Disease incidence

Interferon beta-la (AVONEX , Rebif ), interferon beta-lb (Betaferon ), and interferon beta (Fiblaferon ) are applied in multiple sclerosis to reduce both frequency and severity of disease incidents and for the treatment of severe viral infections. In multiple sclerosis, DFN- 3 proteins modulate the destruction of myelin in the cause of the autoimmune reaction. 

Sacktor N, Lyles RH, Skolasky R, Kleeberger C, Seines OA, Miller EN, Becker JT, Cohen B, McArthur JC (2001) HIV-associated neurologic disease incidence changes Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, 1990-1998. Neurology 56(2) 257-260... 

Very few studies have focused on ethnic African groups. Therefore, very little is known about the molecular basis of ethnic differences in disease incidence and drug response in native Africans. Unfortunately, previous studies in African American subjects cannot be generalized to include native African populations, due to the great heterogeneity of racial ancestry of African American subjects, as well as other factors. 

The major gap in clarifying the shape of the dose-response curve (i.e., between immune response and disease) is a lack of large scale epidemiological studies in populations with mild-to moderate immunodeficiency that have been monitored simultaneously for immune system parameters and clinical disease. Attempts in conducting such studies will be complicated by many non-immune factors which can affect infectious disease incidences. 

Loftus, E.V., Clinical epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease Incidence, prevalence, and environmental influences, Gastroenterology, 126, 1504, 2004. 

Observational studies that track disease incidence in different pop-(5°) ulations suggest that garlic use in the diet may act as a cancer-fighting agent, particularly for prostate and stomach cancer. However, these findings have not been confirmed in clinical studies. And yes, reported side effects include garlic odor. 

Poisoning does not destroy root disease fungi infecting roots of treated trees. It does hasten death of stumps and somewhat reduces chances of killed root infection. However, if stumps are left in the field and new trees are planted around them, root diseases will usually be increased about 50% in the new plantings over what would be ordinarily expected. Where root disease incidence is likely to be high, it is better to fell the trees before or ofter trees are poisoned, and remove the stumps from the field with as much dispatch as practical considerations allow. 

For adverse effects such as carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and disease incidence, a hormetic effect means low-dose reduction and high-dose enhancement of response. The dose-response curve is the J-shape, see Figure 4.4. 

Excellent although general site. Contains information regarding e.g. global disease incidence, vaccination/immunization, etc. 

TABLE 4.1 Epidemiological Studies Investigating Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Coronary Heart Disease Incidence and Mortality -n < O 3 o o ... 

In developing countries, measles can be a very severe disease, with mortality rates as high as 10 percent. Hence, vaccination is recommended for all children at the earliest possible age. Currently, the WHO recommended nine months as the age for measles vaccination, taking into account maternal antibody levels and vaccine intake, as well as disease incidence. 

Medical schools prefer the case-control design for two reasons. First, it can easily be combined with the normal treatment of hospital patients since it simply divides patients into two groups and then asks some questions. Second, the disease incidence difference between the experimental and control groups is 100 percent All members of the experimental group have the disease of interest, and none of the controls does. A 100 percent difference in disease incidence means researchers can distinguish small behavioral differences between cases and controls from random variation, even in relatively small samples. 

Epidemiologists also frequently use the convenience-cohort study, in which members of an identified group (e.g., nurses) are questioned about their disease incidence as well as their behavior, diet, work. 

Case-control and convenience-cohort studies are susceptible to unobserved differences between experimental- and control-group members. This leads to selection and detection bias, which accounts for the alternative explanations of the observed statistical relationship between exposure and disease incidence. The best individual-level epidemiological studies go to great lengths to avoid bias, use large numbers of people, and study large exposures. 

---