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Emerging Novel Therapies For Heart Failure, A. M. Szema, S. Dang, J. C. Li

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Mapping Of Networks To Detect Priority Zoonoses In Jordan, Erin M. Sorrell, Mohammad El Azhari, Nezar Maswdeh, Sarah Kornblet, Claire J. Standley, Rebecca L. Katz, Ibrahim Ablan, Julie E. Fischer

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Early detection of emerging disease events is a priority focus area for cooperative bioengagement programs. Communication and coordination among national disease surveillance and response networks are essential for timely detection and control of a public health event. Although systematic information sharing between the human and animal health sectors can help stakeholders detect and respond to zoonotic diseases rapidly, resource constraints and other barriers often prevent efficient cross-sector reporting. The purpose of this research project was to map the laboratory and surveillance networks currently in place for detecting and reporting priority zoonotic diseases in Jordan in order to identify the nodes …

Tlr7 Influences Germinal Center Selection In Murine Sle, A. Boneparth, W. Huang, R. Bethunaickan, M. Woods, R. Sahu, S. Arora, M. Akerman, M. Lesser, A. Davidson

Journal Articles

TLR7 enhances germinal center maturation and migration of B cells to the dark zone where proliferation and somatic hypermutation occur. Our goal was to determine how Tlr7 dose influences selection of the autoreactive B cell repertoire in NZW/BXSB. Yaa mice bearing the site-directed heavy chain transgene 3H9 that encodes for the TLR7 regulated anti-CL response. To create a physiologic setting in which autoreactive B cells compete for survival with non-autoreactive B cells, we generated bone marrow chimeras in which disease onset occurred with similar kinetics and the transferred 3H9+ female non-Yaa, male Yaa or male TLR7(-/Yaa) cells could be easily …

Factors Associated With Induced Abortion Among Female Entertainment Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study In Cambodia, Siyan Yi, Sovannary Tuot, Pheak Chhoun, Khuondyla Pal, Khimuy Tith, Carinne M. Brody

Objective: To explore risk factors associated with induced abortion among sexually active female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Participants: This study included 556 FEWs aged 18–47 years randomly selected from entertainment establishments in the two cities in 2014 using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire.

Primary outcome measure: History of induced abortion during the time working as a FEW.

Results: Of the total sample, 45.6% reported currently using a contraceptive method with condom (42.4%) being the …

Breast Cancer Risk In Metabolically Healthy But Overweight Postmenopausal Women, M. J. Gunter, X. Xie, X. Xue, G. C. Kabat, T. E. Rohan, S. Wassertheil-Smoller, G. Y. Ho, J. Wylie-Rosett, J. Beasley, H. D. Strickler, +2 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

Adiposity is an established risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer. Recent data suggest that high insulin levels in overweight women may play a major role in this relationship, due to insulin's mitogenic/antiapoptotic activity. However, whether overweight women who are metabolically healthy (i.e., normal insulin sensitivity) have elevated risk of breast cancer is unknown. We investigated whether overweight women with normal insulin sensitivity [i.e., homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, or fasting insulin level, within the lowest quartile (q1)] have increased breast cancer risk. Subjects were incident breast cancer cases (N = 497) and a subcohort (N = 2,830) …

Ebola Scare And Measles Resurgence: Mandatory Isolation/Quarantine And Vaccination, Mark C. Aita Md, Takeem T. Ragland Ma

Journal of Health Ethics

Public outcry for radical isolation and quarantine policies followed the first Ebola diagnosis in the United States when Eric Duncan, upon his return home Oct 2014 from West Africa, then in the midst of a catastrophic Ebola epidemic, tested positive for Ebola. Likewise, the Dec 2014 Disneyland measles outbreak unleashed an angry backlash against parents who refused to have their children vaccinated; and there was public momentum to repeal all legal exemptions to mandatory vaccination of school children. This paper presents an ethical and legal analysis to adjudicate the issue which is at stake in both controversies; namely the inherent …

Interference With Nature: Xenotransplantation Procedure And Its Potential Effects On Man, Peter B. Bisong

