Approaching Economic Issues through Epidemiology–An Introduction to Business Epidemiology

In the tradition of transferring models and concepts from one science to another, our research explores the possibility of importing some concepts, definitions and approaches from human epidemiology to economic research, based on the extensive usage of medical terms and concepts in economy. The article explores some basic epidemiology concepts and their possible relevance to economic research, with the final goal to provide a new viewpoint over the economic phenomena, usable in economic crisis. The article introduces the concept of “business epidemiology” as a possible scientific approach to the economic crisis.epidemiology; business disease; company health; research methodology; financial contagion

Genetic Discrimination: Overview of the Issue and Proposed Legislation

[Excerpt] A key policy issue before Congress is whether the potential for genetic discrimination by employers and insurers merits protections for genetic information that are more extensive than those already in place for health information. For the stated purpose of prohibiting discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (H.R. 493) was introduced in the House on January 16, 2007. On January 22, 2007, the act was introduced in the Senate (S. 358). The act is identical to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2005, which passed the Senate by a vote of 98-0 (S. 306, 109th). An identical House bill (H.R. 1227, 109th), never came to a vote. S. 306 was very similar to S. 1053 (108th), which the Senate passed in 2003 by a vote of 95-0. A distinct House bill, H.R. 1910 (108th), never came to a vote. This report focuses on the key points in the ongoing debate about genetic discrimination legislation

Come On. I Need An Answer. A Mixed-Methods Study Of Barriers And Disparities In Diagnostic Odysseys

Background: The boom of next generation DNA sequencing over the past decade has improved our ability to provide accurate genetic diagnoses for children with previously undiagnosed diseases, in turn leading to important advances in management and prognostication. Even given this progress, two areas of ongoing need are the accurate definition of further novel genetic diseases and to make genetic expertise and diagnostics widely available to children and families who have frequently endured grueling diagnostic odysseys. The Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program (PGDP) at Yale is an advanced genomics program focusing on both these areas, enrolling over 700 patients since its inception and eventually providing approximately one-third with new genetic diagnoses. Despite this success, we questioned whether the PGDP was achieving its full potential for impact by reaching a broad, representative participant population. Hypothesis: Current PGDP participant demographics are not representative of the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in the community of patients with potentially undiagnosed genetic diseases, which may relate to systemic barriers along the diagnostic odyssey. Methods: We created a questionnaire and in-depth interview process for existing PGDP participants to evaluate barriers to diagnostic care, then analyzed transcripts for themes. We analyzed demographic characteristics and referral routes of the PGDP cohort to find factors related to recruitment. We developed a screening tool based on diagnostic codes and queried the Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) electronic health record (EHR) to identify inpatient children between 2017-2022 with potentially undiagnosed genetic conditions, estimate their prevalence, and compare their characteristics with those already enrolled in PGDP. Then, we manually reviewed patient charts further narrow patients down to those who likely had undiagnosed genetic diseases. We used Pearson chi-square for categorical data, a multinomial regression model for predictors of enrollment, and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance with pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results: Survey results noted 1) Not knowing the PGDP existed (42%) and 2) Not knowing if they qualified for PGDP (36%) as the most common barriers to participant enrollment. Qualitative interviews identified three overarching themes related to the search for a unifying medical diagnosis for patients and families: 1) Challenges along the diagnostic odyssey (largely barriers in the healthcare system), 2) Tools to navigate the uncertainty (particularly parent serving as a care-captain) and 3) Perceptions of the PGDP (having reservations about participating vs desire for a diagnosis). In the PGDP cohort analysis, being directly identified by a PGDP-affiliated physician was associated with the highest representation of URM (52%) compared to referrals through Yale Genetics (27%) or Other Referrals (16%), and a significantly greater URM representation compared to both the national pediatric population (p=0.008) and to a peer genetics program (

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy discriminates the response to microglial stimulation of wild type and Alzheimer's disease models.

Microglia activation has emerged as a potential key factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease. Metabolite levels assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are used as markers of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, but how they relate to microglial activation in health and chronic disease is incompletely understood. Using MRS, we monitored the brain metabolic response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced microglia activation in vivo in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimers disease (APP/PS1) and healthy controls (wild-type (WT) littermates) over 4 hours. We assessed reactive gliosis by immunohistochemistry and correlated metabolic and histological measures. In WT mice, LPS induced a microglial phenotype consistent with activation, associated with a sustained increase in macromolecule and lipid levels (ML9). This effect was not seen in APP/PS1 mice, where LPS did not lead to a microglial response measured by histology, but induced a late increase in the putative inflammation marker myoinositol (mI) and metabolic changes in total creatine and taurine previously reported to be associated with amyloid load. We argue that ML9 and mI distinguish the response of WT and APP/PS1 mice to immune mediators. Lipid and macromolecule levels may represent a biomarker of activation of healthy microglia, while mI may not be a glial marker

Behavioral Genetics Research and Criminal DNA Databases

Kaye discusses DNA databanks and the potential use of such databanks for behavioral genetics research. He addresses the concern that DNA databanks serve as a limitless repository for future research and that the samples used in the databanks could be used for research into a crime gene

Genetic, cytogenetic and morphometric analyses in the study of reproductive problems that affect animal productions in the main livestock and pets species

Zootechnics has the mission to improve animal production, according to the human needs, that will influence market demand and animal and human health. Animal reproduction gives an important contribution giving rise to an "extreme Tango" in which genetics is the crazy score with a solid melody but which can change depending on the context in which this music is played. This thesis reports the research studies carried out during the doctorate. The Disorders of Sexual Development are the main topic of the first chapter. These are genetic diseases involving the reproductive system that cause sterility to the carriers and economic losses to the breeders. The animals involved in this study are dogs and horses, they were examined clinically, cytogenetically and genetically in order to identify DSD etiopatogenesis of each subject. The main topic of the second chapter is the improvement of stallions’ sperm quality using phytotherapic drugs. This study has a dual purpose, to improve the natural breeding and the techniques of artificial insemination. Morphometric analyzes and chromatin fragmentation tests were performed on the ejaculates in addition to the qualitative and quantitative evaluations routinely carried out. The Third Chapter describes a work born by a collaboration among different research groups. Exploiting the training acquired on the morphometric evaluation of the spermatozoa of different mammals’ species we have applied the same techniques on the spermatozoa of Apis mellifera Ligustica, in order to characterize its semen