Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an anabolic hormone important for growth and development. However, high-circulating serum concentrations in adults are associated with increased risk of ...postmenopausal breast cancer. Nutritional status and specific foods influence serum IGF-1 concentrations. Breast cancer incidence is typically low in Asian countries where soy is commonly consumed. Paradoxically, soy supplement trials in American women have reported significant increases in IGF-1. Seaweed also is consumed regularly in Asian countries where breast cancer risk is low. We investigated the possibility that seaweed could modify soy-associated increases in IGF-1 in American women. Thirty healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 58 yr) participated in this 14-wk double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial. Participants consumed 5 g/day placebo or seaweed (Alaria esculenta) in capsules for 7 wk. During the 7th wk, a high-soy protein isolate powder was added (2 mg/kg body weight aglycone equivalent isoflavones). Overnight fasting blood samples were collected after each intervention period. Soy significantly increased serum IGF-1 concentrations compared to the placebo (21.2 nmol/L for soy vs. 16.9 nmol/L for placebo; P = 0.0001). The combination of seaweed and soy significantly reduced this increase by about 40% (21.2 nmol/L for soy alone vs. 19.4 nmol/L; P = 0.01). Concurrent seaweed and soy consumption may be important in modifying the effect of soy on IGF-1 serum concentrations.
Updated United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Cancer Society mammography screening recommendations push for increased age of initiation and lengthened breast cancer ...screening intervals. These changes have implications for the reduction of breast cancer mortality in Black women. The purpose of this study was to examine breast cancer screening behavior in a cohort of Southern Black women after the release of the 2009 USPSTF recommendations. Surveys assessing cancer screening information were collected from members of Black churches between 2006 and 2013. The sample was restricted to women aged 40 to 74 years, who did not report a breast cancer diagnosis, or a recent diagnostic mammogram (n = 789). Percentages of women ever completing a mammogram (age 40–49) and annual mammography (age 50–74) in 2006–2009 and 2010–2013 were compared using chi-square statistics. Logistic regression models were fit to determine the predictors of adherence to pre-2010 screening guidelines. No significant changes in mammography rates were found for women in the 40–49 age group (X
2
= 0.42, p = 0.52) nor for those in the 50–74 age group (X
2
= 0.67, p = 0.41). Completing an annual clinical breast exam was a significant predictor of adherence to pre-2010 screening guidelines for both age groups (OR 19.86 and OR 33.27 respectively) and participation in education sessions (OR 4.26). Stability in mammography behavior may be a result of PCP’s advice, or community activities grounded pre-2010 screening recommendations. More research is needed to understand how clinical interactions and community-based efforts shape Black women’s screening knowledge and practices.
Chronic inflammation plays a role in the development of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and diet might modulate chronic inflammation. This study aims to evaluate the association between the ...dietary inflammatory index (DII
) and CLL. A total of 366 CLL cases and 1643 controls of the Spanish multicase-control (MCC) Spain study were included. The inflammatory potential of the diet was assessed using the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) based on 30 items from a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression models controlling for potential confounders. Overall, a modest, non-statistically significant, positive association was observed between CLL and E-DII scores (OR for a one-unit increase in E-DII: 1.05 (CI 95%: 0.99, 1.12),
-value = 0.09 and by tertiles: OR
: 1.20 (CI 95%: 0.90, 1.59); OR
: 1.21 (CI 95%: 0.90, 1.62),
trend = 0.21). These results were independent from disease severity (
het: 0.70), time from diagnosis (
het: 0.67) and CLL treatment received (
het: 0.56). No interactions were detected. In conclusion, the consumption of a diet with high pro-inflammatory components was not significantly associated with CLL. Changes towards a more pro-inflammatory dietary pattern in younger generations not included here warrant future research.
Cancer rates increase with age, and older cancer survivors have unique medical care needs, making assessment of health status and identification of appropriate supportive resources key to delivery of ...optimal cancer care. Comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) help determine an older person's functional capabilities as cancer care providers plan treatment and follow-up care
Despite its proven utility, research on implementation of CGA is lacking.
