Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Association Between Expedited Review Designations And The Us Or Global Burden Of Disease For Drugs Approved By The Us Food And Drug Administration, 2010–2019: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Matthew J. Jackson, Gregory Vaughan, Fred D. Ledley

Natural & Applied Sciences Faculty Publications

Pharmaceutical innovation can contribute to reducing the burden of disease in human populations. This research asks whether products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2010 to 2019 and expedited review programmes incentivising development of products for serious disease were aligned with the US or global burden of disease.

Plasma Protein Signatures Of Adult Asthma, Gordon J. Smilnak, Yura Lee, Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Annah B. Wyss, Julie D. White, Sinjini Sikdar, Jianping Jin, Andrew J. Grant, Alison A. Motsinger-Reif, Jian-Liang Li, Mikyeong Lee, Bing Yu, Stephanie J. London

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Background: Adult asthma is complex and incompletely understood. Plasma proteomics is an evolving technique that can both generate biomarkers and provide insights into disease mechanisms. We aimed to identify plasma proteomic signatures of adult asthma.

Methods: Protein abundance in plasma was measured in individuals from the Agricultural Lung Health Study (ALHS) (761 asthma, 1095 non-case) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (470 asthma, 10,669 non-case) using the SOMAScan 5K array. Associations with asthma were estimated using covariate adjusted logistic regression and meta-analyzed using inverse-variance weighting. Additionally, in ALHS, we examined phenotypes based on both asthma and seroatopy (asthma with …

An Ewas Of Dementia Biomarkers And Their Associations With Age, African Ancestry, And Ptsd, Mark W. Miller, Erika J. Wolf, Xiang Zhao, Mark W. Logue, Sage E. Hawn

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background

Large-scale cohort and epidemiological studies suggest that PTSD confers risk for dementia in later life but the biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. This study examined this question by assessing the influences of PTSD, APOE ε4 genotypes, DNA methylation, and other variables on the age- and dementia-associated biomarkers Aβ40, Aβ42, GFAP, NfL, and pTau-181 measured in plasma. Our primary hypothesis was that PTSD would be associated with elevated levels of these markers.

Methods

Analyses were based on data from a PTSD-enriched cohort of 849 individuals. We began by performing factor analyses of the biomarkers, the results of which …

Beyond The Basics: Unraveling The Complexity Of Coronary Artery Calcification, Satwat Hashmi, Pashmina Wiqar Shah, Zouhair Aherrahrou, Elena Aikawa, Rédouane Aherrahrou

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is mainly associated with coronary atherosclerosis, which is an indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAC refers to the accumulation of calcium phosphate deposits, classified as micro- or macrocalcifications, that lead to the hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries. CAC is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and sudden death. Our narrative review focuses on the pathophysiology of CAC, exploring its link to plaque vulnerability, genetic factors, and how race and sex can affect the condition. We also examined the connection between the gut microbiome and CAC, and the impact …

Organ Aging Signatures In The Plasma Proteome Track Health And Disease, Hamilton Se-Hwee Oh, Yun Ju Sung, Lihua Wang, Jigyasha Timsina, Dan Western, Menghan Liu, Pat Kohlfeld, John Budde, Carlos Cruchaga, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Animal studies show aging varies between individuals as well as between organs within an individual

Understanding The Consumption Of Antimicrobial Resistance–Related Content On Social Media: Twitter Analysis, Hyunuk Kim, Chris R. Proctor, Dylan Walker, Ronan R. Mccarthy

Business Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing concerns in our society. Today, social media can function as an important channel to disseminate information about AMR. The way in which this information is engaged with depends on a number of factors, including the target audience and the content of the social media post.

Objective: The aim of this study is to better understand how AMR-related content is consumed on the social media platform Twitter and to understand some of the drivers of engagement. This is essential to designing effective public health strategies, raising awareness about antimicrobial …

Creating A Primary Care Track In Prelicensure Nursing Education, Janice E. Hawkins, Lynn L. Wiles, Jamela Martin, Beth Tremblay, Karen Higgins, Ingrid Mahoney

Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: RNs practicing in primary care (PC) increase access to health care and contribute to better patient outcomes and cost savings, yet undergraduate nursing education traditionally focuses on disease-oriented care. This article describes a curricular track for infusing PC prelicensure programs.

METHOD: PC content is threaded across four semesters with targeted assignments and clinical experiences. Providing clinical immersion experiences with practicing RNs as preceptors in community and PC settings is a key component of this initiative.

