The relationship between gender,social support,and health-related quality of life in a community-based study in Washington County,Maryland

Objective Men tend to report higher health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than women of the same age, despite higher mortality rates and lower life expectancy. Social support is one factor related to HRQOL that may contribute to the observed gender difference. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with HRQOL, especially levels of social support, and variation by gender. Methods Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze data from 4,498 men and 6,948 women participating in an ongoing community-based cohort study in Washington County, Maryland (CLUE-II). Results The results showed that men reported significantly better HRQOL than women. Men reported having higher levels of social support than women, but the magnitude of the association with HRQOL was similar. Having two or less close friends was associated with a statistically significant increase in the odds of reporting poorer HRQOL compared to having 10 or more close friends among both genders (men: OR = 1.49; women: OR = 1.53). Differences in the level of social support did not explain the gender difference in HRQOL. Conclusions Our findings show that social support is an important correlate of HRQOL for both men and women. However, the gender differences in HRQOL are not explained by social support or the other factors examined.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in inflammation-related genes and mortality in a community-based cohort in Washington County, Maryland

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes controlling inflammatory processes and mortality. Data were analyzed from 9,933 individuals who participated in two large community-based cohort studies conducted in Washington County, Maryland, in 1974 and 1989, designated "CLUE I" and "CLUE II," respectively. DNA from blood collected in 1989 was genotyped for 47 SNPs in 23 inflammation-related genes, including interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), lymphotoxin-alpha (LTalpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), and the human endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). All participants were followed from 1989 to the date of death or to June 20, 2005. The results showed no observable patterns of association for the SNPs and the all-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes, although statistically significant associations were observed between at least one mortality outcome and SNPs in eNOS (reference SNP (rs) 1799983), PPARG (rs4684847), CRP (rs2794521), IFNgamma (rs2069705), TNFalpha (rs1799964), and LTalpha (rs2229094). Additionally, three of the four examined CRP SNPs were strongly associated with CRP serum concentration among those with CRP measurements. The authors' findings from this community-based prospective cohort study suggest that the selected SNPs are not associated with overall or cause-specific death, although CRP genotypes may be associated with systemic inflammation.     

Cancer incidence after childhood nasopharyngeal radium irradiation: a follow-up study in Washington County, Maryland

A population from a hearing clinic in Washington County, Maryland, in 1943-1960 was followed to assess the risk of developing neoplasms from radium treatment of the nasopharynx for adenoid hypertrophy. Of the 2,925 subjects who attended the clinic, 904 received radium treatment. A nonconcurrent prospective study compared the cancer incidence among the irradiated persons with that among persons with other treatments. Seven brain tumor cases (three malignant and four benign) were identified in the irradiated group versus none in the nonirradiated group (relative risk = 14.8, 95% confidence interval: 0.76, 286.3). A nonsignificant excess risk of thyroid cancer was detected in the irradiated group based on two cases in the exposed group and one case in the nonexposed group (relative risk = 4.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.38, 46.6). Decreased risks of breast cancer, female genital cancers, and prostate cancer were observed among the irradiated individuals, although these deficits were not statistically significant individually. The decreased risk of sex hormone-related cancers in the irradiated group suggests possible radiation damage to the pituitary, with consequent reduction in pituitary hormone output and alterations in sexual and other hormonal development in early life. This hypothesis needs further evaluation.     

Cancer of the pancreas and drinking water: a population-based case-control study in Washington County, Maryland.

A case-control study was done to assess a potential association between drinking water and pancreatic cancer in Washington County, Maryland. Cases of pancreatic cancer occurring from 1975 through 1989 were identified from the cancer registry. Controls were selected from the private 1975 census of Washington County. There were 101 cases and 206 controls. Chlorinated municipal water was used as a source of drinking water by 79% of cases and 63% of controls, yielding a significant odds ratio of 2.2. Adjustment for age and smoking had almost no effect on the risk, although both age and smoking were independently associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Although these findings must be interpreted with caution because of limitations in exposure assessment, these results have implications for the prevention of pancreatic cancer because chlorination of water is so widely practiced.     

Fruit, vegetable, and antioxidant intake and all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality in a community-dwelling population in Washington County, Maryland

Higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants may help protect against oxidative damage, thus lowering cancer and cardiovascular disease risk. This Washington County, Maryland, prospective study examined the association of fruit, vegetable, and antioxidant intake with all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease death. CLUE participants who donated a blood sample in 1974 and 1989 and completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1989 (N = 6,151) were included in the analysis. Participants were followed to date of death or January 1, 2002. Compared with those in the bottom fifth, participants in the highest fifth of fruit and vegetable intake had a lower risk of all-cause (cases = 910; hazard ratio (HR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51, 0.78; p-trend = 0.0004), cancer (cases = 307; HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.93; p-trend = 0.08), and cardiovascular disease (cases = 225; HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.06; p-trend = 0.15) mortality. Higher intake of cruciferous vegetables was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.91; p-trend = 0.04). No statistically significant associations were observed between dietary vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene intake and mortality. Overall, greater intake of fruits and vegetables was associated with lower risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease death. These findings support the general health recommendation to consume multiple servings of fruits and vegetables (5-9/day).     

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome: a population-based study in Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland.

