Review Of Epidemiological Literature Research Articles

Gender and sex bias in COVID-19 epidemiological data through the lens of causality

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a large amount of experimental and observational studies reporting clear correlation between the risk of developing severe COVID-19 (or dying from it) and whether the individual is male or female. This paper is an attempt to explain the supposed male vulnerability to COVID-19 using a causal approach. We proceed by identifying a set of confounding and mediating factors, based on the review of epidemiological literature and analysis of sex-dis-aggregated data. Those factors are then taken into consideration to produce explainable and fair prediction and decision models from observational data. The paper outlines how non-causal models can motivate discriminatory policies such as biased allocation of the limited resources in intensive care units (ICUs). The objective is to anticipate and avoid disparate impact and discrimination, by considering causal knowledge and causal-based techniques to compliment the collection and analysis of observational big-data. The hope is to contribute to more careful use of health related information access systems for developing fair and robust predictive models.

Paediatric Cushing's disease - a literature review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, and diagnostics.

Cushing's disease (CD) is characterised by excess production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by a pituitary corticotroph adenoma, which results in hypercortisolaemia. CD is extremely rare in the paediatric population, and few paediatric endocrinology centres have experience in diagnosing and treating this disease. The clinical presentation of hypercortisolaemia is variable, so proper and rapid diagnosis of CD is often challenging. The molecular pathogenesis of CD was largely unknown until recently. The latest research has revealed somatic mutations in the USP8 gene as the most common pathogenic molecular variants of this disease. Herein, we describe the current state of knowledge of paediatric CD epidemiology, molecular pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, and diagnostics.

Multicollinearity in Regression Analyses Conducted in Epidemiologic Studies.

The adverse impact of ignoring multicollinearity on findings and data interpretation in regression analysis is very well documented in the statistical literature. The failure to identify and report multicollinearity could result in misleading interpretations of the results. A review of epidemiological literature in PubMed from January 2004 to December 2013, illustrated the need for a greater attention to identifying and minimizing the effect of multicollinearity in analysis of data from epidemiologic studies. We used simulated datasets and real life data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort to demonstrate the adverse effects of multicollinearity in the regression analysis and encourage researchers to consider the diagnostic for multicollinearity as one of the steps in regression analysis.

Herpes simplex encephalitis

17 Walter SD. The estimation and interpretation of attributable risk in health research. Biometrics 1976; 32: 829–49. 18 Greenland S. Quantitative methods in the review of epidemiologic literature. Epidemiol Rev 1987; 9: 1–30. 19 Greenland S. Bias in methods for deriving standardised morbidity ratio and attributable fraction estimates. Stat Med 1984; 3: 131–41. 20 Mathers CD. Health expectancies: an overview and critical appraisal. In: Murray CJL, Salomon JA, Mathers CD, Lopez AD, eds. Summary measures of population health: concepts, ethics, measurement and applications. Geneva: WHO, 2002: 177–204. 21 Mathers CD, Sadana R, Salomon JA, Murray CJL, Lopez AD. Healthy life expectancy in 191 countries, 1999. Lancet 2001; 357: 1685–91. 22 Kruijshaar ME, Barendregt JJ, Hoeymans N. The use of models in the estimation of disease epidemiology. Bull World Health Organ 2002; 80: 622–28. 23 Evans AS. Causation and disease: a chronological journey. Am J Epidemiol 1978; 108: 249–58. 24 Peto R, Lopez AD, Boreham J, Thun M, Heath C Jr. Mortality from tobacco in developed countries: indirect estimation from national vital statistics. Lancet 1992; 339: 1268–78. 25 WHO. Macroeconomics and health: investing in health for economic development: report of the commission on macroeconomics and health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2001. Available at http://www.cmhealth.org/ ARTICLES

Work-Relatedness and Threshold Limit Values for Back Disorders due to Exposure to whole Body Vibration

Threshold limit values (TLVs) for exposure to occupational whole body vibration (WBV) are proposed based on a review of epidemiological literature and of standards and guidelines available. When TLVs are applied to exposure data for various heavy equipment reported in the literature, conclusions are made about the likelihood of various equipment types contributing to occupational back disorders due to exposure to WBV.

Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites: a review of epidemiologic literature.

This review evaluates current epidemiologic literature on health effects in relation to residence near landfill sites. Increases in risk of adverse health effects (low birth weight, birth defects, certain types of cancers) have been reported near individual landfill sites and in some multisite studies, and although biases and confounding factors cannot be excluded as explanations for these findings, they may indicate real risks associated with residence near certain landfill sites. A general weakness in the reviewed studies is the lack of direct exposure measurement. An increased prevalence of self-reported health symptoms such as fatigue, sleepiness, and headaches among residents near waste sites has consistently been reported in more than 10 of the reviewed papers. It is difficult to conclude whether these symptoms are an effect of direct toxicologic action of chemicals present in waste sites, an effect of stress and fears related to the waste site, or an effect of reporting bias. Although a substantial number of studies have been conducted, risks to health from landfill sites are hard to quantify. There is insufficient exposure information and effects of low-level environmental exposure in the general population are by their nature difficult to establish. More interdisciplinary research can improve levels of knowledge on risks to human health of waste disposal in landfill sites. Research needs include epidemiologic and toxicologic studies on individual chemicals and chemical mixtures, well-designed single- and multisite landfill studies, development of biomarkers, and research on risk perception and sociologic determinants of ill health.

Health Effects of Residence near Hazardous Waste Landfill Sites: A Review of Epidemiologic Literature

Health Effects of Residence near Hazardous Waste Landfill Sites: A Review of Epidemiologic Literature

Pesticide Exposures and Fetal Death: A Review of the Epidemiologic Literature

Despite considerable concern regarding the effects on reproductive outcome of exposures to pesticides, convincing evidence for the developmental toxicity of occupational and environmental pesticide exposure in humans is lacking. In this comprehensive review of the English language epidemiologic literature, we summarize studies that have examined potential associations between fetal deaths (both spontaneous abortions and stillbirths) and specific pesticides, as well as maternal and paternal employment in occupations with potential for exposure. While many of the epidemiologic studies to date suffer from methodologic problems, the data are suggestive of increased risks of fetal deaths associated with pesticides in general and maternal employment in the agricultural industry. There is a clear need for epidemiologic research that focuses on specific pesticide products or chemical families, with improved exposure assessment. The potential role of solvents in developmental toxicity associated with pesticide use by both males and females should also be considered.