A Census Tract-Level Examination of HIV Care Outcomes and Social Vulnerability Among Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and White Adults in the Southern United States, 2018.

We examined the association between social vulnerability and HIV diagnoses, linkage to HIV medical care, and viral suppression among adults in the Southern U.S. Data from CDC's National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) were used to determine census tract-level HIV diagnosis rates and percentages of persons linked to care within one month and with viral suppression within six months of diagnosis among Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and White adults aged ≥ 18 years residing in the Southern U.S. in 2018. Census tract-level social vulnerability data were obtained from the 2018 CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Rate and proportion ratios were used to determine the difference between the lowest quartile of SVI scores (Q1) and the highest quartile (Q4) by age group, transmission category, and region of residence and stratified by sex assigned at birth. Areas with the highest social vulnerability (Q4) had the highest rates of HIV diagnoses (Black: 56.5, Hispanic/Latino: 27.2, and White: 10.3). Those in Q4 also had the lowest percentages of adults linked to care (Black: 76.1%, Hispanic/Latino: 81.2%, and White: 77.8%), and the lowest percentages of adults with viral suppression (Black: 59.8%, Hispanic/Latino: 68.4%, and White: 65.7%). This ecological study found an association between social vulnerability, HIV diagnoses, and poorer care outcomes among Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and White adults. Tailoring interventions and improving access for persons residing in areas with the highest social vulnerability is necessary to reduce HIV transmission and improve health outcomes in the Southern U.S.

Is the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predictive of outcomes in patients with melanoma?

BACKGROUND: The significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in melanoma is debated. This article presents a multicenter, retrospective study assessing the predictive and prognostic value of TILs. METHODS: The Sentinel Lymph Node Working Group database was queried from 1993 to 2018 for cases with known TIL data. TILs were categorized as absent or present, which included nonbrisk (NB), brisk (B), and present but unspecified TIL levels. Clinicopathologic factors were correlated with TILs, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status, and melanoma-specific survival (MSS). RESULTS: Overall, 3203 patients were included. The median thickness was 1.5 mm, and 469 cases had SLN metastases. TILs were present in 2458 cases (76.7%), with NB, B, and unspecified TILs seen in 1691 (68.8%), 691 (28.1%), and 76 (3.1%), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that the presence of TILs significantly predicted a negative SLN biopsy (P < .05). The median follow-up was 25.2 months. MSS was significantly better for cases with TILs than cases without TILs (P < .001). According to multivariable analysis, age, gender, thickness, mitotic rate, ulceration, lymphovascular invasion, and SLN status were significantly prognostic of MSS (all P values < .05). Although TILs were not prognostic of MSS, when multiple imputation was used and the SLN status was excluded, the presence of TILs was significantly prognostic of improved MSS (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.95; P = .0154). CONCLUSIONS: TILs are a favorable marker because their presence significantly predicts a negative SLN, and the absence of TILs may be a prognostic marker of worse survival in patients with a positive SLN but not a negative SLN. TILs may also serve as a prognostic marker of survival when the SLN status is not considered.

Is There a Relationship Between TILs and Regression in Melanoma?

BACKGROUND: The relationship between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and regression in melanoma is unknown. This report describes a large multicenter study assessing the association between TILs and regression. METHODS: The Sentinel Lymph Node Working Group database was queried from 1993 to 2018 for cases with TILs and regression data. Clinicopathologic factors were correlated with regression and TIL status, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The study enrolled 2450 patients. In 1811 cases, TILs (73.9%) were present, with regression present in 328 of these 1811 (18.1%) cases and in 49 (7.7%) of 639 cases without TILs. The presence of TILs was significantly associated with regression (p < 0.0001) as well as a negative SLN (p < 0.05). However, when TILs were stratified by regression status, only absence or presence of both TILs and regression were significantly associated with SLN metastases (p = 0.038). Although the presence of TILs was associated with OS (p < 0.05), regression status by itself was not (p = 0.2058 and 0.252, respectively). Furthermore, when TILs were stratified by regression status, only the presence of TILs with or without regression was significantly associated with improved OS (p = 0.0081 and 0.0137, respectively) versus the absence of both TILs and regression, with regression status not significantly affecting OS for patients with or without TILs (p = 0.2314 and 0.65, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Regression is highly correlated with TILs, but only TILs are significantly associated with SLN metastasis and OS in melanoma patients, whereas regression is not. The impact of regression on outcomes ultimately appears dependent upon the absence or presence of TILs.

