Epidemiology Commons^™

Geographical Proximity To Health Facilities And Breast Cancer Morbidity And Mortality Among Women In South Carolina's Best Chance Network, Leepao Khang

Theses and Dissertations

Death rates for breast cancer have steadily decreased in women due to early detection, such as mammography, and improved treatments. Despite the benefit of mammography, many women are not up-to-date on screening and do not receive timely follow-up after abnormal mammogram finding. Breast cancer is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among women in South Carolina. To reduce the disproportionate burden of breast cancer and cervical cancer among women in South Carolina, the South Carolina Best Chance Network (BCN) was established to provide service delivery and ensures timely and complete diagnostic follow-up and treatment initiation for underserved women.

The …

Association Between Breastfeeding And Infant Growth: A Probable Reverse Causality, Shraddha Vyas

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Much conflicting results exist in the association between breastfeeding and infant growth. One of these confusions is related to the temporal sequence between breastfeeding practice and infant growth.

Objective: This study aimed at examining the association and investigating a possible reverse causality between breastfeeding and infant growth.

Method: Infant Feeding Practices Survey II, a national longitudinal database with repeated measurements, following women prenatally and until one year postpartum (N=2914) was used. Mixed linear model assessed the impact of breastfeeding from the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th months on infant growth at the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 12th months, respectively. …

Associations Between The Perceived And Built Food Environment, Timothy L. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Neighborhood food environments have been associated with dietary intake and obesity. Measures of the food environment have typically been characterized with geographic information systems (GIS)-based measures, however, the use of perception-based measures of the food environment have increased in frequency. Few studies have fully examined the relationship between perceptions and GIS-based measures of the food environment, especially considering the congruency between perceived and GIS-based presence of specific retail food outlets, nor the relationship between food outlets and perceived availability of healthy foods or fast food opportunities.

Telephone survey data from 705 residents in an eight-county region of South Carolina were …

Illness-Related Diabetes Social Support And Glycemic Control Among Middle Aged And Older Adults, Favel Leah Mondesir

Theses and Dissertations

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the association between illness-related diabetes social support (IRDSS) and glycemic control (GC) among a racially diverse sample of middle aged and older adults. In gender-stratified models we examine whether the relationship between IRDSS and GC is modified by race/ethnicity. Additionally, we explore the association between eight individual types of IRDSS and GC.

Methods

We used the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2002 and the 2003 Diabetes Survey. The final analytic sample consisted of 914 study respondents. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence …

An Analysis Of The Association Between Animal Exposures And The Development Of Type 1 Diabetes In The Teddy Cohort, Callyn Hall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research on exposure to animals and risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) has had conflicting results with some researchers finding that animal exposure reduces the risk of T1D and others finding no association between animal exposure and T1D. Previously conducted studies on the association between animal exposure and T1D are case-control studies that have been limited by recall bias. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between early life animal exposure and the risk of persistent, confirmed islet autoantibodies (IA) and T1D diagnosis among an eligible cohort of genetically high T1D risk participants enrolled in the international …

Seroprevalence Of Brucellosis In Livestock Within Three Endemic Regions Of The Country Of Georgia, Eliso Mamisashvili, Ian T. Kracalik, Tinatin Onashvili, Lela Kerdzevadze, Ketevan Goginashvili, Tamar Tigilauri, Marina Donduashvili, Marina Nikolaishvili, Irma Beradze, Marina Zakareishvili, Maka Kokhreidze, Makvala Gelashvili, Nino Vepkhvadze, S. Elizabeth Rácz, Philip H. Elzer, Mikeljon P. Nikolich, Jason K. Blackburn

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Brucellosis is the one of most common livestock zoonoses in Georgia, resulting in significant economic losses. Livestock were sampled in three regions of Georgia (Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Imereti). Districts that historically reported high numbers of brucellosis related morbidity were selected for serological, bacteriological and molecular surveys. Surveying efforts yielded samples from 10,819 large and small ruminants. In total, 735 serological tests were positive on Rose Bengal and 33 bacterial isolates were recovered and identified as Brucella melitensis or Brucella abortus by microbiology and AMOS-PCR. A Bayesian framework was implemented to estimate the true prevalence of the disease given an imperfect …

Combating Sti Epidemic: Community Perspectives Learned From Mixed-Gender Focus Group Study, K. M. M. Islam, Laura C. Vinson, Sherri Nared, Ira Combs, Melissa Tibbits, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Ruth Margalit

