Article
Immunology
Raquel Giacomelli Cao, Lisa Christian, Zhaohui Xu, Lisa Jaramillo, Bennett Smith, Erik A. Karlsson, Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Asuncion Mejias, Octavio Ramilo
Summary: Influenza vaccination in pregnant women led to upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes on day 1 and plasma cell genes on day 7, which were significantly correlated with increased antibody titers. Compared to non-vaccinated women, those vaccinated during the previous influenza season showed more frequent significant correlations between ISGs and antibody titers.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lauren H. Kuzma, Angela. M. Miller, Elizabeth Harvey, Morgan F. McDonald
Summary: This study aimed to describe the association between provider recommendation and vaccine uptake among different racial and ethnic groups of pregnant women. The results showed a significant association between provider recommendation and flu vaccine uptake, particularly among non-Hispanic black women. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase provider recommendation in order to improve vaccine uptake rates.
JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sarah Geoghegan, Jennifer Faerber, Laura Stephens, Hannah Gillan, Richard J. Drew, Maeve Eogan, Kristen A. Feemster, Karina M. Butler
Summary: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccines are being tested in clinical trials for pregnant women. Preparatory research is needed to understand factors influencing GBS vaccine acceptance and to develop targeted interventions to improve uptake. A study in the US and Ireland found that awareness and understanding of GBS varied among participants, but overall, there was a high likelihood of vaccine receipt. Factors influencing acceptance included perceived infant benefit, while safety concerns were a barrier. Strong messaging emphasizing safety and potential benefits can help achieve good vaccine uptake.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
William A. Fisher, Vladimir Gilca, Michelle Murti, Alison Orth, Hartley Garfield, Paul Roumeliotis, Emmanouil Rampakakis, Vivien Brown, John Yaremko, Paul Van Buynder, Constantina Boikos, James A. Mansi
Summary: The attitudes and intentions of parents to vaccinate their infants with adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine are strongly correlated with their perception of vaccine safety, efficacy, and importance. The strength of clinician recommendation and social support also influence parental intentions to vaccinate. These findings are crucial for clinician education to ensure optimal seasonal pediatric influenza vaccination.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Annette K. Regan, Alice Fiddian-Green
Summary: Influenza vaccination during pregnancy is important for both mothers and infants, but hesitancy remains common due to various factors. While some interventions have shown promising results, overall vaccination rates need to be improved.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Rupali J. Limaye, Alicia Paul, Rachel Gur-Arie, Eleonor Zavala, Clarice Lee, Berhaun Fesshaye, Prachi Singh, Wincate Njagi, Paul Odila, Paul Munyao, Rosemary Njogu, Stephen Mutwiwa, Lisa Noguchi, Christopher Morgan, Ruth Karron
Summary: This study explores the factors influencing the decision-making process for COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant and lactating women in Kenya and provides insights for demand generation strategies. The study identifies three categories of determinants of vaccine acceptance: contextual influences, individual and group influences, and vaccine and vaccination specific issues.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sonia Dhaouadi, Ghassen Kharroubi, Amal Cherif, Ines Cherif, Hind Bouguerra, Leila Bouabid, Nourhene Najar, Adel Gharbi, Afif Ben Salah, Nissaf Bouafif ep Ben Alaya, Jihene Bettaieb
Summary: This study aimed to assess the uptake and acceptability of influenza vaccine among pregnant women in Tunisia. The findings revealed low vaccination rates during current pregnancy, but a willingness to receive the vaccine in future pregnancies. Recommendations from healthcare providers were identified as the most trusted source of information.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Aida Kalok, Wira Razak Dali, Shalisah Sharip, Bahiyah Abdullah, Maherah Kamarudin, Rima Anggrena Dasrilsyah, Rahana Abdul Rahman, Ixora Kamisan Atan
Summary: This study aimed to assess the maternal vaccine acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. The survey found a high maternal vaccine acceptance rate among urban pregnant women in Malaysia, which is likely related to their high socio-economic status. Responsible use of the internet and social media, alongside appropriate counseling by health professionals, is essential in reducing vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Stephanie L. Mitchell, Jay Schulkin, Michael L. Power
Summary: Pregnant women are at higher risk for contracting vaccine-preventable diseases, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by concerns about side effects, lack of confidence in vaccine safety, and low perception of infection risk. Addressing these concerns through balanced vaccine education is crucial.
