Pub Date : 2021-04-13DOI: 10.2174/1874297102109010001
H. Jamil, M. Faisal
Pandemic refers to an epidemic that spread over several countries, normally affecting a large number of people [1]. Coronavirus has recently been detected in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) used the term 2019 novel coronavirus to refer to the new coronavirus that affected the lower respiratory tract. This virus causes various symptoms, such as pneumonia, fever, breathing difficulty and lung infection, etc. This respiratory infection can be transmitted through droplets of various sizes. According to current evidence, the COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes. These viruse gradually spread across the globe. Considering the rate of spread, it became alarming and called for urgent attention by world leaders to combat the menace. In the war against COVID-19, health system resilience, accountability and integrity are more important than ever. The health systems of some high-incomecountries have become overwhelmed as a result of the rising number of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. The less resilient health systems of many low and middle-income countries (Nigeria is included), are even more vulnerable. With the high population as well as high population density in most part of the country, the risk of transmission and spread of the virus can never be overemphasized. If urgent and deliberate steps in the right direction are not taken by various stakeholders, the health system is at edge of complete collapse [2].
{"title":"Factors that Hindered Effective Containment of Coronavirus: A Nigerian Perspective","authors":"H. Jamil, M. Faisal","doi":"10.2174/1874297102109010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297102109010001","url":null,"abstract":"Pandemic refers to an epidemic that spread over several countries, normally affecting a large number of people [1]. Coronavirus has recently been detected in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) used the term 2019 novel coronavirus to refer to the new coronavirus that affected the lower respiratory tract. This virus causes various symptoms, such as pneumonia, fever, breathing difficulty and lung infection, etc. This respiratory infection can be transmitted through droplets of various sizes. According to current evidence, the COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes. These viruse gradually spread across the globe. Considering the rate of spread, it became alarming and called for urgent attention by world leaders to combat the menace. In the war against COVID-19, health system resilience, accountability and integrity are more important than ever. The health systems of some high-incomecountries have become overwhelmed as a result of the rising number of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. The less resilient health systems of many low and middle-income countries (Nigeria is included), are even more vulnerable. With the high population as well as high population density in most part of the country, the risk of transmission and spread of the virus can never be overemphasized. If urgent and deliberate steps in the right direction are not taken by various stakeholders, the health system is at edge of complete collapse [2].","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"9 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47142099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bioresonance is a holistic physical method that can be used diagnostically and therapeutically to treat various diseases. Bioresonance uses the electromagnetic waves it receives from the patient. This biophysical method of treatment alters the energy field of the affected organism, increasing the effectiveness of the autoimmune system, thus improving the patient’s overall health. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine whether bioresonance had an effect on the symptoms of the patients. Statistical data processing involves a study of various parameters such as age, gender, studies, occupation, intolerance or illness as well as the existence and balancing of allergic charges. The study included 311 patients from doctors and bio-coordinating laboratories in Athens, Thessaloniki, Volos and Xanthi. The sample of the study included both men (120 subjects - 38.58%) and women (191 subjects – 61.42%), aged from 2 to 76 years old. The age group with the largest number of patients included those aged from 31 to 45. The patients under treatment came forward with symptoms mostly nasal (61.09%), followed by eye, respiratory, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of the patients (90%) observe no symptoms at all or show significant improvement of their symptoms after a period of 12 months of bioresonance treatment. These results show that bioresonance intervention had a significant effect on the improvement of symptoms and this improvement is even obvious 12 months after the intervention; p<.01. We believe that the forthcoming results contribute to a better understanding of the effect of bioresonance on the human body and its affect in preventing and restoring health issues.
