<p>Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are a growing problem around the world and both considered leading causes of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is often not diagnosed until it advances to causing serious problems such as heart attacks. Diabetes can greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease so diagnoses is important. Metabolic syndrome is a relatively easy way to predict who is at risk of these diseases or to make an early diagnoses. The syndrome is diagnosed in patients that meet 3 or more criteria relating to obesity, blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose in an individual. Calcium scores, a result of a specific body scan, are a good indicator of cardiovascular disease but are not commonly performed. Metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed using information from a routine physical with blood work. This paper observed the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome in a cohort of police officers who responded to the September 11th attack at the World Trade Center in New York City. In our study population, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 26%. We also found a correlation between calcium scores and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria met; patients meeting all 5 criteria had significantly higher calcium scores with a p-value of .02 and 95% confidence interval of 1.084-2.583.

<p> Farmworkers and their families may experience increased levels of agricultural pesticides in their homes due to both (1) take-home/soil track-in on shoes, clothes and skin, and (2) air infiltration from nearby agriculture fields via agricultural pesticide drift in the vapor phase or adhered to resuspended soil particles. This dissertation estimates the relative contributions o the take-home/soil track-in and air infiltration pathways of agricultural pesticides into homes, as well as identifies the risk factors for increased in-home agricultural pesticide levels for farmworkers and their families living near agriculture fields. Samples of outdoor air, yard soil, and house dust from 21 farmworkers' homes in Yuma County, Arizona were collected and analyzed for a suite of agricultural pesticides. To capture household information, such as behaviors, demographics, and housing structure, a participant questionnaire was administered at the time of the sampling. A pesticide transport model was developed, evaluated, and applied to quantify relative contributions of the air infiltration and the take-home/soil track-in pathways of agricultural pesticides into the house dust of the farmworkers&rsquo; homes. To explore a wide-range of potential risk factors for increased agricultural pesticide levels in the homes, traditional statistical methods and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analyses were used. The results of this study, found that the air infiltration pathway contributes to over 90% of some agricultural pesticides in the house dust found in the farmworkers&rsquo; homes. In addition, among the influential risk factors for increased in-home agricultural pesticide levels was the home being a closer distance to an agricultural field, as well as the home having carpeted floors, more farmworkers per square footage of the home, and less months of heating and cooling the home. It is suggested that future intervention efforts to reduce in-home agricultural pesticide levels put more emphasis on targeting the air infiltration pathway, and take into consideration relevant risk factors for increased pesticide levels in the home.</p>

<p> The study investigated the relationship of physical activity (domain, frequency, amount, and intensity) on mental health (depression, stress, and anxiety) in the general population. Two hundred and fifty-three individuals eighteen or older completed either an online or paper survey for the study. Pearson Correlation, T-tests, and multiple regression were used in the data analysis. Results indicated vigorous activity correlated negatively with stress (<i>r</i> = -.16 <i>p</i> &lt; .01) and anxiety, (<i> r</i> = -.15 <i>p</i> &lt; .01). Amount of activity correlated negatively with anxiety, <i>r</i> = -.15 <i>p</i> &lt; .05. Leisure time activity, frequency of activity, and amount of activity were significant predictors of stress among females, R² = .07, <i> p</i> &lt; .05 and anxiety among males, R² = .09, <i> p</i> &lt; .05 (vigorous for men and moderate for female). Males were found to participate in significantly more vigorous leisure activity than females, <i>t</i> = 2.50, <i>p</i> &lt; .01. Given the limited research on factors of physical activity, results of the study offer useful information for future research into the complexities of physical activity and its effects on mental health.</p>

Originally presented as the author's thesis, Groningen, 1978. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1940.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1935.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1939.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1947.