Clinical Epidemiology Commons^™

Characterization Of Cancer Incidence In Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Single Center Study, 2008 – 2018, Jagadeesh Puvvula

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the significance of lower Glomerular filtration rate on incidence and mortality from cancer is uncertain. There is evidence that cancer risk and cancer mortality may be increased in individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or after renal transplantation but whether less severe kidney disease is associated with cancer remains poorly understood.

Some studies indicate that these associations do appear to be organ specific. It has been reported that reduced renal function is associated with an increased risk of cancers of the kidney and …

Evaluation Of The Hiv Infant Tracking System (Hitsystem) To Optimise Quality And Efficiency Of Early Infant Diagnosis: A Cluster-Randomised Trial In Kenya., Sarah Finocchario-Kessler, Brad Gautney, Anlin Cheng, Catherine Wexler, May Maloba, Niaman Nazir, Samoel Khamadi, Raphael Lwembe, Melinda Brown, Thomas A. Odeny, Jacinda K. Dariotis, Matthew Sandbulte, Natabhona Mabachi, Kathy Goggin

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) is a web-based intervention linking providers of early infant diagnosis, laboratory technicians, and mothers and infants to improve outcomes for HIV-exposed infants. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the HITSystem on key outcomes of early infant diagnosis.

METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised trial at six hospitals in Kenya, which were matched on geographic region, resource level, and volume of patients (high, medium, and low). We randomly allocated hospitals within a matched pair to either the HITSystem (intervention; n=3) or standard of care (control; n=3). A random number generator was used to assign …

Maternal Experiences Of Intimate Partner Violence And C-Reactive Protein Levels In Young Children In Tanzania, Natalie Slopen, Jing Zhang, Samuel S. Urlacher, Gretchen De Silva, Mona Mittal

Publications and Research

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical public health issue that impacts women and children across the globe.Prior studies have documented that maternal experiences of IPV are associated with adverse psychological and physical health outcomes in children; however, research on the underlying physiological pathways linking IPV to these conditions is limited. Drawing on data from the 2010 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey, we examined the relationship between maternal report of IPV in the past 12 months and inflammation among children ages 6 months to 5 years. Our study included 503 children who were randomly selected to provide a blood sample …

Knowledge And Risk Factors For Stroke Among Undergraduates In Southwestern Nigeria, Wasiu Olalekan Adebimpe

Marshall Journal of Medicine

The burden of non-communicable diseases due to stroke is increasing. Despite this, community based studies that could stimulate stroke primordial prevention among the population at risk are sparse. This study assessed community knowledge and risk factors to stroke among University undergraduates in Osogbo, southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 420 male undergraduates selected through multi-stage sampling method. Research instruments were self-administered semi structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 17.0. Four hundred and seven (96.9%) have heard about stroke. Good mean knowledge score of causes, symptoms, warning signs and risk factors of stroke …

Racial Disparity Among Women Diagnosed With Invasive Breast Cancer In A Large Integrated Health System, Maharaj Singh, Santhi D. Konduri, George C. Bobustuc, Amin B. Kassam, Richard A. Rovin

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Reasons for the well-described disparity in outcomes between African American (AA) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women with invasive breast cancer are unclear, making it difficult to identify solutions. This study examined the effects of demographics, biomarkers, tumor characteristics, cancer stage, morphology, and treatment variables on overall and cancer-free survival in these patient populations.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data for 6231 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer throughout an integrated health system from January 2006 through March 2015. Included for analysis were 5023 NHW and 413 AA women. All category and continuous variables in the study were described in the …

Improving Health And Well-Being: Connecting Research And Practice. The 24th Annual Conference Of The Health Care Systems Research Network, Karen L. Margolis, Nico Pronk, Jane E. Duncan, Sarah M. Greene

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The 24th annual conference of the Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN, formerly the HMO Research Network), held April 11–13, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, attracted 357 attendees. The HCSRN is a consortium of 18 community-based research organizations embedded in or affiliated with large health care delivery systems. Its annual research conference, held since 1994, is a unique venue that brings diverse stakeholders (eg, research teams, clinicians, patients, funders) together to explore a range of health research topics and scientific findings, with a unifying goal of connecting applied research to real-world care delivery for the betterment of individual and community health. …

Automated Real-Time Collection Of Pathogen-Specific Diagnostic Data: Syndromic Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Lindsay Meyers, Christine C. Ginocchio, Aimie N. Faucett, Frederick S. Nolte, Per H. Gesteland, Amy Leber, Diane Janowiak, Virginia Donovan, Jennifer Dien Bard, Silvia Spitzer, Kathleen A. Stellrecht, Hossein Salimnia, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Stefan Juretschko, Judy A. Daly, Jeremy C. Wallentine, Kristy Lindsey, Franklin Moore, Sharon L. Reed, Maria Aguero-Rosenfeld, Paul D. Fey, Gregory A. Storch, Steve J. Melnick, Christine C. Robinson, Jennifer F. Meredith, Camille V. Cook, Robert K. Nelson, Jay D. Jones, Samuel V. Scarpino, Benjamin M. Althouse, Kirk M. Ririe, Bradley A. Malin, Mark A. Poritz

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

© Lindsay Meyers, Christine C Ginocchio, Aimie N Faucett, Frederick S Nolte, Per H Gesteland, Amy Leber, Diane Janowiak,.

