In the past, disease pattern mapping depended on census tracts based on political units, such as states and counties. However, with the advent of geographic information systems (GIS), researchers can now achieve a new level of precision and flexibility in geographic locating. This emerging technology allows the mapping of many different kinds of geographies, including disease rates in relation to pollution sources. Geocoding Health Data presents a state-of-the-art discussion on the current technical and administrative developments in geographic information science. In particular, it discusses how geocoded residential addresses can be used to examine the spatial patterns of cancer incidence, staging, survival, and mortality. The book begins with an introduction of various codes and their uses, including census geographic, health area, and street level codes. It goes on to describe the specific application of geocodes to cancer, detailing methods, materials, and technical issues. The text illustrates how to compile data maps for analysis and addresses issues, such as mismatch correction and data quality. It describes the current state of geocoding practices and discusses the use of individually geocoded cancer incidences in spatial epidemiology, distance estimation and spatial accessibilities, and tips for handling non-geocoded cases. Special consideration is given to privacy and confidentiality issues by focusing on disclosure limitation methods. With recent disease outbreaks and escalating concerns about bioterrorism, interest in the application of GIS to individual data is growing. The fundamental concepts presented by this book are of great value to anyone trying to understand the causes, prevention, and control of cancer as well as a variety of other diseases.

"Provides current models, tools, and examples for the formulation and evaluation of scientific hypotheses in causal terms. Introduces a new method of model parametritization. Illustrates structural equations and graphical elements for complex causal systems."

Orthopoxviruses Pathogenic for Humans covers those viruses capable of causing disease in man, including monkeypox, smallpox, cowpox, and vaccinia. The coverage of each virus is comprehensive, covering the biology, molecular biology, and ecology of the virus as well as the clinical and epidemiological aspects of these viruses in humans and animals. In addition, this volume highlights developments in genetic engineering that are paving the way for potential therapeutic treatments of these viruses.

Influenza is a continuing news story with three clearly defined pandemics. Spanning a history of over fifty years, Mass Mediated Disease focuses on the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, the Asian influenza pandemic of 1957, and the Hong Kong influenza pandemic of 1968, by discussing news stories reported by the New York Times, London Times, and other popular magazines. This groundbreaking work demonstrates that the social construction of influenza changed over time, which was reflected by the mass media, and ultimately resulted in public policies that clearly illustrate the link between media and policy formation in the United States. This comprehensive history serves as an example for future incidents involving mass casualties or mass contamination from infectious agents_especially on what to expect, what to do, and what not to do regarding the crisis response, reportage, and resulting policies.

Genetic epidemiology is a very rapidly developing field that has acquired a central role in modern biomedical science. Driven by fast-paced technological advances arising from the sequencing of the human genome, and the rolling-out of these technologies into population-based studies, remarkable advances have occurred recently in our ability to detect genetic polymorphisms which contribute to susceptibility to complex human disease. This new science has begun to transform epidemiology, clinical medicine, and public health. Epidemiologists and public health students who in the past only had to learn a minimum of genetics are now required to acquire more detailed knowledge of the field, yet until now there has been no text set at the appropriate introductory level. This book brings together leading international experts to provide an introduction to genetic epidemiology that begins with a primer in human molecular genetics (requiring no prior specialist knowledge) and then examines all the standard methods in population genetics and genetic epidemiology required for an adequate grounding in the field. Among much else, the book contains discussion of the public health aspects of the new genetics, and of epidemiological methods for studying genes and environmental factors in complex diseases. Supplemented by a glossary and in-chapter guides to further reading, this introduction to genetic epidemiology will be widely welcomed by teachers and students on a burgeoning number of courses across the world.

A practical introduction to epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology for the whole health care community This comprehensive text, which has been extensively revised with new material and additional topics, utilizes a practical slant to introduce health professionals and students to epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology. It draws examples from a wide range of topics, covering all of the main contemporary health research methods, including survival analysis, Cox regression, and systematic reviews and meta-analysis the explanation of which go beyond introductory concepts. This second edition of Quantitative Methods for Health Research: A Practical Interactive Guide to Epidemiology and Statistics also helps develop critical skills that will prepare students to move on to more advanced and specialized methods. A clear distinction is made between knowledge and concepts that all students should ensure they understand, and those that can be pursued further by those who wish to do so. Self-assessment exercises throughout the text help students explore and reflect on their understanding. A program of practical exercises in SPSS (using a prepared data set) helps to consolidate the theory and develop skills and confidence in data handling, analysis, and interpretation. Highlights of the book include: * Combining epidemiology and bio-statistics to demonstrate the relevance and strength of statistical methods * Emphasis on the interpretation of statistics using examples from a variety of public health and health care situations to stress relevance and application * Use of concepts related to examples of published research to show the application of methods and balance between ideals and the realities of research in practice * Integration of practical data analysis exercises to develop skills and confidence * Supplementation by a student companion website which provides guidance on data handling in SPSS and study data sets as referred to in the text Quantitative Methods for Health Research, Second Edition is a practical learning resource for students, practitioners and researchers in public health, health care and related disciplines, providing both a course book and a useful introductory reference.

