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Swedish Officials Detect Mpox Variant For First Time Outside Of Africa

The Washington Post (8/15, Nirappil) reports, “Swedish officials said Thursday they have detected a version of mpox that only a day earlier prompted global health authorities to declare a health emergency, marking the first time that variant has been discovered outside of Africa.” A current outbreak in Africa is being “driven by versions of the virus known as clade 1, including the offshoot clade 1b.” Swedish authorities “said the patient was infected during a stay in a part of Africa where clade 1 is circulating and was diagnosed with that variant after seeking care in the Stockholm region.” The “patient has received care, said Magnus Gisslen, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Sweden.” The AP (8/15) reports Swedish officials said, “The fact that a patient with mpox is treated in the country does not affect the risk to the general population.” Officials added “that experts estimate that risk to be ‘very low.’” Officials “said, however, that occasional imported cases may continue to occur.” Also reporting are Reuters (8/15, Ringstrom, Steenhuysen) and NBC News (8/15, Varinsky).

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Roughly 15% Of Parkinson’s Disease Cases Linked To Genetic Variants, Research Finds

Parkinson’s News Today (8/15, Bryson) reports, “About 15% of Parkinson’s disease cases are tied to genetic variants and nearly all are associated with the LRRK2 and GBA1 genes, initial data from the Rostock International Parkinson’s Disease (ROPAD) study indicates.” In the study, “detected variants were related to the GBA1 gene (10.4%), LRRK2 gene (2.9%), PRKN gene (0.9%), SNCA gene (0.2%), or PINK1 gene (0.1%), or a combination of two genetic findings in two genes (about 0.2%).” The findings were published in Brain.

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VHA’s Performance On HIV Care Continuum Was Better In 2019 Vs 2022 On Viral Suppression, Study Suggests

Infectious Disease Advisor (8/15, Kuhns) reports, “The Veteran Health Administration’s (VHA) performance on the HIV Care Continuum was found to be better in 2019 vs 2022 on the key measure of viral suppression, according to study results.” The researchers said, “VHA’s 2022 receipt of care and retention in care (79.4% and 67.3%, respectively) exceeded the 2022 CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]-reported national HIV care continuum receipt and viral suppression outcomes (75.6% and 53.8%, respectively).” The findings were published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

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Most Reproductive-Aged Women With HIV Infection Are Interested In Using Long-Acting Injectable ART, Survey Finds

Infectious Disease Advisor (8/15, Kuhns) reports, “Most reproductive-aged women with HIV infection are interested in using long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prefer it over daily oral ART, according to survey results.” The research found “that the majority (63.1%) of patients surveyed reported no concerns regarding the potential impact of long-acting ART on pregnancy.” The findings were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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Hospital-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance Declined At VA Medical Centers Over 13-Year Period, Study Finds

MedPage Today (8/15, Kahn) reports, “Over a period of 13 years, hospital-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance declined simultaneously for common pathogens at U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, according to a large retrospective cohort study.” Researchers found that “during 2007 through 2019, the overall infection incidence of nine common pathogens declined with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of -2.2%...and the proportion of infections resistant to at least one key antibiotic class declined from about 58% to 47%.” The findings were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

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Healthcare Companies Preparing To Introduce Self-Collection Model For Cervical Cancer Screening, Prevention

The New York Times (8/15, Friedman) reports “a handful of health care companies are preparing to introduce a new model for cervical cancer screening and prevention that would” act as an alternative to Pap smears. The self-collection model involves a woman swabbing “her vagina in the doctor’s office, using only a narrow swab that looks similar to the one used during a Covid test.” After “the sample is collected, a lab would test it for the strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV, most likely to cause cervical cancer.” An important “change in HPV screening has made the technique possible: Labs are now able to test using samples taken from the vaginal walls, as opposed to from the cervix itself.”

