Biomedical subjects

M Anderka

Publications and source records attributed to M Anderka.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

The National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

The National Birth Defects Prevention Study was designed to identify infants with major birth defects and evaluate genetic and environmental factors associated with the occurrence of birth defects. The ongoing case-control study covers an annual birth population of 482,000 and includes cases identified from birth defect surveillance registries in eight states. Infants used as controls are randomly selected from birth certificates or birth hospital records. Mothers of case and control infants are interviewed and parents are asked to collect buccal cells from themselves and their infants for DNA testing. Information gathered from the interviews and the DNA specimens will be used to study independent genetic and environmental factors and gene-environment interactions for a broad range of birth defects. As of December 2000, 7,470 cases and 3,821 controls had been ascertained in the eight states. Interviews had been completed with 70% of the eligible case and control mothers, buccal cell collection had begun in all of the study sites, and researchers were developing analysis plans for the compiled data. This study is the largest and broadest collaborative effort ever conducted among the nation's leading birth defect researchers. The unprecedented statistical power that will result from this study will enable scientists to study the epidemiology of some rare birth defects for the first time. The compiled interview data and banked DNA of approximately 35 categories of birth defects will facilitate future research as new hypotheses and improved technologies emerge.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed2000

A time to be born.

OBJECTIVES: This study used a large, population-based data set (n = 619,455) to establish reference standards of the timing of spontaneous vaginal births. METHODS: Low-risk births in Massachusetts from 1989 to 1995 were studied. This group comprised 242,276 births that met the following criteria: singleton, vertex, vaginal births with a birthweight of between 2500 and 4000 g; gestation between 37 and 42 weeks; a 5-minute Apgar score greater than 6, and no induction or stimulation. RESULTS: Low-risk births displayed a mild circadian pattern, with a peak between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and a trough between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM. Subgroup analysis showed no clear differences except for parity. CONCLUSIONS: Reference standards should be developed and used as comparative norms for hospital and practice-based perinatal studies of diurnal patterns of birthing.

Circadian Rhythm↗

PubMed1998

Reactions of adult and teenaged smokers to the Massachusetts tobacco tax.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed smokers' reactions to a 25 cents cigarette tax imposed in Massachusetts. METHODS: A statewide telephone survey of 1783 adult smokers and 216 teenaged smokers was conducted. RESULTS: Among adult smokers, 3.5% reported that they had stopped smoking, owing in part to the price increase; 35% had considered quitting and 19% had attempted to cut the cost of smoking by switching to cheaper brands or cutting down. Among teenagers, 21% had considered quitting and 26% had cut costs. Low-income smokers were more responsive to the price increase than more affluent smokers. CONCLUSIONS: A modest and temporary price increase promoted quitting among adult smokers and reduced cigarette consumption among low-income teenagers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Are preterm black infants larger than preterm white infants, or are they more misclassified?

In birth certificate data for Massachusetts resident births from 1978 to 1982, 12-27% of births purportedly under 31 weeks of gestation were probably misclassified, i.e. had birthweight greater than or equal to 2500 g. Correcting for maldistribution of births removed 34% and 23%, respectively, of black and white births with reported gestational ages less than 36 weeks but with implausible weights. Percentages of unknown and incomplete reports of last menstrual period were also significantly higher for blacks. After adjustment, preterm black infants weighed less than whites at each gestational age. The proportion of infants less than 2500 g born at term (greater than or equal to 37 weeks gestation) was higher (although not significantly) among blacks. These findings are consistent with hypotheses that low socioeconomic status negatively affects the rate of intrauterine growth.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1979

Prospective study of maternal and infantile infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.

We examined the prevalence of chlamydial infection in a population of pregnant women and observed their infants to determine the risk of development of ocular or respiratory infection. We examined endocervical and serum specimens from 322 pregnant women for Chlamydia trachomatis and chlamydial antibody. The cultures were obtained at the first prenatal visit. Six (2%) of the women were infected with C trachomatis. Chlamydial antibody was present in the genital secretions of 47% and 73% of the serum samples. The six infants born to infected women, 61 infants born to women who were culture-negative, but local antibody-positive, and 28 control infants born to culture-negative, antibody-negative women were followed for up to six months. Four of six infants born to infected women developed chlamydial infection: two developed culture-positive conjunctivitis, one had asymptomatic nasopharyngeal infection, and one infant developed pneumonitis. Three of 61 infants born to mothers who were culture-negative and local antibody-positive developed conjunctivitis due to C trachomatis. None of the 28 control infants developed chlamydial infection. Most (79%) of the infants had chamydial antibody in their serum at 2 to 4 weeks of age. The correlation between maternal and infant serum antibody titer was r=0.71 suggesting that antibody was placentally transferred.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977

Quantitative bacteriology of the vaginal flora.

Quantitative bacteriology was performed on vaginal secretions from healthy adult women. The analysis included a single sample from 17 college students and 35 samples from five volunteers collected at intervals of three to five days throughout the menstrual cycle. Mean concentrations in all 52 specimens were 10(8.1) aerobic bacteria/g and 10(9.1) anaerobic bacteria/g. The rank of predominant organisms, according to rates of recovery in concentrations of greater than 10(5) colony-forming units/g, was anaerobic and facultative Lacrobacillus species, Peptococcus species, Bacteroides species, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium species, Peotostreptococcus species, and Eubacterium species. Sequential samples collected throughout the menstrual cycle showed relatively consistent mean levels of anaerobes and a significant decrease in concentrations of aerobes in premenstrual specimens compared with those in the specimens collected in the week following onset of menses. Analysis of sequential specimens from each of the five individuals showed considerable variation in species recovered. These data indicate that the vaginal flora in healthy adult women is a dynamic ecosystem in which anaerobes are usually the numerically dominant bacteria.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accessing population health information through interactive systems: lessons learned and future directions.

In the mid-1990s, several state and county public health departments implemented interactive software systems that provided easy access to public health-related data for local boards of health, other public health agencies, health care providers, community groups, and other interested members of the public. Based on their experiences with two well-established state interactive systems and one well-established county system, the authors summarize lessons that could prove useful to state and local public health agencies interested in developing new interactive systems or adapting existing ones. The article addresses issues such as: basing interactive systems on a broad definition of health, designing systems to incorporate user preferences, moving from data warehouses to information warehouses, and fostering prevention communities. Finally, the article provides recommendations to assist federal, state, and local public health agencies in developing the next generation of interactive data access systems.

Computer Communication Networks↗