{"title":"The Effectiveness of Bioresonance Method on Human Health","authors":"Periklis Karakos, Tripsiannis Grigorios, Konstantinidis Theodoros, Lialiaris Theodoros","doi":"10.2174/1874297120190800001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297120190800001","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Bioresonance is a holistic physical method that can be used diagnostically and therapeutically to treat various diseases. Bioresonance uses the electromagnetic waves it receives from the patient. This biophysical method of treatment alters the energy field of the affected organism, increasing the effectiveness of the autoimmune system, thus improving the patient’s overall health.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 A quasi-experimental design was used to examine whether bioresonance had an effect on the symptoms of the patients. Statistical data processing involves a study of various parameters such as age, gender, studies, occupation, intolerance or illness as well as the existence and balancing of allergic charges. The study included 311 patients from doctors and bio-coordinating laboratories in Athens, Thessaloniki, Volos and Xanthi. The sample of the study included both men (120 subjects - 38.58%) and women (191 subjects – 61.42%), aged from 2 to 76 years old. The age group with the largest number of patients included those aged from 31 to 45.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 The patients under treatment came forward with symptoms mostly nasal (61.09%), followed by eye, respiratory, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of the patients (90%) observe no symptoms at all or show significant improvement of their symptoms after a period of 12 months of bioresonance treatment. These results show that bioresonance intervention had a significant effect on the improvement of symptoms and this improvement is even obvious 12 months after the intervention; p<.01.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 We believe that the forthcoming results contribute to a better understanding of the effect of bioresonance on the human body and its affect in preventing and restoring health issues.\u0000","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45994883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-10-27DOI: 10.2174/1874297120140701037
J. Hout, Duvel W. White, Michael Stevens, Alex H Stubner, A. Ariño, J. Knapik
Exposing unmasked US Army recruits to elevated levels of o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS tear gas) during Mask Confidence Training (MCT) increases the risk of Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) diagnosis in the period following CS exposure when compared to the period before exposure. All Army Activities Message (ALARACT) 051/2013 was implemented in March 2013 to reduce CS exposure concentrations during MCT and associated ARI rates. This observational, prospective cohort studied CS exposures and associated ARI health outcomes after implementation of ALARACT 051/2013 in 5 298 recruits attending US Army Basic Combat Training (BCT). These data indicate a 10-fold reduction (p<0.001) in CS exposure concentrations; recruit exposures ranged from 0.26 - 2.78 mg/m 3 (ඃ烜=1.04 mg/m 3 ) and chamber operator exposures from 0.05 - 2.22 mg/m 3 (ඃ烜=1.05 mg/m 3 ). The overall risk of ARI diagnosis following CS exposure also decreased when compared to period before exposure (RR=1.79, 95%CI=1.29, 2.47) resulting in 26.85% (95%CI=-0.17, 0.54) intervention effectiveness. Post-chamber ARI rates were dependent upon CS exposure concentration (p=0.02), and pre/post-chamber ARI rate ratios were significantly elevated at all concentration categories higher than the Threshold Limit Value Ceiling (TLV-C) (0.39 mg/m 3 ). Results support previous research suggesting risk of ARI
{"title":"Evaluation of an Intervention to Reduce Tear Gas Exposures and Associated Acute Respiratory Illnesses in a US Army Basic Combat Training Cohort","authors":"J. Hout, Duvel W. White, Michael Stevens, Alex H Stubner, A. Ariño, J. Knapik","doi":"10.2174/1874297120140701037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297120140701037","url":null,"abstract":"Exposing unmasked US Army recruits to elevated levels of o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS tear gas) during Mask Confidence Training (MCT) increases the risk of Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) diagnosis in the period following CS exposure when compared to the period before exposure. All Army Activities Message (ALARACT) 051/2013 was implemented in March 2013 to reduce CS exposure concentrations during MCT and associated ARI rates. This observational, prospective cohort studied CS exposures and associated ARI health outcomes after implementation of ALARACT 051/2013 in 5 298 recruits attending US Army Basic Combat Training (BCT). These data indicate a 10-fold reduction (p<0.001) in CS exposure concentrations; recruit exposures ranged from 0.26 - 2.78 mg/m 3 (ඃ烜=1.04 mg/m 3 ) and chamber operator exposures from 0.05 - 2.22 mg/m 3 (ඃ烜=1.05 mg/m 3 ). The overall risk of ARI diagnosis following CS exposure also decreased when compared to period before exposure (RR=1.79, 95%CI=1.29, 2.47) resulting in 26.85% (95%CI=-0.17, 0.54) intervention effectiveness. Post-chamber ARI rates were dependent upon CS exposure concentration (p=0.02), and pre/post-chamber ARI rate ratios were significantly elevated at all concentration categories higher than the Threshold Limit Value Ceiling (TLV-C) (0.39 mg/m 3 ). Results support previous research suggesting risk of ARI","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"37-45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-07-11DOI: 10.2174/1874297120140701004