A Census Tract-Level Examination of Diagnosed HIV Infection and Social Vulnerability among Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and White Adults, 2018: United States.

BACKGROUND: To reduce health disparities and improve the health of Americans overall, addressing community-level social and structural factors, such as social vulnerability, may help explain the higher rates of HIV diagnoses among and between race/ethnicity groups. METHODS: Data were obtained from CDC's National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) and the CDC/ATSDR social vulnerability index (SVI). NHSS data for Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White adults with HIV diagnosed in 2018 were linked to SVI data. To measure the relative disparity, rate ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs were calculated to examine the relative difference comparing census tracts with the lowest SVI scores (quartile 1, Q1) to those with the highest SVI scores (quartile 4, Q4) by sex assigned at birth for age group and region of residence. Differences in the numbers of diagnoses across the quartiles were analyzed by sex assigned at birth and transmission category. RESULTS: There were 13,807 Black, 8747 Hispanic/Latino, and 8325 White adults who received a diagnosis of HIV infection in the United States in 2018-with the highest HIV diagnosis rates among adults who lived in census tracts with the highest vulnerability (Q4). For each race/ethnicity and both sexes, the rate of HIV diagnoses increased as social vulnerability increased. The highest disparities in HIV diagnosis rates by SVI were among persons who inject drugs, and the highest within-group RRs were typically observed among older persons and persons residing in the Northeast. CONCLUSION: To reach the goals of several national HIV initiatives, efforts are needed to address the social vulnerability factors that contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in acquiring HIV and receiving care and treatment.

COVID-19: Academic, Financial, and Mental Health Challenges Faced by International Students in the United States Due to the Pandemic.

Background and objective Many international students often face challenges regarding their mental health, finances, and academics. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak may have presented unprecedented challenges to many foreign students in these aspects. Our study examined the academic, financial, and mental health challenges encountered by international students residing in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also examined the association between the mental health of the respondents and the academic and financial challenges they encountered. Method The study involved international students enrolled at Texas A&M University, who identified themselves as non-US citizens or non-permanent residents. We conducted a cross-sectional study by using Qualtrics® to explore the three domains of the study. Questions included in previous studies were modified to assess the academic and financial status while the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) score was used to assess the mental health of the respondents. We presented descriptive statistics for all domains and used an ordered logistic regression to further analyze the effect of the other domains on the mental health of the respondents. Results Of the 281 respondents, the majority (79%) experienced challenges with online classes; 91% reported having negative emotions and some students (24%) lost funding due to the pandemic. The inability to pay bills resulted in a three-fold increase in the likelihood of reporting higher mental distress [adjusted odds ratios (aOR): 3.051, 95% CI: 1.665-5.591; p<0.001], and experiencing academic challenges led to a seven-fold increase in the likelihood of reporting higher mental distress (aOR: 7.236, 95% CI: 3.168-12.530; p<0.001). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major challenge to international students and its impact on the mental health of the participants was aggravated by concurrent academic and financial hardships.

Analysis of contemporary mortality trends in pulmonary embolism, United States, 1999-2020.

