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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Association Between The Exposure To Aflatoxin And Micronutrient Status Of Hiv Infected Adults In Ghana, Francis Ayodele Obuseh Jan 2007

Association Between The Exposure To Aflatoxin And Micronutrient Status Of Hiv Infected Adults In Ghana, Francis Ayodele Obuseh

All ETDs from UAB

Aflatoxins, found naturally in some foods are toxic metabolites of some Aspergillus species.They constitute the most potent hepatocarcinogens known and are also mutagenic and hepatotoxic. The preponderance of evidence indicates that aflatoxin is the major cause of hepatocellular cancer. In studies conducted in Africa, food-borne aflatoxin exposure is common (Oyelami et al. 1996; Egal et al. 2005). There is a critical need for additional information on health outcomes associated with exposure to aflatoxin in humans, especially in developing countries with a higher degree of malnutrition and likelihood of HIV infections. We sought to test the hypothesis that aflatoxin B1 and …


Examination Of Novel Statistical Designs For Phase Ii And Phase Iii Clinical Trials, Ayanbola Olajumoke Ayanlowo Jan 2007

Examination Of Novel Statistical Designs For Phase Ii And Phase Iii Clinical Trials, Ayanbola Olajumoke Ayanlowo

All ETDs from UAB

Clinical trials to determine the usefulness of a new treatment are usually conducted in four (4) phases. Each phase is designed to answer a distinct research question about the usefulness of the new treatment. Phase I trials determine the safe dose range of the new treatment identify the possible side effects and other treatment associated toxicity issues, in a small group of healthy people. In phase II trials, the efficacy and safety of the new treatment is investigated in a larger group of individuals usually from the diseased population of interest. Phase III trials, conducted in large groups of people, …


Impact Of Immunosuppression On The Incidence And Clearance Of Human Papillomavirus In Hiv-Infected Women In Alabama, Madhav P. Bhatta Jan 2007

Impact Of Immunosuppression On The Incidence And Clearance Of Human Papillomavirus In Hiv-Infected Women In Alabama, Madhav P. Bhatta

All ETDs from UAB

Persistent infection with certain “high-risk” types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is central to the development of cervical cancer. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women are at a higher risk of HPV infection, high grade cervical intraepithelial lesions, and cervical cancer. This study examined type-specific distribution of prevalent and incident HPV infections, clearance rates, and associated factors using novel molecular assays for HPV detection and genotyping in a cohort of 280 HIVinfected women in Alabama. First, we described the cohort’s sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral risk profile for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and assessed the factors associated with HIV-1 viral …


Predictors Of Indoor Dust Mite And Cockroach Levels, J Mark Brooks Jan 2007

Predictors Of Indoor Dust Mite And Cockroach Levels, J Mark Brooks

All ETDs from UAB

Exposures to dust mite and cockroach indoor allergens are important environmental risk factors in allergic sensitization and the development and exacerbation of asthma. To determine the relationship of indoor allergen levels and residence characteristics, dust samples were collected from indoor surfaces in residences in the Birmingham, Alabama area. The dust samples were analyzed for specific dust mite (Der p 1 and Der f 1) and cockroach (Bla g 1) antigens, the results of which were used to represent the level of indoor allergen present in each residence. The presence, and in some cases the degree, of potential allergen-predicting characteristics of …


Sexual Violence And Correlates Among Women In Hiv Discordant Union, Uganda, Donath Emusu Jan 2007

Sexual Violence And Correlates Among Women In Hiv Discordant Union, Uganda, Donath Emusu

All ETDs from UAB

We sought to estimate the prevalence of sexual violence and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), identify risk factors for sexual violence and STDs among women in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) discordant unions, and investigate the lived experiences of sexual violence among women in HIV discordant unions attending post-test club services at AIDS Information Centers (AICs) in Uganda. We carried out a prospective cohort study of women in HIV discordant and HIV negative concordant unions after disclosure of their HIV serostatus. We estimated prevalence of STDs in the two study cohorts and compared them for occurrence of risk factors for sexual violence …


Factors Associated With Sexual Debut And Depression Among Adolescents In Rural Jamaica, Olaniyi J. Ekundayo Jan 2007

Factors Associated With Sexual Debut And Depression Among Adolescents In Rural Jamaica, Olaniyi J. Ekundayo

All ETDs from UAB

Individual and family factors have been hypothesized to influence adolescent sexual behavior and depression, but the extent to which this is true for adolescents in Jamaica as a whole and for those in rural areas in particular, has not been well studied. The objective of this dissertation was to identify individual and family factors associated with sexual debut and depression among rural Jamaican adolescents. To elucidate these factors and to provide information to guide future interventions, we analyzed data on 748 adolescents attending public high schools in the rural parish of Hanover, Jamaica. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict …


Titania Coated Hollow Glass Microspheres For Environmental Applications, Mark C. Koopman Jan 2007

Titania Coated Hollow Glass Microspheres For Environmental Applications, Mark C. Koopman

All ETDs from UAB

The potential applicability of titania coated hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) to the photocatalytic degradation of microbiological and organic chemical water pollutants could have dramatic positive effects on improving the quality of industrial wastewaters that empty into rivers and streams, as well as potential use in economically improving the quality of drinking water. Heterogeneous photocatalysis using titania has been extensively studied since the 1990’s because of its non-toxic nature, its high quantum yield of electrons and photo-holes, and its ability to use ambient solar radiation as a power source. Although titania embodies extraordinarily attractive properties for a range of environmental applications, …


Delayed Childbearing, Pregnancy Spacing And Impact On Subsequent Pregnancy Outcomes: Missouri Resident Mothers 1978-1997, Sarah K. Nabukera Jan 2007

Delayed Childbearing, Pregnancy Spacing And Impact On Subsequent Pregnancy Outcomes: Missouri Resident Mothers 1978-1997, Sarah K. Nabukera

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction The main objective of the study was to examine reproductive health issues among women delaying initiation of childbearing until age 30 or older. Specifically, it examined pregnancy spacing patterns, relationship between pregnancy spacing and subsequent perinatal outcomes as well as racial differences in spacing and adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Missouri maternally linked live birth, fetal death and infant death files 1978-1997. The study sample was limited to mothers residing in Missouri during the study period, having first pregnancy at age 20-50 years, as well as a subsequent second pregnancy. Final study …


Caste As A Determinant Of Utilization Of Maternal And Neonatal Healthcare Services In Maitha, Uttar Pradesh, India, Ekta Saroha Jan 2007

Caste As A Determinant Of Utilization Of Maternal And Neonatal Healthcare Services In Maitha, Uttar Pradesh, India, Ekta Saroha

All ETDs from UAB

Caste among Hindus in India is a non-modifiable socio-demographic characteristic, often the basis of segregation and discrimination. Despite the provision of subsidized maternal and child healthcare services, utilization in rural Uttar Pradesh (UP), India is poor. Studies showed that upper caste (UC) women were more likely to utilize healthcare services than the lower caste (LC) women but this association is inadequately researched. We explored whether caste was a determinant of utilization of maternal healthcare (MH) and neonatal healthcare (NH) services among rural Hindu women and neonates in Maitha, UP, India. Data from the ‘Morbidity and Performance Assessment’ study for 482 …