Journal of Health Ethics

Xenotransplantation is not yet a clinical success and therefore pose no risk at present. The major concern of the researchers is that, the research on xenografting is ongoing, and possibly in the nearest future xenografting might become a clinical routine. If this becomes the case, then its potential risks would become actual risks. It is however, wrong to wait till the risks begin to manifest before action is taken. It is on this ground that, the researchers believe that if the ethical implications of this relatively new procedure (xenografting) could be well spelt out, it might serve to discourage research …

Altered Gene Expression In The Schistosome-Transmitting Snail Biomphalaria Glabrata Following Exposure To Niclosamide, The Active Ingredient In The Widely Used Molluscicide Bayluscide, Si-Ming Zhang, S K. Buddenborg, C M. Adema, John T. Sullivan, E S. Loker

Biology Faculty Publications

In view of the call by the World Health Organization (WHO) for elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2025, use of molluscicides in snail control to supplement chemotherapy–based control efforts is likely to increase in the coming years. The mechanisms of action of niclosamide, the active ingredient in the most widely used molluscicides, remain largely unknown. A better understanding of its toxicology at the molecular level will both improve our knowledge of snail biology and may offer valuable insights into the development of better chemical control methods for snails. We used a recently developed Biomphalaria glabrata oligonucleotide …

Challenging Race-Based Stereotypes About Gay And Bisexual Men’S Sexual Behavior And Perceived Penis Size And Size Satisfaction, Christian Grov, Lena D. Saleh, Jonathan M. Lassiter, Jeffrey T. Parsons

Publications and Research

Racial prejudice and stereotyping in gay and bisexual communities may be important contextual factors that contribute to racial disparities in HIV. In an effort to challenge race-based stereotypes regarding gay and bisexual men’s sexuality, we sought to determine the extent to which race and ethnicity were associated with (1) racial homophily (i.e., same-race partnerships), (2) sexual behavior (e.g., number of partners, condomless anal sex (CAS), sexual position (top/versatile/bottom)), and (3) perceived penis size and size satisfaction. Data were taken from a survey of 1,009 gay and bisexual men recruited using a street-intercept method at gay, lesbian, and bisexual community events …

Calling Science Pseudoscience: Fleck’S Archaeologies Of Fact And Latour’S ‘Biography Of An Investigation’ In Aids Denialism And Homeopathy, Babette Babich

Articles and Chapters in Academic Book Collections

Fleck’s Genesis and Development of a Scientific Fact foregrounds claims traditionally excluded from reception, often regarded as opposed to fact, scientific claims that are increasingly seldom discussed in connection with philosophy of science save as examples of pseudo-science. I am especially concerned with scientists who question the epidemiological link between HIV and AIDS and who are thereby discounted—no matter their credentials, no matter the cogency of their arguments, no matter the sobriety of their statistics—but also with other classic examples of so-called pseudo-science including homeopathy and other sciences, such as cold fusion. The pseudo-science version of the demarcation problem turns …

Role Of Low Exposure To Metals As Male Reproductive Toxicants, H. Anna Jeng, Yeou-Lih Huang, Chih-Hong Pan, Norou Diawara

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The objective of the study was to examine the associations between environmentally relevant low metal concentrations and semen quality parameters in men. The concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb) in the seminal plasma and urine were measured from 196 male human subjects in Taiwan. Urinary Cd concentrations were negatively associated with sperm viability (p=0.006). Seminal plasma Cu concentrations of the normal group (>= 15 x 10(6)/ml) were significantly lower than those of the abnormal group (p=0.023). However, the linear regression analysis showed a weak association between Cu concentration and sperm …

Dietary Supplement Use Associated With Air Force Fitness And Deployment Health, Michael J. Bell

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: This study characterizes supplement use among United States Air Force members as well as attempts to identify an association between supplement use and Air Force Physical Fitness Test (AFPFT) scores or self-reported deployment health.

