of fruit flies bred to be long sleepers (18 hours a day) or short sleepers (3 hours a day), the researchers compared genetic data and identified 126 differences among 80 genes that seem to be associated with sleep duration. According to the researchers, the genetic differences were tied to several important developmental and cell signaling pathways, and some had known functions in brain development, learning, and memory.

The lifespans of the 2 groups of long and short sleepers did not differ from those of the flies with normal sleeping patterns. That suggests, the researchers say, that there are few physiologic consequences of being an extremely long or short sleeper.

The study is “an important step toward solving one of the biggest mysteries in biology: the need to sleep,” says study leader Susan Harbison, PhD. “The involvement of highly diverse biologic processes in sleep duration may help explain why the purpose of sleep has been so elusive.”

Why do some people need more—or less—sleep than others do? Scientists from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say they have identified a group of genes that might help answer that question.

Using 13 generations of fruit flies bred to be long sleepers (18 hours a day) or short sleepers (3 hours a day), the researchers compared genetic data and identified 126 differences among 80 genes that seem to be associated with sleep duration. According to the researchers, the genetic differences were tied to several important developmental and cell signaling pathways, and some had known functions in brain development, learning, and memory.

The lifespans of the 2 groups of long and short sleepers did not differ from those of the flies with normal sleeping patterns. That suggests, the researchers say, that there are few physiologic consequences of being an extremely long or short sleeper.

The study is “an important step toward solving one of the biggest mysteries in biology: the need to sleep,” says study leader Susan Harbison, PhD. “The involvement of highly diverse biologic processes in sleep duration may help explain why the purpose of sleep has been so elusive.”

Why do some people need more—or less—sleep than others do? Scientists from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say they have identified a group of genes that might help answer that question.

Using 13 generations of fruit flies bred to be long sleepers (18 hours a day) or short sleepers (3 hours a day), the researchers compared genetic data and identified 126 differences among 80 genes that seem to be associated with sleep duration. According to the researchers, the genetic differences were tied to several important developmental and cell signaling pathways, and some had known functions in brain development, learning, and memory.

The lifespans of the 2 groups of long and short sleepers did not differ from those of the flies with normal sleeping patterns. That suggests, the researchers say, that there are few physiologic consequences of being an extremely long or short sleeper.

The study is “an important step toward solving one of the biggest mysteries in biology: the need to sleep,” says study leader Susan Harbison, PhD. “The involvement of highly diverse biologic processes in sleep duration may help explain why the purpose of sleep has been so elusive.”

More than 80% of children who were given omalizumab with oral immunotherapy (OIT) for 36 weeks could safely consume portions of at least 2 foods they were causing an allergic reaction, according to findings from a phase 2 study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Omalizumab, an injectable antibody drug approved for moderate-to-severe allergic asthma, blocks the activity of IgE.

Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in California enrolled 48 children aged 4 years to 15 years with confirmed allergy to multiple foods, such as milk, egg, wheat, soy, sesame seeds, peanuts, and tree nuts. The children received omalizumab or placebo injections for the first 16 weeks. At week 8, all participants began eating small, gradually increasing amounts of an allergenic food. They continued OIT until week 36, when they underwent an oral food challenge.

Of the 36 children who received omalizumab, 30 were able to eat at least 2 grams of ≥ 2 allergenic foods, compared with that of only 4 of 12 children (33%) who received placebo. Children who received omalizumab also had fewer adverse events from OIT

More than 80% of children who were given omalizumab with oral immunotherapy (OIT) for 36 weeks could safely consume portions of at least 2 foods they were causing an allergic reaction, according to findings from a phase 2 study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Omalizumab, an injectable antibody drug approved for moderate-to-severe allergic asthma, blocks the activity of IgE.

Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in California enrolled 48 children aged 4 years to 15 years with confirmed allergy to multiple foods, such as milk, egg, wheat, soy, sesame seeds, peanuts, and tree nuts. The children received omalizumab or placebo injections for the first 16 weeks. At week 8, all participants began eating small, gradually increasing amounts of an allergenic food. They continued OIT until week 36, when they underwent an oral food challenge.

Of the 36 children who received omalizumab, 30 were able to eat at least 2 grams of ≥ 2 allergenic foods, compared with that of only 4 of 12 children (33%) who received placebo. Children who received omalizumab also had fewer adverse events from OIT

More than 80% of children who were given omalizumab with oral immunotherapy (OIT) for 36 weeks could safely consume portions of at least 2 foods they were causing an allergic reaction, according to findings from a phase 2 study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Omalizumab, an injectable antibody drug approved for moderate-to-severe allergic asthma, blocks the activity of IgE.

Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in California enrolled 48 children aged 4 years to 15 years with confirmed allergy to multiple foods, such as milk, egg, wheat, soy, sesame seeds, peanuts, and tree nuts. The children received omalizumab or placebo injections for the first 16 weeks. At week 8, all participants began eating small, gradually increasing amounts of an allergenic food. They continued OIT until week 36, when they underwent an oral food challenge.

Of the 36 children who received omalizumab, 30 were able to eat at least 2 grams of ≥ 2 allergenic foods, compared with that of only 4 of 12 children (33%) who received placebo. Children who received omalizumab also had fewer adverse events from OIT

The results are in: 93% of soldiers, retirees, and family members report very high overall satisfaction with their experience at Army medical treatment facilities.

Survey responses were for the DoD’s 2017 Joint Outpatient Experience Survey (JOES), which also asked about ease of access to Army providers (83% positive response) and overall experience with Army pharmacies (78% positive).

The results showed an increase in satisfaction of about 2% for those 3 questions compared with the results of 2016, the first time the Army participated in the survey, according to Melissa Gliner, senior health policy analyst with the Office of the Army Surgeon General, in an article for Defense.gov. The survey goes to about 10% of patients who have visited a military health facility.

Besides sharing the survey results with the facilities, Gliner advises them on how to improve the patient experience. For instance, she looks at civilian treatment facilities to see what works. One insight she culled was that it helps to have staff members circulate in the waiting area to chat with patients so they do not feel they are being ignored. Another was that facilities should retrain scheduling clerks to set up appointments without making the patient call back.

Gliner says the U.S. Army Medical Command also is working on a website that will help military health facilities share their ideas and “further elevate patient experience and survey scores.”

The results are in: 93% of soldiers, retirees, and family members report very high overall satisfaction with their experience at Army medical treatment facilities.

Survey responses were for the DoD’s 2017 Joint Outpatient Experience Survey (JOES), which also asked about ease of access to Army providers (83% positive response) and overall experience with Army pharmacies (78% positive).

The results showed an increase in satisfaction of about 2% for those 3 questions compared with the results of 2016, the first time the Army participated in the survey, according to Melissa Gliner, senior health policy analyst with the Office of the Army Surgeon General, in an article for Defense.gov. The survey goes to about 10% of patients who have visited a military health facility.

Besides sharing the survey results with the facilities, Gliner advises them on how to improve the patient experience. For instance, she looks at civilian treatment facilities to see what works. One insight she culled was that it helps to have staff members circulate in the waiting area to chat with patients so they do not feel they are being ignored. Another was that facilities should retrain scheduling clerks to set up appointments without making the patient call back.

Gliner says the U.S. Army Medical Command also is working on a website that will help military health facilities share their ideas and “further elevate patient experience and survey scores.”

The results are in: 93% of soldiers, retirees, and family members report very high overall satisfaction with their experience at Army medical treatment facilities.

Survey responses were for the DoD’s 2017 Joint Outpatient Experience Survey (JOES), which also asked about ease of access to Army providers (83% positive response) and overall experience with Army pharmacies (78% positive).

The results showed an increase in satisfaction of about 2% for those 3 questions compared with the results of 2016, the first time the Army participated in the survey, according to Melissa Gliner, senior health policy analyst with the Office of the Army Surgeon General, in an article for Defense.gov. The survey goes to about 10% of patients who have visited a military health facility.

Besides sharing the survey results with the facilities, Gliner advises them on how to improve the patient experience. For instance, she looks at civilian treatment facilities to see what works. One insight she culled was that it helps to have staff members circulate in the waiting area to chat with patients so they do not feel they are being ignored. Another was that facilities should retrain scheduling clerks to set up appointments without making the patient call back.

Gliner says the U.S. Army Medical Command also is working on a website that will help military health facilities share their ideas and “further elevate patient experience and survey scores.”

A series of National Institute of Health (NIH) clinical trials are bringing Zika virus vaccines closer to the public.

According to preliminary findings from 3 phase 1 clinical trials, an investigational Zika purified inactivated virus (ZPIV) vaccine was well tolerated and induced an immune response. Scientists from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are developing the vaccine and leading 1 of the trials.

Of 67 adult participants, 55 received the investigational vaccine; 12 received placebo. All participants received 2 intramuscular injections 4 weeks apart. The researchers detected antibodies in > 90% of those who received the vaccine, 4 weeks after the last dose.

In phase 2 clinical trials, 2 versions of an experimental gene-based Zika vaccine, developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, were both found to be safe and to induce an immune response. One candidate showed “the most promise,” paving the way for an international phase 2/2b safety and efficacy trial, which began in 2017 and will last for 2 years.

