Medical and Research Library News   

Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note

Training opportunities

The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are in Central Time.

October 8, 2025; 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Primary Care at a Crossroads: Navigating Recent Policy, Budget, and Regulatory Changes.
Join the Texas Primary Care Consortium for a timely webinar bringing together thought-leaders, advocates, and system stakeholders to unpack the evolving landscape. This session will spotlight critical policy, budget, and regulatory changes affecting primary care delivery, financing, and infrastructure across the state. Together, we’ll explore what has changed, why it matters, who it affects, and what comes next.

October 14, 2025; 1–2 p.m. Scaling up Complex Interventions: Lessons Learned from three Studies.
This webinar from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living will describe a framework for scaling up interventions, explain the value of engaging multi-level partners in scale-up planning, and discuss how to tailor scale-up strategies to target multilevel determinants.

October 27, 2025; 1–2 p.m. Strengthening Academic Health Department Partnerships for Student Success: Vermont Department of Health Environmental Scan.
Join the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Public Health Foundation (PHF) for their next webinar focused on academic health department (AHD). In this webinar, participants will gain a foundational understanding of AHD partnerships, with an introduction to PHF’s new AHD Partnerships Toolkit designed to support the development and sustainability of these partnerships. Then hear insights from the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) about their past and existing partnerships, highlighting student placement opportunities, and how the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) supported work with PHF on an environmental scan to improve student placement experiences for both students and VDH staff.

October 29, 2025; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. DSHS Grand Rounds - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.
This webinar, offered by the DSHS Office of Practice and Learning Grand Rounds program, will provide an overview of how to evaluate and treat individuals with three of the most common substance use disorders seen in Texas. DSHS Grand Rounds explores the science and practice of population health and awards continuing education credits/contact hours for various disciplines. Visit the Grand Rounds calendar to see information on upcoming sessions. Held monthly on the fourth Wednesday, sessions last 90 minutes with the final 20 minutes reserved for Q&A.

Websites and reports on trending topics

Gale Academic OneFile – This TexShare resource lets you access millions of articles from thousands of scholarly and authoritative sources in the humanities, science, social science, business, and more. The Topic Finder feature is an easy visual to help explore sub-topics of your initial search. Please email the library for remote access to this resource.

MedlinePlus - Provided by the National Library of Medicine, this resource has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 975 diseases and conditions. There are directories, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Each year in the United States, more than 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease. This website from the CDC will help you recognize symptoms, identify risk factors, and lower your risk.

Toxic Substances Portal – This resource from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ASTDR) makes it easy for researchers and individuals to find information about toxic chemicals, understand how these chemicals can affect health, and learn how to prevent exposure. It features a search engine that facilitates finding substances by substance name, Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number, synonym, or trade name.

Journal articles of note

Fazal A, Harker EJ, Neelam V, et al. Pediatric influenza-associated encephalopathy and acute necrotizing encephalopathy - United States, 2024-25 influenza Season. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2025;74(36):556-564. Published 2025 Sep 25. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7436a1
Abstract
In January 2025, CDC received several reports of deaths among children aged <18 years with a severe form of influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE) termed acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). Because no national surveillance for IAE currently exists, CDC requested notification of U.S. pediatric IAE cases from clinicians and health departments during the 2024-25 influenza season, a high-severity season with a record number of pediatric influenza-associated deaths. Among 192 reports of suspected IAE submitted to CDC, 109 (57%) were categorized as IAE, 37 (34%) of which were subcategorized as ANE, and 72 (66%) as other IAE; 82 reports did not meet IAE criteria and were categorized as other influenza-associated neurologic disease. The median age of children with IAE was 5 years and 55% were previously healthy, 74% were admitted to an intensive care unit, and 19% died; 41% of children with ANE died. Only 16% of children with IAE who were vaccination-eligible had received the 2024-25 influenza vaccine. Health care providers should consider IAE in children with encephalopathy or altered level of consciousness and a recent or current febrile illness when influenza viruses are circulating. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all children aged ≥6 months to prevent influenza and associated complications, potentially including severe neurologic disease such as IAE and ANE.