RESULTS: Student feedback has been favorable. Students stated they gained insight to the role of RNs in PC through class assignments and clinical rotations. …

Social Network Analysis Of White-Tailed Deer Scraping Behavior: Implications For Disease Transmission, Michael E. Egan, Kim M. Pepin, Justin Fischer, Scott R. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Host contact structure affects pathogen transmission in host populations, but many measures of host contact do not distinguish contacts that are relevant to pathogen transmission from those that are not. Scrapes are sites for chemical communication by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the breeding season and potential sites of transmission of prions, the causative agent of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Scrape-related behaviors vary in their probability of transmitting prions to or from the environment, suggesting that behavior be combined with contact structure to better reflect potential heterogeneity in prion transmission at scrapes. We recorded visits and behaviors by …

Prednisolone For Copd Exacerbations: Time For A Rethink, Sanjay Ramakrishnan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Prednisolone given universally for COPD exacerbations causes harm without any benefit. Patients deserve blood eosinophil-guided prednisolone treatment for COPD exacerbations.

Proteomic Profiling Platforms Head To Head: Leveraging Genetics And Clinical Traits To Compare Aptamer- And Antibody-Based Methods, Daniel H. Katz, Jeremy M. Robbins, Shuliang Deng, Usman A. Tahir, Alexander G. Bick, Akhil Pampana, Zhi Yu, Debby Ngo, Mark D. Benson, Zsu-Zsu Chen, Daniel E. Cruz, Dongxiao Shen, Yan Gao, Claude Bouchard, Mark A. Sarzynski Facsm, Adolfo Correa, Pradeep Natarajan, James G. Wilson, Robert E. Gerszten

Faculty Publications

High-throughput proteomic profiling using antibody or aptamer-based affinity reagents is used increasingly in human studies. However, direct analyses to address the relative strengths and weaknesses of these platforms are lacking. We assessed findings from the SomaScan1.3K (N = 1301 reagents), the SomaScan5K platform (N = 4979 reagents), and the Olink Explore (N = 1472 reagents) profiling techniques in 568 adults from the Jackson Heart Study and 219 participants in the HERITAGE Family Study across four performance domains: precision, accuracy, analytic breadth, and phenotypic associations leveraging detailed clinical phenotyping and genetic data. Across these studies, we show evidence …

Recommendations For Infection Control In Congregate Shelters Following A Natural Disaster, Megan Schultz, Blaine Winters

Student Works

Infection control is at the forefront of nurses’ minds, particularly following a natural disaster. Natural disasters often displace people from their homes, requiring them to stay in congregate shelters for a short period of time. The risk of infection is significantly increased in shelters environments. The purpose of this literature review is to determine the appropriate strategies to mitigate the spread of infection in congregate shelters following a natural disaster. Implications for practice are identified.

Optimizing Management Of Invasions In An Uncertain World Using Dynamic Spatial Models, Kim M. Pepin, Amy J. Davis, Rebecca S. Epanchin-Niell, Andrew M. Gormley, Joslin L. Moore, Timothy J. Smyser, H. Bradley Shaffer, William L. Kendall, Katriona Shea, Michael C. Runge, Sophie Mckee

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Dispersal drives invasion dynamics of nonnative species and pathogens. Applying knowledge of dispersal to optimize the management of invasions can mean the difference between a failed and a successful control program and dramatically improve the return on investment of control efforts. A common approach to identifying optimal management solutions for invasions is to optimize dynamic spatial models that incorporate dispersal. Optimizing these spatial models can be very challenging because the interaction of time, space, and uncertainty rapidly amplifies the number of dimensions being considered. Addressing such problems requires advances in and the integration of techniques from multiple fields, including ecology, …

Pulmonary Function And Blood Dna Methylation: A Multiancestry Epigenome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis, Mikyeong Lee, Tianxiao Huan, Daniel L. Mccartney, Geetha Chittoor, Maaike De Vries, Lies Lahousse, Jennifer N. Nguyen, Jennifer A. Brody, Juan Castillo-Fernandez, Natalie Terzikhan, Cancan Qi, Roby Joehanes, Josine L. Min, Gordon J. Smilnak, Jessica R. Shaw, Chen Xi Yang, Elena Colicino, Thanh T. Hoang, Mairead L. Bermingham, Hanfei Xu, Anne E. Justice, Cheng-Jian Xu, Stephen S. Rich, Simon R. Cox, Judith M. Vonk, Ivana Prokić, Nona Sotoodehnia, Pei-Chien Tsai, Joel D. Schwartz, Janice M. Leung, Sinjini Sikdar, Rosie M. Walker, Sarah E. Harris, Diana A. Van Der Plaat, David J. Van Den Berg, Traci M. Bartz, Tim D. Spector, Pantel S. Vokonas, Riccardo E. Marioni, Adele M. Taylor, Yongmei Liu, R. Graham Barr, Leslie A. Lange, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Ma'en Obeidat, Myriam Fornage, Tianyuan Wang, James M. Ward, Alison A. Motsinger-Reif, Gibran Hemani, Gerard H. Koppelman, Jordana T. Bell, Sina A. Gharib, Guy Brusselle, H. Marike Boezen, Kari E. North, Daniel Levy, Kathryn L. Evans, Josée Dupris, Charles E. Breeze, Ani Manichaikul, Stephanie J. London

