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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Geographic information systems: their application in animal disease control.

Geographic information systems (GIS) are computerised information systems that allow for the capture, storage, manipulation, analysis, display and reporting of geographically referenced data. They have been used in recent years for a wide variety of purposes, including town planning and environmental resource management. The technology has many features which make it ideal for use in animal disease control, including the ability to store information relating to demographic and causal factors and disease incidence on a geographical background, and a variety of spatial analysis functions. A number of possible veterinary applications are suggested, and three examples of the use of GIS in New Zealand are discussed.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed1990

Health based geographical information systems: their potential examined in the light of existing data sources.

There is much potential for the use of geographical information systems (GIS) within the management and analysis of health and health care data. This paper addresses the problems of using routine data in the creation of geographical information systems for health. The numerous sources of British official routine health information however vary greatly in their geographical coverage and geographical detail. Particular attention therefore focuses upon the extent to which existing data sets can readily be used within GIS. Recommendations for changes in the data collection process are forwarded to improve the potential for GIS use. The overall utility of geographical health information systems within health service planning is illustrated using the example of community based activities.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1992

Surveillance around hazardous waste sites: geographic information systems and reproductive outcomes.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential for integrating surveillance techniques in reproductive epidemiology with geographic information system technology in order to identify populations at risk around hazardous waste sites. Environmental epidemiologic studies have had problems with estimating or measuring exposures to individuals, and of detecting effects when the exposure is low, but continuous. In addition, exposures around hazardous waste sites are complex and frequently involve chemical mixtures. The birth weight of human babies has been reported to be sensitive to many environmental influences. Birth weight can be analyzed as a continuous variable or as a dichotomous one using the standard cutpoint of 2500 g or less to indicate low birth weight. It has the potential to be a powerful surveillance tool since exposures to the fetus reflect maternal and paternal exposures. The advent of recent environmental regulations pertaining to hazardous waste sites has greatly increased the availability of environmental data for many sites. The major problem with incorporating these data into epidemiologic studies has been with the logistics of data management and analysis. Computer-assisted geographic information systems hold promise in providing capabilities needed to address the data management and analysis requirements for effective epidemiologic studies around to hazardous waste sites.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1991

The use of a geographical information system for hospital catchment area research in Natal/KwaZulu.

We use a computerised geographical information system (GIS) to study the population per bed ratios and the implications of open access to the private and the formerly white hospital services in Natal. The advantages of the GIS method over the more usual administrative boundary-based beds per capita ratios are discussed. While the latter method would suggest that hospital bed resources in the province are racially unequal but nevertheless adequate (264 people per general and referral bed for the whole population, 195 for whites and 275 for blacks) the GIS analysis reveals widespread inadequacy, worse for blacks. Of the estimated hospital catchment areas half have more than 275 black people per general and referral bed, and half of these have more than 550 black people per bed. One-third of the catchment areas estimated for whites have ratios above 275 people per bed, and one half of these are also above 550 people per bed. The GIS analysis shows that open access to beds previously reserved for whites will make no difference to rural blacks, and almost none to urban blacks, because there were relatively few such beds, and they were concentrated in the cities. For the same reasons, the opening of private hospital beds to all patients would not significantly alleviate the apparent bed shortages in priority areas. By contrast, people in these priority areas would gain significantly improved access to general hospital care if selected chronic disease and industrial hospitals were upgraded to provide general hospital services.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed1990

Geographical information systems for studying the epidemiology of cattle diseases caused by Theileria parva.

Data on selected variables which influence the epidemiology of cattle diseases caused by Theileria parva were assembled and entered in a computerised geographical information system. Variables studied included the distributions of major hosts (cattle and buffalo), the vector ticks (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and related species) and the reported presence of East Coast fever, corridor disease and January disease. In addition, the distribution of climatic suitability for R appendiculatus was assessed using the model CLIMEX run on an interpolated climate database developed for Africa. Distribution maps of each variable were produced. The potential value of geographical information systems in studies of disease epidemiology and control is discussed, with examples of how sensitivity may be enhanced by the inclusion of additional variables. In addition, subject areas in which poor data quality and inadequate data standardisation may limit the use of these systems are identified and discussed.

