Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Estimated Probability Of Becoming Alcohol Dependent: Extending A Multiparametric Approach, Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya, James C. Anthony

Biostatistics Presentations

Background: United States (US) epidemiological studies suggest that for every 5-8 who start drinking alcoholic beverages, at least one drinker will develop an alcohol dependence (AD) syndrome within the first 10 years after onset of drinking (Lopez-Quintero et al., 2011; Wagner & Anthony, 2002). Recently, we described a multiparametric functional analysis approach for new research to estimate these transition probabilities with a one-dimensional function (1D; Vsevolozhskaya & Anthony, 2015). Here, we demonstrate extension of this analysis to two-dimensional (2D) functions that combine information about number of recent drinking days and number of drinks on the typical drinking day.

Methods: Data …

Reliability Of 3-Dimensional Measures Of Single-Leg Cross Drop Landing Across 3 Different Institutions: Implications For Multicenter Biomechanical And Epidemiological Research On Acl Injury Prevention, Christopher A. Dicesare, Nathaniel A. Bates, Kim D. Barber Foss, Staci M. Thomas, Samuel C. Wordeman, Dai Sugimoto, Benjamin D. Roewer, Jennifer M. Medina Mckeon, Stephanie Di Stasi, Brian W. Noehren, Kevin R. Ford, Adam W. Kiefer, Timothy E. Hewett, Gregory D. Myer

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are physically and financially devastating but affect a relatively small percentage of the population. Prospective identification of risk factors for ACL injury necessitates a large sample size; therefore, study of this injury would benefit from a multicenter approach.

Purpose: To determine the reliability of kinematic and kinetic measures of a single-leg cross drop task across 3 institutions.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Twenty-five female high school volleyball players participated in this study. Three-dimensional motion data of each participant performing the single-leg cross drop were collected at 3 institutions over a period of 4 …

The Regulation Of Hpv Late Gene Expression And The Potential Role Of Inkt Cells In Cervical Cancer, Patrice Nolan

Masters

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are ubiquitous, sexually transmitted viruses present in 99.7% of all cervical cancers, the second most common cancer in females worldwide. Expression of HPV L1 and L2 late genes is found only in terminally differentiated epithelial cells. As L1 and L2 proteins are highly immunogenic, it is suggested that their suppression may prevent detection of the virus by the immune system, thus acting as a prerequisite for persistence of infection. Therefore, if expression of these proteins in the lower cervical layers was induced, it could lead to clearance of the virus. One aim of this thesis was to …

Colon Cancer Care And Survival: Income And Insurance Are More Predictive In The Usa, Community Primary Care Physician Supply More So In Canada, Kevin M. Gorey, Sindu M. Kanjeekal, Frances C. Wright, Caroline Hamm, Isaac N. Luginaah, Emma Bartfay, Guangyong Zou, Erc J. Holowaty, Nancy L. Richter

Social Work Publications

Background: Our research group advanced a health insurance theory to explain Canada’s cancer care advantages over America. The late Barbara Starfield theorized that Canada’s greater primary care-orientation also plays a critically protective role. We tested the resultant Starfield-Gorey theory by examining the effects of poverty, health insurance and physician supplies, primary care and specialists, on colon cancer care in Ontario and California.

Methods: We analyzed registry data for people with non-metastasized colon cancer from Ontario (n = 2,060) and California (n = 4,574) diagnosed between 1996 and 2000 and followed to 2010. We obtained census tract-based socioeconomic data from population …

Dynapenic Obesity And The Effect On Long-Term Physical Function And Quality Of Life: Data From The Osteoarthritis Initiative, John A. Batsis, Alicia J. Zbehlik, Dawna Pidgeon, Stephen J. Bartels

Dartmouth Scholarship

Obesity is associated with functional impairment, institutionalization, and increased mortality risk in elders. Dynapenia is defined as reduced muscle strength and is a known independent predictor of adverse events and disability. The synergy between dynapenia and obesity leads to worse outcomes than either independently. We identified the impact of dynapenic obesity in a cohort at risk for and with knee osteoarthritis on function.

Preparedness Of Hospitals In The Republic Of Ireland For An Influenza Pandemic, An Infection Control Perspective, Mary Reidy, Fiona Ryan, Dervla Hogan, Seán Lacey, Claire Buckley

Department of Mathematics Publications

When an influenza pandemic occurs most of the population is susceptible and attack rates can range as high as 40–50 %. The most important failure in pandemic planning is the lack of standards or guidelines regarding what it means to be ‘prepared’. The aim of this study was to assess the preparedness of acute hospitals in the Republic of Ireland for an influenza pandemic from an infection control perspective.