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Rationale: Methylation integrates factors present at birth and modifiable across the lifespan that can influence pulmonary function. Studies are limited in scope and replication.

Objectives: To conduct large-scale epigenome-wide meta-analyses of blood DNA methylation and pulmonary function.

Methods: Twelve cohorts analyzed associations of methylation at cytosine-phosphate-guanine probes (CpGs), using Illumina 450K or EPIC/850K arrays, with FEV₁, FVC, and FEV₁/FVC. We performed multiancestry epigenome-wide meta-analyses (total of 17,503 individuals; 14,761 European, 2,549 African, and 193 Hispanic/Latino ancestries) and interpreted results using integrative epigenomics.

Measurements and Main Results: We identified 1,267 CpGs (1,042 genes) differentially methylated (false discovery …

Maternal Diet In Pregnancy And Child’S Respiratory Outcomes: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Of 18 000 Children, Sara M. Mensink-Bout, Evelien R. Van Meel, Johan C. De Jongste, Isabekka Annesi-Maesano, Adrien M. Aubert, Johnathan Y. Bernard, Lin-Wei Chen, Cryus Cooper, Sarah R. Crozier, Wojciech Hanke, Nicholas C. Harvey, James R. Hébert Scd, Barbara Heude, Joanna Jerzynska, Cecily C. Kelleher, John Mehegan, Fionnuala M. Mcauliffe, Catherine M. Phillips, Kinga Polanska, Carolina L. Relton, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Matthew Suderman, Vincent Wv Jaddoe, Liesbeth Duijts

Faculty Publications

Rationale Severe fetal malnutrition has been related to an increased risk of respiratory diseases later in life, but evidence for the association of a suboptimal diet during pregnancy with respiratory outcomes in childhood is conflicting. We aimed to examine whether a pro-inflammatory or low-quality maternal diet during pregnancy was associated with child's respiratory health.

Methods We performed an individual participant meta-analysis among 18 326 mother–child pairs from seven European birth cohorts. Maternal pro-inflammatory and low-quality diets were estimated by energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores. Preschool wheezing and school-age asthma were measured using …

Osteopathic Treatments For Soft Tissue, Joint, And Head-Related Pain, Emerson K. Linsley

Honors Projects

The article examines how osteopathic manipulations can help in the treatment or management of pain associated with soft tissue, joint, and head-related injury or disease.

Maternal Diet In Pregnancy And Child’S Respiratory Outcomes: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Of 18 000 Children, Sara M. Mensink-Bout, Evelien R. Van Meel, Johan C. De Jongste, Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Adrien M. Aubert, Jonathan Y. Bernard, Ling-Wei Chen, Cyrus Cooper, Sarah R. Crozier, Wojciech Hanke, Nicholas C. Harvey, James R. Hébert Scd, Barbara Heude, Joanna Jerzynska, Cecily C. Kelleher, John Mehegan, Fionnuala M. Mcauliffe, Catherine M. Phillips, Kinga Polanska, Caroline L. Relton, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Matthew Suderman, Vincent W.V. Jaddoe, Liesbeth Duijts

Faculty Publications

Rationale Severe fetal malnutrition has been related to an increased risk of respiratory diseases later in life, but evidence for the association of a suboptimal diet during pregnancy with respiratory outcomes in childhood is conflicting. We aimed to examine whether a pro-inflammatory or low-quality maternal diet during pregnancy was associated with child's respiratory health.