"Global Health in Africa" is a first exploration of selected histories of global health initiatives in Africa. The collection addresses some of the most important interventions in disease control, including mass vaccination, large-scale treatment and/or prophylaxis campaigns, harm reduction efforts, and nutritional and virological research.
The chapters in this collection are organized in three sections that evaluate linkages between past, present, and emergent. Part I, "Looking Back," contains four chapters that analyze colonial-era interventions and reflect upon their implications for contemporary interventions. Part II, "The Past in the Present," contains essays exploring the historical dimensions and unexamined assumptions of contemporary disease control programs. Part III, "The Past in the Future," examines two fields of public health intervention in which efforts to reduce disease transmission and future harm are premised on an understanding of the past.
This much-needed volume brings together international experts from the disciplines of demography, anthropology, and historical epidemiology. Covering health initiatives from smallpox vaccinations to malaria control to HIV campaigns, "Global Health in Africa" offers a first comprehensive look at some of global health's most important challenges.
Contributors: James L. A. Webb, Jr.; Guillaume Lachenal; Jennifer Tappan; Tamara Giles-Vernick and Stephanie Rupp; Anne Marie Moulin; Myron Echenberg; Michel Garenne, Alain Giami, and Christophe Perrey; Sheryl McCurdy and Haruka Maruyama

There is an increasing need for educational resources for statisticians and investigators. Reflecting this, the goal of this book is to provide readers with a sound foundation in the statistical design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials. Furthermore, it is intended as a guide for statisticians and investigators with minimal clinical trial experience who are interested in pursuing a career in this area. The advancement in genetic and molecular technologies have revolutionized drug development. In recent years, clinical trials have become increasingly sophisticated as they incorporate genomic studies, and efficient designs (such as basket and umbrella trials) have permeated the field. This book offers the requisite background and expert guidance for the innovative statistical design and analysis of clinical trials in oncology. Key Features: Cutting-edge topics with appropriate technical background Built around case studies which give the work a "hands-on" approach Real examples of flaws in previously reported clinical trials and how to avoid them Access to statistical code on the book's website Chapters written by internationally recognized statisticians from academia and pharmaceutical companies Carefully edited to ensure consistency in style, level, and approach Topics covered include innovating phase I and II designs, trials in immune-oncology and rare diseases, among many others

The UK housing system has been described as being in 'crisis', but suddenly in 2020 homes were on the COVID-19 frontline, used for shielding, isolating and care. Most were used by more people, for more hours, for more activities. Many households were cut off from normal services and contacts, and many lost the means to pay for their homes. Millions of infections occurred at home, and inequalities in household type, housing space, cost and tenure contributed to the unequal impact of the pandemic. This book brings together a wealth of data, individual testimony and analysis, in one convenient resource for students, scholars and practitioners.

This book describes a wide-ranging set of research approaches which have been used to study the health care problems of adults living in rural areas. It shows how these approaches can be used to define health care problems, measure levels of illness and health, and evaluate health care practices. For each approach, contributors provide a theoretical background from the health care delivery literature, details of how it can be carried out in the field, its strengths and weaknesses, and illustrative examples from both the literature and their own work.

A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year "A critical, poignant postmortem of the epidemic." -Washington Post "Forceful and instructive...Sabeti and Salahi uncover competition, sabotage, fear, blame, and disorganization bordering on chaos, features that are seen in just about any lethal epidemic." -Paul Farmer, cofounder of Partners in Health "The central theme of the book...is that common threads of dysfunction run through responses to epidemics...The power of Outbreak Culture is its universality." -Nature "Sabeti and Salahi present a wealth of evidence supporting the imperative that outbreak response must operate in a coordinated, real-time manner." -Science As we saw with the Ebola outbreak-and the disastrous early handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic-a lack of preparedness, delays, and system-wide problems with the distribution of critical medical supplies can have deadly consequences. Yet after every outbreak, the systems put in place to coordinate emergency responses are generally dismantled. One of America's top biomedical researchers, Dr. Pardis Sabeti, and her Pulitzer Prize-winning collaborator, Lara Salahi, argue that these problems are built into the ecosystem of our emergency responses. With an understanding of the path of disease and insight into political psychology, they show how secrecy, competition, and poor coordination plague nearly every major public health crisis and reveal how much more could be done to safeguard the well-being of caregivers, patients, and vulnerable communities. A work of fearless integrity and unassailable authority, Outbreak Culture seeks to ensure that we make some urgently needed changes before the next pandemic.

