Browsing by Subject "risk"
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Alzheimer's Fibroblasts are More Susceptible to Oxidative Stress(2001-05-01) Marshall, Pamela L.; Neeraj Agarwal; Robert GracyMarshall, Pamela L., Alzheimer’s Fibroblasts Are More Susceptible to Oxidative Stress. Master’s of Science (Biomedical Sciences). May 2001. Recent evidence indicates that oxidative stress contributes to neuronal death in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition, it has been suggested that AD is a systemic illness in which the development of the disease is only visible in the brain. The aim of this research is to develop experimental procedures using a simple cell model, the fibroblast, to determine if proteins derived from AD skin fibroblasts are more sensitive to oxidation by reactive oxygen species than non-AD cells, and to assess the ability of antioxidants to prevent this oxidative damage in AD fibroblasts. Preliminary findings suggest that changes in sensitivity are already detectable in fibroblasts from AD patients, probably as a consequence of genetic component as well as other risk factors. Therefore, this biochemical marker might have the potential for identifying individuals at risk for AD.Item Health Risk Associated with Microbial Contamination in Healthcare Facilities(2007-07-01) Palmer, Eboni D.; Larranaga, Michael; Gratton, Terry; Ramphal, LilyPalmer, Eboni D., Health Risk Associated with Microbial Contamination in Healthcare Facilities. Master of Public Health (Occupational Health Practice), July 2007, 96 pp., 20 tables, 8 illustrations, bibliography, 140 titles. This study developed a model assessing the risk associated with indoor microbial contamination in health care facilities. A semi-quantitative model resulting in numerical scores was used to describe the severity of risk associated with given levels of contamination. The hospital used in this study had problems with water intrusion. There were 99 locations from 3 air handler unit (AHU) service area locations examined. The final results produced a health risk rating for all three AHUs of medium risk. There is an increased risk of adverse health outcomes due to exposure from environmental microbial contamination. Immunocompromised patients and patients with allergies are not protected from the risk of developing a nosocomial infection or allergic reaction. Remediation of the contaminated areas must be performed in order to reduce the risk.Item Lung Cancer Risk Among Workers in Poultry Slaughtering and Processing Plants: A Pilot Study(2008-05-01) Preacely, Nykiconia D.; Ramphal-Naley, Lilly; Cardarelli, Kathryn; Qualls-Hampton, RaquelPreacely, Nykiconia D., Lung Cancer Risk Among Workers in Poultry Slaughtering and Processing Plants: A Pilot Study. Doctor of Public Health (Epidemiology), May 2008, 104 pp., 21 tables, 4 figures, bibliography, 50 titles. Poultry workers are at a great risk of exposure to potentially harmful transmissible agents which can cause cancer in poultry; yet there are few epidemiological studies that examine the association of occupation and illnesses experienced by these workers. Workers in poultry slaughtering and processing plants are well suited to investigate the effects of exposure to poultry oncogenic agents because they have one of the highest human exposure to carcinogenic chemicals formed during the packaging and preparation of poultry. The preparations of poultry via smoking, and frying are additional exposures that release carcinogens which may be involved in lung cancer risk among poultry workers. Union records from several unions belonging to the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union for the years 1949-1989 were used to identify a cohort of workers once employed in poultry slaughtering and processing plants. The current research investigated whether certain occupational exposures were associated with lung cancer mortality among these workers. The research employed a case cohort design that provided individual level occupational and lifestyle data for workers who died with lung cancer between 1990 and 2003 compared to a sub-cohort of individuals randomly sampled from the entire cohort. It is anticipated that by identifying potentially harmful exposures in this industry, future research may focus on developing methods to alleviate them among poultry workers. The results of this study will provide public health professionals and the poultry industry with new information on the occupational exposures not previously explored in relation to lung cancer mortality among poultry slaughtering/processing plant workers.Item Obesity and Risk of Stroke in NHANES I Follow Up Study(2002-12-01) Soman, Ashwini; Umed Ajani; Antonio Rene; Karan SinghSoman, Ashwini, Obesity and risk of stroke in NHANES-I follow-up study, Masters of Public Health (Epidemiology), December 2002. 79pp., 20 tables, 3 illustrations, bibliography, 46 titles. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US. Role of obesity as an independent risk factor has been relatively well established for coronary heart diseases but not for stroke. Purpose of this study was to assess long-term risk of stroke due to obesity measured at baseline. The research was conducted using First National Nutritional Health and Examination Survey and its follow ups. Overall, increased risk of stroke was observed in obese individuals (BMI [greater than] 30 kg/m2). Similar association was observed in different subgroups of race, gender, those with or without diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Item Psychological Mechanisms and Physiological Consequences of Panic Attack in Recreational Scuba Diving(1996-12-01) May, Kyle P.; Michael Smith; David BarkerRecreational scuba diving has become increasingly popular in recent years. With the increasing number of participant, the risk associated with the sport needs to be addressed. Some authorities suggest it should be classified as a high-risk sport while others suggest that the dangers of the activity have been down-played due to the