Methods We performed an individual participant meta-analysis among 18 326 mother–child pairs from seven European birth cohorts. Maternal pro-inflammatory and low-quality diets were estimated by energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores. Preschool wheezing and school-age asthma were measured using …

Translating Developmental Origins Of Health And Disease In Practice: Health Care Providers' Perspectives., Monica L Molinaro, Marilyn Evans, Timothy Regnault, Barbra De Vrijer

Paediatrics Publications

Currently, there is limited knowledge on how health care providers perceive and understand the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), which may impact how they inform patients and their families throughout the perinatal period. This qualitative descriptive study explored if and how health care providers counsel on in utero programming and future health outcomes with parents, both preconception and during pregnancy. One-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 health care providers from varying health disciplines including obstetrics and gynaecology, midwifery, paediatrics, endocrinology and internal medicine. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Three themes were …

The Association Of Dietary Patterns With Dietary Inflammatory Index, Systemic Inflammation, And Insulin Resistance, In Apparently Healthy Individuals With Obesity, Maryam Saghafi-Asl, Susan Mirmajidi, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Farhad Vahid, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hébert Scd, Vahideh Ebrahimzadeh Attari

Faculty Publications

Inflammation is considered a key mechanism leading to obesity. Dietary patterns and certain food items influence inflammation. Few studies have investigated the contribution of major dietary patterns to biological measures of inflammation. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the associations of different dietary patterns with dietary inflammatory index (DII), systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance (IR) in the apparently healthy obese. In this cross-sectional study, 151 abdominally obese subjects were recruited from the Northwest of Iran. Dietary intake, demographic data, anthropometric indices, and physical activity (PA) was assessed. DII scores were calculated based on a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire …

Living With It: A Patient’S And A Biochemist’S Perspective On Kidney Disease; A Historical Review Of Alport Syndrome, Jacob Olson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

A review paper on the origin of health studies around Alport Syndrome, including aspects of genetics, pharmacy, and biochemistry, from the past to today and beyond. This report deals with important aspects of health development with regards to kidney disease overall, but narrows its focus on Alport Syndrome specifically due to the personal nature of the topic for the author. While this paper includes no personal testimony, as it is strictly meant to be formal, the author shares a deep connection with the material.

Essential Tremor: A Review, Grant S. Taylor

Honors Projects

Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most prevalent movement disorders globally: approximately 1% of the population is affected (Haubenberger & Hallet, 2018). In the past, ET has been grossly oversimplified clinically and pathologically and only through recent study has the complexity of the disease process and presentation been made apparent. Despite the recent advances in research regarding ET, the general public is still largely unfamiliar with the various aspects of the disease (Cristal et al., 2018). Perhaps even more surprising is the similar lack of knowledge that ET patients have regarding their own disease (Cristal et al., 2018). Recent …

Overview Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status, 2020, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status (the Overview) aims to provide a comprehensive outline of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The initial sections of the Overview provide information about the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, social determinants, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and measures of population health status including births, mortality and hospitalisation...

Summary Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status - Selected Topics 2020, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status - selected topics 2020 is a useful source of the most recent national information for health workers and those studying in the field. It provides general information regarding the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the following topics:

• social and cultural determinants
• births and deaths
• hospitalisations
• chronic conditions (including CVD, cancer, diabetes and kidney health)
• sexually transmitted infections
• environmental health
• social and emotional wellbeing
• alcohol and other drug use.

The Summary is based on the Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2020 and …

Risk Factors For Covid-19 Infection, Disease Severity And Related Deaths In Africa: A Systematic Review, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Digsu Negese Koye, Dagnachew Muluye Fetene, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Yohannes Kinfu, Ayele Bali Geleto, Yohannes Adama Melaku, Hassen Mohammed, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Mamaru Ayenew Awoke, Mulugeta Molla Birhanu, Amanuel Tesfay Gebremedhin, Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw, Desalegn Markos Shifti, Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh, Teketo Kassaw Tegegne, Solomon Abrha, Atsede Fantahun Aregay, Mohammed Biset Ayalew, Abadi Kahsu Gebre, Kidane Tadesse Gebremariam, Tesfaye Gebremedhin, Lemlem Gebremichael, Cheru Tesema Leshargie, Getiye Dejenu Kibret, Maereg Wagnew Meazaw, Alemayehu Berhane Mekonnen, Dejen Y. Tekle, Azeb G. Tesema, Fisaha H. Tesfay, Wubshet Tesfaye, Befikadu L. Wubishet, Berihun A. Dachew, Akilew A. Adane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. Design A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. Data sources Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Eligibility criteria Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. Data extraction and …

Impact Of The Societal Response To Covid-19 On Access To Healthcare For Non-Covid-19 Health Issues In Slum Communities Of Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria And Pakistan: Results Of Pre-Covid And Covid-19 Lockdown Stakeholder Engagements, Syed A K Shifat Ahmed, Motunrayo Ajisola, Kehkashan Azeem, Pauline Bakibinga, Yen-Fu Chen, Narjis Rizvi, Syed Iqbal Azam, Romaina Iqbal, Ahsana Nazish, Komal Tabani

