356 research outputs found
A Macrolevel Examination of County-Level Risk Factors for Underage Drinking Prevention: Intervention Opportunities to Protect Youth in the State of Georgia
No full textIntroduction: Underage drinking can have profoundly negative impacts on childhood development. This study compares 4 categories of known underage drinking risk factors with alcohol consumption. The social indicators in these categories will be compared in the 10 most-at-risk (MAR) counties and the 10 least-at-risk (LAR) counties identified in Georgia.
Methods: Independent 2-tailed t-tests were conducted to compare group means among MAR and LAR counties for all identified risk factors.
Results: Significant differences were observed in all factors included in the poverty and alcohol outlet density categories.
Discussion. The findings underscore the importance of better understanding youth drinking, poverty, and alcohol outlet density. However, our findings, supported by previous individual and aggregated level research, support strategies for researchers and policy makers to more proactively respond to poverty-stricken and high-density alcohol outlet indicators. The current ecological evaluation of underage drinking risk assessed on a macrolevel offers insights into the demographic features, social structures, and cultural patterns of counties that potentially predispose youth to greater health risks specifically associated with underage drinking.This article was originally published in Child Development Research and is reposted here with the permission of the author. Copyright © 2011 Karen E. O'Quin, Sheryl M. Strasser, and Monica H. Swahn. This is an open access article distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</p
Unambiguous full multinuclear NMR assignment of 4-amino-1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracycylophane & NMR differentiation of its enantiomers, and related compounds
No full textFor the first time the full multinuclear ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F assignments were established for 4-amino-1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane (OFP-NH2). These were achieved by using a combination of 1D, COSY, and HETCOR NMR techniques. The assignments were later confirmed by nOe experiments. The interaction of OFP-NH₂ with different chiral shift reagents was explored, and it was shown that it is possible to clearly detect both enantiomers of the planar chiral OFP-NH₂ (in both the ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR). This method of chiral discrimination was also shown to be applicable to other similar chiral OFP derivatives.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Sheryl Rabinowit
A Systematic Review of Bacillus anthracis in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
No full textObjective: To describe the worldwide experience of Bacillus anthracis infection reported in pregnant and postpartum women.
Data Sources: Studies were identified through MEDLINE, WEB OF SCIENCE, EMBASE, and GLOBAL HEALTH databases from inception until April 2012. The keywords [(“anthrax” or “anthracis”) and (“pregna*” or “matern*” or “post partum” or “postpartum” or “puerperal” or “lact*” or “breastfed*” or “fetal” or “fetus” or “neonate” or “newborn” or “abort*” or “uterus”)] were used. In addition, all references from selected articles were reviewed, hand searches were conducted and relevant authors were contacted.
Methods of Study Selection: The inclusion criteria were: 1) published articles referring to women diagnosed with an anthrax infection during pregnancy or within six months postpartum, 2) any article type reporting patient-specific data, 3) articles in any language, and 4) non-duplicate cases. Non-English articles were professionally translated. Duplicate reports, unpublished reports and review articles depicting previously identified cases were excluded.
Tabulation, Integration and Results: Two authors independently reviewed articles for inclusion. The primary search of the 4 databases yielded 800 articles and the secondary cross-reference search revealed 146 articles. Seven articles from these searches met inclusion criteria. By contacting the lead author of the largest systematic review of inhalation anthrax to date, 6 additional articles, published before the databases’ inception, were identified that met inclusion criteria. In total, 19 cases of anthrax infection were found, 16 in pregnant women and 3 in postpartum women.
