Public Health Commons^™

An Hsus Report: Human Health Implications Of Non-Therapeutic Antibiotic Use In Animal Agriculture, The Humane Society Of The United States

Impact of Animal Agriculture

For decades, the U.S. meat industry has fed medically important antibiotics to chickens, pigs, and cattle to accelerate their weight gain and prevent disease in the stressful and unhygienic conditions that typify industrialized animal agriculture production facilities. A strong scientific consensus exists, asserting that this practice fosters antibiotic resistance in bacteria to the detriment of human health. In response to this public health threat, the European Union has banned the non-therapeutic feeding of a number of antibiotics of human importance to farm animals. Given these serious concerns as well as recent data that suggest an overall lack of financial benefit, …

An Hsus Report: Human Health Implications Of Intensive Poultry Production And Avian Influenza, The Humane Society Of The United States

Impact of Animal Agriculture

The high stocking density, stress, unhygienic conditions, lack of sunlight, and breeding practices typical of industrial poultry and egg production systems may facilitate the emergence and spread of diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses with public health implications such as H5N1.

An Hsi Report: Human Health Implications Of Intensive Poultry Production And Avian Influenza, Humane Society International

HSI REPORTS

The high stocking density, stress, unhygienic conditions, lack of sunlight, and breeding practices typical of industrial poultry and egg production systems may facilitate the emergence and spread of diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses with public health implications such as H5N1.

Motivations And Reasons For Exercising In Water: Gender And Age Differences In A Sample Of Spanish Exercisers, Juan Antonio Moreno Murcia, Celestina Martínez Galindo, Pablo Marcos Pardo

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purposes of this study were, on the one hand, to relate the reasons for exercising with self-determination and, on the other, to check gender and age differences with a sample of 311 exercisers in water. The data were collected using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire–2 and Motives for Physical Activities Measure–Revised. A positive and significant correlation was seen between self-determination and the reasons for exercise, with self-determination predicting 22% by enjoyment and 8% by fitness/health reasons. Similarly, the multivariate analysis showed that the women had more self-determination than the men and that they also rated fitness/health, social, enjoyment, …

To The Bitter End: Disparities In End-Of-Life Care, Alberto Coustasse, Theresa Quiroz, Sue G. Lurie

Management Faculty Research

Although technological advancements have provided the means to sustain life and provide care regardless of whether the treatment is appropriate and compassionate given the condition of the patient, bioethical, legal, and moral concerns related to disparities in care still arise in the United States. These concerns call into question the necessity to continue life-sustaining or palliative care treatments when patients and/or families are faced with end-of-life decisions. This study will focus on various historical, clinical cultural, and ethical issues that have placed this dilemma into a controversial public spectrum, by using case studies retrieved from referenced literature, which illustrate disparities …

The Phenomenology Of Koan Meditation In Zen Buddhism, Jerry L. Grenard

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Zen students described their experiences when working with koans, and a phenomenological method was used to identify the structure of those experiences. Zen koans are statements or stories developed in China and Japan by Zen masters in order to help students transform their conscious awareness of the world. Eight participants including 3 females and 5 males from Southern California with 1 to 30 years of experience in Zen answered open-ended questions about koan practice in one tape-recorded session for each participant. Refl ection yielded the following thematic clusters: (a) motivation, (b) approaches to working with koans, (c) experiences while working …

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Treatment Of Dementia Among Medicare Beneficiaries, Ilene H. Zuckerman, Priscilla T. Ryder, Linda Simoni-Wastila, Thomas Shaffer, Masayo Sato, Lirong Zhao, Bruce Stuart

Scholarship and Professional Work – COPHS

Objectives—Numerous studies have documented disparities in health care utilization between non-Hispanic White and minority elders. We investigated differences in anti-dementia medication use between non-Hispanic White and minority community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with dementia.

Methods—Using multivariate analysis with generalized estimating equations, we estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for anti-dementia medication use by race/ethnicity for 1,120 beneficiaries with dementia from years 2001 through 2003 of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

Results—After adjusting for demographics, socioeconomics, health care access and utilization, comorbidities, and service year, we found that anti-dementia medication use was approximately 30% higher among non-Hispanic Whites compared to other racial/ethnic groups (PR = …

Demographics And Risky Lifestyle Behaviors Associated With Willingness To Risk Sexually Transmitted Infection In Air Force Recruits., Theodore Cooper, M. Debon, K. Haddock, D. Rodriguez Esquivel, R. Klesges, H. Lando, G. Talcott

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Where's The Kale? Environmental Availability Of Fruits And Vegetables In Two Racially Dissimilar Communities, Edith M. Williams, Bamidele O. Tayo, Beverly Marie Mclean, Ellen Smit, Christopher T. Sempos, Carlos J. Crespo

