Irina Cech

Quantitative Assessment of the Adsorptive Behavior of Viruses to Soils

To evaluate the potential for groundwater contamination by viruses, it is essential to understand the processes controlling virus adsorption to soil. Recent laboratory studies have indicated that the degree of viral adsorption is highly type and strain dependent. The purpose of this study was to statistically reexamine earlier data by grouping studied variables into a number of broad categories. The results indicated that different types and strains of viruses can be grouped by their ability to be similarly affected by certain soil characteristics. Viruses could be grouped into two general categories. For group I, the most important factors affecting adsorption were pH, organic matter, and exchangeable iron content of the soil. No studied soil characteristic was found to be significantly associated with adsorption of group I1 viruses. The implication is that adsorption-elution of group I viruses is more sensitive to certain soil characteristics than that of group 11. Certain types of coliphages were found to be better models for some types of enteroviruses than others.

Seasonality of Primarily Childhood and Young Adult Infectious Diseases in the United States

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States collects and maintains records of communicable (so‐called notifiable) infectious diseases that cause significant morbidity and mortality and impact the national economy. This investigation focused on seasonal patterns in the primarily childhood and young adult infectious diseases of meningococcal meningitis, mumps, pertussis, typhoid fever, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (1990 to 2003 CDC database), and varicella (1993 to 2003 CDC database). Linear regression was performed to ascertain the trend in the incidence of each disease, and multi‐component cosinor analysis was applied to determine and describe periodicities. Significant decreasing trends in incidence were detected in meningococcal meningitis, mumps, typhoid fever, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and increasing trends were found in pertussis and varicella. Significant annual patterns were documented in meningococcal meningitis (January peak), mumps (April peak), pertussis (August peak), varicella (April peak), typhoid fever (August peak), and in the hospital‐acquired streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (February peak). Such seasonal patterns and long‐term trends in infectious diseases are of practical public health significance in indicating which can benefit from timely prevention interventions.

Association of type 2 diabetes mellitus and seroprevalence for cytomegalovirus.

Background: Infection is known to play a role in type 1 diabetes, but there is a paucity of information on its role in diabetes mellitus type 2. We examined the seroprevalence of selected viruses in a group of predominantly Hispanic patients with type 2 diabetes and control subjects without diabetes. Methods: One hundred thirteen patients, 83 with type 2 diabetes and 30 control subjects, all undergoing hemodialysis at the same facility in San Antonio, Texas, were tested for antibodies against coxsackie B viruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and parvovirus. Sixty-six of these patients and 25 control subjects were tested bimonthly for 6 months. Results: We observed a greater seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG antibodies among patients with diabetes (97.6%), compared with control subjects (86.7%), and the difference was statistically significant [OR = 6.2, 95% CI: 1.1 to 36.0, P < 0.05]. Three draws on a subset of 91 patients produced still greater odds [OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 1.3 to 117, P < 0.05]. There were significantly more (P ≤ 0.001) vascular complications among patients with diabetes. There was a colinearity of trends between diabetes, seropositivity to CMV, and age. Conclusions: Our findings indicated an up to 12 times greater odds of having type 2 diabetes for persons previously exposed to CMV. Since accelerated atherosclerosis is also associated with diabetes and CMV, past CMV infection may be a common factor that links atherosclerosis and diabetes. No other viruses tested in this study, either coxsackie B viruses or parvovirus, showed a significant association with type 2 diabetes.

Association of Spirituality and Sobriety During a Behavioral Spirituality Intervention for Twelve Step (TS) Recovery

Twelve-Step (TS) recovery utilizes spirituality to promote sobriety, yet there are no proven programs designed to facilitate spiritual involvement. We developed a seven-week behavioral spirituality intervention titled “Knowing Your Higher Power” for implementation along with usual TS care. Twenty-six participants from a recovery center enrolled. We assessed behavior at baseline, 7-week, and 12-week follow-up. The sample showed significant increase in spiritual involvement and beliefs over the 12-week measurement period and a significantly greater spirituality score in those maintaining total sobriety compared to those that relapsed. These findings encourage a controlled trial to determine if this work has efficacy for practitioners in substance abuse treatment.

Nitrates and bacterial distribution in rural domestic water supplies

Abstract The protection of underground water resources in an important facet of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Effective intervention strategy for active source protection requires up-to-date information on ground water quality and the knowledge of potential sources and causes of contamination. In the present study the state of well water supplies in rural East Texas was evaluated in order to develop a practical approach to surveying water sources in ‘back-country’ areas, which would allow the differentiation of natural from anthropogenic factors affecting water quality. The specific focus was on nitrates, their extent, causes and sources in rural well water. Data were processed using synographic mapping which permitted the comparison of the natural tendency in distribution of nitrates with the patterns induced by mans activities. Trend surface analysis of data indicated that the surveyed Tertiary and Quaternary sands were not naturally nitrate-rich. Localized and well-defined spots of nitrates, many times in excess of the background, were traceable to the anthropogenic sources. The study identified the characteristics of high risk wells.

