Burden of severe illness associated with laboratory confirmed influenza in adults aged 50–64 years: A rapid review

BackgroundWhile the high burden of illness caused by seasonal influenza in children and the elderly is well recognize, less is known about the burden in adults 50–64 years of age. The lack of data for this age group is a key challenge in evaluating the cost‐effectiveness of immunization programs. We aimed to assess influenza‐associated hospitalization and mortality rates and case fatality rates for hospitalized cases among adults aged 50–64 years.MethodsThis rapid review was conducted according to the PRISMA; we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and grey literature for articles and reports published since 2010. Studies reporting rates of hospitalization and/or mortality associated with laboratory‐confirmed influenza among adults 50–64 or 45–64 years of age for the 2010–11 through 2019–20 seasons were included.ResultsTwenty studies from 13 countries were reviewed. Reported rates of hospitalization associated with laboratory‐confirmed influenza were 5.7 to 112.8 per 100,000. Rates tended to be higher in the 2015–2019 compared with the 2010–2014 seasons and were higher in studies reporting data from high‐income versus low and middle‐income countries. Mortality rates were reported in only one study, with rates ranging from 0.8 to 3.5 per 100,000 in four different seasons. The case fatality rate among those hospitalized with influenza, as reported by population‐based studies, ranged from 1.3% to 5.6%.ConclusionsSeasonal influenza imposes a significant burden of morbidity on adults 50–64 years of age but with high heterogeneity across seasons and geographic regions. Ongoing surveillance is required to improve estimates of burden to better inform influenza vaccination and other public health policies.     

User- and Message-Level Correlates of Endorsement and Engagement for HIV-Related Messages on Twitter: Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundYouth and young adults continue to experience high rates of HIV and are also frequent users of social media. Social media platforms such as Twitter can bolster efforts to promote HIV prevention for these individuals, and while HIV-related messages exist on Twitter, little is known about the impact or reach of these messages for this population.ObjectiveThis study aims to address this gap in the literature by identifying user and message characteristics that are associated with tweet endorsement (favorited) and engagement (retweeted) among youth and young men (aged 13-24 years).MethodsIn a secondary analysis of data from a study of HIV-related messages posted by young men on Twitter, we used model selection techniques to examine user and tweet-level factors associated with tweet endorsement and engagement.ResultsTweets from personal user accounts garnered greater endorsement and engagement than tweets from institutional users (aOR 3.27, 95% CI 2.75-3.89; P<.001). High follower count was associated with increased endorsement and engagement (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06; P<.001); tweets that discussed STIs garnered lower endorsement and engagement (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.47-1.74; P<.001).ConclusionsFindings suggest practitioners should partner with youth to design and disseminate HIV prevention messages on social media, incorporate content that resonates with youth audiences, and work to challenge stigma and foster social norms conducive to open conversation about sex, sexuality, and health.     

健康成人颈动脉弹性特征的研究

目的 应用速度向量成像(VVI)技术分析健康成人颈总动脉(CCA)短轴方向管壁运动和弹性参数特点及其与影响因素间的关系.方法 2013年12月至2015年7月我院健康体检者400例依据年龄、性别分组,采用Siemens Acuson Sequoia 512彩色多普勒超声诊断仪采集CCA动态短轴二维图像,以VVI技术测量各组颈总动脉管壁短轴方向各侧壁(前壁、外侧壁、后壁、内侧壁)的收缩期峰值速度(Vmax)、峰值应变(Smax)及峰值应变率(SRmax).结果 健康成人颈总动脉各侧壁的弹性参数Smax、SRmax比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),而外侧壁和前壁的运动参数Vmax分别为(6.65±0.80)×10-2 cm/s、(5.66±0.73)×10-2 cm/s,明显高于后壁和内侧壁的(3.70±0.81)×10-2 cm/s、(3.86±0.36)×10-2 cm/s,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);运动参数Vmax男性组均数为(6.25±1.17)×10-2 cm/s,均大于女性组的(4.66±1.28)×10-2 cm/s,而弹性参数Smax、SRmax女性组均数分别为(3.72±0.42)%、(0.21±0.17)/s,均大于男性组的(3.02±0.42)%、(0.17±0.20)/s,各项指标比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);随着年龄的增长,各项指标呈下降趋势,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 VVI技术可用于研究健康成人CCA管壁的运动力学特点及其与影响因素之间的关系.     

Behavioral Health Risk Factors and Motivation to Change among Cardiovascular General Hospital Patients Aged 50 to 79 Years

Little is known about the (co-)occurrence of smoking, alcohol at-risk drinking, physical inactivity and overweight, and the motivation to change these behavioral health risk factors (HRFs) in older general hospital patients with cardiovascular disease. Between October and December 2016, all consecutively admitted patients aged 50 to 79 years were proactively recruited on 3 cardiology wards and asked to participate in a survey on HRFs and behavior change motivation. Of the eligible patients, 80.4% participated in the survey (n = 328). The mean age was 66.5 years (standard deviation 9.0), and 65.5% were male. At least 1 HRF was present in 91.8% (n = 280), at least 2 HRFs in 54.4% (n = 166), and 3 or 4 HRFs in 12.1% (n = 37) of participants. The proportion of older adults who contemplated or were changing or planning to change their behavior to meet health behavior recommendations ranged between 66.0% (smoking) and 93.2% (alcohol consumption). The results indicate a notable co-occurrence of behavioral HRFs in older patients with cardiovascular disease. The majority of older adults were at least considering changing the respective behavior. To prevent and treat diseases efficiently, hospitalization may be a suitable moment for systematic multiple HRF screening and intervention.     

Advances in Trace Element Supplementation for Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition (PN) provides support for patients lacking sufficient intestinal absorption of nutrients. Historically, the need for trace element (TE) supplementation was poorly appreciated, and multi-TE products were not initially subjected to rigorous oversight by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Subsequently, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) issued dosage recommendations for PN, which are updated periodically. The FDA has implemented review and approval processes to ensure access to safer and more effective TE products. The development of a multi-TE product meeting ASPEN recommendations and FDA requirements is the result of a partnership between the FDA, industry, and clinicians with expertise in PN. This article examines the rationale for the development of TRALEMENT^® (Trace Elements Injection 4*) and the FDA’s rigorous requirements leading to its review and approval. This combination product contains copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc and is indicated for use in adults and pediatric patients weighing ≥10 kg. Comprehensive management of PN therapy requires consideration of many factors when prescribing, reviewing, preparing, and administering PN, as well as monitoring the nutritional status of patients receiving PN. Understanding patients’ TE requirements and incorporating them into PN is an important part of contemporary PN therapy.     

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