Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-12 (of 12 Records) |
Query Trace: Heidari L[original query] |
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Interlaboratory agreement of coccidioidomycosis enzyme immunoassay from two different manufacturers
Khan S , Saubolle MA , Oubsuntia T , Heidari A , Barbian K , Goodin K , Eguchi M , McCotter OZ , Komatsu K , Park BJ , Geiger MC , Mohamed A , Chiller T , Sunenshine RH . Med Mycol 2018 57 (4) 441-446 Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal infection endemic to the Southwestern United States, is challenging to diagnose. The coccidioidomycosis enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test is the least expensive and simplest to perform to detect coccidioidomycosis antibodies in the serum. Concerns regarding falsely positive immunoglobulin (Ig) M EIA test results have led to questions about the agreement of commercially available EIA test kits among laboratories. We sought to evaluate the laboratory agreement of the EIA test at three laboratories using both IMMY and Meridian EIA test kits. Sensitivity and specificity of EIA IgM and IgG were calculated as secondary outcomes. The percent agreement of the EIA IgM and IgG test results among all three laboratories was 90% and 89% for IMMY test kits, respectively, and 67% and 80.5% for Meridian test kits, respectively. Agreement between IgM and IgG combined test results was 85.5% and 70.5%, for IMMY and Meridian, respectively. Combined IgM and IgG assays demonstrated a sensitivity of 68% (62.7%-76%) and a specificity of 99.3% (98%-100%) [IMMY] and a sensitivity of 72.4% (57.3%-87.3%) and a specificity of 91.3% (74%-100%) [Meridian]. In summary, results from the IMMY EIA test kit agreed more often across laboratories than Meridian EIA results, especially for the IgM assay. Isolated positive IgM EIA results using the Meridian test kit should be interpreted with caution and consideration of clinical information and test methodology. Further study of the sensitivity and specificity of coccidioidomycosis EIA test kits is warranted. |
The effect of chloroquine dose and primaquine on Plasmodium vivax recurrence: a WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network systematic review and individual patient pooled meta-analysis
Commons RJ , Simpson JA , Thriemer K , Humphreys GS , Abreha T , Alemu SG , Anez A , Anstey NM , Awab GR , Baird JK , Barber BE , Borghini-Fuhrer I , Chu CS , D'Alessandro U , Dahal P , Daher A , de Vries PJ , Erhart A , Gomes MSM , Gonzalez-Ceron L , Grigg MJ , Heidari A , Hwang J , Kager PA , Ketema T , Khan WA , Lacerda MVG , Leslie T , Ley B , Lidia K , Monteiro WM , Nosten F , Pereira DB , Phan GT , Phyo AP , Rowland M , Saravu K , Sibley CH , Siqueira AM , Stepniewska K , Sutanto I , Taylor WRJ , Thwaites G , Tran BQ , Tran HT , Valecha N , Vieira JLF , Wangchuk S , William T , Woodrow CJ , Zuluaga-Idarraga L , Guerin PJ , White NJ , Price RN . Lancet Infect Dis 2018 18 (9) 1025-1034 BACKGROUND: Chloroquine remains the mainstay of treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria despite increasing reports of treatment failure. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of chloroquine dose and the addition of primaquine on the risk of recurrent vivax malaria across different settings. METHODS: A systematic review done in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews identified P vivax clinical trials published between Jan 1, 2000, and March 22, 2017. Principal investigators were invited to share individual patient data, which were pooled using standardised methods. Cox regression analyses with random effects for study site were used to investigate the roles of chloroquine dose and primaquine use on rate of recurrence between day 7 and day 42 (primary outcome). The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO, number CRD42016053310. FINDINGS: Of 134 identified chloroquine studies, 37 studies (from 17 countries) and 5240 patients were included. 2990 patients were treated with chloroquine alone, of whom 1041 (34.8%) received a dose below the target 25 mg/kg. The risk of recurrence was 32.4% (95% CI 29.8-35.1) by day 42. After controlling for confounders, a 5 mg/kg higher chloroquine dose reduced the rate of recurrence overall (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.97; p=0.021) and in children younger than 5 years (0.59, 0.41-0.86; p=0.0058). Adding primaquine reduced the risk of recurrence to 4.9% (95% CI 3.1-7.7) by day 42, which is lower than with chloroquine alone (AHR 0.10, 0.05-0.17; p<0.0001). INTERPRETATION: Chloroquine is commonly under-dosed in the treatment of vivax malaria. Increasing the recommended dose to 30 mg/kg in children younger than 5 years could reduce substantially the risk of early recurrence when primaquine is not given. Radical cure with primaquine was highly effective in preventing early recurrence and may also improve blood schizontocidal efficacy against chloroquine-resistant P vivax. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. |
Supplemental learning in the laboratory: An innovative approach for evaluating knowledge and method transfer
