Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate and combined oral contraceptive use and cervical neoplasia among women with oncogenic human papillomavirus infection.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and combined oral contraceptive (COC) use with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Study Design: Two case-control studies of women who presented for gynecologic care and underwent cytologic and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing were performed. The first included oncogenic HPV-positive women grouped based on histology: negative (n = 152), CIN1 (n = 133), and CIN2-3 or greater (n = 173).

Diabetes quality of care and outpatient utilization associated with electronic patient-provider messaging: a cross-sectional analysis.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that electronic patient-provider messaging is associated with high care quality for diabetes and lower outpatient utilization.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of electronic patient-provider messaging over a 15-month period between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2005. The study was set at Group Health Cooperative--a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system that operates in Washington and Idaho.

The Denver Aerosol Sources and Health (DASH) Study: Overview and Early Findings.

Improved understanding of the sources of air pollution that are most harmful could aid in developing more effective measures for protecting human health. The Denver Aerosol Sources and Health (DASH) study was designed to identify the sources of ambient fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) that are most responsible for the adverse health effects of short-term exposure to PM (2.

HIV risk associated with gay bathhouses and sex clubs: findings from 2 seattle surveys of factors related to HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Objectives: We studied the HIV risk behaviors of patrons of the 3 commercial sex venues for men in Seattle, Washington.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional, observational surveys in 2004 and 2006 by use of time-venue cluster sampling with probability proportional to size. Surveys were anonymous and self-reported.

Anger expression, violent behavior, and symptoms of depression among male college students in Ethiopia.

Background: Depression is an important global public health problem. Given the scarcity of studies involving African youths, this study was conducted to evaluate the associations of anger expression and violent behavior with symptoms of depression among male college students.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics and violent behavior among 1,176 college students in Awassa, Ethiopia in June, 2006.

Risk of dyslipidemia in relation to level of physical activity among Thai professional and office workers.

We completed a cross-sectional study of 1,608 Thai participants (536 men and 1,072 women) receiving annual health check-ups to evaluate the relation between physical activity levels and fasting serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TCH), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and the total cholesterol: high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (TCH:HDL-C) ratio. Physical activity levels were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire administered at the time of blood collection. After controlling for confounders, men who reported high physical activity levels had on average a 3.

Medication Management Among Medicaid Myocardial Infarction Survivors.

Despite guidelines to direct appropriate medical management, the quality of care following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be lacking. This study characterizes medication utilization by Medicaid enrollees in the year following AMI, compares it to guidelines for secondary prevention and investigates associations with rehospitalization and survival. Using DSHS administrative claims data from Washington State, Medicaid enrollees who had an AMI in 2004 were selected.

Association Between Elevated Liver Enzymes and Metabolic Syndrome Among Thai Adults.

Background: To examine the relation between elevated liver marker concentrations (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 1,391 Thai participants (451 men and 940 women) receiving annual health check-ups. Multivariable logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of MetS risk according to quartiles of each liver marker concentration with the lowest quartile specified as the referent group.

Comparison of waist circumference, body mass index, percent body fat and other measure of adiposity in identifying cardiovascular disease risks among Thai adults.

Objective: To compare the abilities of body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) to identify cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is comprised of 1391 Thai participants (451 men and 940 women) receiving annual health check-ups. Spearman's rank correlation was used to determine the association of the five anthropometric indices with metabolic parameters including fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein and blood pressure.

Comparison of Waist Circumference, Body Mass Index, Percent Body Fat and Other Measure of Adiposity in Identifying Cardiovascular Disease Risks among Thai Adults.

Objective: To compare the abilities of body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) to identify cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is comprised of 1,391 Thai participants (451 men and 940 women) receiving annual health check-ups. Spearman's rank correlation was used to determine the association of the five anthropometric indices with metabolic parameters including fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and blood pressure.

Anger expression, negative life events and violent behaviour among male college students in Ethiopia.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of violent behaviour and to identify risk factors associated with violent behaviour among male college students in Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among 1294 male college students in Awassa, Ethiopia was conducted in June 2006. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information concerning violent acts, anger expression, and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics.