“This trial marks a significant milestone in our efforts to develop countermeasures for a pandemic in progress,” said Anthony Fauci, MD, NIAID director

A series of National Institute of Health (NIH) clinical trials are bringing Zika virus vaccines closer to the public.

According to preliminary findings from 3 phase 1 clinical trials, an investigational Zika purified inactivated virus (ZPIV) vaccine was well tolerated and induced an immune response. Scientists from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are developing the vaccine and leading 1 of the trials.

Of 67 adult participants, 55 received the investigational vaccine; 12 received placebo. All participants received 2 intramuscular injections 4 weeks apart. The researchers detected antibodies in > 90% of those who received the vaccine, 4 weeks after the last dose.

In phase 2 clinical trials, 2 versions of an experimental gene-based Zika vaccine, developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, were both found to be safe and to induce an immune response. One candidate showed “the most promise,” paving the way for an international phase 2/2b safety and efficacy trial, which began in 2017 and will last for 2 years.

“This trial marks a significant milestone in our efforts to develop countermeasures for a pandemic in progress,” said Anthony Fauci, MD, NIAID director

A series of National Institute of Health (NIH) clinical trials are bringing Zika virus vaccines closer to the public.

According to preliminary findings from 3 phase 1 clinical trials, an investigational Zika purified inactivated virus (ZPIV) vaccine was well tolerated and induced an immune response. Scientists from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are developing the vaccine and leading 1 of the trials.

Of 67 adult participants, 55 received the investigational vaccine; 12 received placebo. All participants received 2 intramuscular injections 4 weeks apart. The researchers detected antibodies in > 90% of those who received the vaccine, 4 weeks after the last dose.

In phase 2 clinical trials, 2 versions of an experimental gene-based Zika vaccine, developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, were both found to be safe and to induce an immune response. One candidate showed “the most promise,” paving the way for an international phase 2/2b safety and efficacy trial, which began in 2017 and will last for 2 years.

“This trial marks a significant milestone in our efforts to develop countermeasures for a pandemic in progress,” said Anthony Fauci, MD, NIAID director

The FDA is launching a new website to get critical updates about antibiotics and antifungals out faster to health care professionals to help them make more informed prescribing decisions. The site will provide “direct and timely access” to information about when bacterial or fungal infections are likely to respond to a specific drug.

“When you are treating critically ill patients, you want as much information as possible about the pathogen…and the susceptibility of that pathogen to various treatment,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. Under the old approach, he said, updating each drug’s individual labeling took too long. Only after the revised drug labeling was approved could a drug or device manufacturer update testing criteria and labeling for the latest antimicrobial susceptibility test results. Each drug and device labeling had to be updated whenever criteria changed.

The new tool will allow the FDA to simultaneously provide updates multiple drugs that have the same active ingredient and share that information transparently via a dedicated web page.

The FDA is launching a new website to get critical updates about antibiotics and antifungals out faster to health care professionals to help them make more informed prescribing decisions. The site will provide “direct and timely access” to information about when bacterial or fungal infections are likely to respond to a specific drug.

“When you are treating critically ill patients, you want as much information as possible about the pathogen…and the susceptibility of that pathogen to various treatment,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. Under the old approach, he said, updating each drug’s individual labeling took too long. Only after the revised drug labeling was approved could a drug or device manufacturer update testing criteria and labeling for the latest antimicrobial susceptibility test results. Each drug and device labeling had to be updated whenever criteria changed.

The new tool will allow the FDA to simultaneously provide updates multiple drugs that have the same active ingredient and share that information transparently via a dedicated web page.

The FDA is launching a new website to get critical updates about antibiotics and antifungals out faster to health care professionals to help them make more informed prescribing decisions. The site will provide “direct and timely access” to information about when bacterial or fungal infections are likely to respond to a specific drug.

“When you are treating critically ill patients, you want as much information as possible about the pathogen…and the susceptibility of that pathogen to various treatment,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. Under the old approach, he said, updating each drug’s individual labeling took too long. Only after the revised drug labeling was approved could a drug or device manufacturer update testing criteria and labeling for the latest antimicrobial susceptibility test results. Each drug and device labeling had to be updated whenever criteria changed.

The new tool will allow the FDA to simultaneously provide updates multiple drugs that have the same active ingredient and share that information transparently via a dedicated web page.

No shocker here: > 90% of American homes have ≥ 3 detectable allergens, and 73% have at least 1 allergen at elevated levels, acceding to the largest U.S. indoor allergen study to date.

