Digital Commons Network^™

Death Talk, Joanne Reifsnyder

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Health Policy Newsletter Dec. 09 Download Full Pdf

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

What Do We Know About People Who Kill Themselves: A Trajectory For Prevention In Developing Countries., Amresh Srivastava, Megan Johnston

Data and Test Instruments

Abstract: Lecture Title: What do we know about people who kill themselves: A trajectory for prevention in Developing Countries. Amresh Shrivastava 1, Megan Johnston 2 Address: 1. Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada); Mental Health Foundation of India (PRERANA Charitable Trust) 209 Shivkripa Complex, Gokhale Road, Thane, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 400 602 (Present Address: Regional Mental Health Care, 467 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada N5H 3V9; 2. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto. About one million people die due to suicide …

Aging-In-Place Research At Orcatech: Making Sense Of The Data, Tamara Hayes

Systems Science Friday Noon Seminar Series

The Oregon Center for Aging and Technology (ORCATECH) seeks to facilitate successful aging and reduce the cost of healthcare by establishing the evidence base for technologies supporting aging-in-place research and care. This is done through pilot studies evaluating the role of the technologies, as well as large longitudinal studies in which sensors are placed in the homes of community-dwelling elders to monitor daily patterns of activity, walking speeds, medication adherence, and other behaviors. These sensors collect continuous data that reflect normal variability in behaviors as well as trends that may indicate problematic changes in cognition or mobility. Because data are …

Birthweight And Natural Deaths In A Remote Australian Aboriginal Community, Wendy E. Hoy, Jennifer L. Nicol

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objectives: To describe associations between birthweight and infant, child and early adult mortality from natural causes in a remote Australian Aboriginal community against a background of rapidly changing mortality due to better health services. Design, participants and setting: Cohort study of 995 people with recorded birthweights who were born between 1956 and 1985 to an Aboriginal mother in a remote Australian Aboriginal community. Participants were followed through to the end of 2006. Main outcome measures: Rates of natural deaths of infants (aged 0 to < 1 year), children (aged 1 to < 15 years) and adults (aged 15 to < 37 years), compared by birth intervals (1956–1965, 1966–1975 and 1976–1985 for infants and children, and 1956–1962 and 1963–1969 for adults) and by birthweight. Results: Birthweights were low, but increased over time. Deaths among infants and children decreased dramatically over time, but deaths among adults did not. Lower birthweights were associated with higher mortality. Adjusted for birth interval, hazard ratios for deaths among infants, children and adults born at weights below their group birthweight medians were 2.30 (95% CI, 1.13–4.70) ), 1.78 (95% CI, 1.03–3.07) and 3.49 (95% CI, 1.50–8.09), respectively. The associations were significant individually for deaths associated with diarrhoea in infants, with cardiovascular and renal disease in adults, and marginally significant for deaths from pulmonary causes in children and adults. Conclusion: The striking improvements in infant and child survival over time must be applauded. We confirmed a predisposing effect of lower birthweights on deaths in infants and children, and showed, for the first time, an association between lower birthweights and deaths in adults. Together, these factors are probably contributing to the current epidemic of chronic disease in Aboriginal people, an effect that will persist for decades. Similar phenomena are probably operating in developing countries.

Attribution Of The Causes Of Death In People Infected With Hiv And/Or Hepatitis C In Connecticut, 2003-2007, Kristin Elizabeth Gerard

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Introduction: This study examined the causes of death in Connecticut residents who were infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV/AIDS and died between 2003 and 2007. Disease surveillance and mortality data can provide important public health information that may be used to develop important public health programs, policies, or legislation. Underreporting of diseases in mortality data may lead to reduced public health funding. Background: Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS are two potentially fatal infectious diseases that have been reportable in Connecticut since 1994 and 1981, respectively. Mortality data in Connecticut contain information about the causes of death in a deceased individual, which …

The Effects Of Cognitive Reserve On The Rate Of Cognitive Decline In Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Nicholas Adams

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of Screening For Violence In The Pediatric Emergency Department Setting, Courtney M. Thomas

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

No abstract provided.