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Background. Since 2004, Douglas County in Nebraska has been experiencing higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than the rest of the state. Northern Omaha has been considered to be one of the “hot spots” for STIs in the county. In 2011-2012, a focus group study was conducted to investigate the community’s perception of STIs and to identify strategies to increase the testing and treatment of STIs. Methods. Fourteen young adults were recruited to participate in two mixed-gender focus group sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours. Sessions covered various topics on STIs. Audio-recorded sessions were transcribed and analyzed by …

Perbedaan Gender Pada Kejadian Sindrom Metabolik Pada Penduduk Perkotaan Di Indonesia, Krisnawaty Bantas, Hari Koesnanto Yoseph, Budi Moelyono

Kesmas

Sindrom Metabolik (SM) merupakan faktor risiko penting penyakit kardiovaskuler yang merupakan penyebab utama kematian di Indonesia. Perbedaan gender pada SM berkontribusi terhadap perbedaan gender pada penyakit kardiovaskuler. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui prevalensi dan risiko SM berdasarkan gender di perkotaan Indonesia menggunakan data Riset Kesehatan Dasar 2007 dan menggunakan rancangan penelitian potong lintang. Populasi penelitian terdiri dari 13.262 orang pria dan wanita yang tidak hamil berusia lebih dari 15 tahun yang bermukim di daerah perkotaan. Variabel penelitian meliputi variabel dependen sindrom metabolik. Variabel independen utama adalah gender dan variabel kovariat yang lain adalah level 1 (umur, status perkawinan, pendidikan, stres, merokok, …

Evaluation Of The Survival Effect For Various Treatment Modalities Among Stage Ii And Iii Rectal Cancer Patients In California, 1994-2009, Myung Mi Cho

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: European trials evaluating the effect of preoperative (PreOP) versus postoperative chemoradiotherapy (PostOP CRT) found no survival benefit. However, the effect of a change from PostOP to PreOP CRT has not been evaluated in a population-based setting. We sought to evaluate multimodal treatment changes and overall survival for perioperative (PeriOP) CRT versus surgery alone and for PreOP versus PostOP CRT from 1994 through 2009 among patients receiving radical surgery for stage II and III rectal cancer (RC).

Patients and Methods: We conducted a nonconcurrent cohort study evaluating demographic predictors of multimodal therapy for stage II and III RC using …

A Regionalized National Universal Kriging Model Using Partial Least Squares Regression For Estimating Annual Pm2.5 Concentrations In Epidemiology, Paul D. Sampson, Mark Richards, Adam A. Szpiro, Silas Bergen, Lianne Sheppard, Timothy V. Larson, Joel Kaufman

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Many cohort studies in environmental epidemiology require accurate modeling and prediction of fine scale spatial variation in ambient air quality across the U.S. This modeling requires the use of small spatial scale geographic or “land use” regression covariates and some degree of spatial smoothing. Furthermore, the details of the prediction of air quality by land use regression and the spatial variation in ambient air quality not explained by this regression should be allowed to vary across the continent due to the large scale heterogeneity in topography, climate, and sources of air pollution. This paper introduces a regionalized national universal kriging …

Using Box-Jenkins Modeling Techniques To Forecast Future Disease Burden And Identify Disease Aberrations In Public Health Surveillance Report, Larry C. Garrett

Dissertations

The analysis of public health surveillance data to identify departures from historical patterns of disease is required to facilitate the timely identification of potential outbreaks. Using the Box-Jenkins forecasting model, this study examines the potential to predict future disease burden based upon the historical record within local public health jurisdictions. Box-Jenkins forecasting was developed as a direct result of forecast problems in the business, economic, and control-engineering applications, yet it has not been systematically examined for use with public heath surveillance data.

Box-Jenkins forecast models are constructed by stratifying 84,029 disease reports from the State of Utah by year (n …

Timeliness Of Electronic And Traditional Laboratory Reporting In Southern Nevada, 1999-2012, Jennifer Anne Lucas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study compares the timeliness of Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) with traditional reporting. ELR has been implemented in parts of the United States, and is perceived to be faster than traditional reporting. Faster reporting leads to faster public health response to prevent outbreaks, and to reduce the burden of infectious disease in communities. Nevada State law requires that diseases be reported within certain time frames. Timeliness of laboratory reporting at the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) from 1999-2012 was assessed by analyzing cases of four common diseases in this retrospective secondary analysis of extant data.

