Shalkar Adambekov
University of Pittsburgh
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Publication
Featured researches published by Shalkar Adambekov.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health | 2016
Shalkar Adambekov; Aiym Kaiyrlykyzy; Nurbek Igissinov; Faina Linkov
The Central Asian region, which encompasses Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, is an interesting geographic region with a rich history dating back to the Silk Road, Mongol conquests and expansion of the Russian Empire. However, from a public health viewpoint, the Central Asian region is under-investigated, and many public health challenges exist, as countries of Central Asia inherited the centralised medical systems practiced in the Soviet Union, and are currently undergoing rapid transitions. A large number of low and middle-income countries around the world, including countries of Central Asia, face a double burden of chronic and infectious disease. This essay focuses on the exploration of the most important public health challenges in the Central Asian region, including limited scientific productivity, the double burden of chronic and infectious disease, the need for healthcare reform and the reduction in care variation. Central Asia has a large number of medical schools, medical centres, and emerging research institutes that can be used to foster a change in medical and public health practice in the region.
Gynecologic Oncology | 2017
Shalkar Adambekov; Sharon L. Goughnour; Suketu Mansuria; Nicole Donnellan; Esther Elishaev; Hugo J. Villanueva; Robert P. Edwards; Dana H. Bovbjerg; Faina Linkov
OBJECTIVE To explore risk factors associated with sampling failure in women who underwent Pipelle biopsy. METHODS A consecutive sample of 201 patient records was selected from women who underwent Pipelle biopsy procedures for suspected uterine pathology in a large healthcare system over a 6-month period (January 2013 through June 2013). Personal and medical data including age, BMI, gravidity and parity, and previous history of Pipelle biopsy were abstracted from medical records for each patient. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with biopsy sampling failure. RESULTS Pipelle biopsy sampling failed in 46 out 201 women (22.89%), where 8 (17.39%) were due to inability to access the endometrium, 37 (80.43%) were inadequate samples, and 1 (2.18%) was due to unknown reasons. Personal and medical factors found to be related to sampling failure included: postmenopausal bleeding as biopsy indication (OR 7.41, 95% CI 2.27-24.14); history of prior biopsy failure (OR 23.87, 95% CI 3.76-151.61); and provider type (physician vs. midlevel provider) (OR 9.152, 95% CI 2.49-33.69). CONCLUSION We identified several risk factors for biopsy failure that suggest the need for particular care with Pipelle sampling procedures among women with certain characteristics, including postmenopausal bleeding and a history of prior failed Pipelle biopsy. Our finding of a significantly higher risk of sampling failure based on personal and clinical data suggests that providers must take into account additional considerations to improve sampling success.
Central Asian Journal of Global Health | 2016
Shalkar Adambekov; Sholpan Askarova; Sharon C. Welburn; Sharon L. Goughnour; Ayumi Konishi; Ronald E. LaPorte; Faina Linkov
Introduction Despite the significant number of research institutions and rich scientific heritage, published research from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) is traditionally underrepresented in international scientific literature. The goal of this paper was to analyze publication patterns in Central Asian countries, and to explore the factors that contributed to the publication productivity in Kazakhstan. Methods Publication productivity was evaluated using data generated by the SCImago Journal & Country Rank over the period of 1996–2014 for all of the 15 former Soviet Union Republics for all subject categories. Country specific data, including total population, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, research and development (R&D) expenditure (% of GDP), number of reserchers (per million people), was abstracted from World Bank data. ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses compared the mean number of publications among Central Asian countries. Separate analyses was done for publication patterns in the health sciences. Multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey method Results The analysis of publication productivity showed significant discrepancies in the number of published documents among the Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan demonstrated a significant increase in the number of published documents in the period of 1996–2014, mainly in the areas of natural and multidisciplinary sciences. Our analyses also showed that the number of publications are siginicantly associated with GDP and population size. Conclusions We identified large gaps in publication productivity among the Central Asian countries. The association between publication rate with GDP and population size indicates there is a need to adjust for these factors when planning research policy.
Molecular Neurodegeneration | 2013
Andrey Tsoy; Sholpan Askarova; Tamara Shalakhmetova; Bauyrzhan Umbayev; Shalkar Adambekov; Zhaksybay Zhumadilov
P-selectin and actin cytoskeleton reorganization play an important role in vascular inflammation. In turn, there is increasing evidence that cerebrovascular factors contribute significantly to the development and progression of Alzhemer’s disease. In this study we have evaluated the effects of Aβ42 oligomers on P-selectin expression and actin polymerization in mouse endothelial cells (bEnd3). Our results indicated that Aβ42 induced plasma membrane accumulation of P-selectin and promoted actin polymerization, and these events were correlated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The rapid, posttranslational cell signaling response mediated by ROS may well represent an important physiological trigger of the microvascular inflammation in Alzheimer disease.
Archive | 2018
Faina Linkov; Sharon L. Goughnour; Shalkar Adambekov; Robert P. Edwards; Nicole Donnellan; Dana H. Bovbjerg
Obesity is an established risk factor for multiple cancer types, with gynecologic cancers gaining more attention in the past decade. While women with obesity may be at increased risk for ovarian and cervical cancer mortality, yet it is endometrial cancer (EC) that appears to be the most sensitive to obesity. Current adiposity, excess weight at the age of 18, metabolic syndrome, and adult weight gain are all associated with substantial increased lifetime risk of EC risk. The incidence of EC has been gradually increasing in recent years, with approximately 60,050 new cases and 10,470 deaths expected in 2016. A recent publication from our group estimates a 55% increase in the incidence of EC by 2030. Reducing the risk of EC by weight loss is an attractive strategy, as weight loss also improves cardiovascular fitness, reduces/treats type-2 diabetes, and reduces the risk of other obesity-related cancers. A variety of behavioral weight loss options are available to patients who would like to reduce their cancer risk, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Bariatric surgery is emerging as one of the most effective weight loss options for patients for whom other options have failed. Bariatric surgery patients are an excellent group to explore EC risk reduction as these patients experience a very rapid weight loss in a short period of time. Counseling on obesity prevention, diet, and exercise could potentially play a big role in the prevention of EC and other malignancies.
