Epidemiology
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Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke through mother's smoking increases the risk of developing asthma later in life. A recent study suggested that this effect is present only in girls. We explored potential differences in susceptibility between boys and girls. ⋯ Effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on the risk of developing asthma are similar in boys and girls, with no interaction on an additive scale.
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When deciding whether to close schools during an influenza pandemic, authorities must weigh the likely benefits against the expected social disruption. Although schools have been closed to slow the spread of influenza, there is limited evidence as to the impact on transmission of disease. ⋯ Closing schools is effective at reducing transmission between children but has only a moderate effect on average transmission rates in the wider population unless children are disproportionately affected.
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Little is known about the success rate of epidemiologic manuscripts, or the number of rejections they may go through before being published. ⋯ These data suggest most epidemiology manuscripts are eventually published, although some persistence on the part of the authors may be necessary.
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A large follow-up study in Denmark showed a two-fold higher incidence of malignant melanoma in patients with Parkinson disease than in the general population. Using a population-based case-control approach, we investigated the prevalence of malignant melanoma, skin carcinoma, and other cancers before a first hospitalization or outpatient visit for Parkinson disease. ⋯ Our finding of an increased prevalence of malignant melanoma and skin carcinoma before the diagnosis of Parkinson disease weakens the suggested hypothesis that these cancers are caused by the treatment of Parkinson disease. The finding of a decreased prevalence of smoking-related cancers preceding Parkinson disease is consistent with the well-known higher risk of Parkinson disease among nonsmokers.
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Ross River virus disease is spread by mosquitoes, and an average of 5000 people are infected each year in Australia. It is one of the few infectious diseases for which climate-based early warning systems could be developed. The aim of this study was to test whether supplementing routinely collected climate data with mosquito surveillance data could increase the accuracy of disease prediction models. ⋯ We found that climate data are inexpensive and easy to collect and allow the prediction of Ross River virus disease epidemics within the time necessary to improve the effectiveness of public health responses. Mosquito surveillance data provide a more expensive early warning but add substantial predictive value.