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Minority communities across the United States have limited numbers of stores that offer a variety of fruits and vegetables, creating major barriers to good eating habits and nutritional practices among minority groups such as African Americans. Factors like environmental availability of healthy food options have not been fully investigated as possible sources of current cross-population differences in disease. The present study examined whether a predominantly African American neighborhood had disproportionately less availability of fruits and vegetables than a predominantly non-Hispanic White neighborhood. Availability was judged on the bases of the types of stores available in each community and the specific …

Clarifying Analysis And Interpretation In Grounded Theory: Using A Conditional Relationship Guide And Reflective Coding Matrix, Karen W. Scott, Dana M. Howell

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Faculty and Staff Research

Although qualitative methods, grounded theory included, cannot be reduced to formulaic procedures, research tools can clarify the process. The authors discuss two instruments supporting grounded theory analysis and interpretation using two examples from doctoral students. The conditional relationship guide contextualizes the central phenomenon and relates categories linking structure with process. The reflective coding matrix serves as a bridge to the final phase of grounded theory analysis, selective coding and interpretation, and, ultimately, to substantive theory generation.

The Relationship Between Agency Characteristics And Quality Of Home Care, Dawn M. Dalby, John P. Hirdes

Kinesiology and Physical Education Faculty Publications

ABSTRACT. Background. This project assessed the relationship between home care quality indicators HCQIs) and agency characteristics. Methods. Twelve agencies completed a mailed survey on a variety of characteristics, including size of their caseload and for-profit (FP) status of contracted service providers. The HCQIs were derived from standardized assessments completed voluntarily for home care clients in Ontario and in Manitoba, Canada. Results. The average caseload was 121.3 clients per case manager, and over 40% of nursing, personal support and therapy providers were considered FP. For individual HCQIs, few correlations were statistically significant. An overall summary measure of quality was …

The Great Divide In Cancer Care Continues To Fail Aborigines, Georgina Kenyon

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Report Of The Global Health Task Force, Vivian Mcalister

Data and Test Instruments

The mandate of the Global Health Task Force was to advise the Dean regarding the development of Global Health at SSMD by broadly analyzing Global and international Health activities, within SSMD at The University of Western Ontario and in other Canadian universities, in order to make recommendations with respect to scope, coordinating structure, required administrative support, existing and potential academic activity and placement within the formal undergraduate curriculum for medical and dental students, as well as elective offerings and volunteer opportunities that may also involve students from professional programs within the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Task Force reviewed structures …

The Need For Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification For Open-Water Lifeguards At Huntington Beach, Ca, Daniel Jerome, Peter R. Chambers, Steve Reuter, John Porcari

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The number of people visiting U.S. beaches increased in 2007 to more than 240 million people. This increase in activities does not come without danger. Lifeguards maintain beach safety, but little research is available to assist us in determining appropriate certification levels for lifeguards. The authors analyzed various injuries that occurred in the open-water environment of Huntington Beach, CA. Based on the nature of the injuries, they attempted to determine the level of training lifeguards needed. The vast majority of injuries (99%) were soft-tissue injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, or environmental injuries. It was felt that lifeguards with first-aid and basic-life-support (BLS) …

The Public Health Implications Of Trafficking, Tami Ashbridge

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Trafficking in human beings is a serious and complex human rights issue. Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation has grave public health implications. The vulnerability of women and children increases their risk of becoming victims of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Review of the literature on this subject demonstrates a direct link between the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, STIs and Reproductive/Gynecological Issues, Mental Health, Violence, Abuse and Social Issues. This review supports the concept of human trafficking as a serious public health issue and the need for improved …

Child Psychosocial Adjustment And Parenting In Families Affected By Maternal Hiv/Aids, Tanya L. Tompkins, Gail E. Wyatt

Faculty Publications

Child adjustment and parenting were examined in 23 9-through 16-year-old youth from families affected by maternal HIV infection and 20 same-age peers whose mothers were not infected. Children whose mothers were seropositive reported significantly more externalizing problems. Infected mothers reported less age-appropriate supervision/monitoring relative to non-infected mothers. Better mother-child relationship quality and less impairment in parental supervision/monitoring of age-appropriate youth behaviors were associated with fewer externalizing difficulties among the HIV-positive group only. Similarly, only among HIV-infected mothers was refraining from engaging in inconsistent disciplinary tactics associated with lower reports of internalizing and externalizing problems. These data highlight the promise of …

A Primer On The Implementation Of Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. [Review Of The Book Cognitive Behavioral Therapy In Groups]., T. Taylor, Theodore Cooper

