MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
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Dr. Jernigan[/caption]
Dr. John Jernigan, MD MS
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Emory University School of Medicine
Branch Chief
Epidemiology, Research and Innovations Branch
CDC Center for Disease Control
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Staphylococcus aureus commonly causes infections in ICUs. One approach to preventing these infections is using nasal mupirocin plus chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing for ICU patients. This practice is known to prevent methicillin-resistant S
taphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and all-cause. bloodstream infections. This practice has been broadly adopted in ICUs in the US, but adoption of mupirocin as a universal topical antibiotic has been slowed by concerns for engendering mupirocin resistance.
This cluster-randomized trial in adult ICUs was conducted to assess whether universal nasal antiseptic povidone-iodine (iodophor), to which minimal
S. aureus resistance is expected, was an acceptable alternative to universal nasal mupirocin for reducing
S. aureus and MRSA clinical cultures in the setting of daily CHG bathing. Those who received chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing with mupirocin had an 18% reduction in risk of
Staphylococcus aureus clinical cultures and a 15% reduction in risk of methicillin-resistant
S. aureus (MRSA) clinical cultures compared to patients who received CHG bathing with intranasal iodophor. These results show that using mupirocin for nasal decolonization may be preferred over iodophor because it is more effective at preventing S.
aureus infections.
Scott Kaplan PhD
Assistant Professor of Economics
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD 21402
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Sugar-sweetened beverages (colloquially known as SSBs), which include sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened coffee drinks, are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet, according to the CDC. They are associated with serious negative health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, 
Kalli Koukounas[/caption]
Kalli Koukounas, MPH
Dr. Lu Qi[/caption]
Lu Qi, MD, PhD, FAHA
Interim Chair, Department of Epidemiolog
HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and Professor
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Director, Tulane University Obesity Research Center
Director, Tulane Personalized Health Institute
New Orleans, LA 70112
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Adding salt to foods is a behavior reflecting long-term preference to salty diets. High sodium intake is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease.
In our previous studies, we have found that adding salt to foods at the table is related to various disorders including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and mortality. 
Dr. Klompas[/caption]
Michael Klompas MD, MPH, FIDSA, FSHEA
Hospital Epidemiologist
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Professor of Medicine and Population Medicine
Harvard Medical School and
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Can teeth be safely brush in patients who are comatose, intubated or have NG tubes?
Response: Pneumonia is thought to occur when secretions from the mouth get into the lungs. Since there are many microbes in the mouth, there’s a risk that secretions from the mouth that get into the lungs will lead to pneumonia. Toothbrushing may lower this risk by decreasing the quantity of microbes in the mouth.
It is indeed safe and appropriate to brush the teeth of someone who is comatose, intubated, or who has an NG tube. Indeed, our study found that the benefits of toothbrushing were clearest for patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
Prof. Rong Xu[/caption]
Rong Xu, PhD
Dr. Davaasambuu[/caption]
Dr Ganmaa Davaasambuu MD PhD
Associate Professor
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The crucial role of vitamin D in facilitating calcium absorption from the diet and promoting calcium deposition in bones (known as 'mineralization') has been a long-established understanding. Furthermore, some observational studies have reported an association between low vitamin D levels and a heightened risk of bone fractures in children. This raised the possibility that vitamin D supplements could potentially play a role in decreasing fracture risk in children with initially low baseline levels. However, clinical trials assessing the causal link between low vitamin D status and reduced fracture risk were necessary, and such trials had not been conducted before.
Lisa-Marie Smale, PharmD
Dr. Minneci[/caption]
Peter C. Minneci, MD
Chair of Surgery at Nemours Children’s Health
Delaware Valley
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the symptoms/course of pilonidal disease?
Response: Pilonidal disease is relatively common and affects up to 1% of the population starting in adolescence and up until young adulthood. Pilonidal disease occurs when cysts or sinuses form between the buttocks. It is believed to be an inflammatory reaction to hair or debris that gets caught in the crease of the buttocks. Risk factors for the condition include a sedentary lifestyle, hygiene and obesity.
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Pilonidal Cyst
Dr. Belloy[/caption]
Michael E. Belloy, PhD
Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Stanford University, Stanford, California
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Apolipoprotein E (APOE)*2 and APOE*4 are, respectively, the strongest protective and risk-increasing, genetic variants for late-onset Alzheimer disease. As such, one’s APOE genotype is highly relevant towards clinical trial design and Alzheimer’s disease research. However, most insights so far are focused on the associations of these APOE genotypes with Alzheimer’s disease risk in non-Hispanic white individuals.