Healthy Food Availability In Hartford's Corner Stores: Wic Authorization Matters, Erin Katherine Havens

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Diet is an important modifiable risk factor for obesity and related chronic diseases which are disproportionately high among low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations. A growing field of research has documented inequalities by race and income in neighborhood access to foods recommended for a healthy diet. In October 2009, the revised food package for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) took effect, requiring certified stores to stock fresh produce, whole grain products and other foods consistent with national dietary recommendations. This project examined 1) differences in healthy food availability (HFA) between WIC-certified and non-certified corner stores and …

Sexual Risk And High Risk Behavior Among Substance Abusing Adolescents In Hartford, Connecticut : Implications For Effective Treatment Delivery, Rosalie Simichak

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Substance use and high risk sexual behavior have significant health consequences for adolescents who engage in these behaviors, including HIV, STD transmission, teen pregnancy, and an array of other associated health problems. The Hartford Youth Project (HYP) established by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, offers a system of substance abuse treatment which has proven to be effective in reducing adolescent engagement in such high risk behavior. In this study, the data generated by the HYP are examined in conjunction with data derived from a qualitative review of existing services in order to identify a sexual risk profile for …

An In-Depth Study Of Staphylooccus Aureus Infections And Cases Of Colonization In The Inpatient Population At A University Teaching Hospital, Nancy Russell Dupont

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen that has historically been identified in hospital-acquired infections since the mid 1900's. Epidemiologically significant trends have occurred which have identified the increasing prevalence of MRSA in the community setting. Methods: An investigation of all isolates positive for Staphylococcus aureus of the inpatient population was conducted over a nine year time period in a university teaching hospital. Additionally, a unit specific case/control study was conducted during an outbreak of MRSA in a neonatal intensive care unit. Results: From January of 1997 through December of 2005, the number of isolates identified as positive for …

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention In San Jose, Costa Rica : Assessment Of An Educational Intervention, Alexandra Devin Mainiero

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

This thesis explores adolescent pregnancy in San Jose, Costa Rica and examines a school-based pregnancy prevention intervention. The relationships between school, gender and risk of adolescent pregnancy are also analyzed, and recommendations are made for effective pregnancy prevention programming. The Purral region of Guadalupe on the outskirts of San Jose, Costa Rica, suffers a higher rate of adolescent pregnancy compared to the rest of the country. In response to this problem, the International Health Central American Institute (IHCAI) implemented a sexual health education program in two local secondary schools in 2006. Very little information about the program is available. It …

A Healthy Home For Everyone: The Guide For Families And Individuals, Center For Disease Control And Prevention, Atlanta Ga

Mickey Leland Center Information Portal

The purpose of this booklet is to provide information about the connection between housing and health. You will find action steps for making your home healthy, definitions for words used in the booklet, and a resource section to find more information about a making your home a healthy home.

Spermine Oxidase (Smo) Activity In Breast Tumor Tissues And Biochemical Analysis Of The Anticancer Spermine Analogues Benspm And Cpenspm, Manuela Cervelli, Gabriella Bellavia, Emiliano Fratini, Roberto Amendola, Fabio Polticelli, Marco Barba, Rodolfo Federico, Fabrizio Signore, Giacomo Gucciardo, Rosalba Grillo, Patrick M. Woster, Robert A. Casero Jr, Paolo Mariottini

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Polyamine metabolism has a critical role in cell death and proliferation representing a potential target for intervention in breast cancer (BC). This study investigates the expression of spermine oxidase (SMO) and its prognostic significance in BC. Biochemical analysis of Spm analogues BENSpm and CPENSpm, utilized in anticancer therapy, was also carried out to test their property in silico and in vitro on the recombinant SMO enzyme.

Methods

BC tissue samples were analyzed for SMO transcript level and SMO activity. Student's t test was applied to evaluate the significance of the differences in value observed in T and NT …

Vaccination With A Plasmid Dna Encoding Her-2/Neu Together With Low Doses Of Gm-Csf And Il-2 In Patients With Metastatic Breast Carcinoma: A Pilot Clinical Trial, Hã¥Kan Norell, Isabel Poschke, Jehad Charo, Wei Z. Wei, Courtney Erskine, Marie P. Piechocki, Keith L. Knutson, Jonas Bergh, Elisabet Lidbrink, Rolf Kiessling

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Adjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatment of breast cancer patients significantly improves their clinical outcome. Vaccination is an attractive alternative approach to provide HER-2/neu (Her2)-specific antibodies and may in addition concomitantly stimulate Her2-reactive T-cells. Here we report the first administration of a Her2-plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine in humans.

Patients and Methods

The vaccine, encoding a full-length signaling-deficient version of the oncogene Her2, was administered together with low doses of GM-CSF and IL-2 to patients with metastatic Her2-expressing breast carcinoma who were also treated with trastuzumab. Six of eight enrolled patients completed all three vaccine cycles. In the remaining two patients …

Sulforaphane Induces Cell Cycle Arrest By Protecting Rb-E2f-1 Complex In Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells, Christopher S. Bryant, Sanjeev Kumar, Sreedhar Chamala, Jay Shah, Jagannath Pal, Mahdi Haider, Shelly Seward, Aamer M. Qazi, Robert Morris, Assaad Semaan, Masood A. Shammas, Christopher Steffes, Ravindra B. Potti, Madhu Prasad, Donald W. Weaver, Ramesh B. Batchu

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate phytochemical present predominantly in cruciferous vegetables such as brussels sprout and broccoli, is considered a promising chemo-preventive agent against cancer. In-vitro exposure to SFN appears to result in the induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in a variety of tumor types. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to the inhibition of cell cycle progression by SFN are poorly understood in epithelial ovarian cancer cells (EOC). The aim of this study is to understand the signaling mechanisms through which SFN influences the cell growth and proliferation in EOC.

