Socioeconomic, environmental, and geographic factors and US lung cancer mortality, 1999–2009

Background The American Cancer Society estimates that about 25% of all US cancer deaths will be due to lung cancer – more than from cancers of the colon, breast, and prostate combined. Methods We ascertained county-level age-adjusted and age-specific death rates and 95% confidence intervals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Compressed Mortality File. Multiple regression analyses were used to estimate the strength and direction of relationships between county poverty, smoking, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, and US Census divisions and race- and sex-specific lung cancer deaths. Results Poverty, smoking, and particulate matter air pollution were positively and significantly related to lung cancer deaths among white men, but of these, only poverty and smoking were significantly associated with lung cancer deaths among white women. Residence in the South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central US Census divisions at the time of death was significantly associated with lung cancer deaths for both white men and white women. As with white men, poverty and smoking were associated with lung cancer deaths among black men, but of these, only adult smoking had a statistically significant association among black women. Conclusions The results support the need for further research, particularly in high-risk areas, to better differentiate factors specific to race and sex and to understand the impact of local risk factors

Rural congestive heart failure mortality among US elderly, 1999–2013: Identifying counties with promising outcomes and opportunities for implementation research

Objective Describe modern trends in congestive heart failure (CHF) among elderly (\u3e65 years of age) in the United States, to identify potentially successful rural areas. Compare CHF mortality using multiple- (MCOD) versus underlying-(UCOD) cause of death data. Methods U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mortality files (WONDER internet site). Results Using MCOD data, overall mortality rates/100,000 population (and 95% confidence intervals) for CHF among persons \u3e65 years of age (1999–2013) were 482.0 (481.2–482.8) for large central and large fringe metropolitan (LCLF) counties, 549.6 (548.6–550.7) in small and medium metropolitan (SM) counties, and 652.6 (650.9–654.0) in micropolitan and non-core, non-metropolitan (MNCNM) counties. Twenty positive deviance NCNM counties (collectively including 198,581 residents \u3e65 years of age) had an overall CHF rate of 300.9 (275.0–326.9) in 2013. This was significantly lower than the LCLF rate for 2013 (482.0 [481.2–482.8]), and represented a reduction of 47% since 1999. Overall CHF occurrence as estimated with MCOD was 3.4-fold higher than that obtained with UCOD. Conclusion These data illustrate underestimation of CHF by UCOD data and the importance of correct death certification. Rural CHF mortality rates are higher than urban rates, but some positive deviance counties demonstrate that this is not inevitable. Further research is needed to understand the relative contribution of research innovation, medical care, and public health to rural-urban disparities and the relative success of positive deviance counties

The Grizzly, November 26, 1991

Alcohol Speaker • Hostage Update • Wallace Speaks to Whitians • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation Program • Keepers of the Flame : King Speaks on Soviet Art • Concert Band & Jazz Ensemble Perform • Reader\u27s Theatre on Soviet Art • John Updike to Speak • CAB Entertainers Enthrall All • An Upheaval of Rumors • Movie Review: Home Alone • Is Pretty Good Good Enough? • The World is Not Red, White, and Blue • Letters: Alcove Access; Halloween Flip-Flop; More Response to Ronnig Letter; Administration Woes; Enough Already!; Ronning Responses Critiqued; A Christian Response • Basketball Opens Season with Losses to Dickinson and Cabrini in Tip-Off Tournament • Kershner goes to Nationals • Ursinus Outswims Washington • Women\u27s Soccer Team in the Works • Women Hoopsters Open Season • Lady Bears Sink Competition • Charity Hoops Game • Lacrosse Ends Seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1285/thumbnail.jp

A review of energy systems models in the UK: Prevalent usage and categorisation

In this paper, a systematic review of academic literature and policy papers since 2008 is undertaken with an aim of identifying the prevalent energy systems models and tools in the UK. A list of all referenced models is presented and the literature is analysed with regards sectoral coverage and technological inclusion, as well as mathematical structure of models. The paper compares available models using an appropriate classification schema, the introduction of which is aimed at making the model landscape more accessible and perspicuous, thereby enhancing the diversity of models within use. The distinct classification presented in this paper comprises three sections, which specify the model purpose and structure, technological detail and mathematical approach. The schema is not designed to be comprehensive, but rather to be a broad classification with pertinent level of information required to differentiate between models. As an example, the UK model landscape is considered and 22 models are classified in three tables, as per the proposed schema