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Sequential Treatment For Nicotine Dependence And Postcessation Weight Concern In A Female Diagnosed With Paranoid Schizophrenia., Theodore Cooper, B. Hanson, R. Burke, Y. Hunt

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Review Of Animal Noroviruses, A. Scipioni, A. Mauroy, J. Vinje, E. Thiry

United States Public Health Resources

Among enteric caliciviruses, noroviruses belong to the genus Norovirus, one of the four accepted genera in the family Caliciviridae. These single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses are highly variable both genetically and antigenically. Several animal enteric caliciviruses that are morphologically indistinguishable and genetically closely related to human noroviruses have been identified. The first bovine enteric noroviruses were described in Great Britain and are known as Newbury Agent 2. At least three genetic clusters of porcine noroviruses join together within genogroup II noroviruses. Human noroviruses are the most important cause of acute gastroenteritis illness in people of all ages. In the …

Changes In Exposure To Secondhand Smoke Among Youth In Nebraska, 2002–2006, Lazarous Mbulo

United States Public Health Resources

Secondhand smoke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It has been associated with serious health problems in both children and adults. Efforts to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in Nebraska have included programs to prevent tobacco use among young people and campaigns for smoke-free workplaces and homes. Despite these interventions, young people continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke at an unacceptably high rate. The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which Nebraska public middle and high school students were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2002 and 2006, to evaluate factors associated with this …

Tick [Genome Mapping], Amy J. Ullmann, Jeffrey J. Stuart, Catherine A. Hill

United States Public Health Resources

Ticks (subphylum Chelicerata: class Arachnida: subclass Acari: superorder Parasitiformes: order Ixodidae) are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites of global medical and veterinary importance. Ticks live on all continents of the world (Steen et al. 2006). There are approximately 899 species of ticks; the majority are ectoparasites of wildlife and approximately 10% of these are recognized as disease vectors or for their ability to cause direct damage through blood feeding (Jongejan and Uilenberg 2004). Ticks transmit a greater variety of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa than any other blood-feeding arthropod (Dennis and Piesman 2005) and are second only to mosquitoes in terms of their …

Prostaglandin F2Α Increases Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase In The Periphery Of The Bovine Corpus Luteum: The Possible Regulation Of Blood Flow At An Early Stage Of Luteolysis, Koumei Shirasuna, Sho Watanabe, Takayuki Asahi, Missaka P. B. Wijayagunawardane, Kiemi Sasahara, Chao Jiang, Motozumi Matsui, Motoki Sasaki, Takashi Shimizu, John S. Davis, Akio Miyamoto

United States Public Health Resources

Prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) released from the uterus causes alterations in luteal blood flow, reduces progesterone secretion, and induces luteolysis in the bovine corpus luteum (CL).We have recently discovered that luteal blood flow in the periphery of the mature CL acutely increases coincidently with pulsatile increases in a metabolite of PGF_2α (PGFM). In this study, we characterized changes in regional luteal blood flow together with regional alterations in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression during spontaneous luteolysis and in response to PGF_2α. Smooth muscle actin-positive blood vessels larger than 20 μm were observed mainly in …

Prediction Of Clinical Outcomes In Primary Biliary Cirrhosis By Serum Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Assay, Marlyn J. Mayo, Julie Parkes, Beverley Adams-Huet, Burton Combes, A. Mills, Rodney Markin, Raphael Rubin, Donald Wheeler, Melissa Contos, A B. West, Sandra Saldana, Yonas Getachew, Robert Butsch, Velimir Luketic, Adrian Di Bisceglie, Nathan Bass, John Lake, Thomas Boyer, Enrique Martinez, James Boyer, Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao, David Barnes, William Rosenberg

United States Public Health Resources

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is sometimes diagnosed based on a positive antimitochondrial antibody in the appropriate clinical setting without a liver biopsy. Although a liver biopsy can assess the extent of liver fibrosis and provide prognostic information, serum fibrosis markers avoid biopsy complications and sampling error and provide results as a continuous variable, which may be more precise than categorical histological stages. The current study was undertaken to evaluate serum fibrosis markers as predictors of clinical progression in a large cohort of PBCpatients. Serial liver biopsy specimens and serum samples were collected every 2 years in 161 PBC subjects for …

Regional Differences In Cervical Cancer Incidence Among American Indians And Alaska Natives, 1999–2004, Thomas M. Becker, David K. Espey, Herschel W. Lawson, Mona Saraiya, Melissa A. Jim, Alan G. Waxman

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND. Reports from limited geographic regions indicate higher rates of cervical cancer incidence in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women than in women of other races. However, accurate determinations of cervical cancer incidence in AI/AN women have been hampered by racial misclassification in central cancer registries.