Using data from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences  (NHANES) 2005-2006, researchers studied levels of 8 common allergens (cat, dog, cockroach, mouse, rat, mold, and 2 types of dust mite allergens) in nearly 7,000 homes.

Mobile homes, older homes, rental homes, and rural homes were more likely to have higher amounts of indoor allergens, as were homes with pets and pests.

Elevated levels of dust mites were more common in the South and Northeast and humid regions. Cat and dust mite allergens were more common in rural settings compared with urban.

The NHANES 2005-2006 data allowed national comparisons for the first time of exposure and sensitization. Men and non-Hispanic blacks were less likely to be exposed to multiple allergens, and sensitization was more common in those groups compared with women and other racial groups, respectively. Exposure to several elevated allergens was most prevalent in rural areas. Sensitization rates were higher in urban areas.

The researchers emphasize that the relationships between allergen exposures, allergic sensitization, and disease are complex. They also note that studies are still investigating how allergen exposures interact with other environmental and genetic factors in asthma and allergies. However, among the tips they offer: vacuum every week, wash sheets and blankets in hot water every week, and lower indoor humidity levels below 50%.

No shocker here: > 90% of American homes have ≥ 3 detectable allergens, and 73% have at least 1 allergen at elevated levels, acceding to the largest U.S. indoor allergen study to date.

Using data from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences  (NHANES) 2005-2006, researchers studied levels of 8 common allergens (cat, dog, cockroach, mouse, rat, mold, and 2 types of dust mite allergens) in nearly 7,000 homes.

Mobile homes, older homes, rental homes, and rural homes were more likely to have higher amounts of indoor allergens, as were homes with pets and pests.

Elevated levels of dust mites were more common in the South and Northeast and humid regions. Cat and dust mite allergens were more common in rural settings compared with urban.

The NHANES 2005-2006 data allowed national comparisons for the first time of exposure and sensitization. Men and non-Hispanic blacks were less likely to be exposed to multiple allergens, and sensitization was more common in those groups compared with women and other racial groups, respectively. Exposure to several elevated allergens was most prevalent in rural areas. Sensitization rates were higher in urban areas.

The researchers emphasize that the relationships between allergen exposures, allergic sensitization, and disease are complex. They also note that studies are still investigating how allergen exposures interact with other environmental and genetic factors in asthma and allergies. However, among the tips they offer: vacuum every week, wash sheets and blankets in hot water every week, and lower indoor humidity levels below 50%.

No shocker here: > 90% of American homes have ≥ 3 detectable allergens, and 73% have at least 1 allergen at elevated levels, acceding to the largest U.S. indoor allergen study to date.

Using data from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences  (NHANES) 2005-2006, researchers studied levels of 8 common allergens (cat, dog, cockroach, mouse, rat, mold, and 2 types of dust mite allergens) in nearly 7,000 homes.

Mobile homes, older homes, rental homes, and rural homes were more likely to have higher amounts of indoor allergens, as were homes with pets and pests.

Elevated levels of dust mites were more common in the South and Northeast and humid regions. Cat and dust mite allergens were more common in rural settings compared with urban.

The NHANES 2005-2006 data allowed national comparisons for the first time of exposure and sensitization. Men and non-Hispanic blacks were less likely to be exposed to multiple allergens, and sensitization was more common in those groups compared with women and other racial groups, respectively. Exposure to several elevated allergens was most prevalent in rural areas. Sensitization rates were higher in urban areas.

The researchers emphasize that the relationships between allergen exposures, allergic sensitization, and disease are complex. They also note that studies are still investigating how allergen exposures interact with other environmental and genetic factors in asthma and allergies. However, among the tips they offer: vacuum every week, wash sheets and blankets in hot water every week, and lower indoor humidity levels below 50%.

The health care industry sees more nonfatal occupational injury and illness than other industry sectors. One reason may be that employers and employees are not adhering to health and safety best practices, according to a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) survey of nearly 11,000 workers in a wide range of professional, technical, and support occupations.

The survey—the largest federally sponsored survey addressing chemical hazards in health care—found lapses everywhere. For instance, when administering aerosolized pentamidine, 69% of health care workers did not always wear protective gowns, 49% did not always wear respiratory protection, and 22% did not always wear protective gloves.

When NIOSH compared responses from respondents who administered pentamidine versus those who administered antibiotics, it found that those who administered pentamidine were more likely to be trained, familiar with employer standard procedures, and use eye/face protection and respirators. The major barrier to using personal protective equipment for those who administered either pentamidine or antibiotics include “the perception that aerosolized medications are not as dangerous as other chemicals.” Moreover, NIOSH concluded that there was “a belief” that employers do not fully appreciate the potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to the drugs, and thus do not prioritize adherence.

