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Abstract CD89, the human immunoglobulin A (IgA) Fc receptor (FcR), is a potential target for antibody-based therapeutics, but little is known about its expression and modulation in vivo . In this study, we examined the expression pattern of CD89 and its signalling subunit, the FcR γ chain, on circulating myeloid cells and in various tissues. Our results showed a wide tissue distribution of CD89+ cells. Thus, CD89+ cells were evident as clusters in tonsils and appendix and scattered in varying numbers in lymph nodes, kidney, liver, intestinal mucosa, bronchoalveolar lavage and peritoneal fluid. Most CD89+ cells were identified as neutrophils with high levels of CD89. A few recently emigrated macrophages (CD14low ), weakly positive for CD89, were occasionally found in the tissues and more often in the peritoneal fluid. The level of CD89 on neutrophils in tissues and peripheral blood was similar, whereas on monocytes it was much lower in the tissues than in blood, and it was absent on CD14– /CD68+ intestinal lamina propria macrophages. Conversely, we detected much higher levels of the FcR γ chain in monocytes than in neutrophils, but the FcR γ chain was also downregulated in tissue macrophages as well as in in vitro -differentiated monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells. The implications of our current findings on the biological functioning of CD89 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a study on adult obesity in the United States undertaken by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study assessed the prevalence of obesity by state and demographic characteristics by using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. There was a significant increase in state-level prevalence of obesity from 1995-2005. Limitations to the study include the fact that the data was self-reported and that people without land-line telephones were not included in the study. Public health initiatives are needed to combat the prevalence of obesity in the United States.

Competing Interests: FINANCIAL/CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES: An Independent review for bias was completed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr Barlow has disclosed a financial relationship with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development as a co-investigator.

Competing Interests: FINANCIAL/CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES: An independent review for bias was completed by The American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr Barlow has disclosed a financial relationship with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development as a co-investigator.

The relationship between gaming and sleep is mostly informed by studies of addictive gaming behavior, thus limiting our understanding of sleep in the context of nonproblematic engaged gaming. The present study investigated whether addicted, problem, and engaged gaming behavior was associated with sleep duration, social jetlag, and difficulties falling asleep. The sample consisted of 13- and 16-year-old Norwegian adolescents (n = 3228) participating in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2018. Participants were categorized into addicted, problem, engaged, and normal/non-gaming behavior groups according to which GAS-7 criteria they fulfilled. Robust generalized linear mixed models with a random intercept for class ID were used to examine the association between the sleep variables and gaming behavior. Addicted gaming behavior was unfavorably associated with all sleep parameters. The findings for engaged gaming and problem gaming behavior were somewhat mixed. Engaged gamers slept less on weekends, less on weekdays for those aged 16, and experienced greater social jetlag compared to the normal/non-gaming group. Problem gamers experienced greater social jetlag and had higher odds of experiencing difficulties falling asleep. Overall, the results suggest that all types of gaming behaviors might harm sleep health, but to a greater extent for the addicted gamers.

Background: The knowledge regarding the occurrence and the clinical implications of tick-borne infections in immunosuppressed patients living in tick-endemic areas is limited., Methods: Adult patients with autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive treatment such as infliximab and rituximab were invited to participate in the study when they attended the hospital for treatment and/or control of the disease. Whole-blood samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Babesia spp., Results: The occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of patients (n = 163) with autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive treatment was evaluated. Pathogen DNA was detected in 8.6% (14/163) of the patients. The predominant pathogen was Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis (12/14), which was carried in the blood of infected patients for 10-59 days until treatment with doxycycline. B. burgdorferi s.l. and Rickettsia spp. were detected in 1 patient each. The B. burgdorferi-infected patient presented with fever, whereas the remaining patients were judged to have subclinical infections. B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp. were not detected in any patient., Conclusions: Patients treated with biologicals and living in a tick-endemic area seem to have a high risk of contracting Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis infection, which, if left untreated, could result in thromboembolic complications., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: As part of a national effort to prevent and control obesity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases (NPAO) provides funding to states to improve access to healthful food and increase opportunities for physical activity. The CDC also provides funding to states to build Coordinated School Health (CSH) programs across agencies and within schools to help reduce chronic disease risk factors. This paper investigates the possible role of these programs in state policy change., Methods: Descriptive study of state legislation targeting obesity prevention passed in 2005. Units of analysis were 135 pieces of obesity-related state legislation identified within 4 legislative databases. Legislation was coded into programmatic setting and obesity-prevention strategy categories., Results: On average, states receiving NPAO or CSH program funding passed twice as many bills as states not yet funded., Conclusions and Implications: The statewide obesity prevention and school health programs may have contributed to states enacting more obesity-related legislation. Further research into the process by which state programs influence the enactment and effective implementation of policies could help build the evidence base for policy changes that help prevent obesity.

