Digital Commons Network^™

Is Tb Testing Associated With Increased Blood Interferon-Gamma Levels?, Aideen E. Kennedy, Jim O'Mahony, Noel Byrne, John Macsharry, Riona G. Sayers

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The Republic of Ireland reports a relatively low prevalence of Johne’s disease (JD) compared to international counterparts. Postulated reasons for this include a lower average herd size and a grass-based production system. Ireland also engages in high levels of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) testing. As interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is believed to play a key role in protecting against JD, it is our hypothesis that administration of purified protein derivative (PPD), as part of the bTB test, is associated with a systemic increase in IFN-γ production, which may potentially limit clinical progression of the disease. We studied 265 cows (202 Friesian and 63 …

Epid 7233 - Public Health Surveillance Methods, Jian Zhang

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will provide students with a strong foundation in public health surveillance of both health conditions and risk factors. The course will teach the theory and practice of surveillance supported by many examples of surveillance systems from the developed and developing world. The class will build on and reinforce basic epidemiologic concepts. Students will be given the opportunity to design and evaluate a surveillance system.

Implementing The International Health Regulations (2005) With Search Engine-Based Syndromic Surveillance, Ryan Sullivan

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Methods For Parameter Estimation Of A Stochastic Seir Model, Kaitlyn Martinez

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Mathematical Modeling For The Transmission Dynamics Of {\It Mycobacterium Marinum} Incorporating Intra-Host Variability, Lihong Zhao

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Rising Thyroid Cancer Incidence In Southern India: An Epidemic Of Overdiagnosis?, Indu Elizabeth Mathew, Aju Mathew

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Thyroid cancer incidence is rising in high-income countries. This increase in disease burden is attributed to the phenomenon of overdiagnosis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate trends in thyroid cancer rates in India, focusing on the state of Kerala in southern India, which has reported a high incidence of the disease.

Design: Population-based study using data from the National Cancer Registry Program.

Participants: We used data from the Population Based Cancer Registries for Thiruvananthapuram (capital of Kerala state), Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. We used data for three reporting periods from 2005 to 2014 (represented as 2006, 2009, and 2012). …

Epidemiology Of 45,616 Suspect Cases Of Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease In Chongqing, China, 2011–2015, Jian Tao, Xiao-Yan He, Yu Shi, Guohun Zhu, Shan Liu, Zhenzhen Zhang, Shi Tang, Rong Zhang, Bin Peng, Zhidai Liu, Junjie Tan, Qian Chen, Xingbin Wang, Liming Bao, Lin Zou, Penghui Zhang

Dartmouth Scholarship

Epidemiology and etiology of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) based on large sample size or evaluation of detection for more enterovirus serotypes are not well investigated in Chongqing of China. 45,616 suspect HFMD patients were prospectively enrolled among whom 21,615 were laboratory confirmed HFMD cases over a 5-year period (January 2011 to December 2015). Their epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted and stratified by month, age, sex, disease severity, and enterovirus serotype. Subsequently 292 non-EV-A71/CV-A16 HFMD confirmed cases were randomly selected in three consecutive outbreaks to detect CV-A6 and CV-A10, using RT-PCR. Results showed that the HFMD epidemic …

A Clinical Profile Of Hepatitis A Patients In Jakarta, Indonesia, Randy Adiwinata, Andi Kristanto, Timoteus Richard, Daniel Edbert, Frida Angelina, Eppy Eppy, Ifael Y. Mauleti, Soroy Lardo, Iman Firmansyah, Rika Bur, Titos Ahimsa, Erni J. Nelwan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: To determine the incidence of hepatitis A infections and the clinical profiles of adult patients admitted to public hospitals in Jakarta, Indonesia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that utilised consecutive secondary data from internal medicine wards of seven public hospitals in Jakarta between 2011 and 2013. Eligibility criteria included patients over the age of 18 years and an ICD-10 diagnosis code of B15, acute hepatitis A. Case proportion was reported per 1000 people by dividing incidence per year to total in-ward patients. Clinical profiles were reported descriptively. Laboratory results were compared and categorised into groups of patients aged …