Methods: The study population (n = 24,020) was comprised of Airmen who completed a Web Based Preventive Health Assessment (WebPHA), Post Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) and completed an AFPFT within six months of their WebPHA. Binary logistic regression was performed to predict AFPFT scores and deployment health outcomes based on supplement usage. Chi-squared analysis was performed to determine if there is any significant association between …

The Impact Of Emergency Department Based Influenza Vaccination, Paul T. Deflorio

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: To quantify the proportion of the Wright-Patterson (WPAFB) Air Force Base Emergency Department (ED) patients presenting during a four month segment of the 2014-2015 influenza season who were eligible for influenza vaccination and model the impact of vaccinating them.

Methods: A random sample of 200 out of 5,624 ED patients who presented to the WPAFB ED between October 1st, 2014, and January 31st, 2015 was studied. Both ED charts and immunization records were reviewed to determine eligibility for influenza vaccine during the ED visit. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis was used to determine vaccine velocity (VV), which was …

Emergency Preparedness For A Radiological Disaster: Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant Release, Meghan A. Jackson

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Over the course of human history, man has tried to find an ultimate source of energy. Nuclear energy has been paramount to this sustainability. There have been over 420 nuclear related disasters since 1944 and preparedness has only marginally increased in response. This study examines the potential outfall of a major nuclear accident within the United States at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant. Using data from the incident that occurred in Fukushima, Japan in 2011, radiation plumes were plotted using HotSpot software over northern Ohio to examine the dispersion and concentration of radioactive particles and their potential health effects on …

The Impact Of A Community-Based Hiv And Sexual Reproductive Health Program On Sexual And Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors Of Female Entertainment Workers In Cambodia, Siyan Yi, Sovannary Tuot, Pheak Chhoun, Carinne M. Brody, Khimuy Tith, Sopheap Oum

Background: In Cambodia, despite great successes in the fight against HIV, challenges remain to eliminating new HIV infections and addressing sexual reproductive health (SRH) issues in key populations including female entertainment workers (FEWs). To address these issues, the Sustainable Action against HIV and AIDS in Communities (SAHACOM) project has been implemented since late 2009 using a community-based approach to integrate HIV and SRH services. This study evaluates the impact of the SAHACOM on sexual and healthcare-seeking behaviors among FEWs in Cambodia.

Methods: A midterm and endpoint comparison design was utilized. Midterm data were collected in early 2012, and …

Descriptive Analysis Of U.S. Air Force Occupational Injuries And Illnesses, Kenneth Mackenthun

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Occupational health is a concern in the workplace environment. Cases of occupational illness or injury could lead to lost workdays, a lower quality of life, chronic pain, and sometimes death. Air Force personnel perform unique functions that could have negative effects on their health.

Purpose: Identify the most common occupational illnesses and injuries among active duty United States Air Force (U.S.A.F.) personnel, determine rates of occupational illnesses and injuries in the Air Force by rank, and compare rates across Major Commands (MAJCOMS). Methods: A literature review was conducted on select occupational illnesses and injuries. A descriptive data analysis was …

Impact Of Health Insurance Expansions On Nonelderly Adults With Hypertension., Suhui Li, Brian K. Bruen, Paula M. Lantz, David Mendez

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Introduction

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the United States. The treatment and control of hypertension is inadequate, especially among patients without health insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act offered an opportunity to improve hypertension management by increasing the number of people covered by insurance. This study predicts the long-term effects of improved hypertension treatment rates due to insurance expansions on the prevalence and mortality rates of CVD of nonelderly Americans with hypertension.

Methods

We developed a state-transition model to simulate the lifetime health events of the population aged 25 to …

Behavioral Couples Therapy For Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial, Heather Lachance, Erin M. Tooley

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction—Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) has been found to improve long-term abstinence rates in alcohol- and substance-dependent populations but has not been tested for smoking cessation. This pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of BCT for smoking-discordant couples.