Background: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation requested this utilization-focused evaluation of its Active Living Research (ALR) program. This evaluation reports on the trajectory of influence of past and future ALR outcomes on field-building and policy contributions as well as on possible users of completed and disseminated ALR products., Methods: In 2006 and 2007, key-informant interviews were conducted with 136 representatives of first-line potential users of ALR research products, including state physical activity and nutrition program coordinators, policymakers, scientists, and funders. Literature reviews, bibliometric analyses, and document reviews served to describe the context for ALR's work and the ways it could enhance its utility for field building and policymaking., Results: The contributions of ALR to the emerging transdisciplinary field included leadership in the development of measurement tools, epidemiologic studies, implementation research, the translation of research to practice, and the communication of learned lessons to diverse audiences. ALR's contributions to policy discussions were found across a spectrum of policy-development phases that included describing the problem, raising awareness of alternative strategies for increasing physical activity, convening nontraditional partners, and evaluating policy implementation., Conclusions: Policy-relevant research can make contributions to policymakers' thinking but almost never causes a change by itself. Five years after the original authorization of ALR, there is ample evidence of its recognition as a resource by key players, its field-building influence, and its contributions to policy discussions. All these bear promise for a broader contribution to obesity prevention. Recommendations for increasing ALR's impact on policy and practice are offered.

To help address the challenges posed by the obesity epidemic in the United States, the U.S. Congress authorized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases. In this article, we summarize the progress of the first 20 states funded by this program. The data presented are based on the information provided by the states in their semiannual progress monitoring reports on program activities from January through June 2004. The states have made progress in developing capacity and infrastructure for their programs, including leveraging financial resources and developing strong partnerships. In addition, they are planning and initiating environmental changes through legislation, and, although less frequently, through policies and other changes such as expanding physical activity opportunities. Collectively, the states are making progress in planning and implementing activities to prevent and control obesity and other chronic diseases.

Introduction: Implicit in public health planning models is the assumption that good public health plans lead to good programs, and good programs lead to desired health outcomes. Despite considerable resources that are devoted to developing plans, public health agencies and organizations have lacked a tool for evaluating the finished product of their planning efforts -- the written plan itself -- as an important indicator of progress. To address the need for an instrument to assess the quality of state plans designed to prevent and control chronic diseases, we created and tested the State Plan Index and used it to evaluate the quality of nine state plans aimed at preventing and reducing obesity., Methods: The State Plan Index was developed under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with public health experts in federal, state, and academic settings. The State Plan Index included 55 items related to plan quality arranged into nine components. Each item was rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating. Each plan also received a separate overall plan quality score using the same scale. Each state plan was evaluated by four or five raters using the State Plan Index. For each plan, the 55 items were averaged to calculate an item average score, and a subscore was calculated for each State Plan Index component. Finally, five states also self-rated their own plans (self score)., Results: The mean item average score for all plans was 2.4 out of 5.0. The range of item average scores was 1.0 to 3.0. The component of the State Plan Index with the highest mean component score (3.3) was Presentation of Epidemiologic Data on Disease Burden. The components with the lowest component scores were Resources for Plan Implementation (0.7); Integration of Obesity Efforts with Other Chronic Disease Efforts (1.7); and Program Evaluation (2.0). Plan quality was rated higher when based on the single overall plan quality score assigned by raters. In addition, self scores were consistently and substantially higher than rater-assigned scores., Conclusion: Evaluation of plans early in the life of programs can be used to strengthen existing programs and to guide programs newly engaged in chronic disease prevention planning. The CDC has used the State Plan Index evaluation results to guide technical assistance, plan training sessions, and enhance communication with state staff about plan content, quality, and public health approach. Some state program directors self-evaluated their obesity draft plan and used the evaluation results to strengthen their planning process and to guide plan revisions. Other states have adapted the State Plan Index as a framework for new planning efforts to prevent obesity as well as other chronic diseases.