Africa↗
PubMed1991

Geobase: a simple geographical information system on a personal computer.

Spatially distributed data are often encountered in the biological sciences. Representation and analysis of such data requires specific tools. A simple geographical information system is presented, which allows representation and elementary analysis of geographically coded information. The system handles two kinds of data: maps and facts, where map data describe the basis on which the fact data are located. Maps consist of objects described through a set of coordinates, while for facts a coordinate pair is associated with an unlimited number of data records containing five fields: a date, an element from a list, a two-character code, an integer number and a real number. The input data can be displayed interactively on screen by logically combining selection criteria for each field. The facts corresponding to the selected criteria are either displayed as such, or are clustered and displayed as polygons or pies. A short example showing a possible application of the program is presented and advantages as well as limitations are discussed.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1992

Use of LANDSAT MSS imagery and soil type in a geographic information system to assess site-specific risk of fascioliasis on Red River Basin farms in Louisiana.

A geographic information system (GIS) was constructed in an ERDAS environment using maps of soil types from the USDA Soil Conservation Service, LANDSAT satellite multispectral scanner data (MSS), boundaries for 25 study farms, and slope and hydrologic features shown in a two-quadrangle (USGS, 7.5') area in the Red River Basin near Alexandria, Louisiana. Fecal sedimentation examinations were done in the fall of 1989, spring of 1990, and fall and winter of 1990-1991 on 10-16 random samples per herd. Fecal egg shedding rates for F. hepatica ranged from 10-100% prevalence and 0.3-21.7 eggs per two grams of feces (EP2G). For Paramphistomum spp., a rumen fluke also transmitted by F. bulimoides but not affected by flukicides, egg shedding rates ranged from 10-91% prevalence and 0.1-42.8 EP2G. Soil types present ranged from sandy loams to hydric, occasionally flooded clays. Herd Paramphistomum spp. egg shedding rates increased with the proportion of hydric clays present, adjusted for slope and major hydrologic features. F. hepatica infection intensity followed a similar trend, but were complicated by differing treatment practices. Results suggest that earth observation satellite data and soil maps can be used, with an existing climate forecast based on the Thornthwaite water budget, to develop a second generation model that accounts for both regional climate variation and site-specific differences in fascioliasis risk based on soils prone to snail habitat.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The benefits of the application of geographical information systems in public and environmental health.

One of the most important issues in public and environmental health today concerns the type of instruments that can be used to devise quick, reliable and scientifically valid methods of rapid assessment which, in turn, can be utilized in health research and in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of health programmes. As the applications of geographical information systems (GIS) relate to the collection, storage, integration, management, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial data, it is not surprising that the potential usefulness of this new technology in the fields of health research and policy is beginning to be realized. This article seeks to demonstrate the opportunities which the use of geographical information systems can offer to research and policy on health issues. The article first describes the principles and objectives of GIS before going on to discuss hardware and software developments as well as the variety of application fields, organizations and users. Some examples of current applications are provided to illustrate the type of work being undertaken. The final sections address issues specifically related to the application of GIS in health research and policies in the European context.

Computers↗
PubMed1992

Screening for lead exposure using a geographic information system.

Screening programs for lead overexposure typically target high-risk populations by identifying regions with common risk markers (older housing, poverty, etc.). While more useful than untargeted screening programs, targeted programs are limited by the geographic resolution of the risk-factor information. A geographic information system can make screening programs more effective and more cost-efficient by mapping cases of overexposure, identifying high-incidence neighborhoods warranting screening, and validating risk-factor-based prediction rules.

Child↗
PubMed1992

A community paediatric information system--a tool for measles surveillance in a fragmented health ward.