Ludorf KL, Benjamin RH, Shumate CJ, Canfield MA, Nguyen J, Agopian AJ. Long-term survival among children with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 by cytogenetic status. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(9):e2529885. Published 2025 Sep 2. 
doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.29885
Abstract
Importance: Trisomy 13 (T13) and trisomy 18 (T18) are chromosomal abnormalities with high mortality rates in the first year of life. Understanding differences in long-term survival between children with full vs mosaic or partial trisomy is crucial for prognosis and health care planning.
Objective: To examine the differences in 10-year survival between children with full T13 and T18 vs those with mosaic or partial trisomy.
Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective, population-based cohort study assessed liveborn infants with T13 and T18 in the Texas Birth Defects Registry (deliveries from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2008). Follow-up was through December 31, 2018 (the last date available at the time of analyses) to allow for 10 years of follow-up for all infants. All analyses were conducted from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024.
Exposures: Cytogenetic status (full trisomy vs mosaic or partial trisomy).
Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was survival to 10 years of age, assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. The association between cytogenetic status and mortality by 10 years of age was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression to generate hazard ratios (HRs). Population attributable fraction was calculated to determine the percentage of survival attributable to mosaic or partial trisomy status.
Results: The study cohort included 798 infants (463 female infants [58.0%]; mean [SD] maternal age, 30.9 [8.0] years) with T13 (n = 295) or T18 (n = 503). Among all cases with T13, 25 infants (8.5%; 95% CI, 5.5%-12.3%) survived to 10 years of age. Similarly, among all infants with T18, 43 (8.6%; 95% CI, 6.3%-11.3%) survived to 10 years of age. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates to 10 years of age were statistically significantly higher among children with mosaic or partial trisomy (13 [25.0%] and 14 [43.8%], respectively) compared with full trisomy (12 [4.9%] and 29 [6.6%], respectively) (both P < .001). Infants with full trisomy had statistically significantly increased 10-year mortality hazards compared with those with mosaic or partial trisomy for both T13 (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.42-2.82) and T18 (HR, 3.34; 95% CI, 2.08-5.38). The results of the calculated proportion of 10-year survival due to the presence of nonfull trisomy status (population attributable fraction) was 41.7% for children with T13 and 27.9% for children with T18.
Conclusions and relevance: The findings of this cohort study of infants with T13 and T18 support differences in long-term survival based on cytogenetic status and emphasize the need to potentially reassess the context of these conditions generally being considered incompatible with life, particularly for those with mosaic trisomies. These findings offer context surrounding treatment decisions, such as withholding interventions, for affected infants in the future.

McCullough LE, Deka A, Newton C, et al. Sensitivity of cancer registry linkage with missing or incomplete social security number and implications for cancer cohorts. Epidemiology. Published online September 9, 2025. doi:10.1097/EDE.0000000000001913
Abstract
Background: Linking cancer cohort participants to state cancer registries typically relies on personally identifiable information, including Social Security Numbers (SSN), which uniquely identify individuals. However, complete SSN collection can be limited due to privacy concerns. This study evaluates the sensitivity of cancer registry linkage using partial or missing SSN and examines differences by demographic characteristics.
Methods: Using data from 284,361 participants in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), we conducted probabilistic linkages with cancer registries in Georgia, Ohio, and Texas using Match*Pro software. Participants were linked using combinations of personally identifiable information: complete SSN, partial SSN (last four digits), and missing SSN. We compared the sensitivity of linkages before and after manual review and stratified by sex, age, and race-ethnicity.
Results: Before manual review, sensitivity for missing and partial SSN was 92.5%. Sensitivity improved to 98.6% for missing SSN and 98.8% for partial SSN after manual review. We observed no notable heterogeneity by sex, age, or race-ethnicity, with sensitivity exceeding 87% across all subgroups. Manual review substantially reduced uncertain matches, contributing to high linkage accuracy.
Discussion: This study demonstrates that high sensitivity in cancer registry linkage can be achieved without complete SSN, provided other personally identifiable information (e.g., name, date of birth, longitudinal address) is available. These findings support the feasibility of accurate cancer case identification in cohorts with limited SSN data, particularly for historically marginalized populations, and underscore the importance of designing inclusive population-based cancer studies.

