Digital Commons Network^™

Stem Cell Matching For Patients Of Mixed Race, Ted C. Bergstrom

Ted C Bergstrom

Patients with leukemia and other blood diseases stand a good chance of recovery and a return to normal life if they receive a stem cell transplant from a living donor. In the absence of a transplant, their survival prospects are grim. For a transplant to be successful, the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) of the donor and recipient must be a close genetic match. To facilitate non-sibling matches, the developed nations of the world have set up national volunteer registries. The larges such registry is the NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program). We estimate the distribution of HLA types for individuals of …

Corticosteroids For Pain Relief In Sore Throat: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Gail Hayward, Matthew J. Thompson, Carl J. Heneghan, Rafael Perera, Paul P. Glasziou, Chris B. Del Mar

Christopher Del Mar

Objective: To evaluate whether systemic corticosteroids improve symptoms of sore throat in adults and children. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: Cochrane Central, Medline, Embase, Database of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE), NHS Health Economics Database, and bibliographies. Outcome measures: Percentage of patients with complete resolution at 24 and 48 hours, mean time to onset of pain relief, mean time to complete resolution of symptoms, days missed from work or school, recurrence, and adverse events. Results: We included eight trials, consisting of 743 patients in total (369 children, 374 adults). 348 (47%) had exudative sore throat, and 330 (44%) were …

Neuraminidase Inhibitors For Preventing And Treating Influenza In Healthy Adults: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Tom Jefferson, Mark Jones, Peter Doshi, Chris Del Mar

Christopher Del Mar

Objectives: To update a 2005 Cochrane review that assessed the effects of neuraminidase inhibitors in preventing or ameliorating the symptoms of influenza, the transmission of influenza, and complications from influenza in healthy adults, and to estimate the frequency of adverse effects. Search strategy: An updated search of the Cochrane central register of controlled trials (Cochrane Library 2009, issue 2), which contains the Acute Respiratory Infections Group’s specialised register, Medline (1950-Aug 2009), Embase (1980-Aug 2009), and post-marketing pharmacovigilance data and comparative safety cohorts. Selection criteria: Randomised placebo controlled studies of neuraminidase inhibitors in otherwise healthy adults exposed to naturally occurring influenza. …

Transparent Development Of The Who Rapid Advice Guidelines, Holger J. Schunemann, Suzanne R. Hill, Meetali Kakad, Gunn E. Vist, Richard Bellamy, Lauren Stockman, Torbjorn Fosen Wisloff, Chris Del Mar, Frederick Hayden, Timothy M. Uyeki, Jeremy Farrar, Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Howard Zucker, John Beigel, Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, Tran Tinh Hien, Bulent Ozbay, Norio Sugaya, Andrew D. Oxman

Christopher Del Mar

Emerging health problems require rapid advice. We describe the development and pilot testing of a systematic, transparent approach used by the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop rapid advice guidelines in response to requests from member states confronted with uncertainty about the pharmacological management of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection. We first searched for systematic reviews of randomized trials of treatment and prevention of seasonal influenza and for nontrial evidence on H5N1 infection, including case reports and animal and in vitro studies. A panel of clinical experts, clinicians with experience in treating patients with H5N1, influenza researchers, and methodologists …

Whose Duty Is It Anyway?: The Kennedy Krieger Opinion And Its Implications For Public Health Research, Diane E. Hoffmann, Karen H. Rothenberg

Karen H. Rothenberg

In this article, the authors discuss the Maryland Court of Appeals decision in the case of Grimes v. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc. and its implications for the tort duty owed by researchers, in particular public health researchers, to their subjects. The Opinion resulted from two lawsuits alleging lead poisoning of children enrolled in a study conducted by the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a world renown pediatric research and treatment facility. The opinion shocked the research establishment with its scathing characterization of researchers and its apparent holding that in Maryland a parent cannot consent to the participation of a child in "nontherapeutic …

Colloquium - Gender, Law And Health Care: New Perspectives For Teaching And Scholarship: The Role Of Gender In Law And Health Care, Karen H. Rothenberg

Karen H. Rothenberg

No abstract provided.