Results

SFN at concentrations of 5 - 20 …

Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Localization And Function Within Intrauterine Tissues From Term And Preterm Labor And Cultured Fetal Membranes, Sonali Vora, Asad Abbas, Chong J. Kim, Taryn Ls Summerfield, Juan P. Kusanovic, Jay D. Iams, Roberto Romero, Douglas A. Kniss, William E. Ackerman Iv

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to quantify the nuclear localization and DNA binding activity of p65, the major transactivating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) subunit, in full-thickness fetal membranes (FM) and myometrium in the absence or presence of term or preterm labor.

Methods

Paired full-thickness FM and myometrial samples were collected from women in the following cohorts: preterm no labor (PNL, N = 22), spontaneous preterm labor (PTL, N = 21), term no labor (TNL, N = 23), and spontaneous term labor (STL, N = 21). NF-kappaB p65 localization was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and DNA binding activity was …

Friendship's 3-Tier Healthcare System: An Innovative Approach To Delivering Healthcare To Geographically And Socially Remote Areas, Runa Khan

Social Space

The hardest communities to reach and treat often live in the most remote, harsh landscapes. On the nomadic islands of the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh, poor migratory communities are so cut off from urban centres that medical treatment is virtually unheard of. Runa Khan, Executive Director of Bangladeshi NGO Friendship, shares the difficult and inspired journey to build a mobile healthcare system using hospital ships, mobile clinics and community medics.

The Problem Of Antimicrobial Resistance In The Foodchain, Ciara Walsh

Reports

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with the food chain is currently a subject of major interest to many food chain stakeholders. In response safefood commissioned this report to update our knowledge of this area and to raise awareness of the issue. Its primary focus is on the food chain where it impacts consumer health. This review will inform and underpin any future action to be taken by safefood with regard to AMR.

Modeling Super-Spreading Events For Sars, Thembinkosi P. Mkhatshwa

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

One of the intriguing characteristics of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemics was the occurrence of super spreading events (SSEs). Super-spreading events for a specific infectious disease occur when infected individuals infect more than the average number of secondary cases. The understanding of these SSEs is critical to under- standing the spread of SARS. In this thesis, we present a modification of the basic SIR (Susceptible - Infected - Removed) disease model, an SIPR (Susceptible - Regular Infected - Super-spreader - Removed) model, which captures the effect of the SSEs.

Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence On Pregnancy Trauma And Placental Abruption, Sandra D. Lane, J. Leone, E. H. Koumans, K. Demott, M. Wojtowycs, J. Jenson

Falk College Research Center

No abstract provided.

Fusion, 2010, George Washington University, William H. Beaumont Medical Research Honor Society

Fusion

No abstract provided.

Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Renee Chill

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

When a child is born, a mother can choose to breastfeed her infant or to use an alternative source of nutrition such as formula. To choose properly, the mother must be informed about the pros and cons of each method of feeding. This paper will elaborate on the process of breastfeeding and present some of the benefits that are conferred to both infant and mother through the act of breastfeeding, benefits that formula does not provide. Breastfeeding positively affects infants in both the short- and long-term by providing protection from infectious diseases, fostering the psychological bond with their mothers, and …

Optimization And Analysis Of A Quantitative Real-Time Pcr-Based Technique To Determine Microrna Expression In Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Samples, Rashmi S. Goswami, Levi Waldron, Jerry Machado, Nilva K. Cervigne, Wei Xu, Patricia Reis, Denis Bailey, Igor Jurisica, Michael R. Crump, Suzanne Kamel-Reid

Publications and Research

Background: MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional regulation, with diverse functions in tissue development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. miRs may be less prone to degradation during formalin fixation, facilitating miR expression studies in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.

