Participation in Self-Collection of Maternal and Infant DNA in a Case-Control Study on Clubfoot

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD051804

Environmental and infectious risk factors for gastroschisis

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityGastroschisis is a rare congenital malformation where loops of bowel are protruding from the abdominal wall of an infant. The prevalence of gastroschisis has been increasing over the past 20 years, particularly in younger women. However, as the number of studies on gastroschisis increases each year, it continues to remain unclear why the prevalence is increasing and why it disproportionately affects younger mothers. Previous research has suggested that environmental or infectious factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of gastroschisis. This dissertation aims to explore the possibility of these two factors in relation to gastroschisis. In study 1, clusters of gastroschisis were identified in space or the combination of space and time. Cases and controls came from the National Birth Defects Study (NBDPS) or for some study centers from the birth defects surveillance systems. Generalized additive models were used to create a continuous map surface of odds ratios (OR) by smoothing over latitude and longitude. Data from the NBDPS were used for the Arkansas, California, and Utah study centers and the highest adjusted ORs detected were 2.0, 1.3, and 2.4, respectively. In Massachusetts and Texas, where surveillance data were used, the highest adjusted ORs observed were 2.4 and 1.3, respectively, with only the latter state achieving statistical significance. Texas had sufficient data to assess the combination of space and time, which identified an increased risk (OR=2.9) in the center of Texas in 2003. The results of this study suggest that clusters of gastroschisis may exist and further exploration of environmental or behavioral factors are warranted. [TRUNCATED

Coming Out of Concrete Closets: A Report on Black and Pink's National LGBTQ Prisoner Survey

This report lifts up the voices of LGBTQ prisoners from across the United States so that they can inform, shape, and lead the movement for prisoner justice. These numbers, statistics, and stories represent the largest ever collection of information from LGBTQ prisoners. This collection of information is possible because of the time taken by 1,118 prisoners across the United States to handwrite responses to our 133-question survey, which was itself designed/drafted with prisoners themselves. Black & Pink's free world leadership extends the utmost thanks to prisoner members who took the time to help design and respond to the National LGBTQ Prisoner Survey and for sharing their deeply personal and valuable stories of harm and resilience. This report will be printed in the Black & Pink newspaper for all prisoner members to read. Along with the report, there will be space for responses and reflections that will be compiled into a supplementary report to be released in Spring/Summer of 2016.LGBTQ people, particularly people of color and poor people, experience high levels of policing and criminalization, leading to arrest and incarceration. Once inside prison, LGBTQ people are subjected to constant violence by both prison staff and other prisoners. This report seeks to offer a tool for organizers, both inside and outside of prisons, to strengthen national campaigns and grassroots efforts to alleviate the immediate suffering of prisoners and bring an end to the prison industrial complex while centering the needs of LGBTQ prisoners

Part I

During the latter months of 2014, Black & Pink, conducted a survey of our prisoner membership. Nearly 1,200 prisoners responded to our 133-question survey, producing the largest ever dataset available on the experiences of LGBTQ prisoners in the country. The intent of this survey was to get some truth out from behind prison walls about the experiences of LBGTQ prisoners in the United States. Our report aims to share that truth by elevating prisoner voices, stories, and leadership to inspire immediate collective action. This is just PART 1 of our incredible report project. From here we will be sharing the data and report with Black & Pink’s incarcerated membership, getting their feedback, and creating a PART 2 report (hopefully by summer 2016) with a collection of reflections from LGBTQ prisoner members of Black & Pink