“Role of vitamin D in inflammation and depression among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection”
Abstract: Low vitamin D level has been observed in people infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. In recent studies, low level of vitamin D was associated with faster disease progression among HIV-infected people. In populations other than HIV-positive people, vitamin D deficiency has been reported as a risk factor for high level of inflammation and depression. Together with Vitamin D deficiency, high levels of inflammation as well as depression are common among HIV-positive people. However, little is known about the role of vitamin D on these clinical conditions. This seminar will focus the cross-sectional study finding on the relationship between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and cross-sectional as well as longitudinal study finding on the relationship between serum concentrations of 25[OH]D and depression in a cohort of 320 HIV-positive people in Nepal. The field-based survey was done to collect the required information on socio-demographic, life-style, and mental health and to measure the anthropometric parameters at baseline and follow-up survey. Fasting blood samples were processed for immunological, lipids, glucose, inflammation, and micronutrient markers evaluations.
Jeffer Sasaki, M.S., of UMass Amherst will present a seminar entitled "Applying machine learning techniques to process accelerometer data in older adults."
Michael Brown, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois Chicago, will present a seminar entitled "Endothelial phenotype in African Americans: In vitro and in vivo perspectives."
Matt Osborne and Will Lapsley from the Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be speaking about the internship program that DPH runs with UMass.
The lecture is titled "The Practice of Epidemiology: Working for a State Health Department and How You Can Become an Intern."
Abstract: The Epidemiology Program within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) helps protect the residents of the Commonwealth from foodborne illnesses, emerging infectious illnesses, and other communicable diseases. Major goals of the program are: the prevention of rabies in humans and domestic animals, the surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infections, and the interruption of transmission of communicable diseases.
The MDPH Local Health Internship Program partners with local health departments throughout the state to offer graduate MPH, veterinary, and nursing students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of public health by addressing current local health issues. Interns work on a wide variety of local health projects and gain long-term contacts. Annually, MDPH matches approximately 30 students to summer internship opportunities across the state. Interns matched to local health departments are offered the opportunity to shadow epidemiologists at the Department of Public Health. Many past interns have used their experiences within the program to secure positions with federal, state, and local health agencies. For 2013, stipends may be available for all matched internship projects.
Epidemiologists with the MDPH will present an overview of the Epidemiology Program and discuss graduate internship opportunities for the summer of 2013.