Clinical Trial Optimization Using R explores a unified and broadly applicable framework for optimizing decision making and strategy selection in clinical development, through a series of examples and case studies. It provides the clinical researcher with a powerful evaluation paradigm, as well as supportive R tools, to evaluate and select among simultaneous competing designs or analysis options. It is applicable broadly to statisticians and other quantitative clinical trialists, who have an interest in optimizing clinical trials, clinical trial programs, or associated analytics and decision making. This book presents in depth the Clinical Scenario Evaluation (CSE) framework, and discusses optimization strategies, including the quantitative assessment of tradeoffs. A variety of common development challenges are evaluated as case studies, and used to show how this framework both simplifies and optimizes strategy selection. Specific settings include optimizing adaptive designs, multiplicity and subgroup analysis strategies, and overall development decision-making criteria around Go/No-Go. After this book, the reader will be equipped to extend the CSE framework to their particular development challenges as well.

"This is truly an outstanding book. [It] brings together all of the latest research in clinical trials methodology and how it can be applied to drug development.... Chang et al provide applications to industry-supported trials. This will allow statisticians in the industry community to take these methods seriously." Jay Herson, Johns Hopkins University The pharmaceutical industry's approach to drug discovery and development has rapidly transformed in the last decade from the more traditional Research and Development (R & D) approach to a more innovative approach in which strategies are employed to compress and optimize the clinical development plan and associated timelines. However, these strategies are generally being considered on an individual trial basis and not as part of a fully integrated overall development program. Such optimization at the trial level is somewhat near-sighted and does not ensure cost, time, or development efficiency of the overall program. This book seeks to address this imbalance by establishing a statistical framework for overall/global clinical development optimization and providing tactics and techniques to support such optimization, including clinical trial simulations. Provides a statistical framework for achieve global optimization in each phase of the drug development process. Describes specific techniques to support optimization including adaptive designs, precision medicine, survival-endpoints, dose finding and multiple testing. Gives practical approaches to handling missing data in clinical trials using SAS. Looks at key controversial issues from both a clinical and statistical perspective. Presents a generous number of case studies from multiple therapeutic areas that help motivate and illustrate the statistical methods introduced in the book. Puts great emphasis on software implementation of the statistical methods with multiple examples of software code (both SAS and R). It is important for statisticians to possess a deep knowledge of the drug development process beyond statistical considerations. For these reasons, this book incorporates both statistical and "clinical/medical" perspectives.

This volume provides a serious examination of substance use prevention research and practice as components of the continuum from health promotion through to prevention and health care in sub-groups and in the general population. Extensive background chapters provide portals into the evolution of the field and the cutting edge research being conducted on the etiology, epidemiology, and genetics of substance use and abuse. The global nature and health burden of substance use and abuse incorporates assessments of the serious problems related to the prevention of legal substance use (i.e., alcohol and tobacco) and how lessons learned in those arenas may apply to the prevention of illicit substance use. Research and practice chapters detail a range of effective evidence-based programs, policies and practices and emerging prevention interventions from the literatures on the family and school contexts in addition to innovations involving mindfulness and the social media. Continued advancements in substance use prevention research, practice, training, and policy are projected. Included among topics addressed are: Progression of substance use to abuse and substance use disorders The tobacco prevention experience: a model for substance use prevention? Policy interventions: intended and unintended influences on substance use Qualitative methods in the study of psychoactive substance use Use of media and social media in the prevention of substance use Supporting prevention science and prevention research internationally The array of research accomplishments and real-world methods presented in Prevention of Substance Use merits the attention of a variety of researchers and practitioners, including public health professionals, health psychologists, and epidemiologists.

