Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Coverage Estimates Among Adolescent Females within the Delta Regional Authority Using National Immunization Survey Teen (NIS-Teen) 2008 - 2012.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2006, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended routine vaccination of adolescent girls at ages 11 or 12 years with 3 doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. Cervical cancer disparities exist for several populations in the United States. The topic is scantly documented in scholarly literature with modest knowledge of the uptake of the HPV vaccine in the Delta region. AIM: To examine the HPV vaccination coverage estimates in the counties and parishes that comprise the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and compare with other non-DRA counties or parishes and the rest of US. This will provide vaccination coverage estimates for adolescent females in the DRA designated Delta region that will provide public health professionals with data for policy and programmatic decision-making. METHODS: We combined data from multiple survey years (2008-2012) from the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen). We conducted bivariate analyses to describe the distribution across selected socio-demographic characteristics and multivariable logistic regression models to produce adjusted prevalence ratios. RESULTS: Teens in the DRA had lower HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates compared to Non- DRA counties or parishes and the Rest of the US. The 3-dose HPV vaccination series completion rate among those who had initiated HPV vaccination and had 24 weeks between their first dose and the NIS interview date was 60.9% (95% CI: 55.8 – 65.8) among adolescent females in the DRA compared to 66.9 (95% CI: 63.7-70.0) of adolescent females in the Non-DRA counties and 67.6% (95% CI: 66.2-69.0) in the rest of the US. CONCLUSION: The low HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents in the DRA showed that it is important to implement additional strategies to increase HPV vaccination coverage that will prevent cancers associated with HPV in the DELTA Region. Stronger provider recommendations and awareness are important for increasing HPV vaccine uptake

An Estimation of County-Level Vaccination Coverage for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years in South Eastern United States of America Using Bayesian and Spatial Effects Models

This dissertation applies Bayesian Hierarchical (BH) methods and Spatial effects at both the state and county levels to estimate Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiation coverage at the county level in the ten Southeastern U.S. states (925 counties) using 2016 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) adequate provider data. Small sample sizes yield inadequate precision for direct domain estimators. Bayesian methods allows indirect estimation with small sample size, missing values and covariates via the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. The BH method, which allows the parameters of a prior distribution or a population distribution themselves to be estimated from data, is one of the appropriate ways in handling small areas with sparse data because posterior inference is exact which does not rely on asymptotic arguments. We use the conditional autoregressive (CAR) model to capture the spatial correlation and study its role in modeling the HPV vaccination initiation coverage. Additionally, we applied Bayesian modeling of temporal trends of HPV vaccination initiation coverage over time (quarter of survey year) and space (in the 10 southeastern states in US) using NIS-Teen survey years 2011 to 2016 adequate provider data. These methods can be used in further analysis for the temporal trend of HPV vaccination initiation coverage at the county level

The Connection between Marijuana, Cigarette Smoking and Metabolic Syndrome among Adults in the United States

Background: Alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are the most common recreationally used substances in United States (US). However, unlike alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is an illicit substance. The increasing support for reclassification of marijuana as legal substance necessitates investigating its effect on health. These studies seek to examine the relationship of marijuana and tobacco with metabolic syndrome (a precursor of cardiovascular diseases - the primary cause of morbidities and mortalities). Method: Data from 2011 public-use linked mortality file of the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 2005-2006 & 2011-2012 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to estimate the effect of marijuana and tobacco on metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios from logistic regression analyses were determined using four main diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios were compared using: National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, World Health Organization, European Group for the study of Insulin Resistance and International Diabetes Federation definitions of metabolic syndrome. Hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiovascular mortality were estimated using cox proportional hazard regression. Results: Each year of marijuana use was associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome [OR=1.05 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.09)] and hypertension [OR=1.04 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.07)]. Each additional year of cigarette smoking was associated with increased odds of hypertension [OR=1.03 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.06)] and hyperglycemia [OR=1.03 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.05)]. Adjusted HR for hypertension mortality for marijuana users compared to non-marijuana users was 3.42 (95% CI: 1.20, 9.79) and 1.04 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.07) for each year of marijuana use. Conclusion: Prolonged years of marijuana use was associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome and hypertension irrespective of the criteria used to define metabolic syndrome. Our results also indicate that marijuana use is associated with increased risk for hypertension mortality. The association between prolonged use of marijuana and risk of cardiovascular morbidities and mortalities requires further investigation whilst developing global public health policies regarding legalization of marijuana use

Our Experiences with Eastern Gamagrass

As livestock producers try to reduce their cost of production, many look at ways to reduce their feed costs. Feed costs have been identified as the largest single cost of livestock production, making up 50 to 70% of the total cost of production. Grazing is the cheapest way to feed cattle on a cost per pound of nutrient basis

The Relationship of Breast and Gynecological Cancers with Smoking and Metabolic Syndrome - An Examination of NHANES Data 2001 - 2010