The survey also revealed that best practices to minimize exposure to high-level disinfectants are not universally implemented: 17% of respondents said they never received training. Of those who received training, 42% said it was > 12 months before, and 19% said employer safe handling procedures were unavailable. Nearly half of respondents did not always wear a protective gown when handling the products; 9% did not always wear protective gloves.

Among other findings: use of anesthesia machines with scavenging systems was “nearly universal.” However, adherence to other best practices was lacking. For instance, one third of health care workers who administered anesthetic gases to children and 14% of those with adult patients started the anesthetic gas flow before the delivery mask or airway mask was applied to the patient. And, 18% of respondents said they never received training. Of those who did receive training, 81% said it had been > 12 months before. Not surprisingly, NIOSH concludes that findings from the survey show that best practices have not been implemented and adherence is “not universal.”

The health care industry sees more nonfatal occupational injury and illness than other industry sectors. One reason may be that employers and employees are not adhering to health and safety best practices, according to a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) survey of nearly 11,000 workers in a wide range of professional, technical, and support occupations.

The survey—the largest federally sponsored survey addressing chemical hazards in health care—found lapses everywhere. For instance, when administering aerosolized pentamidine, 69% of health care workers did not always wear protective gowns, 49% did not always wear respiratory protection, and 22% did not always wear protective gloves.

When NIOSH compared responses from respondents who administered pentamidine versus those who administered antibiotics, it found that those who administered pentamidine were more likely to be trained, familiar with employer standard procedures, and use eye/face protection and respirators. The major barrier to using personal protective equipment for those who administered either pentamidine or antibiotics include “the perception that aerosolized medications are not as dangerous as other chemicals.” Moreover, NIOSH concluded that there was “a belief” that employers do not fully appreciate the potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to the drugs, and thus do not prioritize adherence.

The survey also revealed that best practices to minimize exposure to high-level disinfectants are not universally implemented: 17% of respondents said they never received training. Of those who received training, 42% said it was > 12 months before, and 19% said employer safe handling procedures were unavailable. Nearly half of respondents did not always wear a protective gown when handling the products; 9% did not always wear protective gloves.

Among other findings: use of anesthesia machines with scavenging systems was “nearly universal.” However, adherence to other best practices was lacking. For instance, one third of health care workers who administered anesthetic gases to children and 14% of those with adult patients started the anesthetic gas flow before the delivery mask or airway mask was applied to the patient. And, 18% of respondents said they never received training. Of those who did receive training, 81% said it had been > 12 months before. Not surprisingly, NIOSH concludes that findings from the survey show that best practices have not been implemented and adherence is “not universal.”

The health care industry sees more nonfatal occupational injury and illness than other industry sectors. One reason may be that employers and employees are not adhering to health and safety best practices, according to a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) survey of nearly 11,000 workers in a wide range of professional, technical, and support occupations.

The survey—the largest federally sponsored survey addressing chemical hazards in health care—found lapses everywhere. For instance, when administering aerosolized pentamidine, 69% of health care workers did not always wear protective gowns, 49% did not always wear respiratory protection, and 22% did not always wear protective gloves.

When NIOSH compared responses from respondents who administered pentamidine versus those who administered antibiotics, it found that those who administered pentamidine were more likely to be trained, familiar with employer standard procedures, and use eye/face protection and respirators. The major barrier to using personal protective equipment for those who administered either pentamidine or antibiotics include “the perception that aerosolized medications are not as dangerous as other chemicals.” Moreover, NIOSH concluded that there was “a belief” that employers do not fully appreciate the potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to the drugs, and thus do not prioritize adherence.

The survey also revealed that best practices to minimize exposure to high-level disinfectants are not universally implemented: 17% of respondents said they never received training. Of those who received training, 42% said it was > 12 months before, and 19% said employer safe handling procedures were unavailable. Nearly half of respondents did not always wear a protective gown when handling the products; 9% did not always wear protective gloves.

Among other findings: use of anesthesia machines with scavenging systems was “nearly universal.” However, adherence to other best practices was lacking. For instance, one third of health care workers who administered anesthetic gases to children and 14% of those with adult patients started the anesthetic gas flow before the delivery mask or airway mask was applied to the patient. And, 18% of respondents said they never received training. Of those who did receive training, 81% said it had been > 12 months before. Not surprisingly, NIOSH concludes that findings from the survey show that best practices have not been implemented and adherence is “not universal.”