The Incidence Of Mrsa Infections In The United States: Is A More Comprehensive Tracking System Needed?, Kevin T. Kavanagh, Said Abusalem, Lindsay E. Calderon

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

A review of epidemiological studies on the incidence of MRSA infections overtime was performed along with an analysis of data available for download from Hospital Compare (https://data.medicare.gov/data/hospital-compare). We found the estimations of the incidence of MRSA infections varied widely depending upon the type of population studied, the types of infections captured and in the definitions and terminology used to describe the results. We could not find definitive evidence that the incidence of MRSA infections in U.S. community or facilities is decreasing significantly. Of concern are recent data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) on MRSA bloodstream infections which …

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Invasive Disease In Amish Children, Missouri, Usa, 2014, Angela L. Myers, Mary Anne Jackson, Lixin Zhang, Douglas S. Swanson, Janet R. Gilsdorf

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

© 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved. During 5 months in 2014, three Amish children in Missouri, USA, were diagnosed with invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infection. Two were rural neighbors infected with a genetically similar rare strain, sequence type 45. One child had recently traveled, raising the possibility of maintenance of this strain among unvaccinated carriers in Amish communities.

A Blueprint To Evaluate One Health, Simon R. Rüegg, Barry J. Mcmahon, Barbara Häsler, Roberto Esposito, Helen O'Shea, Et Al

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

One Health (OH) positions health professionals as agents for change and provides a platform to manage determinants of health that are often not comprehensively captured in medicine or public health alone. However, due to the organization of societies and disciplines, and the sectoral allocation of resources, the development of transdisciplinary approaches requires effort and perseverance. Therefore, there is a need to provide evidence on the added value of OH for governments, researchers, funding bodies, and stakeholders. This paper outlines a conceptual framework of what OH approaches can encompass and the added values they can provide. The framework was developed during …

The Battle Against Malaria: A Teachable Moment, Randy K. Schwartz

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Malaria has been humanity’s worst public health problem throughout recorded history. Mathematical methods are needed to understand which factors are relevant to the disease and to develop counter-measures against it. This article and the accompanying exercises provide examples of those methods for use in lower- or upper-level courses dealing with probability, statistics, or population modeling. These can be used to illustrate such concepts as correlation, causation, conditional probability, and independence. The article explains how the apparent link between sickle cell trait and resistance to malaria was first verified in Uganda using the chi-squared probability distribution. It goes on to explain …

Recurrent Pneumonia Among Japanese Adults: Disease Burden And Risk Factors, Tomoko Ishifuji, Eiichiro Sando, Norihiro Kaneko, Motoi Suzuki, Paul E. Kilgore, Koya Ariyoshi, Konosuke Morimoto, Naoto Hosokawa, Makito Yaegashi, Masahiro Aoshima, Adult Pneumonia Study Group - Japan (Apsg-J)

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Background: In Japan and other societies with rapidly aging populations, recurrent pneumonia (RP) is a major clinical problem yet only limited information exists regarding the burden of this disease.

Methods: A prospective study of adult pneumonia was conducted to investigate the incidence of RP and potential risk factors. From February 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013, patients aged ≥ 15 years who were diagnosed with pneumonia were prospectively enrolled in a representative community hospital located in central Japan. Patients were followed for one-year to evaluate the recurrence of pneumonia and characteristics associated with RP. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed …

A Two-Species Stage-Structured Model For West Nile Virus Transmission, Taylor A. Beebe, Suzanne L. Robertson

Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Publications

We develop a host–vector model of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission that incorporates multiple avian host species as well as host stage-structure (juvenile and adult stages), allowing for both species-specific and stage-specific biting rates of vectors on hosts. We use this ordinary differential equation model to explore WNV transmission dynamics that occur between vectors and multiple structured host populations as a result of heterogeneous biting rates on species and/or life stages. Our analysis shows that increased exposure of juvenile hosts generally results in larger outbreaks of WNV infectious vectors when compared to differential host species exposure. We also find that …

The Oral Microbiome Community Variations Associated With Normal, Potentially Malignant Disorders And Malignant Lesions Of The Oral Cavity, S.F. Mok, Karuthan Chinna, Y.K. Cheah, Wei Cheong Ngeow, R.B. Zain, S.F. Yap, H.K.A. Ong