Guided by a qualitative description approach and through interviews with primary care providers and oncologists, our goal was to better understand barriers and facilitators of CGA use and identify training and support needs for implementation. Participants were identified through Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network partner listservs and a national cancer and aging organization. Potential interviewees, contacted via email, were provided with a description of the study purpose. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed
by a professional transcription service. The interview guide explored providers' knowledge and use of CGAs. For codebook development, three representative transcripts were independently reviewed and coded by four team members. The interpretive process involved reflecting, transcribing, coding, and searching for and identifying themes.
Providers shared that, while it would be ideal to administer CGAs with all new patients, they were not always able to do this. Instead, they used brief screening tools or portions of CGAs, or both. There was variability in how CGA domains were assessed; however, all considered CGAs useful and they communicated with patients about their benefits. Identified facilitators of implementation included having clinic champions, an interdisciplinary care team to assist with implementation and referrals for intervention, and institutional resources and buy-in. Barriers noted included limited staff capacity and competing demands on time, provider inexperience, and misaligned institutional priorities.
Findings can guide solutions for improving the broader and more systematic use of CGAs in the care of older cancer patients. Uptake of processes like CGA to better identify those at risk of poor outcomes and intervening early to modify treatments are critical to maximize the health of the growing population of older cancer survivors living through and beyond their disease.
We are an interdisciplinary group of colleagues dedicated to partner engagement and team science. This influences our academic work, informs our research mentorship and capacity-building initiatives ...with junior scholars, conditions how we communicate with individuals outside of our disciplines, and makes lifelong learning a priority for ourselves and our trainees. Using the analogy of a seven-layer cake, this paper describes our capacity-building approach to develop, engage, and sustain research teams in a manner that aligns with health and risk communication principles. While preparing for a pandemic and engaging in team-based academic research may seem like apples and oranges, they both require the same key component throughout the process that we must encourage in our mentorship practices - effective communication. We provide concrete examples from our experiences on research teams that span decades and institutions.
Diet and inflammation may contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the association between proinflammatory diet, as ...estimated by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), and the likelihood of developing MS or other demyelinating autoimmune diseases. A systematic search was performed of search engines and databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Embase) to identify relevant studies before 10th June 2023. The search identified 182 potential studies, from which 39 full-text articles were screened for relevance. Five articles with case–control design (n = 4,322, intervention group: 1714; control group: 2608) met the study inclusion criteria. The exposure variable was DII, with studies using two distinct models: quartile-based comparisons of DII and assessment of continuous DII. The meta-analysis of high versus low quartiles of DII with four effect sizes showed a significant association with MS/demyelinating autoimmune disease likelihood, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16, 9.10). The meta-analysis of four studies with DII fit as a continuous variable showed a 31% increased likelihood of MS per unit increment; which was not statistically significant at the nominal alpha equals 0.05 (OR 1.31; 95% CI 0.95, 1.81). In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence of a positive association between higher DII scores with the likelihood of developing MS, highlighting that diet-induced inflammation could play a role in MS or other demyelinating autoimmune diseases risk.
Clock genes are expressed in a self-perpetuating, circadian pattern in virtually every tissue including the human gastrointestinal tract. They coordinate cellular processes critical for tumor ...development, including cell proliferation, DNA damage response and apoptosis. Circadian rhythm disturbances have been associated with an increased risk for colon cancer and other cancers. This mechanism has not been elucidated, yet may involve dysregulation of the 'period' (PER) clock genes, which have tumor suppressor properties. A variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the PERIOD3 (PER3) gene has been associated with sleep disorders, differences in diurnal hormone secretion, and increased premenopausal breast cancer risk. Susceptibility related to PER3 has not been examined in conjunction with adenomatous polyps. This exploratory case-control study was the first to test the hypothesis that the 5-repeat PER3 VNTR sequence is associated with increased odds of adenoma formation. Information on demographics, medical history, occupation and lifestyle was collected prior to colonoscopy. Cases (n=49) were individuals with at least one histopathologically confirmed adenoma. Controls (n=97) included patients with normal findings or hyperplastic polyps not requiring enhanced surveillance. Unconditional multiple logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), after adjusting for potential confounding. Adenomas were detected in 34% of participants. Cases were more likely to possess the 5-repeat PER3 genotype relative to controls (4/5 OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.9-4.8; 5/5 OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.4-18.1; 4/5+5/5 OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.7-5.4). Examination of the Oncomine microarray database indicated lower PERIOD gene expression in adenomas relative to adjacent normal tissue. Results suggest a need for follow-up in a larger sample.