Methods—Forty-nine smokers (smoking >10 cigarettes/day) with non-smoking partners were randomized to receive a couples social support (BCT-S) intervention, or an individually-delivered smoking cessation (ST) treatment. The couples were married or cohabiting for at least one year, with partners who had never smoked or had not used tobacco in one year. Both treatments included seven weekly sessions and 8-weeks of nicotine …

Is It Time To Consider The "Burnout Syndrome" A Distinct Illness?, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Eric Laurent

Publications and Research

The "burnout syndrome" has been defined as a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment caused by chronic occupational stress. Although there has been increasing medical interest in burnout over the last decades, it is argued in this paper that the syndrome cannot be elevated to the status of diagnostic category, based on (1) an analysis of the genesis of the burnout construct, (2) a review of the latest literature on burnout-depression overlap, (3) a questioning of the three-dimensional structure of the burnout syndrome, and (4) a critical examination of the notion that burnout is singularized by its …

Serum Cotinine And Chronic Pain: Nhanes 2003-2004, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose—Tobacco smoke exposure continues to be the leading preventable risk factor for many diseases and has the potential to be a risk factor for chronic pain. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of chronic pain with smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and nonsmoking using serum cotinine (and self-report of living with someone who smokes in the home) to identify the tobacco exposure groups. Methods—The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2004 was used for this study. Participants were queried about pain duration and had serum cotinine levels determined during the course of the NHANES examination/survey. Participants, …

Multiplexed Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Of The 16s Rrna Gene For The Diagnosis Of Neonatal Sepsis In Resource-Limited Environments, Griffin T. Sonaty

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Sepsis, or dysregulated inflammation caused by bacterial infection, places a disproportionately high burden on newborns in developing countries. This is due in part to a lack of diagnostic tools suitable for sustainable use in resource-limited nurseries. One potential vehicle for a new diagnostic assay is loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a high-yield DNA amplification method. LAMP has previously been used to detect genes from single species of bacteria in blood serum samples to aid in sepsis diagnosis. LAMP could be adapted to detect a broad set of bacteria, while retaining a degree of specificity that allows clinicians to begin directed antimicrobial …

Association Between Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy And Birth Size Measures In A Diverse Population In Southern Us, Uriyoan Colón-Ramos, Susan B. Racette, Jody M. Ganiban, Thuy G. Nguyen, Mehmet Kocak, Kecia N. Carroll, Eszter Volgyi, Frances A. Tylavsky

Global Health Faculty Publications

Despite increased interest in promoting nutrition during pregnancy, the association between maternal dietary patterns and birth outcomes has been equivocal. We examined maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy as a determinant of offspring’s birth weight-for-length (WLZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), and head circumference (HCZ) Z-scores in Southern United States (n = 1151). Maternal diet during pregnancy was assessed by seven dietary patterns. Multivariable linear regression models described the association of WLZ, WAZ, LAZ, and HCZ with diet patterns controlling for other maternal and child characteristics. In bivariate analyses, WAZ and HCZ were significantly lower for processed and processed-Southern compared to healthy …

Aids-Related Stigma And Mental Disorders Among People Living With Hiv: A Cross-Sectional Study In Cambodia, Siyan Yi, Pheak Chhoun, Samedy Suong, Carinne M. Brody, Sovannary Tuot

Background: AIDS-related stigma and mental disorders are the most common conditions in people living with HIV (PLHIV). We therefore conducted this study to examine the association of AIDS-related stigma and discrimination with mental disorders among PLHIV in Cambodia.

Methods: A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select 1,003 adult PLHIV from six provinces. The People Living with HIV Stigma Index was used to measure stigma and discrimination, and a short version of general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure mental disorders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted.

