Search

Copyright: © 2015 Hajarizadeh et al.Background Understanding the patterns of HCV RNA levels during acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection provides insights into immunopathogenesis and is important for vaccine design. This study evaluated patterns of HCV R

A new class of metals has been found in which the electrons have effective masses orders of magnitude larger than the free-electron mass. Some of these metals are superconducting at low temperatures. This superconductivity seems to be unconventional, with an underlying mechanism different from that in all other known superconductors. © 1986 Nature Publishing Group.

A systematic μ+SR study of the magnetic heavy-electron systems U2Zn17 and UCu5 in the paramagnetic and in the magnetically ordered state is presented. In both systems the antiferromagnetic nature of the low-temperature phase could be at least partially confirmed, but the muon reveals significant differences with regard to the phase transition itself. UCu5 behaves like a model-antiferromagnet showing a drastic increase of the relaxation rate both below and above TN, two spontaneous frequencies in the ordered phase, and a Knight shift above TN which scales with the bulk susceptibility. In contrast U2Zn17 shows a loss of μ+ asymmetry by 20% below TN, which is independent of the external field but can be quenched in sufficiently strong longitudinal fields. No scaling of the Knight shift and the susceptibility was observed and no critical increase of the relaxation rate λ. Most astonishing is the strong and nonlinear field dependence of λ above and below TN in both compounds. The absence of longitudinal relaxation demonstrates the static origin of λ. © 1986 J.C. Baltzer A.G., Scientific Publishing Company.

The specific heat in the superconducting state of UBe13 shows marked deviations from BCS theory and obeys a T3 rather than an exponential law at low temperatures. A good description is obtained by the assumption of an Anderson-Brinkman-Morel p-wave superconducting state at all temperatures. The value of the spin-fluctuation parameter deduced is large and consistent with the stability of such a state. © 1984 The American Physical Society.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of booster seats and of seatbelts in reducing the risk of child death during traffic collisions and to examine possible effect modification by various collision and vehicle characteristics. METHODS: A matched cohort study was conducted using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Death risk ratios were estimated with conditional Poisson regression, bootstrapped coefficient standard errors, and multiply imputed missing values using chained equations. RESULTS: Estimated death risk ratios for booster seats used with seatbelts were 0.33 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.40) for children age 4-5 years and 0.45 (0.31 to 0.63) for children aged 6-8 years (Wald test of homogeneity p<0.005). The estimated risk ratios for seatbelt used alone were similar for the two age groups, 0.37 (0.32 to 0.43) and 0.39 (0.34 to 0.44) for ages 4-5 and 6-8, respectively (Wald p = 0.61). Estimated booster seat effectiveness was significantly greater for inbound seating positions (Wald p = 0.05) and during rollovers collisions (Wald p = 0.01). Significant variability in risk ratio estimates was not observed across levels of calendar year, vehicle model year, vehicle type, or land use. CONCLUSIONS: Seatbelts, used with or without booster seats, are highly effective in preventing death among motor vehicle occupants aged 4-8 years. Booster seats do not appear to improve the performance of seatbelts with respect to preventing death (risk ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.08, comparing seatbelts with boosters to seatbelts alone), but because several studies have found that booster seats reduce non-fatal injury severity, clinicians and injury prevention specialists should continue to recommend the use of boosters to parents of young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem/Condition: High vaccination levels in the population are necessary to decrease disease transmission and prevent disease; therefore, an important component of the U.S. vaccination program is the assessment of vaccination coverage. Current goals are for >/=90% coverage with recommended