PhD

November 17, 2020

Reaching underscreened women: correlates of cervical cancer underscreening, reactions to mailed HPV self-sampling kits, and cost-effectiveness of HPV self-sampling programs

Underscreening is a major risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. This dissertation examines factors associated with clinic-based Pap screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling in a U.S. healthcare system and summarizes the existing evidence on the cost-effectiveness of HPV self-screening in order to support health system implementation of new strategies to increase cervical…

Understanding Adherence to and HIV-1 Protection from a Microbicidal Vaginal Ring

Topical vaginal microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the form of oral pills have been evaluated in efficacy trials for the prevention of HIV-1 infection over the past two decades with mixed results. In intention-to-treat analyses, some studies of PrEP agents, such as TruvadaÂ®, have shown positive efficacy results for reducing rates of HIV-1 infection…

Inflammatory Biomarkers, Genetics, and Survival among Colorectal Cancer Patients

Chronic inflammation significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) through inflammation-mediated mechanisms. Current evidence regarding the connection between circulating inflammatory biomarkers and CRC prognosis is limited to C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6. However, other inflammatory biomarkers with biologic relevance, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), adiponectin, and leptin, are not well understood for…

November 16, 2020

Long-Term Air Pollution in Relation to Cardiac Structure, Function, and Supraventricular Arrhythmias

Background: Air pollution is an important contributor to cardiovascular morbidity, including risk of heart failure. Acute exposure is associated with inflammation, elevation of blood pressure, and episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, less is understood about how long-term exposures may influence measures of atrial and ventricular structure and function, including supraventricular arrhythmias. No large longitudinal…