Graduate
May 20, 2022
Earned income tax credit policy and unhealthy alcohol use: A difference-in-differences analysis of U.S. states, 2001-2019
Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is a major contributor to chronic diseases and mortality in the United States. There is variation in generosity of state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which supplements the federal EITC, the largest poverty-alleviation program for low-earning working adults and their families. Prior studies have found income and employment to be associated…
Antimicrobial Resistance in Enteric Bacteria Isolated from Kenyan Children at Discharge from Hospital
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is associated with millions of deaths per year worldwide. The global burden of AMR is disproportionately high in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily as a result of the high incidence of infectious diseases. Children who have been hospitalized and subsequently discharged in this region are at high risk for morbidity and mortality. It…
Modeling to Inform the Delivery of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Sub-Saharan Africa
Daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and effective method for HIV prevention and offers potential to substantially reduce HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa. Mathematical models are commonly used to project the cost-effectiveness of investments in PrEP in comparison to alternative resource allocation strategies. Predictive modeling…
A longitudinal study of the association between internalizing problems during early adolescence and alcohol and cannabis use disorder at age 18 in a community sample
Introduction: Substance use disorders, such as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD), in young adults are an important public health concern. AUD and CUD may have deleterious impacts on the ongoing maturation of the brain and lead to impaired thinking, memory, emotional, and learning functions. Research on how internalizing problems among adolescents…
Associations of Air Pollution and Gait Speed in Older Adults
Background: Air pollution is widely recognized as a threat to public health. The impact of long-term exposure to air pollution on gait speed trajectories over time have not been fully explored among US older adults. The specific aims of this study were to 1) examine the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and decline…
Clinical and Biomarker Modifiers of Vitamin D Treatment Response: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Background: Different 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) thresholds for treatment with vitamin D supplementation have been suggested, and are derived almost exclusively from observational studies. Whether other characteristics including race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) should also influence the threshold for treatment is unknown. Objective: Identify clinical and biomarker characteristics that modify…
Elucidating barriers to malaria elimination: An analysis of the role of low-density and imported Plasmodium falciparum infections to onward malaria transmission
Despite yearly investments of more than US $4.1 billion dollars and extensive efforts, malaria continues to be one of the greatest contributors to morbidity and mortality in endemic areas. To continue to reduce the malaria burden, new control strategies, therapeutics, and vaccines are needed. While the malaria burden has declined since the last decade, the…
Understanding Enteric Dysfunction as a Determinant of Post-Discharge Pediatric Outcomes in Kenya and Pakistan.
Background: This dissertation aims to establish if enteric dysfunction appears to be an important interventional target for clinical trials hoping to reduce pediatric post-discharge mortality. We also aim to generate new knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of enteric dysfunction among acutely ill children, while validating previous observations from community cohorts. Finally, we will contribute to a…
Cadmium Burden and Blood Pressure
Background Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP) affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. A growing body of literature has implicated toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), as contributors to higher BP and hypertensive disorders. Cd is extensively used in production of consumer products such as batteries,…
Development and validation of a biomarker-based model to predict persistent hypoxemic respiratory failure among mechanically ventilated adults
Background. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is a common and morbid condition, but treatment is largely supportive and most pharmacologic trials have been negative. The early clinical trajectory is heterogeneous, with most patients resolving within days while others require prolonged IMV, which impairs both clinical resource allocation and the detection…
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