vaccines during the first 2 years of life. Reporting Period: January-December 1998. Description of Systems: The National Immunization Survey (NIS) is an ongoing, random-digit-dialed telephone survey that gathers vaccination coverage data for children aged 19-35 months in all 50 states and 28 urban areas. Vaccination coverage rates derived from NIS data are adjusted statistically for households with multiple telephone lines, household nonresponse, the proportion of households without telephones, and vaccination provider nonresponse. The results were also adjusted to match the known total population of children in each survey area. Results: On the basis of NIS data, national coverage was >/=90% for three doses of poliovirus vaccine (Polio), three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib), and one dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV). Coverage was the highest ever reported for four doses of any diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP) (i.e., diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids [DT], or diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine [DTaP]) (83.9%), three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B, 87.0%), and one dose of varicella vaccine (43.2%). The number of states achieving the >/=90% goal was 47 for three doses of Hib, 40 for three doses of Polio, 40 for one dose of MCV, nine for three doses of Hep B, and seven for four doses of DTP. Proportionally fewer urban areas achieved the >/=90% goal: 23 of 28 for three doses of Hib, 13 for three doses of Polio, 16 for one dose of MCV, five for three doses of Hep B, and one for four doses of DTP. No state or urban area has yet achieved the >/=90% goal for varicella. Interpretation: Findings from the 1998 NIS indicate that national vaccination coverage levels for routinely recommended childhood vaccines are at the highest levels ever reported. However, substantial variation in coverage remains at the state and urban area levels. Public Health Actions: The public health community and vaccination providers in areas with low coverage should intensify their efforts to implement recommended strategies for increasing vaccination coverage to ensure that children are equally well protected throughout the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrimination is a chronic stressor for Black Americans that occurs alongside other social positions and has implications for personal and relational well-being. Using data from the Survey of Midlife in the United States, this study examined the relative and multiplicative effects of gender and financial strain on the links between discrimination and personal and relational well-being among Black Americans in romantic relationships ( N = 443). Results indicate that financial strain was associated with poorer personal well-being and that being female was associated with poorer relational well-being. Further, among women (but not men), discrimination was associated with poorer quality of life across levels of financial strain. The findings speak to the potential resilience of Black individuals and their relationships in the face of discrimination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Despite increasing research, the links between racial discrimination and Black Americans' romantic relationship dynamics remain unclear. Guided by models of mundane extreme environmental stress (Peters & Massey, 1983), sociocultural family stress (McNeil Smith & Landor, 2018), and Black marital outcomes (Bryant et al., 2010), we conducted a systematic review of the literature examining racial discrimination and relationship dynamics among Black Americans in same-race and interracial romantic relationships. Synthesizing findings from 32 published empirical articles, we find support for manifestations of each component of MEES in Black intimate life. We uncover evidence that racial discrimination is associated with compromised relationship functioning for Black Americans. Several psychosocial resources were also identified as either buffering these associations or posing drawbacks/limitations for Black Americans. We discuss notable gaps in the literature and directions for future research including intersectional investigations, broader examination of the MEES context, and de-centering whiteness among studies of interracial relationship dynamics.

