Interdisciplinary Dissertation Research Among Public Health Doctoral Trainees, 2003-2015

Given the call for more interdisciplinary research in public health, the objectives of this study were to (1) examine the correlates of interdisciplinary dissertation completion and (2) identify secondary fields most common among interdisciplinary public health graduates. METHODS: We analyzed pooled cross-sectional data from 11 120 doctoral graduates in the Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2003-2015. The primary outcome was interdisciplinary dissertation completion. Covariates included primary public health field, sociodemographic characteristics, and institutional attributes. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2015, a total of 4005 of 11 120 (36.0%) doctoral graduates in public health reported interdisciplinary dissertations, with significant increases observed in recent years. Compared with general public health graduates, graduates of environmental health (odds ratio [OR] = 1.74; P < .001) and health services administration (OR = 1.38; P < .001) doctoral programs were significantly more likely to report completing interdisciplinary dissertation work, whereas graduates from biostatistics (OR = 0.51; P < .001) and epidemiology (OR = 0.76; P < .001) were less likely to do so. Completing an interdisciplinary dissertation was associated with being male, a non-US citizen, a graduate of a private institution, and a graduate of an institution with high but not the highest level of research activity. Many secondary dissertation fields reported by interdisciplinary graduates included other public health fields. CONCLUSION: Although interdisciplinary dissertation research among doctoral graduates in public health has increased in recent years, such work is bounded in certain fields of public health and certain types of graduates and institutions. Academic administrators and other stakeholders may use these results to inform greater interdisciplinary activity during doctoral training and to evaluate current and future collaborations across departments or schools

Developing materials for teaching early elementary fundamental skills to hearing-impaired children

This paper contains materials for teaching early elementary skills to hearing impaired children

Reference Standards for Body Fat Measure Using GE Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Caucasian Adults

Background Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an established technique for the measurement of body composition. Reference values for these variables, particularly those related to fat mass, are necessary for interpretation and accurate classification of those at risk for obesityrelated health complications and in need of lifestyle modifications (diet, physical activity, etc.). Currently, there are no reference values available for GE-Healthcare DXA systems and it is known that whole-body and regional fat mass measures differ by DXA manufacturer. Objective To develop reference values by age and sex for DXA-derived fat mass measurements with GE-Healthcare systems. Methods A de-identified sample of 3,327 participants (2,076 women, 1,251 men) was obtained from Ball State University\u27s Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory and University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee\u27s Physical Activity & Health Research Laboratory. All scans were completed using a GE Lunar Prodigy or iDXA and data reported included percent body fat (%BF), fat mass index (FMI), and ratios of android-to-gynoid (A/G), trunk/limb, and trunk/leg fat measurements. Percentiles were calculated and a factorial ANOVA was used to determine differences in the mean values for each variable between age and sex. Results Normative reference values for fat mass variables from DXA measurements obtained from GE-Healthcare DXA systems are presented as percentiles for both women and men in 10- year age groups. Women had higher (p\u3c0.01) mean %BF and FMI than men, whereas men had higher (p\u3c0.01) mean ratios of A/G, trunk/limb, and trunk/leg fat measurements than women

Medication Exposure Patterns in Primary Care Patients Prescribed Pharmacogenetically Actionable Opioids

Current approaches to assessing medication exposure fail to capture the complexity of the phenomenon and the context in which it occurs. This study’s purpose was to develop a typology of subgroups of patients who share common patterns of medication exposure. To create the typology, we used an exemplar sample of 30 patients in a large public healthcare system who had been prescribed the pharmacogenetically actionable opioids codeine or tramadol. Data related to medication exposure were drawn from large data repositories. Using a person-oriented qualitative approach, eight subgroups of patients who shared common patterns of medication exposure were identified. The subgroups had one of five opioid prescription patterns (i.e., singular, episodic, switching, sustained, multiplex), and one of three types of primary foci of medical care (i.e., pain, comorbidities, both). The findings reveal medication exposure patterns that are dynamic, multidimensional, and complex, and the typology offers an innovative approach to assessing medication exposure

