Epidemiology Commons^™

Bayesian Effect Estimation Accounting For Adjustment Uncertainty, Chi Wang, Giovanni Parmigiani, Francesca Dominici

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Threshold Regression Models Adapted To Case-Control Studies, And The Risk Of Lung Cancer Due To Occupational Exposure To Asbestos In France, Antoine Chambaz, Dominique Choudat, Catherine Huber, Jean-Claude Pairon, Mark J. Van Der Laan

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Asbestos has been known for many years as a powerful carcinogen. Our purpose is quantify the relationship between an occupational exposure to asbestos and an increase of the risk of lung cancer. Furthermore, we wish to tackle the very delicate question of the evaluation, in subjects suffering from a lung cancer, of how much the amount of exposure to asbestos explains the occurrence of the cancer. For this purpose, we rely on a recent French case-control study. We build a large collection of threshold regression models, data-adaptively select a better model in it by multi-fold likelihood-based cross-validation, then fit the …

An Exercise In Molecular Epidemiology: Human Rhinovirus Prevalence And Genitics, Catherine J. Albright, David J. Hall

Chemistry Department Faculty Publications

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is one of the most common human respiratory pathogens and is responsible for the majority of upper respiratory illnesses. Recently, a phylogeny was constructed from all known Ameri- can Type Culture Collection (ATCC) HRV sequences. From this study, three HRV classifications (HRVA, HRVB, and HRVC) were determined and techniques for classifying new isolates of HRV were reported. The genetic change of this virus in specific populations over time is of great interest to understand the evolution and epidemiology of viruses. To facilitate the collections of HRV sequences over a number of years, a virology experiment was designed …

The Epidemiology Of Human Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis In Virginia, 2002 And 2003, Marilyn Goss Haskell

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To describe a sample that received human rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in Virginia as a result of animal exposures in 2002 and 2003 and to determine the extent to which PEP decisions were appropriate.Methods: PEP surveillance data were requested from 35 Virginia health districts within 5 regions. Retrospective chart review was used to gather demographic, exposure and source animal data from patient records and animal exposure reports. Descriptive statistics are presented. True exposures and appropriateness of PEP were defined using the 2004 Virginia Rabies Control Guidelines and the Recommendations of the 1999 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The 2003 …

Kebutaan Pada Pasien Glaukoma Primer Di Rumah Sakit Umum Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Jakarta, Fetty Ismandari, Helda Helda

Kesmas

Glaukoma adalah penyebab kebutaan permanen nomor dua di Indonesia yang sering tidak disadari oleh penderita. Proporsi pasien baru glaukoma yang datang ke RSUPN Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) dalam kondisi buta cukup tinggi. Tujuan penelitian ini mengetahui berbagai faktor yang berhubungan dengan kebutaan tersebut. Penelitian ini dilakukan terhadap 420 pasien glaukoma primer yang berkunjung di poliklinik penyakit mata RSCM pada Januari 2007-Oktober 2009 dan memenuhi kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis Cox’s Proportional Hazard Model untuk mendapatkan nilai prevalence ratio (PR). Penelitian ini didapatkan hubungan bermakna antara kebutaan akibat glaukoma primer tekanan intraokular (PR = 1,01; 95% …

Seropositivity To Cytomegalovirus, Inflammation, All-Cause And Cardiovascular Disease-Related Mortality In The United States, Amanda M. Simanek, Jennifer Beam Dowd, Graham Pawelec, David Melzer, Ambarish Dutta, Allison E. Aiello

Publications and Research

Background: Studies have suggested that CMV infection may influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. However, there have been no large-scale examinations of these relationships among demographically diverse populations. The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is also linked with CVD outcomes and mortality and may play an important role in the pathway between CMV and mortality. We utilized a U.S. nationally representative study to examine whether CMV infection is associated with all-cause and CVD-related mortality. We also assessed whether CRP level mediated or modified these relationships.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Data come from subjects $25 years of age who were tested for …

A Retrospective Population Based Cohort Study Examining The Black White Gap In Infant Mortality, Ina Marie Peoples

Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award

Black women in one US City have more than a 2-fold likelihood of experiencing a death in the womb or an infant death within the first year of life when compared to Whites. The purpose of this retrospective population based cohort study was to examine the unexplained high rates of Black fetal and infant (feto-infant) mortality in this city. The study was built on the perinatal periods of risk (PPOR) model. The PPOR model maps each death in a geographic region into four distinct periods of risk based on birth weight and age at death. The study relied upon 51,303 …

Angiogenic Biomarkers For Risk Stratification In Women With Suspected Preeclampsia, Andreea Balan, Heather Young, Linda Ojo, Jennifer Keller, Sharon Maynard

Epidemiology Faculty Posters and Presentations

This poster presents the results of a single-center prospective cohort study of 315 pregnant women who presented to George Washington University Hospital Labor and Delivery service with a clinical suspicion of preeclampsia between February 2007 and November 2011. Informed consent was obtained. Baseline demographic information and medical history was collected on each patient including maternal age, ethnicity, body mass index, tobacco and other substance use, gestational age, medical problems and obstetric history. Serum samples were obtained from each enrolled subject within 24 hours of admission, and sFlt1, PlGF and sEng ELISA assays were performed in duplicate by a blinded laboratory …

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 …

Decision Aid Models For Resource Sharing Strategies During Global Influenza Pandemics, Alfredo Santana Reynoso

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pandemic influenza outbreaks have historically entailed significant societal and economic disruptions. Today, our quality of life is threatened by our inadequate preparedness for the imminent pandemic. The key challenges we are facing stem from a significant uncertainty in virus epidemiology, limited response resources, inadequate international collaboration, and the lack of appropriate science-based decision support tools. The existing literature falls short of comprehensive models for global pandemic spread and mitigation which incorporate the heterogeneity of the world regions and realistic travel networks. In addition, there exist virtually no studies which quantify the impact of resource sharing strategies among multiple countries. This …

Attitudes Toward Vaccination In The Event Of An Influenza Pandemic And The Characteristics Of Those Likely To Decline Vaccination, Michelle Lynn Cummings

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

BACKGROUND: In addition to conscientious hygiene and limiting exposure, vaccination is an important public health intervention to limit influenza infection among high risk groups. However, limited research has been conducted among the general population to measure vaccine acceptance against a pandemic strain of influenza, and which specific concerns might hinder acceptance. Because this study was conducted prior to the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, it serves as a baseline measure of the population's perspectives on influenza vaccination. Subsequent studies will shed light on the degree to which a pandemic heightens acceptance.

Epidemiology Of Blood-Borne Infections Among Georgian Health Care Workers, Maia Butsashvili

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

INTRO: The prevalence of hepatitis in central Asia is considered high (>8% endemnicity) by the World Health Organization. Universal precautions among healthcare workers (HCWs) and newborn vaccination programs are important public health interventions to reduce the spread of hepatitis and other blood borne pathogens. This comprehensive evaluation of the risk of blood borne pathogen exposure among HCWs in the Republic of Georgia measures the following: 1) nosocomial risk events; 2) prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among Georgian HCWs; 3) predictive factors for HCWs recommending HBV vaccination for children; 4) prevalence of and willingness to report behavioral risk factors …

An Evaluation Of Multiple Primary Breast And Lung Cancers, Colleen G. Sherman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the recent changes in multiple primary rules for breast and lung cancers and determine their effects on population incidence rates, illustrate specific patterns in multiple primary cancers for breast and lung cancers in New York and compare these patterns to SEER data, and to identify risks for developing multiple primary breast and lung cancers based on data in the New York State Cancer Registry (NYSCR).

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

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT

Preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (Hiv-1): Effects Of Intrapartum And Neonatal Single-Dose Nevirapine Prophylaxis And Subsequent Hiv-1 Drug Resistance At Antiretroviral Treatment Initiation, Amanda L. Harmon

CMC Senior Theses

The prevention of mother-to-child transmission is one of the most powerful tools in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) prevention and has huge potential to improve both maternal and child health. In the absence of any preventative measures, infants born to and breastfed by their HIV-positive mothers have roughly a one-in-three chance of acquiring the infection themselves. HIV can be passed on from mother-to-child during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and even after during breastfeeding.

