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Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Ebola and Social Media

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Dr. Tarasenko named Exceptional Reviewer
• Parental Perceptions

Accelerated Resolution Therapy For Treatment Of Pain Secondary To Symptoms Of Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kevin E. Kip, Laney Rosenzweig, Diego F. Hernandez, Amy Shuman, David M. Diamond, Sue Ann Girling, Kelly L. Sullivan, Trudy R. Wittenberg, Ann M. Witt, Cecile A. Lengacher, Brian Anderson, Susan C. Mcmillan

Kelly L. Sullivan

Background: As many as 70% of veterans with chronic pain treated within the US Veterans Administration (VA) system may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and conversely, up to 80% of those with PTSD may have pain. We describe pain experienced by US service members and veterans with symptoms of PTSD, and report on the effect of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a new, brief exposure-based therapy, on acute pain reduction secondary to treatment of symptoms of PTSD.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial of ART versus an attention control (AC) regimen was conducted among 45 US service members/veterans with symptoms of combat-related …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• HPV Vaccine

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Diabetes and Colorectal Cancer Screening

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Cholera Transmission Dynamic Models

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Impaired Verbal Memory

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Cost-Effectiveness of Alternate Strategies

Cholera Transmission Dynamic Models For Public Health Practitioners, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Great progress has been made in mathematical models of cholera transmission dynamics in recent years. However, little impact, if any, has been made by models upon public health decision-making and day-to-day routine of epidemiologists. This paper provides a brief introduction to the basics of ordinary differential equation models of cholera transmission dynamics. We discuss a basic model adapted from Codeço (2001), and how it can be modified to incorporate different hypotheses, including the importance of asymptomatic or inapparent infections, and hyperinfectious V. choleraeand human-to-human transmission. We highlight three important challenges of cholera models: (1) model misspecification and parameter uncertainty, …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Perceptions of Child Overweight and Obesity

Cost-Effectiveness Of Alternative Strategies For Annual Influenza Vaccination Among Children Aged 6 Months To 14 Years In Four Provinces In China, Lei Zhou, Sujian Situ, Zijian Feng, Charisma Y. Atkins, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung, Zhen Xu, Ting Huang, Shixiong Hu, Xianjun Wang

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background: To support policy making, we developed an initial model to assess the cost-effectiveness of potential strategies to increase influenza vaccination rates among children in China.

Methods: We studied on children aged 6 months to 14 years in four provinces (Shandong, Henan, Hunan, and Sichuan), with a health care system perspective. We used data from 2005/6 to 2010/11, excluding 2009/10. Costs are reported in 2010 U.S. dollars.

Results: In comparison with no vaccination, the mean (range) of Medically Attended Cases averted by the current self-payment policy for the two age groups (6 to 59 months and 60 …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology News (2012-2018)

• Chinese Social Media Reactions

Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Ataxias With Intravenous Immune Globulin, Theresa A. Zesiewicz, Seok Hun Kim, Kelly L. Sullivan, Jeannie Stephenson, Israt Jahan, Susan L. Perlman, Jessica D. Shaw, Tuan Vu, Clifton L. Gooch

Kelly L. Sullivan

Background: Neurodegenerative ataxias, including spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), are progressive diseases without effective treatment. There is preclinical evidence that inflammation may contribute to neuronal injury in several neurodegenerative ataxias. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is a therapeutic modality that is used as treatment of several autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
Methods: The primary objective of this open-label pilot study was to assess the effect of IVIG on neurodegenerative ataxias as measured by total scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) score. Three patients received IVIG (2 g/kg of body weight, divided over 5 days) once monthly for 3 months, and were …

Premorbid Personality And The Risk Of Parkinson's Disease, Kelly L. Sullivan, James A. Mortimer, Wei Wang, Theresa A. Zesiewicz, James H. Brownlee Jr., Amy R. Borenstein

Kelly L. Sullivan

Background: Previous studies support the hypothesis that premorbid personality characteristics may be associated with the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, most of these relied upon subjective reports of premorbid personality earlier in life, which may be subject to recall bias. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the association of PD with risk-taking, routinization, smoking and alcohol consumption in early-adult life as indicators of premorbid personality.
Methods: In-person interviews were conducted with 89 PD patients and 99 controls from a university-based medical center. Associations between indicators of early-adult personality and risk of PD were examined using logistic …