Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Long-Term Effects Of Changes In Cardiorespiratory Fitness And Body Mass Index On All-Cause And Cardiovascular Disease Mortality In Men: The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, Duck-Chul Lee, Xuemei Sui, Enrique G. Artero, I-Min Lee, Timothy S. Church, Paul A. Mcauley, Fatima C. Stanford, Harold W. Kohl Iii, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background - The combined associations of changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index (BMI) with mortality remain controversial and uncertain.

Methods and Results - We examined the independent and combined associations of changes in fitness and BMI with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in 14,345 men (mean age 44 years) with at least 2 medical examinations. Fitness, in metabolic equivalents (METs), was estimated from a maximal treadmill test. BMI was calculated using measured weight and height. Changes in fitness and BMI between the baseline and last examinations over 6.3 years were classified into loss, stable, or gain groups. …

Geographic Disparities Associated With Stroke And Myocardial Infarction In East Tennessee, Ashley Pedigo Golden

Doctoral Dissertations

Stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) are serious conditions whose burdens vary by socio-demographic and geographic factors. Although several studies have investigated and identified disparities in burdens of these conditions at the county and state levels, little is known regarding their geographic epidemiology at the neighborhood level. Both conditions require emergency treatments and therefore timely geographic accessibility to appropriate care is critical. Investigation of disparities in geographic accessibility to stroke and MI care and the role of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in reducing treatment delays are vital in improving health outcomes. Therefore, the objectives of this work were to: (i) classify …

Prevalence Of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among A Multimorbid Rural Appalachian Population, Steven T. Fleming, Nancy E. Schoenberg, Yelena N. Tarasenko, Kevin A. Pearce

Yelena N. Tarasenko

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation among multiple morbidities and the prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among older adult Appalachian residents of Kentucky. This is the first known study to address multiple morbidities exclusively with a health-disparities population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1153 subjects, aged 50 to 76 years, from Appalachian Kentucky.

Results: White race, post-high school education, and perception of having more than enough income on which to survive were associated with higher rates of any guideline concordant CRC screening. Statistically significant trends in the outcome of …

Analysis Of The Morbidity And Mortality Of Severe Influenza Infection In Clark County, Nevada For The 2010--2011 Influenza Season, Kindra Maureen St. Jacques

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Influenza circulates in the community in a fairly predictable manner each year; however, throughout the duration of any influenza season, influenza strains have the ability to evolve through antigenic mutations, viral reassortment, development of anti-viral resistance, and alterations in virulence. These changes are likely to cause illness among the unimmunized and can result in severe illness or death. Therefore, it is especially important to closely monitor severe influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), Office of Epidemiology (OOE) analyzed data from the severe hospitalized influenza morbidity and mortality …

Spatial Epidemiology And Temporal Trends Of Heart Attack And Stroke In Middle Tennessee, Doreen Busingye

Masters Theses

Despite declines in mortality risks of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in the US since the 1960’s, the burdens of these conditions remain high. These conditions require emergency and specialized care and therefore quick transportation of patients to appropriate hospitals is critical. Geographic disparities in MI and stroke burdens have been consistently reported in the US with the south-east having the highest risks. Most studies of geographic disparities have been performed at county or higher geographic units. Therefore, spatial patterns at neighborhood levels are unclear. Moreover, it’s important to investigate disparities at neighborhood levels to better understand neighborhood health needs. …

Associations Of Daily Eating Episodes, And Eating Away-From-Home With Blood Level Of Total Cholesterol, Yunsheng Ma, Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson, Edward J. Stanek, Dr. Nancy L. Cohen, Ira S. Ockene

Nancy L. Cohen

The objective of this investigation is to describe the associations of number of eating episodes and proportion of meals eaten away from home with total serum cholesterol. Data from 499 participants, recruited from a health maintenance organization in central Massachusetts, aged 20-70, were used for this analysis. Dietary information and total blood cholesterol were obtained at five sampling points (baseline and four consecutive quarters) during the one-year follow-up. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The results from the study do not support the hypothesis that the number of eating episodes per day is associated with total blood cholesterol. However, we noted …