Introduces the recent applications of new computational intelligent technologies focusing on medical diagnosis issues Reviews multidisciplinary research in healthcare like data mining, medical imaging, pattern recognition and so forth Explores intelligent systems and application of learning in healthcare challenges along with the representation and reasoning of clinical uncertainty Addresses the problems resulting from automated data collection in modern hospitals with possible solutions to support medical decision-making system Discusses current and emerging intelligent system with respect to evolutionary computation and its applications in medical domain

This text uses a case-study approach to present the core principles of biochemistry and molecular biology in the context of human disease to students who will be involved in patient care. The 33 cases are carefully selected to cover key concepts and common diseases. Each chapter provides a specific patient report that includes the relevant history, pertinent clinical laboratory data, physical findings, and subsequent diagnosis. This is followed by a comprehensive discussion of the normal biochemical processes and reactions pertaining to the case, along with the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease. In this third edition of the book, a new co-editor has aided in the substantially revised and more targeted selection of cases. The whole volume is now clearly focussed on intermediary metabolism and other topics central to biochemistry. There are new chapters on topics such as collagen structure, mitochondrial metabolism, and hyperhomocysteinemia and vascular disease. There is also more coverage of nutrional biochemistry, including new chapters on protein-calorie malnutrition, obesity, vitamin A deficiency, and iron metabolism.The best cases were retained from the previous edition, and have been completely rewritten and updated to include recent advances in diagnostic biochemistry and the status of current therapies. Although the first edition was intended primarily for medical students, through the years the book has proven useful for a wide variety of students interested in the health science professions.

Including recent advances, this edition focuses on sustainable development and human welfare in biology, genetics, microbial biotechnology, and molecular medicine. While written for engineers specializing in biotechnology, those in agriculture, veterinary science, and medicine, will find new information relevant to their practice. It links biological principles to plant, animal, environmental, industrial, and medical biotechnologies, discusses concepts of genetics and molecular biology, and examines developments in the production of biopolymers, vaccines, gene therapy, bioremediation, biofuels, and biofertilizers.

The U.S. healthcare system is in "complete chaos-disarray." Medical costs have increased significantly over the past 6 years with 70% increase for deductibles and 24% or more for health insurance premiums. All the while, workers earnings have either not increased or if they did, the pay raises were for less than the increase in the cost of medical care. The situation is unsustainable and the public wants the system fixed. This book offers ways of fixing the problems in healthcare. HEALTHCARE's OUT SICK - PREDICTING A CURE - Solutions that WORK !!!! first defines the "healthcare in crisis" problem. Through real patient experiences, the book describes the difficulties of getting through the maze of complexity among the plethora of "silo providers" which make up the industry. The heart of the book provides readers with a comprehensive solution that can work, a disruption that is necessary to provide Americans the medical care they need without the US public and healthcare providers and payors going into bankruptcy, insolvency or closure. This book delves into digitized medicine, payor and provider reimbursement models, and value-based healthcare delivery. It also includes a philosophy or mode of thinking and operation for the solutions that are needed for diagnosis-effective, cost-effective, and time-efficient healthcare delivery, of which digitized medicine, value-based care, and payor reimbursement modes are just some of the factors. The authors propose that the real solution involves having the patient at the center of the issues and changing from an archaic gold standard way of thinking to a "Predictive Analytic thinking" where one gets at the real truth by doing "real science" that in the end becomes effective not only for the population but for the individual person. This all leads to real person-centered and person-directed medicine and healthcare delivery.

Over the past decades, infectious disease epidemics have come to increasingly pose major global health challenges to humanity. The Anthropology of Epidemics approaches epidemics as total social phenomena: processes and events which encompass and exercise a transformational impact on social life whilst at the same time functioning as catalysts of shifts and ruptures as regards human/non-human relations. Bearing a particular mark on subject areas and questions which have recently come to shape developments in anthropological thinking, the volume brings epidemics to the forefront of anthropological debate, as an exemplary arena for social scientific study and analysis.

Influenza is a continuing news story with three clearly defined pandemics. Spanning a history of over fifty years, Mass Mediated Disease focuses on the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, the Asian influenza pandemic of 1957, and the Hong Kong influenza pandemic of 1968, by discussing news stories reported by the New York Times, London Times, and other popular magazines. This groundbreaking work demonstrates that the social construction of influenza changed over time, which was reflected by the mass media, and ultimately resulted in public policies that clearly illustrate the link between media and policy formation in the United States. This comprehensive history serves as an example for future incidents involving mass casualties or mass contamination from infectious agents especially on what to expect, what to do, and what not to do regarding the crisis response, reportage, and resulting policies."