D. Mans, W. Zijlmans
Childhood cancer incidence in Suriname (South-America) was estimated using secondary data from 1980 to 2008, and these findings were stratified according to gender; age groups < 1, 1-4, 5-14, and 15-19 years; and the largest ethnic groups (Hindustanis, Maroons, Creoles, and Javanese). Data were expressed as total numbers, proportions, average yearly numbers, and/or crude incidence rates per 1,000,000 population per year. There were 290 malignancies in the period covered, i.e., about 10 new cases per year or 24 per 1,000,000 per year. The average yearly number of overall cancer increased from approximately 1 every two years in newborns to 3-4 per year in adolescents and young adults. Thirty to 35% of patients were Hindustani or Creole; the proportions of Javanese and Maroons patients were about twice and five times, respectively, lower. Leukemias and lymphomas comprised almost half of cases, each occurring 2 to 3 times per year. Bone tumors, soft-tissue sarcomas, and carcinomas were the most common non-hematological malignancies, occurring once or twice per year. Central nervous system tumors, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, renal tumors, primary hepatic tumors, and germ cell tumors were exceedingly rare. In conclusion, childhood cancer incidence in Suriname was relatively low; the individual histiotypes displayed an unusual ranking; and there were differences in the sex, age, and ethnic distribution of overall cancer as well as certain histiotypes. However, these observations might be biased by the use of crude rates, and underdiagnosis and incomplete registration of cases due to the absence of specialized (pediatric) cancer facilities in the country.
{"title":"Childhood Cancer in the Republic of Suriname (1980 Through 2008)","authors":"D. Mans, W. Zijlmans","doi":"10.2174/1874297120140701004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297120140701004","url":null,"abstract":"Childhood cancer incidence in Suriname (South-America) was estimated using secondary data from 1980 to 2008, and these findings were stratified according to gender; age groups < 1, 1-4, 5-14, and 15-19 years; and the largest ethnic groups (Hindustanis, Maroons, Creoles, and Javanese). Data were expressed as total numbers, proportions, average yearly numbers, and/or crude incidence rates per 1,000,000 population per year. There were 290 malignancies in the period covered, i.e., about 10 new cases per year or 24 per 1,000,000 per year. The average yearly number of overall cancer increased from approximately 1 every two years in newborns to 3-4 per year in adolescents and young adults. Thirty to 35% of patients were Hindustani or Creole; the proportions of Javanese and Maroons patients were about twice and five times, respectively, lower. Leukemias and lymphomas comprised almost half of cases, each occurring 2 to 3 times per year. Bone tumors, soft-tissue sarcomas, and carcinomas were the most common non-hematological malignancies, occurring once or twice per year. Central nervous system tumors, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, renal tumors, primary hepatic tumors, and germ cell tumors were exceedingly rare. In conclusion, childhood cancer incidence in Suriname was relatively low; the individual histiotypes displayed an unusual ranking; and there were differences in the sex, age, and ethnic distribution of overall cancer as well as certain histiotypes. However, these observations might be biased by the use of crude rates, and underdiagnosis and incomplete registration of cases due to the absence of specialized (pediatric) cancer facilities in the country.","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"27-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-06-27DOI: 10.2174/1874297120140618003
P. Salameh, M. Waked, G. Khayat, M. Dramaix
Background: Statistical frequentist techniques are sometimes misinterpreted or misused, while Bayesian techniques seem to present several practical advantages, such as accommodating small sample sizes, unobserved variables along with measurement errors and incorporating information from previous studies. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the association between waterpipe dependence and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), by comparing frequentist and Bayesian methods' results. Methods: It is a multicenter case-control study, comparing a group of COPD patients with a control group. COPD diagnosis was held after clinical and paraclinical testing, while a standardized questionnaire was used to evaluate smoking history. Both frequentist and Bayesian analyses were performed. Results: Although carried out on the same dataset, the results quantitatively differed between the frequentist and Bayesian analysis. Whenever the frequentist results were clear cut such as in case of cigarette smoking association with COPD, performing the MCMC method helped to increase the accuracy of the results, but did not change the direction of hypothesis acceptance, except in doubtful cases. When the frequentist p-value was ≤0.100, such as in case of smoking more than 15 waterpipe-years, the MCMC method improved deciding between the null and alternative hypothesis. Conclusion: The Bayesian approach may have advantages over the frequentist one, particularly in case of a low power of the frequentist analysis, due to low sample size or sparse data; the use of informative priors might be particularly useful in narrowing credible interval and precising the choice between the null and alternative hypothesis. In case of borderline frequentist results, the MCMC method may be more conservative, particularly without priors. However, in case of large sample sizes, using frequentist methods is preferred.
