EPI 824 Reproductive Epidemiology, Fall 2002
Instructor: Wilfried Karmaus, MD, Dr.med., MPH,
Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University
4660 S. Hagadorn, Suite 510, Eyde Building
( (517) 353 8623 x 115
4 (517) 432-5016
email:
Location: Department of Epidemiology
4660 S. Hagadorn, Suite 600, Classroom, Eyde Building
Time: Monday and Wednesday, August 26 – December 4, 2001
12:40 – 2:00 pm
Books: 1. Biomedical and demographic determinants of reproduction / edited by Ronald Gray
with Henri Leridon and Alfred Spira. Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford
University Press, 1993.
2. Conception to birth : epidemiology of prenatal development / Jennie Kline, Zena Stein,
Mervyn Susser. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.
Objectives:
· Learn approaches and procedures of reproductive epidemiology
· Learn and apply operational definitions of reproductive health outcomes (subclinical and clinical: e.g. time to pregnancy, endocrine markers, etc.)
· Identify relevant journals and literature, introduction into the use of ‘Endnote’
· Review a set of publications on one topic, present controversies and the state of the evidence, revise a “book chapter” and present it to the class
· Review and make written suggestions to two other “book-chapters” (fair and constructive)
· Apply linear and logistic regressions as well as survival analyses for three different reproductive health outcomes (basic features of the SAS programs will be provided)
· Discuss approaches of reproductive epidemiology, strengths and weaknesses
Requirements:
§ Attend all sessions
§ Participate in classroom discussions
§ Read assigned readings
§ Present the characteristics of two journals
§ Complete 1 “book chapter”, present it, and lead the discussion on the topic
§ Review 2 “book chapters” of other students and provide a written critique
§ Complete 3 statistical analyses and provide a written section on results
§ Cooperate with different students in the preparation of the “book chapter” and statistical analyses
Responsibilities for the “Book chapters”:
One ‘historical’ book chapter (1987) will be provided to facilitate the preparation (An additional copy can be located in the library of the Department of Epidemiology).
- Presenter:
· Write a book-chapter review of a topic including (if necessary or relevant):
o normal physiology and anatomy
o description of pathology
o definition of reproductive health outcomes
o epidemiologic considerations
§ distribution in the population
§ risk factors
§ measurement
§ analysis
§ relation to other reproductive outcomes
o potential usefulness in epidemiological studies
· Assemble a complete (?) set of references for the topic (for references use Endnote®)
Use, if possible, instruction for authors from the journal Epidemiology
· Select 2 papers for class reading (classic, irresistible, controversial, etc.)
· Discuss the chapter at least one week before the presentation with Wilfried Karmaus
- Everybody:
· Read review and recommended papers before the meeting.
· 2 designated reviewers critique the review (fair and constructive).
Book chapter
/Date
/Presenter
Male Fertility
/ Monday, September 30 /Female Fertility
/ Wednesday, October 2 /Couple Fertility
/ Monday, October 7 /The Placenta and Xenobiotics
/ Monday, October 14 /Early Pregnancy Loss
/ Monday, October 21 /Spontaneous Abortions
/ Monday, October 28 /Epidemiology of Preterm Birth
/ Monday, November 4 /In vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (plus other reproductive methods)
/ Monday, November 11 /Birth Defects
/ Monday, November 18 /Additonal points not yet covered: Breast feeding, hydatidiform mole and chorioncarcinoma, childhood cancer, ultrasound, fetal monitoring, alpha fetoproteins, contraception, induced abortions
Requirements for the statistical analyses:
· You may work in groups of max. 3 students (max. 1 advanced per group)
· Run a basic model (as provided)
· Include confounders in the model and describe their effect on the ‘exposure’-‘disease’ association
· Describe the results with regard to the hypothesis
Journals: Presenter:
1. Epidemiology
2. Fertility and Sterility
3. International Journal of Epidemiology
4. Progress in reproductive health research
5. Human Reproduction
6. American Journal of Epidemiology
7. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.
8. International journal of fertility and menopausal studies
9. Obstetrics & gynecology.
10. World Fertility Survey
11. Journal of reproduction & fertility
12. Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
For the journal presentation:
· Describe the target group of the journal
· Provide the impact factor
· Describe the content of two articles (representative (?) for this journal)
· Describe the instruction for authors
Evaluation:
§ Attendance, class participation 10%
§ Journal presentations 10%
§ “Book chapter” 40%
§ Review of two “Book chapters” 15%
§ Three statistical analyses of reproductive data 25%
Syllabus
Monday, August 26 /Introduction & Syllabus
Wednesday, August 28 /Reproductive outcomes
Monday, September 2 /The early programming hypothesis
Wednesday, September 4 / Study designsMonday, September 9 / Statistical models (linear regression, logistic regression, survival analysis)
Wednesday, September 10 /
Designs and statistical models
Monday, September 16 /Book-chapter: Menstruation (menarche, menopause, disorders) – WK
Wednesday, September 18 /Book-chapter: Sex ratio – WK
Monday, September 23
/ Introduction into endnote (Kevin Brooks)Wednesday, September 25 / - no class (provide first book-chapter by email)
Monday, September 30 /
Book chapter: Male Fertility, Critique of the Book-chapter
Wednesday, October 2 /Book chapter: Female Fertility, Critique of the Book chapter
Monday, October 7 /Book chapter: Couple Fertility
Wednesday, October 9 /Critique of the Book chapter and Journal presentation 1 & 2
Monday, October 14 /Book-chapter: The Placenta and xenobiotics
Wednesday, October 116 /Critique of the Book chapter and Journal presentation 3 & 4
Monday, October 21 /Book-chapter: Early pregnancy loss
Wednesday, October 23 /Critique of the Book chapter and Journal presentation 5 & 6
Monday, October 28 /Book-chapter: Spontaneous abortions
Wednesday, October 30 /Critique of the Book chapter and Journal presentation 7 & 8
Monday, November 4 /Book-chapter: Epidemiology of preterm birth
Wednesday, November 6 /Critique of the Book chapter and Journal presentation 9 & 10
Monday, November 11 /Book-chapter: In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (plus other reproductive methods)
Wednesday, November 13 /Critique of the Book chapter and Journal presentation 11 & 12
Monday, November 18 /Book-chapter: Birth defects
Wednesday, November 20 /Critique of the Book chapter
Monday, November 25 /Introduction into linear regression to determine risk factors for age at menarche
Wednesday, November 27 /Introduction into logistic regression and application to determine for risk factors for menstrual disorders
Monday, December 2 /Introduction into survival analysis to determine subfecundity
Wednesday, December 4 /Summary and Critique
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