The difference in timeliness regarding …

The Effectiveness Of Health Education Materials In Influencing Hiv Testing Behavior: The Unlv-Siphi Study, Rebecca Tsegay

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The UNLV-SIPHI (Sexual Health Internet-Based Public Health Intervention) Study focused on HIV prevention by improving HIV testing behavior through the development and dissemination of health education materials. The goal of the UNLV-SIPHI Study was to develop effective, custom-made HIV health education materials that promote the knowledge, intention and practice of HIV testing among UNLV students. The UNLV-SIPHI Study was conducted during Spring 2012 semester in selected UNLV undergraduate classes. An online quasi-randomized-control trial (RCT) was used to measure the difference in HIV testing behavior contributing factors among students exposed to the health education materials. Several nonparametric tests were used to …

Determinan Keluhan Muskuloskeletal Pada Tenaga Kerja Wanita, Andi Zulkifli Abdullah, A. Arsunan Arsin, Muhammad Yahya

Kesmas

Insomnia merupakan gangguan tidur yang paling sering ditemukan pada lanjut usia (lansia) dengan prevalensi sekitar 67%. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menilai hubungan antara kecemasan, depresi, dukungan keluarga, dan kondisi lingkungan dengan kejadian insomnia pada lansia di Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha Gau Mabaji Kabupaten Gowa. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain studi observasional dengan rancangan cross sectional dan metode exhausive sampling. Data dianalisis dengan uji chi square, koefisien phi (f) dengan a = 0,05. Sebanyak 96 lansia penghuni panti memenuhi kriteria penelitian. Uji chi square menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan antara kecemasan (nilai p = 0,014; f = 0,251), depresi (nilai p = 0,019; …

Determinan Insomnia Pada Lanjut Usia, Iwan Muhamad Ramdan, Tiyanpri Bayu Laksmono

Kesmas

Gangguan muskuloskeletal merupakan masalah kesehatan dan keselamatan kerja yang penting karena masih berkontribusi pada penurunan produktivitas kerja. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan umur tenaga kerja, masa kerja, indeks massa tubuh, dan sikap kerja dengan keluhan gangguan muskuloskeletal pada tenaga kerja wanita di unit produksi bagian kupas di PT SSM Kalimantan Timur. Penelitian kuantitatif yang menggunakan desain penelitian cross sectional ini dilakukan pada tenaga kerja wanita bagian pengupasan yang berjumlah 46 orang (total sampling). Variabel bebas penelitian terdiri dari umur, masa kerja, indeks massa tubuh, dan posisi kerja, sementara variabel terikat adalah keluhan gangguan muskuloskeletal. Analisis data yang digunakan adalah …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• JPHCOPH Student Publications

Multivitamin Supplementation In Hiv Infected Adults Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy In Uganda: The Protocol For A Randomized Double Blinded Placebo Controlled Efficacy Trial., David Guwatudde, Amara E. Ezeamama, Danstan Bagenda, Rachel Kyeyune, Fred Wabwire-Mangen, Henry Wamani, Ferdinand Mugusi, Donna Spiegelman, Molin Wang, Yukari C. Manabe, Wafaie W. Fawzi

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Use of multivitamin supplements during the pre-HAART era has been found to reduce viral load, enhance immune response, and generally improve clinical outcomes among HIV-infected adults. However, immune reconstitution is incomplete and significant mortality and opportunistic infections occur in spite of HAART. There is insufficient research information on whether multivitamin supplementation may be beneficial as adjunct therapy for HIV-infected individuals taking HAART. We propose to evaluate the efficacy of a single recommended daily allowance (RDA) of micronutrients (including vitamins B-complex, C, and E) in slowing disease progression among HIV-infected adults receiving HAART in Uganda.

METHODS/DESIGN: We are using a …

Antenatal Physical Activity Counseling Among Healthcare Providers, Jenn Leiferman, Margaret Gutilla, James Paulson, Jim Pivarnik

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: Pregnant women often report a lack of knowledge concerning the safety of exercising during pregnancy. Healthcare providers play an integral role in providing pregnant women with the necessary knowledge to promote antenatal physical activity. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess healthcare providers’ beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and practices related to antenatal physical activity counseling.

Study Design: 188 Providers (i.e. obstetricians, midwives, and family medicine physicians) completed a 39 closed-item survey. Characteristics among healthcare providers’ physical activity counseling practices as well as belief, attitudes and knowledge were explored.