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WHO Declares Mpox An International Health Emergency As Outbreak In Africa Grows

The Washington Post (8/14, A1, Nirappil, Chason) reports, “The World Health Organization on Wednesday again declared mpox an international health emergency in response to a growing outbreak in Africa.” The WHO’s “declaration comes after suspected and confirmed cases in Africa exceeded 15,000 this year, exceeding the toll in all of 2023.” Mpox cases “reached record highs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus has been endemic for decades and the vast majority of African cases are concentrated.” Meanwhile, “a new form of the virus, known as clade 1b, has spilled into eastern parts of the African nation and has been reported in other countries for the first time, including Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.” The New York Times (8/14, Mandavilli) reports WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern D.R.C., its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying.” Reuters (8/14, Satija, Rigby) reports “an emergency committee met earlier on Wednesday to advise” Tedros “on whether the disease outbreak constitutes a ‘public health emergency of international concern,’ or PHEIC.” According to Reuters, “PHEIC status is WHO’s highest level of alert and aims to accelerate research, funding and international public health measures and cooperation to contain a disease.” Tedros said, “It’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives.” Also reporting are the AP (8/14, Cheng), NBC News (8/14, Bendix), and CNN (8/14, Davis).

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Human Body Undergoes Two Bouts Of Rapid Physical Transformation On Molecular Level During Middle Age, Research Finds

The Washington Post (8/14, Sands) reports new research found that middle age is “when the human body undergoes two dramatic bouts of rapid physical transformation on a molecular level.” In the study, scientists “tracked age-related changes in over 135,000 types of molecules and microbes, sampled from over 100 adults.” Researchers “discovered that shifts in their abundance – either increasing or decreasing in number – did not occur gradually over time, but clustered around two ages.” The study found that “on average, the changes clustered around the ages of 44 and 60.” The findings were published in Nature Aging. NBC News (8/14, Carroll) reports the changes “may be causing significant differences in cardiovascular health and immune function.”

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TSI Bioassays More Sensitive Than Binding TSH-R-Abs Assays Among Patients With AITD, Study Suggests

Endocrinology Advisor (8/14, Nye) reports, “Thyroid-stimulating [immunoglobulin] (TSI) bioassays are more sensitive than binding thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TSH-R-Abs) assays among patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), according to results of a study.” The researchers concluded that “TSH-R-Ab is an important biomarker in the evaluation and management of patients with AITD in general and [Graves disease] in particular.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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In-House Testing For HSV Via PCR Improves Efficiency, Quality Of Neonatal HSV Evaluations, Study Suggests

Infectious Disease Advisor (8/14, Kuhns) reports, “In-house testing for herpes simplex virus (HSV) via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was found to significantly improve the efficiency and quality of neonatal HSV evaluations, leading to reduced acyclovir exposure, shorter hospital stays, and more complete diagnostic workups, according to study results.” The researchers said “in-house performance of HSV PCR testing should be considered to minimize acyclovir exposure, expedite discharge, and improve outcomes in neonates warranting evaluation for HSV.” The findings were published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

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Study Finds Coadministration Of Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine With RSVPreF3 Vaccine Is Well Tolerated

Infectious Disease Advisor (8/14, Nye) reports research found “three separate lots of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion protein F3 (PreF3) vaccine were found to have consistent immunogenicity.” Additionally, “coadministration of a single-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (FLU-D-QIV) with RSVPreF3 was found to be well tolerated and demonstrated immunogenic noninferiority when compared with the administration of FLU-D-QIV alone.” The findings were published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

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None Of 25 Routine Laboratory Tests Were Clinically Useful For Diagnosing Long COVID, Despite Slight Differences In Results Between Patients With And Without Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Study Shows

MedPage Today (8/12, Kahn) reports, “None of 25 routine laboratory tests were clinically useful for diagnosing long COVID, despite some slight differences in results between patients with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to an analysis of the RECOVER-Adult cohort.” After excluding participants who had pre-existing diabetes, investigators also observed “the difference in mean [hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)] levels was attenuated, at 5.40% for participants with prior infection compared with 5.37% for those with no prior infection.” NBC News (8/12, Syal) reports the study “used data from more than 10,000 patients at 83 clinical sites around the” US, with investigators looking at “a number of lab results from the patients, including routine blood counts; kidney and liver tests results; and markers of inflammation in the body.” The findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Blood Tests That Look For ANCAs That Cause AAV May Help Identify Patients With Kidney Involvement, Study Shows

ANCA Vasculitis News (8/12, Wexler) reports, “Blood tests that look for the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCAs) that cause ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may help identify patients with kidney involvement, a study shows.” However, “ANCA testing was not as accurate for this purpose as a kidney biopsy.” The findings were published in the Internal Medicine Journal.