Tao J, Albert PS, Gottlieb N, Miller P, Engels EA. Circulating T-cell receptor excision circles at birth and risk of childhood cancers. Cancers (Basel). 2025;17(17):2903. Published 2025 Sep 4. doi:10.3390/cancers17172903
Abstract
Background: T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are measured in newborn screening programs in the United States to identify severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). We hypothesized that relatively low TREC levels at birth, even within the normal range, could indicate compromised immunity and higher susceptibility to childhood cancers.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study using linked data from the newborn screening programs and cancer registries in California and Texas to examine the association between TREC levels and risk of childhood cancer. The study included 2196 cancer cases and 10,980 controls from California and 1186 cancer cases and 5890 controls from Texas.
Results: In California, acute myeloid leukemia cases had significantly lower TREC levels compared with their matched controls (p = 0.0051), while in Texas, acute lymphocytic leukemia cases had significantly higher TREC levels compared with their matched controls (p = 0.0034). However, each association was not replicated in the other state, and other cancer types did not show significant differences in TREC levels between cases and controls.
Conclusions: We did not observe consistent associations between TREC levels at birth and childhood cancer risk. A possible explanation for the lack of more clear-cut differences in TREC levels between cases and matched controls might be the complex etiology of childhood cancers. The results underscore the need for longitudinal studies that incorporate additional immune biomarkers to understand the immunologic basis of childhood cancer development.

For more information, employees may email the Medical and Research Library at library@dshs.texas.gov to receive research assistance, learn how to access electronic materials, or to obtain the full text of articles mentioned in this month’s news.

The Medical and Research Library News is sent out once a month or when important library news or events occur. Recent issues of the MRL News are online. If any of the links do not open for you, please email library@dshs.texas.gov and we will send you what you need. Thank you!

If you would like to subscribe, please send an email to library@dshs.texas.gov with Subscribe in the subject line.

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Medical and Research Library News

Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note

Training opportunities

The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are in Central Time.

September 12, 2025; 3–4 p.m. Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals.
This webinar from the National Academies will examine U.S. policies, programs, and investments related to breastfeeding, assessing the health, social, and economic impacts of current rates, as well as identifying variances in rates and gaps in knowledge. It will provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen support for mothers and families, improve and expand access to breastfeeding services and supplies, and increase breastfeeding rates in line with national goals.

September 17, 2025; 10–11:30 a.m. A Fireside Chat with Margaret Foster And The Team At Texas A&M: Systematic Reviews.
Curious about the future of evidence synthesis? Join this presentation from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) for an insightful and informal session on systematic reviews. The first part of the presentation will provide an update on emerging standards and best practices for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into systematic reviews. Discover practical workflows and applications, along with a frank discussion of the challenges involved. The remainder of the session will be dedicated to answering your questions about systematic reviews, ensuring you leave with valuable insights. Don't miss this opportunity to stay at the forefront of systematic review methodology.

September 23, 2025; 12–1:30 p.m. Culinary Medicine as Catalyst: Bridging Public Health, Primary Care, and Community Partnership.
Food is a powerful tool for prevention, connection, and health transformation. This webinar from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living will explore the evolution of a culinary medicine and food as medicine model rooted in interprofessional education, clinical innovation, and sustainable community-academic partnerships. Through real-world examples from North Texas, the presentation will demonstrate how linking public health and primary care through food and cooking can empower communities, inspire meaningful research, and promote collaboration in health systems.