Article
Immunology
Mehmet Akif Sezerol, Selin Davun
Summary: This study aimed to understand the willingness of pregnant women to vaccinate against COVID-19 and factors associated with their hesitation and resistance. Lower income and lack of advice were found to be associated with higher vaccine hesitancy scores among pregnant women.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shutaro Suga, Kazumichi Fujioka, Ruka Nakasone, Shinya Abe, Sachiyo Fukushima, Mariko Ashina, Kosuke Nishida, Kandai Nozu, Kazumoto Iijima, Kenji Tanimura, Hideto Yamada
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the long-term changes in awareness of and knowledge about mother-to-child infections in Japan over a period of 6 years. The results showed that there was no significant improvement in awareness of the pathogens or in detailed knowledge of the four common pathogens related to mother-to-child infections. Further advocacy is needed to improve knowledge about methods to prevent maternal infection for all pathogens.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Malia Skjefte, Michelle Ngirbabul, Oluwasefunmi Akeju, Daniel Escudero, Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, Diego F. Wyszynski, Julia W. Wu
Summary: The study found that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among pregnant women and mothers of young children varied globally, with higher acceptance rates in India, the Philippines, and Latin American countries, and lower rates in Russia, the United States, and Australia. The main predictors of vaccine acceptance included confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness, concern about COVID-19, trust in public health agencies, adherence to mask guidelines, and attitudes towards routine vaccines.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Saeed M. M. Omar, Osama S. S. Osman, Rehana Khalil, Osama Al-Wutayd, Ishag Adam
Summary: A study in Sudan found that pregnancy increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. This study surveyed 623 pregnant women attending a maternity hospital in eastern Sudan to assess their acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and predictors thereof. The results showed a very low acceptance rate of 2.7% among pregnant women, with higher acceptance associated with higher education level of the husband and discussions about the vaccine with a healthcare professional. The main reasons for vaccine resistance were concerns about side effects for the mother and baby. To improve vaccine acceptance, discussions about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women and their husbands are highly recommended.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Nicola Principi, Susanna Esposito
Summary: Vaccination of pregnant women against COVID-19 can protect both the mother and the child, with studies showing no significant difference in the immunogenicity and safety of these vaccines in pregnant women compared to nonpregnant women. Antibodies can be efficiently transferred through the placenta and breastmilk to potentially prevent infection in children. Additional research with larger sample sizes and follow-up studies are needed to better understand the immune response of pregnant women and vaccine efficacy against virus variants.
Article
Immunology
Asma Saad Habbash, Aesha Farheen Siddiqui
Summary: This study investigated the acceptance rates of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. The results showed a high acceptance rate, with confidence in vaccine safety being a significant factor. University graduates and women in later gestational ages were more likely to accept vaccination.
Article
Virology
Nusrat Homaira, Michael Binks, Gregory Walker, Natasha Larter, Katrina Clark, Megan Campbell, Lisa McHugh, Nancy Briggs, Joyce Nyiro, Sacha Stelzer-Braid, Nan Hu, Kristine Macartney, Tom Snelling, Saad B. Omer, William Rawlinson, Ross Andrews, Adam Jaffe
Summary: This study investigated the transfer of RSV antibodies from Australian First Nations mothers to infants, finding that one-third of the pairs had impaired transfer of antibodies. The majority of infants were born full term, with 56% being male, and the levels of RSV antibodies in maternal and cord blood were similar.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
Jad A. Elharake, Faris Akbar, Amyn A. Malik, Walter Gilliam, Saad B. Omer
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of children and college students, leading to increased anxiety, depression, fatigue, and distress. Factors such as living in rural areas, low family socioeconomic status, and having a connection to healthcare workers have been associated with worse mental health outcomes. Future strategies should prioritize social contacts to support students at higher risk of social isolation during the pandemic.