Abstract Purpose To test the hypothesis that the pattern of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) change in men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer (PrCA) differs from the pattern evident in men ...diagnosed with low-risk PrCA or those with no evidence of PrCA. Methods A retrospective cohort study from which PSA measures were taken before PrCA diagnosis from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Data were fitted using a nonlinear regression model to estimate the adjusted absolute and relative (%) change of PSA. Results Data on 20,888 men with an average age of 61.61 years were included in the analysis. Of these, the 324 (1.55%) diagnosed with high-risk PrCA had a steeper and earlier transition into an exponential pattern of PSA change than the 1368 men diagnosed with low-risk cancer. At 1 year before diagnosis and/or exit, the average absolute PSA rates were 0.05 ng/mL/year (0.05–0.05), 0.59 (0.52–0.66), and 2.60 (2.11–3.09) for men with no evidence of PrCA, men with low-risk PrCA and those with high-risk PrCA, respectively. Conclusions The pattern of PSA change with time was significantly different for men who develop high-risk PrCA from those diagnosed with low-risk PrCA. Further research is required to validate this method and its utilization in PrCA screening.
Police officers are required to work irregular hours, which induces stress, fatigue, and sleep disruption, and they have higher rates of chronic disease and mortality. Cortisol is a well-known ..."stress hormone" produced via activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. An abnormal secretion pattern has been associated with immune system dysregulation and may serve as an early indicator of disease risk. This study examined the effects of long- and short-term shiftwork on the cortisol awakening response among officers (n = 68) in the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) pilot study (2001-2003). The time each officer spent on day (start time: 04:00-11:59 h), afternoon (12:00-19:59 h), or night (20:00-03:59 h) shifts was summarized from 1994 to examination date to characterize long-term (mean: 14 ± 9 yrs) and short-term (3, 5, 7, or 14 days prior to participation) shiftwork exposures. The cortisol awakening response was characterized by summarizing the area under the curve (AUC) for samples collected on first awakening, and at 15-, 30-, and 45-min intervals after waking. Data were collected on a scheduled training or off day. The cortisol AUC with respect to ground (AUCG) summarized total cortisol output after waking, and the cortisol AUC with respect to increase (AUCI) characterized the waking cortisol response. Officers also completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Waking cortisol AUC values were lower among officers working short-term night or afternoon shifts than day shifts, with maximal differences occurring after 5 days of shiftwork. The duration of long-term shiftwork was not associated with the cortisol awakening response, although values were attenuated among officers with more career shift changes. (Author correspondence: burch@mailbox.sc.edu)
Adequate nutrition, including intake of dietary calcium and vitamin D, is important to maintain bone health. Evidence suggests that a deficiency in micronutrients may contribute to bone loss during ...aging and exert generalized effects on chronic inflammation. Recently, the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was developed to assess the inflammatory potential of individual diets. Our aim was to evaluate the DII in a representative sample and verify its association with low-impact fractures.
Individuals from The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS) database had their DII calculated. BRAZOS is an important cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out with a representative sample of men and women ≥40 years old. The research was conducted through in-home interviews administered by a trained team. Nutrition Database System for Research (NDSR) software was used to analyze data on the intake of nutrients, which were employed to calculate the DII using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS®) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS®) to assess its association with low-impact fractures.
A total of 2269 subjects had their DII score calculated using information from 24-h recall data. Males had lower DII than females (DII = 1.12 ± 1.04 vs DII = 1.24 ± 0.99, p = 0.012). Women taking statins had lower DII (DII = 0.65 ± 1.14 vs DII + 1.26 ± 0.98, p = 0.002), indicating a greater potential for diet-related anti-inflammatory effects.
Our findings suggest that women might have a pro-inflammatory diet pattern compared to men. However, we did not find any association between DII scores and low-impact fractures.
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