Digital Commons Network^™

Black–White Latino Racial Disparities In Hiv Survival, Florida, 2000–2011, Diana M. Sheehan, Mary Jo Trepka, Kristopher P. Feenie, Guillermo Prado, Miguel Angel Cano, Lorene M. Maddox

Department of Epidemiology

This research aimed to estimate Black/White racial disparities in all-cause mortality risk among HIV-positive Latinos. Florida surveillance data for Latinos diagnosed with HIV (2000–2008) were merged with 2007–2011 American Community Survey data. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were calculated using multi-level Cox regression. Of 10,903 HIV-positive Latinos, 8.2% were Black and 91.9% White. Black Latinos were at increased mortality risk compared with White Latinos after controlling for individual and neighborhood factors (aHR 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21–1.62). In stratified analyses, risk factors for Black Latinos included: age ¥60 years compared with ages 13–19 (aHR 4.63, 95% CI 1.32–16.13); …

“That’S True Love:” Lived Experiences Of Puerto Rican Perinatally Hiv-Infected Youth Within Their Families’ Context, Georgina Silva-Suarez, Elena Bastida, Silvia E. Rabionet, Consuelo Beck Sague, Irma Febo, Carmen D. Zorrilla

Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The burden of HIV affects not only HIV-infected patients but also their families and caregivers. It is also known that family support is crucial for people living with HIV. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the life experiences, within the family context, of perinatally HIV-infected (pHIV-I) youth in Puerto Rico. Twenty in-depth interviews were performed and audio-recorded. Within the family context, study participants experienced acceptance, love and support but also stigma and discrimination. They reported that family is an essential component in their lives and treatment. Losing one or both parents at a young age was considered more difficult …

A Novel Biomarker Of Oxidative Stress Is Associated With Risk Of Death In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, Riyaz S. Patel, Nima Ghasemzadeh, Danny J. Eapen, Salman Sher, Shawn Arshad, Yi-An Ko, Emir Veledar, Habib Samady, A. Maziar Zafari, Laurence Sperling, Viola Vaccarino

Department of Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background—Free radical scavengers have failed to improve patient outcomes promoting the concept that clinically important oxidative stress (OS) may be mediated by alternative mechanisms. We sought to examine the association of emerging aminothiol markers of non-free radical mediated oxidative stress with clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results—Plasma levels of reduced (cysteine and glutathione) and oxidized (cystine and glutathione disulphide) aminothiols were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography in 1411 patients undergoing coronary angiography (mean age 63 years, male 66%). All patients were followed for a mean of 4.7±2.1 years for the primary outcome of all-cause death (n=247). Levels of …

Speech-Language Pathology Interns’ Perceptions Of What Supervisors Value Most During Clinical Practicum, Karin Cardozo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze interns’ perceptions of what supervisors considered important supervisory behaviors and to compare those perceptions with what the supervisors considered important. Participants consisted of 33 interns and 23 supervisors. Results of two surveys collected in previous studies were compared and analyzed. Tihen’s (1983) “Tihen’s Student Expectations of their Clinical Supervisor(s) Scale” was used for the intern group. A modified version of the same scale was used for the supervisor group. The scale rated five domains: passive, evaluative, active, cooperative, and affective.

Results revealed that interns ranked perceptions of what supervisors considered important supervisory …

A Second Look At The Association Between Gender And Mortality On Antiretroviral Therapy, Serena P. Koenig, Alexandra Bornstein, Karine Severe, Elizabeth Fox, Jessy G. Devieux, Patrice Severe, Patrice Joseph, Adias Marcelin, Dgndy Alexandre Bright, Ngoc Pham, Pierre Cremieux, Jean William Pope

Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Objective

We assessed the association between gender and mortality on antiretroviral therapy (ART) using identical models with and without sex-specific categories for weight and hemoglobin.

Design

Cohort study of adult patients on ART. Setting GHESKIO Clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Participants

4,717 ART-naïve adult patients consecutively enrolled on ART at GHESKIO from 2003 to 2008.

Main Outcome Measure

Mortality on ART; multivariable analyses were conducted with and without sex-specific categories for weight and hemoglobin.

