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The Role Of Mummy Studies In Paleoparasitology, Adauto Araujo, Karl J. Reinhard, Luiz Fernando Ferreira

Karl Reinhard Publications

Paieoparasitology has advance during the past decade to the status of a statistically based science focused on problems of disease ecology and geographic distribution of parasitism. For most of its development, paleoparasitology has focused on the analysis of coprolites and latrine sediments. During the past few years, mummies have been increasingly included in paleoparasitology studies. We evaluate in this paper the interpretive value of mummies relative to other sources of paleoparasitological data.

EI estudio de la paleoparasitologia ha logrado transformarse, en esta ultima decada, en una ciencia basada en la estadistica, enfocada a temas tales como la ecologia de enfermedades …

Archaeoparasitology, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The field devoted to the identification of parasite remains in the archaeological record and the reconstruction of past human-parasite interactions. Parasitic disease has always been a major problem. Recent summaries of the prevalence of parasitic diseases in the world today show that there are 4.5 billion infections with all species of parasitic worm, 1 billion infections with giant intestinal roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), 750,000,000 infections with whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), 900,000,000 infections with hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), 657,000,000 infections with filarial worms, 200,000,000 with blood flukes (schistosome species), and 489,000,000 infections with malaria. These infections cause between 1,590,000 to 3,130,000 …

Coprolite Analysis: The Analysis Of Ancient Human Feces For Dietary Data, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

Although archaeological fieldwork is hot and dirty, the most “earthy” side of the discipline is the laboratory analysis of coprolites. Each coprolite contains the remains of one to several actual meals eaten in prehistory, and analysis of many coprolites provides a picture of ancient diet that is unique in accuracy.

The term coprolite originally referred to fossilized feces in paleontological context. In archaeology, the term broadened to refer to any formed fecal mass, including mineralized, desiccated, or frozen feces and even the intestinal contents of mummies. Coprolites contain the remains of animals (parasites) that lived in the humans, the foods …

Paleopharmacology, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

An emerging field devoted to the exploration of the archaeological record for evidence of medicinal plants.

In the future, archaeology will have a role in pharmaceutical research. In the late twentieth century, much of the world’s pharmaceutical research has been based on ethnographic documentation of tribally recognized medicinal plants. Once the active chemical compounds in the plants are identified, they are either extracted or synthesized for commercial use. The American film Medicine Man depicts this approach. As shown in the film, such pharmacological research is threatened by declining tribal populations with loss of traditional herbal knowledge coupled with declining biodiversity. …

The Public Stake In Biomedical Research: A Policy Perspective, Karen Matherlee

National Health Policy Forum

An introduction to a Forum series on biomedical research policy issues, this paper provides background on the organization and structure of both public and private research entities. It outlines the federal components, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also looks at the rapid growth in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device research and development and the varying responses from managed care plans, practice-based research networks, and contract research organizations. After laying out various tensions in the field, such as competition among disease-oriented advocates, alignment of different priorities, allocation of dollars between basic and …

Update: West Nile Virus Encephalitis — New York, 1999, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Denis Nash

Publications and Research

The West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis outbreak continues to wane in the Northeast with the onset of cooler temperatures and continued vector-control operations. This report updates the progress of the ongoing investigation. Since the last published update (1), five additional domestic human cases and one international case have been identified. As of October 19, 56 (31 confirmed and 25 probable) cases of WNV infection have been identified, including seven deaths (Figure 1). The date of onset of the latest cases was September 22. The international case was a Canadian citizen who had visited the New York City (NYC) area in …

Update: West Nile-Like Viral Encephalitis — New York, 1999, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Denis Nash

Publications and Research

The outbreak of human arboviral encephalitis attributable to a mosquito-transmitted West Nile-like virus (WNLV) continues to wane in the Northeast (Figure 1). As of October 5, the number of laboratory-positive cases had increased to 50 (27 confirmed and 23 probable), including five deaths. The increase in cases is mainly a result of completed retesting with West Nile virus antigen of specimens previously tested with the related St. Louis encephalitis virus antigen and to intensive retrospective case finding in the ongoing epidemiologic investigations (1,2).

Site Visit To Baltimore And Fort Detrick, Maryland — Preparing For A Bioterrorist Incident: Linking The Public Health And Medical Communities, Robin J. Strongin

National Health Policy Forum

As follow-up to the NHPF's February 1999 session entitled "Biological Terrorism: Is the Health Care Community Prepared?" the Forum organized a site visit on October 4 and 5, 1999, to Baltimore and Fort Detrick, Maryland. The site visit provided federal congressional and agency staff with the opportunity to learn first-hand how one local area is preparing for the possibility of a bioterrorist incident. Several themes were stressed throughout the two days, including the following: distinguishing bioterrorism from chemical terrorism, understanding the relationships between various agencies and institutions and their related funding streams, determining how the federal government can …

Outbreak Of West Nile-Like Viral Encephalitis -- New York, 1999, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Denis Nash

Publications and Research

An outbreak of arboviral encephalitis was first recognized in New York City in late August and has since been identified in neighboring counties in New York state. Although initially attributed to St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus based on positive serologic findings in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples using a virus-specific IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the cause of the outbreak has been confirmed as a West Nile-like virus based on the identification of virus in human, avian, and mosquito.

