2025
A longitudinal study of mass loads of quaternary ammonium compounds in sludge associated with COVID-19 Stringency Index indicators in Beijing, China
Thapa B, Sapkota S, Chen J, Zunong J, Asihaer Y, Khattab N, Li M, Ding D, Vermund S, Shu M, Hu Y. A longitudinal study of mass loads of quaternary ammonium compounds in sludge associated with COVID-19 Stringency Index indicators in Beijing, China. Environmental Chemistry And Ecotoxicology 2025, 7: 39-49. DOI: 10.1016/j.enceco.2024.10.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDialkyldimethylammonium chlorideWastewater treatment plantsTreatment plantsContainment policiesQuaternary ammonium compoundsSludge specimensChromatography-tandem mass spectrometryCOVID-19 containment policiesLiquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryWorkplace closuresSBACSludgeBackward estimationIncreasing trendQuaternary ammonium compounds' concentration
2024
Dehydration and Suboptimal Sleep Aggravate Early Renal Impairment in Children: Longitudinal Findings from the PROC Study
Li M, Xiao H, Amaerjiang N, Thapa B, Shu W, Asihaer Y, Guan M, Vermund S, Zou Z, Huang D, Hu Y. Dehydration and Suboptimal Sleep Aggravate Early Renal Impairment in Children: Longitudinal Findings from the PROC Study. Nutrients 2024, 16: 3472. PMID: 39458467, PMCID: PMC11510355, DOI: 10.3390/nu16203472.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransient renal impairmentRenal impairmentSystolic blood pressure z-scoreBody mass index z-scoreLong sleepBlood pressure z-scoreZ-scoreEarly renal impairmentOptimal sleepAssessment of sleep durationHealthy primary school childrenShort sleepMediterranean diet adherenceHydration statusAssociation of sleep durationSleep durationKidney healthMixed-effects modelsLinear mixed-effects modelsAssess longitudinal associationsMicroalbumin excretionGlomerular impairmentCohort studyDiet adherenceScreen timeThe Global Virus Network: collaboration to address pandemic and regional threats
Vermund S. The Global Virus Network: collaboration to address pandemic and regional threats. 2024, 2024: e1006380. DOI: 10.69645/osvm4786.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody composition trajectories during childhood predict skeletal maturation at puberty: A longitudinal study
Shu W, Li M, Vermund S, Li H, Hu Y. Body composition trajectories during childhood predict skeletal maturation at puberty: A longitudinal study. Heliyon 2024, 10: e36381. PMID: 39253277, PMCID: PMC11381823, DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36381.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdvanced bone ageBMI z-scoreFMI Z-scoreBone ageZ-scoreFat-free mass index Z scoreFat mass index z-scoreBody mass index z-scoreHigher BMI z-scoreBody composition trajectoriesBody composition measurementsBody composition indicatorsPediatric cohortLinear bone growthNutritional statusPrimary school childrenSkeletal maturityBMIFFMIPubertyAgeBone growthSchool childrenComposite measureLongitudinal studyNational age-specific mortality trends for cervical and breast cancers in urban–rural areas of China from 2009 to 2021: a population-based analysis
Li M, Qi J, Ma Y, Shu W, Xiao H, Wang L, Yin P, Guo H, Vermund S, Zhou M, Hu Y. National age-specific mortality trends for cervical and breast cancers in urban–rural areas of China from 2009 to 2021: a population-based analysis. Military Medical Research 2024, 11: 55. PMID: 39138529, PMCID: PMC11323448, DOI: 10.1186/s40779-024-00561-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAverage annual percent changeUrban-rural differencesMortality trendsRural areasNational Disease Surveillance Point SystemAge-specific mortality trendsBreast cancerDisease Surveillance Points systemAge groupsCancer control programsPromote health equityMortality rate ratiosAnnual percent changeRural-urban disparitiesRural-urban differencesRural areas of ChinaNegative binomial regression modelsUrban-rural areasTemporal trendsAge-specific mortalityPopulation-based analysisMortality rateBinomial regression modelsHealth equityJoinpoint modelsA Mixed Methods Exploration of Young Women’s Agency and Mental Health during COVID-19 in Low-Income Communities in Mumbai, India
Brault M, Peskin M, Jones A, Saikia A, Bhutia R, Cheruvu S, Jagtap V, Singh R, Nair P, Vedanthan R, Vermund S, Maitra S. A Mixed Methods Exploration of Young Women’s Agency and Mental Health during COVID-19 in Low-Income Communities in Mumbai, India. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2024, 21: 1007. PMID: 39200618, PMCID: PMC11354834, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21081007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLow-income communitiesMental healthHealth inequalitiesAssess health concernsAssociated with less anxietyConstant comparative approachQualitative dataWorsening mental healthAssociated with depressionDeepening health inequitiesAnalyzed qualitative dataSemi-structured interviewsSelf-carePopulation of youthQuantitative dataLow-incomeLess anxietyAGYWAnxiety symptomsCOVID-19Financial insecurityHealthHealth concernMitigate adverse consequencesWomen's agencyGlobal inequities in adverse pregnancy outcomes: what can we do?