Epidemiology Of Iron-Deficiency Anemia Among Primary School Children (6-11 Years), Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, Gaafar M. Abdel-Rasoul, Hala M. Gabr, Hewaida M. El Shazly, Nehad B. Abdel-Aaty, Rabie E. El Bahnasy

Menoufia Medical Journal

Background Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional disorder worldwide and nearly two billion individuals have anemia. Iron deficiency is the most frequent cause of anemia, especially in infants, preschool children, and school-aged children; it is related to a variety of developmental and behavioral changes. Objective This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify possible risk factors of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) among a representative sample of primary school children (6-11 years), Menoufia governorate. Participants and methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in Menoufia governorate. This study was carried out in Shebin El-Kom city. The study sample included …

Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Egypt: Epidemiological And Histopathological Properties, Dina S. El-Azab, Dina M. Sweed, Hayam A. Aiad, Nanis S. Holah

Menoufia Medical Journal

Objectives To study the epidemiological and pathological properties of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases eligible for surgical resection. Background HCC is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer death. In Egypt, liver cancer forms 1.68% of the total malignancies. HCC constitutes 70.48% of all liver tumors among Egyptians. HCC represents the main complication of cirrhosis. Materials and methods This longitudinal study included 92 HCC patients who had undergone surgical intervention. Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records, and paraffin blocks were retrieved from the Archives of the Pathology Department, National Liver Institute, …

Residential Proximity To Major Roadways Is Associated With Increased Levels Of Ac133+ Circulating Angiogenic Cells, Dejarnett Natasha, Ray Yeager, Daniel J. Conklin, Jongmin Lee, Timothy E. O’Toole, James Mccracken, Wes Abplanalp, Sanjay Srivastava, Daniel W. W. Riggs, Jasmit Shah

Brain and Mind Institute

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that residential proximity to a roadway is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Yet, the nature of this association remains unclear, and its effect on individual cardiovascular disease risk factors has not been assessed. The objective of this study was to determine whether residential proximity to roadways influences systemic inflammation and the levels of circulating angiogenic cells.

Approach and Results: In a cross-sectional study, cardiovascular disease risk factors, blood levels of C-reactive protein, and 15 antigenically defined circulating angiogenic cell populations were measured in participants (n=316) with moderate-to-high cardiovascular disease risk. Attributes of roadways surrounding …

Degradation Science: Mesoscopic Evolution And Temporal Analytics Of Photovoltaic Energy Materials, Roger H. French, Rudolf Podgornik, Timothy J. Peshek, Laura S. Bruckman, Yifan Xu, Nicholas R. Wheeler, Abdulkerim Gok, Yang Hu, Mohammad A. Hossain, Devin A. Gordon, Pei Zhao, Jiayang Sun, Guo-Qiang Zhang

Faculty Scholarship

Based on recent advances in nanoscience, data science and the availability of massive real-world datastreams, the mesoscopic evolution of mesoscopic energy materials can now be more fully studied. The temporal evolution is vastly complex in time and length scales and is fundamentally challenging to scientific understanding of degradation mechanisms and pathways responsible for energy materials evolution over lifetime. We propose a paradigm shift towards mesoscopic evolution modeling, based on physical and statistical models, that would integrate laboratory studies and real-world massive datastreams into a stress/mechanism/response framework with predictive capabilities. These epidemiological studies encompass the variability in properties that affect performance …

Pre-Pregnancy Bmi And Preterm Birth Among Hispanic Teens, Allison C. Hope

Masters Theses

Preterm birth affects 12% of infants in the United States annually and is the main contributor to infant deaths and long-term neurological disabilities in offspring. Obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., and is increasingly being considered a major risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Puerto Rican teenagers have disproportionately high rates of preterm birth and obesity when compared to non-Hispanic White teenagers. Studies evaluating risk factors for preterm birth among adolescents are sparse, have inconsistent findings, and were conducted among predominantly non-Hispanic populations. Therefore, we investigated the association between BMI and preterm birth among the 419 teenage (ages …

Epidemiology Of Fracture In Adults With Kidney Disease, Kyla L. Naylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fractures are a global health concern, leading to morbidity and mortality. Individuals with reduced kidney function experience bone mineral metabolism changes which can increase fracture risk. Yet, there is little consensus on the fundamentals: prediction, incidence, risk factors, and screening of fractures in kidney disease patients. This thesis addressed these critical areas helping decrease the health burden of fracture in this unique population.

