Selective reduction in the expression of type-1 metabotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampus of adult rats born by caesarean section

Perinatal hypoxia causes long-term neurobiological consequences, including alterations in mechanisms of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction. Changes in neurotransmitter receptors have been associated with these alterations, but little is known on how early hypoxia influences the expression and function of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors in adult life. This is an important issue because mGlu receptors are implicated in mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Here, we examined the expression of mGlu1, mGlu5, and mGlu2/3 receptor subtypes in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and dorsal striatum in 6-month old Wistar rats (a) born by vaginal delivery; (b) born by caesarean section; and (c) born by caesarean section followed by 20 min of asphyxia. Unexpectedly, we found a large reduction of mGlu1α protein levels in the hippocampus of rats born by caesarean section regardless of the presence of asphyxia. No changes in mGlu1α receptor protein levels were found in the other brain regions. Levels of mGlu5 and mGlu2/3 receptors and levels of GluA2/3 and GluN1 subunits of AMPA and NMDA receptors did not differ among the three groups of rats in any brain region. These results are consistent with previous findings showing that changes in mGlu1 receptors occur within the epigenetic programming caused by early-life events

Social Networks as Predictors of Colorectal Cancer Screening in African Americans

Background: Early detection can reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality by 15%–33%, and screening is widely recommended for average-risk adults beginning at age 50 years. Colorectal cancer mortality rates are higher in African Americans than in whites, while screening rates are somewhat lower. Individual social networks can reduce emotional and/or logistical barriers to healthpromoting but distasteful procedures such as CRC screening. The aim of this study was to examine social network interactions, and their impact on CRC screening among African Americans. We hypothesized a positive association between social network index (SNI) scores and CRC screening. Methods: In a community intervention trial with four arms, we previously demonstrated the efficacy of a small group educational intervention to promote CRC screening among African Americans. This intervention outperformed a one-on-one educational intervention, a reduced out-of-pocket expense intervention, and a control condition. In the present analysis, we compared the SNI scores for participants in the small group intervention cohort with a comparison group comprised of the other three cohorts. Social networks were assessed using the Social Network Index developed by Cohen. Results: Small group participants had a significantly higher network diversity score (Mean difference 0.71; 95% CI, 0.12-1.31; p=0.0017) than the comparison group. In the second component of the SNI score - -the number of people talked to over a two week period -- the small group intervention cohort also scored significantly higher than the comparison group. (Mean difference, 9.29; 95% CI, 3.963-14.6266; p=0.0004). Conclusions: The findings suggest that social interaction and support was at least partially responsible for the relatively high post-intervention screening rate in the small group intervention participants. Education in small groups could foster strong social networks. Strong and positive network diversity and a large number of people in social networks may enhance CRC screening rates among African Americans

Formative Research to Develop a Lifestyle Application (App) for African American Breast Cancer Survivors

Background: There is a proliferation of lifestyle-oriented mobile technologies; however, few have targeted users. Through intervention mapping, investigators and community partners completed Steps 1-3 (needs assessment, formulation of change objectives, and selection of theory-based methods) of a process to develop a mobile cancer prevention application (app) for cancer prevention. The aim of this qualitative study was to complete Step 4 (intervention development) by eliciting input from African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCSs) to guide app development. Methods: Four focus group discussions (n=60) and three individual semi-structured interviews (n=36) were conducted with AA BCSs (40-72 years of age) to assess barriers and strategies for lifestyle change. All focus groups and interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed with NVivo qualitative data analysis software version 10, allowing categories, themes, and patterns to emerge. Results: Three categories and related themes emerged from the analysis: 1) perceptions about modifiable risk factors; 2) strategies related to adherence to cancer prevention guidelines; and 3) app components to address barriers to adherence. Participant perceptions, strategies, and recommended components guided development of the app. Conclusions: For development of a mobile cancer prevention app, these findings will assist investigators in targeting features thatare usable, acceptable, and accessible for AA BCSs

Engaging African Americans in Developing an Intervention to Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence: A Brief Report