Carter MD , Pierce SS , Dukes AD , Brown RH , Crow BS , Shaner RL , Heidari L , Isenberg SL , Perez JW , Graham LA , Thomas JD , Johnson RC , Gerdon AE . J Chem Educ 2017 94 (8) 1094-1097 The Multi-Rule Quality Control System (MRQCS) is a tool currently employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate and compare laboratory performance. We have applied the MRQCS to a comparison of instructor-led and computer-led prelaboratory instruction for a supplemental learning experiment. Students in general chemistry and analytical chemistry from both two- and four-year institutions performed two laboratory experiments as part of their normal laboratory curriculum. The first laboratory experiment was a foundational learning experiment in which all of the students were introduced to the Beer-Lambert law and spectrophotometric light absorbance measurements. The foundational learning experiment was instructor-led only, and participant performance was evaluated against a mean characterized value. The second laboratory experiment was a supplemental learning experiment in which students were asked to build upon the methodology they learned in the foundational learning experiment and apply it to a different analyte. The instruction type was varied randomly into two delivery modes, with participants receiving either instructor-led or computer-led prelaboratory instruction. The MRQCS was applied, and it was determined that there was no statistical difference between the quality control passing rates of the participants receiving instructor-led instruction and those receiving computer-led instruction. These findings demonstrate the successful application of the MRQCS to evaluate knowledge and technology transfer. |
Integrating health into buildings of the future
Heidari L , Younger M , Chandler G , Gooch J , Schramm P . J Sol Energy Eng 2017 139 (1) 010802 The health and wellbeing of building occupants should be a key priority in the design, building, and operation of new and existing buildings. Buildings can be designed, renovated, and constructed to promote healthy environments and behaviors and mitigate adverse health outcomes. This paper highlights health in terms of the relationship between occupants and buildings, as well as the relationship of buildings to the community. In the context of larger systems, smart buildings and green infrastructure strategies serve to support public health goals. At the level of the individual building, interventions that promote health can also enhance indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and provide opportunities for physical activity. Navigating the various programs that use metrics to measure a building's health impacts reveals that there are multiple co-benefits of a "healthy building," including those related to the economy, environment, society, transportation, planning, and energy efficiency. |
Gender and asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome
Wheaton AG , Pleasants RA , Croft JB , Ohar JA , Heidari K , Mannino DM , Liu Y , Strange C . J Asthma 2016 53 (7) 0 OBJECTIVE: To assess relationships between obstructive lung diseases, respiratory symptoms, and comorbidities by gender. METHODS: Data from 12 594 adult respondents to the 2012 South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System telephone survey were used. Five categories of chronic obstructive airway disease (OAD) were defined: former asthma only, current asthma only, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) only, asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), and none. Associations of these categories with respiratory symptoms (frequent productive cough, shortness of breath, and impaired physical activities due to breathing problems), overall health, and comorbidities were assessed using multivariable logistic regression for men and women. RESULTS: Overall, 16.2% of men and 18.7% of women reported a physician diagnosis of COPD and/or asthma. Former asthma only was higher among men than women (4.9% vs. 3.2%, t-test p = 0.008). Current asthma only was more prevalent among women than men (7.2% vs. 4.7%, p<0.001), as was ACOS (4.0% vs. 2.2%, p<0.001). Having COPD only did not differ between women (4.3%) and men (4.4%). Adults with ACOS were most likely to report the 3 respiratory symptoms. COPD only and ACOS were associated with higher likelihoods of poor health and most comorbidities for men and women. Current asthma only was also associated with these outcomes among women, but not among men. CONCLUSIONS: In this large population-based sample, women were more likely than men to report ACOS and current asthma, but not COPD alone. Gender differences were evident between the OAD groups in sociodemographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms, and comorbidities, as well as overall health. |
Targeting persons with or at high risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by state-based surveillance
Pleasants RA , Heidari K , Wheaton AG , Ohar JA , Strange C , Croft JB , Liao W , Mannino DM , Kraft M . COPD 2015 12 (6) 1-10 The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey is used to estimate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence and could be expanded to describe respiratory symptoms in the general population and to characterize persons with or at high risk for the disease. Tobacco duration and respiratory symptom questions were added to the 2012 South Carolina BRFSS. Data concerning sociodemographics, chronic illnesses, health behaviors, and respiratory symptoms were collected in 9438 adults ≥ 35 years-old. Respondents were categorized as having COPD, high risk, or low risk for the disease. High risk was defined as no self-reported COPD, ≥ 10 years' tobacco use, and ≥ 1 respiratory symptom (frequent productive cough or shortness of breath (SOB), or