Medical and Research Library News               
September 2025

 

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Training opportunities
 

The webinars and online classes listed here are shared solely as opportunities to learn more information of interest to public health personnel. All times listed are
in Central Time.

 

September 12, 2025; 3–4 p.m. Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals.

This webinar from the National Academies will examine U.S. policies, programs, and investments related to breastfeeding, assessing the health, social, and economic impacts of current rates, as well as identifying variances in rates and gaps in knowledge. It will provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen support for mothers and families, improve and expand access to breastfeeding services and supplies, and increase breastfeeding rates in line with national goals.

 

September 17, 2025; 10–11:30 a.m. A Fireside Chat with Margaret Foster And The Team At Texas A&M: Systematic Reviews.

Curious about the future of evidence synthesis? Join this presentation from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) for an insightful and informal session on systematic reviews. The first part of the presentation will provide an update on emerging standards and best practices for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into systematic reviews. Discover practical workflows and applications, along with a frank discussion of the challenges involved. The remainder of the session will be dedicated to answering your questions about systematic reviews, ensuring you leave with valuable insights. Don't miss this opportunity to stay at the forefront of systematic review methodology.

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September 23, 2025; 12–1:30 p.m. Culinary Medicine as Catalyst: Bridging Public Health, Primary Care, and Community Partnership.

Food is a powerful tool for prevention, connection, and health transformation. This webinar from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living will explore the evolution of a culinary medicine and food as medicine model rooted in interprofessional education, clinical innovation, and sustainable community-academic partnerships. Through real-world examples from North Texas, the presentation will demonstrate how linking public health and primary care through food and cooking can empower communities, inspire meaningful research, and promote collaboration in health systems.

 

September 25, 2025; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. DSHS Grand Rounds - Newborn Screening Updates.

This webinar is offered by the DSHS Office of Practice and Learning Grand Rounds program. DSHS Grand Rounds explores the science and practice of population health and awards continuing education credits/contact hours for various disciplines. Visit the Grand Rounds calendar to see information on upcoming sessions. Held monthly on the fourth Wednesday, sessions are 90 minutes with the final 20 minutes reserved for Q&A.

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Websites and reports on trending topics
 

The Community Guide: The Guide to Community Preventive Services is a collection of evidence-based findings of the Community Preventive Services Task Force. It is a resource to help you select interventions to improve health and prevent disease in your state, community, community organization, business, healthcare organization, or school.

 

CABI Digital Library is the most thorough and extensive source of reference in the applied life sciences, incorporating the leading bibliographic databases CAB Abstracts and Global Health. CABI's bibliographic databases, including the world-renowned CAB Abstracts and Global Health, contain over 11 million bibliographic records, full-text articles, news items and reports across the applied life sciences.

 

Lexidrug is a collection of content sets and clinical tools that provides users with robust clinical drug information. It provides full text access to point-of-care information from 13 clinical databases and 4 clinical applications. Databases include Lexi-Drugs, Pediatric Lexi-Drugs, and Geriatric Lexi-Drugs as well as Clinician's Guides to Diagnosis, Internal Medicine and Laboratory Medicine. Clinical applications include drug interactions, tablet & capsule identification, medical calculations, and patient advisory leaflets.

 

Proquest Health Research Premium offers a unique mix of training content, scholarly literature, and clinical reference materials for those preparing for a career in healthcare. This database offers a broad collection of journals, evidence-based resources, and full-text dissertations, and includes the top ProQuest health and medical databases.

 

Journal articles of note

 

Betancourt D, Shumate C, Canfield MA, et al. Assessing the impact of social factors on survival among infants born with transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, and diaphragmatic hernia in Texas, 2011-2019. Matern Child Health J. Published online July 9, 2025. doi:10.1007/s10995-025-04126-2

Abstract

Introduction: Social factors impact survival for infants with birth defects. This analysis describes the impact of social factors on one-year survival for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), transposition of the great arteries (TGA), and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

Methods: Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test with 0.05 significance stratified by social factors for infants born 2011-2019 with CDH (N = 942), TGA (N = 1,102), or TOF (N = 1,545). Crude hazard ratios (HR) and adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for infant death using the Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: One-year survival was 88.7% for TOF, 88.0% for TGA, and 72.7% for CDH. Infants with CDH whose mother resided along the Texas-Mexico border had an increased risk of death compared to non-border residents (HR = 1.68, p =.003). Lower maternal education attainment was associated with increased risk of death for infants with TGA (HR = 1.75, p =.002) or TOF (HR = 1.54, p =.005) compared to infants whose mother had more than a high school education. Maternal Hispanic ethnicity increased the risk of death for infants with TGA (HR = 1.75, p =.005) or TOF (HR = 1.74, p =.002) compared to NH White infants.