A community paediatric geographical information system using hospital-based inpatient data was created to monitor longitudinal child health trends, to define paediatric priorities and to generate research ideas and interventions in a large and very fragmented health ward. This epidemiological tool has been used to describe measles admission trends over a 4-year period (1987-1990), which included a severe measles epidemic. The examination of these trends in progressively finer geographical categories has identified a number of areas with a particularly high incidence of measles and has provided useful guidelines for subsequent community-based research. The demonstration of low vaccination coverage in areas designated as high incidence areas by this system suggests that these trends are accurate and that they can reliably be used for routine measles surveillance. The use of this system for measles surveillance on a prospective basis is expected to enable workers in this area to identify any increase in measles incidence rapidly, to pinpoint where this increase is occurring, and to make it possible to respond in a more focused manner to outbreaks when they occur.

Child↗
PubMed1986

The uses of spatial analysis in medical geography: a review.

This paper is a review of how geographers and others have used spatial analysis to study disease and health care delivery patterns. Point, line, area and surface patterns, as well as map comparisons and relative spaces are discussed. Problems encountered in applying spatial analytic techniques in medical geography are pointed out. The paper is intended to stimulate discussion about where medical geography can and should go in this area of study. Point pattern techniques include standard distance, standard deviational ellipses, gradient analysis and space and space-time clustering. Line methods include random walks, vectors and graph theory or network analysis. Under areas, location quotients, standardized mortality ratios, Poisson probabilities, space and space-time clustering, autocorrelation measures and hierarchical clustering are discussed. Surface techniques mentioned are isolines and trend surfaces. For map comparisons, Lorenz curves, coefficients of areal correspondence and correlation coefficients have been used. Case-control matching, acquaintance networks, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis are examples of methods that are based on relative or non-metric spaces. The review gives rise to the discussion of several general points: problems encountered in spatial analysis, theory building and verification, the appropriate role of technique and computer use. Some suggestions are made for further use of spatial analytic techniques in medical geography: Monte Carlo simulation of point patterns, network analysis to study referral systems and health care for pastoralists, geographic information systems to assess environmental risk, difference mapping for disease and risk factor map comparisons and multidimensional scaling to measure social distance.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2026

Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure on Azadirachta indica A. Juss. in an Urban Metropolitan: Ahmedabad, India.

Azadirachta indica (A. indica) A. Juss., commonly known as Neem, is a valuable multipurpose tree with profound medicinal properties and socioeconomic importance, widely recognized since ancient Ayurvedic times. Despite its prominence, knowledge about its genetic diversity within the metropolitan area of Ahmedabad is limited. This study marks the first in-depth exploration of the genetic diversity and population structure of A. indica in Ahmedabad. The authenticity of the species was validated through DNA barcoding, and a Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to collect the samples. A total of 35 A. indica accessions were analyzed using five Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) primers. Genetic diversity and population structure were evaluated using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers through polymorphism assessment, clustering, ordination, and Bayesian population structure analyses. ISSRs revealed a high level of polymorphism (75.66%), indicating substantial genetic variability among accessions. An analysis of genetic diversity indices revealed low to moderate diversity (Hs = 0.14, Ht = 0.217, I = 0.217). Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) analysis depicted 81% variation within the population and 19% among the population. Low to moderate genetic differentiation (Gst = 0.319) and moderate gene flow (Nm = 1.06) indicated that urban development has not hindered gene flow among populations. Mantel's test revealed a weak but significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances, suggesting limited isolation by distance. The estimated ΔK using STRUCTURE exhibited two subpopulations, representing two gene pools for A. indica accessions (K = 2). Collectively, these patterns indicate that urbanization has not severely disrupted genetic connectivity in A. indica, reflecting its resilience and adaptive potential in a metropolitan environment. These findings provide pivotal knowledge for further understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of A. indica in one of the fastest-growing cities in India, which can be utilized for new breeding programmes, sustainable development and future conservation strategies around the globe.

India↗
PubMed1986

Geographical patterns of cancer mortality in China.

This research note discusses the China cancer mortality data and the methodological problems involved in spatial analysis of these data. Some of the research findings produced by mapping and analyses of the cancer data at the provincial level are also summarized. The two most common cancers in China, stomach and esophagus, were found to have no significant correlation with some selected physical variables and population density, suggesting the need to examine other socio-economic variables such as dietary habit. The study also suggests that the type of diet which may be responsible for these two cancers could be very different from each others. Colon and rectum, leukemia, and breast cancers were found to have very high positive spatial autocorrelation and high correlation with population density--a result contrary to previous findings in the West. Future research using a geographic information system approach and county data is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

The Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC): Expanding global collaboration in pediatric cancer etiology research.