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: With COVID-19, there is urgency for policymakers to understand and respond to the health needs of slum communities. Lockdowns for pandemic control have health, social and economic consequences. We consider access to healthcare before and during COVID-19 with those working and living in slum communities.
Methods: In seven slums in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan, we explored stakeholder perspectives and experiences of healthcare access for non-COVID-19 conditions in two periods: pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Results: Between March 2018 and May 2020, we engaged with 860 community leaders, residents, health workers and local authority representatives. Perceived common illnesses in …

Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis - A Rare Cause Of Chronic Anemia, Ayesha Butt, Rashida Ahmed, Muhammad Dawood Amir Sheikh, Omar Khan, Nousheen Iqbal, Arshalooz Rahman, Javaid Khan

Medical College Documents

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease marked by alveolar bleeding and accumulation of hemosiderin in the lungs. Here we present three cases of IPH. The first case is of a 26-year-old male with anemia, hemoptysis and dyspnea. Bronchoscopy confirmed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). A diagnosis of IPH was made after ruling out other causes of DAH and observing good response to steroids. The patient's condition improved with prednisolone and azathioprine. The second case is of 26-year-old female with severe anemia. Imaging suggested IPH and lung biopsy confirmed it. She died shortly afterwards. The third case is of a …

Are We Meeting The Demand For Pharmacist-Led Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs During Postgraduate Training-Year 1 (Pgy1)?, Edo-Abasi U. Mcgee, Arrington D Mason-Callaway, Brent L. Rollins

PCOM Scholarly Papers

In the United States of America, pharmacists play a pivotal role in antimicrobial stewardship; training from postgraduate residency may hone knowledge and skills gained from didactic pharmacy education. Specifically, the first year of postgraduate training, the learner may become an "everyday steward in training" and may go on to complete a second year in infectious diseases. However, there are a limited number of second year infectious diseases programs. The current demand for pharmacist to participate in and or lead stewardship is disproportionate to available specialized training. The first year of post-graduate training has to be setup to ensure appropriate preparation, …

Plant-Based Diet: How It Affects Health, Sarah Marsland

Senior Honors Projects

This research project aims to investigate the relationship between plant-based dieting and overall health, specifically the prevention and reversal of chronic disease. Two subjects committed to eating a plant-based diet comprised of primarily vegetables, fruits, whole grains and non-processed foods for six weeks. Before beginning, they were asked about their current health status, including a complete health history, and their knowledge of plant-based eating. Throughout the research period, the subjects shared what they were eating, challenges they faced, and any benefits they noticed. Upon completion of the diet, they answered questions about their experience. With this information, the researcher was …

Prevalence Of Clinically Actionable Disease Variants In Exceptionally Long-Lived Families, Paige Carlson, Mary K Wojczynski, Todd Druley, Joseph H Lee, Joseph M Zmuda, Bharat Thyagarajan

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Phenotypic expression of pathogenic variants in individuals with no family history of inherited disorders remains unclear.

METHODS: We evaluated the prevalence of pathogenic variants in 25 genes associated with Mendelian-inherited disorders in 3015 participants from 485 families in the Long Life Family Study (LLFS). Boot-strapping and Fisher's exact test were used to determine whether allele frequencies in LLFS were significantly different from the allele frequencies reported in publicly available genomic databases.

RESULTS: The proportions of pathogenic autosomal dominant mutation carriers in BRCA1 and SDHC in LLFS study participants were similar to those reported in publicly available genomic databases (0.03% …

Disease Mongering: How Sickness Sells, Vanessa C. Iroegbulem

Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest

“Disease mongering” is the practice of widening diagnostic boundaries of an illness and promoting their public awareness to expand the markets for treatment and to increase profits. This tactic typically used by pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment manufacturers, insurance companies, and even some doctors and patient groups, has become a great concern. Disease mongering has since increased in parallel with “medicalization,” which attempts to label normal human conditions as medical problems, thus becoming the subject of medical study, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment. This paper first seeks to examine how an increasing amount of life’s natural conditions and ailments are being seen …

If I Get Sick With Coronavirus, Can Donald Trump Make Me Stay Home?, Brian Labus

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

President Donald Trump recently appointed Vice President Mike Pence to lead the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and control public statements by government health officials about the crisis. In the days since, health departments throughout the country have investigated potential cases, announced new cases and declared public health emergencies, all without the approval of the vice president. So who really is in charge of the outbreak response? As with most things in American government, the answer is complicated.