Bisphenol-A And The Great Divide: A Review Of Controversies In The Field Of Endocrine Disruption, Laura Vandenberg, Maricel V. Maffini, Carlos Sonnenschein, Beverly S. Rubin, Ana M. Soto

Laura Vandenberg

In 1991, a group of 21 scientists gathered at the Wingspread Conference Center to discuss evidence of developmental alterations observed in wildlife populations after chemical exposures. There, the term “endocrine disruptor” was agreed upon to describe a class of chemicals including those that act as agonists and antagonists of the estrogen receptors (ERs), androgen receptor, thyroid hormone receptor, and others. This definition has since evolved, and the field has grown to encompass hundreds of chemicals. Despite significant advances in the study of endocrine disruptors, several controversies have sprung up and continue, including the debate over the existence of nonmonotonic dose …

Strategies For Recruiting Hispanic Women Into A Prospective Cohort Study Of Modifiable Risk Factors For Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Renee T. Fortner, Valerie Hastings, Glenn Markenson

Lisa Chasan-Taber

Background The purpose of this article was to describe effective strategies for recruitment of Hispanic women into a prospective cohort study of modifiable risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Although Hispanic women have two to four times the risk of developing GDM compared with non-Hispanic white women, few GDM prevention studies have included Hispanic women. Methods The study was conducted in the ambulatory obstetrical practices of Baystate Medical Center located in a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse city in Massachusetts. The study employed a range of strategies to recruit Hispanic women based on a review of the literature as well …

Health Bills: What's At The Core, Robert B. Leflar

Robert B Leflar

Column 2 (of 5) on the health reform debate: explanation of the legislation.

Health Care: Yellow Lights, Red Flags, Robert B. Leflar

Robert B Leflar

Column 1 (of 5) on the health reform debate

Post-Operative Extended Volume External Beam Radiation Therapy Is Safe For High Risk Esophageal Cancer Patients, Edward Yu, Patricia Tai, Jawaid Younus, Richard Malthaner, Larry Stitt, Pauline Truong, George Rodrigues, Robert Ash, Rashid Dar, Anna Tomiak, Mark Vincent, Walter Kocha, Brian Dingle, Richard Inculet

Edward Yu

Post-operative radiation therapy (RT) (1) and post-operative chemoradiation (2) have been used for esophageal cancer patients deemed high risk for recurrence after esophagectomy. Defining opitmal RT target volume after esophagectomy is difficult due to significant changes in patient anatomy and function. Some radiationon cologists advocated the inclusion of the anastomotic site within the irradiation volume due to concerns for potential increased relapse risk, while others did not subscribe to this practice due to concerns for increased treatment related toxicity. We have previously reported patient outcome benefit using extended volume RT In management with high risk esophageal cancer patients underwent esopagectomy(3). …

Extended Vs. Small Field Irradiation In High Risk Post Esophagectomy Patients Receiving Combined Chemoradiation Therapy: A Decade Experience In Treatment Of Esophageal Cancer, Edward Yu, Patricia Tai, George Rodrigues, Robert Ash, Larry Stitt, Rashid A. Dar, Pauline Truong, Gregory M. Videtic, Richard Malthaner, Richard Inculet, Anna Tomiak, Jawaid Younus, Brian Dingle, Walter Kocha, Mark Vincent

Edward Yu

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of extended field irradiation with anastomotic coverage on local recurrence in high risk resected esophageal cancerpatients. METHODS: From 1989-1999, high risk resected esophageal cancer cases receiving post-resection chemoradiation were reviewed. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of four cycles of fluorouracil-based regimens. Loco-regional irradiation with or without coverage of anastomotic site had radiation a dose range from 45-60 Gyat 1.8-2.0 Gy/fraction given with initial anterior-posterior/posterior-anterior arrangement with either extended (with anastomotic coverage), or small (without anastomotic coverage) field followed by oblique fields for boost. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-eight charts were reviewed. Seventy-two patients were eligible for post-resection chemoradiation. …