Results

In Haiti, male gender was associated with mortality (OR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.30–2.00) in multivariable analyses with hemoglobin and weight included as control variables, but not …

Association Between Childhood Sexual Abuse And Hiv-Related Risk Factors For Hiv-Positive Haitian Women, Marie Sandra Severe

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is one of the least studied HIV-related risk factors in Haiti although research in the United States and Europe has clearly established the link between childhood trauma and HIV risk behaviors. Understanding the role and impact of CSA on HIV-positive Haitian women is likely to strengthen future HIV prevention and treatment efforts aimed at this vulnerable group.

The current study was a cross-sectional examination of baseline data collected during a randomized trial of a cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention in Haiti. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between CSA and sexual risk …

Exploring Parental Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy, Role Modeling And Factors Contributing To Family Health Practices From An Employer-Provided Family Weight Management Program: A Mixed Methods Study, Kurt E. Vargo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents provide a social learning environment where family nutrition, eating habits and physical activity are largely influenced by and correlated with parental modeling of these behaviors. Increasing self-efficacy is an important component in parents being role models because theoretically, it promotes cognitive change that supports their confidence and ability to modify behaviors that contributes to healthier family practices and biometric outcomes.

Phase one of this sequential two-phase study used biometric data (body mass index [BMI], cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure) from parents (N = 37) participating in their employer’s family wellness initiative as dependent variables. Parental perceptions of nutrition, …

The Effect Of Vitamin D Supplementation On Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Minorities With Type 2 Diabetes, Joel Exebio

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation (4000 IU or 6000 IU of cholecalciferol daily for 6 months) on fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and lipid profile in a sample of African-Americans and Hispanics with T2D and vitamin D insufficiency. Seventy five participants were recruited by community outreach. Plasma glucose concentration was measured by hexokinase enzymatic method. Glycated hemoglobin was measured by the DCA2000+ system. Insulin in fasting blood was determined by radioimmunoassay. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were assayed by enzymatic methods. Serum vitamin …

Determinants And Disparities Of Survival In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Design Utilizing The Cox Proportional Hazard Analytical Model, Michael C. Belcon

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A significant racial disparity in breast cancer mortality exists among women in the United States. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer phenotype that may explain, in part, this disparity between white and African American women. The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of survival in TNBC and non-triple-negative breast cancer (NTNBC) patients.

Data on 168,756 female patients with a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program were stratified based on breast cancer receptor phenotypes in this retrospective longitudinal cohort study design. Multiple logistic regressions were used for exploring …

In Search Of Safety, Negotiating Everyday Forms Of Risk: Sex Work, Criminalization, And Hiv/Aids In The Slums Of Kampala, Serena Cruz

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation offers an in-depth descriptive account of how women manage daily risks associated with sex work, criminalization, and HIV/AIDS. Primary data collection took place within two slums in Kampala, Uganda over the course of fourteen months. The emphasis was on ethnographic methodologies involving participant observation and informal and unstructured interviewing. Insights then informed document analysis of international and national policies concerning HIV prevention and treatment strategies in the context of Uganda. The dissertation finds social networks and social capital provide the basis for community formation in the sex trade. It holds that these interpersonal processes are necessary components for …

Sex-Positive Curricula: An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Physical Fitness, Self-Concept And Sexual Functioning, Lia Jiannine

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the well-recognized benefits of exercise, Americans are gaining weight in astounding proportions and levels of physical activity are on the decline. The purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship between physical fitness, self-concept and sexual health. There is a dearth of knowledge on this relationship specifically in the context of sex-negative curricula, which is the dominate discourse in the United States.

One hundred and thirty-three participants between the ages of 18 - 50 volunteered for fitness testing and data collection. Physical fitness was assessed through body fat, resting metabolic rate, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance and …

Eliciting Preferences For Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Using A Discrete Choice Experiment: Implications For Product Regulation, Ramzi G. Salloum, Wasim Maziak, David Hammond, Rima Nakkash, Farahnaz Islam, Xi Cheng, James F. Thrasher

Department of Epidemiology

Objectives Waterpipe smoking is highly prevalent among university students, and has been increasing in popularity despite mounting evidence showing it is harmful to health. The aim of this study was to measure preferences for waterpipe smoking and determine which product characteristics are most important to smokers.