Inhaled glutathione for the prevention of air pollution-related health effects: a brief review.

Exposure to air pollution is associated with significant adverse health effects, such as cardiovascular disease and asthma. Most current research trends focus on quantifying illnesses or deaths attributable to air pollutants, but limited research has examined potential methods of preventing these effects. The mainstay of conventional therapies lies in the treatment of exposure-related diseases, not prevention strategies.

Epidemiology competency development and application to training for local and regional public health practitioners.

In 2002, the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) at the University of Washington initiated the Epidemiology Competencies Project, with the goal of developing competency-based epidemiology training for non-epidemiologist public health practitioners in the northwestern United States. An advisory committee consisting of epidemiology faculty and experienced public health practitioners developed the epidemiology competencies. NWCPHP used the competencies to guide the development of in-person trainings, a series of online epidemiology modules, and a Web-based repository of epidemiology teaching materials.

Depressive symptoms among female college students experiencing gender-based violence in Awassa, Ethiopia.

Little epidemiologic research has focused on the mental health effects of gender-based violence among sub-Saharan African women. The objective of this study was to assess risk of depression and depressive symptoms among 1,102 female undergraduate students who were victims of gender-based violence. Students who reported experience of any gender-based violence were nearly twice as likely to be classified as having moderate depression during the academic year (OR = 1.

Meeting the challenges of an aging workforce.

Background: Demographic, labor market and economic forces are combining to produce increases in the number and percentage of U.S. workers 55 and older.

Sexual intercourse and risk of symptomatic urinary tract infection in post-menopausal women.

Background: Sexual intercourse increases the risk of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) in young women, but its role among post-menopausal women is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether recent sexual intercourse, as documented by daily diaries, is associated with an increased risk of symptomatic UTI in post-menopausal women.

Design: A 2-year prospective cohort study conducted from 1998 to 2002.

What if we decided to take care of everyone who needed treatment? Workforce planning in Mozambique using simulation of demand for HIV/AIDS care.

Background: The growing AIDS epidemic in southern Africa is placing an increased strain on health systems, which are experiencing steadily rising patient loads. Health care systems are tackling the barriers to serving large populations in scaled-up operations. One of the most significant challenges in this effort is securing the health care workforce to deliver care in settings where the manpower is already in short supply.

Strategies for physical activity maintenance in African American women.

Objective: To examine whether African American women who were exercise maintainers reported the same barriers to and benefits from exercise as currently inactive women and to describe maintainers' strategies for exercise maintenance.

Methods: Semistructured qualitative interviews.

Results: Ten women were classified as exercise maintainers and 9 as relapsers.

Getting home safe and sound: occupational safety and health administration at 38.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHAct) declared that every worker is entitled to safe and healthful working conditions, and that employers are responsible for work being free from all recognized hazards. Thirty-eight years after these assurances, however, it is difficult to find anyone who believes the promise of the OSHAct has been met. The persistence of preventable, life-threatening hazards at work is a failure to keep a national promise.

Results of a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a chronic pain self-management group for older adults [ISRCTN11899548].

Chronic pain is a common, disabling problem in older adults. Pain self-management training is a multimodal therapy that has been found to be effective in young to middle-aged adult samples; however, few studies have examined the effectiveness of this therapy in older adults. In this randomized, controlled trial, we evaluated a pain self-management training group (SMG) intervention as compared with an education-only (BOOK) control condition.

Disaster events and the risk of sudden cardiac death: a Washington State investigation.

Background: Psychological distress following disaster events may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake and the 11 September terrorist attacks profoundly affected Washington state residents.

Hypothesis: This research investigated the theory that the incidence of sudden cardiac death would increase following these disaster events.

Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy among African American women.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine risk factors for bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy among African American women.

Study Design: As part of a study of preterm birth, African American women residing in Baltimore, MD, were recruited from prenatal care sites. Women enrolled prenatally (between 22 and 28 weeks' gestation) were asked to provide a vaginal smear specimen for ascertainment of BV.