It takes a village: community education predicts paediatric lower-respiratory infection risk better than maternal education.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the contribution of community and parental education levels in determining paediatric outcomes, including lower-respiratory infection (LRI), the leading global cause of child mortality.

Methods: The authors evaluated the association between community and maternal educational attainment and LRI risk among Medicaid-enrolled children age <2 years in Alaska, which has one of the highest LRI incidences ever reported. An individual-level database was created by linking Medicaid data to birth certificate files.

Passenger behaviors associated with norovirus infection on board a cruise ship--Alaska, May to June 2004.

Background: During May 2004, the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) investigated an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis on board a cruise ship sailing in Alaska waters. The objectives were to identify a common food item source and explore behavioral risk factors for person-to-person transmission among passengers.

Methods: A case was defined as three or more episodes of loose stools within 24 hours or two or fewer episodes of loose stools accompanied by one or more episodes of vomiting.

Airborne particulate matter from primarily geologic, non-industrial sources at levels below National Ambient Air Quality Standards is associated with outpatient visits for asthma and quick-relief medication prescriptions among children less than 20 years old enrolled in Medicaid in Anchorage, Alaska.

In Anchorage, Alaska, particulates with aerodynamic diameter < or = 10 micro m (PM(10)) arise primarily from natural, geologic sources, and particulates with aerodynamic diameter < or = 2.5 micro m (PM(2.5)) arise primarily from automobile emissions.

Asthma is associated with preterm birth but not with small for gestational age status among a population-based cohort of Medicaid-enrolled children <10 years of age.

Background: Few population-based studies have evaluated the association between birth weight or gestation and subsequent clinically significant asthma.

Methods: Birth records of 37 349 Alaska residents <10 years of age who were enrolled in Medicaid for at least 365 days during 1999-2002 were linked to a Medicaid billing file. The occurrence of asthma and lower respiratory infections during the study period was categorised on the basis of standard International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision codes.

Asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency are not associated with decreased growth among Alaska Native children aged 7-11 years.

Introduction: Alaska Native children have high Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency prevalences, and their average height-for-age is lower than US reference populations. During a clinical trial to determine the impact of H. pylori treatment on iron deficiency, we evaluated the effects of H.

Public health evaluation of cadmium concentrations in liver and kidney of moose (Alces alces) from four areas of Alaska.

Liver and/or kidney samples were collected from 139 hunter-killed moose from four areas of Alaska during 1986. The concentration of cadmium in organ tissue was determined by direct-current plasma atomic emission spectrometry. All results are reported as mug/g wet weight.