Background: To develop a culturally appropriate lifestyle intervention, involvement of its intended users is needed. Methods: Members of an African American (AA) breast cancer support group participated in two 4-hour guided discussions, which were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed to guide the content. Results: The support group collaborated with researchers to develop 24 experiential nutrition education sessions using a social cognitive framework and incorporating self-regulation skills (goal-setting, self-monitoring, problem-solving, stimulus control) and social support to enhance self-efficacy for changes in dietary intake. Conclusions: Community engagement fostered autonomy, built collaboration, and enhanced the capacity of AA breast cancer survivors to participate in developing a lifestyle intervention

Community engagement to address socio-ecological barriers to physical activity among African American breast cancer survivors

Background: With high rates of obesity, low levels of physical activity (PA), and lack of adherence to physical activity guidelines (PAGs) among African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCSs), culturally appropriate interventions that address barriers to participation in PA are needed. Methods: To develop intervention content, members of an AA breast cancer support group participated in four 1-hour focus group discussions (related to the barriers to PA, strategies for overcoming them, and intervention content), which were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed. Results: The support group collaborated with researchers to construct the Physical Activity Intervention Developed (PAID) to Prevent Breast Cancer, a multi-component (educational sessions; support group discussions; and structured, moderately intensive walking, strength training, and yoga), facilitated, 24-week program focused on reducing multi-level barriers to PA that promote benefits (‘pay off’) of meeting PAGs. Conclusions: Community engagement fostered trust, promoted mutuality, built collaboration, and expanded capacity of AA BCSs to participate in developing an intervention addressing individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community barriers to PA

BIOCHEMISTRY OF VITAMIN D AND ITS ROLE AGAINST CANCER

One of the types of fat soluble vitamins, vitamin D, is a family of compounds consisting of 9-10 Secosteroids. These are classified into five different forms two of which are found naturally- vitamin D2 (photo chemically synthesized in plants) and D3 (synthesized in animal and human skin). Sources of such vitamin include dietary components and exposure to sunlight and the functions are carried out through the vitamin’s interaction with its receptors in the body as it participates in several mechanisms in the form of different analogs of itself. The aim of this review is to better understand the mechanism of the vitamin D receptors and various analogs of the vitamin D as well as its role against different types of cancers. Receptors of vitamin D have been isolated that are involved in various regulatory processes which extend beyond classic functions of the hormone like vitamin. Several analogs of this vitamin have been discovered throughout the years which have shown to have role against different types of diseases including cardiovascular, autoimmune, inflammatory diseases and most importantly, cancers. Mechanism of anticancer action of the hormone like fat soluble vitamin has also been studied and it has helped to identify a molecular link between the vitamin and prevention and regression of colorectal, prostate, breast and colon cancer as well as multiple myeloma which might lead to the conclusion that supplementation of vitamin D, in the correct amount might have a role of great importance in the prevention of cancer

Trends in upper gastrointestinal diagnosis over four decades in Lusaka, Zambia: a retrospective analysis of endoscopic findings

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There a shortage of robust information about profiles of gastrointestinal disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The endoscopy unit of the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka has been running without interruption since 1977 and this 38-year record is largely intact. We report an analysis of endoscopic findings over this period. METHODS: Written endoscopy records from 29th September 1977 to 16th December 2014 were recovered, computerised, coded by two experienced endoscopists and analysed. Temporal trends were analysed using tables, graphs, and unconditional logistic regression, with age, sex of patient, decade, and endoscopist as independent variables to adjust for inter-observer variation. RESULTS: Sixteen thousand nine hundred fifty-three records were identified and analysed. Diagnosis of gastric ulcer rose by 22 %, and that of duodenal ulcer fell by 14 % per decade. Endoscopically diagnosed oesophageal cancer increased by 32 % per decade, but gastric cancer rose only in patients under 60 years of age (21 % per decade). Oesophageal varices were the commonest finding in patients presenting with haematemesis, increasing by 14 % per decade in that patient group. Two HIV-related diagnoses, oesophageal candidiasis and Kaposi’s sarcoma, rose from almost zero to very high levels in the 1990s but fell substantially after 2005 when anti-retroviral therapy became widely available. CONCLUSIONS: This useful dataset suggests that there are important trends in some endoscopic findings over four decades. These trends are not explained by inter-observer variation. Reasons for the divergent trends in incidence of peptic ulceration and apparent trends in diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal cancers merit further exploration