A core idea of attachment theory is that security develops when attachment figures are responsive to a person's connection needs. Individuals may be more or less secure in different relationships. We hypothesized that individuals who perceive a current relationship partner as being responsive to their needs will feel more secure in that specific relationship, and that the benefits of perceived partner responsiveness would be more pronounced for individuals who generally feel insecure. The current study included 472 individuals (236 couples) in romantic relationships. Consistent with our predictions, individuals who perceived more responsiveness from their partner displayed lower partner-specific attachment anxiety and partner-specific avoidance, especially when they were generally insecure. These findings are discussed in terms of the conditions that promote secure attachment bonds.

Introduction: To mitigate the recent nationwide shortage of intravenous opioids, we developed a standardized perioperative oral opioid guideline anchored with appropriate use of nonopioid analgesia, neuraxial and loco-regional techniques. We hypothesize that adoption of this new guideline was associated with: 1) equivalent patient reported pain scores in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU); and 2) equivalent total opioid use (oral and parenteral) during the perioperative period., Methods: Cases performed from July 1, 2017 to May 31, 2019 were screened. All opioids administered were converted to intravenous morphine milligram equivalents. Segmented regression analyses of interrupted time series were performed examining the change in opioid use, PACU pain scores and number of non-opioid analgesic medications used before and after the protocol implementation in April 2018., Results: After exclusions, 29, 621 cases were included in the analysis. No significant differences in demographic, ASA status, case length and surgical procedure type were present in the pre and post-intervention period. A significant decrease in total (Estimate: -39.9 mg, SE: 6.9 mg, p < 0.001) and parenteral (Estimate: -51.6 mg, SE: 7.1 mg, p < 0.001) opioid use with a significant increase in oral opioid use (Estimate: 9.4 mg, SE: 1.1 mg, p < 0.001) was noted after the intervention. Pain scores were not significantly different between the pre- and post-intervention period (Estimate: 0.05, SE: 0.13, p = 0.69)., Conclusion: We report our experience with a primary perioperative oral based opioid regimen that is associated with decreased total opioid consumption and equivalent patient reported pain scores., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Over the past two decades, advances in computational algorithms have revealed a curious property of the two-dimensional Hubbard model (and related theories) with hole doping: the presence of close-in-energy competing ground states that display very different physical properties. On the one hand, there is a complicated state exhibiting intertwined spin, charge, and pair density wave orders. We call this 'type A'. On the other hand, there is a uniform d-wave superconducting state that we denote as 'type B'. We advocate, with the support of both microscopic theoretical calculations and experimental data, dividing the high-temperature cuprate superconductors into two corresponding families, whose properties reflect either the type A or type B ground states at low temperatures. We review the anomalous properties of the pseudogap phase that led us to this picture, and present a modern perspective on the role that umklapp scattering plays in these phenomena in the type B materials. This reflects a consistent framework that has emerged over the last decade, in which Mott correlations at weak coupling drive the formation of the pseudogap. We discuss this development, recent theory and experiments, and open issues.

We examined the ways that federal, state, and local marriage recognition influence multiple domains of personal well-being of individuals in same-sex (n = 279) and different-sex (n = 266) relationships. Longitudinal data were collected across the transition to marriage equality (i.e., the U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges [2015] case decision, which resulted in same-sex marriage recognition federally). Prior to the ruling, levels of stigma and psychological distress were higher and family support was lower for individuals who were in same-sex (vs. different-sex) relationships. Levels of life satisfaction and family support were higher for those who were married (vs. not married). Levels of stigma and stress were lower and family support and life satisfaction were higher for those who lived in states that recognized same-sex marriage. A more supportive community climate was also associated with lower levels of stigma and stress and higher levels of family support than less supportive communities. Following the ruling, levels of stigma decreased over time, particularly for individuals in same-sex relationships, after accounting for state and local recognition. Levels of family support also increased, whereas support from friends decreased following the ruling. The findings of this study indicate that federal, state, and local marriage recognition play unique roles in changing the climate of discrimination for individuals in same-sex relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: To investigate trends of motorcyclist fatalities and identify at-risk populations by motorcyclist demographics and crash characteristics. Methods: We used the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database (2000-2016) to track fatality rate trends, which were quantified by using Poisson mixed-effects regression models comparing 2000-2001 and 2007-2008, as well as 2009-2010 and 2015-2016. Results: The overall fatality rate per 100,000 population increased from 2000 to 2016, defined by two trend lines-before and after the economic recession in 2008-2009. The overall fatality rate ratio between 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 was 1.60 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.51-1.70], and between 2009-2010 and 2015-2016 was 1.09 (95% CI: 1.02-1.18). Fatality rates increased among all age groups, particularly for motorcyclists aged 60 and older. Those aged 18-29 had the highest fatality rates overall. Age-and-sex standardized state fatality rates were consistently highest in Wyoming, South Dakota, and South Carolina and lowest in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. Conclusion: Motorcycle fatality rates increased overall and across all age groups between 2000 and 2016. Fatalities for the oldest riders showed the steadiest increasing trends. Results highlight the continued public health burden of motorcyclist fatalities and, by extension, the importance of improving motorcycle safety.