This research used data from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) to examine individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n=320). CaMos is a national longitudinal study designed to collect information on fractures. To examine kidney transplant recipients …

Obesity Early In Adulthood Increases Risk But Does Not Affect Outcomes Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Manal M. Hassan, Reham Abdel-Wahab, Ahmed Kaseb, Ahmed Shalaby, Alexandria Phan, Hashem El-Serag, Ernest Hawk, Jeff Morris, Kanwal Pratap Singh Raghav, Ju-Seog Lee, Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Gehan Bortus, Harrys Torres, Christopher Amos, Robert Wolff, Donghui Li

Dartmouth Scholarship

Despite the significant association between obesity and several cancers, it has been difficult to establish an association between obesity and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with HCC often have ascites, making it a challenge to accurately determine body mass index (BMI), and many factors contribute to the development of HCC. We performed a case–control study to investigate whether obesity early in adulthood affects risk, age of onset, or outcomes of patients with HCC.

Historical Differences In School Term Length And Measured Blood Pressure: Contributions To Persistent Racial Disparities Among Us- Born Adults, Sze Yan Liu, Jennifer J. Manly, Benjamin D. Capistrant, M. Maria Glymour

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Introduction
Legally mandated segregation policies dictated significant differences in the educational experiences of black and white Americans through the first half of the 20th century, with markedly lower quality in schools attended by black children. We determined whether school term length, a common marker of school quality, was associated with blood pressure and hypertension among a cohort of older Americans who attended school during the de jure segregation era.
Methods
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I and II data were linked to state-level historical information on school term length. We used race and gender-stratified linear regression models adjusted for …

Prostate Specific Antigen (Psa) Growth Curves: A Method To Improve Prostate Cancer Screening, Azza Shoaibi

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PrCA) screening aimed at detecting aggressive disease represents a significant public health issue. Development of biomarkers to predict PrCA that is likely to kill if left untreated is a major challenge. This dissertation focused on analyzing existing repeated measures of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) to develop and validate a tool to improve both sensitivity and specificity of the PSA-based screening test to detect high-risk PrCA. We used the Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian trial data (PLCO) for PSA growth model building. Using 6 years of annual PSA measurements we established the PSA growth curves for four groups of …

Prevalence Of And Risk Factors For Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease In Dogs Attending Primary‐Care Veterinary Practices In England, M. Mattin, A. Boswood, D. B. Church, J. López-Alvarez, P. D. Mcgreevy, D. G. O'Neill, P. C. Thomson, D. C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Background

To date, epidemiological studies on degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) in dogs have largely reported referral caseloads or been limited to predisposed breeds. Analysis of primary‐care data to identify factors associated with DMVD would help clinicians identify high‐risk individuals and improve understanding.

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for DMVD in dogs attending primary‐care veterinary practices in England.

Animals

Cases were identified within the electronic patient records of 111,967 dogs attending 93 practices. Four hundred and 5 dogs were diagnosed with DMVD (diagnosed cases) and a further 3,557 dogs had a heart murmur (HM) consistent …

Pubh 6533 - Epidemiology (Online), Claire Robb

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course provides an introduction to many important topics in epidemiology for public health practice, including but not limited to the evolution of the discipline, causal concepts in the natural history of disease, critical features of infectious and chronic diseases, elements of public health screening, basic measures used in epidemiology, design of epidemiologic investigations, consideration of random error and systematic bias, calculation and interpretation of confidence intervals and p values, discussion of confounding and interaction, criteria for evaluation of cause and effect relationships and the implications for ethical public health practice. Students are expected to gain a foundation in epidemiologic …

By The Time You Read This, We’Ll All Be Dead: The Failures Of History And Institutions Regarding The 2013-2015 West African Ebola Pandemic., George Denkey

Senior Theses and Projects

Abstract

The 2013 – 2015 Ebola pandemic had a devastating impact on the countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, with a few regional and global sparks as a result of the 25,178 cases and 10,445 deaths that the epidemic has so far brought upon the three most affected nations by April First 2015. The epidemic has collapsed healthcare systems, economies, and the very social fabric of life within the subregion itself. In the light of this tragic epidemic, one question stands out above all, “How and why did this happen?” The medical literature around Ebola is sound and due …

Association Between Traumatic Events And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Results From The Esemed-Spain Study, B Olaya, J Alonso, Lukoye Atwoli, R C. Kessler, G Vilagut, J M. Haro

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: The relative importance of traumatic events (TEs) in accounting for the social burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could vary according to cross-cultural factors. In that sense, no such studies have yet been conducted in the Spanish general population. The present study aims to determine the epidemiology of trauma and PTSD in a Spanish community sample using the randomly selected TEs method.