The Association Between The Type, Context, And Levels Of Physical Activity Amongst Adolescents, Harriet Koorts, Calum Mattocks, Andy R. Ness, Kevin Deere, Steven N. Blair, Russell R. Pate, Chris Riddoch

Faculty Publications

Background: Little is known about how the type and context of physical activity behaviors varies among adolescents with differing activity levels. The aim of this study was to assess differences in the type and context of physical activity behaviors in adolescents by level of objectively measured physical activity. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 2728 adolescents (1299 males, 1429 females) participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The mean (SD) age was 13.8 (+0.1) years. Physical activity was measured using an Actigraph over 7 days. Adolescents were categorized into tertiles of activity (less, moderately, highly active) using counts/min …

Characterization Of Street Food Consumption In Palermo: Possible Effects On Health, Silvio Buscemi, Annamaria Barile, Vincenza Maniaci, John A. Batsis

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Street Food (SF) consists of out-of-home food consumption and has old, historical roots with complex social-economic and cultural implications. Despite the emergence of modern fast food, traditional SF persists worldwide, but the relationship of SF consumption with overall health, well-being, and obesity is unknown.

Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study. The study was performed in Palermo, the largest town of Sicily, Italy. Two groups were identified: consumers of SF (n = 687) and conventional restaurant food (RES) consumers (n = 315). Study subjects answered a questionnaire concerning their health conditions, nutritional preferences, frequency of consumption of SF and …

Heterogeneity, Control, Social Infrastructure, And Possibilities Of Participation: Their Interplay In Modern Understandings Of Heredity And In Interpretation Of Science, Peter J. Taylor

Working Papers on Science in a Changing World

This working paper is a prospectus for research, writing, and engagement. It consists of vignettes, sketches of lines of inquiry, and proposals for engagement, all of which concern modern understandings of heredity and development over the life course as well as the social interpretation of science. The various items address a range of areas of science and of its interpretation: heritability studies, the social uses of genetic information, gene-by-environment interaction, personalized medicine, IQ paradoxes, racial group membership, biobanks, and life events and difficulties research. Fresh perspectives in these areas are opened up by examining the ways that research and application …

Real-World Comparison Of Two Molecular Methods For Detection Of Respiratory Viruses, Syed Asad Ali, James E. Gern, Tina V. Hartert, Kathryn M. Edwards, Marie R. Griffin, E Kathryn Mille, Tebeb Gebretsadik, Tressa Pappas, Wai Ming Lee, John V. Williams

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays are increasingly used to diagnose viral respiratory infections and conduct epidemiology studies. Molecular assays have generally been evaluated by comparing them to conventional direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) or viral culture techniques, with few published direct comparisons between molecular methods or between institutions. We sought to perform a real-world comparison of two molecular respiratory viral diagnostic methods between two experienced respiratory virus research laboratories.
Methods: We tested nasal and throat swab specimens obtained from 225 infants with respiratory illness for 11 common respiratory viruses using both a multiplex assay (Respiratory MultiCode-PLx Assay [RMA]) …

Modeling Mortality Rates For Leukemia Between Men And Women In The United States, Blessed Quansah

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Leukemia related deaths increased dramatically over the last forty years. Leukemia is a malignant disease or cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells. Leukemia is divided into two categories: myelogenous or lymphocytic, each of which can be acute or chronic. The terms, myelogenous or lymphocytic denote the cell type involved.

In this thesis, the proposed modeling techniques are applied to leukemia deaths data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER). In particular, annual deaths data from 1969 to 2007 are used in the data analysis, which includes three major …

Education, Occupation, And Migration As Predictors Of Multiple Sexual Partnerships Among People Tested For Hiv In Luderitz, Namibia, Sima Blank

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Multiple sexual partnerships are associated with greater risk of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and intimate partner violence. Namibia has an HIV prevalence of 18% and surveys have shown that up to 40% of men in parts of the country have multiple sexual partners; however, no studies have evaluated characteristics associated with this behavior.