Background: With an ever increasing population of older adults (65+ years) in the USA, a better understanding of this population's travel patterns is needed to improve travel mobility and transportation safety., Objective: In this study, we described the travel patterns of older adults in the USA during 2015., Methods: Travel patterns of older adults (65-74 and 75+ years) were compared with younger adults (25-64 years) by frequency and proportion of daily trips. The daily trips of various age groups were estimated using the 2015 American Time Use Survey., Results: The percentage of daily travellers was 88% for adults (25-64 years), 75% for adults (65-74 years) and 68% for adults (75+ years). While the percentage of privately owned vehicle (POV) drivers and average time of driving POVs decreased, the percentage of POV passengers increased as adults aged. Females were less likely to drive POVs and had decreased average daily driving time, but they were more likely to ride in POVs as passengers and had longer average daily riding times than their male counterparts across all age groups. Older adults were more likely to travel in the mornings and early afternoons (from 8:00 to 15:59) while younger adults were more likely to travel in the late afternoons and early evenings (from 16:00 to 19:59)., Conclusions: POV use is the predominant mode of transit in the USA. As adults age, the percentages of daily travellers and POV drivers decrease. This pattern is more apparent among females than males. This study delineated travel patterns of older adults using a 2015 national survey, and the findings facilitate traffic systems designers and policy-makers to develop and implement initiatives to accommodate older adults' mobility needs and improve traffic safety., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Objectives: To compare the risk of fatal injury across helmet types among collision-involved motorcyclists., Methods: We used data from a cohort of motorcyclists involved in police-reported traffic collisions. Eighty-four law enforcement agencies in California collected detailed information on helmet and rider characteristics during collision investigations in June 2012 through July 2013. Multiply-adjusted risk ratios were estimated with log-binomial regression., Results: The adjusted fatal injury risk ratio for novelty helmets was 1.95 (95% CI 1.11-3.40, p 0.019), comparing novelty helmets with full-face helmets. The risk ratios for modular, open-face, and half-helmets, compared with full-face helmets, were not significant., Conclusions: A more complete understanding of the inadequacy of novelty helmets can be used in educational and law enforcement countermeasures to improve helmet use among motorcycling populations in California and other US states. Law enforcement approaches to mitigating novelty helmet use would seem attractive given that novelty helmets can be visually identified by law enforcement officers with sufficient training., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Most studies find strong evidence that motorcycle helmets protect against injury, but a small number of controversial studies have reported a positive association between helmet use and neck injury. The most commonly cited paper is that of Goldstein (1986). Goldstein obtained and reanalyzed data from the Hurt Study, a prospective, on-scene investigation of 900 motorcycle collisions in the city of Los Angeles. The Goldstein results have been adopted by the anti-helmet community to justify resistance to compulsory motorcycle helmet use on the grounds that helmets may cause neck injuries due to their mass. In the current study, we replicated Goldstein's models to understand how he obtained his unexpected results, and we then applied modern statistical methods to estimate the association of motorcycle helmet use with head injury, fatal injury, and neck injury among collision-involved motorcyclists. We found Goldstein's analysis to be critically flawed due to improper data imputation, modeling of extremely sparse data, and misinterpretation of model coefficients. Our new analysis showed that motorcycle helmets were associated with markedly lower risk of head injury (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.31-0.52) and fatal injury (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.74) and with moderately lower but statistically significant risk of neck injury (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40-0.99), after controlling for multiple potential confounders., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Symptomatic acute HCV infection and interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) genotypes are important predictors of spontaneous viral clearance. Using data from a multicohort database (Injecting Cohorts [InC3] Collaborative), we establish an independent association between host IFNL4 genotype and symptoms of acute hepatitis C virus infection. This association potentially explains the higher spontaneous clearance observed in some patients with symptomatic disease.

The pseudogap in underdoped cuprates leads to significant changes in the electronic structure, and was later found to be accompanied by anomalous fluctuations of superconductivity and certain lattice phonons. Here we propose that the Fermi surface breakup due to the pseudogap, leads to a breakup of the pairing order into two weakly coupled sub-band amplitudes, and a concomitant low energy Leggett mode due to phase fluctuations between them. This increases the temperature range of superconducting fluctuations containing an overdamped Leggett mode. In this range inter-sub-band phonons show strong damping due to resonant scattering into an intermediate state with a pair of overdamped Leggett modes. In the ordered state, the Leggett mode develops a finite energy, changing the anomalous phonon damping into an anomaly in the dispersion. This proposal explains the intrinsic connection between the anomalous pseudogap phase, enhanced superconducting fluctuations and giant anomalies in the phonon spectra.