{"title":"Bayesian and Frequentist Comparison for Epidemiologists: A NonMathematical Application on Logistic Regressions","authors":"P. Salameh, M. Waked, G. Khayat, M. Dramaix","doi":"10.2174/1874297120140618003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297120140618003","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Statistical frequentist techniques are sometimes misinterpreted or misused, while Bayesian techniques seem to present several practical advantages, such as accommodating small sample sizes, unobserved variables along with measurement errors and incorporating information from previous studies. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the association between waterpipe dependence and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), by comparing frequentist and Bayesian methods' results. Methods: It is a multicenter case-control study, comparing a group of COPD patients with a control group. COPD diagnosis was held after clinical and paraclinical testing, while a standardized questionnaire was used to evaluate smoking history. Both frequentist and Bayesian analyses were performed. Results: Although carried out on the same dataset, the results quantitatively differed between the frequentist and Bayesian analysis. Whenever the frequentist results were clear cut such as in case of cigarette smoking association with COPD, performing the MCMC method helped to increase the accuracy of the results, but did not change the direction of hypothesis acceptance, except in doubtful cases. When the frequentist p-value was ≤0.100, such as in case of smoking more than 15 waterpipe-years, the MCMC method improved deciding between the null and alternative hypothesis. Conclusion: The Bayesian approach may have advantages over the frequentist one, particularly in case of a low power of the frequentist analysis, due to low sample size or sparse data; the use of informative priors might be particularly useful in narrowing credible interval and precising the choice between the null and alternative hypothesis. In case of borderline frequentist results, the MCMC method may be more conservative, particularly without priors. However, in case of large sample sizes, using frequentist methods is preferred.","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"17-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-06-13DOI: 10.2174/1874297120140530002
P. Chiang, Chao W. Chen, D. Hsieh, T. Chan, H. Chiang, C. Wen
Effects of exposures to the PM 2.5 in ambient air have increasingly attracted attention of health communities and government regulatory agencies as it has been implicated with a growing list of adverse health effects, including cardiopulmonary issues, premature death and lung cancer. However, the rates of adverse health effects and long term exposure to PM 2.5 in different populations have not been well quantified due to the lack of data. In this article, 25,427 daily PM 2.5 concentrations collected from the 73 air monitoring stations throughout Taiwan are extrapolated to 290 townships by Kriging method using GIS data. These townships are then stratified into 5 levels (in µg/m 3 ) of PM 2.5 : 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40 and above. Data on female lung cancer mortality taken from national statistics and the estimated PM 2.5 concentrations, considered as an exposure biomarker are combined to assess the effect of PM 2.5 on lung cancer. The average annual PM 2.5 concentration in Taiwan is 35.6±0.4 µg/m 3 . It is estimated that lung cancer mortality has a mean increase of 16% (6%-25%) for each 10 µg/m 3 increment of PM 2.5 concentration and one out of 9 female lung cancer deaths (11%) in Taiwan is attributed to the PM 2.5 exposures. This assessment is conducted using the commonly accepted principle of making the best use of available data for the stated objective. The limitations of data and the resultant conclusion are carefully articulated and discussed to advance further research.