Gynecologic Oncology | 2018
Yan Yi; Cindy L. Bryce; Shalkar Adambekov; Robert P. Edwards; Sharon L. Goughnour; Faina Linkov
BACKGROUND Endometrial sampling is widely used for accurate diagnosis of endometrial cancer (EC), which is the most common gynecologic cancer in US women. The objective of this study was to explore the cost-effectiveness of two endometrial sampling procedures for diagnosing EC: (1) Pipelle endometrial sampling (Pipelle), and (2) dilatation & curettage (D&C), while accounting for sampling procedure failure rates and diagnostic accuracy in women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB). METHOD The decision analytic model was built to compare the cost-effectiveness of Pipelle and D&C strategies in a hypothetical cohort of PMB women. The analysis was performed from the perspective of a public healthcare payer (Medicare, US). We used 2017 Medicare reimbursement data for cost estimation. The effectiveness of these two diagnostic strategies was measured by analyzing the remaining life expectancy after EC diagnosis and subsequent treatment. RESULTS The base case analysis suggested that Pipelle was not only equally effective (32.11 vs. 32.11 years of life), but also less costly (
Central Asian Journal of Global Health | 2017
Curtis Tilves; Saeed Yekaninejad; Tetsuro Hayashi; Eman Eltahlawy; Eugene Shubnikov; Shalkar Adambekov
1897.80 vs.
Central Asian Journal of Global Health | 2014
Kyle E. Freese; Eugene Shubnikov; Ronald E. LaPorte; Shalkar Adambekov; Sholpan Askarova; Zhaxybay Zhumadilov; Faina Linkov
2999.11) based on Medicare reimbursement when compared to D&C. In one-way sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the Pipelle remained the more cost-effective sampling strategy even after accounting for sampling failure rate associated with each sampling strategy. CONCLUSION The Pipelle is the more cost-effective sampling strategy compared to D&C for EC diagnosis in women with PMB. From the cost-effectiveness perspective, the higher sampling failure rate of Pipelle should not be regarded as a limitation in its clinical application.
Biomarkers in Medicine | 2018
Faina Linkov; Sharon L. Goughnour; Shalkar Adambekov; Anna Lokshin; Joseph L. Kelley; Paniti Sukumvanich; John T. Comerci; Kacey G. Marra; Lauren E. Kokai; J. Peter Rubin; Anda M. Vlad; Brian J. Philips; Robert P. Edwards
Stataphobia, a term used to describe the fear of statistics and research methods, can result from a lack of improper training in statistical methods. Poor statistical methods training can have an effect on health policy decision making and may play a role in the low research productivity seen in developing countries. One way to reduce Stataphobia is to intervene in the teaching of statistics in the classroom; however, such an intervention must tackle several obstacles, including student interest in the material, multiple ways of learning materials, and language barriers. We present here the Euclid Statistical Matrix, a tool for combatting Stataphobia on a global scale. This free tool is comprised of popular statistical YouTube channels and web sources that teach and demonstrate statistical concepts in a variety of presentation methods. Working with international teams in Iran, Japan, Egypt, Russia, and the United States, we have also developed the Statistical Matrix in multiple languages to address language barriers to learning statistics. By utilizing already-established large networks, we are able to disseminate our tool to thousands of Farsi-speaking university faculty and students in Iran and the United States. Future dissemination of the Euclid Statistical Matrix throughout the Central Asia and support from local universities may help to combat low research productivity in this region.
Central Asian Journal of Global Health | 2016
Faina Linkov; Shalkar Adambekov; Sharon L. Goughnour; Sharon C. Welburn; Nicolas Padilla-Raygoza; Musa Abubakar Kana; Eugene Shubnikov; Mustapha M. Mustapha; Aamir Sheikh; Ronald E. LaPorte
The WHO Collaborating Center at the University of Pittsburgh, USA partnering with Nazarbayev University, developed the Central Asian Journal of Global Health (CAJGH, cajgh.pitt.edu) in order to increase scientific productivity in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Scientists in this region often have difficulty publishing in upper tier English language scientific journals due to language barriers, high publication fees, and a lack of access to mentoring services. CAJGH seeks to help scientists overcome these challenges by providing peer-reviewed publication free of change with English and research mentoring services available to selected authors. CAJGH began as a way to expand the Supercourse scientific network (www.pitt.edu/~super1) in the Central Asian region in order to rapidly disseminate educational materials. The network began with approximately 60 individuals in five Central Asian countries and has grown to over 1,300 in a few short years. The CAJGH website receives nearly 900 visits per month. The University of Pittsburgh’s “open access publishing system” was utilized to create CAJGH in 2012. There are two branches of the CAJGH editorial board: Astana (at the Center for Life Sciences, Nazarbayev University) and Pittsburgh (WHO Collaborating Center). Both are comprised of leading scientists and expert staff who work together throughout the review and publication process. Two complete issues have been published since 2012 and a third is now underway. Even though CAJGH is a new journal, the editorial board uses a rigorous review process; fewer than 50% of all submitted articles are forwarded to peer review or accepted for publication. Furthermore, in 2014, CAJGH will apply to be cross referenced in PubMed and Scopes. CAJGH is one of the first English language journals in the Central Asian region that reaches a large number of scientists. This journal fills a unique niche that will assist scientists in Kazakhstan and Central Asia publish their research findings and share their knowledge with others around the region and the world.