Intrapartum and neonatal single-dose nevirapine (sd-NVP) is the foundation of preventing mother-to-child transmission in lower resource settings where it has been used alone or as …

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 …

Case-Control Study Of Sunlight Exposure And Cutaneous Human Papillomavirus Seroreactivity In Basal Cell And Squamous Cell Carcinomas Of The Skin, Michelle R. Iannacone

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), comprised of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is the most common cancer in Caucasians. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the most important environmental risk factor for both BCC and SCC development. However, the precise relationship between UVR and the risk of NMSC is complex, and the relationship may differ by skin cancer type. It has been hypothesized that intermittent patterns and childhood sunlight exposure are important for BCC while continuous (chronic) and lifelong (i.e. childhood and adulthood) sunlight exposure is important for SCC. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) …

Assessing The Relationship Of Monocytes With Primary And Secondary Dengue Infection Among Hospitalized Dengue Patients In Malaysia, 2010: A Cross-Sectional Study, Benjamin Glenn Klekamp

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dengue, a group of four similar viruses transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, is estimated to infect upwards of 100 million annually in over 100 nations throughout the global equatorial belt. Distribution of global dengue is highly skewed as Southeast Asian and Western Pacific regions endure 75% of the global dengue burden. Similar to other regional countries, Malaysia has been rapidly urbanizing, which has supported a hyperendemic dengue state.

The biological pathway by which dengue infection causes a wide range of clinical manifestations, spanning asymptomatic to life-threatening severe complications, is not comprehensively understood. Historically, severe dengue complications have primarily …

Gender Differences In Lung Cancer Treatment And Survival, Margaret Anne Kowski

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to test treatment and survival differences between women and men with lung cancer as there is minimal investigation in the literature. Three research questions were developed with statistical testing for gender differences based on similar cancer type, stage, treatment assignment and survival. Data for 44,863 primary lung cancer cases were collected from eight U.S. state-based cancer registries to investigate the research questions. The lung cancer incidence data included the morphological cell-types of adenocarcinoma (AC); squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); large cell carcinoma (LCC) and small cell carcinoma (SCC). Stage, grade, treatment type, as well as, …

The Natural History Of Human Papillomavirus Related Condyloma In A Multinational Cohort Of Men, Gabriella Anic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, but few studies have examined the progression from HPV infection to disease in men. Genital condyloma are the most common clinical manifestation of HPV infection. Though not associated with mortality, condyloma are a source of emotional distress, and treatment is often painful with a high recurrence rate. The aims of this study were to examine the distribution of HPV types present on the surface of condyloma, estimate the incidence of condyloma overall and after type-specific HPV infections, assess the sociodemographic and sexual behavior factors independently associated …

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 …

An Investigation Of The Subtype Diversity Of Clinical Isolates Of Irish Clostridium Difficile Ribotypes 027 And 078 By Repetitive-Extragenic Palindromic Pcr, Denise Drudy, K. Solomon, S. Murray, L. Scott, S. Mcdermott,, A. Martin, C. O’Donoghue, M. Skally, K. Burns, L. Fenelon, F. Fitzpatrick,, L. Kyne, S. Fanning

Articles

A repetitive-extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) subtyping method (DiversiLab) in conjunction with ribotyping, toxinotyping and antimicrobial-susceptibility testing was used to detect subtypes within Clostridium difficile ribotypes 027 and 078. Clinical isolates of ribotypes 027 (toxinotype III) (n530) and 078 (toxinotype V) (n523) were provided by health-care facilities across the Republic of Ireland over 2 months in 2006 and 1 month in 2009. Ribotype 027 isolates were significantly more related to each other (9 different subtype profiles) when compared to ribotype 078 isolates (14 different profiles) (P50.001; cut-off .90 % similarity). Almost half of ribotype 078 isolates (45.5 %) showed no relationship …

Medical Encounter Characteristics Of Hiv Seroconverters In The Us Army And Air Force, 2000–2004, Shilpa Hakre, David Brett-Major, Darrell E. Singer, Robert J. O'Connell, Warren B. Sateren, Jose L. Sanchez, Brian K. Agan, Nelson L. Michael, Paul T. Scott

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Active duty US Army and Air Force military personnel undergo mandatory biennial HIV antibody screening. We compared pre- and post-HIV seroconversion health status by conducting a case-control study, which evaluated all medical encounters and sociodemographic factors among incident HIV seroconverters and HIV-negative controls from June 2000 through February 2004.

