Epidemiologic data on young men of color who have sex with men.

Young men of color who have sex with men (YMSM of color) have been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Between 2001 and 2006, HIV/AIDS diagnoses increased 93.1% among African-American MSM aged 13-24 and 45.

Is gallbladder cancer decreasing in view of increasing laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

Background: Gallstone disease affects over 20 million people in the U.S. and is a major risk factor for gallbladder cancer (GBC).

Semi-automated scoring of triple-probe FISH in human sperm: methods and further validation.

Although the frequency and consequence of sperm chromosomal abnormalities are considerable, few epidemiologic studies in large samples have been conducted to investigate etiologic risk factors. This is, in part, attributable to the labor intensive demands of manual sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) scoring. As part of an epidemiologic study investigating environmental risk factors for aneuploidy among men attending a hospital-based fertility clinic, a semi-automated method of slide scoring was further validated and used to estimate sex chromosome sperm disomy frequency in a large number of samples.

Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment (SCRIPT) methods in Medicaid-supported prenatal care: Trial III.

This two-phase evaluation documented the delivery and effectiveness of evidence-based health education methods by regular staff to pregnant smokers. During Phase 1, a total of 436 Medicaid patients were screened and 416 (95%) gave consent: 334 nonsmokers and 102 smokers. This historical Comparison (C) group was assessed to document the "normal" pretrial smoking prevalence, patient nondisclosure (deception), and cessation rates at the first prenatal visit and during care.

The association between major depressive disorder and obesity in US adolescents: results from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity was assessed in 4,150 US adolescents aged 12-19 years from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weight and height were measured by health professionals and MDD was based on a structured diagnostic interview. The prevalence of MDD in the past year among US adolescents was 3.

The essential health benefits provisions of the Affordable Care Act: implications for people with disabilities.

In establishing minimum coverage standards for health insurance plans, the Affordable Care Act includes an "essential health benefits" statute that directs the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services not to make coverage decisions, determine reimbursement rates, establish incentive programs, or design benefits in ways that discriminate against individuals because of their age, disability, or expected length of life.

iPhone apps for smoking cessation: a content analysis.

Background: With the proliferation of smartphones such as the iPhone, mobile phones are being used in novel ways to promote smoking cessation.

Purpose: This study set out to examine the content of the 47 iPhone applications (apps) for smoking cessation that were distributed through the online iTunes store, as of June 24, 2009.

Methods: Each app was independently coded by two reviewers for its (1) approach to smoking cessation and (2) adherence to the U.

Male perpetration of teen dating violence: associations with neighborhood violence involvement, gender attitudes, and perceived peer and neighborhood norms.

This study aims to examine the link between male perpetration of teen dating violence (TDV) and neighborhood violence, as well as associations with gender attitudes and perceived peer and neighborhood norms related to violence among a sample of urban adolescent boys. Participants of this cross-sectional study (N = 275) were between the ages of 14 and 20 years and recruited from urban community health centers. Crude and adjusted logistic and linear regression models were used to examine TDV perpetration in relation to (a) neighborhood violence involvement, (b) perceptions of peer violence, (c) perceptions of neighborhood violence, and (d) gender attitudes.

The role of housing in determining HIV risk among female sex workers in Andhra Pradesh, India: considering women's life contexts.

Recent research on HIV prevention, regardless of the population, has increasingly recognized the relevance of contextual factors in determining HIV risk. Investigating such factors among female sex workers (FSW) is especially relevant in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where HIV rates are among the highest across Indian states and where HIV has largely affected FSW. Stable housing is a particular contextual challenge experienced by female sex workers in this region (as well as elsewhere); however, local studies have not examined the impact of this issue on HIV risk.

Factors predicting adherence to 9 months of supervised exercise in healthy older women.

Background: Little is known about factors affecting adherence to highly-structured and supervised exercise programs in older people.

Methods: Healthy, inactive older (≥65 y) women (N = 30) were randomized into a 1) higher- (ATH-80% VO₂peak); 2) moderate- (ATM-65% VO₂peak) intensity aerobic; or 3) lower-intensity resistance (RTL; 50% VO₂peak) group. All 3 groups exercised 4 days·week⁻¹ for an average of 45 to 70 min·session⁻¹ over 9 months.

House/ball culture and adolescent African-American transgender persons and men who have sex with men: a synthesis of the literature.

Transgender persons and young men of color who have sex with men (YMSM of color) have been severely affected by HIV in the USA. Houses and balls in the USA have historically been a primary meeting ground for YMSM of color and transgender people, offering an opportunity for HIV prevention activities. Houses provide a familial structure for YMSM of color and transgender people, while balls provide them with events at which they can congregate for social support and entertainment.

Community colleges and public health: making the connections.

Community colleges, in collaboration with public health agencies, can advance public health education by reaching a diverse student body, integrating public health into general education, and providing specialized associate degrees that serve workforce needs. Career ladders that include transferability of coursework to 4-year institutions and continuing education, including certificate programs, are key to success of these efforts. Community, or 2-year, colleges are well positioned to connect components of the Healthy People Curriculum Task Force's Education for Health framework by providing general education core courses in public health, epidemiology, and global health compatible with the educated citizen and public health movement.

Healthy People 2020 and Education for Health: what are the objectives?

The Education for Health framework is designed as an educational roadmap for Healthy People 2020. It aims to connect the educational phases and suggests overall educational strategies needed to educate health professionals and the public to achieve a healthier America. The framework seeks to develop a seamless approach to prevention and population health education from Pre-K through graduate school.

No evidence of infection with avian influenza viruses among US poultry workers in the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland and Virginia, USA.

Industrial poultry workers may be at elevated risk of avian influenza infection due to intense occupational contact with live poultry. Serum samples from poultry workers and community members in the Delmarva Peninsula, one of the densest regions of poultry production in the United States, were analyzed for antibodies to strains of five avian influenza subtypes using microneutralization assays. No evidence of infection was found, suggesting inefficient transmission to humans or the absence of virus in these premises.

The effect of driver age on the incidence and severity of upper extremity injuries due to second generation front air bag deployment.

This study used NHTSA NASS/CDS data to examine whether advancing age was associated with a higher incidence and severity of front airbag-related upper extremity injury (UEI). Using a retrospective cohort design we analyzed weighted data from 1998-2007 for. The study population consisted of lap/shoulder belted people over 16 years of age who were driving passenger vehicles with model years 1998-2003 and were involved in a frontal crash where their front airbag deployed.

The missing technology: an international comparison of human capital investment in healthcare.

This article explores human capital investment to understand cross-sectional variation and differences in growth of health spending among the US, Australia and Canada. Using a human capital model developed by Mincer, the article examines how rate of return to schooling and years of schooling impact wage rate levels in healthcare. The model is extended to approximate the probable trajectory of healthcare wage rate growth and thus the impact on health spending.

Elevated HIV prevalence despite lower rates of sexual risk behaviors among black men in the District of Columbia who have sex with men.

The District of Columbia (DC) has among the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the United States, with 3.2% of the population and 7.1% of black men living with HIV/AIDS.

Obesity and outcomes among patients with established atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and obesity have reached epidemic proportions. The impact of obesity on clinical outcomes in patients with established AF is unknown. We analyzed 2,492 patients in the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) study.

Provider satisfaction and patient outcomes associated with a statewide prison telemedicine program in Louisiana.

Health information technology including telemedicine offers potential to improve patient care outcomes. As part of the response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division expanded its statewide telemedicine program. The aim of this study was to evaluate provider satisfaction and patient outcomes associated with telemedicine when used for the administration of prisoner medical care.