{"title":"Lung Cancer Risk in Females Due to Exposures to PM2.5 in Taiwan","authors":"P. Chiang, Chao W. Chen, D. Hsieh, T. Chan, H. Chiang, C. Wen","doi":"10.2174/1874297120140530002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297120140530002","url":null,"abstract":"Effects of exposures to the PM 2.5 in ambient air have increasingly attracted attention of health communities and government regulatory agencies as it has been implicated with a growing list of adverse health effects, including cardiopulmonary issues, premature death and lung cancer. However, the rates of adverse health effects and long term exposure to PM 2.5 in different populations have not been well quantified due to the lack of data. In this article, 25,427 daily PM 2.5 concentrations collected from the 73 air monitoring stations throughout Taiwan are extrapolated to 290 townships by Kriging method using GIS data. These townships are then stratified into 5 levels (in µg/m 3 ) of PM 2.5 : 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40 and above. Data on female lung cancer mortality taken from national statistics and the estimated PM 2.5 concentrations, considered as an exposure biomarker are combined to assess the effect of PM 2.5 on lung cancer. The average annual PM 2.5 concentration in Taiwan is 35.6±0.4 µg/m 3 . It is estimated that lung cancer mortality has a mean increase of 16% (6%-25%) for each 10 µg/m 3 increment of PM 2.5 concentration and one out of 9 female lung cancer deaths (11%) in Taiwan is attributed to the PM 2.5 exposures. This assessment is conducted using the commonly accepted principle of making the best use of available data for the stated objective. The limitations of data and the resultant conclusion are carefully articulated and discussed to advance further research.","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"6-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-05-30DOI: 10.2174/1874297120140515001
L. Kopylev
ȠObjectives: To explore two different approaches to calculate average exposure in occupational cohorts using a large occupational cohort as an example. The data for occupational cohort exposed to acrylonitrile was collected and analyzed previously by NCI; outcome was lung cancer. Methods: Both approaches use cumulative exposure as the numerator. As the denominator, one uses the duration of exposure, while the other uses the length of employment. The former approach is used when detailed exposure history is available, and the latter is used when exposure history is less detailed. The differences are investigated for a large occupational cohort. Results: With restricting the cohort to only those with enough latency for lung cancer, the cumulative exposure divided by the length of employment is a significant predictor of the lung cancer mortality, while cumulative exposure divided by the duration of exposure (average intensity) is not. Analysis is shown not to be positively confounded by smoking.
{"title":"Approaches to Calculation of Average Exposure in Analysis of Epidemiologic Cohorts Using Large Arylonitrile Cohort As An Example","authors":"L. Kopylev","doi":"10.2174/1874297120140515001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297120140515001","url":null,"abstract":"ȠObjectives: To explore two different approaches to calculate average exposure in occupational cohorts using a large occupational cohort as an example. The data for occupational cohort exposed to acrylonitrile was collected and analyzed previously by NCI; outcome was lung cancer. Methods: Both approaches use cumulative exposure as the numerator. As the denominator, one uses the duration of exposure, while the other uses the length of employment. The former approach is used when detailed exposure history is available, and the latter is used when exposure history is less detailed. The differences are investigated for a large occupational cohort. Results: With restricting the cohort to only those with enough latency for lung cancer, the cumulative exposure divided by the length of employment is a significant predictor of the lung cancer mortality, while cumulative exposure divided by the duration of exposure (average intensity) is not. Analysis is shown not to be positively confounded by smoking.","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-10-04DOI: 10.2174/1874297101306010018
K. Jalava, S. Räsänen, Kaija Ala-Kojola, Saara Nironen, J. Möttönen, J. Ollgren
Regression models have been used to control confounding in food borne cohort studies, logistic regression has been commonly used due to easy converge. However, logistic regression provide estimates for OR only when RR estimate is lower than 10%, an unlikely situation in food borne outbreaks. Recent developments have resolved the binary model convergence problems applying log link. Food items significant in the univariable analysis were included for the multivariable analysis of two recent Finnish norovirus outbreaks. We used both log and logistic regression models in R and Bayesian model in Winbugs by SPSS and R. The log-link model could be used to identify the vehicle in the two norovirus outbreak datasets. Convergence problems were solved using Bayesian modelling. Binary model applying log link provided accurate and useful estimates of RR estimating the true risk, a suitable method of choice for multivariable analysis of outbreak cohort studies.
