The Role of Gender in Publication in The Journal of Pediatrics 2015-2016: Equal Reviews, Unequal Opportunities.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the gender of corresponding authors, reviewers, and editors led to differential publication recommendations and outcomes for original research articles and invited editorials submitted to The Journal of Pediatrics in 2015 and 2016. STUDY DESIGN: Names of corresponding authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial writers in The Journal of Pediatrics databases for 2015-2016 were analyzed to determine gender using computer algorithms and Internet searches. Reviewer recommendations and final editor dispositions were stratified by their gender and the gender of the corresponding authors. RESULTS: Of 3729 original manuscripts, 54.3% had female corresponding authors. Women were the associate editor (40.2% of submissions), guest editor (34.8%), or primary reviewer (37.4%), with no gender difference in editor or reviewer assignments for submissions by female vs male corresponding authors. There were no outcome differences by author gender for manuscripts overseen by female (P = .71) or male (P = .62) editors nor recommendation differences by female (P = .18) or male (P = .71) reviewers. Female editors had a lower acceptance rate overall than male editors (20.1% vs 25.6%; P < .001). Women were statistically less likely to accept and complete the invitation to peer review original articles (34.0%; 2295 of 6743) compared with men (40.0%; 3930 of 9823; P < .001). Women wrote 33 of 107 editorials (30.8%). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in reviewer recommendations or editor decisions for original research articles based on corresponding author gender. However, women had fewer opportunities to serve as peer reviewers and editorial writers than would be expected given their representation as academic pediatric faculty.

Sleep-apnea risk and subclinical atherosclerosis in early-middle-aged retired National Football League players.

PURPOSE: Limited data from former National Football League (NFL) players suggest that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be highly prevalent after retirement. It remains unclear whether the high prevalence of OSA in retired players is comparable to nonathletes. This retrospective analysis compared sleep apnea (SA) risk in retired NFL players to a community cohort (CARDIA Sleep study), and examined associations between SA risk and cardiovascular risk factors, including subclinical atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retired NFL players (n=122) were matched to CARDIA Sleep participants by age ±2 years (range 37-55 years), body mass index ±2 kg/m2, race, and male sex. Participants underwent electron-beam computed tomography to measure coronary artery calcium (CAC) and completed the Berlin Questionnaire to determine SA risk. The presence of CAC was defined as an Agatston score >0. RESULTS: Retired NFL players had a greater prevalence of high SA risk than the matched CARDIA Sleep participants (27% vs 11.5%, P=0.002). Compared to the CARDIA Sleep participants, retired players were less likely to smoke, and had higher blood pressure, lower fasting glucose levels, and higher cholesterol levels. However, there was no difference in the prevalence of detectable CAC (30% vs 30%, P=1). In both players and the community cohort, SA risk was not significantly associated with CAC after controlling for age, race, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Retired NFL players have a greater prevalence of high SA risk but similar prevalence of CAC compared with a well-matched community cohort.

Sociodemographic and behavioral predictors of bed time and wake time among US adolescents aged 15 to 17 years.

OBJECTIVE: To examine bed times and wake times in US adolescents aged 15 to 17 years using time diaries to determine whether adolescent sleep has changed in recent years and what factors determine bed times and wake times. STUDY DESIGN: Time diary analysis using 2 national probability samples: 1981 Time Use Longitudinal Panel Study (n = 130) and 2003-2006 American Time Use Survey (n = 2978). RESULTS: Average time in bed on school days was about 8 hours and was 1 to 2 hours longer on non-school days. Bed times and wake times were similar in 1981 and 2003-2006. Sociodemographic factors and daytime activities, specifically computer use and social activities, predicted bed time. On school days, school start time was the strongest predictor of wake time. Every hour earlier that school started, wake time was about 25 minutes earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents spent less than the recommended 9 hours in bed on school days. There is no evidence that this is a recent change in bed times and wake times, however. Although many factors influence bed time, school start time is the strongest determinant of wake time on school days. Increased computer use and earlier school days may be contributing to insufficient sleep in adolescents.

Tuberculosis prevention in Mexican immigrants: limitations of short-course therapy.

BACKGROUND: Two months of rifampin and pyrazinamide (RIF/PZA) for tuberculosis prevention has been advocated as a way to improve adherence in mobile populations, such as recent immigrants. However, RIF/PZA requires intensive patient and laboratory monitoring for hepatotoxicity. OBJECTIVES: To describe the feasibility and outcomes of using RIF/PZA for TB prevention during a tuberculosis outbreak in a Mexican immigrant community, where 23 adults and 11 children were treated with RIF/PZA between August 2001 and October 2001. METHODS: Retrospective chart review and interviews with health department employees were conducted to assess completion rates, hepatotoxicity, cost, and feasibility of monitoring. RESULTS: Ten (91%) children and 13 (57%) adults completed RIF/PZA. One child (9%) and four adults (17%) developed drug-induced hepatitis. Cultural barriers affected care. The adults resisted the biweekly blood draw, believing it would "drain them of energy." RIF/PZA, plus monitoring, was twice as costly as 4 months of rifampin. CONCLUSIONS: RIF/PZA was associated with significant hepatotoxicity, poor completion, and cultural barriers to monitoring, and was more costly than standard therapy. Tuberculosis prevention must address potential clinical, cultural, and economic barriers to completion and monitoring of short-course therapy in immigrants.