CHILD PSYCHIATRY & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Douglas J. Opel, Noel T. Brewer, Alison M. Buttenheim, Timothy Callaghan, Richard M. Carpiano, Chelsea Clinton, Jad A. Elharake, Lisa C. Flowers, Alison P. Galvani, Peter J. Hotez, Jason L. Schwartz, Regina M. Benjamin, Arthur Caplan, Renee DiResta, Rekha Lakshmanan, Yvonne A. Maldonado, Michelle M. Mello, Wendy E. Parmet, Daniel A. Salmon, Joshua M. Sharfstein, Saad B. Omer
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Carrie A. Cowardin, Sana Syed, Najeeha Iqbal, Zehra Jamil, Kamran Sadiq, Junaid Iqbal, Syed Asad Ali, Sean R. Moore
Summary: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a prevalent subclinical syndrome in children in low- and middle-income countries, characterized by intestinal inflammation, malabsorption, and barrier disruption. This review discusses the progress in understanding EED, intestinal adaptation, and the gut microbiome during the 'first 1,000 days' of life, highlighting the importance of elucidating the mechanisms by which EED affects critical processes.
NATURE REVIEWS GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Matthew Z. Dudley, Erin E. Barnett, Alex Paulenich, Saad B. Omer, Holly Schuh, Tina M. Proveaux, Alison M. Buttenheim, Nicola P. Klein, Paul Delamater, SarahAnn M. McFadden, Kavin M. Patel, Daniel A. Salmon
Summary: In October 2021, Emergency Use Authorization was granted for COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11. California plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for school children once the vaccines receive full FDA approval. A survey conducted in California found that 26% of parents did not intend to vaccinate their child against COVID-19, indicating skepticism and potential pushback. However, 17% of parents were unsure, suggesting that public health messaging could influence vaccine confidence and uptake. Research and outreach efforts should target hesitant parents.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Mary E. Petrone, Carolina Lucas, Bridget Menasche, Mallery Breban, Inci Yildirim, Melissa Campbell, Saad B. Omer, Edward C. Holmes, Albert Ko, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Akiko Iwasaki, Craig B. Wilen, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Joseph R. Fauver
Summary: Developing a timely and effective response to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is crucial for public health. Global health surveillance relies not only on genomic data but also on methods that utilize genomic data to estimate the epidemiological dynamics of emerging lineages. In this study, the differences in reporting delays among SARS-CoV-2 VOCs were analyzed, indicating that these delays may have delayed the global response to the Mu variant. The nonsystematic biases in the reporting of genomic data could impede the assessment of future emerging variants.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Adeel A. Butt, Peng Yan, Obaid S. Shaikh, Saad B. Omer, Florian B. Mayr, Victor B. Talisa
Summary: In previously uninfected, nonhospitalized, high-risk persons with COVID-19, the use of molnupiravir does not significantly reduce the rate of hospitalization or death within 30 days of diagnosis. However, asymptomatic patients might experience a benefit.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shabnam Abtahi, Anne Sailer, Joseph T. Roland, Xenia Haest, Sandra D. Chanez-Paredes, Kumail Ahmad, Kamran Sadiq, Najeeha Talat Iqbal, S. Asad Ali, Jerrold R. Turner
Summary: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is characterized by malabsorption and diarrhea. The study found that EED patients had partial villous atrophy, marked intraepithelial lymphocytosis, and expansion of goblet cells. The expression of proteins involved in nutrient and water absorption was increased, but the expression of tight junction proteins, except for claudin-4, remained unchanged. These findings suggest that EED activates adaptive intestinal epithelial responses to enhance nutrient absorption but is not sufficient to restore health.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Richard M. Carpiano, Timothy Callaghan, Renee DiResta, Noel Brewer, Chelsea Clinton, Alison P. Galvani, Rekha Lakshmanan, Wendy E. Parmet, Saad B. Omer, Alison M. Buttenheim, Regina M. Benjamin, Arthur Caplan, Jad A. Elharake, Lisa C. Flowers, Yvonne A. Maldonado, Michelle M. Mello, Douglas J. Opel, Daniel A. Salmon, Jason L. Schwartz, Joshua M. Sharfstein, Peter J. Hotez
Article
Cell Biology