Setting A large university in the Southeastern USA.

Participants Adult waterpipe smokers attending the university (N=367).

Design Participants completed an Internet-based discrete choice experiment to reveal their preferences for, and trade-offs between, the attributes of hypothetical waterpipe smoking sessions. Participants were presented with waterpipe lounge menus, each with three fruit-flavoured options and one tobacco …

Assessing The Prevalence Of Autoimmune, Endocrine, Gynecologic, And Psychiatric Comorbidities In An Ethnically Diverse Cohort Of Female Fibromyalgia Patients: Does The Time From Hysterectomy Provide A Clue?, Larry Brooks, Joseph Hadi, Kyle T. Amber, Christopher L. Lariche, Tamar Ference

HWCOM Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Schistosoma Haematobium Infection Among School-Age Children In Afar Area, Northeastern Ethiopia, Abraham Degarege, Zeleke Mekonnen, Bruno Levecke, Yohannes Negash, Jozef Vercruysse, Berhanu Erko

Department of Epidemiology

In this study, the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection was determined among school-age children living in the Middle and Lower Awash Valley, Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. Between February and May 2014, urine samples were collected from 885 school-age children (5–16 years of age) from the Middle (n = 632; 4 villages) and Lower (n = 253; 3 villages) Awash Valley. All samples were processed using urine filtration to detect and quantify S. haematobium eggs. In addition, a subset of the urine samples was tested for hematuria using a urine dipstick (n = 556). The overall prevalence was …

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices And Beliefs About Medical Male Circumcision (Mmc) Among A Sample Of Health Care Providers In Haiti, Jessy G. Devieux, Anshul Saxena, Rhonda Rosenberg, Jeffrey D. Klausner, Michele Jean-Gilles, Purnima Madhivanan, Stephanie Gaston, Muni Rubens, Harry Theodore, Marie-Marcelle Deschamps, Serena P. Koenig, Jean William Pope

Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Background

Haiti has the highest number of people living with HIV infection in the Caribbean/Latin America region. Medical male circumcision (MMC) has been recommended to help prevent the spread of HIV. We sought to assess knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs about MMC among a sample of health care providers in Haiti.

Methods

A convenience sample of 153 health care providers at the GHESKIO Centers in Haiti responded to an exploratory survey that collected information on several topics relevant to health providers about MMC. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the responses and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine opinions of …

Non-Oral Drug Delivery Strategies: From Early Diagnosis To Advanced Treatments, Claudia Trenkwalder, Werner Poewe, Fabrizio Stocchi, Stuart H. Isaacson

HWCOM Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Waterpipe Smoking Progression Among Youth In Irbid, Jordan: A Longitudinal Study (2008-2011), Rana Jaber, Purnima Madhivanan, Yousef Khader, Kenneth Ward, Wasim Maziak

Department of Epidemiology

No abstract provided.

Proliferative And Glycolytic Assessment Of The Whole-Body Bone Marrow Compartment, Mohammed Goryawala, Malek Adjouadi, Seza Gulec

HWCOM Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Bilingualism Knowledge Of Speech-Language Pathologists And Speech-Language Pathology Students, Michelle Leon

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to administer a survey to obtain information on practicing Speech-Language Pathologists’ (SLPs) knowledge of bilingual issues, while also considering whether any academic background on bilingualism guides SLP’s diagnostic and treatment options. This was done by comparing survey results of practicing SLPs with different academic backgrounds on bilingualism with current Master’s students registered at the Communication Sciences and Disorders Masters’ program at Florida International University (FIU). The survey consisted of 26 questions that examined participant’s history, and bilingual knowledge.

