Evaluation of a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program among student athletes in a public high school district.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program among high school athletes through testing data and qualitative analysis from key stakeholders. METHODS: Testing data was obtained by the partnering school district. Testing staff, coaches, and parents participated in a focus group using a semi-structured focus group guide. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to produce the themes of the study. RESULTS: Rapid antigen tests quickly identified a COVID-19-positive student athlete, which allowed for quick isolation and zero transmission to teammates. Focus groups with parents, testing staff, and coaches indicated the testing program improved perceived safety and demonstrated the ability for school staff to implement a widespread COVID-19 screening program with minimal training. CONCLUSIONS: As schools continue to respond to various waves of COVID-19 infections, targeted testing for high-risk activities in school settings such as sports programs may help prevent school outbreaks during times of high community transmission rates. This evaluation adds to a body of literature that will aid schools and policy makers in their decision on how to best keep student athletes and school communities safe for future waves of COVID-19 infection and other pandemics.

Evaluation of a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing Program in a Supervised Community Distance Learning Setting for K-8 Students.

BACKGROUND: School-based COVID-19 testing is a potential strategy to limit COVID-19 transmission among youth in congregate settings such as schools, sports programs, and summer camps. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of frequent rapid antigen testing at a supervised distance-learning setting for elementary and middle school children while their schools were closed. METHODS: This evaluation examines participation rates and testing data in addition to qualitative analysis of focus groups from a Los Angeles City-sponsored rapid antigen testing pilot program. In total, 434 children and staff were enrolled in the 13-week pilot program in the spring of 2021. RESULTS: In this pilot program, 2482 rapid antigen tests were administered, resulting in 3 positive test results, 1 of which was a false positive (confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing) and 0 outbreaks or community spread. CONCLUSIONS: Throughout this pilot program, implementing rapid antigen tests allowed for the quick identification and isolation of potentially COVID-19-positive children, improved perceived safety for parents and staff who interact with children, and demonstrated the ability for staff and non-health care professionals in a school-based setting to implement a widespread COVID-19 screening program with minimal training.

Lymphocyte subsets predictive value and possible involvement of human papilloma virus infection on breast cancer molecular subtypes.

AIM: To detect human papilloma virus (HPV) presence and to characterize cellular immune response in breast cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 74 women were included, of which 48 samples were from patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 26 patients with benign pathology of the breast. Molecular subtype classification was performed based on the immunohistochemical reports of the tumor piece. HPV genome detection and genotyping from fresh breast biopsies was performed using the INNO-LIPA HPV Genotyping Extra test (Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium). CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and natural killer (NK)+ cells levels from peripheral blood samples from patients with breast cancer and benign pathology were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Luminal A was the most frequent breast cancer molecular subtype (33.33%). HPV was detected in 25% of the breast cancer patients, and genotype 18 was the most frequent in the studied population. The mean of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations were decreased in patients with breast cancer, in relation to those with benign pathology, with a statistically significant difference in CD8+ values (P = 0.048). The mean of NK+ cells was increased in the benign pathology group. The average level of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and NK+ cells decreased as the disease progressed. HER2+ and Luminal B HER2+ tumors had the lowest counts of cell subsets. HPV breast cancer patients had elevated counts of cellular subsets. CONCLUSION: Determining level changes in cellular subsets in breast cancer patients is a useful tool to evaluate treatment response.

[Food insecurity and variety of food in Mexican households with children under five years]. / Inseguridad alimentaria y variedad de la alimentación en hogares mexicanos con niños menores de cinco años.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the variety of feeding in households with children under five years by level of food insecurity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from the database of the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2008, using the Mexican Scale for Food Security and constructed variables for "per capita expenditure", "purchase frequency" and "quantity purchased" for 12 food groups, associating them with food insecurity (FI). RESULTS: The prevalence of households classified with food insecurity was 48%. We found a relationship between lower food variety and greater food insecurity, with a possible "substitution effect" of protein sources among households with FI. CONCLUSION: As food insecurity severity increased, the variety of the diet decreased.

Inseguridad alimentaria y variedad de la alimentación en hogares mexicanos con niños menores de cinco años / Food insecurity and variety of food in Mexican households with children under five years

Objetivo. Describir la variedad de la alimentación en hogares con niños menores de cinco años por nivel de inseguridad alimentaria. Material y métodos. Se analizó información de la base de datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Ingreso y Gasto en los Hogares (ENIGH) 2008, utilizando la Escala Mexicana para la Seguridad Alimentaria (EMSA) y se construyeron variables de gasto per cápita, frecuencia de compra y cantidad comprada de 12 grupos de alimentos, asociándolas con la inseguridad alimentaria (IA). Resultados. La prevalencia de hogares clasificados en inseguridad alimentaria fue de 48%. Existe una relación entre una menor variedad de alimentos y mayor IA, y un posible efecto de sustitución de fuentes de proteínas en los hogares en IA. Conclusión. Cuanto mayor IA, menor es la variedad de alimentos.

Objective. To describe the variety of feeding in households with children under five years by level of food insecurity. Materials and methods. We analyzed data from the database of the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2008, using the Mexican Scale for Food Security and constructed variables for "per capita expenditure", "purchase frequency" and "quantity purchased" for 12 food groups, associating them with food insecurity (FI). Results. The prevalence of households classified with food insecurity was 48%. We found a relationship between lower food variety and greater food insecurity, with a possible "substitution effect" of protein sources among households with FI. Conclusion. As food insecurity severity increased, the variety of the diet decreased.