Results: The majority of all providers agreed that physical activity …

High Prevalence Of Subclinical Atherosclerosis By Carotid Ultrasound Among Mexican Americans: Discordance With 10-Year Risk Assessment Using The Framingham Risk Score, Susan T. Laing, Beverly Smulevitz, Kristina Vatcheva, Anne R. Rentfro, David D. Mcpherson, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B. Mccormick

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Framingham risk scores (FRS) were validated in a mostly Caucasian population. Evaluation of subclinical atherosclerosis by carotid ultrasound may improve ascertainment of risk in nonwhite populations. This study aimed to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaquing among Mexican Americans, and to correlate these markers with coronary risk factors and the FRS.

Methods/results: Participants (n = 141) were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort. Carotid artery ultrasound was performed and cIMT measured. Carotid plaque was defined as areas of thickening >50% of the thickness of the surrounding walls. Mean age was 53.1 ± 11.7 years (73.8% female). …

Studi Epidemiologi Deskriptif Talasemia, Dwi Sarwani Sri Rejeki, Nunung Nurhayati, Supriyanto Supriyanto, Elva Kartikasari

Kesmas

Talasemia adalah penyakit kelainan darah akibat kekurangan atau penurunan produksi hemoglobin. Jumlah penderita talasemia di Yayasan Talasemia Indonesia cabang Banyumas terus meningkat. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mendeskripsikan karakteristik penderita talasemia di Yayasan Talasemia Indonesia cabang Banyumas tahun 2012. Penelitian kuantitatif dengan desain penelitian cross sectional ini dilakukan terhadap 64 sampel yang diambil dengan teknik proportionate stratified random sampling . Data dikumpulkan meliputi melalui wawancara terstruktur menggunakan kuesioner. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis deskriptif univariat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penderita talasemia rata-rata berusia 12,28 tahun, berjenis kelamin laki-laki (51,6%), sedang sekolah SD (40,6%), bukan angkatan kerja (92,2%), talasemia β-mayor (90,6%), …

Epidemiology Of Tuberculosis In Ohio, Usha Bala Vayuvegula

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global infectious disease often associated with HIV. Study of the distribution and epidemiologic trends may help target prevention and control measures towards high risk areas and groups.

Objective: To determine TB trends in four counties in Ohio, i.e. Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Montgomery counties, and to explore differences in distribution of cases across gender, age groups and races.

Methods: TB surveillance data was collected from the Ohio Department of Health website for 12 years (1999-2011). Mean TB rates across gender were compared using the two sample t-test. One way ANOVA was used to compare means …

Effects Of Genetic Variants Previously Associated With Fasting Glucose And Insulin In The Diabetes Prevention Program, Jose C. Florez, Kathleen A. Jablonski, Jarred B. Mcateer, Paul W. Franks, Clinton C. Mason, Kieren J. Mather, Edward Horton, Ronald Goldberg, Dana Dabelea, Steven E. Kahn, Richard F. Arakaki, Alan R. Shuldiner, William C. Knowler

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Common genetic variants have been recently associated with fasting glucose and insulin levels in white populations. Whether these associations replicate in pre-diabetes is not known. We extended these findings to the Diabetes Prevention Program, a clinical trial in which participants at high risk for diabetes were randomized to placebo, lifestyle modification or metformin for diabetes prevention. We genotyped previously reported polymorphisms (or their proxies) in/near G6PC2, MTNR1B, GCK, DGKB, GCKR, ADCY5, MADD, CRY2, ADRA2A,FADS1, PROX1, SLC2A2, GLIS3, C2CD4B, IGF1, and IRS1 in 3,548 Diabetes …

Measuring Infertility In Populations: Constructing A Standard Definition For Use With Demographic And Reproductive Health Surveys, Maya N. Mascarenhas, Hoiwan Cheung, Colin D. Mathers, Gretchen A. Stevens

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Infertility is a significant disability, yet there are no reliable estimates of its global prevalence. Studies on infertility prevalence define the condition inconsistently, rendering the comparison of studies or quantitative summaries of the literature difficult. This study analyzed key components of infertility to develop a definition that can be consistently applied to globally available household survey data.