commercialization of the diving community. Panic is an important topic in assessing the risk to recreational divers. The National Underwater Accident Center, NUADC, for the period of 1976 to 1988 indicated that 19% of diving fatalities reported involved probable panic. Furthermore, in a sample of 245 male and female divers, 54% experienced panic or near-panic behavior while diving on one or more occasion. The physiological consequences of a panic attack while diving can be deadly. Instructors, physicians and dive students should be made aware of the risk to persons prone to panic attack. Instructors need to be trained in recognizing the manifestations of frank panic during instruction and discourage these students from continuing. More subtle cases of panic disorder must be screened out by a physician while performing a medical clearance physical for a recreational diving student. The physician can make subtle inquiries and through the answers screen out potentially panic prone divers. Such questions as “How many visits to the emergency room have you made?” as opposed to “Have you ever visited the emergency room?” will elicit a more complete history versus a blanket denial of previous illness or injury. The nature of the E.R. visits will often be revealing to the astute physician. Persons with histories of asthma attacks or hyperventilation syndrome may indicate an underlying panic disorder. The students themselves need to be warned of the hazards of diving if panic prone. The idea needs to be stressed in scuba diving books and manuals much more than it is currently. For example, one of the most popular scuba diving books, The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, does not cover panic or the problems that can result due to panic. If this concept is made clear to students while in class, those prone to panic episodes may then self-screen themselves and discontinue a scuba class thereby avoiding injury or death. Scuba diving should be considered a high-risk sport and participants screened for such activity. Not only does a panicked diver put himself in jeopardy, he risks the lives of others in a group with the loss of cognitive abilities seen during panic. Individuals with elevated anxiety levels are more likely to experience a panic episode while diving due to the number of stressors involved in the sport. These persons should be selectively screened out and encouraged to find other avenues for recreation.Item Safety and Efficacy of Alefacept, Efalizumab, Etanercept, and Infliximab in Treating Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials(2007-05-03) Brimhall, Angela K.; John Licciardone; Roberto Cardarelli; Richard VirgilioBrimhall, Angela K., Master of Science, Clinical Research and Academic Medicine, May 19, 2007, Safety and Efficacy of Alefacept, Efalizumab, Etanercept, and Infliximab in Treating Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pages=41, Tables=3, Figures=9, Bibliography=61 titles. To evaluate and compare efficacy and safety of biological agents in the treatment of plaque psoriasis, data was identified through four parallel systematic reviews. Randomized, controlled, double-blind, monotherapy trials of alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept and infliximab were selected. Sixteen studies comprising 7,931 patients met inclusion criteria. Efficacy was measured by pooled relative risk (RR) and number needed to treat (NNT) of PASI 75 achievement as compared to placebo. Each biological agent was efficacious (P [less than] .001); however, there was a graded response for achievement of PASI 75. The risk of one or more adverse event was increased in the alefacept, efalizumab, and infliximab groups compared to placebo.Item THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ACCULTURATION AND RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS(2014-03) Retana, Jos� D.; Proffitt Leyva, Randi; Fulda, Kimberly; Franks, SusanThe Association between Acculturation and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Mexican-American Children and Adolescents Purpose/Intro: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is increasing in children and adolescents of all races/ethnicities in the United States, but especially in minorities such as Hispanics. In particular, Mexican-American children and adolescents are experiencing onset of DM2 at alarming rates. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation to a Mexican or Anglo orientation and risk for DM2. Methods: Participants completed demographic questions and the brief Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans II (Brief ARSMA-II). A linear acculturation score was derived from the Mexican Oriented Scale (MOS) and the Anglo Oriented Scale (AOS). Adolescents 10-14 years and a parent/legal guardian were included. At risk for DM2 was determined by having ≥3 of the following: relative with diabetes, BMI 95th percentile, blood pressure 95th percentile, elevated glucose, or positive for Acanthosis Nigricans. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were performed with risk of DM2 (high/low) as the outcome and acculturation score as the primary predictor. The adjusted model controlled for child’s age, gender, highest household education, child and maternal birth country (US/not US). Results: Participants (N=144) were 49% female and 51% male. The mean age was 11.96 years (SD=1.45). Forty-five children/adolescents (31.3%) had 3 of 5 risk factors for DM2. Approximately half (53.3%) of high risk children/adolescents were “strongly Anglo-oriented” and “Assimilated”. Higher acculturation was associated with an increased odds of being high risk for DM2 [OR=1.50; 95% CI (1.00-2.25)] Conclusions: For each degree of increased Anglo acculturation, risk for DM2 increased by 50%. Therefore, children of Mexican descent are more at risk for DM2 as they/their families become more acculturated to the Anglo cultural orientation. The degree of acculturation of a child/family should be taken into consideration when developing diabetes preventions and interventions.