Browsing by Subject "biological factors"
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Item Interleukin-6 and its Relationship to Coronary Artery Calcium Burden-North Texas Healthy Heart Study(2008-05-01) AbdulRahim, Nashila; Roberto Cardarelli; Sejong Bae; Richard VirgilioAbdulRahim, Nashila, Interleukin-6 and its Relationship to Coronary Artery Calcium Burden- North Texas Healthy Heart Study. Master of Science (Primary Care Clinical Research), May, 2008, pp., 7 tables, 5 figures, bibliography, 73 titles. Atherosclerosis is highly associated with increased serum inflammatory markers. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden has allowed researchers to have a non-invasive proxy measure of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that interleukin-6 (IL-6), after controlling for CV risk factors, would be associated with CAC scores, and this association will be modified by race/ethnicity. 344 subjects were recruited. IL-6 concentrations were measured, and computed tomography was used to calculate CAC scores. After accounting for age, gender, race, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol, a one-unit increase in IL-6 concentration is associated with 1.03 greater odds of an abnormal calcium score (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.07). Race/ethnicity did not modify this association. IL-6 did not prove to be a simple clinical marker of CAC.Item Utilization of Ambulatory Care for Osteoarthritis Treatment, 1998(2001-05-01) Davidson, Latunya N.; Rene, Antonio; Godwin, Karen; Ajani, UmedDavidson, Latunya N., Utilization of Ambulatory Care for Osteoarthritis Treatment, 1998. Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), May 2001, 26 pp., 4 tables, bibliography, 21 titles. Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among the adult population. It is estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis and more than 50% of those 65 and older have evidence of the disease. The debilitating effects of the disease are responsible for more than 7 million physician visits annually. In fact osteoarthritis account for more hospitalizations than rheumatoid arthritis each year. Treatment costs to the patients, healthcare expenditures, increasing prevalence of the diseases, and its effect on disability are all major public health issues. The purpose of this research is to identify characteristics as they relate to the type of ambulatory visits and the therapeutics services provided. Factors to be considered include: age, gender, race, ethnicity and source of payment for services. Data will be obtained from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) of 1998. Information obtained from this research may influence future public health decisions regarding education, treatment and management of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.