Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Erie County, New York

Early in the SAR-CoV-2 pandemic, we established a whole genome sequencing pipeline to assess lineages circulating in Western New York. Initial sequences revealed entry into the region via Europe, similar to observations in New York City. However, as the pandemic progressed and variants of concern emerged, we observed distinct patterns in lineages relative to NYC. Notably, B.1.427 became dominant in Western New York, before it was displaced by B.1.1.7. Our hierarchical cluster analysis of B.1.1.7 lineages, which by May 2021 made up ~ 80% of all cases, indicated both multiple introductions and community spread. Our work highlights the importance of widespread, regional surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 across the United States.

The rapid CD4 + T-lymphocyte decline and human immunodeficiency virus progression in females compared to males

CD4 + T-lymphocyte counts are used to assess CD4 + decline and the stage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) progression in HIV-infected patients. Clinical observation suggests that HIV progress more rapid in females than males. Of the original 5000 HIV-infected population of Western New York HIV/AIDS, Referral Center at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), 1422 participated in the cohort study. We identified 333 HIV-infected patients with CD4 + T-cell-counts ≥ 500/µƖ, among them 178 met the inclusion criteria for the 10-year study. Females had higher mode (600 vs. 540) and mean (741.9 vs. 712.2) CD4 + counts than males at baseline. However, CD4 + declined faster among females in a shorter time than males (234.5 vs. 158.6, P < 0.004), with rapid HIV progression. Univariate analyses determined that females had a 40% higher risk for CD4 + decline than males. The bivariate analyses specified CD4 + decline remained greater in females than males. Multivariate analyses which employed Cox’s proportional Hazard-Model to adjust for numerous variables simultaneously identified women had almost twice the risk for CD4 + decline and rapid HIV progression than males (RR = 1.93; 95%CI 1.24, 2.99). Although the biological mechanism remains unknown, findings suggest gender differences in CD4 + decline, with a higher risk of rapid HIV progression and shorter longevity in females.

Finding evidence for Partisan Reinforcement through graph analysis of political rivalries on twitter.

The aim of this study is to find out if Twitter users choose to expose themselves to a diverse set of opinions on political matters or if they choose to listen to only one of the political adversaries, whom they already support in real life as proposed by theories of partisan reinforcement and the classic study of 1940-44 in Erie county (Lazarsfeld, 1944). This is a comparative study of two political rivalries on twitter; the first one is from the USA and the other one from Pakistan. Network-Graphs are created from both rivalries to try to see if clusterization happens in a way that it will create an information bias in favor of one of the rivals. For the purpose of this study, I will only be focused on ‘follow’ relationship on twitter for the reason that it is an indicator of choice for twitter users who want to expose to themselves to ideas being promoted through Twitter accounts of these Politicians (Myers, Sharma, Gupta, &amp; Lin, 2014). I further aspire to find out if the balkanization effect of the internet is evident on twitter (Alstyne &amp; Brynjolfsson, 1997).

Induction of labor and early-onset Sepsis guidelines: impact on NICU admissions in Erie County, NY

Background Elective delivery prior to term gestation is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. The impact of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines recommending against induction of labor (IOL) < 39 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA) on the frequency of early-term births and NICU admissions in Erie County, NY was evaluated in this study. Methods This is a population-based retrospective comparison of all live births and NICU admissions in Erie County, NY between pre-and post-ACOG IOL guideline epochs (2005–2008 vs. 2011–2014). Information on early-term, full/late/post-term births and NICU admissions was obtained. A detailed chart analysis of indications for admission to the Regional Perinatal Center was performed. Results During the 2005–2008 epoch, early-term births constituted 27% (11,968/44,617) of live births. The NICU admission rate was higher for early-term births (1134/11968 = 9.5%) compared to full/late/post-term (1493/27541 = 5.4%). In the 2011–2014 epoch, early-term births decreased to 23% (10,286/44,575) of live births. However, NICU admissions for early-term (1072/10286 = 10.4%) and full/late/post-term births (1892/29508 = 6.4%) did not decrease partly due to asymptomatic infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis admitted for empiric antibiotic therapy as per revised early-onset sepsis guidelines. Conclusions ACOG recommendations against elective IOL or cesarean delivery < 39 weeks PMA were rapidly translated to clinical practice and decreased early-term births in Erie County, NY. This decrease did not translate to reduced NICU admissions partly due to increased NICU admissions for empiric antibiotic therapy.

ELDER VOICES NETWORK: PARTNERING WITH OLDER PEOPLE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO AVOID MEDICAL HARM

Team Alice, named after an older adult in our community who died as a result of medication harm, is an interdisciplinary team of prescribers, pharmacists, educators, advocates, and researchers with a mission to protect older people from medication-related harm across the continuum of care. In 2019, Team Alice partnered with the Erie County Department of Senior Services, older people, and caregivers to form the Elder Voices Network (EVN) as a vehicle for patient-driven deprescribing in the Western New York region. The objective of this presentation is to detail the planning and implementation of critical components of EVN’s formation, including outreach and engagement, funding development, community partnerships, roles and communication, and decision-making. Case study results demonstrate the capacity of community-based participatory research (CBPR) to empower older people and caregivers with knowledge, skills, and tools to promote self-advocacy across the system. Presenters will also discuss recommendations useful for future patient engagement initiatives.

Landscape Factors that Influence European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Nest Box Occupancy at NASA Plum Brook Station (PBS), Erie County, Ohio, USA

During the last decade at NASA Plum Brook Station (PBS), Erie County, Ohio, United States, there has been a nearly 50% decrease in European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) occupancy (nests with ≥1 egg) of nest boxes designed to be used by starlings. Increased availability of natural cavities, from invertebrate pests, might have altered nest box occupation rates. It was hypothesized that starling nest box occupation rates would be a function of an index of potentially suitable tree cavities for nesting starlings, the semi-colonial nature of breeding starlings, and access to foraging areas (e.g., mowed lawns near buildings). Specifically, it was predicted that starling occupancy of nest boxes would correlate positively with a low density of potentially suitable tree cavities (calculated from a constructed index based on characteristics preferred by nesting starlings), and proximity of other starling occupied nest boxes and anthropogenic structures or mowed lawns. The objective was to quantify landscape factors around nest boxes with known starling occupation rates. Potentially suitable tree cavities were readily available near nest boxes. However, starling nest box occupation was instead a function of proximity to buildings, a factor associated with additional nesting sites and preferred foraging areas (mowed lawns). Nesting starlings in this study were influenced by anthropogenic structures and associated resources.