Pegylated interferon therapy is highly effective in recently acquired HCV. The optimal timing of treatment, regimen and influence of host factors remains unclear. We aimed to measure sustained virological response (SVR) during recent HCV infection and identify predictors of response. Data were from five prospective cohorts of high-risk individuals in Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States. Individuals with acute or early chronic HCV who commenced pegylated interferon therapy were included. The main outcome was SVR, and predictors were assessed using logistic regression. Among 516 with documented recent HCV infection, 237 were treated (pegylated interferon n = 161; pegylated interferon/ribavirin n = 76) (30% female, median age 35 years, 56% ever injected drugs, median duration of infection 6.2 months). Sixteen per cent (n = 38) were HIV/HCV co-infected. SVR among those with HCV mono-infection was 64% by intention to treat; SVR was 68% among HCV/HIV co-infection. Independent predictors of SVR in HCV mono-infection were duration of HCV infection (the odds of SVR declined by 8% per month of infection, aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.99, P = 0.033), IFNL4 genotype (adjusted OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.13-4.56, P = 0.021), baseline HCV RNA <400 000 IU/mL (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03-4.12, P = 0.041) and age ≥40 years (vs <30: aOR 2.92, 95% CI 1.31-6.49, P = 0.009), with no difference by drug regimen, HCV genotype, symptomatic infection or gender. The effect of infection duration on odds of SVR was greater among genotype-1 infection. Interferon-based HCV treatment is highly effective in recent HCV infection. Duration of infection, IFNL4 genotype and baseline HCV RNA levels can predict virological response and may inform clinical decision-making., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: We aimed to characterize the natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection and spontaneous clearance following reinfection (reclearance), including predictors of HCV reclearance., Methods: Data were synthesized from the 9 prospective cohorts of the International Collaboration of Incident Human Immunodeficiency Virus and HCV in Injecting Cohorts study, which evaluated HCV infection outcomes among people who inject drugs. Participants with primary HCV infection were classified as having achieved viral suppression if they had negative results of at least 1 subsequent HCV RNA test. Those with positive results of an HCV RNA test following viral suppression were investigated for reinfection. Viral sequence analysis was used to identify reinfection (defined as detection of heterologous virus with no subsequent detection of the original viral strain)., Results: Among 591 participants with acute primary HCV infection, 118 were investigated for reinfection. Twenty-eight participants were reinfected (12.3 cases/100 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.5-17.8). Peak HCV RNA level was lower during reinfection than primary infection (P = .011). The proportion of individuals with reclearance 6 months after reinfection was 52% (95% CI, 33%-73%). After adjustment for study site, females with the IFNL4 (formerly IFNL3 and IL28B) rs12979860 CC genotype detected were more likely to have reclearance (hazard ratio, 4.16; 95% CI, 1.24-13.94; P = .021)., Conclusions: Sex and IFNL4 genotype are associated with spontaneous clearance after reinfection., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Improved understanding of natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels in chronic infection provides enhanced insights into immunopathogenesis of HCV and has implications for the clinical management of chronic HCV infection. This study assessed factors associated with HCV RNA levels during early chronic infection in a population with well-defined early chronic HCV infection. Data were from an international collaboration of nine prospective cohorts studying acute HCV infection (InC(3) study). Individuals with persistent HCV and detectable HCV RNA during early chronic infection (one year [±4 months] postinfection) were included. Distribution of HCV RNA levels during early chronic infection was compared by selected host and virological factors. A total of 308 individuals were included. Median HCV RNA levels were significantly higher among males (vs females; 5.15 vs 4.74 log IU/mL; P < 0.01) and among individuals with HIV co-infection (vs no HIV; 5.89 vs 4.86; P = 0.02). In adjusted logistic regression, male sex (vs female, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.93; 95%CI: 1.01, 3.69), interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) rs12979860 CC genotype (vs TT/CT; AOR: 2.48; 95%CI: 1.42, 4.35), HIV co-infection (vs no HIV; AOR: 3.27; 95%CI: 1.35, 7.93) and HCV genotype G2 (vs G3; AOR: 5.40; 95%CI: 1.63, 17.84) were independently associated with high HCV RNA levels (>5.6 log IU/mL = 400 000 IU/mL). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that IFNL4 rs12979860 CC genotype, male sex, HIV co-infection and HCV genotype G2 are associated with high HCV RNA levels in early chronic infection. These factors exert their role as early as one year following infection., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Understanding the patterns of HCV RNA levels during acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection provides insights into immunopathogenesis and is important for vaccine design. This study evaluated patterns of HCV RNA levels and associated factors among individuals with acute infection., Methods: Data were from an international collaboration of nine prospective cohorts of acute HCV (InC3 Study). Participants with well-characterized acute HCV infection (detected within three months post-infection and interval between the peak and subsequent HCV RNA levels ≤ 120 days) were categorised by a priori-defined patterns of HCV RNA levels: i) spontaneous clearance, ii) partial viral control with persistence (≥ 1 log IU/mL decline in HCV RNA levels following peak) and iii) viral plateau with persistence (increase or <1 log IU/mL decline in HCV RNA levels following peak). Factors associated with HCV RNA patterns were assessed using multinomial logistic regression., Results: Among 643 individuals with acute HCV, 162 with well-characterized acute HCV were identified: spontaneous clearance (32%), partial viral control with persistence (27%), and viral plateau with persistence (41%). HCV RNA levels reached a high viraemic phase within two months following infection, with higher levels in the spontaneous clearance and partial viral control groups, compared to the viral plateau group (median: 6.0, 6.2, 5.3 log IU/mL, respectively; P = 0.018). In the two groups with persistence, Interferon lambda 3 (IFNL3) CC genotype was independently associated with partial viral control compared to viral plateau (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.75; 95%CI: 1.08, 7.02). In the two groups with viral control, female sex was independently associated with spontaneous clearance compared to partial viral control (AOR: 2.86; 95%CI: 1.04, 7.83)., Conclusions: Among individuals with acute HCV, a spectrum of HCV RNA patterns is evident. IFNL3 CC genotype is associated with initial viral control, while female sex is associated with ultimate spontaneous clearance.