September 25, 2025; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. DSHS Grand Rounds - Newborn Screening Updates.
This webinar is offered by the DSHS Office of Practice and Learning Grand Rounds program. DSHS Grand Rounds explores the science and practice of population health and awards continuing education credits/contact hours for various disciplines. Visit the Grand Rounds calendar to see information on upcoming sessions. Held monthly on the fourth Wednesday, sessions are
90 minutes with the final 20 minutes reserved for Q&A.

October 28-29, 2025. DSHS Public Health Analytics and Research Conference 2025 (PHAR25).
This two-day, free conference is open to all DSHS staff and will be held on the DSHS Central Campus in Austin. Visit the PHAR25 website for more information on the conference and to view the detailed agenda. Click here to register for PHAR25 today. Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Websites and reports on trending topics

The Community Guide: The Guide to Community Preventive Services is a collection of evidence-based findings of the Community Preventive Services Task Force. It is a resource to help you select interventions to improve health and prevent disease in your state, community, community organization, business, healthcare organization, or school.

CABI Digital Library is the most thorough and extensive source of reference in the applied life sciences, incorporating the leading bibliographic databases CAB Abstracts and Global Health. CABI's bibliographic databases, including the world-renowned CAB Abstracts and Global Health, contain over 11 million bibliographic records, full-text articles, news items and reports across the applied life sciences.

Lexidrug is a collection of content sets and clinical tools that provides users with robust clinical drug information. It provides full text access to point-of-care information from 13 clinical databases and 4 clinical applications. Databases include Lexi-Drugs, Pediatric Lexi-Drugs, and Geriatric Lexi-Drugs as well as Clinician's Guides to Diagnosis, Internal Medicine and Laboratory Medicine. Clinical applications include drug interactions, tablet & capsule identification, medical calculations, and patient advisory leaflets.

Proquest Health Research Premium offers a unique mix of training content, scholarly literature, and clinical reference materials for those preparing for a career in healthcare. This database offers a broad collection of journals, evidence-based resources, and full-text dissertations, and includes the top ProQuest health and medical databases.

Journal articles of note

Betancourt D, Shumate C, Canfield MA, et al. Assessing the impact of social factors on survival among infants born with transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, and diaphragmatic hernia in Texas, 2011-2019. Matern Child Health J. Published online July 9, 2025. doi:10.1007/s10995-025-04126-2
Abstract
Introduction: Social factors impact survival for infants with birth defects. This analysis describes the impact of social factors on one-year survival for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), transposition of the great arteries (TGA), and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
Methods: Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test with 0.05 significance stratified by social factors for infants born 2011-2019 with CDH (N = 942), TGA (N = 1,102), or TOF (N = 1,545). Crude hazard ratios (HR) and adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for infant death using the Cox proportional hazards models.
Results: One-year survival was 88.7% for TOF, 88.0% for TGA, and 72.7% for CDH. Infants with CDH whose mother resided along the Texas-Mexico border had an increased risk of death compared to non-border residents 
(HR = 1.68, p =.003). Lower maternal education attainment was associated with increased risk of death for infants with TGA (HR = 1.75, p =.002) or TOF (HR = 1.54, p =.005) compared to infants whose mother had more than a high school education. Maternal Hispanic ethnicity increased the risk of death for infants with TGA (HR = 1.75, p =.005) or TOF (HR = 1.74, p =.002) compared to NH White infants.
Discussion: Hispanic maternal ethnicity, lower maternal educational attainment, and residence along the Texas-Mexico border negatively impact infant one-year survival.

