Epidemiology Commons^™

Sperm Mitochondrial Dna Biomarkers As A Measure Of Male Fecundity And Overall Sperm Quality, Allyson Rosati

Masters Theses

Introduction. Sperm parameter analysis is the standard method of male fecundity testing; however, minimal evidence supports associations between individual sperm parameters and reproductive outcomes. Our previous work shows strong associations between sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and time-to-pregnancy (TTP) in general populations, and between mtDNAcn and fertilization outcomes in clinical populations. Thus it is possible for sperm mtDNA biomarkers to act as summary measures of semen quality. In this study, we developed a sperm quality index (SQI) from semen parameters and compared its ability to measure fecundity to sperm mtDNAcn.

Methods. We received 384 semen samples from the Longitudinal …

Sexual Experiences And Association With Depression And Anxiety Among Sexual Minority Women, Brie Engelbrecht

Masters Theses

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent forms of mental illness in the U.S, affecting an estimated 18% of the population. Recent studies have shown that sexual minority women may undergo sexual experiences that affect their risk of anxiety and depression. However, prior studies of this association are sparse and have largely been conducted among sexual majorities and have yet to examine differences between vulnerable sexual orientation groups. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between sexual experiences (i.e., sexual assertiveness, sexual self-efficacy, and outness) and anxiety and depression among young sexual minority women in a cross-sectional study (N=328) from the …

The Association Between Dengue Virus Infection And Liver And Kidney Function Among Cambodian Children, Ashley Moineau

Masters Theses

Severe liver and kidney dysfunction are prevalent in 10%-30% of the Southeast Asian population. Dengue virus infection has been reported as a modifiable risk factor for liver and kidney dysfunction, especially among children in Southeast Asia. Epidemiologic studies assessing this relationship are sparse, often failed to include children, and did not adjust for important covariates. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between dengue virus infection and liver and kidney dysfunction among hospitalized children in Cambodia (n=551). Participants with a serologically confirmed dengue virus infection were categorized according to increasing severity of infection (i.e. dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, or dengue shock …

A Cross-Sectional Study Of Phthalate Exposure And Inflammation Biomarker Levels Among Postmenopausal Women, Avery Trim

Masters Theses

Phthalates are industrial chemicals added to plastics found in products such as children’s toys, cosmetics, and household items, and some laboratory studies suggest phthalates may increase levels of inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with many chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Although research is limited, recent studies suggest a strong positive relationship between mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), and monocarboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP) and c-reactive protein (CRP), as well as monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additionally, this relationship has not been examined among postmenopausal women, a population that is at higher risk …

Reproductive Factors And Postmenopausal Fsh Levels, Rebecca Costa

Masters Theses

Recent studies have shown that postmenopausal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels may be predictive of future cardiovascular disease risk. However, little is known about postmenopausal FSH levels, including the level of variation between women and factors associated with this variation. We assessed the relationship of multiple reproductive factors with FSH levels among 588 postmenopausal women in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Participants were aged 53 to 73 years and not using hormone therapy at baseline (1998-2001). Reproductive factors were assessed at baseline, along with FSH levels. After adjustment for sex steroids, adiposity measures, plasma lipids, blood pressure, …