An Investigation Into The Possibility Of Transmission Of Tick-Borne Pathogens Via Blood Transfusion, P. M. Arguin, J. Singleton, L. D. Rotz, E. Marston, T. A. Treadwell, K. Slater, M. Chamberland, A. Schwartz, L. Tengelsen, J. G. Olson, J. E. Childs

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne illnesses were diagnosed in a group of National Guard members, including some who had donated blood a few days before the onset of symptoms. A voluntary recall of those blood components was issued and a multistate investigation was conducted to determine if transfusion-transmitted illness had occurred.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors and recipients were asked to complete questionnaires regarding symptoms and risk factors for infection and to provide blood samples for laboratory analysis.

RESULTS: Among National Guard personnel who donated blood, 12 individuals were found to have a confirmed or probable case of Rocky Mountain …

An Investigation Into The Possibility Of Transmission Of Tick-Borne Pathogens Via Blood Transfusion, P. M. Arguin, J. Singleton, L. D. Rotz, E. Marston, T. A. Treadwell, K. Slater, M. Chamberland, A. Schwartz, L. Tengelsen, J. G. Olson, J. E. Childs, Transfusion-Associated Tick-Borne Illness Task Force

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne illnesses were diagnosed in a group of National Guard members, including some who had donated blood a few days before the onset of symptoms. A voluntary recall of those blood components was issued and a multistate investigation was conducted to determine if transfusion-transmitted illness had occurred.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors and recipients were asked to complete questionnaires regarding symptoms and risk factors for infection and to provide blood samples for laboratory analysis.
RESULTS: Among National Guard personnel who donated blood, 12 individuals were found to have a confirmed or probable case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever or …

In The Affirmative, Vol.6, No.7 (Mid-July/ Mid-September 1999), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

In The Affirmative, Vol.6, No.6 (Mid-June/Mid-July 1999), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

In The Affirmative, Vol.6, No.5 (Mid-May/Mid-June 1999), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

In The Affirmative, Vol.6, No.4 (Mid-April/Mid-May 1999), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Biological Terrorism: Is The Health Care Community Prepared?, Robin J. Strongin

National Health Policy Forum

This issue brief provides an overview of biological warfare and discusses the role of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state health departments in detecting biologic agents. The brief also highlights the issue of threat assessment and discusses ways to improve the current level of preparedness as well as steps needed to convert the public health system into our best form of civil defense.

In The Affirmative, Vol.6, No.1 (Mid-January/Mid-February 1999), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Preventing Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Virus Infections In End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: Back To Basics, Scott Kellerman, Miriam Alter

United States Public Health Resources

In this issue of HEPATOLOGY, Mathurin et al. report the results of a 10-year retrospective study of kidney transplant recipients that compared rates of patient and graft survival among patients with and without chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.¹ Following this cohort of patients at intervals of 5 and 10 years, the investigators found a statistically significant decrease in survival in the HBV-infected group at both 5 and 10 years and a similar decrease at 10 years in the HCV-infected group. The findings of this study underscore the importance of preventing these infections in …

Informing Research On Hiv Prevention: A Consultation, Sharon Fonn, C. Elizabeth Mcgrory

HIV and AIDS

According to a 1998 UNAIDS/WHO report, HIV infection among women is the fastest-growing segment of the AIDS pandemic, especially in developing countries. Unfortunately, the HIV-prevention strategies put forward by the public health community—monogamy, condom use, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections—are not feasible for many women. Women urgently need a means within their personal control to protect themselves against HIV. Recognizing this need, a number of international and nongovernmental organizations and government agencies have called for the development of microbicides, products that women could use vaginally to prevent infection with sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV. The Population Council is one …

Resurgence Of Sleeping Sickness In Tambura County, Sudan, Anne Moore, Michaleen Richer, Mario Enrile, Edward Losio, Jacquelin Roberts, Deborah A. Levy

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Endemic foci of human African trypanosomiasis are present in southern Sudan. In 1996 and 1997, trypanosomiasis increased sharply in Tambura County. To define the magnitude and geographic distribution of the outbreak, we conducted a prevalence survey using population-based cluster sampling in 16 villages: 1,358 participants answered questions about routine activities and tsetse fly contact and received serologic testing. Seroprevalence in the surveyed area was 19.4% (95% confidence interval = 16.9%, 21.8%). We confirmed infection in 66% of seropositive persons who received one parasitologic examination and in 95% of those who had serial examinations of lymph node fluid and blood. Activities …