Background: Health care and public health professionals rely on accurate, real-time monitoring of infectious diseases for outbreak preparedness and response. Early detection of outbreaks is improved by systems that are comprehensive and specific with respect to the pathogen but are rapid in reporting the data. It has proven difficult to implement these requirements on a large scale while maintaining patient privacy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the automated export, aggregation, and analysis of infectious disease diagnostic test …

Matters Of Trust: Examination Of The Patient-Provider Relationship In Cancer Care, Krista A. Brown

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: The intangible concept of trust is critical in the patient-provider relationship. Cancer patients may experience positive and negative impacts of trust in this relationship to a higher degree due to the inherently serious nature of their disease and the level of dependence upon treatment providers.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare colorectal cancer patients’ levels of trust in their primary care physician and oncologist, along with examining trust differences associated with demographics and other characteristics.

Methods: Colorectal cancer patients (n=158) treated at Nebraska Medicine and consented into the Integrated Cancer Repository for Cancer Research IRB …

Lagged Influence Of Fine Particulate Matter And Geographic Disparities On Clinic Visits For Children’S Asthma In Taiwan, Lung-Chang Chien, Yu-An Chen, Hwa-Lung Yu

School of Public Health Faculty Research

Recent studies have revealed the influence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on increased medication use, hospital admission, and emergency room visits for asthma attack in children, but the lagged influence of PM2.5 on children’s asthma and geographic disparities of children’s asthma have rarely been discussed simultaneously. This study investigated the documented diagnosis of children’s asthma in clinic visits for children aged less than 15 years old that were associated with PM2.5 in two counties located in west-central Taiwan during 2005–2010. The result shows that PM2.5 had a significant lagged effect on children’s asthma for up to 6 days. A significantly …

The Predictors Of Juvenile Recidivism: Testimonies Of Adult Students 18 Years And Older Exiting From Alternative Education, La Toshia Palmer

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative study was to identify and describe the importance of the predictors of juvenile recidivism and the effectiveness of efforts to prevent/avoid juvenile recidivism as perceived by previously detained, arrested, convicted, and/or incarcerated adult students 18 years of age and older exiting from alternative education in Northern California. A second purpose was to explore the types of support provided by alternative schools and the perceived importance of the support to avoid recidivism according to adult students 18 years of age and older exiting from alternative education.

Methodology: This qualitative, descriptive research design identified …

Epigenome-Wide Association Study Of Metabolic Syndrome In African-American Adults, Tomi Akinyemiju, Anh N. Do, Amit Patki, Stella Aslibekyan, Degui Zhi, Bertha Hidalgo, Hemant K. Tiwari, Devin Absher, Xin Geng, Donna K. Arnett, Marguerite R. Irvin

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: The high prevalence of obesity among US adults has resulted in significant increases in associated metabolic disorders such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure. Together, these disorders constitute metabolic syndrome, a clinically defined condition highly prevalent among African-Americans. Identifying epigenetic alterations associated with metabolic syndrome may provide additional information regarding etiology beyond current evidence from genome-wide association studies.

Methods: Data on metabolic syndrome and DNA methylation was assessed on 614 African-Americans from the Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network (HyperGEN) study. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the joint harmonized criteria, and DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina HumanMethylation450K Bead …

Association Between Smoking And Functional Outcome In Acute Ischemic Stroke Population Treated With Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Iretioluwa Ajani, Oluyemi R. Rotimi, Olubunmi Kuku, Ndukwe Kalu, Olakunle Oni, Christian Nwabueze, Thomas Nathaniel, Shimin Zheng

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Association between Smoking and Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Population Treated with Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Iretioluwa Ajani¹, Oluyemi Rotimi¹, Olubunmi Kuku¹, Ndukwe Kalu¹, Olakunle Oni¹, Nwabueze Christian¹,Thomas Nathaniel², Shimin Zheng^1*

¹Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614

²Department of Neurology, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29208

*Sponsoring faculty

Background

The effect of smoking on outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with …

Shigellosis And Giardiasis Among People Living With Hiv In Washington, Dc, 2012-2016, Kimesha Linton, Kerri Dorsey, Sasha Mcgee, Preetha Iyengar, Garret Lum, Rupali Doshi

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Shigellosis and giardiasis are transmitted via food, water, and fecal-oral contact. CDC has recently reported increased shigellosis among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly stage 3. Our goal was to characterize the incidence and risk factors associated with shigellosis and giardiasis among PLWH in Washington, DC, in an era of robust availability of antiretroviral treatment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of HIV, shigellosis and giardiasis cases reported to the District of Columbia Department of Health from 2012 to 2016. We used LinkPlus to probabilistically match individuals with reported …