Kemper AR, Lam WKK, Ojodu J, et al. Evidence regarding Duchenne muscular dystrophy newborn screening. Pediatrics. Published online August 12, 2025. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-073192
Abstract
Variants in the DMD gene, located on the X chromosome, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). DMD reportedly affects about 2 per 10,000 newborn males, leading to progressive weakness and premature death, typically from respiratory or cardiac complications. The average age of diagnosis in the United States (US) over the past four decades has been 4.5 to 5 years. The availability of targeted therapies and the long diagnostic odyssey have led to advocacy for newborn screening (NBS). Studies of caregivers of children with DMD describe support for NBS. Meeting abstracts, which may have bias, suggest earlier identification in a child following DMD diagnosis in an older brother improves outcomes. Ohio and Minnesota include DMD NBS, and other states are planning implementation. DMD NBS is based on measuring the muscle isoform of creatine kinase (CK-MM), which is elevated due to muscle damage. Infants with borderline CK-MM levels can be retested after at least one week to determine if elevations are birth related. Molecular analysis in infants with significantly elevated CK-MM can identify DMD variants associated with DMD or BMD. Screening accuracy depends on the testing algorithm. Although treatment with glucocorticoids or related medications can improve outcomes for DMD despite side effects, the optimal age of initiation is unclear. Efficacy of the Food and Drug Administration-approved gene therapy has not been established, and it has a rare risk of hepatotoxicity. Genotype-specific exon-skipping medications, indicated for 27% of cases, may improve outcomes, but clinical benefit is not definitively established.

Sheriff FR, Benjamin RH, Patel J, et al. Epidemiologic features of preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21 in Texas, 1999-2018. Am J Med Genet A. Published online August 21, 2025. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.64229
Abstract
The rate of preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21 (22%) is around twice that among the general population (10%). We conducted a descriptive epidemiologic study to address the gap in knowledge on what maternal and infant factors are associated with preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21. Singleton infants with trisomy 21 born between 1999 and 2018 were identified from the Texas Birth Defects Registry. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between preterm birth and 14 maternal and infant characteristics. Statistically significant associations were observed between preterm birth and maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, maternal birthplace, prenatal care, smoking, infant sex, and infant delivery year. For instance, preterm birth was associated with maternal age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.44, 95% CI: 1.23-1.70 for ≥ 40 vs. 25-29 years) and prenatal care (aOR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.25-2.03 for no care versus any care). Our findings contribute toward a better understanding of the risk profile of preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21 and can guide further research on risk factors and potential interventions for reducing preterm birth rates in this population.

Smith DJ, Misas E, Gold JAW, et al. Fungal meningitis in U.S. patients who received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico. Clin Infect Dis. Published online July 22, 2025. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaf399
Abstract
Background: Fungal meningitis outbreaks are rare and entail high mortality rates. Beginning May 2023, we investigated fungal meningitis caused by Fusarium solani species complex occurring in U.S. patients who received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico.
Methods: Early epidemiological information suggested U.S. patients with suspected fungal meningitis had undergone mostly cosmetic procedures under epidural anesthesia performed in two Matamoros clinics. U.S. patients known to have received surgery at these clinics during January 1-May 13, 2023, (clinic closures date) were identified and notified by public health officials. Epidemiological and clinical data were used to update diagnostic and clinical guidance for outbreak response, including use of the experimental antifungal fosmanogepix. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on outbreak isolates.
Results: U.S. public health officials attempted to contact 233 potentially exposed U.S. residents who underwent surgeries, mostly cosmetic, in Mexico, reaching 170 (73%). Of those, 104 (61%) reported receiving epidural anesthesia and were therefore considered potentially at risk for fungal meningitis. At least 30/104 (29%) at-risk patients received a diagnostic lumbar puncture; 24 (23 women, 17 Hispanic or Latino) were diagnosed with fungal meningitis, and six were not. Twelve (50%) with fungal meningitis died. All cases involved epidural anesthesia administered by the same anesthesiologist in Mexico. Whole genome sequencing showed that patient isolates of Fusarium from the two implicated clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, were genetically closely related.
Conclusions: Clinicians should maintain suspicion for fungal meningitis in patients with negative bacterial culture, viral culture and molecular testing with a history of epidural anesthesia for any reason.