breathing problems affecting activities). Prevalence of self-reported and high-risk COPD were 9.1% and 8.0%, respectively. Overall, 17.3%, 10.6%, and 5.2% of all respondents reported activities limited by breathing problems, frequent productive cough, and frequent SOB, respectively. The high-risk group was more likely than the COPD group to report a productive cough and breathing problems limiting activities as well as being current smokers, male, and African-American. Health impairment was more severe in the COPD than the high-risk group, and both were worse than the low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Persons at high risk for COPD share many, but not all, of the characteristics of persons diagnosed with the disease. Additional questions addressing smoking duration and respiratory symptoms in the BRFSS identifies groups at high risk for having or developing COPD who may benefit from smoking cessation and case-finding interventions. |
Smoking duration, respiratory symptoms, and COPD in adults aged ≥45 years with a smoking history
Liu Y , Pleasants RA , Croft JB , Wheaton AG , Heidari K , Malarcher AM , Ohar JA , Kraft M , Mannino DM , Strange C . Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2015 10 1409-1416 BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of smoking duration with respiratory symptoms and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey in 2012. METHODS: Data from 4,135 adults aged ≥45 years with a smoking history were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression that accounted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, and current smoking status, as well as the complex sampling design. RESULTS: The distribution of smoking duration ranged from 19.2% (1-9 years) to 36.2% (≥30 years). Among 1,454 respondents who had smoked for ≥30 years, 58.3% were current smokers, 25.0% had frequent productive cough, 11.2% had frequent shortness of breath, 16.7% strongly agreed that shortness of breath affected physical activity, and 25.6% had been diagnosed with COPD. Prevalence of COPD and each respiratory symptom was lower among former smokers who quit ≥10 years earlier compared with current smokers. Smoking duration had a linear relationship with COPD (P<0.001) and all three respiratory symptoms (P<0.001) after adjusting for smoking status and other covariates. While COPD prevalence increased with prolonged smoking duration in both men and women, women had a higher age-adjusted prevalence of COPD in the 1-9 years, 20-29 years, and ≥30 years duration periods. CONCLUSION: These state population data confirm that prolonged tobacco use is associated with respiratory symptoms and COPD after controlling for current smoking behavior. |
Body mass index, respiratory conditions, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Liu Y , Pleasants RA , Croft JB , Lugogo N , Ohar J , Heidari K , Strange C , Wheaton AG , Mannino DM , Kraft M . Respir Med 2015 109 (7) 851-9 BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the relationship of body mass index (BMI) status with respiratory conditions, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a state population. METHODS: Self-reported data from 11,868 adults aged ≥18 years in the 2012 South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System telephone survey were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression that accounted for the complex sampling design and adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, physical inactivity, and cancer history. RESULTS: The distribution of BMI (kg/m2) was 1.5% for underweight (<18.5), 32.3% for normal weight (18.5-24.9), 34.6% for overweight (25.0-29.9), 26.5% for obese (30.0-39.9), and 5.1% for morbidly obese (≥40.0). Among respondents, 10.0% had frequent productive cough, 4.3% had frequent shortness of breath (SOB), 7.3% strongly agreed that SOB affected physical activity, 8.4% had current asthma, and 7.4% had COPD. Adults at extremes of body weight were more likely to report having asthma or COPD, and to report respiratory conditions. Age-adjusted U-shaped relationships of BMI categories with current asthma and strongly agreeing that SOB affected physical activity, but not U-shaped relationship with COPD, persisted after controlling for the covariates (p < 0.001). Morbidly obese but not underweight or obese respondents were significantly more likely to have frequent productive cough and frequent SOB than normal weight adults after adjustment. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that both underweight and obesity are associated with current asthma and obesity with COPD. Increased emphasis on exercise and nutrition may improve respiratory conditions. |
Indicators for chronic disease surveillance - United States, 2013