CYP2D6 drug-gene and drug-drug-gene interactions among patients prescribed pharmacogenetically actionable opioids

Purpose When codeine and tramadol are used for pain management, it is imperative that nurses are able to assess for potential drug-gene and drug-drug-gene interactions that could adversely impact drug metabolism and ultimately pain relief. Both drugs are metabolized through the CYP2D6 metabolic pathway which can be affected by medications as well the patient's own pharmacogenotype. The purpose of this brief report is to identify drug-gene and drug-drug-gene interactions in 30 adult patients prescribed codeine or tramadol for pain. Methods We used three data sources: (1) six months of electronic health record data on the number and types of medications prescribed to each patient; (2) each patient's CYP2D6 pharmacogenotype, and (3) published data on known CYP2D6 gene-drug and drug-drug-gene interactions. Results Ten patients (33%) had possible drug-gene or drug-drug-gene interactions. Five patients had CYP2D6 drug-gene interactions indicating they were not good candidates for codeine or tramadol. In addition, five patients had potential CYP2D6 drug-drug-gene interactions with either codeine or tramadol. Conclusion Our findings from this exploratory study underscores the importance of assessing and accounting for drug-gene and drug-drug-gene interactions in patients prescribed codeine or tramadol

New Sequence Perspective on the Devonian Reef Complex and the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary, Canning Basin, Australia

The application of concepts of sequence stratigraphy to seismic and well data has led to a new understanding of the subsurface Devonian reef complex of the Canning Basin. It demonstrates marked reciprocal sedimentation with lowstand terrigenous sediments largely restricted to the basin and transgressive and highstand carbonate sediments on the platform. Preliminary outcrop studies indicate the potential of these concepts to modify significantly the existing lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic interpretations of this classic exhumed reef complex, including the stratigraphic context of the Frasnian-Famennian boundary in the Canning Basin

IN VITRO AND IN VIVO DISPOSITION OF 2,2-DIMETHYL-N-(2,4,6- TRIMETHOXYPHENYL)DODECANAMIDE (CI-976) Identification of a Novel Five-Carbon Cleavage Metabolite in Rats

ABSTRACT: The metabolism of CI-976, a potent inhibitor of liver and intestinal acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase, was investigated in isolated rat hepatocytes and Wistar rats after oral administration. The major metabolite observed both in vitro and in vivo was identified as the 6-carbon, chain-shortened 5,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-[(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)amino]hexanoic acid (M-4). M-4 was determined to be formed from the -carboxylic acid 11,11-dimethyl-12-oxo ACAT 2 , (E.C. 2.3.1.1.26) is a key enzyme involved in cholesterol absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and cholesterol deposition in the body (1). The therapeutic potential of ACAT inhibitors as lipid lowering and antiatherosclerotic agents has been postulated for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia (2). The fatty acid anilide, CI-976 ( In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in male rats found CI-976 to have moderate absorption and bioavailability (29%), with an intravenous elimination half-life of 8 hr (6). After intravenous or oral administration to male rats, CI-976 was extensively metabolized to a single major urinary metabolite identified as M-4 ( To understand further the metabolism of CI-976, studies to determine the disposition and metabolism in rats were performed. The metabolism of CI-976 was examined both in hepatocyte suspensions and after oral administration to both male and female rats. In these studies, the metabolic pathways leading to the formation of M-4 were explored using metabolic intermediates as substrates, and by examining the effects of various inhibitors and inducers on the metabolism of CI-976 in hepatocyte incubations. Metabolites found in postreaction hepatocyte incubations and rat urine were characterized by HPLC, LC/MS, and GC/MS. Similar types of experiments were conducted with a new metabolite observed both in vitro and in vivo, which arises from an unusual mechanism (i.e. removal of 5-carbon units from the CI-976 fatty acid side chain). Materials and Methods CI-976 and [ 14 C]CI-976 (20.72 Ci/mg ring-labeled, 99.5% chemical and radiochemical purity); methyl-5,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-6-[(2,4,6-trimethoxyphe

Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression on Household Income among Young Women with Early Breast Cancer from the Young and Strong Trial

Background: Young women with breast cancer tend to report lower quality of life and higher levels of stress than older women with breast cancer, and this may have implications for other psychosocial factors including finances. We sought to determine if stress, anxiety, and depression at diagnosis were associated with changes in household income over 12-months in young women with breast cancer in the United States. Methods: This study was a prospective, longitudinal cohort study comprised of women enrolled in the Young and Strong trial. Of the 467 women aged 18–45 newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer enrolled in the Young and Strong trial from 2012 to 2013, 356 (76%) answered income questions. Change in household income from baseline to 12 months was assessed and women were categorized as having lost, gained, maintained the same household income \u3c$100,000, or maintained household income ≥$100,000. Patient-reported stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed close to diagnosis at trial enrollment. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression models were used to compare women who lost, gained, or maintained household income ≥$100,000 to women who maintained the same household income \u3c$100,000. Results: Although most women maintained household income ≥$100,000 (37.1$100,000 (32.3%), 15.4% lost household income and 15.2% gained household income. Stress, anxiety, and depression were not associated with gaining or losing household income compared to women maintaining household incomes \u3c$100,000. Women with household incomes \u3c$50,000 had a higher risk of losing household income compared to women with household incomes ≥$50,000. Women who maintained household incomes ≥$100,000 were less likely to report financial or insurance problems. Among women who lost household income, 56% reported financial problems and 20% reported insurance problems at 12 months. Conclusions: Baseline stress, anxiety, and depression were not associated with household income changes for young women with breast cancer. However, lower baseline household income was associated with losing household income. Some young survivors encounter financial and insurance problems in the first year after diagnosis, and further support for these women should be considered

Vaginal dysbiosis increases risk of preterm fetal membrane rupture, neonatal sepsis and is exacerbated by erythromycin

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Preterm prelabour rupture of the fetal membranes (PPROM) precedes 30% of preterm births and is a risk factor for early onset neonatal sepsis. As PPROM is strongly associated with ascending vaginal infection, prophylactic antibiotics are widely used. The evolution of vaginal microbiota compositions associated with PPROM and the impact of antibiotics on bacterial compositions are unknown. Methods: We prospectively assessed vaginal microbiota prior to and following PPROM using MiSeq-based sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons and examined the impact of erythromycin prophylaxis on bacterial load and community structures. Results: In contrast to pregnancies delivering at term, vaginal dysbiosis characterised by Lactobacillus spp. depletion was present prior to the rupture of fetal membranes in approximately a third of cases (0% vs. 27%, P=0.026) and persisted following membrane rupture (31%, P=0.005). Vaginal dysbiosis was exacerbated by erythromycin treatment (47%, P=0.00009) particularly in women initially colonised by Lactobacillus spp. Lactobacillus depletion and increased relative abundance of Sneathia spp. were associated with subsequent funisitis and early onset neonatal sepsis. Conclusions: Our data show that vaginal microbiota composition is a risk factor for subsequent PPROM and is associated with adverse short-term maternal and neonatal outcomes. This highlights vaginal microbiota as a potentially modifiable antenatal risk factor for PPROM and suggests that routine use of erythromycin for PPROM be re-examined

Authority Tools for Audiovisual and Music Catalogers: An Annotated List of Useful Resources

The Subcommittee on Authority Tools designed this list to bring together, in one place, descriptions of information sources that are useful when developing authorized headings to support audiovisual and music catalog records. Work began on this project in 1999, and the list was released in 2001. It became a historical OLAC document in 2020. Please note that links in this document were active in 2001 and may no longer exist currently