Serological differences in folate/vitamin B12 in pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

Background: Laboratory evidence is presented of significant associations between reduced maternal serum folate and vitamin B12 levels and neural tube birth defects (NTD) compared to referents. Methods: This was an incident case-control study. Cases of neural tube defects (including anencephaly and open spina bifida) diagnosed in residents within 100 miles of the US-Mexico border from January 1993 to October 2000 were eligible. Most cases were diagnosed in utero upon visits to clinics, obstetrical or genetic expert offices. Cases identified upon hospital admission or at delivery were also eligible. Cases identified after discharge were not. Controls were matched on geographic region, maternal age, race/ethnicity, gestational age, and type of health insurance (including none). Results: Three hundred eighty-two border area residents (107 cases and 275 individually matched controls) provided biological specimens. Median folate concentrations for case mothers were 36% lower than controls (9.8 ng/mL vs. 15 ng/mL). Maternal serum folate concentrations in quartiles above 9.5 ng/mL indicated significantly reduced risk (OR = 0.4, OR = 0.3, and OR = 0.2). Likewise, the risk for NTD decreased (OR = 0.4, OR = 0.3, and OR = 0.2) in quartiles of sera B12 concentrations above 246 pg/mL. Conclusions: Physician attention is invited to significantly lower concentrations of serum folate and vitamin B12 in women with NTD-affected pregnancies. This study assayed sera samples from women while still pregnant or immediately after delivery. The confounding effect of reduced folate and B12 levels with other biological and chemical exposures will be addressed in subsequent communications.

Annual Pattern of Human Conception in the State of Texas

A total of 2,828,068 State of Texas singleton conceptions, estimated from the date of the first day of the last menstrual period, were assessed for annual periodicity by multiple-component (1-yr fundamental plus the 6- and 3-month harmonics) Cosinor analysis. An annual pattern (p < 0.001) of conception was detected with a December peak, end of July–beginning of August trough and modest amplitude (total peak-to-trough variation) equal to 13.3% of the yearly mean. Annual patterns (p < 0.005) of generally comparable peak and trough times were also documented for conceptions categorized by maternal marital status, age, ethnicity, years of education, birthplace, and county (Texas–Mexico border vs. non-border) of residence. The amplitude, a measure of the prominence of the annual pattern, varied by race (two-fold greater for non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites), age (50–60% greater for the 19-year-old and younger group than the 20–29 and 30–44-year-old groups) and maternal education (two-fold greater for those with 0–8 than 13 or more years of schooling). Annual patterns (p < 0.001) in conceptions, generally with December peak and end of July–beginning of August trough, were also detected for neonatal variables categorized by birth weight, birth order, gestational age, and gender. The amplitude of the annual pattern in conceptions varied directly with gestational age and inversely with birth weight class.

Spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris County, Texas, 1990 to 1994, and historical evidence for the presence of low-level radioactivity in tap water.

Background: While both ionizing and nonionizing radiation are known to impair human reproductive capacity, the role of low-level domestic radiation continues to be an unsettled issue. Objectives: We examined the geostatistical distribution (residential longitude and latitude) of orofacial cleft birth cases adjusted for the underlying population distribution. Furthermore, we examined the cleft birth rates enumerated by zip codes for possible associations with levels of radium and radon in drinking water. Methods: Cleft births and unaffected live births in Harris County, Texas, from 1990 to 1994, were geocoded by residential addresses and tested for spatial clusters using the space-time clustering program SaTScan. Historical sample data on local variations in water quality facilitated the assessment of the association of orofacial cleft defect births with low-level radiation exposure. Results: A cluster of significantly greater than expected numbers of cleft defect births was identified in northwest Harris County, (relative risk = 3.0, P = 0.043), where the presence of elevated levels of radium (>3 pCi/L) and radon (>300 pCi/L) in the tap water has been known since the 1980s. Conclusions: Despite the ecological design of the study, lacking individual exposure measurements for cleft birth residences, there was strong suggestive evidence of an association between elevated radiation levels in tap water and elevated cleft birth prevalence rates by zip codes. Attention of physicians is invited to environmental causes as potential risk factors for orofacial cleft. This would aid in genetic counseling and the development of future preventive measures.

Recent Change in the Annual Pattern of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States

This study analyzed the 1999 to 2003 database of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for seasonal and longer‐term time trends in the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in the United States. Linear regression was used to ascertain time trends, and a linear mixed auto‐regression model was applied to determine the statistical significance of the major peaks relative to the annualized time series mean. A statistically significant increasing trend during the 5 yr span was documented only in the incidence of chlamydia. No clear annual periodicity was detected in any of the STDs; instead, significant three‐month cycles were documented in all the STDs, with prominent peaks evident in March, May, August, and November. The March and May peaks could be associated with the sexual activities of young adults during spring break, which for different colleges and universities, commences as early as mid‐ to late‐February and concludes as late as early‐ to mid‐April, when huge numbers of sexually active youth congregate at beach resort settings. We propose the August peak is representative of summer sexual activity, in particular, of youths during school recess when adult supervision is poor. Finally, the autumn peak seems to be an expression of an endogenous annual rhythm in human reproductive biology, exemplified by elevated levels of testosterone in young males and sexual activity at this time of the year.

Lead and copper in drinking water fountains-information for physicians

Background: Lead and copper are potentially toxic metals. The objective of our work was to test the water from the drinking fountains of a large public access office complex in southwest Houston, Texas, for the presence of lead, copper, and microbiologic contamination. The data for the water fountains were compared with what we found in the local municipal drinking water supplies. Methods: Samples were collected as the first draw at the beginning of the work week. These samples were acidified to prevent the precipitation of heavy metals and analyzed using United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approved procedures and quality control. Results: Traces of lead were detected in 37.5% and copper in 100% of the tested water fountains. In two buildings, concentrations in some fountains exceeded the USEPA action level for lead (by up to 12-fold) and for copper (by up to 3.9 fold). One sample was positive for total coliform and Escherichia coli bacteria. Comparison with samples from the local municipal drinking water supplies indicated that both metals and bacteria were the result of secondary contamination at the water fountain sites. Conclusions: This study showed that drinking water fountains can be an unexpected and unappreciated source of intake of metal and bacterial contaminants.