ROBERTS J, ABIMBOLA S, BALE T, BARROS A, Bhutta Z, Browne J, Celi A, Dube P, GRAVES C, Hollestelle M, HOPKINS S, Khashan A, KOI-LARBI K, Lackritz E, MYATT L, Redman C, Tunçalp Ö, Vermund S, Gravett M. Global inequities in adverse pregnancy outcomes: what can we do? AJOG Global Reports 2024, 4: 100385. PMID: 39253028, PMCID: PMC11381988, DOI: 10.1016/j.xagr.2024.100385.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth equityPregnancy careSocial drivers of healthMaternal health inequalitiesIncrease health equityDrivers of healthEvidence of inequalitiesSocio-economic statusHealth inequalitiesAdverse pregnancy outcomesSuboptimal accessLow-incomeResource settingsStructural racismInfant mortalityEconomic statusHealthInadequate housingPregnancy outcomesCareCollaborative workshopsSexual orientationPregnancyOutcomesRaceLongitudinal mass loads of phthalate esters in sewage sludge and their association with public health and social measures for COVID-19 control in Beijing
Sapkota S, Thapa B, Chen J, Zunong J, Asihaer Y, Li M, Ji X, Ding D, Li H, Ma B, Vermund S, Shu M, Hu Y. Longitudinal mass loads of phthalate esters in sewage sludge and their association with public health and social measures for COVID-19 control in Beijing. Ecotoxicology And Environmental Safety 2024, 282: 116756. PMID: 39029222, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116756.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPopulation-normalized mass loadsPhthalate estersExposure to environmental contaminantsSewage sludge samplesBis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateMunicipal wastewater treatment plantWastewater treatment plantsSewage sludgeEnvironmental contaminationSludge samplesTreatment plantsBis(2-ethylhexylPeak concentrationsPhthalateSewagePublic healthDEHPGC/MS analysisMPAEsMass loadingExpanding body of literatureConcentrationMono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalateAdvantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity
Wu Y, Li D, Vermund S. Advantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2024, 21: 757. PMID: 38929003, PMCID: PMC11204233, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060757.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody mass indexPopulation healthAdult obesityContext of population healthBody mass index cut-offsAssessment of physical functionMass indexRisk of chronic diseasesClinical screeningMeasures of body compositionAt-risk individualsIndividual risk predictionConsensus reviewExercise counselingFitness statusPhysical functionHealthcare professionalsHealthcare screeningOverweight personsClinical careIndividual healthChronic diseasesBody compositionPopulation surveyHealthEfficacy of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision to Prevent HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men : A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Gao Y, Zhan Y, Sun Y, Zheng W, Zhang W, Fu L, Guo Z, Lin Y, Li Y, Zheng L, Zhan Y, Zhu Z, Duan J, Zhang G, Huang T, Su B, Yu M, Wu G, Ouyang L, Zhao J, Wang G, Zhou Y, Qian H, Fitzpatrick T, Vermund S, Zou H. Efficacy of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision to Prevent HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men : A Randomized Controlled Trial. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2024, 177: 719-728. PMID: 38801778, DOI: 10.7326/m23-3317.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVoluntary medical male circumcisionEfficacy of VMMCPreventing incident HIV infectionsRandomized controlled trialsMedical male circumcisionIncident HIV infectionIntervention groupInsertive anal intercoursePractice insertive anal intercourseMale circumcisionAnal intercourseIncidence rate of syphilisHIV infectionRates of syphilisMale sex partnersSexually transmitted infectionsIntention-to-treat analysisPrevent HIV infectionHIV incidenceControl groupHIV riskIncidence rateHerpes simplex virus type 2HIV seroconversionSelf-reportAssessing Direct and Spillover Effects of Intervention Packages in Network-randomized Studies