A population-based study of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) revealed that 20 child residents of Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland were hospitalized with HUS from January 1979 through September 1983. The number of cases peaked during the summer and fall; none occurred during the winter. Incidence of hospitalized cases was higher in Whites and girls than in Blacks or boys, and the average annual incidence was 1.08 cases/100,000 children less than 5 year old. This study demonstrates that HUS is not unique to the West Coast, as previously suggested.     

The Public Health Perspective in Health Promotion and Disability Prevention for Older Adults: The Role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

As the United States federal public health agency, the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in health promotion and disability prevention with older adults encompasses research, surveillance and program activities in aging. This article characterizes the objectives and context of prevention in later life and summarizes CDCs functions, collaborative partnerships with public health agencies and other organizations, and range of activities in older adult health. As a major focus of these efforts, chronic disease risk reduction is examined through CDC's efforts in the area of physical activity; a longitudinal investigation of osteoarthritis in an older biracial rural population; and chronic illness self-management programs as a prototype for secondary prevention. Other CDC activities highlighted include addressing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases through CDC-funded programs to improve immunization coverage in older adults, and falls prevention interventions and resources. Future directions in aging at CDC are also outlined.     

Malaria in refugees from Tanzania--King County, Washington, 2007

Recent immigrants and refugees constitute a substantial proportion of malaria cases in the United States, accounting for nearly one in 10 imported malaria cases involving persons with known resident status in 2006. This report describes three cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and two cases of Plasmodium ovale malaria that occurred during June 27-October 15, 2007 in King County, Washington. The infections were diagnosed in Burundian refugees who had recently arrived in the United States from two refugee camps in Tanzania. Since 2005, CDC has recommended presumptive malaria treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) (e.g., artemether-lumefantrine) for refugees from sub-Saharan Africa before their departure for the United States (2). Rising levels of resistance to the previous mainstays of treatment, chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, prompted CDC to make this recommendation. Implementation has been delayed in some countries, including Tanzania, where predeparture administration of presumptive ACT for refugees started in July 2007. The cases in this report highlight the need for health-care providers who care for recently arrived Burundian and other refugee populations to be vigilant for malaria, even among refugees previously treated for the disease.     

安徽省濉溪县2003—2010年结核病预防与控制效果评价

目的 分析安徽省濉溪县2003-2010年结核病预防与控制效果.方法按《全国结核病防治规划(2001-2010年)》和《中国结核病防治规划实施工作指南》及有关《项目实施计划》所规定的指标、标准和定义进行调查、核实及统计分析.结果安徽省濉溪县2003-2010年共登记涂阳患者3 922例,年均登记率为43.90/ 10万,其中新涂阳患者年均登记率为36.30/10万,登记率由2003年的14.14/10万上升到2010年的36.21/10万(x2=111.80,P＜0.01);新涂阳任务指标年均完成率为104.85％;涂阳患者年均治愈率为93.73％,治愈率由2003年的86.21％提高到2010年的97.07％ (x2=31.04,P＜ 0.01),其中新涂阳患者年均治愈率为94.76％,复治涂阳年均治愈率为88.81％,两者的治愈率均呈波状上升趋势;涂阴患者年均完成治疗率为95.54％.结论 濉溪县结核病防治工作效果显著,认真执行DOTS策略是结核病人高发现率、高治愈率和防止耐多药产生的有效措施.     

马山县县乡村三级疾病预防控制人员职业倦怠调查

[目的]了解马山县县乡村疾病预防控制人员职业倦怠水平,为制定疾控人员职业倦怠干预策略提供科学依据。[方法]应用CMBI职业倦怠量表对马山县230名县乡村疾病预防控制人员进行职业倦怠水平调查。[结果]调查230人,职业倦怠检出率为76.96%。其中,轻度倦怠为76.96%,中度倦怠为15.65%,重度倦怠为1.30%;男性为82.27%,女性为68.54%;县级工作人员为79.41%,乡级为35.29%,村级为91.03%;公立在编人员为97.50%,公立聘用人员13.64%,乡村医生90.41%;工龄≤10年的46.46%,11~20年的为100.00%,21~30年的为100.00%,>31年的为100.00%。职业倦怠指数平均值为43.29±10.95;县级疾控人员倦怠程度比乡镇级严重(P<0.05);男性职业倦怠指数高于女性(P<0.05);职业倦怠指数随年龄的增长、工龄的增加而增大(P<0.01);已婚、离异者职业倦怠指数大于未婚者。[结论]县乡村三级疾控人员存在高的职业倦怠,应进行有效干预。     

Training the Next Generation of Researchers in Work Disability Prevention: The Canadian Work Disability Prevention CIHR Strategic Training Program

INTRODUCTION: There is a need to create, disseminate, and implement new knowledge in the work disability prevention (WDP) field. Training programs attracting high-quality applicants and taking into account the complexity of this emerging field are urgently needed. METHODS: An advanced training program, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), was developed by 24 mentors affiliated with nine different universities. The main objective of this program is to develop transdisciplinary knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding WDP. This program has been developed for PhD students or post-doctoral fellows already registered full-time in a Canadian or recognized foreign university whose main interest is WDP, regardless of the health problem. RESULTS: Since its implementation, the program received two successive cohorts of 10 students. They were registered in 13 universities in five countries and trained in nine different disciplines. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCES: Appropriate WDP research may save major societal costs attributable to prolonged work disability. The proposed training program will contribute to developing tomorrow's research workforce.