Ethylene Oxide Hemoglobin Adducts in Cord Blood and Offspring's Size at Birth: The NewGeneris European Cohort Study.

Background: Prenatal ethylene oxide exposure may have adverse effects on fetal development. We examined the relationships between ethylene oxide hemoglobin (Hb) adduct levels and offspring's size at birth in a prospective European mother-child study.

Methods: This study included 1106 singletons from the NewGeneris project (2006-2010) with ethylene oxide Hb adducts measured in cord blood.

Protecting workers in the temporary staffing industry.

Background: Workers hired through temporary staffing companies have a high rate of severe and fatal injuries despite the legally mandated, shared responsibility of the temporary staffing company and the host company to assure safe work.

Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate the perspective of temporary staffing personnel on approaches to mitigating injury risk among the workers they hire.

Methods: Based on a conceptual model representing the interplay between work and health, we conducted a 'brainstorm' of temporary staffing personnel regarding perceived barriers to protecting temporary workers.

Master of Public Health Education in the United States Today: Building Leaders of the Future.

Objectives: For decades, there have been calls to action to change the status quo of public health education in the United States to respond to workforce needs and help reinforce capacity. During the last 10 years, schools and programs of public health have planned and implemented programmatic and curricular changes. This study explored the focus of master of public health (MPH) education in the United States today.

Work-Sampling Study of an Innovative Care Coordination Program Aimed at Children With Chronic Health Conditions.

Purpose Of Study: To estimate time allocation and labor cost for care coordinators (CCs), community health workers (CHWs), and mental health workers (MHWs) to conduct care coordination tasks in a pediatric care coordination program.

Primary Practice Setting: A public tertiary academic medical center in Chicago, IL.

Methodology And Sample: A work-sampling study was conducted using a text message-based survey on 5 CCs, 20 CHWs, and 4 MHWs who volunteered to participate.

Burnout in HIV/AIDS Volunteers: A Socio-Cultural Analysis among Latino Gay, Bisexual Men, and Transgender People.

Understanding factors associated with burnout among HIV/AIDS volunteers has long-ranging implications for community organizations and prevention. Using a cross-sectional sample of Latino gay/bisexual men and transgender people (N=309), we assess potential correlates of burnout identified by multiple theories, including factors associated with volunteering (experiences, motives) and contextual factors (stigma, sense of community). Reporting negative volunteering experiences was positively associated with burnout, while being motivated by personal HIV/AIDS experiences and having a greater sense of GLBT community was negatively related to burnout.

Guidelines and Interventions Related to the Postpartum Visit for Low-Risk Postpartum Women in High and Upper Middle Income Countries.

Objectives A two-part review was undertaken to: (1) summarize current guidelines on the timing and frequency of postpartum follow-up care for generally healthy, non-high risk postpartum women and to delineate the evidence on which these guidelines are based; and, (2) summarize the results of intervention studies focused on increasing utilization of the postpartum visit for generally healthy, non-high risk postpartum women. Methods A review of guidelines from high and upper middle income countries published between 2000 and 2016 in English related to non-high risk postpartum follow-up visits was conducted in 2014-2016 using four databases and additional sources. In addition, articles published between 1990 and 2016 which evaluated interventions from high to upper middle income countries related to increasing attendance at the postpartum visit were gathered using three databases.

Understanding Factors Associated with Postpartum Visit Attendance and Contraception Choices: Listening to Low-Income Postpartum Women and Health Care Providers.

Background While there is considerable variability with respect to attendance at the postpartum visit, not much is known about women's preferences with respect to postpartum care. Likewise, there is also limited information on providers' practices regarding the postpartum visit and care including the delivery of contraception. To understand and address deficits in the delivery and utilization of postpartum care, we examined the perceptions of low-income postpartum women with respect to barriers to and preferences for the timing and location of the postpartum visit and receipt of contraception.

Integrative Analysis of "-Omics" Data Using Penalty Functions.

In the analysis of omics data, integrative analysis provides an effective way of pooling information across multiple datasets or multiple correlated responses, and can be more effective than single-dataset (response) analysis. Multiple families of integrative analysis methods have been proposed in the literature. The current review focuses on the penalization methods.

Integrative analysis of prognosis data on multiple cancer subtypes.

In cancer research, profiling studies have been extensively conducted, searching for genes/SNPs associated with prognosis. Cancer is diverse. Examining the similarity and difference in the genetic basis of multiple subtypes of the same cancer can lead to a better understanding of their connections and distinctions.

Identification of gene-environment interactions in cancer studies using penalization.

High-throughput cancer studies have been extensively conducted, searching for genetic markers associated with outcomes beyond clinical and environmental risk factors. Gene-environment interactions can have important implications beyond main effects. The commonly-adopted single-marker analysis cannot accommodate the joint effects of a large number of markers.

Sparse group penalized integrative analysis of multiple cancer prognosis datasets.

In cancer research, high-throughput profiling studies have been extensively conducted, searching for markers associated with prognosis. Owing to the 'large d, small n' characteristic, results generated from the analysis of a single dataset can be unsatisfactory. Recent studies have shown that integrative analysis, which simultaneously analyses multiple datasets, can be more effective than single-dataset analysis and classic meta-analysis.

Utilizing Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis to Examine Health and Environmental Disparities in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.

Health disparities research has focused primarily on racial and socioeconomic differences in health outcomes. Although neighborhood characteristics and the concept of built environment have been shown to affect individual health, measuring the effects of environmental risks on health has been a less developed area of disparities research. To examine spatial associations and the distribution of geographic patterns of sociodemographic characteristics, environmental cancer risk, and cancer rates, we utilized existing data from multiple sources.

Evaluating goals in worker health protection using a participatory design and an evaluation checklist.

Spanish-speaking immigrant workers in construction are considered hard to reach and at high risk for work-related injury and fatality. This evaluation study describes the use of participatory methods and an evaluation checklist to consider a health and safety (H&S) training program for these workers. A previously developed training manual and model were disseminated to eight worker centers (WCs) through participatory research collaboration.

Health risks of limited-contact water recreation.

Background: Wastewater-impacted waters that do not support swimming are often used for boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, and rowing. Little is known about the health risks of these limited-contact water recreation activities.

Objectives: We evaluated the incidence of illness, severity of illness, associations between water exposure and illness, and risk of illness attributable to limited-contact water recreation on waters dominated by wastewater effluent and on waters approved for general use recreation (such as swimming).

Implementation and evaluation of interventions for home care aides on blood and body fluid exposure in large-group settings.

Participatory research conducted with academic, union and management cooperation resulted in the development, implementation, and process evaluation of interventions designed to reduce occupational blood and body fluid exposure among home care aides. Home care aides working for a large urban home care agency took part in the design and implementation of an interactive participatory training program conducted in large-group settings, and the development and evaluation of two training tools: an information card for home care aides and a sharps safety magnet for their clients. A process evaluation conducted immediately following the interactive training program found that 72 percent of the home care aides preferred it to lecture-style trainings typically offered, while only 9 percent preferred typical trainings.

Can public health performance standards improve the quality of public health practice?

Recent developments suggest that a national public health performance standards program could succeed in improving the quality of public health practice. Public health standards also may be useful for enhancing accountability and strengthening the science base of public health practice. For national public health performance standards to have a substantial influence on the quality of public health practice, several important issues must be addressed.