Data was collected from 89 surveys. Data analyses showed that students and SLPs with a strong …

Parent-Child Interactions In The Presence Of Risk For Adhd With And Without Language Impairment, Sisan Walker Angel

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to analyze how parent-child interactions differ in discourse structure, communicative function and linguistic behaviors between children who are at high-risk for developing a behavioral disorder such as ADHD, and those who are at high-risk for developing a behavioral disorder with a co-occurring language impairment. Participants consisted of 20 children ages three to five years old and their parents. A five-minute parent-child interaction was video recorded and analyzed using an adapted version of the “Coding parent/child interaction as a clinical outcome: a research note” designed by Law, Barnett, and Kot (1999).

Results revealed slight differences …

Complementary And Alternative Medicine And Japanese Chronic Disease Patients’ Quality Of Life And Perceived Stress, Hideaki Tanaka

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the association between the frequency of five lifestyle-related complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices and perceived quality of life (QOL) and stress among patients in Japan diagnosed with chronic disease, and also examined why patients decided to receive Okada purifying therapy [(OPT) biofield therapy]. Data from 1,190 patients were analyzed using bivariate and multiple regression analysis, followed by analysis of one-on-one in-depth interviews conducted among 25 patients on reasons why patients decided to practice OPT. Grounded theory methodology was used to analyze transcribed interview data.

Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that engaging in arts …

Barriers To Nutrition Counseling With A Registered Dietitian (Rd) And Its Association With Dietary Intake, Nutrition Status, Disease Outcomes And Substance Abuse In People Living With Hiv (Plwh)., Christina D. Fleetwood

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between nutrition and HIV is multifactorial. Nutrition counseling provided by a Registered Dietitian (RD) has the potential for improving disease risk outcomes for PLWH. To determine barriers to access nutritional counseling with an RD in PLWH, and evaluate the relationship of this counseling on dietary intake, nutritional status, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and HIV-disease outcomes.

This is a cross-sectional study of a consecutive convenience sample of 130 PLWH on stable ART from the MASH cohort. After consenting, participants completed a survey on types and frequency of nutritional services received in the last 12 months, and on barriers to access …

Diet Self-Efficacy And Physical Self-Concept Of College Students At Risk For Eating Disorders, Leslie D. Frazier, Joan A. Vaccaro, Stephanie Garcia, Negar Fallahazad, Kapil Rathi, Alice Shrestha, Nancy Perez

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Background: Both eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction affect a high proportion of college students. Self-esteem and self-efficacy may be protective factors for eating disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate diet self-efficacy, the confidence to maintain or lose weight, and its association with physical selfconcept using data from an online survey of health literacy, body image, and eating disorders.

Study Population and Methods: This cross-sectional study collected online survey data from college students within the United States. The inclusion criteria allowed for 1612 college students, ages 17-35 years (597 males, 1015 females) belonging to the following racial/ethnic …

Assessing The Prevalence Of Autoimmune, Endocrine, Gynecologic, And Psychiatric Comorbidities In An Ethnically Diverse Cohort Of Female Fibromyalgia Patients: Does The Time From Hysterectomy Provide A Clue?, Larry Brooks, Joseph Hadi, Kyle T. Amber, Michelle Weiner, Christopher L. Lariche, Tamar Ference

HWCOM Faculty Publications

Background: This retrospective chart review investigated differences in the prevalence of medical comorbidity between women with fibromyalgia (FM) (n=219) and a control group women with chronic pain (CP) without FM (n=116). The specific aims were to compare the prevalence of autoimmune, psychiatric, endocrine, gynecologic pathology, the relationship between timing of gynecologic surgery, and pain onset. We additionally sought to compare the number of comorbidities in an ethnically diverse cohort.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients seen in FM or CP clinics at an academic medical center in 2009–2010.

Results: Logistic regression modeling found that gynecologic, endocrine, and …

African American And Afro-Caribbean American Men’S Prostate Health Knowledge And Beliefs, Cora Yoose

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately one in every seven American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Men of African descent have higher incidence and mortality rates than others. Prostate cancer screening is important because the five-year survival rate is only 31% post-metastasis. The purpose of this study was to assess the likelihood of action for and factors influencing choice regarding prostate screenings. It was also to determine if a relationship existed between ethnicity (African American and Afro-Caribbean American men) and knowledge of prostate health, self-efficacy, perceived barriers to and belief regarding prostate screening. Data collection methods included a focus group …

Predictors Of Cigarette Smoking Progression Among A School-Based Sample Of Adolescents In Irbid, Jordan: A Longitudinal Study (2008–2011), Rana Jaber, Fawaz Mzayek, Purnima Madhivanan, Yousuf Khader, Wasim Maziak

Department of Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION:

Little evidence regarding longitudinal predictors of cigarette smoking progression is available from developing countries. This study aimed to identify gender-specific individual and social predictors of cigarette smoking progression among a school-based sample of adolescents in Irbid, Jordan.