Buchanan A, Hernández-Ramírez R, Lok J, Vermund S, Friedman S, Forastiere L, Spiegelman D. Assessing Direct and Spillover Effects of Intervention Packages in Network-randomized Studies. Epidemiology 2024, 35: 481-488. PMID: 38709023, DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001742.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntervention packageEffectiveness of interventional packageImprove intervention deliveryPeer education interventionHIV prevention trialsPeer educator trainingMarginal structural modelsPublic health impactHIV risk behaviorsIntervention deliveryIntervention NetworkEducational interventionParticipant visitsPrevention trialsFollow-up visitRisk behaviorsHealth impactsInterventionEducational trainingParticipantsSpillover effectsVisitsHIVExposed networksPeerReversing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Promotes Healthy Pediatric Cardiovascular Structures: The PROC Study
Li M, Shu W, Zou Y, Xiao H, Asihaer Y, Guan M, Khattab N, Thapa B, Sapkota S, Vermund S, Huang D, Hu Y. Reversing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Promotes Healthy Pediatric Cardiovascular Structures: The PROC Study. The American Journal Of Gastroenterology 2024, 119: 1640-1643. PMID: 38775939, DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002804.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDNA methylation in long COVID
Xiao Y, Vermund S. DNA methylation in long COVID. Frontiers In Virology 2024, 4: 1371683. DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2024.1371683.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDNA methylationSevere acute respiratory syndromeAcute coronavirus disease 2019Middle East respiratory syndromeLong-term sequelaeDNA methylation phenomenonLong COVIDPredictive of outcomeCombination of clinical signsAcute COVID-19DNA methylation markersVirus-host interactionsLong lasting persistenceSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Respiratory syndromeChronic symptomsEpigenetic phenomenaSyndrome coronavirus 2Evolving syndromeCoronavirus disease 2019Long COVID patientsSyndromeAcute respiratory syndromeAssessment of a screening tool to aid home-based identification of adolescents (aged 10–14) living with HIV in Zambia and South Africa: HPTN 071 (PopART) study
Chaila M, Mcleod D, Vermund S, Mbolongwe-Thornicroft M, Mbewe M, Mubekapi-Musadaidzwa C, Harper A, Schaap A, Floyd S, Hoddinott G, Hayes R, Fidler S, Ayles H, Shanaube K, Team O. Assessment of a screening tool to aid home-based identification of adolescents (aged 10–14) living with HIV in Zambia and South Africa: HPTN 071 (PopART) study. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0266573. PMID: 38363733, PMCID: PMC10871489, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266573.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsScreening toolUniversal testingCommunity HIV-care providersCombination HIV prevention packageHIV-care providersHIV-positiveHIV prevention packageRapid HIV testingHIV test resultsRapid HIV test resultsHistory of hospital admissionIdentification of adolescentsPopART interventionUndiagnosed HIVHIV testingPrevention packageDoor-to-doorPoor healthHIV interventionsCommunity settingsConsented adolescentsHospital admissionSelf-reportSouth AfricaPopARTExamining County-Level Associations between Federally Qualified Health Centers and Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Political Ecology of Health Framework
Williams C, Skrip L, Adams A, Vermund S. Examining County-Level Associations between Federally Qualified Health Centers and Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Political Ecology of Health Framework. Healthcare 2024, 12: 295. PMID: 38338180, PMCID: PMC10855137, DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12030295.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFederally Qualified Health CentersSexually transmitted infectionsQualified Health CentersCounty-level associationsAffordable Care ActHealth centersGonorrhea ratesSexually transmitted infection prevalenceSexually transmitted infection epidemicsPolitical ecology of health frameworkTreatment of sexually transmitted infectionsProviders of healthcareRates of chlamydiaMultivariate linear regression modelChlamydia ratesPlace-based characteristicsUnited StatesHealth frameworkSTI riskLinear regression modelsUS countiesCare ActKruskal-Wallis testInterquartile rangeRegression modelsImpact of vaccination and high-risk group awareness on the mpox epidemic in the United States, 2022–2023: a modelling study