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Research Identifies Potential Link Between Iron Metabolism, CD71-Expressing Cells, And Lipid Peroxidation In Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

Rare Disease Advisor (8/12, Ozkaya) reports, “There may be a link between iron metabolism, CD71-expressing cells, and lipid peroxidation in” patients with “myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a new study.” The research “also showed that treatment with pyridostigmine reduced the levels of CD71-expressing cells as well as lipid peroxidation,” which “suggests that the treatment may have immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects either directly or indirectly, the authors said.” The findings were published in International Immunopharmacology.

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Monoclonal Antibody Combination Treatment With Casirivimab-Imdevimab Improves Symptoms, Daily Functioning, Overall HRQOL For Patients With COVID-19, Study Finds

Infectious Disease Advisor (8/12, Kuhns) reports, “Monoclonal antibody (mAb) combination treatment with casirivimab-imdevimab improves symptoms, daily functioning, and overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with COVID-19 infection, according to study results.” The investigators used “several validated instruments” in order to “assess patient-reported health and well-being, including the Symptoms Evolution of COVID-19 (SE-C19); time to return to usual health; time to return to usual activities; the EuroQol 5 Dimension Level 5 (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire; and the Work Productivity, Activity Impairment, and Classroom Impairment Questions (WPAI+CIQ):COVID-19 Infection questionnaire.” The findings were published in Infectious Diseases and Therapy.

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Childhood Immunizations Lag Globally, Data Suggest

The Washington Post (8/11, Blakemore) reports “progress toward global immunization goals has stalled, according to recent World Health Organization and UNICEF estimates, suggesting such immunizations have not rebounded since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.” New data “shows that the number of children worldwide who have not received a single dose of the DPT (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine increased from 13.9 million in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023,” while measles vaccine numbers amount “to an 83 percent worldwide coverage rate, well short of the 95 percent necessary for population-wide immunity.” Vaccine coverage for children varies globally, with over half “of the children who have not had a single dose of childhood vaccines” living in Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Indonesia, and Yemen.

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Researchers Identify Three Distinct Pulmonary Fibrosis Endotypes Through Cluster Analysis Of Blood Biomarkers

Pulmonology Advisor (8/9, Stong) reported, “Three distinct pulmonary fibrosis (PF) endotypes, with differing levels of lung function decline and mortality risk, were identified through a cluster analysis of blood biomarkers, according to study findings.” According to Pulmonology Advisor, “The largest cluster included patients with elevated concentrations of basement membrane collagen neoepitopes (BM cluster; 55%),” while “the second largest cluster comprised patients with high concentrations of epithelial injury biomarkers (EI cluster; 24%), and the smallest cluster included individuals with elevated concentrations of X-FIB (crosslinked fibrin [XF] cluster; 22%).” The findings were published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

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Mpox Outbreak In Africa Causes Growing Alarm

The Washington Post (8/9, Nirappil) reported, “Global health authorities are sounding an alarm about surging mpox infections in Africa that have left hundreds dead, thousands sick and inflicted suffering in nations previously spared from the viral disease.” In Africa, cases “have surpassed 15,000 this year, exceeding the toll in all of 2023,” with infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo “reaching record highs and mostly infecting and killing children.” While most infections seem to be “spreading through contact with infected animals and within households,” a new mpox strain called clade 1b has “emerged in eastern parts of Congo, including in sex workers, and has been detected in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.” Officials expect the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to declare a health emergency this week.