Childhood cancers are rare, but incidence has risen modestly in countries with robust registration, partly reflecting improved diagnosis. In high-income countries, cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children. Marked inequities in incidence, survival, and research capacity underscore the need for large-scale collaboration to identify environmental, genetic, and contextual determinants of risk. The Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC) was established in 2007 to study the etiology of childhood leukemia and later expanded in 2019 to include other childhood cancers, principally solid tumors. CLIC pools harmonized, individual-level data from case-control and cohort studies, obtained through interviews, record linkage (insurance claims, registries), or geographic information systems, and integrates germline genomic data where available. Membership has grown from 13 studies in 9 countries to 57 studies in 21 countries; recruitment spans the early 1960s to the present and encompasses approximately 150,000 cases across all tumor types and 300,000 controls with clinical, demographic, and exposure data, centralized via harmonized data dictionaries at the Data Coordination Center, established in 2014 at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and supported by a secure analysis platform. Pooled analyses across diverse populations have implicated parental age, prenatal vitamin or folic acid use, mode of delivery, fetal growth, selected congenital anomalies, occupational or household exposures (e.g., pesticides), paternal smoking, and markers of early-life immune modulation (e.g., breastfeeding, daycare attendance) in leukemia risk, informing carcinogen evaluation and prevention. The integration of genetic ancestry and germline susceptibility data is clarifying ancestry-related differences in leukemia biology and outcomes, while confirming risk loci with population-specific effects. CLIC is now adding polygenic risk scores and exposomic data to refine etiologic subtyping and identify modifiable pathways, while broadening representation from underserved regions through partnership-building and capacity-strengthening.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Reassessment of lead exposure in New Jersey using GIS technology.

In order to prevent children's exposure to lead, a variety of sources must be controlled. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE) is using its Geographic Information System to identify areas within Newark, East Orange, and Irvington, New Jersey, where there may be greater environmental exposure to lead. Sensitive populations are identified through the U.S. Bureau of the Census information. Blood screening data provided by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) provide reported patterns of elevated blood lead in the study area. Comparisons of these spatial patterns will assist the NJDEPE in its soil sampling activities and lead exposure research, will provide information for public education, and will provide valuable information on sections of the study area where further screening and public education may be needed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1992

Spatial analysis of the distribution of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) on white-tailed deer in Ogle County, Illinois.

The pattern of infestations of Ixodes dammini on white-tailed deer in Ogle County in Illinois was studied through examinations of hunted deer from 1988 to 1990. The Illinois Geographic Information System mapped the spatial distribution of tick infestations on deer and related it to a known endemic focus for I. dammini and Borrelia burgdorferi (Castle Rock State Park), and to a major waterway (Rock River). Second-order neighborhood analysis was used to analyze the spatial distribution of deer around Castle Rock State Park. More than 25% of deer were infested. All deer were clustered around CRSP, but the clustering resulted mostly from clustering of infested deer around CRSP. CRSP is apparently the only important source of tick infestations in Ogle County. Clustering of infested deer did not change during the 3-yr study period. The dispersion pattern of ticks on deer was aggregated, with twice and three times as many ticks collected from bucks as from does and from fawns, respectively. More male ticks than female ticks were collected from infested deer. Of 59 ticks removed from harvested deer in 1990, 5.1% tested positive for B. burgdorferi.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Environmental monitoring and research at the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

The Biomedical Operations and Research Office at the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center has been supporting environmental monitoring and research since the mid-1970s. Program elements include monitoring of baseline conditions to document natural variability in the ecosystem, assessments of operations and construction of new facilities, and ecological research focusing on wildlife habitat associations. Information management is centered around development of a computerized geographic information system that incorporates remote sensing and digital image processing technologies along with traditional relational data base management capabilities. The proactive program is one in which the initiative is to anticipate potential environmental concerns before they occur and, by utilizing in-house expertise, develop impact minimization or mitigation strategies to reduce environmental risk.

Aerospace Medicine↗