Lin Y, Wen T, Shih W, Vermund S, Fang C. Impact of vaccination and high-risk group awareness on the mpox epidemic in the United States, 2022–2023: a modelling study. EClinicalMedicine 2024, 68: 102407. PMID: 38235420, PMCID: PMC10789643, DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102407.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMaternal and Newborn Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Parallels and Contrasts with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Li D, Zhang J, Zhang X, Chang Y, Vermund S. Maternal and Newborn Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Parallels and Contrasts with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Medical Research Archives 2024, 12: 10.18103/mra.v12i4.5205. PMID: 39118854, PMCID: PMC11309002, DOI: 10.18103/mra.v12i4.5205.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndromeHuman immunodeficiency virusHuman immunodeficiency virus-infected womenAdherence to antiretroviral therapyNeonatal outcomesImmunodeficiency virusImmunodeficiency syndromeIntensive care unitAntiretroviral therapySARS-CoV-2Maternal mortalityRisk of mother-to-child transmissionVertical transmissionVertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virusClinical managementTransmission of human immunodeficiency virusImpact of human immunodeficiency virusIncreased risk of maternal mortalityHuman immunodeficiency virus controlPoor adherence to antiretroviral therapySARS-CoV-2 vertical transmissionVertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2Pregnant individualsMother-to-child transmissionNeonatal intensive care unitMental health in Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools during the COVID-19 crisis: Literature review and survey suggesting multi-tiered support systems
Li D, Li Y, Zheng Z, Zhou X, Castro D, Vermund S, Brault M. Mental health in Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools during the COVID-19 crisis: Literature review and survey suggesting multi-tiered support systems. Medical Research Archives 2024, 12 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v12i4.5179.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMulti-tiered systemCOVID-19 pandemicNon-teaching staffMental health concernsMental healthAnalysis of survey resultsPsychological well-beingSchool communityEducation systemEducational settingsTeaching staffEducational environmentK-12School staffPeer interactionGrade schoolSchoolMental health support programKindergartenEmergence of mental health problemsStudentsHealth support programContinuity of careReview of relevant literatureMental health interventionsA Proposal of Utilizing Six Types of Involvement Model to Guide Kindergarten to 12th Grade School Parental Communication and Support During a Pandemic
Li D, Li Y, Zheng Z, Zhou X, Castro D, Vermund S, Brault M. A Proposal of Utilizing Six Types of Involvement Model to Guide Kindergarten to 12th Grade School Parental Communication and Support During a Pandemic. Medical Research Archives 2024, 12: 10.18103/mra.v12i4.5178. PMID: 39118855, PMCID: PMC11309007, DOI: 10.18103/mra.v12i4.5178.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchParental engagementInvolvement frameworkSchool districtsEducational outcomesOnline learningEnhance educational outcomesStudent well-beingEffective communicationMixed-methods approachEpstein's frameworkIndependent schoolsSchool administratorsSchool communicationSchoolSchool nursesLack of resourcesQualitative dataStudentsLevel of communicationFoster understandingLearningInvolvement modelCommunity collaborationParents' perceptionsPolicy implementationSpatiotemporal trends in COVID-19 vaccine sentiments on a social media platform and correlations with reported vaccine coverage
Zhou X, Zhang X, Larson H, de Figueiredo A, Jit M, Fodeh S, Vermund S, Zang S, Lin L, Hou Z. Spatiotemporal trends in COVID-19 vaccine sentiments on a social media platform and correlations with reported vaccine coverage. Bulletin Of The World Health Organization 2024, 102: 32-45. PMID: 38164328, PMCID: PMC10753281, DOI: 10.2471/blt.23.289682.Peer-Reviewed Original Research