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

The human oral microbiome has been known to show strong association with various oral diseases including oral cancer. This study attempts to characterize the community variations between normal, oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and cancer associated microbiota using 16S rDNA sequencing. Swab samples were collected from three groups (normal, OPMD and oral cancer) with nine subjects from each group. Bacteria genomic DNA was isolated in which full length 16S rDNA were amplified and used for cloned library sequencing. 16S rDNA sequences were processed and analysed with MOTHUR. A core oral microbiome was identified consisting of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes and …

Epidemiology And Analysis Of Invasive Fungal Infections In Patients Withhematological Malignancies: A Single-Center Real-Life Experience, Nur Soyer, Hati̇ce Demet Ki̇per Ünal, Fi̇li̇z Vural, Fahri̇ Şahi̇n, Mahmut Töbü, Ayhan Dönmez, Murat Tombuloğlu, Bi̇lgi̇n Arda, Güray Saydam

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Invasive fungal infection (IFI) causes morbidity and mortality among patients with hematological malignancies. We evaluated the incidence and treatment characteristics of IFIs between October 2012 and December 2013. Materials and methods: Patients who received chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation were retrospectively evaluated. Fungal infections were classified according to EORTC criteria.Results: Prophylaxis and antifungal therapy were given in 30.5% and 23.6% of 522 chemotherapy courses, respectively. The incidence of proven/probable IFI was 6.7%. The incidence of IFI among patients who received prophylaxis was significantly higher than among those who did not receive it (11.3% vs. 4.6%, P = 0.005). There …

Impact Of Disease On The Survival Of Three Commercially Fished Species, John M. Hoenig, Maya L. Groner, Matthew W. Smith, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, David M. Taylor, Donald F. Landers Jr., John T. Swenarton, David T. Gauthier

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Recent increases in emergent infectious diseases have raised concerns about the sustainability of some marine species. The complexity and expense of studying diseases in marine systems often dictate that conservation and management decisions are made without quantitative data on population-level impacts of disease. Mark-recapture is a powerful, underutilized, tool for calculating impacts of disease on population size and structure, even in the absence of etiological information. We applied logistic regression models to mark-recapture data to obtain estimates of disease-associated mortality rates in three commercially important marine species: snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in Newfoundland, Canada, that experience sporadic epizootics …

Secondary Analysis Of Morbidity Data From A Rural Haitian Village., Emma Karin Draluck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with most of the population surviving on $1 per day. Health outcomes among Haitians are poor, with a life expectancy 16 years less than the US. The majority of health research in Haiti has been narrow, focusing on specific issues like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, maternal health, and cholera. Unfortunately, this has resulted an incomplete understanding of health in Haiti. This study aims to fill this gap by describing the most common health complaints, how they differ by age, sex, and temporality, and if there are associations between these health issues and environmental …

Prevalence And Incidence Of Neurological Disorders Among Adult Ugandans In Rural And Urban Mukono District; A Cross-Sectional Study, Michael Devereaux, Anthony Furlan, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: The burden of neurological diseases is increasing in developing countries. However, there is a prominent scarcity of literature on the incidence of neurological diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence and incidence of neurological diseases in this setting to serve as a baseline for planning and care for neurological disorders in Uganda. Methods: The study was conducted within rural and urban Mukono district, east of Kampala city of Uganda, central region. Over a period of six months, a cross sectional survey was conducted and screening was performed using a standardized questionnaire. All subjects …

Pubh 6533 - Epidemiology, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

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 …

Epid 7233 - Public Health Surveillance Methods, Jian Zhang

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will provide students with a strong foundation in public health surveillance of both health conditions and risk factors. The course will teach the theory and practice of surveillance supported by many examples of surveillance systems from the developed and developing world. The class will build on and reinforce basic epidemiologic concepts. Students will be given the opportunity to design and evaluate a surveillance system.