Conclusions: Based on these case reports, anthrax infection in pregnant and postpartum women is associated with high rates of maternal and fetal death. Evidence of possible maternal-fetal transmission of B. anthracis was identified in early case reports. Transmission of B. anthracis through breast milk has not been reported. This review provides important insight to guide anthrax treatment and prophylaxis recommendations for pregnant and postpartum women
The healing touch: spiritual healing in England, c.1870-1955
No full textThis thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of spiritual healing in England in its various different guises during the late-nineteenth and early- to mid-twentieth centuries. It considers the interplay between the various spiritual healing groups themselves and between their philosophies and practices and orthodox medical theory more generally. The first half examines how spiritual healing was conceptualised by those who practised it - who spiritual healers were, what they believed and how they defined illness and healing. The specific therapeutic techniques used by healers are delineated, and the themes of touch and morality explored in detail. The second half of this thesis then examines how spiritual healing was perceived by the religious and medical establishments, and explores their co-operational discourse. Firstly, the reaction of the orthodox Christian churches to spiritual healing and their fractured and inherently conservative attempts to utilise it as a means of revitalising orthodox Christianity are analysed. The final chapters then chart the chronological relationship between spiritual healing and orthodox medicine during three specific periods, and explore the way in which spiritual healing intersected and impacted upon medical reactions to the new psychology of the twentieth century
The Added Value of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions to Mass Drug Administration for Reducing the Prevalence of Trachoma: A Systematic Review Examining
No full textTrachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. The SAFE strategy, the World Health Organization-recommended method to eliminate blinding trachoma, combines developments in water, sanitation, surgery, and antibiotic treatment. Current literature does not focus on the comprehensive effect these components have on one another. The present systematic review analyzes the added benefit of water, sanitation, and hygiene education interventions to preventive mass drug administration of azithromycin for trachoma. Trials were identified from the PubMed database using a series of search terms. Three studies met the complete criteria for inclusion. Though all studies found a significant change in reduction of active trachoma prevalence, the research is still too limited to suggest the impact of the “F” and “E” components on trachoma prevalence and ultimately its effects on blindness.Originally published in:
Anyess Travers, Sheryl Strasser, Stephanie L. Palmer, and Christine Stauber, “The Added Value of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions to Mass Drug Administration for Reducing the Prevalence of Trachoma: A Systematic Review Examining,” Journal of Environmental and Public Health, vol. 2013, Article ID 682093, 10 pages, 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/682093</p
The importance of place: a national examination of the structural correlates of intimate partner homicides
No full textLittle research in the United States has focused on homicides outside cities. This study examines the impact of structural factors on intimate partner homicides in rural counties, as well as, across the nation as a whole. Expanding on the paucity of research on rural crime, this research applies the systemic reformulation of social disorganization theory and considers the importance of civic engagement and religious participation variables in influencing these outcomes. Utilizing recent Uniform Crime Report Supplementary Homicide Report data (2000-2005), U.S. Census data (2000), a study of County Characteristics (2000-2007), and the Association of Religion Data Archives Religious Congregations and Membership Study of 2000, this study investigates how the systemic reformulation of social disorganization theory explains intimate partner homicides across the country and in rural counties. In examining the structural correlates of homicide and the impact of social institutions, this research bridges the gaps between social organization theories and cultural or subcultural theories. By incorporating institutions into the analysis, this study examines the "relatively stable configuration of statuses, roles, values, and norms that emerge from the basic functional requirements of a society" (Messner and Rosenfeld, 1999: 28). Through the inclusion of religious and political institutions, this analysis adds to the understanding of the impact of institutional factors on intimate partner homicides and finds that in rural communities, especially, religious participation and voter participation are negatively correlated to intimate partner homicides. This study found that the systemic reformulation of social disorganization theory and the concepts therein significantly explained intimate partner homicide counts across the country, though religious participation was not significant. For rural counties, the model was significant but only the population structure component, which included population density and population size, and religious participation were statistically significant These findings have important policy implications .With more recently emerging literature on the importance of civic engagement, this research highlights the importance of further investigation of voter participatory norms, especially in future studies of crimes in rural locations. Additionally, religious participation must be investigated further, especially in studies involving rural communities.Ph. D.Includes abstractVitaIncludes bibliographical referencesby Sheryl Lynn Van Horn
An Examination of Known Tuberculosis Risk Factors and their Correlation across the United States
No full textBackground: Globally tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality. There is scientific evidence of sociodemographic, behavioral and health risk factors associated with TB infection and TB disease. In the United States (US), there is a low endemicity of TB and a goal of TB elimination. Objective: The primary objective of the study was to examine the correlation of TB risk factors at the state level in the US to obtain insights specific to the state of TB in the US. The risk factors examined were diabetes rates, smoking rates, alcohol abuse rates, AIDS rates, foreign-born vs. US-born, poverty as expressed by GINI and per capita income and race/ethnicity. Methods: Secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Census Bureau on line databases were used. Simple linear regression, bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression were carried out. Results: Significant correlations were found at the state level between TB disease rates and being non-Hispanic White (r=-0.856, p\u3c0.001), foreign-born (r=0.649, p\u3c0.001), GINI (r=0.588, p\u3c0.001) and AIDS diagnosis rates (r=0.579, p\u3c0.001). No significant associations were found between TB disease rates and diabetes rates, smoking rates and alcohol abuse rates. Conclusion: The focus of the fight against TB in the US should be on minority communities, those populated by the foreign-born and those with high rates of AIDS particularly where a large degree of income inequality is present
A Comparison of Illicit and Licit Substances as Primary Substances of Abuse at Admission to Substance Abuse Treatment Centers in Georgia, 2009-2012
No full textObjectives.
We examined the patterns of association that exist between socio-demographic variables and the risk of having an illicit substance as a primary substance of abuse.
Methods.
A cross-sectional study on secondary data from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) observed socio-demographic patterns among those over 18 years old admitted for substance abuse treatment in Georgia during 2009-2012.
Results.
