Digital Commons Network^™

Social Policy, Imperiled Communities, And Hiv/Aids Transmission In Prisons: A Call For Zero Tolerance, Louis F. Graham, Henrie Treadwell, Kisha Braithwaite

Louis F Graham

HIV/AIDS and African-American male imprisonment contribute to the destruction of African-American communities. African-American men and HIV/AIDS are disproportionately represented throughout all sectors of the criminal justice industry, including the juvenile justice system. The criminal justice system contributes to unacceptably high African-American male imprisonment rates and HIV prevalence directly via the ‘war on drugs’ and lax enforcement of institutional policy among other things, and indirectly through perpetuation of economic hardship which further exacerbates imprisonment rates, thus closing the loop of a vicious cycle of revolving prison doors and HIV contraction. This article briefly introduces surrounding socio-political issues that contextualizes the ensuing …

Family Sources Of Educational Gender Inequality In Rural China: A Critical Assessment, Emily C. Hannum, Peggy A. Kong, Yuping Zhang

Emily C. Hannum

Regressing Scalar Outcomes On Image Predictors Via Functional Principal Component Regression, Philip T. Reiss

Philip T. Reiss

No abstract provided.

New Episodes And New Onsets Of Major Depression In Borderline And Other Personality Disorders, John G. Gunderson, Robert L. Stout, Charles A. Sanislow, M. Tracie Shea, Thomas H. Mcglashan, Mary C. Zanarini, Maria T. Daversa, Carlos M. Grilo, Shirley Yen, Andrew E. Skodol

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

Background: In the context of much literature and conjecture about the relationship of personality disorders (PD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), this paper uses longitudinal data to assess the frequency with which PD patients, and especially those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), have recurrences (for patients with lifetime histories), or new onsets (for patients without lifetime histories) of MDD. Methods: A sample of 478 PD patients received reliable repeated follow-up assessments over a period of 6 years. The rates of new onsets and recurrences of MDD in all PD patients, and in BPD patients compared to OPD patients were analyzed. …

Worldwide Variation In The Doubling Time Of Alzheimer's Disease Incidence Rates, Kathryn Ziegler-Graham, Ron Brookmeyer, Elizabeth Johnson, H. Michael Arrighi

Ron Brookmeyer

Background The doubling time is the number of chronological years for the age-specific incidence rate to double in magnitude. Doubling times describe the rate of increase of the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with advancing age. Estimates of doubling times of AD assist in understanding disease etiology and forecasting future disease prevalence. The objective of this study was to investigate regional and gender differences in the doubling of AD age-specific incidence rates.

Methods We identified all studies in the peer review literature that reported age-specific incidence rates for AD. We modeled the logarithm of the incidence rate as a linear …

Simultaneous Confidence Bands For The Coefficient Function In Functional Regression, Philip T. Reiss

Philip T. Reiss

No abstract provided.

Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness And Response Of Rural Veterinarians: Experiences And Training Needs, Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Francisco G. Soto Mas

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Veterinarians play a unique role in emergency preparedness and response, and as such federal agencies and academic institutions allocated considerable resources to provide training to enhance their readiness. However, the level of preparedness of veterinarians in many rural regions is yet to be improved. This paper reports an assessment of the bioterrorism preparedness, specifically the experience and training needs of rural veterinarians in North Texas. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a study population that included all veterinarians (N=352) in the 37 counties in Texas Department of State Health Services Regions 2 and 3. Data on veterinarians practicing or …

Utilizing Video On Myocardial Infarction As A Health Educational Intervention In Patient Waiting Areas Of The Developing World: A Study At The Emergency Department Of A Major Tertiary Care Hospital In India, Naveen Dhawan, Omar Saeed, Vineet Gupta, Rishi Desai, Melvin Ku, Sanjeev Bhoi, Sanjay Verma