For more information, employees may email the Medical and Research Library at library@dshs.texas.gov to receive research assistance, learn how to access electronic materials, or to obtain the full text of articles mentioned in this month’s news.

The Medical and Research Library News is sent out once a month or when important library news or events occur. Recent issues of the MRL News are online. If any of the links do not open for you, please email library@dshs.texas.gov and we will send you what you need. Thank you!

If you would like to subscribe, please send an email to library@dshs.texas.gov with Subscribe in the subject line.

Return to top

Medical and Research Library News

Training opportunities
Websites and reports on trending topics
Journal articles of note
New eBooks

Training opportunities

The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are in Central Time.

August 12, 2025; 1–2:30 p.m. From Longevity to Vitality: Applying the Science of Aging.
Due to a variety of factors, such as medical advances and a declining birthrate, the median age of the U.S. population has been creeping upwards from around 30 after WWII to 39 today. This demographic shift, accompanied by overall population growth, has increased the population of older adults and those suffering from aging-associated disruptions like dementia. This webinar from the National Academies will explore how policymakers can leverage our scientific understanding of aging to promote thriving and healthy populations.

August 13, 2025; 10–11 a.m. Medical Nutrition Therapy in Clinical Practice: Enhancing Patient Outcomes.
This presentation from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) will introduce participants to the foundational principles of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and highlight how it differs from general nutrition education or wellness advice. Attendees will gain insight into the specialized role of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in the development of an individualized plan of care and nutrition therapy interventions. This session will explore conditions such as diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disorders, for which MNT is particularly effective.

August 14, 2025; 1–3 p.m. Increasing Accountability, Performance, and Feedback Skills.
In this webinar from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), leaders will practice a simple yet powerful four-step feedback model that is intentional and has a positive impact. The feedback model is fact-based and highlights the impact of behaviors/performance on the team, department, and organization. It encourages everyone to take accountability for their actions and supports building collaborative solutions between leaders and employees.

Websites and reports on trending topics

CDC Wonder is the CDC Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiological Research. It provides access to a wide array of public health information. Search for and read published documents on public health concerns, including reports, recommendations and guidelines, articles and statistical research data published by CDC. It has reference materials and bibliographies on health-related topics. Query numeric data sets on CDC's information systems via fill-in-the blank webpages. Public-use data sets about mortality (deaths), cancer incidence, HIV and AIDS, TB, natality (births), census data, and many other topics are available for query, and the requested data are readily summarized and analyzed.

Learning Express Library is a resource available through the TexShare databases that offers interactive training modules. It covers topics like math and writing skills, but also includes training on computer software like the Microsoft Office programs, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. Please email the library if assistance is needed to access the TexShare databases.

ProQuest Public Health is another database is available through the TexShare databases. It is designed to be the ideal starting point for public health information and research. With journals, news, trade publications, reports and more, ProQuest Public Health covers a wide variety of disciplines ranging from social sciences and biological sciences to business. Journal results are indexed from core literature collected from a variety of publishers using appropriate public-health terminology.

State Trackers - NASHP is a site from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) that monitors and displays state-level actions, legislation, and policies related to various healthcare topics. These trackers help state officials, researchers, and the public understand how states are addressing key healthcare issues, such as Medicaid coverage, prescription drug costs, and health system consolidation. The trackers can be filtered by policy area, topic, and state.