{"title":"Binary Regression Models with Log-Link in the Cohort Studies","authors":"K. Jalava, S. Räsänen, Kaija Ala-Kojola, Saara Nironen, J. Möttönen, J. Ollgren","doi":"10.2174/1874297101306010018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297101306010018","url":null,"abstract":"Regression models have been used to control confounding in food borne cohort studies, logistic regression has been commonly used due to easy converge. However, logistic regression provide estimates for OR only when RR estimate is lower than 10%, an unlikely situation in food borne outbreaks. Recent developments have resolved the binary model convergence problems applying log link. Food items significant in the univariable analysis were included for the multivariable analysis of two recent Finnish norovirus outbreaks. We used both log and logistic regression models in R and Bayesian model in Winbugs by SPSS and R. The log-link model could be used to identify the vehicle in the two norovirus outbreak datasets. Convergence problems were solved using Bayesian modelling. Binary model applying log link provided accurate and useful estimates of RR estimating the true risk, a suitable method of choice for multivariable analysis of outbreak cohort studies.","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"18-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-09-20DOI: 10.2174/1874297101306010009
M. M. Costa, F. Teixeira, Mioni Thielli, F. M. Brito, É. Valério, M. Monteiro
The genus Cryptococcus includes at least 37 different species, of which, two are important human pathogens: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. These fungi are opportunistic pathogens and etiologic agents of cryptococcosis disease in humans and animals. A variety of virulence factors interfere with the establishment of cryptococcal infection is usually acquired via inhalation of environmental basidiospores or desiccated yeasts. Cryptococcosis has gained medical importance over the last decade due to the AIDS pandemic, and become an emerging pathogen of immunocompetent individuals, especially in children. This disease in humans may involve every tissue, including cutaneous and pulmonary sites, but the most serious manifestation is central nervous system involvement with meningoencephalitis. In this review, we briefly described the taxonomy, the fungus biology, epidemiology and clinical manifestations of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.
{"title":"Cryptococcosis, A Risk for Immunocompromised and Immunocompetent Individuals","authors":"M. M. Costa, F. Teixeira, Mioni Thielli, F. M. Brito, É. Valério, M. Monteiro","doi":"10.2174/1874297101306010009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874297101306010009","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Cryptococcus includes at least 37 different species, of which, two are important human pathogens: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. These fungi are opportunistic pathogens and etiologic agents of cryptococcosis disease in humans and animals. A variety of virulence factors interfere with the establishment of cryptococcal infection is usually acquired via inhalation of environmental basidiospores or desiccated yeasts. Cryptococcosis has gained medical importance over the last decade due to the AIDS pandemic, and become an emerging pathogen of immunocompetent individuals, especially in children. This disease in humans may involve every tissue, including cutaneous and pulmonary sites, but the most serious manifestation is central nervous system involvement with meningoencephalitis. In this review, we briefly described the taxonomy, the fungus biology, epidemiology and clinical manifestations of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.","PeriodicalId":87834,"journal":{"name":"The open epidemiology journal","volume":"43 1","pages":"9-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68063280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-07-23DOI: 10.2174/1874297101205010027
M. Graziani, B. Doney, E. Hnizdo, J. Villnave, Victor Breen, S. Weinmann, W. Vollmer, M. McBurnie, A. Buist, M. Heumann
Ascertainment of lifetime occupational exposures in an epidemiological study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important in order to investigate its effect on the disease and develop prevention strategies. The aim of our paper is to describe and evaluate a methodology used to assign lifetime occupational exposure to participants in a case-control study of COPD where lifetime occupational history was ascertained through telephone questionnaire interviews. The methodology involved assigning to each individual a qualitative index of potential exposure to eight occupational hazards, summarized individually overall the job categories reported by the individual, and an overall qualitative index of lifetime exposure to all eight hazards. The eight occupational hazards scored were mineral dusts, metal dusts/fumes, organic dusts, irritant gases/vapors, sensitizers, organic solvents, diesel exhaust, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Two industrial hygienists independently assigned the above indices based on: their expert opinion, a priori knowledge based on literature review, and study participants' responses to interviewer questions regarding types and duration of exposure. To evaluate agreement of the assigned scores, we used the Kappa statistic to test the agreement between the two scorers on each of the indices. The Kappa statistic generally indicated good agreement between the industrial hygienists' scores but varied by exposure from 0.42 to 0.86. Although the exposure scoring is somewhat subjective, it is based on experience of experts and review of the literature. This method, with subject interviews providing qualitative lifetime exposure data when air monitoring has not been conducted, is useful for reconstructing lifetime exposures.
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