METHODS:

A total of 1781 seventh graders (participation rate 95%) were enrolled and completed an annual self-administered questionnaire from 2008 through 2011. Students who reported "ever-smoking a cigarette" at baseline or in the subsequent follow-up but not being "heavy daily smokers" (>10 cigarettes per day) were eligible for this analysis (N = 669). Grouped-time survival analyses were used to identify predictors …

Inclusion Of Neuropsychological Scores In Atrophy Models Improves Diagnostic Classification Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Mohammed Goryawala, Qi Zhou, Warren Barker, David A. Lowenstein, Ranjan Duara

HWCOM Faculty Publications

Brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are difficult to demarcate to assess the progression of AD.This study presents a statistical framework on the basis of MRI volumes and neuropsychological scores. A feature selection technique using backward stepwise linear regression together with linear discriminant analysis is designed to classify cognitive normal (CN) subjects, early MCI (EMCI), late MCI (LMCI), and AD subjects in an exhaustive two-group classification process. Results show a dominance of the neuropsychological parameters like MMSE and RAVLT. Cortical volumetric measures of the temporal, parietal, and cingulate regions are found to be significant classification …

The Impact Of Red Light Cameras On Injury Crashes Within Miami-Dade County, Florida, Anthoni Llau

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous red light camera (RLC) studies have shown reductions in violations and overall and right angle collisions, however, they may also result in increases in rear-end crashes (Retting & Kyrychenko, 2002; Retting & Ferguson, 2003). Despite their apparent effectiveness, many RLC studies have produced imprecise findings due to inappropriate study designs and/or statistical techniques to control for biases (Retting & Kyrychenko, 2002), therefore, a more comprehensive approach is needed to accurately assess whether they reduce motor vehicle injury collisions. The objective of this proposal is to assess whether RLC’s improve safety at signalized intersections within Miami-Dade County, Florida. Twenty signalized …

Effect Of Mild-To-Moderate Smoking On Viral Load, Cytokines, Oxidative Stress, And Cytochrome P450 Enzymes In Hiv-Infected Individuals, Anusha Ande, Carole Mcarthur, Leo Ayuk, Charles Awasom, Paul Ngang Achu, Annette Nijinda, Namita Sinha, P. S.S. Rao, Marisela Agudelo, Anantha Ram Nookala, Stephen Simon, Anil Kumar, Santosh Kumar

HWCOM Faculty Publications

Mild-to-moderate tobacco smoking is highly prevalent in HIV-infected individuals, and is known to exacerbate HIV pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to determine the specific effects of mild-to-moderate smoking on viral load, cytokine production, and oxidative stress and cytochrome P450 (CYP) pathways in HIV-infected individuals who have not yet received antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thirty-two human subjects were recruited and assigned to four different cohorts as follows: a) HIV negative non-smokers, b) HIV positive non-smokers, c) HIV negative mild-to-moderate smokers, and d) HIV positive mild-to-moderate smokers. Patients were recruited in Cameroon, Africa using strict selection criteria to exclude patients not …

Undernutrition And Associated Risk Factors Among School Age Children In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dawit Degarege, Abraham Degarege, Abebe Animut

Department of Epidemiology

Background

Causes of child undernutrition are diverse and change in space and time. Investigating current determinants of undernutrition remains vital to design an effective intervention strategy. The study assessed prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among children living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in 459 school age children and their parents or caregivers living in Lideta sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants were selected using a multi-stage simple random sampling technique. Height and weight of children was measured and their parents or care givers were interviewed for factors associated with undernutrition.

Results

About …