Methods: We proposed a standard definition of infertility and used it to generate prevalence estimates using 53 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The analysis was restricted to the subset of DHS that contained detailed fertility information collected through the reproductive health calendar. …

Genetic Modulation Of Lipid Profiles Following Lifestyle Modification Or Metformin Treatment: The Diabetes Prevention Program, Toni I. Pollin, Tamara Isakova, Kathleen A. Jablonski, Paul I.W. De Bakker, Andrew Taylor, Jarred B. Mcateer, Qing Pan, Edward Horton, Linda M. Delahanty, David Altshuler, Alan R. Shuldiner, Ronald Goldberg, Jose C. Florez, George A. Bray

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Weight-loss interventions generally improve lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but effects are variable and may depend on genetic factors. We performed a genetic association analysis of data from 2,993 participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program to test the hypotheses that a genetic risk score (GRS) based on deleterious alleles at 32 lipid-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms modifies the effects of lifestyle and/or metformin interventions on lipid levels and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein subfraction size and number. Twenty-three loci previously associated with fasting LDL-C, HDL-C, or triglycerides replicated (P = 0.04–1×10−17). Except for total HDL particles (r = −0.03, …

Stubborn, Persistent, Dangerous C.Difficile Infections. Is Improvement Possible?, Sara Townsend

Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety Capstone Presentations

C.difficile also known as C.diff or CDI has developed into a dangerous infection for the United States’ health care system. While much work has been done to improve C.diff rates, health care teams have not been successful in reducing C.difficile infections. Many studies have focused on the mode of transmission of C.difficle, yet there still is not consensus on understanding how this infection is spread. Bryn Mawr Hospital, a community hospital in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa, has struggled to improve their C.diff rates like their peers throughout the country. While their infection rates for C.diff are …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Variations in Birth Weight

Fall In C-Peptide During First 2 Years From Diagnosis: Evidence Of At Least Two Distinct Phases From Composite Type 1 Diabetes Trialnet Data., Carla J. Greenbaum, Craig A. Beam, David Boulware, Stephen E. Gitelman, Peter A. Gottlieb, Kevan C. Herold, John M. Lachin, Paula L. Mcgee, Jerry P. Palmer, Mark D. Pescovitz, Heidi Krause-Steinrauf, Jay S. Skyler, Jay M. Sosenko

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Interpretation of clinical trials to alter the decline in β-cell function after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes depends on a robust understanding of the natural history of disease. Combining data from the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet studies, we describe the natural history of β-cell function from shortly after diagnosis through 2 years post study randomization, assess the degree of variability between patients, and investigate factors that may be related to C-peptide preservation or loss. We found that 93% of individuals have detectable C-peptide 2 years from diagnosis. In 11% of subjects, there was no significant fall from baseline by 2 …

Refining The Global Spatial Limits Of Dengue Virus Transmission By Evidence-Based Consensus, Oliver J. Brady, Peter W. Gething, Samir Bhatt, Jane P. Messina, John S. Brownstein, Anne G. Hoen

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Dengue is a growing problem both in its geographical spread and in its intensity, and yet current global distribution remains highly uncertain. Challenges in diagnosis and diagnostic methods as well as highly variable national health systems mean no single data source can reliably estimate the distribution of this disease. As such, there is a lack of agreement on national dengue status among international health organisations. Here we bring together all available information on dengue occurrence using a novel approach to produce an evidence consensus map of the disease range that highlights nations with an uncertain dengue status.

Methods/Principle Findings: …

Missed Opportunities For Diagnosis And Treatment Of Diabetes, Hypertension, And Hypercholesterolemia In A Mexican American Population, Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, 2003-2008, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Kristina Vatcheva, Susan T. Laing, Monir Hossain, M Hossein Rahbar, Craig Hanis, H Shelton Brown, Anne R. Rentfro, Belinda M. Reininger, Joseph B. Mccormick

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction

Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are common chronic diseases among Hispanics, a group projected to comprise 30% of the US population by 2050. Mexican Americans are the largest ethnically distinct subgroup among Hispanics. We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia among Mexican Americans in Cameron County, Texas.

Methods

We analyzed cross-sectional baseline data collected from 2003 to 2008 in the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, a randomly selected, community-recruited cohort of 2,000 Mexican American adults aged 18 or older, to assess prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia; to assess the extent to …

Genetic Predictors Of Clinical Outcomes In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients, Xia Pu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the US. Emerging evidence has shown that host genetic factors can interact with environmental exposures to influence patient susceptibility to the diseases as well as clinical outcomes, such as survival and recurrence. We aimed to identify genetic prognostic markers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a major (85%) subtype of lung cancer, and also in other subgroups. With the fast evolution of genotyping technology, genetic association studies have went through candidate gene approach, to pathway-based approach, to the genome wide association study (GWAS). Even in the era of GWAS, pathway-based …