Bruno Andraus Filardi, Valter Silva Monteiro, Pedro Vellosa Schwartzmann, Vivian do Prado Martins, Luis Eduardo Rosa Zucca, Gabriela Crispim Baiocchi, Amyn A. Malik, Julio Silva, Anne M. Hahn, Nicholas F. G. Chen, Kien Pham, Eddy Perez-Then, Marija Miric, Vivian Brache, Leila Cochon, Rafael A. Larocca, Roberto Della Rosa Mendez, Douglas Bardini Silveira, Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto, Julio Croda, Inci Yildirim, Saad B. Omer, Albert I. Ko, Sten H. Vermund, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Akiko Iwasaki, Carolina Lucas
Summary: The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages resulted in increased transmission rates and reduced vaccine protection. Homologous CoronaVac booster doses showed lower efficiency in enhancing immune response compared to heterologous BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 boosters, especially in individuals over 50 years old. These findings emphasize the potential benefits of heterologous vaccination strategies for older adults fully vaccinated with CoronaVac during the Omicron wave.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anis Barmada, Jon Klein, Anjali Ramaswamy, Nina N. Brodsky, Jillian R. Jaycox, Hassan Sheikha, Kate M. Jones, Victoria Habet, Melissa Campbell, Tomokazu S. Sumida, Amy Kontorovich, Dusan Bogunovic, Carlos R. Oliveira, Jeremy Steele, E. Kevin Hall, Mario Pena-Hernandez, Valter Monteiro, Carolina Lucas, Aaron M. Ring, Saad B. Omer, Akiko Iwasaki, Inci Yildirim, Carrie L. Lucas
Summary: A study found that rare immune-mediated cardiac tissue inflammation can occur after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Contrary to early hypotheses, the underlying mechanisms of this pathology do not involve hypersensitivity myocarditis or hyperimmune humoral response. Instead, elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteases were observed, along with expansion of activated T cells and NK cells, and inflammation and fibrosis in monocytes. These findings provide insights into the cytokine-dependent pathology of vaccine-associated myopericarditis and have implications for vaccine development and clinical care.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Unab Inayat Khan, Mahnoor Niaz, Iqbal Azam, Zahra Hasan, Imran Hassan, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Asad Ali
Summary: A study in Pakistan's healthcare system found that inactivated vaccines have limited effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, suggesting the need for boosters or additional vaccination.
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Karen Crotty, Meera Viswanathan, Sara Kennedy, Mark J. Edlund, Rania Ali, Mariam Siddiqui, Roberta Wines, Piotr Ratajczak, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: This study systematically assessed the comparative effectiveness of commonly used psychotherapies versus treatment as usual (TAU) or other psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment. The findings suggest that all commonly used psychotherapies improve the severity, symptoms, and functioning of BPD, but there is no strong evidence suggesting that any one psychotherapy is more beneficial than another.
JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shahira Shahid, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Fyezah Jehan, Sheraz Ahmed, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Sahrish Muneer, Muhammad Farrukh Qazi, Sajid Muhammad, Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Najeeha T. Iqbal
Summary: This study describes the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus nasopharyngeal carriage and its association with Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage post-PCV10 introduction in Pakistan. The results show that S. aureus carriage is low and PCV10 vaccine provides protection against carriage. However, there is a high prevalence of MRSA and antimicrobial resistance in this community, indicating the need for continuous monitoring to prevent invasive infections.
CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nour J. Youssef, Nadim K. Tfaily, Mohammad Bahij M. Moumneh, Celina F. Boutros, Jad A. Elharake, Amyn A. Malik, SarahAnn M. McFadden, Bayan Galal, Inci Yildirim, Kaveh Khoshnood, Saad B. Omer, Ziad A. Memish, Ghassan S. Dbaibo
Summary: Lebanese healthcare workers show relatively high acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, but there are still barriers such as concerns about insufficient research. The WHO and healthcare providers are the most trusted sources of COVID-19 information. These findings are important for informing Lebanese health authorities in improving vaccine uptake.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)