Methods: The European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders (ESEMeD)-Spain is a cross-sectional household survey of a representative sample of adult population. Lifetime prevalence of self-reported TEs and lifetime and 12-month prevalence of PTSD were evaluated …

Childhood Cancer Incidence In Georgia: Descriptive Epidemiology, Geographic Trends, And Disparities In Insurance Coverage, And Health Care Access, Florence A. Kanu, Sara Wagner Robb, Rosemary Corriero

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Limited research has been conducted concerning childhood cancer (CC) incidence in Georgia, which is a leading cause of death for children in the US. The purpose of this study was to determine if county-level CC incidence rates differed by geography or race and if health care access disparities exist.

Methods: Incidence data were obtained from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry for 2000-2011. Age-adjusted incidence rates per 100,000 were analyzed by sex, race, and county. Hotspots and coldspots of CC incidence were analyzed using the Getis-Ord GI* statistic. Health care access data for children under 19 were obtained using US …

Hspm 6030 - Healthcare Economics And Policy, James H. Stephens

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course examines the dynamic nature of health economics and policy in addition to understanding the political process in the healthcare and public health context. This course uses foundational economic concepts to develop health economic applications and processes. The course will review important studies in medical research, epidemiology, public health and other fields as they relate to the economics of health care. An overview of the process of policy making with excerpts from congressional testimony, proposed rules, executive orders, etc., will be covered.

Preliminary Analysis Of In Utero Low-Level Arsenic Exposure And Fetal Growth Using Biometric Measurements Extracted From Fetal Ultrasound Reports, Matthew A. Davis, John Higgins, Zhigang Li, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Emily R. Baker, Amar Das, Margaret R. Karagas

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Early life exposure to arsenic is associated with decreased birth weight in highly exposed populations but little is known about effects of low-level arsenic exposure on growth in utero.

Methods: Using a sample of 272 pregnancies from New Hampshire we obtained biometric measurements directly from fetal ultrasound reports commonly found in electronic medical records. We used information extraction methods to develop and validate an automated approach for mining biometric measurements from the text of clinical reports. As a preliminary analysis, we examined associations between in utero low-level arsenic exposure (as measured by maternal urinary arsenic concentration) and fetal growth …

Teaching Of Biostatistics And Epidemiology In Medical Schools: How Do We Fare Compared With Developed Countries, Vijay Tiwari, Kuldeep Kumar, Sherin Raj

Kuldeep Kumar

Background Biostatistics is taught in almost all medical schools at the undergraduate and the postgraduate levels as a core course and is a prerequisite to epidemiology, public health and evidence-based medicine. However, it has to be taught in a different way in medical schools as compared with how it is taught to the students studying MSc (Biostatistics) or in the Statistics Department in universities. Objectives (1) To review the experience of teaching biostatistics in medical schools in India and compares the same with abroad (2) How best the curriculum can be designed as per the need of the medical students …

Small Drusen And Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Beaver Dam Eye Study, Ronald Klein, Chelsea E. Myers, Kristine E. Lee, Ronald E. Gangnon, Theru A. Sivakumaran, Sudha K Iyengar, Barbara E. K. Klein

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

We tested the hypothesis that large areas of small hard drusen (diameter <63 μm) and intermediate drusen (diameter 63-124 μm) are associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Eyes of 3344 older adults with at least 2 consecutive visits spaced 5 years apart over a 20-year period were included. A 6-level severity scale including no drusen, 4 levels of increasing area (from minimal (<2596 μm²) to large (>9086 μm²)) of only small hard drusen, and intermediate drusen was used. The 5-year incidence of AMD was 3% in eyes at the start of the interval with no, minimal, small, and moderate areas of only small drusen and 5% and 25% for eyes with large area of only small drusen and intermediate drusen, respectively. Compared to eyes with a moderate area of small drusen, the odds ratio (OR) of developing AMD in eyes with a large area of only small …

