Do Health Programs Contribute to Keeping the Peace? A Scientific Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen G Waller
Keyword(s):  
Causal Link ◽  
Statistical Correlation ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
International Database ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Negative Findings ◽  
Case Control Analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction The role of health problems and programs to address problems in keeping the peace has not been scientifically analyzed. We sought to mitigate this gap in knowledge. Methods We examined hundreds of conflicts in a robust international database (NAVCO 2.0) for the presence of health programs by conflict parties and were unable to demonstrate a significant statistical correlation between the presence of a health program and peace. Using this analysis and a comprehensive international database of health conditions (the Global Burden of Disease), we obtained Institutional Review Board approval and undertook a matched case-control analysis. We identified 14 countries with new-onset conflict as our cases and 52 similar countries without conflict during the same year as our controls. We calculated the association between conflict status and the prevalence of 254 different health conditions among the case and control nations. Results None of the 254 health conditions had changes in prevalence that correlated with the conflict status of that nation. None of those common health conditions is therefore a predictive “leading indicator” of conflict in this study. Conclusions Without such an association or causal link, the role of health programs in peacekeeping and “stability operations” remains ambiguous. Negative findings do not mean that there is no connection between health programs and peace, and further study should be done. Our results have implications for the value of global health engagement missions.

scholarly journals Do Health Programs Reduce Conflict and Violence? A Case-Control Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen G Waller
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Statistical Correlation ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
International Database ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Case Control Analysis

Abstract BackgroundHealth programs are often implemented in conflict zones in hopes of ‘winning hearts and minds’ and preserving the peace. We find no scientific evidence for this policy but hypothesize that programs to mitigate health problems have a role in keeping the peace in conflict states. The evidence for our theory to date is anecdotal.MethodsWe carefully examined hundreds of conflicts in a robust international database (NAVCO 2.0) for the presence of health programs by warring parties and were unable to demonstrate a statistical correlation between the presence of a health program and the subsequent peaceful resolution of conflict. Using this empirical analysis and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), a comprehensive international database of health conditions, we performed a matched case-control analysis of the association between the GBD prevalence of 254 different health conditions and NAVCO database conflict status. We identified 14 countries with new-onset conflict as our cases and 42 similar countries without conflict during the same year as our controls.ResultsNone of the 254 common health conditions had changes in prevalence that correlated with the subsequent conflict status of that nation.ConclusionsWe were unable to show that any of the health conditions we analyzed is a predictive ‘leading indicator’ of conflict. Without such an association or causal link, the role of health programs in reducing conflict and violence remains unconvincing and ambiguous. We believe this work is a novel insight into ways the international community might reliably mitigate conflict and should provoke more research on this topic.

Role of the Apolipoprotein B–Apolipoprotein A-I Ratio in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment: A Case–Control Analysis in EPIC-Norfolk

2007 ◽  
Vol 146 (9) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim A. van der Steeg ◽  
S. Matthijs Boekholdt ◽  
Evan A. Stein ◽  
Karim El-Harchaoui ◽  
Erik S.G. Stroes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Apolipoprotein B ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Assessment ◽  
Apolipoprotein A ◽  
Case Control Analysis

scholarly journals The role of BAFF and G-CSF for rituximab-induced late-onset neutropenia (LON) in lymphomas

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Tesfa ◽  
Birgitta Sander ◽  
Henric Lindkvist ◽  
Christer Nilsson ◽  
Eva Kimby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
B Lymphocytes ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Case Control Analysis ◽  
Csf Production

AbstractMechanisms for late-onset neutropenia (LON) after rituximab treatment are poorly defined both for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and for autoimmune disorders. We performed a case–control analysis of a prospective cohort of 169 evaluable consecutive rituximab-treated NHL patients to assess cytokines involved in neutro- and lymphopoiesis (G-CSF, SDF1, BAFF, APRIL) and inflammation (CRP) as possible LON mechanisms. Fifteen patients (9%) developed LON (peripheral blood /PB/ absolute neutrophil counts /ANC/ < 0.5 G/L, all with marked depletion of CD20+ B-lymphocytes in bone marrows); they were compared with 20 matched NHL controls without LON. At start of LON, significantly higher PB G-CSF and BAFF levels (P = 0.0004 and 0.006, respectively), as well as CRP rises were noted compared to controls; these G-CSF and BAFF and most CRP values returned to levels of the controls in post-LON samples. G-CSF (but not BAFF) changes correlated to CRP rises (but not to ANC levels). BAFF levels correlated significantly to absolute monocyte counts and PB large granular lymphocyte counts (but not to ANC, C-CSF or CRP values). No changes of SDF1 or APRIL levels were noted. Neither LON cases nor controls displayed anti-neutrophil autoantibodies. Collectively, LON in NHL patients was timewise related to transient bursts of blood G-CSF and BAFF concentrations, suggesting that these neutro- and lymphopoiesis growth factors play a role in emergence of rituximab-induced LON, and that inflammation may be a trigger for G-CSF production during LON.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and outcomes in esophageal carcinoma.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 181-181
Author(s):  
Nadia Saeed ◽  
Eric Albert Mellon ◽  
Kenneth L Meredith ◽  
Sarah E. Hoffe ◽  
Ravi Shridhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Single Institution ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Case Control Analysis

