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Background: The relationship between obesity and susceptibility to influenza infection in humans is unclear. Morbidly obese people were at an increased risk of complications from 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza [A(H1N1)pdm09]., Objective: The goal of this study was to determine whether medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza is independently associated with obesity in adults with acute respiratory illness., Patients/methods:   Adults ≥20 years with a medical encounter for acute respiratory illness were recruited from a population cohort during the 2007-2008 (n = 903), 2008-2009 (n = 869), and 2009 pandemic (n = 851) season. Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for influenza by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using data from the electronic medical record. Logistic regression evaluated the association between influenza and obesity, adjusting for gender, vaccination, age, and high-risk medical condition., Results: Influenza was detected in 50% of patients in 2007-2008, 15% in 2008-2009, and 14% during the 2009 pandemic. Predominant seasonal viruses in this population were A/H3N2 in 2007-2008, and A/H1N1 and B in 2008-2009. Mean (±SD) BMI was 30·58 (±7·31) in patients with influenza and 30·93 (±7·55) in test-negative controls during all seasons. Mean BMI of patients with influenza did not vary by season. After adjusting for confounders, neither obesity nor extreme obesity were associated with influenza by season or for all years combined (OR 0·95: 95% CI 0·75, 1·20 and 1·10: 0·80, 1·52, respectively, for obesity and extreme obesity, all years)., Conclusions: Obesity was not associated with medically attended influenza among adults with acute respiratory illness in this population., (© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Vitamin D has become increasingly recognized in the literature for its extra-skeletal roles, including an effect on inflammation and the immune response to infection. Our goal was to describe the role of vitamin D in the immune response and implications for the risk of influenza infection in humans. In this review, we first consider literature that provides molecular and genetic support to the idea that vitamin D is related to the adaptive and innate immune responses to influenza infection in vitro and in animal models. We then discuss observational studies and randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in humans. Finally, we consider some of the knowledge gaps surrounding vitamin D and immune response that must be filled.

Background: The continuing epizootic of H5N1 avian influenza (AI) in Asia and subsequent zoonotic transmission has led to heightened concerns about a pandemic and the demand for improved surveillance of poultry in all sectors, including backyard poultry. We conducted a 15-month prospective study to determine the prevalence of AI in backyard poultry and extent of transmission to flock handlers., Methods: Starting July 2007, registered poultry owners in six counties in central Wisconsin were mailed invitations to participate; household members with poultry exposure were also invited. Premises with < 1000 birds were eligible. Participants completed a baseline interview to characterize poultry exposures. Illness in flocks and flock handlers was monitored using semimonthly telephone interviews and self-report of acute influenza-like symptoms by flock handlers. Participants provided blood at baseline and at the end of the surveillance period for serology and, if ill, nasopharyngeal, eye, and throat swabs for viral testing. Blood was also collected at baseline from a convenience sample of adult poultry., Results: We enrolled 87 flocks and 128 persons who had regular contact with poultry. Influenza-like symptoms were reported by 77 (65%) persons. Swabs were collected from 53 persons at 88 illness episodes. AI was not isolated, but five persons were positive for human influenza. Twenty-one participants (20%) seroconverted to at least one human influenza strain, but there were no seroconversions to AI. Blood samples from all 717 birds tested were seronegative for influenza., Conclusion: Despite limited biosecurity there was no evidence of AI infection in participating backyard flocks or flock handlers.

Problem: The Marshfield Youth (MY) Health Study was designed to identify parental and infant factors associated with childhood and adolescent overweight., Methods: The study examined 867 children (age 5-17 years) from the Marshfield Public Schools. Heights and weights were measured by standard methods. Age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) percentiles and z-scores were determined. Definitions of overweight from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were applied. Family characteristics were self-reported by questionnaire and included parents' BMI, employment, education, smoking, physical activity; and child's daycare attendance, and television/computer use. Maternal and child medical records were reviewed., Results: The MY Health cohort included 361 families. The mean +/- SD age of the children was 12.1 +/- 3.0 yrs; 511 (59%) were born in Marshfield, Wis. Of the children studied, 70% had a healthy body weight (BMI >5th and <85th percentile); 14.4% were at risk of overweight (BMI > or = 85th and <95th percentile) and 13% were overweight (BMI > or = 95th percentile). There were no differences in gender or weight status between the study cohort and all Marshfield school children (n=2782)., Conclusions: Children in the MY Health Study are representative of all school-age children in Marshfield. This cohort will be studied to identify factors associated with overweight among children.