Vineet Gupta, MD, FACP

Objective: To study the effect of health educational video instruction on increasing patients’ knowledge in a hospital waiting area of a developing country. Methods: An educational video on signs, symptoms, and risk factors of myocardial infarction (MI) was played in an Emergency Department (ED) patient waiting area of an urban tertiary care hospital in India. Participants (n= 217) were randomly assigned to two groups: an intervention group that viewed the MI video (n=111) and a control group that did not view the video (n=106). Each group took a standard survey of thirty-seven questions to assess baseline knowledge pertaining to MI …

Examining Geographic And Temporal Variations Of Aids Mortality: Evidence Of Racial Disparities, Yuwen Chiu, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Background: There is little literature on spatiotemporal trends of AIDS mortality among different race and gender groups. The purpose of the present study is to describe AIDS mortality geographically and temporally, and to determine if detected trends vary by race and gender. Methods: The Spatial Scan Statistic was employed to examine the geographic excess of AIDS mortality by race and gender in 24 Maryland jurisdictions between 1987 and 2003. Spatial analysis was conducted to identify clusters of excess mortality. The temporal scan statistic was used to explore time trends of AIDS mortality. Prospective space-time analysis was also conducted to verify …

The Effect Of A Global Multiculturalism Track On Cultural Competence Of Preclinical Medical Students, Michael A. Godkin, Judith A. Savageau

Judith A. Savageau

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of an elective (the Global Multiculturalism Track), including international and domestic immersion experiences, on the cultural competence of preclinical medical students. METHODS: A self-assessment instrument was used to measure cultural competence, and it was administered to Track participants and nonparticipating class cohorts at the beginning and the end of the preclinical years. RESULTS: Track participants (n=26) had a higher level of cultural competence both at the beginning and at the end of the program. At the end of their second year, students participating in the Track had, for the first time, greater knowledge of certain …

Single Tooth Replacement, Gabriela Steier, Liviu Steier, Giovanni Dicran Meghighian

Gabriela Steier

No abstract provided.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Counseling Improves Physical Activity Behaviors Of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Nancy A. Allen, James A. Fain, Barry Braun, Stuart R. Chipkin

Stuart R. Chipkin

Aims—Despite the known benefits, 60% of individuals with diabetes do not engage in regular physical activity (PA). This pilot study tested the effects of a counseling intervention using continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) feedback on PA self-efficacy, PA levels, and physiological variables. Methods—Adults (N = 52) with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin requiring, inactive) were randomized to intervention (n = 27) or control (n = 25) groups. Both groups received 90 min of diabetes education with a follow-up phone call 4 weeks later. The intervention group also received counseling derived from self-efficacy theory. This intervention included feedback on each participant’s CGMS …

Waiting For Liver Transplantation In Canada: Waitlist History 2000--2004 And Sensitivity Analysis For The Future., David Stanford, Elizabeth Renouf, Vivian C. Mcalister

Vivian C. McAlister

Overweight Consumers' Salient Beliefs On Omega-3-Enriched Functional Foods In Australia's Illawarra Region, C. Patch, Linda C. Tapsell, P. G. Williams

Peter Williams

Objective: To determine consumer salient beliefs toward functional foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Design: Focus group interviews with adult consumers using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework. Setting: Community-based residents living in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Participants: Forty-two overweight participants (29 female; 13 male) aged 30-80y recruited by advertisement and attending one of six focus groups which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis: Content analysis was carried out and sub-categories were developed to capture the emerging themes according to the TPB model. Results: Most participants were aware of a range of …

Consumer Reactions To Different Health Claim Formats On Food Labels, L. Singer, P. G. Williams, Leisa Ridges, S. Murray, Anne Mcmahon

Peter Williams

Health claims on foods act as health messages and have a role in communicating and educating the consumer about diet-disease related issues. Previous studies have suggested that different formats of health claims communicate differently with the consumer. The aim of our study was to investigate whether splitting of the claim (a brief claim at the front package directing consumers to the back of the package where the full health claim is located) and/or endorsement of the claim (by Food Standards Australia New Zealand), have an impact on the acceptance of the claim by the consumer. Participants were recruited by a …