(Video) Characterizing The Exposome: Critical Analysis Of Exposome-Wide Association Studies, Marlee Nelson, Matias Attene Ramos

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Purpose: The exposome is a conceptual framework of all exposures encountered by an individual in his or her lifetime. Studying the exposome is thereby a monumental feat that may require extensive research, conceptualization, and proof-of-concept analyses. Researchers have begun studying the exposome by developing exposome- and environment-wide association studies (EWAS). Since EWAS is such a novel technique, this critical analysis of existing EWAS in the literature sought to determine whether the studies utilized common research methods, how the data were analyzed, and whether the analyses were similar. The analysis also sought to explore ways in which these studies could inform …

Impressions Of Participants In A Chemical Mass Casualty Exercise, Ethan J. Start, Joan M. Culley, Abbas Tavakoli

Senior Theses

A mass casualty exercise was performed to investigate triage and decontamination of patients exposed to an irritant gas. Nursing students participated in two groups: emergency department triage (ED) and decontamination (DECON). While participants felt overall that the experience was valuable, DECON participants had a greater interest in emergency response and were more likely to volunteer again.

Risk Behaviors And Hiv Care Continuum Outcomes Among Criminal Justice-Involved Hiv-Infected Transgender Women And Cisgender Men: Data From The Seek, Test, Treat, And Retain Harmonization Initiative., Curt G Beckwith, Irene Kuo, Rob J Fredericksen, Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, William E Cunningham, Sandra A Springer, Kelsey B Loeliger, Julie Franks, Katerina Christopoulos, Jennifer Lorvick, Shoshana Y Kahana, Rebekah Young, David W Seal, Chad Zawitz, Joseph A Delaney, Heidi M Crane, Mary L Biggs

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Transgender persons are highly victimized, marginalized, disproportionately experience incarceration, and have alarmingly increased rates of HIV infection compared to cis-gender persons. Few studies have examined the HIV care continuum outcomes among transgender women (TW), particularly TW who are involved with the criminal justice (CJ) system.

METHODS: To improve our understanding of HIV care continuum outcomes and risk behaviors among HIV-infected TW who are involved with the CJ system, we analyzed data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse-supported Seek, Test, Treat, Retain (STTR) Data Harmonization Initiative. Baseline data were pooled and analyzed from three U.S. STTR studies to examine …

Aggressive Diuresis And Severity-Adjusted Length Of Hospital Stay In Acute Congestive Heart Failure Patients, Muhammad U. Butt

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical Research Design

To see if aggressive diuresis in first twenty four hours is associated with a comparable number of total days in the hospital as compared to non-aggressive diuresis. In this retrospective cohort study, we compared the length of hospital stay of consecutive patients admitted in one year based on their diuresis during the first twenty-four hours of hospitalization: aggressive diuresis (group 1) i.e. > 2400mL versus non-aggressive diuresis (group 2) i.e. ≤ 2400mL urine output. Patients were excluded if in cardiogenic shock, had creatinine level above 3 mg/dL on admission, or on dialysis. A total of 194 patients were enrolled (29 in …

The Effectiveness Of Interventions And Bundles For Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mohamad Alhamwi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) are a major cause of increased mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) patients. Despite CDC's efforts to reduce infection rates, patients often suffer consequences. The objective of this study is to perform a systematic review of strategies utilized in the neonatal population and evaluate them with the current CDC's guidelines to assess the effectiveness of bundles in preventing CLABSI in NICUs.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using CINAHL Plus with Text, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and MEDLINE from January 2008 up to 2018. There were multiple …

Usefulness Of The Captia Syphilis Igg Eia Test Method And Reverse Algorithm For Detection Of Syphilis Infection In A Public Health Setting, Patricia Armour

Theses and Dissertations

Syphilis, a systemic sexually transmitted disease, is on the rise in the US, with infection rates the highest recorded since 1994 according to the CDC. Useful laboratory testing is an important diagnostic tool for determining individual syphilis infection and preventing community-wide disease spread.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of a specific automated treponemal test method, the Captia^TM Syphilis IgG EIA, and the syphilis reverse algorithm interpretation for detecting syphilis infection among patients seeking care in a public health clinic. The study employed a retrospective, nonexperimental descriptive correlational design with data collected between 2012-2013 from …

The Influence Of Clinically Meaningful Factors On The Performance Of The Recommended Annual Diabetic Foot Screening, Trisha A. Sando

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are the result of multiple complications from hyperglycemia and lead to poor quality of life and high healthcare costs. The annual diabetes foot screening exam (ADFSE) and prevention interventions can reduce DFUs up to 75%. In 2015, 71% of the US population received the ADFSE.

Objectives: The main objectives of this dissertation were: 1) to determine the association between adherence to diabetes self-management behaviors and the ADFSE, 2) to determine the association between concordant and discordant comorbidities and the ADFSE and 3) to determine the association between the performance of diabetes preventive care processes, number of …