METHODS. The authors linked data from cancer registries participating in the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program with Indian Health Service (IHS) enrollment records to improve identification of AI/AN race. NPCR and SEER data were combined to estimate annualized age-adjusted rates (expressed …

Lung Cancer Incidence Among American Indians And Alaska Natives In The United States, 1999–2004, Anne Bliss, Nathaniel Cobb, Teshia Solomon, Kym Cravatt, Melissa A. Jim, Latisha Marshall, Janis Campbell

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND. Lung cancer incidence rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the United States have not been described well, primarily because of race misclassification and, until the 1990s, incomplete coverage of their population by cancer registries. Smoking, the predominant cause of lung cancer, is particularly prevalent among this population.

METHODS. Data from the National Program of Cancer Registries and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program were combined to estimate age adjusted incidence rates of lung cancer during 1999 through 2004. Cases were linked to Indian Health Service (IHS) registration databases to identify AI/ANs whose race …

Host And Vector Movement Affects Genetic Diversity And Spatial Structure Of Buggy Creek Virus (Togaviridae), Charles R. Brown, Mary Bomberger Brown, Abinash Padhi, Jerome E. Foster, Amy T. Moore, Martin Pfeffer, Nicholas Komar

United States Public Health Resources

Determining the degree of genetic variability and spatial structure of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) may help in identifying where strains that potentially cause epidemics or epizootics occur. Genetic diversity in arboviruses is assumed to reflect relative mobility of their vertebrate hosts (and invertebrate vectors), with highly mobile hosts such as birds leading to genetic similarity of viruses over large areas. There are no empirical studies that have directly related host or vector movement to virus genetic diversity and spatial structure. Using the entire E2 glycoprotein-coding region of 377 Buggy Creek virus isolates taken from cimicid swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius), …

Methods For Improving Cancer Surveillance Data In American Indian And Alaska Native Populations, David K. Espey, Charles Wiggins, Melissa A. Jim, Barry A. Miller, Christopher J. Johnson, Tom M. Becker

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND. The misclassification of race decreases the accuracy of cancer incidence data for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in some central cancer registries. This article describes the data sources and methods that were used to address this misclassification and to produce the cancer statistics used by most of the articles in this supplement.

METHODS. Records from United States cancer registries were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) records to identify AI/AN cases that were misclassified as non-AI/AN. Data were available from 47 registries that linked their data with IHS, met quality criteria, and agreed to participate. Analyses …

Prostate Cancer Incidence Among American Indian And Alaska Native Men, Us, 1999–2004, Jeffrey A. Henderson, David K. Espey, Melissa Jim, Robert R. German, Kate M. Shaw, Richard M. Hoffman

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) men experience lower incidence of prostate cancer than other race/ethnic populations in the US, but racial misclassification of AI/AN men threatens the validity of these estimates. To the authors’ knowledge, little is known concerning prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in AI/AN men.

METHODS. The authors linked cancer registry data with Indian Health Service enrollment records to improve race classification. Analyses comparing cancer incidence rates and stage at diagnosis for AI/AN and non-Hispanic white (NHW) men for 6 geographic regions focused on counties known to have less race misclassification. The authors also used …

Primary Liver Cancer Incidence Among American Indians And Alaska Natives, Us, 1999–2004, Melissa Jim, David G. Perdue, Lisa C. Richardson, David K. Espey, John T. Redd, Howard J. Martin, Sandy L. Kwong, Janet J. Kelly, Jeffrey A. Henderson, Faruque Ahmed

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND. American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) experience higher morbidity and mortality from primary liver cancer than other United States (US) populations, but racial misclassification in medical records results in underestimates of disease burden.

METHODS. To reduce misclassification, National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) enrollment records to compare primary liver cancer incidence and stage at diagnosis between AI/AN and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) living within the regionalized IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area counties. Incidence rates are expressed per 100,000 persons and age-adjusted by 19 age …

Gallbladder Cancer Incidence Among American Indians And Alaska Natives, Us, 1999–2004, Shannon M. Lemrow, David G. Perdue, Sherri L. Stewart, Lisa C. Richardson, Melissa Jim, Helen T. French, Judith Swan, Brenda K. Edwards, Charles Wiggins, Lois Dickie, David K. Espey

United States Public Health Resources

BACKGROUND. Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is rare; however, it disproportionately affects the American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) population. The purpose of the study was to characterize GBC among AI/AN in the US population.

METHODS. Cases of GBC diagnosed between 1999 and 2004 and collected by state-based cancer registries were included. Registry records were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) administration records to decrease race misclassification of AI/AN. GBC rates and/or percent distributions for AI/AN and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) were calculated by sex, IHS region, age, and stage for all US counties and IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area …