Epidemiology Of Hpv Genotypes Among Hiv Positive Women In Kenya: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sonia Menon, Aibibula Wusiman, Marie Claude Boily, Mbabazi Kariisa, Hillary Mabeya, Stanley Luchters, Frode Forland, Rodolfo Rossi, Steven Callens, Davy Vanden Broeck

Population Health, East Africa

Background: There is a scarcity of data on the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in the HIV positive population and in invasive cervical cancer (ICC) in Kenya. This may be different from genotypes found in abnormal cytology. Yet, with the advent of preventive HPV vaccines that target HPV 16 and 18, and the nonavalent vaccine targeting 90% of all ICC cases, such HPV genotype distribution data are indispensable for predicting the impact of vaccination and HPV screening on prevention. Even with a successful vaccination program, vaccinated women will still require screening to detect those who will develop ICC from …

Applied Health Sciences: 360 Section 002 Epidemiology Syllabus, Whitney Blondeau

Syllabus Collection

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health events among the human population. Topics include: history of disease; epidemiologic study design, data collection, analysis, presentation, and application in community diagnosis, risk assessment, and program evaluation. This course covers applications of epidemiologic methods and procedures to the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations. Epidemiologic methods for the control of conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases, mental disorders, community and environmental health hazards, and unintentional injuries are discussed. Other topics include quantitative aspects of epidemiology, for example, …

Changing Diagnostic Methods And Increased Detection Of Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli, Ireland, Thomas Rice, Noreen Quinn, Roy D. Sleator, Brigid Lucey

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The recent paradigm shift in infectious disease diagnosis from culture-based to molecular-based approaches is exemplified in the findings of a national study assessing the detection of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections in Ireland. The methodologic changes have been accompanied by a dramatic increase in detections of non-O157 verotoxigenic E. coli serotypes.

Incidence And Duration Of Type-Specific Human Papillomavirus Infection In High-Risk Hpv-Naïve Women: Results From The Control Arm Of A Phase Ii Hpv-16/18 Vaccine Trial, Agnihotram V. Ramanakumar, Paulo Naud, Cecilia M. Roteli-Martins, Newton S. De Carvalho, Paola C. De Borba, Julio C. Teixeira, Mark Blatter, Anna-Barbara Moscicki, Diane M. Harper, Barbara Romanowski, Stephen K. Tyring, Brian Ramjattan, Anne Schuind, Gary Dubin, Eduardo L. Franco

Dartmouth Scholarship

OBJECTIVES:

Persistence of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is necessary for cervical carcinogenesis. We evaluated incidence and duration of type-specific HPV infections and the influence of age and number of sexual partners.

METHODS:

Data were obtained from 553 women (15-25 years), who were seronegative and DNA-negative for high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types and were enrolled in the placebo arm of a randomised trial of the HPV-16/18 vaccine (NCT00689741/NCT00120848). They were followed for 6.3 years. Cervicovaginal samples were self-collected at 3-month intervals for up to 27 months, and cervical samples were collected by clinicians at 6-month intervals until study end. …

Optimal Control Analysis Of Ebola Disease With Control Strategies Of Quarantine And Vaccination, Muhammad Dure Ahmad, Muhammad Usman, Adnan Khan, Mudassar Imran

Mathematics Faculty Publications

The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Some isolated cases were also observed in other regions of the world.

Anticipating Elimination Of Mosquito-Borne Diseases, Suzanne M. O'Regan, Jonathan Lillie, John M. Drake

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Can Including Time Delay In Epidemic Models Significantly Improve Predictions Concerning Intervention Strategies?, Adrienna N. Bingham, Leah Shaw

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

General Models For Ecological Drivers Of Poverty, Calistus Ngeh Ngonghala

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

A Yellow Fever Epidemic: A New Global Health Emergency?, Lawrence O. Gostin, Daniel Lucey

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The worst yellow fever epidemic in Angola since 1986 is rapidly spreading, including the capital, Luanda. In Angola, the epidemic began in December 2015 and the laboratory-confirmed outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 21, 2016. Angola has had 2023 suspected cases and 258 deaths as of April 26, 2016. China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya also have reported cases arising from infected travelers from Angola. Namibia and Zambia also share a long border with Angola, with considerable population movement between the countries. Similar to other recent epidemics, quick and effective action to stop …