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level in acute HCV infection is predictive of spontaneous clearance. This study assessed factors associated with HCV RNA levels during early acute infection among people who inject drugs with well-defined acute HCV infection., Study Design: Data were from International Collaboration of Incident HIV and Hepatitis C in Injecting Cohorts (InC(3)) Study, an international collaboration of nine prospective cohorts studying acute HCV infection. Individuals with available HCV RNA levels during early acute infection (first two months following infection) were included. The distribution of HCV RNA levels during early acute infection were compared by selected host and virological factors., Results: A total of 195 individuals were included. Median HCV RNA levels were significantly higher among individuals with interferon lambda 3 (IFNL3, formerly called IL28B) CC genotype compared to those with TT/CT genotype (6.28 vs. 5.39logIU/mL, respectively; P=0.01). IFNL3 CC genotype was also associated with top tertile HCV RNA levels (≥6.3log IU/mL; vs. TT/CT genotype; adjusted Odds Ratio: 4.28; 95%CI: 2.01, 9.10; P<0.01)., Conclusions: This study indicates that IFNL3 CC genotype predicts higher HCV RNA levels in early acute HCV infection., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Variational studies of the t-J model on the square lattice based on infinite projected-entangled pair states confirm an extremely close competition between a uniform d-wave superconducting state and different stripe states. The site-centered stripe with an in-phase d-wave order has an equal or only slightly lower energy than the stripe with antiphase d-wave order. The optimal stripe filling is not constant but increases with J/t. A nematic anisotropy reduces the pairing amplitude and the energies of stripe phases are lowered relative to the uniform state with increasing nematicity.