The Black, African And Caribbean Canadian Health (Blacch) Study: Phase I Preliminary Findings, Shamara Baidoobonso, Roxanne Longman, Greta Bauer, Mercy Nleya-Ncube, Daniel Pugh, Erica Lawson, Monica Abdelkader, Jan Jasnos, Sherin Hussien

Shamara M Baidoobonso, PhD

The Challenge: Most studies of HIV and health in African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities have taken place in large urban centres and rarely examine how the interactions between racism, gender, HIV-related stigma and multiple forms of oppression affect health and HIV vulnerability. This lack of information negatively impacts HIV prevention and health promotion efforts for ACB communities. Our Approach: The BLACCH Study uses a community-based approach to collect extensive information about the health of ACB communities in Middlesex County, Ontario. The first stage of the project consists of semi-structured interviews to collect information about the breadth of health-related experiences …

Lavichè: Haiti's Vulnerability To The Global Food Crisis, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Tobacco Use Policymaking And Administration In Bhutan, Michael S. Givel

Michael S. Givel

No abstract provided.

John Contracts Skin Disease At Spa, Donna M. Hughes Dr., Melanie Shapiro Esq

Donna M. Hughes

Management Of Patients With Cognitive Impairment After Stroke: A Survey Of Australian Occupational Therapists, Chia-Lin Koh, Tammy Hoffmann, Sally Bennett, Kryss Mckenna

Tammy Hoffmann

Background/aim: Cognitive impairment is a common and often debilitating consequence of stroke. The current practice patterns of Australian occupational therapists who work in this area are not clearly known. The aim of this study was to investigate the theoretical approaches, assessments, interventions and research evidence used by Australian occupational therapists who work with patients who have cognitive impairment poststroke.

Methods: A self-administered, purpose-designed online survey was used.

Results: Survey responses were received from 102 occupational therapists. The client-centred approach was the most commonly used theoretical approach, with 81.3% and 72% using it often or all of the time with inpatients …

Family Education For Psychosis, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

No abstract provided.

One Chance In A Million: Altruism And The Bone Marrow Registry, Ted Bergstrom, Rod Garratt, Damien Sheehan-Connor

Ted C Bergstrom

Transplants of donated stem cells save the lives of many patients with blood diseases. Donation is somewhat painful, butrarely has lasting adverse effects. Patients can accept transplants only from donors with compatible immune systems. Those lacking a sibling match must seek donations from the population at large. The probability that two persons of the same race are compatible is less than 1/10,000. Health authorities maintain a registry of several million genetically-tested potential donors who have agreed to donate if asked. We study the peculiar structure of voluntary public good provision represented by the registry, and compare the marginal benefits and …

Influence Of Prenatal Lead Exposure On Genomic Methylation Of Cord Blood Dna, Richard J. Pilsner, Howard Hu, Adrienne Ettinger, Brisa N. Sánchez, Robert O. Wright, David Cantonwine, Alicia Lazarus, Héctor Lamadrid-Figueroa, Adriana Mercado-García, Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo, Mauricio Hernández-Avila

J. Richard Pilsner

Background

Fetal lead exposure is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and developmental and cognitive deficits; however, the mechanism(s) by which lead-induced toxicity occurs remains unknown. Epigenetic fetal programming via DNA methylation may provide a pathway by which environmental lead exposure can influence disease susceptibility.

Objective

This study was designed to determine whether prenatal lead exposure is associated with alterations in genomic methylation of leukocyte DNA levels from umbilical cord samples.