Discussion: Hispanic maternal ethnicity, lower maternal educational attainment, and residence along the Texas-Mexico border negatively impact infant one-year survival.

 

Kemper AR, Lam WKK, Ojodu J, et al. Evidence regarding Duchenne muscular dystrophy newborn screening. Pediatrics. Published online August 12, 2025. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-073192

Abstract

Variants in the DMD gene, located on the X chromosome, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). DMD reportedly affects about 2 per 10,000 newborn males, leading to progressive weakness and premature death, typically from respiratory or cardiac complications. The average age of diagnosis in the United States (US) over the past four decades has been 4.5 to 5 years. The availability of targeted therapies and the long diagnostic odyssey have led to advocacy for newborn screening (NBS). Studies of caregivers of children with DMD describe support for NBS. Meeting abstracts, which may have bias, suggest earlier identification in a child following DMD diagnosis in an older brother improves outcomes. Ohio and Minnesota include DMD NBS, and other states are planning implementation. DMD NBS is based on measuring the muscle isoform of creatine kinase (CK-MM), which is elevated due to muscle damage. Infants with borderline CK-MM levels can be retested after at least one week to determine if elevations are birth related. Molecular analysis in infants with significantly elevated CK-MM can identify DMD variants associated with DMD or BMD. Screening accuracy depends on the testing algorithm. Although treatment with glucocorticoids or related medications can improve outcomes for DMD despite side effects, the optimal age of initiation is unclear. Efficacy of the Food and Drug Administration-approved gene therapy has not been established, and it has a rare risk of hepatotoxicity. Genotype-specific exon-skipping medications, indicated for 27% of cases, may improve outcomes, but clinical benefit is not definitively established.

 

Sheriff FR, Benjamin RH, Patel J, et al. Epidemiologic features of preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21 in Texas, 1999-2018. Am J Med Genet A. Published online August 21, 2025. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.64229

Abstract

The rate of preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21 (22%) is around twice that among the general population (10%). We conducted a descriptive epidemiologic study to address the gap in knowledge on what maternal and infant factors are associated with preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21. Singleton infants with trisomy 21 born between 1999 and 2018 were identified from the Texas Birth Defects Registry. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between preterm birth and 14 maternal and infant characteristics. Statistically significant associations were observed between preterm birth and maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, maternal birthplace, prenatal care, smoking, infant sex, and infant delivery year. For instance, preterm birth was associated with maternal age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.44, 95% CI: 1.23-1.70 for ≥ 40 vs. 25-29 years) and prenatal care (aOR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.25-2.03 for no care versus any care). Our findings contribute toward a better understanding of the risk profile of preterm birth among infants with trisomy 21 and can guide further research on risk factors and potential interventions for reducing preterm birth rates in this population.

 

Smith DJ, Misas E, Gold JAW, et al. Fungal meningitis in U.S. patients who received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico. Clin Infect Dis. Published online July 22, 2025. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaf399

Abstract

Background: Fungal meningitis outbreaks are rare and entail high mortality rates. Beginning May 2023, we investigated fungal meningitis caused by Fusarium solani species complex occurring in U.S. patients who received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico.

Methods: Early epidemiological information suggested U.S. patients with suspected fungal meningitis had undergone mostly cosmetic procedures under epidural anesthesia performed in two Matamoros clinics. U.S. patients known to have received surgery at these clinics during January 1-May 13, 2023, (clinic closures date) were identified and notified by public health officials. Epidemiological and clinical data were used to update diagnostic and clinical guidance for outbreak response, including use of the experimental antifungal fosmanogepix. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on outbreak isolates.

Results: U.S. public health officials attempted to contact 233 potentially exposed U.S. residents who underwent surgeries, mostly cosmetic, in Mexico, reaching 170 (73%). Of those, 104 (61%) reported receiving epidural anesthesia and were therefore considered potentially at risk for fungal meningitis. At least 30/104 (29%) at-risk patients received a diagnostic lumbar puncture; 24 (23 women, 17 Hispanic or Latino) were diagnosed with fungal meningitis, and six were not. Twelve (50%) with fungal meningitis died. All cases involved epidural anesthesia administered by the same anesthesiologist in Mexico. Whole genome sequencing showed that patient isolates of Fusarium from the two implicated clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, were genetically closely related.

Conclusions: Clinicians should maintain suspicion for fungal meningitis in patients with negative bacterial culture, viral culture and molecular testing with a history of epidural anesthesia for any reason.