Emerging concepts in biomarker discovery; The US-Japan workshop on immunological molecular markers in oncology

Supported by the Office of International Affairs, National Cancer Institute (NCI), the "US-Japan Workshop on Immunological Biomarkers in Oncology" was held in March 2009. The workshop was related to a task force launched by the International Society for the Biological Therapy of Cancer (iSBTc) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify strategies for biomarker discovery and validation in the field of biotherapy. The effort will culminate on October 28th 2009 in the "iSBTc-FDA-NCI Workshop on Prognostic and Predictive Immunologic Biomarkers in Cancer", which will be held in Washington DC in association with the Annual Meeting. The purposes of the US-Japan workshop were a) to discuss novel approaches to enhance the discovery of predictive and/or prognostic markers in cancer immunotherapy; b) to define the state of the science in biomarker discovery and validation. The participation of Japanese and US scientists provided the opportunity to identify shared or discordant themes across the distinct immune genetic background and the diverse prevalence of disease between the two Nations

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

A Comparative Analysis of Domestic Violence Shelter Staff Perceptions Regarding Barriers to Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States

Service provision for domestic violence (DV) survivors has been a long-standing staple of shelters in the United States. Although shelter services provide numerous benefits for survivors, barriers tied to acquisition remain a pressing concern when combatting DV. Nevertheless, there has been minimal research exploring barriers to service acquisition on a cross-national level. As such, the current research cross-nationally examines perceptions of shelter staff regarding acquisition barriers as well as the effectiveness of local agencies to meet survivor needs and differences in populations served in the United States (specifically Texas) as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data collection stemmed from self-report surveys originally constructed in English and translated into Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian. Results underscored differences between populations served, perceptions of local agencies assisting survivors of DV, and barriers tied to cultural and financial concerns. Implications, limitations, and future directions are also discussed

Affinity screening for weak monoclonal antibodies

When selecting for monoclonal antibodies of a desired affinity, affinity chromatography can be a feasible alternative. This is of particular interest when low affinity monoclonal antibodies (dissociation constant (Kd) > 10(-4) M) are screened, as they are not easily recognised by traditional immunoassay procedures. In this study we have evaluated this approach by monitoring low affinity monoclonal antibodies on high performance liquid affinity chromatography columns with oligosaccharides, dinitrophenol and digoxin as immobilised antigen. Crude monoclonal antibodies in ascites or cell culture supematants, directed against these antigens, were retarded or adsorbed according to affinity or avidity on the antigen columns. Based on antibody retention, we were able to select hybridomas with the desired low affinity characteristics

The Use of Help Seeking and Coping Strategies Among Bosnian Women in Domestic Violence Shelters

Victims/survivors of domestic violence face a variety of decisions in determining whether and from whom to seek help. Although western literature on help-seeking is extensive, few studies have examined help-seeking behaviours of victims/survivors in post-war areas. The current study investigates use of help-seeking behaviours and coping mechanisms among women receiving services from domestic violence shelters in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war. A total of 107 women across eight shelters completed pencil and paper surveys that explored formal and informal help-seeking behaviours and coping mechanisms employed to prevent and/or reduce victimisation. Help-seeking and coping strategies were organised into one of four categories based upon similar themes, including communication strategies, avoidance strategies, protection and resistance strategies, and safety planning strategies. Additionally, respondents were asked to assess what impact (that is, made the situation better, worse, or had no impact) utilised behaviours had. Communication and avoidance strategies were the most commonly reported behaviours. Safety planning techniques were less frequently reported, although victims/survivors perceived these as making their situation better, while trying to end the relationship or avoiding the abuser made the situation worse. These findings are similar to research conducted among victims/survivors residing in countries not directly affected by armed conflict. Interpretation of results, limitations, implications and future research are discussed