Journal articles of note

Barratt JLN, Jacobson D, Pierre-Louis E, et al. Genetic characterization of Plasmodium vivax linked to autochthonous malaria transmission in the US (2023) using Illumina AmpliSeq technology: a genetic epidemiology study. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2025;48:101159. Published 2025 Jun 21. doi:10.1016/j.lana.2025.101159
Abstract
Background: Malaria is a mosquito borne disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. In 2023, the United States (US) experienced nine cases of autochthonous Plasmodium vivax malaria transmission: seven in Florida, one in Texas, and another in Arkansas. These were the first autochthonous cases since 2003 when a cluster was identified in Florida. The aim of this study was to genetically characterize the implicated P. vivax isolates in order to complement epidemiologic investigations of these cases.
Methods: A custom Illumina AmpliSeq sequencing panel capturing 495 amplicons was designed. This panel was used to ascertain whether these 2023 cases were related and assess if they were associated with a single or separate introduction event. Sequence data were hierarchically clustered, and a Naïve Bayes classification approach was used to assign genotypes to a probable geographic origin based on 113 'geo-informative' SNPs captured by the panel. Genotypes associated with the 2023 Arkansas, Texas, and Florida cases were clustered alongside those sequenced from archived blood samples from the 2003 Florida case-patients, a set of reference strains, and other travel-associated specimens. Microsatellite analysis was performed on a subset of samples from these autochthonous cases to complement the AmpliSeq analysis.
Findings: The 2023 autochthonous Florida cases were genetically linked as were the 2003 Florida cases. The 2023 and 2003 Florida clusters were genetically distinct, and the two Florida clusters were distinct from the 2023 Texas and Arkansas cases, which were also distinct from each other. These genotypes classified to the Central or South American region using the Naïve Bayes classifier, including those from the 2003 cluster.
Interpretation: These data support that at least three distinct P. vivax introduction events in the US in 2023, involving parasites possessing genetic signatures consistent with Central or South America.

Betancourt D, Shumate C, Canfield MA, et al. Assessing the impact of social factors on survival among infants born with transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of tallot, and diaphragmatic hernia in Texas, 2011-2019. Matern Child Health J. Published online July 9, 2025. doi:10.1007/s10995-025-04126-2
Abstract
Introduction: Social factors impact survival for infants with birth defects. This analysis describes the impact of social factors on one-year survival for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), transposition of the great arteries (TGA), and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
Methods: Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test with 0.05 significance stratified by social factors for infants born 2011-2019 with CDH (N = 942), TGA (N = 1,102), or TOF (N = 1,545). Crude hazard ratios (HR) and adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for infant death using the Cox proportional hazards models.
Results: One-year survival was 88.7% for TOF, 88.0% for TGA, and 72.7% for CDH. Infants with CDH whose mother resided along the Texas-Mexico border had an increased risk of death compared to non-border residents (HR = 1.68, p =.003). Lower maternal education attainment was associated with increased risk of death for infants with TGA (HR = 1.75, p =.002) or TOF (HR = 1.54, p =.005) compared to infants whose mother had more than a high school education. Maternal Hispanic ethnicity increased the risk of death for infants with TGA (HR = 1.75, p =.005) or TOF (HR = 1.74, p =.002) compared to NH White infants.
Discussion: Hispanic maternal ethnicity, lower maternal educational attainment, and residence along the Texas-Mexico border negatively impact infant one-year survival.