181 Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) and surgery is standard treatment for esophageal cancer (EC) in the U.S. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) is unclear. Providers assign ACT inconsistently, and both its rationales and benefits have yet to be clearly defined. We sought to evaluate rationales and benefits for ACT in EC. Methods: This single institution retrospective review included 382 patients (pts) with EC who were treated at our tertiary referral center. All pts received NCRT and 46 received ACT. We reviewed medical records to obtain demographic and clinical information. Survival outcomes were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method from date of death or last follow up and log-rank analysis. Case-control analysis was performed using a 2:1 nearest neighbor propensity score matching algorithm, and included 113 pts, 41 of which received ACT. Results: 46 of the 382 pts in our study who received NCRT and surgery for EC also underwent ACT; two pts had single agent paclitaxel, 9 had 5-F/U and leucovorin, 7 had 5-F/U and cisplatin, 5 had carboplatin and paclitaxel, 2 had carboplatin alone, and the remainder had other combinations. Pts who received ACT were younger (med. age = 60.2 v 63.8 yr, p = 0.047), more likely to have adenocarcinoma (91.3% v 85.1%, p = 0.034), and less likely to have positive LNs on pre-treatment EUS (60.1% v 77.4%, p = 0.018). Pts with pCR were less likely to receive further treatment (6.5% v 45.8%, p < 0.001), and pts with R1 resection were more likely to do so (15.2% v 4.2%, p = 0.007). With case-control analysis, no variables were significantly different between the two groups. The median follow-up times for the entire cohort and case-control analysis were 7.98 years and 8.89 years, respectively. There were no significant differences in overall (p = 0.975) or recurrence-free (p = 0.824) survival associated with ACT in either analysis. Conclusions: The role of CT following NCRT and surgical resection in pts with locally advanced ECis unclear. In the largest series to date, our single institution retrospective review found no significant difference in survival in pts who received ACT and those who did not. Prospective studies are needed to further identify the rationales for delivery of ACT, and to investigate any potential survival benefits.

Association between Vitamin D and Risk of Stroke: A PRISMA-Compliant Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Cen Su ◽  
Biao Jin ◽  
Haiping Xia ◽  
Kangren Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
25 Oh Vitamin D ◽  
Case Control Analysis ◽  
Circulating Levels

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Previous studies have shown inconsistent results for associations between vitamin D and risk of stroke. We gathered the existing published articles and conducted this meta-analysis with the aim to explore the association between vitamin D and risk of stroke. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We searched for articles exploring the association between vitamin D and risk of stroke and published before April 2021 in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. All statistical analyses were made using STATA 12.0 software. Q test and <i>I</i><sup><i>2</i></sup> were applied to examine heterogeneities between studies. <b><i>Results:</i></b> For the association between serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D and risks of stroke, the present analysis included 20 cohort studies (including 213,276 participants) and a case-control analysis (including 13,642 participants). Additionally, the analysis included 15 studies (including 41,146 participants given vitamin D supplementation and 41,163 participants given placebo) to evaluate the influence of vitamin D supplementation on risk of stroke. Higher circulating levels of 25(OH) vitamin D were associated with a reduced risk of stroke (odds ratio/relative risk = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70–0.86, <i>I</i><sup><i>2</i></sup> = 41.5%, <i>p</i> = 0.025). However, the present analysis showed that vitamin D supplementation did not influence the risk of stroke (hazard ratio = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.96–1.14, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 2.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.425). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our analysis indicated that lower circulating level of vitamin D was associated with an elevated risk of stroke, but extra supplement of vitamin D failed to show benefit in decreasing the risk of stroke. Further research and study are also needed to show the role of vitamin D in relation to stroke.

scholarly journals Lack of association between the G681C polimorphism in the 5-HT1Dbeta autoreceptor gene and schizophrenia

2005 ◽  
Vol 63 (2b) ◽  
pp. 380-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quirino Cordeiro ◽  
Homero Vallada
Keyword(s):  
Atypical Antipsychotics ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Serotonergic System ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Case Control Analysis

A major role of the serotonergic system has been hypothesized in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, mostly based on the evidence of action of atypical antipsychotics. Disturbances of serotonergic pathways have been implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between schizophrenia and the G861C polymorphism in the 5-HT1Dbeta autoreceptor gene. There was conducted a case-control analysis in a sample of 196 schizophrenic patients and 143 gender, age and ethnic matched controls. No statistically differences were found in allelic or genotypic distributions between cases and controls. Thus, the results do not support an association of the G861C polymorphism in the 5-HT1Dbeta autoreceptor gene with schizophrenia in the studied sample.

Evaluation of Hypertriglyceridemia as a Mediator Between Endocrine Diseases and Pancreatitis in Dogs

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakhyun Kim ◽  
Ji-Houn Kang ◽  
Tae-Young Heo ◽  
Byeong-Teck Kang ◽  
Gonhyung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Records ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Endocrine Diseases ◽  
Matched Case ◽  
Case Control Analysis ◽  
Control Study

ABSTRACT The role of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) secondary to endocrine diseases in the occurrence of pancreatitis in dogs has not been fully investigated. The objective of the present study was to evaluate HTG as a mediator between endocrine diseases and pancreatitis in dogs. The study design was a retrospective case-control study. Medical records of dogs newly diagnosed with acutely presenting pancreatitis between 2012 and 2014 were reviewed for the presence or absence of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypothyroidism. A matched case-control analysis was performed, and the association between endocrine diseases and pancreatitis was evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. In dogs with pancreatitis, the odds of HAC (P &lt; .001) and DM (P &lt; .001) were 4.5 and 12.4 times that of dogs without pancreatitis, respectively. HTG significantly mediated the association between DM and pancreatitis but not between HAC and pancreatitis. Additional studies will be necessary to confirm these findings and to further elucidate the associations between endocrine diseases and pancreatitis.

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