We evaluated the relationship between education, occupation, and migration and multiple sexual partnerships among people tested for HIV in Lüderitz, Namibia. Data are taken from a cross-sectional study of 570 men and women conducted in a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center from September-November 2009. Multinomial logistic …

The Association Between Vitamin D And Depression Among College-Aged Women, Constance M. Barysauskas

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Approximately 15 million Americans are diagnosed with a major depressive disorder each year, with higher rates among women and college-aged adults. Recent research suggests a vitamin D insufficiency may be associated with an increased risk of depression among the elderly. However, studies have not been conducted among young women. A recent study of young adults in Massachusetts suggests that two-thirds of this population is vitamin D deficient. We evaluated the association between dietary vitamin D intake and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D₃) and history of depression using data from the UMass Vitamin D Status Study, a cross-sectional …

Indicators Of Early Adult And Current Personality In Parkinson's Disease, Kelly Sullivan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Previous epidemiologic studies suggest that the personality of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients differs from that of controls, and laboratory evidence supports a potential common pathophysiology of personality traits and PD. One nested case-control study found that PD cases were significantly more anxious than controls before the clinical onset of the disease, and additional data suggest that certain occupations may be risk factors for the disease. Additionally, the latent period that precedes the onset of motor symptoms of PD is unknown.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association of PD with objective indicators of current and …

Disparities In Survival And Mortality Among Infants With Congenital Aortic, Pulmonary, And Tricuspid Valve Defects By Maternal Race/Ethnicity And Infant Sex, Colleen Conklin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The etiology of congenital heart valve defects is not well understood; little is known about the risk factors that contribute to the survival and mortality outcomes of children with these defects.

Methods: Using data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2070 singleton infants with congenital aortic, pulmonary, or tricuspid valve atresia or stenosis born in Texas between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2007 to Hispanic, Non-Hispanic (NH) black, and NH white women. TBDR data were death-to-birth matched by the Texas Vital Statistics Unit for deaths between January 1, 1996 and …

Kriged And Modeled Ambient Air Levels Of Benzene In An Urban Environment: An Exposure Assessment Study, Kristina W. Whitworth, Elaine Symanski, Dejian Lai, Ann L. Coker

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Background. There is increasing concern regarding the potential adverse health effects of air pollution, particularly hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). However, quantifying exposure to these pollutants is problematic. Objective. Our goal was to explore the utility of kriging, a spatial interpolation method, for exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies of HAPs. We used benzene as an example and compared census tract-level kriged predictions to estimates obtained from the 1999 U.S. EPA National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), Assessment System for Population Exposure Nationwide (ASPEN) model. Methods. Kriged predictions were generated for 649 census tracts in Harris County, Texas using estimates of annual benzene …

Norovirus Epidemiology And Duration Of Shedding In Michigan, 2007-2008, Nodira A. Abdujamilova, David Dixon, Laura Mosher, Patricia Somsel, Anthony Muyombwe, Patricia A. Clark, Jeffrey Massey, Brenda Brennan, Paul C. Bartlett

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Background: In the United States, an estimated 23 million cases of norovirus (NoV) are reported each year, and although mortality is low, the morbidity and economic impact are substantial. Methods: RT-PCR and sequencing were used for identification of NoV genotypes obtained from outbreak and sporadic cases. RT Quant PCR was used to determine the viral load in fecal specimens. In order to rule out bacterial infection as the cause for acute gastroenteritis (AGE), bacterial culture for Salmonella, E.coli O157, Shigella, Campylobacter and Clostridium difficile was performed by standard laboratory procedures. The duration of NV shedding was investigated with longitudinal sampling …