Results: The reported experiences of discrimination in communities …

Mosquito-Borne Diseases In Mississippi, Ryan J. Rodriguez

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Life Cycle:
Egg Must be exposed to water to hatch
Larvae Live in aquatic habitats
Pupa Stay near the surface of water to breath
Adults: Only females feed on blood; Males feed on nectar

Public Health •Besides being a nuisance, they cause numerous health hazards to humans (and other animals) •In some cases, they may cause severe allergic reactions •Diseases they transmit: •Eastern Equine Encephalitis •Japanese Encephalitis •La Crosse Encephalitis •St. Louis Encephalitis •West Nile Virus •Western Equine Encephalitis •Dengue Fever •Malaria •Rift Valley Fever •Yellow Fever

Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Mississippi and its Vectors •Chikungunya Virus •Aedes species •Eastern Equine …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Regression Analysis Of Lung Cancer Risk And Inorganic Arsenic In Drinking Water., Steven H. Lamm, Hamid Ferdosi, Elisabeth K. Dissen, Ji Li, Jaeil Ahn

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

High levels (> 200 µg/L) of inorganic arsenic in drinking water are known to be a cause of human lung cancer, but the evidence at lower levels is uncertain. We have sought the epidemiological studies that have examined the dose-response relationship between arsenic levels in drinking water and the risk of lung cancer over a range that includes both high and low levels of arsenic. Regression analysis, based on six studies identified from an electronic search, examined the relationship between the log of the relative risk and the log of the arsenic exposure over a range of 1-1000 µg/L. The …

Staphylococcus Aureus And The Ecology Of The Nasal Microbiome, Cindy M. Liu, Lance B. Price, Bruce A. Hungate, Alison G. Abraham, Lisbeth A. Larsen, Kaare Christensen, Marc Stegger, Robert Skov, Paal Skytt Andersen

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

The human microbiome can play a key role in host susceptibility to pathogens, including in the nasal cavity, a site favored by Staphylococcus aureus. However, what determines our resident nasal microbiota—the host or the environment—and can interactions among nasal bacteria determine S. aureus colonization? Our study of 46 monozygotic and 43 dizygotic twin pairs revealed that nasal microbiota is an environmentally derived trait, but the host’s sex and genetics significantly influence nasal bacterial density. Although specific taxa, including lactic acid bacteria, can determine S. aureus colonization, their negative interactions depend on thresholds of absolute abundance. These findings demonstrate that …

Should We Put Our Feet In The Water? Use Of A Survey To Assess Recreational Exposures To Contaminants In The Anacostia River., Rianna Murray, Sacoby Wilson, Laura Dalemarre, Victoria Chanse, Janet Phoenix, Lori Baranoff

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The Anacostia River, a tributary of the Potomac River that flows into the Chesapeake Bay, is highly contaminated with raw sewage, heavy metals, oil and grease, trash, pathogens, excessive sediments, and organic chemicals. Despite this contamination, recreation on the river is very popular, including kayaking, canoeing, rowing, and sport fishing. There is currently no information available on the potential health risks faced by recreational users from exposure to the river’s pollutants. A total of 197 recreational users of the Anacostia River were surveyed regarding general demographic information and their recreational behavior over the previous year, including frequency and duration of …

Toward Enhancing Treatment For Pregnant Smokers: Laying The Groundwork For The Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Approaches, Amy Michele Loree

Wayne State University Dissertations

Tobacco is the most widely used drug of abuse during pregnancy. Despite efforts to reduce perinatal tobacco use, its prevalence has remained steady over at least the past decade, suggesting that efforts to reduce smoking prevalence before and during pregnancy have not been effective. Although a range of effective treatments exist, most pregnant smokers neither seek nor receive any kind of treatment. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments may be ideal as alternative, low-cost approaches capable of reaching and assisting a greater proportion of pregnant women with smoking cessation. This study examined characteristics and treatment utilization practices of pregnant smokers …

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

Journal Articles: 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 …

Adolescent Oral Health In Kentucky, 2007 National Survey Of Childhood Health Analysis, Kory Brinker

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Research indicates that children raised by their grandparents can have poorer health outcomes than their peers living in mother or father based households. There is, however, little research that indicates how childhood oral health is affected by grandparents raising grandchildren. This study investigated grandparent based family structures, and how this family structure affects oral health of Kentucky children. Using data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, 113 Kentucky children were identified as living with a grandparent as a primary caregiver. Chi-Square analyses were utilized to assess the oral health status of these children, as well as what role …