The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) developed a systematic approach to review for medical accuracy the educational materials proposed for use in Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) programs. This process is also used by the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) for review of materials used in the Personal Responsibility Education Innovative Strategies (PREIS) Program. This article describes the review process, explaining the methodology, the team implementing the reviews, and the process for distributing review findings and implementing changes. Provided also is the definition of "medically accurate and complete" as used in the programs, and a description of what constitutes "complete" information when discussing sexually transmitted infections and birth control methods. The article is of interest to program providers, curriculum developers and purveyors, and those who are interested in providing medically accurate and complete information to adolescents., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: The use of helmets that do not comply with safety standards is common in California. The objective of this study was to describe the use of these nonstandard helmets among San Francisco Bay-area (SFBA) motorcyclists and to identify personal and motorcycle characteristics that are associated with the use of nonstandard helmets., Methods: A survey of 860 SFBA motorcyclists was conducted. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate risk ratios to compare probabilities of nonstandard helmet use., Results: Fifteen percent of motorcyclists reported wearing a nonstandard helmet sometimes or often. BMW riders had the lowest use of nonstandard helmet (5%) and Harley-Davidson riders had the highest use (51%). Among non-Harley-Davidsons, riders of cruiser-style motorcycles were 3.1 times as likely to wear a nonstandard helmet as riders of motorcycles of other styles. African American riders were more than twice as likely to use nonstandard helmets compared to riders with other self-reported race., Discussion: Behavioral countermeasures are needed to improve motorcycle helmet choice in California. This study identified riders of Harley-Davidsons and riders of cruiser-style motorcycles of other brands as potential targets of interventions.

Unlabelled: Although 20%-40% of persons with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection demonstrate spontaneous clearance, the time course and factors associated with clearance remain poorly understood. We investigated the time to spontaneous clearance and predictors among participants with acute HCV using Cox proportional hazards analyses. Data for this analysis were drawn from an international collaboration of nine prospective cohorts evaluating outcomes after acute HCV infection. Among 632 participants with acute HCV, 35% were female, 82% were Caucasian, 49% had interleukin-28 (IL28)B CC genotype (rs12979860), 96% had injected drugs ever, 47% were infected with HCV genotype 1, and 7% had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. Twenty-eight percent were HCV antibody negative/RNA positive at the time of acute HCV detection (early acute HCV). During follow-up, spontaneous clearance occurred in 173 of 632, and at 1 year after infection, 25% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21, 29) had cleared virus. Among those with clearance, the median time to clearance was 16.5 weeks (IQR: 10.5, 33.4), with 34%, 67%, and 83% demonstrating clearance at 3, 6, and 12 months. Adjusting for age, factors independently associated with time to spontaneous clearance included female sex (adjusted hazards ratio [AHR]: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.48, 3.18), IL28B CC genotype (versus CT/TT; AHR, 2.26; 95% CI: 1.52, 3.34), and HCV genotype 1 (versus non-genotype 1; AHR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.30). The effect of IL28B genotype and HCV genotype on spontaneous clearance was greater among females, compared to males., Conclusions: Female sex, favorable IL28B genotype, and HCV genotype 1 are independent predictors of spontaneous clearance. Further research is required to elucidate the observed sex-based differences in HCV control., (© 2013 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

Background: Few studies have looked at how obesity affects injury outcomes among vehicle occupants involved in traffic collisions., Objective: To estimate the association of obesity with death risk among drivers of passenger vehicles aged ≥16 and to examine effect modification by driver sex, driver seat belt use, vehicle type and collision type., Methods: We conducted a matched-pair cohort study using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. WHO body mass index (BMI) categories were calculated. Data were analysed using conditional Poisson regression., Results: Estimated risk ratios (RRs) were slightly raised for underweight drivers (RR=1.19, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.63). RR increased with higher BMI categories and were 1.21 (0.98 to 1.49) for BMI 30-34.9, 1.51 (1.10 to 2.08) for BMI 35-39.9 and 1.80 (1.15 to 2.84) for BMI ≥40. Estimated BMI effects varied by gender. We found no meaningful variation across levels of vehicle type, collision type or seat belt use., Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that obese vehicle drivers are more likely to die from traffic collision-related injuries than non-obese occupants involved in the same collision. Education is needed to improve seat belt use among obese people, as is research to understand the potential role of comorbidities in injury outcomes.