Fighting Microbial Drug Resistance: A Primer On The Role Of Evolutionary Biology In Public Health, Gabriel Perron, R. Inglis, Pleuni Pennings, Sarah Cobey

Biology Department Faculty Works

Although microbes have been evolving resistance to antimicrobials for millennia, the spread of resistance in pathogen populations calls for the development of new drugs and treatment strategies. We propose that successful, long-term resistance management requires a better understanding of how resistance evolves in the first place. This is an opportunity for evolutionary biologists to engage in public health, a collaboration that has substantial precedent. Resistance evolution has been an important tool for developing and testing evolutionary theory, especially theory related to the genetic basis of new traits and constraints on adaptation. The present era is no exception. The articles in …

Polio - An Endemic Disease In Pakistan: Literature Review, Savera Aziz Ali, Nadir Suhail, Hunaina Hadi, Mohsina Hussain, Marium Manji, Jaweria Bano, Abdul Salam, Sajida Naseer, Sumera Aziz Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious and incurable disease, which mainly affects children under five years of age leading to irreversible paralysis and possibly death. For decades, both private and government organizations have been putting efforts through their partnership to eradicate polio completely from the different parts of the globe and as a result of those efforts there are left only three countries which are currently polio endemic. Since Pakistan is one of those three countries which still remain polio endemic along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, it is significant to address this issue and work on the preventive measures to control …

Prevalence And Risk Factors For Mast Cell Tumours In Dogs In England, Stephanie J.W. Shoop, Stephanie Marlow, David B. Church, Kate English, Paul D. Mcgreevy, Anneliese J. Stell, Peter C. Thomson, Dan G. O'Neill, David C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Background

Mast cell tumour (MCT) appears to be a frequent tumour type in dogs, though there is little published in relation to its frequency in dogs in the UK. The current study aimed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for MCTs in dogs attending English primary-care veterinary practices.

Methods

Electronic patient records from practices participating in the VetCompass animal surveillance project between July 2007 and June 2013 were searched for MCT diagnosis. Various search terms and standard diagnostic terms (VeNom codes) identified records containing MCT diagnoses, which were evaluated against clinical criteria for inclusion to the study. MCT prevalence for …

Cohort Of Birth Modifies The Association Between Fto Genotype And Bmi, James Niels Rosenquist, Steven F. Lehrer, A. James O'Malley, Alan M. Zaslavsky, Jordan W. Smoller, Nicholas A. Christakis

Dartmouth Scholarship

A substantial body of research has explored the relative roles of genetic and environmental factors on phenotype expression in humans. Recent research has also sought to identify gene-environment (or g-by-e) interactions, with mixed success. One potential reason for these mixed results may relate to the fact that genetic effects might be modified by changes in the environment over time. For example, the noted rise of obesity in the United States in the latter part of the 20th century might reflect an interaction between genetic variation and changing environmental conditions that together affect the penetrance of genetic influences. To evaluate this …

Characterization Of Co-Circulating Swine Influenza A Viruses In North America And The Identification Of A Novel H1 Genetic Clade With Antigenic Significance, Tavis K. Anderson, Brian A. Campbell, Martha I. Nelson, Nicola S. Lewis, Alicia Janas Martindale, Mary Lea Killian, Amy L. Vincent

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Multiple genetically and antigenically distinct hemagglutinin genes of the H1 and H3 influenza A virus (IAV) subtypes co-circulate in North American swine. This diversity has evolved by repeated transmission of IAVs from humans to swine and subsequent antigenic drift in swine. To understand the evolutionary dynamics of these diverse HA lineages in North American swine, we undertook a phylogenetic analysis of 1576 H1 and 607 H3 HA gene segments, as well as 834 N1 and 1293 N2 NA gene segments, and 2126 M gene segments. These data revealed yearly co-circulation of H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 viruses, with three HA clades …

Basic Epidemiology, Center For Leadership In Public Health Practice

Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Center

Basic Epidemiology, a training course from the USF Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice, develops the awareness and knowledge of public health workers who may be deployed on Field Epidemiology strike teams. It is designed to help them assist local, regional, state, and national epidemiology staff in disease investigations during surge capacity. Basic Epidemiology is a required prerequisite for the IFIRST and IFIRST-2 programs.