Haas CB, McGee-Avila JK, Luo Q, et al. Cancer incidence and trends in US adults with HIV. JAMA Oncol. Published online June 12, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.1589
Abstract
Importance: People with HIV are living longer due to improvements in antiretroviral therapy over the last 2 decades. Current age-specific estimates of cancer risk among people with HIV may inform cancer prevention and clinical guidelines for this population.
Objective: To estimate cancer incidence rates (IRs) using a population-based linkage of HIV and cancer registries.
Design, setting, and participants: This population-based cohort study used data from 12 US states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2019. People with HIV and the general population in the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study were included in the analysis, which occurred between October 2023 and December 2024.
Main outcomes and measures: Age-standardized IRs (per 100,000 person-years) were calculated across calendar periods (2001 to 2004, 2005 to 2009, 2010 to 2014, and 2015 to 2019) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) across calendar periods using adjusted Poisson regression. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated for 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019, and age group-specific cancer incidence and SIRs were estimated for 2010 to 2019.
Results: The analysis included 7.2 million person-years among 847 107 people with HIV (5.3 million person-years among males [73%]). Comparing years 2015 to 2019 to years 2010 to 2014, incidence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) decreased 23% (IRR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.70-0.84), Kaposi sarcoma (KS) decreased 24% (IRR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.84), Hodgkin lymphoma decreased 25% (IRR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65-0.86), and cancers of the lung decreased 17% (IRR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90) and liver decreased 25% (IRR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67-0.84). Among people with HIV aged 70 to 84 years, IRs were highest for cancers of the prostate (448.01; 95% CI, 404.26-495.20), lung (269.79; 95% CI, 240.86-301.24), female breast (202.29; 95% CI, 155.79-258.32), liver (82.82; 95% CI, 67.16-101.03), and colon (107.57; 95% CI, 89.61-128.08), exceeding the IRs for DLBCL (41.83; 95% CI, 30.95-55.31) and KS (15.37; 95% CI, 9.11-24.29). From 2015 to 2019, risk remained significantly elevated in people with HIV for several cancer types, including KS (SIR, 213.87; 95% CI, 198.81-229.73), Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR, 6.29; 95% CI, 5.68-6.94), DLBCL (SIR, 5.25; 95% CI, 5.25-6.01), cancers of the anus (SIR, 17.07; 95% CI, 16.01-18.17), vulva (SIR, 11.40; 95% CI, 9.60-13.44), liver (SIR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.74-2.05), and lung (SIR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.51-1.68). For nearly all these cancers, SIRs significantly declined with increasing age.
Conclusions and relevance: In this cohort study, significant declines in the incidence and relative risk for cancers among people with HIV demonstrate continued progress in HIV treatment and cancer prevention. These estimates may provide insight into the priorities for prevention and early detection of cancer as the population of people with HIV enters ages with greater risk for cancer.

Valdez KR, Mendell NL, Escárcega-Ávila AM, et al. Survey of fleas and ticks for Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia typhi in the El Paso community and other areas in Texas, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Am J Trop Med Hyg. Published online June 17, 2025. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.24-0709
Abstract
This survey was conducted with the aim of determining the public health risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and murine typhus in the urban and peri-urban areas of El Paso, as well as other areas in Texas, southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The approach was to assess the diversity of tick and flea species, determine if the ticks and fleas were infected with Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia typhi (R. typhi), respectively, and assess previous human infection with Rickettsia species. Ticks and fleas were collected from domestic and wild animals and tested using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Human plasma samples were also tested for antibodies using an indirect fluorescence assay. Among 203 fleas, including Pulex irritans, Echidnophaga gallinacea, and Ctenocephalides felis (C. felis), collected from wild and domestic small mammals, only one pool of four C. felis collected from a dog in the El Paso community was positive for Rickettsia felis. All 194 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from stray and domestic dogs in the El Paso community, southern Doña Ana County, and Ciudad Juarez were negative for Rickettsia spp. In Travis County, Texas, a total of 207 ticks collected from white-tailed deer, including 196 Ixodes scapularis and 11 Dermacentor albipictus, were negative for Rickettsia spp. pathogens. Among 375 archived human plasma samples collected in the El Paso community, only two were positive for R. typhi antibodies. These preliminary findings suggested that tick- and flea-borne diseases were not a major health risk in the El Paso community, or the other areas included in this survey.

New eBooks in the library

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Healthcare by Trisha M. Greenhalgh

Institutional Review Board: Management and Function edited by Elizabeth A. Bankert & Bruce G. Gordon

Investing in Health and Wellbeing: When Prevention Is Better Than Cure by Christoper Dye

Leading Through: Activating the Soul, Heart, and Mind of Leadership by Kim B. Clark

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