Results: Our study demonstrates that the TaqMan Human MicroRNA Array v1.0 (Early Access) platform is suitable for miR expression analysis in FFPE tissue with a high reproducibility (correlation coefficients of 0.95 between duplicates, p < 0.00001) and outlines the optimal performance conditions of this platform using clinical FFPE samples. We also outline a method of data analysis looking at differences in miR abundance between FFPE and fresh-frozen samples. By dividing the profiled miR into abundance strata of high (Ct35), we show that reproducibility between technical replicates, equivalent dilutions, and FFPE vs. frozen samples is best in the high abundance stratum. We also demonstrate that the miR expression profiles of FFPE samples are comparable to those of fresh-frozen samples, with a correlation of up to 0.87 (p < 0.001), when examining all miRs, regardless of RNA extraction method used. Examining correlation coefficients between FFPE and fresh-frozen samples in terms of miR abundance reveals correlation coefficients of up to 0.32 (low abundance), 0.70 (medium abundance) and up to 0.97 (high abundance).

Conclusion: Our study thus demonstrates the utility, reproducibility, and optimization steps needed in miR expression studies using FFPE samples on a high-throughput quantitative PCR-based miR …

Family Structure, Parent-Child Conversation Time And Substance Use Among Chinese Adolescents, Kwok-Kei Mak, Sai-Yin Ho, G Neil Thomas, C Mary Schooling, Sarah M. Mcghee, Tai-Hing Lam

Publications and Research

Background: The family plays a vital role in shaping adolescent behaviours. The present study investigated the associations between family structure and substance use among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents.

Methods: A total of 32,961 Form 1 to 5 (grade 7-12 in the US) Hong Kong students participated in the Youth Smoking Survey in 2003-4. An anonymous questionnaire was used to obtain information about family structure, daily duration of parent-child conversation, smoking, alcohol drinking and drug use. Logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for each substance use by family structure.

Results: Adjusting for sex, age, type of …

Correlates Of Weight Concern And Control In A Hispanic College Student Sample., J. Blow, T. Taylor, Theodore Cooper, C. Redfearn

Selected Works Temporary Series

No abstract provided.

A Bland–Altman Comparison Of The Lead Care® System And Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry For Detecting Low-Level Lead In Child Whole Blood Samples, Christina Sobin, Tanner Schaub, Natali Parisi, Eva De La Riva

Selected Works Temporary Series

Chronic childhood lead exposure, yielding blood lead levels consistently below 10 μg/dL, remains a major public health concern. Low neurotoxic effect thresholds have not yet been established. Progress requires accurate, efficient, and cost-effective methods for testing large numbers of children. The LeadCare® System (LCS) may provide one ready option. The comparability of this system to the “gold standard” method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the purpose of detecting blood lead levels below 10 μg/dL has not yet been examined. Paired blood samples from 177 children ages 5.2–12.8 years were tested with LCS and ICP-MS. Triplicate repeat tests …

Consumer-Directed Health Insurance Vs. Managed Care: Analysis Of Health Care Utilization And Expenditure Incurred By Employees In A Rural Area, Cecilia M. Watkins, J. White, D. Duncan, D. Wyant, T. Nicholson, J. Khubchandani, C. Lakshminarayana

Public Health Faculty Publications

Consumer-Directed Health Plans (CDHPs) are proposed as an option to control healthcare costs. No research has addressed their applicability in rural settings. This study analyzes three years (2003–2005) of healthcare expenditure and utilization incurred by two employers and a national carrier providing data from a rural state, Kentucky. The study included two measures of expenditures (health care and prescription drugs) and three measures of utilization (physician visits, hospital admissions, and hospital inpatient days). In general, the CDHP successfully controlled the growth of medical costs. These findings suggest that CDHPs may be a viable alternative benefit structure for rural employers.

Malaria And Helminth Co-Infections In Outpatients Of Alaba Kulito Health Center, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study, Abraham Degarege, Abebe Animut, Mengistu Legesse, Berhanu Erko

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Distribution of malaria and intestinal helminths is known to overlap in developing tropical countries of the world. Co-infections with helminth and malaria parasites cause a significant and additive problem against the host. The aim of this study was to asses the prevalence of malaria/helminth co-infection and the associated problems among febrile outpatients that attended Alaba Kulito Health Center, southern Ethiopia November and December 2007. A total of 1802 acute febrile patients were diagnosed for malaria. 458 Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films were used for identification of Plasmodium species and Stool samples prepared using Kato-Katz technique were used to …

Southern Lagoon And Village Of Gales Point, Belize, Ca: Water Uses, Water Quality, And Potential Health Impacts, Rasmi Nair, Ritchie Taylor

Impact Belize

An International Health Service Learning Program, Impact Belize 2010, was conducted by Western Kentucky University. Faculty and students worked closely with Gales Point villagers to gain an insight into the use of Southern Lagoon. The objective of the study was to assess fecal coliform levels in Southern lagoon, its primary and secondary contact use by villagers and its potential impact on health. Study methodology involved collection of water samples, both near shore and offshore, in the lagoon and incubating them using ColiQuant EZ method approved by EPA. A questionnaire was administered to villagers attending the WKU clinic to collect data …