An Innovative Approach to Using Electronic Health Records Through Health Information Exchange to Build a Chronic Disease Registry in Michigan.

Michigan's CHRONICLE, the Chronic Disease Registry Linking Electronic Health Record Data, is a near-real-time disease monitoring system designed to harness electronic health record (EHR) data and existing health information exchange (HIE) infrastructure for transformative public health surveillance. Strong evidence indicates that using EHR data in chronic disease monitoring will provide rapid insight over time on health care use, outcomes, and public health interventions. We examined the potential of EHR data for chronic disease surveillance through close collaboration with our statewide HIE network and 2 participating health systems.

Solvent-Dependent Emissions Properties of a Model Aurone Enable Use in Biological Applications.

Fluorophores are powerful visualization tools and the development of novel small organic fluorophores are in great demand. Small organic fluorophores have been derived from the aurone skeleton, 2-benzylidenebenzofuran-3(2H)-one. In this study, we have utilized a model aurone derivative with a methoxy group at the 3' position and a hydroxyl group at the 4' position, termed vanillin aurone, to develop a foundational understanding of structural factors impacting aurone fluorescence properties.

Food cue reactivity in successful laparoscopic gastric banding: A sham-deflation-controlled pilot study.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) offers a unique opportunity to examine the underlying neuronal mechanisms of surgically assisted weight loss due to its instant, non-invasive, adjustable nature. Six participants with stable excess weight loss (%EWL ≥ 45) completed 2 days of fMRI scanning 1.5-5 years after LAGB surgery.

Disparities in genetic services utilization in a random sample of young breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Increasing use of genetic services (counseling/testing) among young breast cancer survivors (YBCS) can help decrease breast cancer incidence and mortality. The study examined use of genetic services between Black and White/Other YBCS, attitudes and knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, and reasons for disparities in using genetic services.

Methods: We used baseline data from a randomized control trial including a population-based, stratified random sample of 3000 potentially eligible YBCS, with oversampling of Black YBCS.

Surveillance for cancer recurrence in long-term young breast cancer survivors randomly selected from a statewide cancer registry.

Purpose: This study examined clinical breast exam (CBE) and mammography surveillance in long-term young breast cancer survivors (YBCS) and identified barriers and facilitators to cancer surveillance practices.

Methods: Data collected with a self-administered survey from a statewide, randomly selected sample of YBCS diagnosed with invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ younger than 45 years old, stratified by race (Black vs. White/Other).

Recruiting families at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer from a statewide cancer registry: a methodological study.

Purpose: Cancer genetic services (counseling/testing) are recommended for women diagnosed with breast cancer younger than 45 years old (young breast cancer survivors-YBCS) and at-risk relatives. We present recruitment of YBCS, identification and recruitment of at-risk relatives, and YBCS willingness to contact their cancer-free, female relatives.

Methods: A random sample of 3,000 YBCS, stratified by race (Black vs.

Stroke-attributable death among older persons during the great recession.

Epidemiological evidence indicates an elevated risk for stroke among stressed persons, in general, and among individuals who have lost their job, in particular. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that stroke accounted for a larger fraction of deaths during the Great Recession than expected from other deaths and from trends, cycles, and other forms of autocorrelation. Based on vital statistics death data from California spanning 132 months from January 2000 through December 2010, we found support for the hypothesis.

Interweaving Knowledge Resources to Address Complex Environmental Health Challenges.

Background: Complex problems do not respect academic disciplinary boundaries. Environmental health research is complex and often moves beyond these boundaries, integrating diverse knowledge resources to solve such challenges. Here we describe an evolving paradigm for interweaving approaches that integrates widely diverse resources outside of traditional academic environments in full partnerships of mutual respect and understanding.

Public awareness of genetic nondiscrimination laws in four states and perceived importance of life insurance protections.

Genetic testing has grown dramatically in the past decade and is becoming an integral part of health care. Genetic nondiscrimination laws have been passed in many states, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed at the federal level in 2008. These laws generally protect individuals from discrimination by health insurers or employers based on genetic information, including test results.

Using Arden Syntax to identify registry-eligible very low birth weight neonates from the Electronic Health Record.

Condition-specific registries are essential resources for supporting epidemiological, quality improvement, and clinical trial studies. The identification of potentially eligible patients for a given registry often involves a manual process or use of ad hoc software tools. With the increased availability of electronic health data, such as within Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, there is potential to develop healthcare standards based approaches for interacting with these data.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to alcohol pictures predicts subsequent transition to heavy drinking in college students.

Background And Aims: Young adults show the highest rates of escalating drinking, yet the neural risk mechanisms remain unclear. Heavy drinkers show variant functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response to alcohol cues, which may presage increasing drinking. In this longitudinal study, we ascertained whether BOLD response to alcohol pictures predicted subsequent heavy drinking among college students.

