Assessing cognitive impairment in an ethnically diverse cohort of oldest-old: the life after 90 study.

Background: Though dementia rates vary by racial or ethnic groups, it is unknown if these disparities remain among those aged 90 or older.

Aims: To test this hypothesis, we used baseline clinical evaluation of 541 ethnically and racially diverse individuals participating in the LifeAfter90 Study to assess how associations between core demographic characteristics and measures of physical and cognitive performance differ across the racial/ethnic groups.

Methods: Participants in this study were long-term non-demented members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

Acute and chronic brucellosis eleven-year audit from a tertiary hospital in Armenia.

Introduction: The incidence of brucellosis in Armenia in 2010 was twice as high as in other countries of the Caucasian region and has almost doubled over the last three decades. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with acute or chronic forms of presentation of human brucellosis.

Methodology: Retrospective study using data from medical records of 455 patients hospitalized for the first time at the Nork Republican Infectious Disease Referral Hospital in Yerevan, Armenia between the years 2006 and 2016.

Change in TB diagnostic profile after introduction of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay in National TB Program of Armenia, 2013-2017.

Introduction: In 2013, the National Tuberculosis (TB) Program of Armenia introduced GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay to address World Health Organization (WHO) target of 80% (2020) of notified new and relapse TB cases to be tested with WHO recommended rapid diagnostic methods. This study aimed to assess the change in laboratory diagnostic profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis after introduction of the Xpert assay from 2013 to 2017.

Methodology: Retrospective cohort analysis of all presumptive TB patients' records retrieved from the National Reference Laboratory database was performed.

Clearing the air: improving smoke-free policy compliance at the national oncology hospital in Armenia.

Background: Smoke-free policies shown to reduce population exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) are the norm in hospitals in many countries around the world. Armenia, a transition economy in the South Caucasus, has one of the highest male smoking rates in the European region. Although smoking in healthcare facilities has been banned since 2005, compliance with this ban has been poor due to lack of implementation and enforcement mechanisms and social acceptability of smoking.

Rate and predictors of postpartum depression in a 22-year follow-up of a cohort of earthquake survivors in Armenia.

Disasters have serious long-term impact on mental health for those exposed. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of postpartum depression among survivors of the 1988 devastating earthquake in Armenia. A nested case-control design was applied to investigate postpartum depression in a large-scale cohort of survivors followed between 1990 and 2012.

Reducing children's exposure to secondhand smoke at home: a randomized trial.

Objective: To develop and test an intervention to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) at homes in Yerevan, Armenia.

Methods: A single-blind, randomized trial in 250 households with 2- to 6-year-old children tested an intensive intervention (counseling sessions, distribution of tailored educational brochures, demonstration of home air pollution, and 2 follow-up counseling telephone calls) against minimal intervention (distribution of standard leaflets). At baseline and 4-month follow-up, researchers conducted biomonitoring (children's hair) and surveys.

Smoking behavior, attitudes, and cessation counseling among healthcare professionals in Armenia.

Background: Smoking cessation counseling by health professionals has been effective in increasing cessation rates. However, little is known about smoking cessation training and practices in transition countries with high smoking prevalence such as Armenia. This study identified smoking-related attitudes and behavior of physicians and nurses in a 500-bed hospital in Yerevan, Armenia, the largest cancer hospital in the country, and explored barriers to their effective participation in smoking cessation interventions.

Interaction of maternal age and mode of delivery in the development of postpartum depression in Yerevan, Armenia.

Background: To investigate determinants of development of postpartum depression among women in Yerevan, Armenia.

Method: A case-control study of all reproductive age (18-45) women having 1-3 months old children registered in 7 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities, in Yerevan. We used Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a structured questionnaire to assess possible postpartum depression status of mothers and exposure status through telephone interviews.