Determinants of adherence to nutrition- related cancer prevention guidelines among African American breast cancer survivors

Background: Mortality rate for breast cancer is higher among African American (AA) women than for women of other racial/ethnic groups. Obesity, also higher among AA women, may increase the risk of breast cancer development and recurrence. Lifestyle factors such as healthy nutrition can reduce the rate of obesity and breast cancer. This study examined the determinants of adherence to nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines among AA breast cancer survivors. Methods: AA breast cancer survivors (n=240) were recruited from a breast cancer support group to complete a lifestyle assessment tool for this cross-sectional study. Chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between adherence to nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines and potential predictors of adherence. Results: Majority of the survivors met the guideline for red and processed meat (n=191, 83.4%), but did not meet the guideline for fruits and vegetables (n=189, 80.4%). For survivors with annual household incomes \u3c $25,000, the odds of meeting or partially meeting the guideline for fruits and vegetables was 75.4$50,000 (OR= 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.80). Poor physical functioning (OR= 38.48, 95% CI: 2.26, 656.58), sleep disturbances (OR= 60.84, 95% CI: 1.61, 2296.02), and income \u3e $50,000 (OR= 51.02, 95% CI: 1.13, 2311.70) were associated with meeting the guideline for red and processed meat. Conclusions: Many AA breast cancer survivors are not meeting the nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines. For this population, more interventions that enhance access to and consumption of healthy diets are needed

Physicochemical factors that affect electroporation of lung cancer and normal cell lines

Electroporation is used for cancer therapy to efficiently destroy cancer tissues by transferring anticancer drugs into cancer cells or by irreversible tumor ablation without resealing pores. There is growing interest in the electroporation method for the treatment of lung cancer, which has the highest mortality rate among cancers. Improving the cancer cell selectivity has the potential to expand its use. However, the factors that influence the cell selectivity of electroporation are debatable. We aimed to identify the important factors that influence the efficiency of electroporation in lung cells. The electropermeabilization of lung cancer cells (H460, A549, and HCC1588) and normal lung cells (MRCS, WI26 and L132) was evaluated by the transfer of fluorescence dyes. We found that membrane permeabilization increased as cell size, membrane stiffness, resting transmembrane potential, and lipid cholesterol ratio increased. Among them, lipid composition was found to be the most relevant factor in the electroporation of lung cells. Our results provide insight into the differences between lung cancer cells and normal lung cells and provide a basis for enhancing the sensitivity of lung cancers cells to electroporation. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.N

Trends in HIV Testing among Adults in Georgia: Analysis of the 2011–2015 BRFSS Data

Georgia is ranked fifth highest among states for rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis. About 4% of persons living with HIV infection in the United States reside in Georgia, and almost 19% of these people do not know their HIV status. The present study examined the trends and associated factors of HIV testing among adults in Georgia between 2011 and 2015 by analyzing data of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). A total of 31,094 persons aged ≥18 years were identified who responded to the question “Have you ever been tested for HIV?” Overall, there were 11,286 (44.2%) respondents who had been tested for HIV, compared to 19,808 (55.8%) who had not. There was a slight decrease in the percentage of respondents who have ever tested for HIV, from 45.6% in 2011 to 43.7% in 2015 (APC (annual percent change) = −0.98, not significant). Factors associated with HIV testing were being female (p = 0.004), black (p < 0.001), younger than 55 years (p < 0.001), single (p < 0.001), attaining education level above high school (p < 0.001), and earning annual income of $50,000 or less (p = 0.028). Overall in Georgia, there has been a slight decline in the temporal trend of HIV testing, and more than half of adults have never been tested for HIV. For reducing HIV transmission in Georgia, enhancing access and utilization of HIV testing should be a public health priority

Original Research Determinants of adherence to nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines among African American breast cancer survivors

ABSTRACT Background: Mortality rate for breast cancer is higher among African American (AA) women than for women of other racial/ethnic groups. Obesity, also higher among AA women, may increase the risk of breast cancer development and recurrence. Lifestyle factors such as healthy nutrition can reduce the rate of obesity and breast cancer. This study examined the determinants of adherence to nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines among AA breast cancer survivors. Methods: AA breast cancer survivors (n=240) were recruited from a breast cancer support group to complete a lifestyle assessment tool for this cross-sectional study. Chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between adherence to nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines and potential predictors of adherence. Results: Majority of the survivors met the guideline for red and processed meat (n=191, 83.4%), but did not meet the guideline for fruits and vegetables (n=189, 80.4%). For survivors with annual household incomes < $25,000, the odds of meeting or partially meeting the guideline for fruits and vegetables was 75.4$50,000 (OR= 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.80). Poor physical functioning (OR= 38.48, 95% CI: 2.26, 656.58), sleep disturbances (OR= 60.84, 95% CI: 1.61, 2296.02), and income > $50,000 (OR= 51.02, 95% CI: 1.13, 2311.70) were associated with meeting the guideline for red and processed meat. Conclusions: Many AA breast cancer survivors are not meeting the nutrition-related cancer prevention guidelines. For this population, more interventions that enhance access to and consumption of healthy diets are needed

Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates and disparity ratios by year, region, and race.

<p>(A) Age-adjusted cervical cancer incidence rate of US14-NHW, US14-NHB, South-NHW, and South-NHB women by year of diagnosis. (B) Age-adjusted cervical cancer mortality rates of cervical cancer of US14-NHW, US14-NHB, South-NHW, and South-NHB women by year of diagnosis. (C) Incidence disparity ratios of US14-NHB, South-NHW, and South-NHB women by year of diagnosis with US14-NHW as reference group. (D) Mortality disparity ratios of US14-NHB, South-NHW, and South-NHB women by year of diagnosis with US14-NHW as reference group. Abbreviations: NHW–non-Hispanic white, NHB–non-Hispanic black, US14 –SEER18 registries excluding the 4 southern registries.</p

Recent trends in racial and regional disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality in United States - Fig 2

<p><b>Trends of age-specific cervical cancer (A) incidence and (B) mortality disparity ratios by region between 2000 and 2012 for US14-NHW, US14-NHB, South-NHW, and South-NHB.</b> Abbreviations: NHW–non-Hispanic white, NHB–non-Hispanic black, US14 –SEER18 registries excluding the 4 southern registries.</p

Age-specific cervical cancer incidence rates of black women pre- and post- US hysterectomy prevalence rate correction (2008–2012).

<p>Abbreviations: NHB–non-Hispanic black.</p