International Law And Global Public Health, David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

To Immunize Or Not To Immunize, That Is The Question! An Investigation Into The Reasons Behind Parents' Decisions In Immunizing Their Children Against Whooping Cough In Western Australia, Eliena Kirov

Theses : Honours

Demographic data on the immunization status of Australia indicates that Western Australia has relatively low immunization coverage for whooping cough. Australian quantitative studies have been carried out on parental attitudes in Australia towards immunization, but there has been no analysis of parents' reasons for their decisions. This study identified the key issues that influenced the decisions made by the target group of parents and explored their decision-making in more depth. The data from this study could also be used to supplement the information currently available to health workers. Eight participants with children between the ages of 2 months and 6 …

The Guillain-Barre Syndrome And The 1992-1993 And 1993-1994 Influenza Vaccines, Tamar Lasky, Gina J. Terracciano, Laurence Magder, Carol Lee Koski, Michael Ballesteros, Denis Nash, Shelley Clarke, Penina Haber, Paul D. Stolley, Lawrence B. Schonberger, Robert T. Chen

Publications and Research

Background
The number of reports of influenza-vaccine-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome to the national Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System increased from 37 in 1992-1993 to 74 in 1993-1994, arousing concern about a possible increase in vaccine-associated risk.

Methods
Patients given a diagnosis of the Guillain-Barré syndrome in the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 influenza-vaccination seasons were identified in the hospital-discharge data bases of four states. Vaccination histories were obtained by telephone interviews during 1995-1996 and were confirmed by the vaccine providers. Disease with an onset within six weeks after vaccination was defined as vaccine-associated. Vaccine coverage in the population was measured through a random-digit-dialing …

In The Affirmative, Vol.5, [No.11] (Mid-December 1998/Mid-January 1999), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

In The Affirmative, Vol.5, No.9 (Mid-October/ Mid-November 1998), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Accuracy Of A New Diagnostic Test When A Gold Standard Does Not Exist, Todd A. Alonzo, Margaret S. Pepe

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Often the accuracy of a new diagnostic test must be assessed when a perfect gold standard does not exist. Use of an imperfect test biases the accuracy estimates of the new test. This paper reviews existing approaches to this problem including discrepant resolution and latent class analysis. Deficiencies with these approaches are identified. A new approach is proposed that combines the results of several imperfect reference tests to define a better reference standard. We call this the composite reference standard (CRS). Using the CRS, accuracy can be assessed using multistage sampling designs. Maximum likelihood estimates of accuracy and expressions for …

In The Affirmative, Vol.5, No.7 (Mid-July/ Mid-September 1998), Mike Martin, The Aids Project

In the affirmative (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Causation In Occupational Disease: Balancing Epidemiology, Law And Manufacturer Conduct, Richard M. Lynch, Mary S. Henifin

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Drs. Lynch & Henefin examine evolution of disease causation theory and its impact on public health, as well as how these relate to the courtroom admissibility of expert opinion evidence.

Wild Primate Populations In Emerging Infectious Disease Research: The Missing Link?, Nathan D. Wolfe, Ananias A. Escalante, William B. Karesh, Annelisa Kilbourn, Andrew Spielman, Altaf A. Lal

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Wild primate populations, an unexplored source of information regarding emerging infectious disease, may hold valuable clues to the origins and evolution of some important pathogens. Primates can act as reservoirs for human pathogens. As members of biologically diverse habitats, they serve as sentinels for surveillance of emerging pathogens and provide models for basic research on natural transmission dynamics. Since emerging infectious diseases also pose serious threats to endangered and threatened primate species, studies of these diseases in primate populations can benefit conservation efforts and may provide the missing link between laboratory studies and the well-recognized needs of early disease detection, …

A Prolonged Outbreak Of Shigella Sonnei Infections In Traditionally Observant Jewish Communities In North America Caused By A Molecularly Distinct Bacterial Subtype, Jeremy Sobel, Daniel N. Cameron, Johanne Ismail, Nancy Strockbine, Michael Williams, Pamela S. Diaz, Barbara Westley, Marilyn Rittmann, Joseph Dicristina, Halina Ragazzoni, Robert V. Tauxe, Eric D. Mintz

United States Public Health Resources

During 1994–1996, Shigella sonnei outbreaks occurred in 8 North American traditionally observant Jewish communities. These communities remain relatively separate from neighboring populations while maintaining close contact by travel with coreligionists in other cities. Epidemiologic investigations suggested community-to-community transmission via travel. Outbreak-related and control isolates of S. sonnei from each city were subtyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to confirm an epidemiologic linkage between outbreaks. Forty-three (94%) of 46 outbreak-related isolates had closely related PFGE patterns, constituting a single subtype; 33 (94%) of 35 control isolates demonstrated unrelated PFGE patterns. Several patterns differing by ≤3 bands were identified within the …