One important aspect of our work is that we really increased sample sizes for non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and East Asian individuals, so that we now have better understanding of the associations of APOE genotypes with Alzheimer’s disease risk in these groups. In complement, we also did the largest investigation to date on the role of ancestry on the associations of APOE genotypes with Alzheimer’s disease risk. The scale of our study was thus a critical factor in generating novel insights.
Dr. Dubinsky[/caption]
Marla C. Dubinsky, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Co- director, Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Clinical Center
Mount Sinai Health System
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly describe the condition of UC?
Response: Lucent 1 and Lucent 2 were the induction and maintenance registration trials studying the efficacy and safety of mirikizumab in patients 18 years and older with moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis. Mirikizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the p19 subunit of IL23. Lucent-3 is the open label extension arm for those meeting inclusion criteria after completing Lucent 2. This study evaluated the long term efficacy and safety of mirikizumab in patients with ulcerative colitis who completed a total of 104 weeks of active mirikizumab treatment.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic incurable inflammatory condition of colon. Common symptoms include diarrhea, blood in the stool, abdominal cramping and bowel urgency. Bowel urgency is one of the most burdensome symptoms that a patient with you could experience.
Dr. Harmer[/caption]
Peter A. Harmer, PhD, MPH, AT-Ret, FACSM
Senior Associate Research Scientist
Oregon Research Institute
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Decline in various aspects of cognitive function, such as memory, executive function, and multitasking ability is common as we age. The rate and extent of decline varies among older adults but approximately 20% of those aged 65+ will experience clinically relevant mild cognitive impairment, which places them at increased risk of progressing to Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. It is also associated with decreased mobility, increased risk of falls and impaired capacity for complex activities of daily living.
Dr. Han[/caption]
Summer S Han, PhD
Associate Professor
Dr. Choi[/caption]
Dr. Eunji Choi PhD
Instructor, Neurosurgery
Department: Adult Neurosurgery
Stanford University School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Sood[/caption]
Neeraj Sood, PhD
Verna and Peter Dauterive Hall
University Park Campus
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: We conducted this study to inform school COVID-19 policies.
The main findings are that the median duration of infectivity after a positive COVID-19 test in children is 3 days. The median duration of infectivity does not vary with vaccination. 
Prof. Guohua Li[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Guohua Li, MD, DrPH
Finster Professor of Epidemiology and Anesthesiology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? How was the ADHD diagnosis determined?
Response: The reported prevalence of ADHD in children and young adults in the United States has more than doubled since the 1990s because of improved diagnosis. Currently, ADHD affects about 13 percent of children under 18 years of age and eight percent of adults under 45 years of age. Little is known about the prevalence of ADHD in older adults although it is estimated that ADHD symptoms may persist throughout the lifespan in about one-third of children diagnosed with the disorder. Diagnostic criteria for adulthood ADHD include having five or more relevant symptoms, adverse impact on social, academic, and occupational activities, and onset of symptoms before age 12.
In this study, ADHD status is determined based on an affirmative response to the question of whether the participant had ever had ADHD or had ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that he or she had ADHD.
Esa M. Davis, M.D., M.P.H , F.A.A.F.P
Professor of Medicine and Family and Community Medicine
Associate Vice President of Community Health and
Senior Associate Dean of pPopulation Health and Community Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Dr. Davis joined the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in January 2021
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, are among the leading causes of serious complications and death for pregnant people in the United States.
Pregnant women and pregnant people of all genders should have their blood pressure measured at each prenatal visit to help find and prevent serious health issues related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. 
Dr. Stevermer [/caption]
James Stevermer, M.D., M.S.P.H.Vice chair for clinical affairs
Professor of family and community medicine
University of Missouri
Medical director of MU Health Care Family Medicine–Callaway Physicians,
Dr. Stevermer joined the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force in January 2021.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: HIV continues to be a significant public health issue. The good news is that PrEP is a safe, highly effective way to help prevent HIV in people at increased risk. There are now two ways people can take PrEP – as a pill or as a shot. We encourage healthcare professionals to have a conversation with their patients about their individual risk for HIV and determine if they should consider taking whichever form of PrEP would work best for them.
Dr. Wallis[/caption]
Christopher Wallis, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Urology
Department of Surgery
University of Toronto and Urologic Oncologist
Mount Sinai Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: Could you give a little context - what was the question you were looking at?
