Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Issue 12, March 25, 2013

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 Chronic Diseases and Conditions - Colorectal Cancer)
  • Public health articles noted in the media

Science Clips leads off this week with a pair of featured articles focusing on increasing the effectiveness of chronic disease prevention and control strategies. SS Smith and colleagues find that combination nicotine replacement therapy shows improved six-month tobacco abstinence rates when compared with nicotine patches and counseling. Population-wide benefits of such an approach in increasing the number of those who quit smoking might be substantial. An analysis led by PG Coxson finds substantial projected mortality benefits from dietary sodium reduction, regardless of whether data from epidemiologic studies or clinical trials is used for model inputs.

Novel and emerging infectious diseases occupy several slots among this week's features. An NEJM article first-authored by DC Payne finds, using data from two years of active surveillance, that norovirus is now the most common cause of medically attended childhood gastroenteritis, and is responsible for nearly one million healthcare visits annually. Infections in home health care, nursing home, and hospice care patients are the focus of the study by LL Dwyer et al, who find similar rates of infection in each of these three patient groups. A Purfield, N Ahmad and colleagues provide important awareness concerning Rhesus monkey kidney cells contaminated with Coccidioides spp, which were distributed to laboratories in 38 states.

Diverse community-based public health interventions, across a wide variety of settings, provide several interesting feature entries this week. LG Brown from the National Center for Environmental Health summarizes lessons learned from restaurant food safety studies, including important unanswered questions. Schools are the focus of a web-based survey conducted by JR Miller along with state-based and CDC colleagues, which documents improvements in use of non-pharmaceutical interventions in Pennsylvania public schools following the "spring wave" of the 2009 influenza A (pH1N1) pandemic. Turning to a global health setting, the potential positive impact of community management of lymphedema in lymphatic filariasis patients is documented by a group led by PJ Budge.

Clips featured articles conclude this week with articles relevant to sexual transmission of infectious diseases. In an analysis of county-level sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, K Owusu-Edusei Jr et al find that racial disparities in income may be more important than household income levels as a determinant of STI rates. A cross-sectional study of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus, first authored by NA Terrault, finds extremely low risk for transmission between long-term heterosexual couples.

John Iskander
Editor, Science Clips


  1. Top Ten Articles of the Week


    Selected weekly by a senior CDC scientist from the standard sections listed below.
  2. CDC Authored Publications


    The names of CDC authors are indicated in bold text.
    Articles published in the past 6-8 weeks authored by CDC or ATSDR staff.
  3. Key Scientific Articles in Featured Topic Areas


    Subject matter experts decide what topic to feature, and articles are selected from the last 3 to 6 months of published literature. Key topic coincides monthly with other CDC products (e.g. Vital Signs).
  4. Public Health Articles Noted in the Media


    Articles about important public health topics that have been mentioned in the press.

Back to Top

CDC Science Clips Production Staff :

  • John Iskander, MD MPH, Editor
  • Rebecca Satterthwaite, MS, Librarian
  • Gail Bang, MLIS, Librarian
  • Deidre Thomas, MLS, Librarian
  • Kathleen Connick, MSLS, Librarian
  • Barbara Landreth, MLS, Librarian
  • Joseph Dunlap, Web Developer Joe Bryce, Web Developer

____

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.

Top