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Infusion For Rare Disease In Children Raises Questions Of Gene Therapy Access

The Washington Post (8/9, Roubein) reported London-based pharmaceutical company Orchard Therapeutics’ drug, Lenmeldy, is the “world’s most expensive drug,” costing $4.25 million for a “one-time infusion to stave off a rare neurodegenerative disease that can claim the lives of children by the time they turn 5.” While “the drugmaker and doctors say the treatment is most effective if given before symptoms arise,” the majority “of newborns aren’t screened for” metachromatic leukodystrophy and only five hospitals in the US “are likely to offer the infusion, according to the manufacturer, forcing many patients to travel far from home.” The number “of single-dose gene therapies approved by the FDA” has grown from zero to 18 in under seven years, “a number that analysts estimate will nearly quintuple by 2032.” However, with prices for these treatments “projected to reach a total of $35 billion to $40 billion over the next decade,” policymakers and drug manufacturers face increased pressure “to find a model for making these new medications accessible and affordable.”

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Program Mobilizing Families To Routinely Vaccinate Children Has Saved Millions Of Lives, Trillions Of Dollars, CDC Data Show

USA Today (8/8, Cuevas) reports, “A 30-year-old effort that mobilized families to get routine vaccines for children has saved a million lives and trillions of dollars, a new analysis found.” Looking at “money saved by averting deaths and medical bills from preventable but debilitating illnesses,” researchers found that Vaccines for Children, “established in 1994 following a deadly measles outbreak,” led to the prevention of “1.13 million deaths, 32 million hospitalizations and 508 million illnesses, according to a study the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Thursday.” CNN (8/8, Howard) reports the “cumulative number of illnesses prevented in the study ranged from about 5,000 cases for tetanus to around 100 million for measles and varicella.” Researchers “also found that routine childhood vaccinations among children born between 1994 and 2023 yielded a net savings of $540 billion in direct costs, such as the medical care costs of treating an infection, and $2.7 trillion in societal costs, such as parents missing work to care for a sick child.”

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ASCP Resources to Manage CMP

Swedish Officials Detect Mpox Variant For First Time Outside Of Africa

Roughly 15% Of Parkinson’s Disease Cases Linked To Genetic Variants, Research Finds

VHA’s Performance On HIV Care Continuum Was Better In 2019 Vs 2022 On Viral Suppression, Study Suggests

Most Reproductive-Aged Women With HIV Infection Are Interested In Using Long-Acting Injectable ART, Survey Finds

Hospital-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance Declined At VA Medical Centers Over 13-Year Period, Study Finds

Healthcare Companies Preparing To Introduce Self-Collection Model For Cervical Cancer Screening, Prevention

WHO Declares Mpox An International Health Emergency As Outbreak In Africa Grows

Human Body Undergoes Two Bouts Of Rapid Physical Transformation On Molecular Level During Middle Age, Research Finds

TSI Bioassays More Sensitive Than Binding TSH-R-Abs Assays Among Patients With AITD, Study Suggests

In-House Testing For HSV Via PCR Improves Efficiency, Quality Of Neonatal HSV Evaluations, Study Suggests

Study Finds Coadministration Of Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine With RSVPreF3 Vaccine Is Well Tolerated

None Of 25 Routine Laboratory Tests Were Clinically Useful For Diagnosing Long COVID, Despite Slight Differences In Results Between Patients With And Without Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Study Shows

Blood Tests That Look For ANCAs That Cause AAV May Help Identify Patients With Kidney Involvement, Study Shows

Research Identifies Potential Link Between Iron Metabolism, CD71-Expressing Cells, And Lipid Peroxidation In Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

Monoclonal Antibody Combination Treatment With Casirivimab-Imdevimab Improves Symptoms, Daily Functioning, Overall HRQOL For Patients With COVID-19, Study Finds

Childhood Immunizations Lag Globally, Data Suggest

Researchers Identify Three Distinct Pulmonary Fibrosis Endotypes Through Cluster Analysis Of Blood Biomarkers

Mpox Outbreak In Africa Causes Growing Alarm

Infusion For Rare Disease In Children Raises Questions Of Gene Therapy Access

Program Mobilizing Families To Routinely Vaccinate Children Has Saved Millions Of Lives, Trillions Of Dollars, CDC Data Show