RESULTS: A total of 274 HIV seroconverters and 6205 HIV-negative personnel were included. In multivariate analysis restricted to male personnel (cases = 261, controls = 5801), single marital status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 14.37), clinical indicators or symptoms within four years of HIV diagnosis (AOR = 6.22), …

Naming Global Health, David Brett-Major

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

No abstract provided.

A Sibling Case-Control Study Of Maternal Prenatal Body Mass Index As A Risk Factor For Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ruth Ann Hendrix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to be one in every 150 births. While both genetic and postpartum environmental exposure have been linked to ASD, prenatal maternal weight has not been investigated. The objective of the study is to assess whether overweight or obesity at pregnancy is an important risk factor for the diagnosis of ASD in offspring. A case-control study was designed to answer this question using the public health ecosocial theory. The study population consisted of 70 mothers, who were recruited via the Internet using the viral expansion loop. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used …

Differences In Breast Cancer Tumor Size, Stage, And Survival By Socioeconomic Position In Young Women, Julie Maureen Tomaska

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the incidence of breast cancer in women under 40 years of age is somewhat rare, young women tend to present with cancer that is more advanced and with poorer prognostic characteristics. This research will be important to providers, women and their families and those seeking to clarify screening guidelines. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective, cohort study was to evaluate differences in prognostic characteristics by socioeconomic position (SIP). The cohort was comprised of females aged 18 to 39 with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry for all primary …

Association Between Vegan, Vegetarian, And Omnivorous Diets And Overweight And Obesity, Daniel Sullivan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Overweight and obesity and associated health risks have become epidemic in several regions around the world. Numerous studies have addressed the dietary habits of vegetarians and vegans in terms of disease prevention and nutritional deficiencies but the relationship between overweight and obesity and the demographic, psychosocial, lifestyle, and dietary intake of omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans has received less attention. Guided by the social-ecological model, this study included a cross-sectional, quantitative, anonymous web-based survey to obtain dietary information on omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. Vegans demonstrated a significantly lower mean and median body mass index ( p=0.00) than omnivores, semi-vegetarians, and vegetarians. …

The Relationship Between Daily Snowfall Accumulation And Pattern And Severity Of Traumatic Injuries At A U.S. Ski Resort, S. Jason Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Throughout the relevant literature, research addressing the impact of a specific environmental factor, such as snowfall, on injury patterns or severity among alpine skiers and snowboarders is sparse. The foundation for inquiry into this relationship was developed based on principles of physics and traumatology coupled with findings in the available literature. Secondary analysis of trauma registry data coupled with daily snowfall measurements from one of the largest ski areas in North America illustrated a negative correlation between daily snowfall amount and injury severity (r = -.08). Concordant findings demonstrated an increased odds of sustaining an injury defined as severe or …

Assessing The Influence Of Socioeconomic Factors, Knowledge Level, Attitudes, And Practices On Malaria Prevention Among The Gusii People Of Kenya, Christopher Nyakundi Arori

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global morbidity and mortality associated with malaria is rampant, and most of the clinical malaria cases are found in sub Saharan Africa. Previous and current research show that malaria is both preventable and treatable and that socioeconomic variables have a profound influence on how persons in rural Africa respond to malaria infections and the associated preventive strategies. This study assessed two key research questions for malaria cases in the Gusii region of Kenya regarding: First, whether a community education program on malaria has an impact in changing malaria preventive behaviors; and, second, if a relationship exists between socioeconomic factors and …

The Relationship Of Provider Cultural Competence And Utilization Of Prenatal Care In The Hmong Of Minnesota, Cynthia J. Larson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experts suggest that the cultural competence of healthcare providers is a critical factor impacting healthcare services to the ethnically diverse patient populations in the U.S. and that it may play a role in improving outcomes and reducing health disparities; however, the association between cultural competence and health outcomes remains unclear. This study used a cross-sectional quantitative design grounded by cultural competency constructs and the ethnic origins theory to explore the relationships between provider cultural competence, adequacy of prenatal care, and neonatal health outcomes in Hmong women, a population whose cultural beliefs affect their use of early and adequate prenatal care. …