Breakfast And The Diets Of Australian Adults: An Analysis Of Data From The 1995 National Nutrition Survey, P. G. Williams

Peter Williams

The aim of this study was to describe the nutrients provided to Australian adults by the breakfast meal and compare the food and nutrient intakes and health of regular breakfast eaters and skippers. The Australian Bureau of Statistics was commissioned to undertake additional analysis of data collected in the 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey (NNS). The survey included 24 hour recalls, physical measurements and a food habits questionnaire collected during the period February 1995 to March 1996, with a nationally representative sample of 10851 Australians aged nineteen years and older. The median nutrient intakes at breakfast and the proportion of …

Empathy As A Hermeneutic Practice, Ellen S. More

Ellen S. More

This essay will argue for the centrality of empathy in the doctor-patient relationship-as a core of ethically sound, responsible therapeutics. By "empathy," I intend an explicitly hermeneutic practice, informed by a reflexive understanding of patient and self. After providing an overview of the history of the concept of empathy in clinical medicine, I discuss current definitions and the use of Balint groups in residency training as a way to develop empathic competence in novice physicians.

Rochester 'Over There': Gender And Medicine In World War I, Ellen S. More

Ellen S. More

No abstract provided.

Chronic Disease Medication Use In Managed Care And Indemnity Insurance Plans, Randall S. Stafford, Stephen M. Davidson, Harriet Davidson, Heidi Miracle-Mcmahill, Sybil L. Crawford, David Blumenthal

Sybil L. Crawford

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of managed care on the use of chronic disease medications. DATA SOURCE: Claims data from 1997 from two indemnity and three independent practice association (IPA) model managed care insurance plans. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of claims data. DATA COLLECTION: Adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM, n = 26,444), congestive heart failure (CHF, n = 7,978), and asthma (n = 9,850) were identified by ICD-9 codes. Chronic disease medication use was defined through pharmacy claims for patients receiving one or more prescriptions for drugs used in treating these conditions. Using multiple logistic regression we adjusted for …

Correlates Of Tobacco Cessation Counseling Among Hispanic Physicians In The Us: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Francisco Soto Mas, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Francisco Soto Mas

Background: Physician advice is an important motivator for attempting to stop smoking. However, physicians’ lack of intervention with smokers has only modestly improved in the last decade. Although the literature includes extensive research in the area of the smoking intervention practices of clinicians, few studies have focused on Hispanic physicians. The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants of tobacco counseling practices among Hispanic physicians in the US. Methods: Data were collected through a validated survey instrument among a cross-sectional sample of self-reported Hispanic physicians practicing in New Mexico, and who were members of the New Mexico Hispanic …

Early Life Stress On Brain Structure And Function Across The Lifespan: A Preliminary Study, Steven Bruce, Robert Paul, Donna L. Seckfort, Stuart M. Grieve, Brian Vandenberg, Richard A. Bryant, Leanne M. Williams, C. Richard Clark, Ronald A. Cohen, Evian Gordon

Steven Bruce

No abstract provided.

Biomedical Research And The Law:--Embryonic Stem Cells, Clones And Genes: Science, Law, Politics, And Values, Michael J. Malinowski

Michael J. Malinowski

This article directly addresses the stem cell controversy, but also the broader history and norms regarding the roles of federal and state government in U.S. science research funding.