Methods

We measured genomic DNA methylation, as assessed by Alu and LINE-1 (long interspersed nuclear element-1) methylation via pyrosequencing, on 103 umbilical cord blood samples from the biorepository of the …

Personality Traits As Prospective Predictors Of Suicide Attempts, Shirley Yen, M. Tracie Shea, Charles A. Sanislow, Andrew E. Skodol, Carlos M. Grilo, Maria O. Edelen, Robert L. Stout, Leslie C. Morey, Mary C. Zanarini, John C. Markowitz, Thomas H. Mcglashan, Maria T. Daversa, John G. Gunderson

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

OBJECTIVE: To examine higher order personality factors of negative affectivity (NA) and disinhibition (DIS), as well as lower order facets of impulsivity, as prospective predictors of suicide attempts in a predominantly personality disordered sample.

METHOD: Data were analyzed from 701 participants of the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study with available follow-up data for up to 7 years. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses was used to examine NA and DIS, and facets of impulsivity (e.g. urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation and sensation seeking), as prospective predictors of suicide attempts.

RESULTS: NA, DIS and all facets of impulsivity except for …

The Mirror Effect, The Law Of Attraction, And "Points Of Attraction" That Can Nurture The Evolution Of Human Consciousness, Carroy U. Ferguson

Carroy U "Cuf" Ferguson, Ph.D.

This message has several purposes. First, I want to express my immense joy that Chip Baggett and I are serving as Co-Presidents of AHP since August 16, 2009. In my view, Chip and I are long-time friends, who have a transcendent connection and synergistic energies. My desire and intent is for our co-presidency to mirror the effect(s) of synergistic collaboration as a “point of attraction” that can assist in the evolution of human consciousness across often “perceived personal and societal boundaries” (e.g., race, culture, ethnicity, class, individual and collective belief systems, and dogma). More generally, however, this message is intended …

Differential Impairment As An Indicator Of Sex Bias In Dsm-Iv Criteria For Four Personality Disorders., Christina D. Boggs, Leslie C. Morey, Andrew E. Skodol, M. Tracie Shea, Charles A. Sanislow, Carlos M. Grilo, Thomas H. Mcglashan, Mary C. Zanarini, John G. Gunderson

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

This reprinted article originally appeared in Psychological Assessment, 2005, Vol. 17, (No. 4), 492–496. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2005-16347-014.) The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of sex bias in the diagnostic criteria for borderline, schizotypal, avoidant, and obsessive–compulsive personality disorders. A clinical sample of 668 individuals was evaluated for personality disorder criteria using a semistructured interview, and areas of functional impairment were assessed with both self-report and semistructured interview. The authors used a regression model of bias to identify bias as differences in slopes or intercepts between men and …

Ten-Year Stability And Latent Structure Of The Dsm-Iv Schizotypal, Borderline, Avoidant, And Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders, Charles A. Sanislow, Todd D. Little, Carlos M. Grilo, Maria Daversa, John C. Markowitz, Anthony Pinto, M. Tracie Shea, Shirley Yen, Andrew E. Skodol, Leslie C. Morey, John G. Gunderson, Mary C. Zanarini, Thomas H. Mcglashan

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

Evaluation of the validity of personality disorder (PD) diagnostic constructs is important for the impending revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Prior factor analytic studies have tested these constructs in cross-sectional studies, and models have been replicated longitudinally, but no study has tested a constrained longitudinal model. The authors examined 4 PDs in the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders study (schizotypal, borderline, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive) over 7 time points (baseline, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, and 10 years). Data for 2-, 4-, 6- and 10-year assessments were obtained in semistructured interviews by …

Genetic Polymorphisms Of The Gnrh1 And Gnrhr Genes And Risk Of Breast Cancer In The National Cancer Institute Breast And Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (Bpc3), Federico Canzian, Rudolf Kaaks, David G. Cox, Katherine D. Henderson, Brian E. Henderson, Christine Berg, Sheila Bingham, Heiner Boeing, Julie Buring, Eugenia E. Calle, Stephen Chanock, Francoise Clavel-Chapelon, Laure Dossus, Heather S. Feigelson, Christopher A. Haiman, Susan E. Hankinson

