Epidemiology I: Theory, Research and Practice

Epidemiology is the study (or the science of the study) of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Epidemiology has developed into a vibrant scientific discipline that brings together the social and biological sciences, incorporating everything from statistics to the philosophy of science in its aim to study and track the distribution and determinants of health events.

There are totally 14 chapters in this book. Chapter 1 proposes to assess whether caries restorative treatment can result in the selection and/or emergence of cariogenic mutans streptococci (MS) genetic strains in children with severe early childhood caries, and also characterizes the xylitol-resistance properties of select dominant and minor MS strains. Chapter 2 describes and explores a new research model of dental practce-based research network by reviewing the current dietary evidence collected from clinical epidemiology research, describing the Dental PBRN, and presenting the results from research conducted using the Dental PBRN model. Chapter 3 discusses the biological effects of solar radiation, describes the risk factors, incidence and mortality rates for skin cancer and melanoma. In addition, it also describes the necessity of sun protection knowledge especially in children and teens and gives information for the most famous sun education programs all over the world. Chapter 4 discusses basal cell carcinoma which comprises the vast majority of skin cancers. It predominantly affects fair-skinned individuals, and its incidence is rising rapidly.

Chapter 5 highlights possible detrimental effects associated with persistent exposure to antimicrobial agent-containing consumer products, particularly medicated soaps. Chapter 6 discusses the course of melanoma in patients post-organ transplant and in the settings of iatrogenic and lymphoproliferative disease-associated immunosuppression. It concludes with a discussion of potential new targets and therapeutic modalities for the treatment of malignant melanoma. Chapter 7 summarizes a comprehensive methodology to evaluate new technology in Radiation Oncology. With rapidly expanding technology in Medicine, decision makers are forced to make choices as to how to provide care for their population. Chapter 8 discusses the neuroprotective effects of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) and use of exogenous CO as a neuroprotective and neurotherapeutic agent. It is worth noting that exogenous administration of inhaled carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide releasing molecules impart similar neurophysiological responses as the endogenous gas.

Chapter 9 reviews an extremely rare pathology where miliary brain metastases are associated with poor prognosis. This chapter aims at providing detailed information on this condition and review the recent literature. Chapter 10 gives an up-to-date review and provides a synthesis of our collective knowledge regarding the application of computational epidemiologic modeling and risk analysis in addressing HIV/AIDS in both macro- and micro-settings. Chapter 11 discusses the relationship between HIV and maternal mortality in Africa and suggests some methods for addressing the problem. Chapter 12 analyses cellular gene expression profiles by comparing HBV producing cells to its parental HBV non-producing cells. It shows that considerable numbers of gene expression level was altered by HBV amplification.

Chapter 13 proposes current computer models for the prediction of particle deposition in the respiratory tracts of children and adults. Chapter 14 discusses epidemiology in tilapia fish. Most of the chapters in this book focuses on human beings, whereas this chapter focuses on some other species, hoping to let our readers to get borden their vision on epidemiology.