Holt JB , Huston SL , Heidari K , Schwartz R , Gollmar CW , Tran A , Bryan L , Liu Y , Croft JB . MMWR Recomm Rep 2015 64 1-246 Chronic diseases are an important public health problem, which can result in morbidity, mortality, disability, and decreased quality of life. Chronic diseases represented seven of the top 10 causes of death in the United States in 2010 (Murphy SL, Xu J, Kochanek KD. Deaths: final data for 2010. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2013;6. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_04.pdf Adobe PDF file). Chronic diseases and risk factors vary by geographic area such as state and county, where essential public health interventions are implemented. The chronic disease indicators (CDIs) were established in the late 1990s through collaboration among CDC, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and the Association of State and Territorial Chronic Disease Program Directors (now the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors) to enable public health professionals and policymakers to retrieve data for chronic diseases and risk factors that have a substantial impact on public health. This report describes the latest revisions to the CDIs, which were developed on the basis of a comprehensive review during 2011-2013. The number of indicators is increasing from 97 to 124, with major additions in systems and environmental indicators and additional emphasis on high-impact diseases and conditions as well as emerging topics. |
Pediatric treatment 2.0: ensuring a holistic response to caring for HIV-exposed and infected children
Essajee SM , Arpadi SM , Dziuban EJ , Gonzalez-Montero R , Heidari S , Jamieson DG , Kellerman SE , Koumans E , Ojoo A , Rivadeneira E , Spector SA , Walkowiak H . AIDS 2013 27 Suppl 2 S215-24 Treatment 2.0 is an initiative launched by UNAIDS and WHO in 2011 to catalyze the next phase of treatment scale-up for HIV. The initiative defines strategic activities in 5 key areas, drugs, diagnostics, commodity costs, service delivery and community engagement in an effort to simplify treatment, expand access and maximize program efficiency. For adults, many of these activities have already been turned into treatment policies. The recent WHO recommendation to use a universal first line regimen regardless of gender, pregnancy and TB status is a treatment simplification very much in line with Treatment 2.0. But despite that fact that Treatment 2.0 encompasses all people living with HIV, we have not seen the same evolution in policy development for children. In this paper we discuss how Treatment 2.0 principles can be adapted for the pediatric population. There are several intrinsic challenges. The need for distinct treatment regimens in children of different ages makes it hard to define a one size fits all approach. In addition, the fact that many providers are reluctant to treat children without the advice of specialists can hamper decentralization of service delivery. But at the same time, there are opportunities that can be availed now and in the future to scale up pediatric treatment along the lines of Treatment 2.0. We examine each of the five pillars of Treatment 2.0 from a pediatric perspective and present eight specific action points that would result in simplification of pediatric treatment and scale up of HIV services for children. |
Geographic and sociodemographic disparities in drive times to Joint Commission-certified primary stroke centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Khan JA , Casper M , Asimos AW , Clarkson L , Enright D , Fehrs LJ , George M , Heidari K , Huston SL , Mettam LH , Williams GI , Schieb L , Greer S . Prev Chronic Dis 2011 8 (4) A79 INTRODUCTION: Timely access to facilities that provide acute stroke care is necessary to reduce disabilities and death from stroke. We examined geographic and sociodemographic disparities in drive times to Joint Commission-certified primary stroke centers (JCPSCs) and other hospitals with stroke care quality improvement initiatives in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. METHODS: We defined boundaries for 30- and 60-minute drive-time areas to JCPSCs and other hospitals by using geographic information systems (GIS) mapping technology and calculated the proportions of the population living in these drive-time areas by sociodemographic characteristics. Age-adjusted county-level stroke death rates were overlaid onto the drive-time areas. RESULTS: Approximately 55% of the population lived within a 30-minute drive time to a JCPSC; 77% lived within a 60-minute drive time. Disparities in percentage of the population within 30-minute drive times were found by race/ethnicity, education, income, and urban/rural status; the disparity was largest between urban areas (70% lived within 30-minute drive time) and rural areas (26%). The rural coastal plains had the largest concentration of counties with high stroke death rates and the fewest JCPSCs. CONCLUSION: Many areas in this tri-state region lack timely access to JCPSCs. Alternative strategies are needed to expand provision of quality acute stroke care in this region. GIS modeling is valuable for examining and strategically planning the distribution of hospitals providing acute stroke care. |
Efforts to decrease diabetes-related amputations in African Americans by the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Charleston and Georgetown Diabetes Coalition
Jenkins C , Myers P , Heidari K , Kelechi TJ , Buckner-Brown J . Fam Community Health 2011 34 Suppl 1 S63-78 Diabetes is the leading cause of amputation of the lower limbs. Yet, half of these amputations might be prevented through simple but effective foot care practices. This article describes the progress made in the reduction of lower extremity amputations in people with diabetes by the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Charleston and Georgetown Diabetes Coalition. The coalition's community action plan and interventions were based on an expanded Chronic Care Model that spawned changes in policies, health and education systems, and other community systems for people with diabetes and their support systems. |
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