Should Adjustment For Covariates Be Used In Prevalence Estimations, Wenjun Li, Edward J. Stanek, Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson

Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson

BACKGROUND: Adjustment for covariates (also called auxiliary variables in survey sampling literature) is commonly applied in health surveys to reduce the variances of the prevalence estimators. In theory, adjusted prevalence estimators are more accurate when variance components are known. In practice, variance components needed to achieve the adjustment are unknown and their sample estimators are used instead. The uncertainty introduced by estimating variance components may overshadow the reduction in the variance of the prevalence estimators due to adjustment. We present empirical guidelines indicating when adjusted prevalence estimators should be considered, using gender adjusted and unadjusted smoking prevalence as an illustration. …

The Influence Of Religiosity, Gender, And Language Preference Acculturation On Sexual Activity Among Latino/A Adolescents, Lisa Edwards, Richard Fehring, Keyona Jarrett, Kristin Haglund

Richard J Fehring

The purpose of this study was to determine the main and interactive effects of religiosity, gender, and language preference acculturation on sexual activity among 570 Latino/a adolescents from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Results indicated that adolescents who viewed religion as very important, had frequent church attendance, and had more traditional attitudes on sexuality were less likely ever to have sex compared with adolescents who were less religious. Those with frequent church attendance and high traditional attitudes had fewer lifetime and recent sex partners. Unassimilated religious youth were less likely ever to have sex, had fewer lifetime and …

Nursing Home Care, Linda Treiber

Linda A. Treiber

No abstract provided.

When Is Antipsychotic Polypharmacy Supported By Research Implications For Qi, Jessica Goren

Jessica Goren

No abstract provided.

Reducing Adolescents' Perceived Barriers To Treatment And Increasing Help-Seeking Intentions: Effects Of Classroom Presentations By General Practitioners., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

The Building Bridges to General Practice (BBGP) program is an outreach initiative (written by the first author). It aims to reduce young peoples’ perceived knowledge- and belief-based barriers to engaging in treatment and to increase their behavioral intentions to consult a general medical practitioner (GP) for physical and psychological problems. By increasing intentions, the BBGP program aims to increase actual consultations with a GP for both types of problem. The current paper is the first of a series that report results from a larger multi-cite research project, developed and led by the first author, which examines the impact of BBGP …

Reducing Adolescents' Perceived Barriers To Treatment And Increasing Help-Seeking Intentions: Effects Of Classroom Presentations By General Practitioners., Coralie J. Wilson

Frank Deane

The Building Bridges to General Practice (BBGP) program is an outreach initiative (written by the first author). It aims to reduce young peoples’ perceived knowledge- and belief-based barriers to engaging in treatment and to increase their behavioral intentions to consult a general medical practitioner (GP) for physical and psychological problems. By increasing intentions, the BBGP program aims to increase actual consultations with a GP for both types of problem. The current paper is the first of a series that report results from a larger multi-cite research project, developed and led by the first author, which examines the impact of BBGP …

Exploring The Mental Health Of Black Men Who Have Sex With Men, Louis F. Graham, Kisha Braithwaite, Pilgram Spikes, Charles F. Stephens, Ugo F. Edu

Louis F Graham

Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the mental health status of this population in an attempt to shed light on potential influencing and determinant factors. Twenty-two self-identified black, or multiracial including black, MSM residing in Atlanta, Georgia participated in two focus groups—11 subjects each, respectively. Categories that emerged from data analysis include: knowledge/experiences, attitudes/beliefs, societal action/behavior, identity development, relationship functionality, and mental health status. Overarching themes …

Correlation Network Analysis For Data Integration And Biomarker Selection, Aram Adourian, Ezra Jennings, Raji Balasubramanian, Wade M. Hines, Doris Damian, Tom N. Plasterer, Clary B. Clish, Paul Stroobant, Robert N. Mcburney, Elwin R. Verheij, Ivana I. Bobeldijk, J Van Der Greef, J Lindberg, K Kenne, U Andersson, H Hellmold, K Nilsson, H Salter, I Schuppe-Koistinen

Raji Balasubramanian

This work demonstrates the application of correlation networks to a systems-based investigation of drug-induced hepatotoxicity and the identification of specific and relevant biomarkers in this context.