The Effect Of Phytoestrogen Chemoprevention Of Prostate Cancer, Ruel Slyfield Michelin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prostate cancer (CaP) remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer mortality among men in several ethnic groups in the United States. Lower CaP incidence among Asian men has been attributed to increased intake of soy derived phytoestrogens (SDPs); however, its association has not been extensively explored in U.S. men. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect size of serum prostate specific antigen (sPSA) and serum estradiol (sE2) following dietary SDP intervention. The study was based on an original conceptual model that aims to avert early prostate tissue damage through identification of critical …

Perspectives Of Women In Nairobi Kenya Toward Malaria Control, Catherine Kisavi-Atatah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria infection has been and continues to be a serious public health concern that has mystified many in the public health care industry. One area in Sub Saharan Africa that continues to feel the devastating effects of malaria is in Nairobi, Kenya. This qualitative research study explored the attitudes of women in Nairobi, Kenya and how they view intervention measures already introduced by public health care experts in fighting malaria. The phenomenological research approach used purposeful sampling to recruit 16 women from Nairobi, Kenya to participate in semi-structured, open-ended interviews. The ecological systems theory was used as a lens of …

The Effect Of An Inclusive Trauma System On Homicide Risk In An Urban Population, Russell Griffin

All ETDs from UAB

Homicide is a leading cause of mortality in the United States, with approximately 18,000 homicides occurring annually. Most prevention efforts for homicide are aimed at primary (e.g., culling aggressive behaviors among youth) or secondary (e.g., preventing repeat violence) efforts. To date, there has been limited research on tertiary prevention efforts of homicide (i.e., preventing homicide by preventing deaths from assault-related injuries). With the advent of trauma systems (TS), which allow for rapid emergency medical response for injured individuals, it is possible that these systems may be an ef-fective effort of tertiary prevention of homicides. Using data from the Jefferson County …

Characteristics Of Chronic Pain Associated With Sleep Difficulty In Older Adults: The Maintenance Of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, And Zest In The Elderly (Mobilize) Boston Study, Suzanne G. Leveille Phd, Qian Chen Bsn, Rn

Suzanne G. Leveille

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pain severity and distribution

in relation to sleep difficulty in older adults.

DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Community within a 5-mile radius of the study

center at the Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior-

Life (HSL), Boston.

PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred sixty-five participants of

the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect,

and Zest in the Elderly (MOBILIZE) Boston Study aged 64

and older.

MEASUREMENTS: Pain severity was measured using the

Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Severity Subscale. Musculoskeletal pain distribution was grouped according to no pain, single site, two or more sites, and widespread pain

(upper and lower …

Maternal Caffeine Consumption And Risk Of Congenital Limb Deficiency Malformations, Lei Chen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT

United Airways Disease Among Florists, Muge Akpinar-Elci, Omur C. Elci, Aygul Odabasi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Previously we observed an excess risk for occupational asthma among florists with rhinitis. To further evaluate the link between upper and lower airways, we investigated united airways disease in the same occupational group. Occupational history, symptoms and atopy were investigated among 128 florists. Age-, smoking-, and gender-adjusted risks were calculated using logistic regression models comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The prevalence of work-related rhinitis symptoms was 13.3%, conjunctivitis symptoms and asthma-like symptoms were 14.1%. We observed an excess risk of work-related asthma symptoms among florists with work-related conjunctivitis (OR: 8.5, 95% CI: 2.4-29.9) and rhinitis (OR: 13.1, 95% CI: 3.0- …

Scald Burn Admissions To Princess Margaret Hospital In 1998 And 2008: A Comparative Analysis, Lisa Martin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Scald is the most common form of burn in young children, accounting for over 50% of all paediatric burn admissions in Western Australia (WA). Interventions implemented over the past few years focussed on prevention, first aid, and improved services postinjury (Department of Health Western Australia, 2009). The population of children in WA is rising and an epidemiological study was undertaken to assess changes in the profile of scald injury among WA children and to assess priorities for future action. Data were collected from all acute inpatient admissions presenting with scald injury for 1998 and 2008. These data were compared with …