BACKGROUND: A contemporary and comprehensive examination of mortality trends in pulmonary embolism (PE) is needed for the United States (US), as previous studies were either based on preceding data or limited to specific demographic subgroups. We aimed to assess the trends in PE deaths by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and census region in the US from 1999 through 2020. METHODS: We analyzed national mortality data using the CDC WONDER database. PE deaths were identified using the ICD-10 Code- I-26. Age adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were abstracted by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and census region. Temporal trends were assessed using five-year moving averages and Joinpoint regression models. Annual percentage changes (APC) in AAMR were estimated using Monte Carlo Permutation, and 95 % confidence intervals using the Parametric Method. RESULTS: Overall mortality trends have stabilized since 2009 (APC = 0.6; 95 % CI: -0.3, 1.6), as were trends among Non-Hispanic Whites (APC = 0.6; 95 % CI: -0.2, 1.4), Non-Hispanic Blacks (APC = 0.7; 95 % CI: -0.2, 1.6), and Hispanics (APC = 1.4; 95 % CI: -0.7, 3.6). AAMR declined by 1.7 % per year (95 % CI: -2.8, -0.7) among Asians/Pacific Islanders and by 1.4 % per year (95 % CI: -2.8, -0.0) among American Indians/Alaska Natives, from 1999 to 2020. Contemporary trends have increased among males (APC = 1.0; 95 % CI: 0.2, 1.9), persons below 65 years of age (APC = 18.6; 95 % CI: 18.6, 18.6; APC = 2.3; 95 % CI: 1.4, 3.1), and persons from the Northeastern (APC = 1.0; 95 % CI: 0.1, 2.0) and Western regions (APC = 1.6; 95 % CI: 0.7, 2.6). CONCLUSIONS: The decline in PE mortality recorded from 1999 through the mid-2000s has not been sustained in the last decade-overall trends have stabilized since 2009. However, there were differences by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and the US census region, with some subgroups demonstrating stationary, increasing, or declining trends. Further studies should examine the drivers of differential trends in the US population to inform evidence-based and culturally competent public health intervention efforts.

Sex differences in the association between short sleep duration and obesity among US adults: findings from NHANES, 2015-2020.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an important public health problem in the United States. Identifying modifiable risk factors could guide public health intervention efforts. In this study, we leveraged a nationally representative sample of the US population to examine sex differences in the association between short sleep and obesity among US adults. METHODS: Publicly available cross-sectional national data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015 through 2020. A multivariable survey logistic regression model was fitted for the association between short sleep (defined as less than 7 h of sleep in 24 h) and obesity, accounting for sample stratification, clustering, and weighing. Heterogeneity was assessed using interaction terms overall and by fitting a sex-stratified model. RESULTS: A total of 15,562 persons aged 18 years and older were included in the study. The majority were non-Hispanic whites, 18-44 years of age, with at most a high school education. Short sleepers tended to be female (55.9%; 95% CI: 53.9, 57.9) while long (59.6%; 95% CI: 57.4, 61.7) and normal sleepers (51.9%; 95% CI: 50.5, 53.2) tended to be male. As compared with normal sleep duration, 7-9 h, short sleep duration was not significantly associated with obesity in the study population overall (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.83-1.08) or among males (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.86-1.12). However, short sleep was associated with increased odds of obesity among females (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.01-1.49). CONCLUSIONS: There is sex-based heterogeneity in the association between short sleep and obesity among US adults. Further research should explore the factors responsible, and investigate the underlying mechanism.

Host genetic diversity drives variable central nervous system lesion distribution in chronic phase of Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) infection.

Host genetic background is a significant driver of the variability in neurological responses to viral infection. Here, we leverage the genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse resource to better understand how chronic infection by Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) elicits diverse clinical and morphologic changes in the central nervous system (CNS). We characterized the TMEV-induced clinical phenotype responses, and associated lesion distributions in the CNS, in six CC mouse strains over a 90 day infection period. We observed varying degrees of motor impairment in these strains, as measured by delayed righting reflex, paresis, paralysis, seizures, limb clasping, ruffling, and encephalitis phenotypes. All strains developed neuroparenchymal necrosis and mineralization in the brain, primarily localized to the hippocampal regions. Two of the six strains presented with axonal degeneration with myelin loss of the nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord. Moreover, we statistically correlated lesion distribution with overall frequencies of clinical phenotypes and phenotype progression to better understand how and where TMEV targets the CNS, based on genetic background. Specifically, we assessed lesion distribution in relation to the clinical progression of these phenotypes from early to late TMEV disease, finding significant relationships between progression and lesion distribution. Finally, we identified quantitative trait loci associated with frequency of lesions in a particular brain region, revealing several loci of interest for future study: lysosomal trafficking regulator (Lyst) and nidogen 1 (Nid1). Together, these results indicate that the genetic background influences the type and severity of clinical phenotypes, phenotypic resilience to TMEV, and the lesion distribution across strains.