Epidemiological Studies calls for papers / publications

Call for Papers for a Thematic Issue of Family & Community Health: Faith-Based Initiatives to Promote Health

Social scientists and theologians have noted that churches and other faith-based organizations can have a considerable impact on society and its members. Over the past decade, government-sponsored faith-based initiatives have raised the profile of faith-based organizations as those that can provide services to disadvantaged individuals and communities. During this time, an increasing number of health scientists and public health practitioners have begun to work with faith-based institutions in health promotion and disease prevention efforts designed to improve the health of “hard to reach” or “at-risk” populations. The emergence of these efforts has sparked interests in examining the relationship between faith and health. “Faith” like “health” is a concept with multiple descriptions and applications, making it difficult to specify elements of successful collaboration between scientific and spiritual institutions.

This thematic issue will build on the foundation laid in Volume 32, Issue 4 which highlighted the diversity of faith-based programs and their potential impact for individuals and their communities. We invite investigators to contribute original research as well as review articles that will further broaden the understanding of the relationship between faith and health. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Papers that discuss or refine existing theoretical models undergirding current faith-based research
• Papers that highlight seemingly subtle distinctions (i.e., faith-based orientation vs. church-based orientation) that can lead to considerable differences in approaches and outcomes
• Descriptions of epidemiological studies examining associations between faith and health
• Descriptions of intervention studies in faith settings and/or that incorporate faith-based elements

We especially welcome manuscripts that have leaders of faith-based organizations (e. g., pastors) as contributing authors.

Submissions
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://journals.lww.com/familyandcommunityhealth/Pages/informationforauthors.aspx. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal’s system at http://www.editorialmanager.com/fch/ no later than October 1, 2012.

Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Eurosurveillance: Surveillance and Epidemiology of Leishmaniasis in Europe

Eurosurveillance invites authors to submit papers for a special issue on the surveillance and epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Europe.

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease transmitted by sand flies, is endemic in southern European countries. Autochthonous cases in Europe are mainly due to infection with Leishmania infantum, which causes zoonotic visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. L. tropica, endemic only in Greece with a sporadic pattern, causes anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Dogs are the main reservoir for L. infantum. Most reported cases have visceral leishmaniasis. A publication in 2008, in Emerging Infectious Diseases [1], estimated that annually around 700 new clinical cases of leishmaniasis are reported in European Union (EU) countries. Asymptomatic cases are thought to be many more, with an estimated ratio of >100 asymptomatic:1 clinical case [2]. Many of the EU countries where the disease is endemic are tourist destinations and there is evidence that a number of leishmaniasis cases diagnosed in non-endemic countries are imported from within the continent. The disease is notifiable in a number of endemic and non-endemic countries in Europe; however, surveillance varies and under-reporting appears to be frequent, especially for the benign forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The aim of the special issue is to contribute to the existing body of evidence and to make available data that can help paint a better picture of the epidemiological situation and burden of autochthonous leishmaniasis in Europe.

We invite interested scientists and public health experts to share their surveillance data, findings and views and submit original papers for peer review and possible publication.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

results from surveillance of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic and non-endemic countries, including trends in age groups affected and the impact of HIV co-infection, organ transplantation, and therapies of immunological disorders on the development and outcome of disease;
information on the distribution of the vector and reservoir;
analysis of treatment-associated costs;
control measures implemented successfully to stop the spread of disease;
issues related to the detection and identification of cases.

The submission deadline is 15 July 2012. If you would like to submit a paper or ask for more information, please see our instructions for authors regarding article formats: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/Public/ForAuthors/ForAuthors.aspx#article and contact the editorial team at eurosurveillance@ecdc.europa.eu.

References

Dujardin JC, Campino L, Cañavate C, Dedet JP, Gradoni L, Soteriadou K, et al. Spread of vector-borne diseases and neglect of Leishmaniasis, Europe. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14(7):1013-8.
Michel G, Pomares C, Ferrua B, Marty P. Importance of worldwide asymptomatic carriers of Leishmania infantum (L. chagasi) in human. Acta Trop. 2011;119(2-3):69-75.

Call for Papers on the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging

One of the issues of the JNHA in 2012 will be dedicated to publications on the MNA. Juergen M Bauer, MD, PhD, Oldenburg, Germany, will serve as guest editor of the MNA issue.

In this context the following research areas will be of special interest:

Epidemiology (i.e. prevalence of malnutrition, geographical and ethnic variations, focus on specific populations – community-living, institutional)

Methodology (i.e. the MNA as a monitoring tool, adaptations of the BMI/CC-cut offs due to ethnicity)

MNA and functionality (i.e. cognitive status, frailty, disability)

MNA based interventions

Please submit your papers by June 30, 2012 to http://jnha.edmgr.com

Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Eurosurveillance: the Molecular Epidemiology of Human Pathogens

Eurosurveillance invites authors to submit papers for a special issue on the molecular epidemiology of human pathogens.

As exemplified in the 2011 outbreak of the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O104:H4 strain in Germany, advanced sequencing technologies are being introduced for application in microbiological investigations supporting surveillance and outbreak investigations. In the STEC outbreak, the traditional microbiological methods were used to characterise the outbreak strain for epidemiological investigations, but for the first time, parallel application of advanced technologies enabled the whole genome sequence of multiple isolates of the outbreak strain to be determined just a few days after the outbreak had been detected. While such scientific and technological advances have great potential to increase the resolution and accuracy of microbiological investigations and deepen our understanding of human pathogens and the diseases they cause, various operational issues need to be resolved in order for such advanced techniques to be incorporated into public health practice.

The aim of this special issue is to provide a comprehensive picture of the current thinking on the role and possible opportunities of applying modern molecular microbiology for informing public health action. It follows from the recent consultation organised by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which initiated discussion on how public health can benefit from the recent advances in molecular microbiology. We invite interested scientists and public health experts to share their findings and views and submit original papers for peer review and possible publication.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

proof-of-principle examples of the use of advanced molecular methods, e.g. for the detection and characterisation of humans pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa) and for understanding infectious disease dynamics;
issues related to the use of advanced molecular data on human pathogens for surveillance and outbreak investigation: future directions, potential limitations, needs and implications for public health.

Deadline for special issue on the molecular epidemiology of human pathogens extended to 30 June 2012

If you would like to submit a paper or ask for more information, please see our instructions for authors regarding article formats http://www.eurosurveillance.org/Public/ForAuthors/ForAuthors.aspx#article and contact the editorial team at eurosurveillance@ecdc.europa.eu.

Call for Papers for a Special Issue of BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Urogynaecology and Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery

In January 2013 BJOG will be publishing a special theme issue on Urogynaecology and female pelvic reconstructive surgery. This issue will be edited by Douglas Tincello, Rufus Cartwright, Stergios Doumouchtsis together with guest editors Matthew Barber, Jan Deprest and Anna Rosamilia.

We are interested in receiving original research articles and systematic reviews on all aspects of urogynaecology, ranging from articles on basic science, classical and genetic epidemiology, emerging clinical challenges, as well as interventional trials.

Please go to http://bjog.allentrack.net to login and submit your manuscript, including your interest in the special theme issue in your covering letter and in the online submission form. Manuscripts should be submitted by 31 May 2012.

Instructions for authors are available here: http://www.bjog.org/view/0/authorInformation.html

If you have any queries, please contact the BJOG Editorial Office.
Tel: +44 (0) 207 772 6236, Email: bjog@rcog.org.uk