Background: Breast and Gynecological cancers are a major public health problem. Smoking is associated with several chronic diseases including cancer. Other lifestyles of public health predispose many people to dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity; risk factors for metabolic syndrome, and are associated with cancer. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to find if those who smoke, and have the metabolic syndrome, are more likely to have breast or gynecological cancers, and to find the distribution by education, having health insurance, race/ethnicity and socio-economic status. Methods: A case-control study of females aged 20 years and above who participated in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2010. Results: Females who have smoked more than hundred cigarettes in life and still smoke; a) have a 42 percent less chance of having a breast cancer diagnosis (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.36 – 0.93, p-value 0.025), and b) are 2.67 times as likely to report a cervical cancer diagnosis as females who have smoked less than hundred cigarettes in life (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.72 – 4.13, p-value Conclusion: Smoking and metabolic syndrome are very important indicators of reproductive health and needs further study. Smoking cessation interventions should be an integral part of cervical cancer prevention programs especially targeted at younger females and females who live below the federal poverty level

Learning from a Funders' Collaborative: The Human Services Strategic Restructuring Pilot Project

In 2009, Eighteen funders in Northeast Ohio joined together in the Human Services Strategic Restructuring Pilot Project (the Collaborative) to examine how to support nonprofit organizations in strategic restructuring. This the final report on that project

Modeling and Simulation on Signatures of Mars Minerals

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of identifying minerals on Mars using remotely sensed data. In the process we also investigated the effect of noise of Aerosol and dust particles on the spectra of Mars minerals. The remotely sensed data was obtained through modeling and simulation and compared to the lab spectroscopy of the specific minerals in order to make an accurate identification. A linear model was developed using MATLAB Random Number Generator to obtain a simulated image. Part of the information we needed for the linear model was pure pixel information of Mars which was obtained from Mars Spirit images. Random noise was added to the image in order to simulate a real world image. In addition to the random noise, a mathematical model was developed to represent the noise caused by aerosols and dust particles in Mars\u27 atmosphere. The simulation was tested to ensure that it satisfied the appropriate model testing. Our results showed that our linear model was appropriate, and was accepted at a confidence interval of about 95%. The simulated image was then corrected from noise through iterations. The overall accuracy of the corrected image showed an improvement in classification by 25%. The signatures of the spectra of the two images were obtained and compared to the lab spectroscopy of specific minerals. The degradation of noise showed improvement in the spectral analysis of Mars data. The spectral analysis showed the presence of iron oxide, calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide leading to the conclusion that the image simulation is reliable in mineral spectral identification

Some Ghanaian herbal blood tonics as sources of Iron and other trace elements(Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, Pb)

Iron deficiency anaemia constitutes about 80 percent of all anaemia cases in developing countries. In Ghana, the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey reported anaemia prevalence of 67% for urbanresidents. Anaemia and loss of appetite are the common indications included in the consumer information on the labels on bottles of the numerous Ghanaian herbal blood tonics sold in retail pharmacyand chemical shops. In this study, ten brands of commonly advertised herbal blood tonics on the Ghanaian market were assessed for the levels of iron and other trace elements, wavelength of maximum absorption (ëmax), pH, salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS). These physico-chemical parameters were determined using a UNICAM 929 atomic absorption spectrophotometer, CECIL 8000 uv-visible spectrophotometer, JENWAY 3020 pH meter and LF538 conductivity meter. Maximum estimated daily dosages of less than 1 mg/day of iron was obtained for all the herbal tonics, except the Madam Catherine brand which had 2.17 mg, compared with the required daily intake of10 – 15 mg. The tonics also appear to be poor sources of the essential metals determined. Cd was detected in Adutwumwaa, Madam Catherine and Top tonics, while Pb was detected in Amingya iron tonic and Madam Catherine; but the levels of these toxic metals will not exceed the recommended safety standards, if the manufacturer’s dosages are adhered to

Search for alternate hosts of the coconut Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease pathogen

Lethal Yellowing disease locally called Cape Saint Paul wilt disease (CSPWD) is the bane of the coconut industry in Ghana and is caused by a phytoplasma. In Ghana, there are areas where the disease has re-infected re-plantings long after decimating all the palms in the area. This brings to the fore the possibility of alternate hosts in the spread of the disease because the pathogen is an obligate parasite. In this work, a number of plants were screened for their host status to the CSPWD pathogen. The presence of phytoplasmas in these plants was tested by polymerase chain reaction analysis using universal phytoplasma primers P1/P7 and CSPWD-specific primers G813/GAKSR. Although Desmodium adscendens tested positive to the CSPWD-specific primers, cloning and sequencing did not confirm it as an alternate host. The identification of alternate hosts will help us to evolve sound control strategies against the spread of the disease. (Résumé d'auteur