Department of Epidemiology

Graduate


November 23, 2020

Pre-Diagnostic Genome-Wide DNA Methylation in Blood and Risk of Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND Differential DNA methylation as measured in blood is a promising marker of bladder cancer susceptibility. In fact, established bladder cancer risk factors such as smoking and various germline genetic variants may promote carcinogenesis in bladder tissue through processes that are detectable as differential DNA methylation in blood. METHODS Genome-wide methylation was measured in pre-diagnostic…


The Association of Sleep Apnea and Cancer in Veterans

OBJECTIVE To test the association between pre-existing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and subsequent cancer in a large, long-term cohort of veteran patients. METHODS This retrospective matched cohort study included all veteran patients diagnosed with OSA 1993-2013 by ICD-9 codes in any Veterans Affairs facility and probability matched veteran patients without OSA. Cancer diagnoses were identified…


The Effect of the Shikamana Peer-and-Provider Intervention on Depressive Symptoms, Alcohol Use, and Other Drug Use among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (GBMSM) in Kenya

Kenyan gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) face unique stigma and discrimination, which may contribute to adverse mental health symptoms, and could limit antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among GBMSM living with HIV. This secondary analysis of data from a randomized pilot study evaluated whether the Shikamana peer-and-provider intervention was associated…


Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drug Use as Risk Factors for Onward HIV Transmission Among Men Who Have Sex with Men & Transgender Women in Lima, Peru

In 2016, there were about 70,000 (55,00–94,000) people living with HIV in Peru, with a prevalence of 16.4% among men who have sex with men (MSM) and 18.5% among transgender people.1 The aim of this study was to assess the association of heavy drinking, AUDIT score, tobacco use, and illicit drug use as independent risk…


Correlates of Virologic Failure Among Breastfeeding Postpartum Kenyan Women on Option B+

BACKGROUND Option B+ is an HIV/AIDS intervention strategy that streamlines antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery to pregnant and breastfeeding women in order to improve treatment outcomes, but treatment outcomes have yet to be fully described in field settings. Our study examines the distribution of virologic failure in plasma, breast milk, and endocervical secretions among postpartum breastfeeding…


Epidemiological Evaluation of Phylogenetic Clustering and Meeting Sexual Partners at Social Venues Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru

New HIV infections in the Americas are predominately occurring among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW).1 In Peru, there is a concentrated epidemic among MSM and TW, for whom the HIV prevalence exceeds 20% while the general HIV prevalence is less than one percent.2 This study sought to identify geographic…


The association between sexual subjectivity and sexual health outcomes both negative and positive in a sample of women

BACKGROUND The role of psychosocial constructs such as assertiveness and self-efficacy has increasingly been acknowledged as an important component of research and interventions directed at young women’s sexual health. The female sexual subjectivity inventory (FSSI) was developed to measure five distinct factors of young women’s experiences of sexual pleasure and empowerment as agentic sexual beings:…


November 19, 2020

The impact of chronic kidney disease on chronic school absenteeism

Background: School absenteeism is an important predictor of low academic success. Children with chronic illness are at increased risk of school absenteeism due to disease-specific and psychosocial factors. The prevalence of chronic school absenteeism is not well described in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the…


Demographic Characteristics and Diagnostic Performance of Pathologists who Enjoy Interpreting Melanocytic Skin Lesions

Background: Diagnostic errors among pathologists when interpreting melanocytic skin lesions (MSL) is an ongoing concern for patient safety and quality of care. The number of skin biopsies has increased annually over the past decade, subsequently applying a higher demand on pathologists’ work performance. Given that physician job satisfaction can plausibly impact upon patient care, we…


Headache after Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Background: Headache symptoms are a major contributor to chronic pain after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated associations between headache symptoms after TBI and both psychological symptoms (depression and anxiety) and patient reported outcomes (satisfaction with life and loss of employment). Methods: A cohort of 408 individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI was prospectively followed for…



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