This open access book discusses the socio-political context of the COVID-19 crisis and questions the management of the pandemic emergency with special reference to how this affected the governance of migration and asylum. The book offers critical insights on the impact of the pandemic on migrant workers in different world regions including North America, Europe and Asia. The book addresses several categories of migrants including medical staff, farm labourers, construction workers, care and domestic workers and international students. It looks at border closures for non-citizens, disruption for temporary migrants as well as at special arrangements made for essential (migrant) workers such as doctors or nurses as well as farmworkers, 'shipped' to destination with special flights to make sure emergency wards are staffed, and harvests are picked up and the food processing chain continues to function. The book illustrates how the pandemic forces us to rethink notions like membership, citizenship, belonging, but also solidarity, human rights, community, essential services or 'essential' workers alongside an intersectional perspective including ethnicity, gender and race.

Contemporary research on genetic control of disease-transmitting insects knows two kinds of scientists: those that work in the laboratory and those known as a ~field peoplea (TM). Over the last decade, both groups seem to have developed differing research priorities, address fundamentally different aspects within the overall discipline of infectious-disease control, and worse, have developed a scientific a ~languagea (TM) that is no longer understood by the a ~othera (TM) party. This gap widens every day, between the North and the South, between ecologists and molecular biologists, geneticists and behaviourists, etc. The need to develop a common research agenda that bridges this gap has been identified as a top priority by all parties involved. Only then shall the goal of developing appropriate genetic-control strategies for vectors of disease become reality.

This book is the reflection of a workshop, held in Nairobi (Kenya) in July 2004, that addressed the above issues. It brought together a good representation of both the molecular and ecological research disciplines and, for the first time, included a significant number of researchers from disease-endemic countries. The research agenda presented here will serve the research and science-policy communities alike, and guide sponsoring organizations with the selection of priority areas for research funding.

Whether you call them work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs), cumulative trauma disorders (CTDS), or occupational overuse syndromes (OOSs), these conditions are a cause of pain, disability and suffering to workers worldwide. These designations often imply that their causes are related to work, but the supporting evidence can be unclear. Transparency is important, especially when it is necessary to form a connection with work factors to obtain treatment or compensation. This book addresses the dilemma. Written by a professional ergonomist with almost 40 years of experience in workplace ergonomics, this book combines a critical summary and assessment of the epidemiological literature with an exploration of the scientific and medical evidence for possible causal mechanisms to develop well-informed conclusions on causation of a number of common musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and intervertebral disc injury. Although much of the book focuses on physical factors, the role of psychosocial factors is increasingly being recognized and an additional chapter reviews a number of the current theories relating to this important issue. Features Focuses on a clear and authoritative account of the evidence for the role of work in the causation of commonly occurring ULDs and disc injury Provides an up-to-date compilation of the scientific evidence, devoid of views based on assumptions or prejudice Presents a clear explanation of the most likely causal mechanisms for common ULDs and disc injuries Includes a summary of theories concerning the role played by psychosocial factors Outlines the statistical evidence in a clear and understandable manner Bridges the gap between the evidence-base in the scientific and medical research literature and the practitioner

A Practical Guide with Step-by-Step Explanations, Numerous Worked Examples, and R CodeThe A-Z of Error-Free Research describes the design, analysis, modeling, and reporting of experiments, clinical trials, and surveys. The book shows you when to use statistics, the best ways to cope with variation, and how to design an experiment, determine optimal sample size, and collect useable data. It also helps you choose the best statistical procedures for your application and takes you step by step through model development and reporting results for publication. Transition from Student to ResearcherHelping you become a confident researcher, the book begins with an overview of when-and when not-to use statistics. It guides you through the planning and data collection phases and presents various data analysis techniques, including methods for sample size determination. The author then covers techniques for developing models that provide a basis for future research. He also discusses reporting techniques to ensure your research efforts get the proper credit. The book concludes with case-control and cohort studies.

How does pollution impact our daily quality of life? What are the effects of pollution on children's development? Why do industry and environmental experts disagree about what levels of pollutants are safe? This clearly written book, traces the debates over five key pollutants - lead, mercury, noise, pesticides, and dioxins and PCBs - and provides an overview of the history of each pollutant, basic research findings, and the scientific and regulatory controversies surrounding it. It focuses, in particular, on the impact of these pollutants on children's psychological development, their intellectual functioning, behaviour, and emotional states. Only by understanding the impact of pollution can we prevent future negative effects on quality of life and even pollution disasters from occurring. This volume will be of great interest to parents, child health care experts, public health officials, regulators, and health and environmental lawyers.