Susan E. Hankinson

Background Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH1) triggers the release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the pituitary. Genetic variants in the gene encoding GNRH1 or its receptor may influence breast cancer risk by modulating production of ovarian steroid hormones. We studied the association between breast cancer risk and polymorphisms in genes that code for GNRH1 and its receptor (GNRHR) in the large National Cancer Institute Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (NCI-BPC3). Methods We sequenced exons of GNRH1 and GNRHR in 95 invasive breast cancer cases. Resulting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped and used to identify haplotype-tagging SNPs …

Identifying Schizophrenia: Paradigm Shift ‘The Uhr Research’, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Flash-Heat Treatment On Immunoglobulins In Breastmilk, Caroline J. Chantry, Kiersten Israel-Ballard, Zina Moldoveanu, Jan Peerson, Anna Coutsoudis, Lindiwe Sibeko, Barbara Abrams

Lindiwe Sibeko

Background—Heat-treated expressed breastmilk is recommended by WHO as an option to reduce vertical HIV transmission in resource poor regions. Flash-heat (FH) is a low technology pasteurization method developed for home use, but its effect on quantity and quality of breastmilk immunoglobulins is unknown. Objective—To evaluate FH's effect on breastmilk immunoglobulin levels and antigen binding capacity. Design/Methods—Fifty HIV+ mothers in South Africa provided breastmilk. Part of each sample served as an unheated (UH) control; the remainder was Flash-heated. Total and antigen-specific IgA and IgG were measured by ELISA. Paired t-test was performed on log transformed data. Results—FH significantly decreased total IgA …

A Prospective Study Of Androgen Levels, Hormone-Related Genes And Risk Of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Elizabeth W. Karlson, Lori B. Chibnik, Monica Mcgrath, Shun-Chiao Chang, Brendan T. Keenan, Karen H. Costenbader, Patricia A. Fraser, Shelley Tworoger, Susan E. Hankinson, I-Min Le, Julie Buring, Immaculata De Vivo

Susan E. Hankinson

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is more common in females than males and sex steroid hormones may in part explain this difference. We conducted a case–control study nested within two prospective studies to determine the associations between plasma steroid hormones measured prior to RA onset and polymorphisms in the androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), aromatase (CYP19) and progesterone receptor (PGR) genes and RA risk. Methods We genotyped AR, ESR2, CYP19, PGR SNPs and the AR CAG repeat in RA case–control studies nested within the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHS II (449 RA cases, 449 controls) and the Women's Health …

Trends In The Affordability Of The Illawarra Healthy Food Basket 2000-2007, P. G. Williams, A. Hull, M. Kontos

Peter Williams

Aims
The Illawarra Healthy Food Basket (IHFB) was developed as one measure to monitor the affordability of healthy eating in Australia. It consists of 57 items selected to meet the nutritional requirements of a reference family of five. The basket was first costed in the Illawarra region of Australia in 2000 and again in 2001 and 2003. This study aimed to repeat the costing of the basket in 2005 and 2007 and to assess the trends in affordability since 2000.
Methods
Costing was carried out in the same five suburbs as previous surveys, utilising a large supermarket, greengrocer and butcher …

Validation Of Bayesian Kriging Of Arsenic, Chromium, Lead And Mercury Surface Soil Concentrations Based On Internode Sampling, C. Marjorie Aelion, H. T. Davis, Y. Liu, A. B. Lawson, S. Mcdermott

C. Marjorie Aelion

Bayesian kriging is a useful tool for estimating spatial distributions of metals; however, estimates are generally only verified statistically. In this study surface soil samples were collected on a uniform grid and analyzed for As, Cr, Pb, and Hg. The data were interpolated at individual locations by Bayesian kriging. Estimates were validated using a leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) statistical method which compared the measured and LOOCV predicted values. Validation also was carried out using additional field sampling of soil metal concentrations at points between original sampling locations, which were compared to kriging prediction distributions. LOOCV results suggest that Bayesian kriging …