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Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera, Parulidae) are declining migrant songbirds that breed in the Great Lakes and Appalachian regions of North America. Within their breeding range, Golden-winged Warblers are found in early successional habitats adjacent to mature hardwood forest, and previous work has found that Golden-winged Warbler habitat preferences are scale-dependent. Golden-winged Warbler Working Group management recommendations were written to apply to large regions of the breeding range, but there may be localized differences in both habitat availability and preferences. Rapid declines at the southernmost extent of their breeding range in Western North Carolina necessitate investigation into landscape characteristics governing distribution in this subregion. Furthermore, with the increase in availability of community science data from platforms such as eBird, it would be valuable to know if community science data produces similar distribution models as systemic sampling data. In this study, we described patterns of Golden-winged Warbler presence in Western North Carolina by examining habitat variables at multiple spatial scales using data from standardized Audubon North Carolina (NC) playback surveys and community science data from eBird. We compared model performance and predictions between Audubon NC and eBird models and found that Golden-winged Warbler presence is associated with sites which, at a local scale (150m), have less mature forest, more young forest, more herb/shrub cover, and more road cover, and at a landscape scale (2500m), have less herb/shrub cover. Golden-winged Warbler presence is also associated with higher elevations and smaller slopes. eBird and Audubon models had similar variable importance values, response curves, and overall performance. Based on variable importance values, elevation, mature forest at the local scale, and road cover at the local scale are the primary variables driving the difference between Golden-winged Warbler breeding sites and random background sites in Western North Carolina. Additionally, our results validate the use of eBird data, since they produce species distribution modeling results that are similar to results obtained from more standardized survey methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decreased access to preventive care services has been proposed as a mechanism for the association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and advanced stage at diagnosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with HNSCC in North Carolina between 2002 and 2006. Results: A total of 1108 patients with HNSCC were included in the study. In the multivariable analysis, use of annual routine dental services (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5‐0.9) and colonoscopy in the past 10 years (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5‐0.9) were associated with lower odds of advanced T stage at diagnosis. Having no insurance (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1‐2.9), an income <$20 000 (OR 1.6 95% CI 1.03‐2.6), and >10 pack‐years tobacco use (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.04‐2.2) were associated with advanced T stage at diagnosis. Conclusion: Use of preventive care services and SES independently predict stage at diagnosis in HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to determine active periodontal disease status in HIV and to determine the impact of periodontal disease resolution on HIV status. Methods In this longitudinal cohort study, 73 HIV-positive subjects received comprehensive dental care. AAP, CDC/ AAP, and BGI case definitions determined periodontal classification. Likelihood and frequency of moderate/severe periodontal disease were assessed based on demographic variables. The influence of periodontal intervention was assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 months. IL-6 was measured in a subset of subjects. Results Of the periodontal classifications, BGI demonstrated the highest percentage category improvement with the intervention (>50%). Moderate/severe periodontitis was positively associated with HIV regardless of race, smoking status, gender, income level, and age, and was associated with increased IL-6. At baseline, the majority of subjects had severe periodontal disease regardless of ART status. Subjects with suppressed viral load at baseline demonstrated a significant improvement in BGI classification ( P = 0.026), increased CD4 counts ( P = 0.027), and decreased IL-6 levels ( P = 0.03). Conclusions Periodontal inflammation was prevalent regardless of ART status. In virologically suppressed subjects, the intervention decreased periodontitis with a concomitant IL-6 decrease and CD4 increase. These findings suggest a relationship between periodontal inflammation, oral microbial translocation, and HIV status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]