Neuroinformatics Database (NiDB)--a modular, portable database for the storage, analysis, and sharing of neuroimaging data.

We present a modular, high performance, open-source database system that incorporates popular neuroimaging database features with novel peer-to-peer sharing, and a simple installation. An increasing number of imaging centers have created a massive amount of neuroimaging data since fMRI became popular more than 20 years ago, with much of that data unshared. The Neuroinformatics Database (NiDB) provides a stable platform to store and manipulate neuroimaging data and addresses several of the impediments to data sharing presented by the INCF Task Force on Neuroimaging Datasharing, including 1) motivation to share data, 2) technical issues, and 3) standards development.

The broad scope of health effects from chronic arsenic exposure: update on a worldwide public health problem.

Background: Concerns for arsenic exposure are not limited to toxic waste sites and massive poisoning events. Chronic exposure continues to be a major public health problem worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions of persons.

Objectives: We reviewed recent information on worldwide concerns for arsenic exposures and public health to heighten awareness of the current scope of arsenic exposure and health outcomes and the importance of reducing exposure, particularly during pregnancy and early life.

Using a state cancer registry to recruit young breast cancer survivors and high-risk relatives: protocol of a randomized trial testing the efficacy of a targeted versus a tailored intervention to increase breast cancer screening.

Background: The Michigan Prevention Research Center, the University of Michigan Schools of Nursing, Public Health, and Medicine, and the Michigan Department of Community Health propose a multidisciplinary academic-clinical practice three-year project to increase breast cancer screening among young breast cancer survivors and their cancer-free female relatives at greatest risk for breast cancer.

Methods/design: The study has three specific aims: 1) Identify and survey 3,000 young breast cancer survivors (diagnosed at 20-45 years old) regarding their breast cancer screening utilization. 2) Identify and survey survivors' high-risk relatives regarding their breast cancer screening utilization.

Barriers and facilitators for utilization of genetic counseling and risk assessment services in young female breast cancer survivors.

Introduction. Women diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age are more likely to carry a cancer predisposing genetic mutation. Per the current NCCN recommendations, women diagnosed under age 50 should be referred to cancer genetic counseling for further risk evaluation.

Influence of alcohol use and family history of alcoholism on neural response to alcohol cues in college drinkers.

Background: Heavy drinkers show altered functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to alcohol cues. Little is known about alcohol cue reactivity among college age drinkers, who show the greatest rates of alcohol use disorders. Family history of alcoholism (family history positive [FHP]) is a risk factor for problematic drinking, but the impact on alcohol cue reactivity is unclear.

Public awareness and use of direct-to-consumer personal genomic tests from four state population-based surveys, and implications for clinical and public health practice.

Purpose: Direct-to-consumer personal genomic tests are widely available, but population-based data are limited on awareness and use of these tests among the general public in the United States.

Methods: We assessed awareness and use of direct-to-consumer personal genomic tests in Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah using the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and compared the state results to the 2008 national HealthStyles survey results.

Results: Awareness was the highest in Oregon (29.

Tool to assess the cost and quality benefits of nursing innovation.

Understanding the economic value of nursing services in a time of unprecedented public sector cuts is a challenge. The economic assessment tool (EAT) (RCN 2011) has been designed by the authors of the article for this purpose and generates return on investment dividends for nursing innovations and services. The EAT, which is built on the discipline of improvement and uses many of its tools and techniques, involves four stages: mapping, costing, calculating and reporting.

Fast-food consumption and obesity among Michigan adults.

Introduction: Consumption of meals eaten away from home, especially from fast-food restaurants, has increased in the United States since the 1970s. The main objective of this study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of fast-food consumption among adults in Michigan and obesity prevalence.

Methods: We analyzed data from 12 questions about fast-food consumption that were included on the 2005 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, a population-based telephone survey of Michigan adults, using univariate and bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression, and compared these data with data on Michigan obesity prevalence.

Sex, drugs, and cognition: effects of marijuana.

Despite the knowledge that many drugs affect men and women differently, few studies exploring the effects of marijuana use on cognition have included women. Findings from both animal and human studies suggest marijuana may have more marked effects in women. This study examined sex differences in the acute effects of marijuana on cognition in 70 (n=35 male, 35 female) occasional users of marijuana.

Functional imaging of cognitive control during acute alcohol intoxication.

Background: The anterior cingulate and several other prefrontal and parietal brain regions are implicated in error processing and cognitive control. The effects of different doses of alcohol on activity within these brain regions during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task where errors are frequently committed have not been fully explored.

Methods: This study examined the impact of a placebo [breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) = 0.

Altered neural activity and emotions following right middle cerebral artery stroke.

Stroke of the right MCA is common. Such strokes often have consequences for emotional experience, but these can be subtle. In such cases diagnosis is difficult because emotional awareness (limiting reporting of emotional changes) may be affected.