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Issue 14, April 09, 2012

Vol. 4, Issue: 14, 4/9/12

Welcome to Science Clips, CDC's weekly digest!

The report consists of four components:

  • Top Ten Articles of the Week
  • CDC-authored publications
  • Key scientific articles in featured topic areas (this week featuring Maternal and Child Health - Autistic Disorders)
  • Public health articles noted in the media

The Science Clips “top ten” returns from Spring Break this week with an article focused on an important global crisis the world began to face approximately one year ago. CW Miller, writing in Health Physics, summarizes the lessons learned from the Fukushima radiological emergency, as well as prospects for future public health responses. From S Iqbal and colleagues comes a reminder that environmental health issues need not be dramatic to be important; their assessment of carbon monoxide (CO) alarm awareness and use may have important policy implications. Public policy and environmental health issues are both addressed by CW Warren and collaborators, who describe the decrease in cigarette sales in Turkey following passage of smoke-free laws and cigarette tax increases.

Global health is central to two other featured articles this week. An evaluation of sentinel surveillance sites in Morocco by M Braikat et al found evidence of significant reduction in Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis following introduction of Hib conjugate vaccine. In a study conducted in an urban malaria-endemic region of India by R Chunara and colleagues, using very small financial incentives was a cost-effective way to improve malaria reporting through “participatory surveillance”.

Another important set of articles looks at transmission of pathogens, in both experimental and observational settings. JD Noti and others report the initial laboratory study of the efficacy of masks and respirators in preventing aerosol spread of influenza. Another respiratory pathogen of importance, tuberculosis (TB), was the focus of an investigation first authored by K Powell and published in Public Health Reports; after a bus driver was diagnosed with pulmonary TB, evaluation of >150 bus riders failed to find evidence of disease transmission. A different mode of transportation was involved in the multi-pathogen waterborne outbreak associated with a dinner cruise and reported by F Seradervic and colleagues; their comprehensive investigation implicated multiple environmental risk factors.

Actions and attitudes may increase or decrease risks of specific types of infections. Writing in Preventive Medicine, MJ Cannon et al document the common occurrence of behaviors that may increase risks of mother-to-child cytomegalovirus transmission. Receipt of influenza vaccine, a key preventive intervention among health-care workers, may be partly determined by anticipated “emotional benefits” of vaccination, according to work led by MG Thompson and published in Vaccine.

John Iskander

Editor, Science Clips

Science Clips is a service of the Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library and CDC's Office of the Chief Science Officer.


The Science Clips is in the public domain and may be freely forwarded and reproduced without permission. The original sources and the CDC Science Clips should be cited as sources. Articles featured in Science Clips may be in-press or uncorrected proofs.

For assistance in obtaining copies of these articles, contact the library at cdclibrary@cdc.gov or 404-639-1717. Please note that links below to CDC licensed materials are available only through the Intranet and may go through the SFX server. From the SFX window, just click on the full-text link to reach the full-text.

 

  1. Top Ten Articles of the Week


  2. CDC Authored Publications


    The names of CDC authors are indicated in bold text.

  3. Key Scientific Articles in Featured Topic Areas


  4. Public Health Articles Noted in the Media


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DISCLAIMER: Articles listed in the CDC Science Clips are selected by the Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library to provide current awareness of the public health literature. An article's inclusion does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the Clips, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.

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