Factors Associated With Body Mass Index Among African American Breast Cancer Survivors

Background: Weight gain after diagnosis and treatment is common among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). Little information exists regarding associations between body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) among African American (AA) BCSs. The present study sought to determine associations between BMI, dietary intake, and physical activity as lifestyle modification strategies and HR-QoL among AA BCSs. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a lifestyle assessment tool was administered to 195 AA BCSs. Possible predictor variables included socio-demographic and medical characteristics, dietary intake and physical activity patterns, and physical health. The outcome variable was BMI. Results: Many BCSs (63%) had BMIs ≥25 Kg/M2 and presented with stage I cancer (41%) at diagnosis. Among those presenting with late-stage cancer (IIIA, IIIB, IV), 76% were overweight or obese (p=0.0008). Eighty-four percent reported excellent-to-good physical health (p=0.0499) and were less likely to have higher BMIs compared to those reporting fair-to-poor physical health (OR=0.616 [CI=0.192-1.978]). Responders with graduate level education were more likely to have healthy body weights than those attaining high school or less educational levels (OR=2.379 [CI=0.617-9.166]). Conclusions: Most AA BCSs surveyed were overweight or obese, did not engage in recommended physical activity levels and failed to consume diets linked to breast cancer prevention. Interventions are needed to promote weight loss, improve dietary intake, and enhance physical activity among AA BCSs

Band alignment of grafted monocrystalline Si (001)/β\beta-Ga2_2O3_3 (010) p-n heterojunction determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Beta-phase gallium oxide ($\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$) research has gained accelerated pace due to its superiorly large bandgap and commercial availability of large-diameter native substrates. However, the high acceptor activation energy obstructs the development of homojunction bipolar devices employing $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$. The recently demonstrated semiconductor grafting technique provides an alternative and viable approach towards lattice-mismatched $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$-based p-n heterojunctions with high quality interfaces. Understanding and quantitatively characterizing the band alignment of the grafted heterojunctions is crucial for future bipolar device development employing the grafting method. In this work, we present a systematic study of the band alignment in the grafted monocrystalline Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ heterostructure by employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The core level peaks and valence band spectra of the Si, $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$, and the grafted heterojunction were carefully obtained and analyzed. The band diagrams of the Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ heterostructure were constructed using two individual methods, the core level peak method and the valence band spectrum method, by utilizing the different portions of the measured data. The reconstructed band alignments of the Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ heterostructure using the two different methods are identical within the error range. The band alignment is also consistent with the prediction from the electron affinity values of Si and $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$. The study suggests that the interface defect density in grafted Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ heterostructure is at a sufficiently low level such that Fermi level pinning at the interface has been completely avoided and the universal electron affinity rule can be safely employed to construct the band diagrams of grafted monocrystalline Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ heterostructures.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Monocrystalline Si/β\beta-Ga2_2O3_3 p-n heterojunction diodes fabricated via grafting

The $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ has exceptional electronic properties with vast potential in power and RF electronics. Despite the excellent demonstrations of high-performance unipolar devices, the lack of p-type doping in $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ has hindered the development of Ga$_2$O$_3$-based bipolar devices. The approach of p-n diodes formed by polycrystalline p-type oxides with n-type $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ can face severe challenges in further advancing the $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ bipolar devices due to their unfavorable band alignment and the poor p-type oxide crystal quality. In this work, we applied the semiconductor grafting approach to fabricate monocrystalline Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ p-n diodes for the first time. With enhanced concentration of oxygen atoms at the interface of Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$, double side surface passivation was achieved for both Si and $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ with an interface Dit value of 1-3 x 1012 /cm2 eV. A Si/$\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$ p-n diode array with high fabrication yield was demonstrated along with a diode rectification of 1.3 x 107 at +/- 2 V, a diode ideality factor of 1.13 and avalanche reverse breakdown characteristics. The diodes C-V shows frequency dispersion-free characteristics from 10 kHz to 2 MHz. Our work has set the foundation toward future development of $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$-based transistors.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figures. The preliminary data were presented as a poster in the 5th US Gallium Oxide Workshop, Washington, DC. August 07-10, 202