The distribution of licit substance users and illicit substance users was significantly different along all socio-demographic variables. Risk of admission for an illicit substance was highest among those unemployed, living independently, and who did not graduate from high school.
Conclusion.
The findings of this study show that admission for treatment of an illicit substance are congruent with what was previously known about groups with the highest risk. However other findings about gender differences, age, and independent living promote changes in prevention and directions for further research
Associations of Early Sexual Initiation, Family Circumstances, and STD Incidence
No full textBACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2008 global estimate, approximately 498 million individuals worldwide become infected each year with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection. Although adolescents only make up about a quarter of the sexually active population, approximately half of the newly reported STDs in the U.S each year are among individuals aged 15-24 years (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). The CDC reports that approximately 46.8% of U.S. high school students reported already having experienced their sexual debut. When adolescents engage in sexual behaviors earlier, it puts them at greater risk for other risky behaviors and ultimately STD incidence. Family circumstances are also considered to have an impact on an adolescent’s likelihood to engage in earlier sexual behaviors.
METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health, Waves I and IV. Logistic regression was used to measure the strength of the relationship between early sexual debut and STD, and was also conducted to determine which family circumstances have the strongest associations with both early sexual debut and STD incidence. Statistical interaction was included to test for effect modification in the model. Gender was shown to be a significant predictor of STD incidence; therefore the model was tested for differential effects by gender.
RESULTS: Adolescents experiencing an early sexual debut (age) were 2.22 times more likely to experience an STD than those with a late debut (≥ 15 years of age) (95% CI 1.88, 2.62). With respect to family circumstances and their relation to STD, the strongest association lay within adolescents’ perception of fathers caring “none to very little” and STD incidence (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.60-4.70). The strongest associations of family circumstances with early sexual debut were adolescents whose mothers served jail time (OR=3.38, 95%CI: 2.37-4.82) and adolescents who felt like their mothers approved of their sex lives (OR=3.11, 95%CI: 2.09-4.64). Age of sexual debut was tested for statistical interaction in the model and was only significant among the variable for mother figure. Stratifying for gender, relationship to mother figure for males proved to have a statistically significant interaction with debut for both levels of mother figure (No mother p
DISCUSSION:
Public health intervention programs that address adverse health consequences of early sexual debut among adolescents would be beneficial. Programs should consider familial structure among adolescents, particularly male adolescents, as a factor in modifying an adolescent’s likelihood to engage in sexual risk behaviors and risk of subsequent STD
Perceived Stress and Generalized Anxiety on Cardiovascular Health Measured by Ultrasound Carotid Intima-media Thickness
No full textBACKGROUND: There are many studies that have documented the increasing impact of stress and anxiety on an individual’s health and well-being. Everyone handles stress and anxiety differently with these conditions having varying physiological effects. To better recognize whether or not a person may need help in tackling these conditions, scholars have developed reliable validated instruments. Two prominent instruments that effectively assess stress and anxiety levels are the Perceived Stress (PSS) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scales. Furthermore, the literature has shed light onto the importance of the carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) measurement as a tool in evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease. After all, heart disease has been reported as being the number one killer of Americans in recent years. The specific aims of this study were to determine if there was an association between perceived stress / generalized anxiety and c-IMT (static association), and also if higher levels of perceived stress / generalized anxiety result in a significant increase in c-IMT (changes over time).
METHODS: Data was collected on about 700 participants comprised of employees from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. At baseline, six, twelve, and twenty-four months, the largest number of participants had completed and calculated their scores on the PSS and GAD-7 scales. At these same time points, participants had their IMT measured and recorded for the left and right common carotid arteries by a trained sonographer of the Emory Predictive Health Institute. Due to incomplete measurements and scores, only 228 participants were included for statistical analyses. This was still considered a suitable sample size given that this study only involved four measurement time points. Various statistical models were fitted for the data. All variables in the models were treated as categorical except for time which was continuous. Four separate models were built that included the variables perceived stress, age group, gender and time. In a similar manner, four models were built that included the variables generalized anxiety, age group, gender and time. AIC values, -2 log-likelihoods, partial correlations, p-values, and other relevant information were reported for these models. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS), version 9.2.
RESULTS: The mean c-IMT measurements for the Emory participants were higher than established normal ranges. A strong correlation existed between the PSS and GAD-7 two-year averages when treated as continuous variables (.7316, p
CONCLUSIONS: Failure to control anxiety could lead to c-IMT soaring to dangerous levels resulting in a myocardial infarction and/or cerebrovascular accident. Individuals should engage in healthy lifestyle practices that lower stress and anxiety levels to decrease the chances of cardiovascular disease. Based on this study’s findings, a person can certainly use their c-IMT readings, as well as their perceived stress and generalized anxiety scores, as indicators that lifestyle modifications may be needed.Master of Public Health (MPH)Public Healt
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