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LYNCH B.M., DUNSTAN D.W., WINKLER E., HEALY G.N., EAKIN E. & OWEN N. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care Physical activity is well-established on the cancer survivorship research agenda, but prostate cancer survivors remain an understudied population. Additionally, the unique relationships between sedentary time and health outcomes have not yet been considered in this group. We examined the associations of accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sedentary time with waist circumference in 103 prostate cancer survivors from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. Participants wore an Actigraph accelerometer for 7 days, and activity levels were summarised as moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity (accelerometer counts/minute ≥1952), light-intensity activity (counts/minute 100-1951) and sedentary time (counts/minute < 100). Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity was inversely associated with waist circumference ( β=−6.728, 95% CI: −12.267, −1.190, P= 0.020), equating to a top versus bottom quartile difference of 13.7 cm. No discernable relationship existed between light-intensity activity or sedentary time and adiposity. This is the first study to objectively measure the activity levels of prostate cancer survivors. Increasing moderate-to-vigorous activity may assist this population with weight management. More research into the relationships of light-intensity physical activity and sedentary behaviour with health outcomes among prostate cancer survivors is warranted, given the strong relationships seen in the broader population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As restrictions on abortion increase nationwide, it is critical to ensure ongoing access to abortion care throughout pregnancy. People may seek abortions later in pregnancy as a result of financial or legal barriers that delay care or because of changing circumstances, such as the status of their partner, the health of other children, employment, or a new fetal diagnosis. New York State has been a beacon for abortion access since 1970. Yet, after Roe v Wade was decided, New York State abortion law was not in compliance with federal law, and risk-averse medical institutions hesitated to provide later abortions, forcing patients out of state for care. After years of advocacy, the Reproductive Health Act was passed in 2019. Clinicians and advocates collaborated to translate policy into expanded practice at NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the United States. NYC Health + Hospitals conducted an internal review, identified barriers to abortion care, and addressed these through improvements in public and internal communication, strengthening of procedural skills, and a better referral system. As a result, abortion services have become visible and the system's capacity and gestational age limit have expanded. The example of NYC Health + Hospitals is an instructive model to ensure that abortion care is provided to the most vulnerable patients, including those who need care later in pregnancy. Given the ongoing threat to reproductive rights, this example of expanded access is particularly timely., Competing Interests: Financial Disclosure The authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

To determine prevalence of, seroprevalence of, and potential exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among a cohort of evacuees returning to the United States from Wuhan, China, in January 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional study of quarantined evacuees from 1 repatriation flight. Overall, 193 of 195 evacuees completed exposure surveys and submitted upper respiratory or serum specimens or both at arrival in the United States. Nearly all evacuees had taken preventive measures to limit potential exposure while in Wuhan, and none had detectable SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory tract specimens, suggesting the absence of asymptomatic respiratory shedding among this group at the time of testing. Evidence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 1 evacuee, who reported experiencing no symptoms or high-risk exposures in the previous 2 months. These findings demonstrated that this group of evacuees posed a low risk of introducing SARS-CoV-2 to the United States.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the etiologic agent associated with coronavirus disease, which emerged in late 2019. In response, we developed a diagnostic panel consisting of 3 real-time reverse transcription PCR assays targeting the nucleocapsid gene and evaluated use of these assays for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection. All assays demonstrated a linear dynamic range of 8 orders of magnitude and an analytical limit of detection of 5 copies/reaction of quantified RNA transcripts and 1 x 10 -1.5 50% tissue culture infectious dose/mL of cell-cultured SARS-CoV-2. All assays performed comparably with nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal secretions, serum, and fecal specimens spiked with cultured virus. We obtained no false-positive amplifications with other human coronaviruses or common respiratory pathogens. Results from all 3 assays were highly correlated during clinical specimen testing. On February 4, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to enable emergency use of this panel.

Objectives Optimal early childhood development is crucial for promoting positive child health outcomes. Community programs supporting child development are available throughout the United States but general parental perceptions of such programs are not well understood. This study aimed to examine parental perceptions of community programs for early childhood development in a semi-urban city of the US. Methods Data were collected from focus groups (n = 4) composed of English-fluent parents from the local community with at least one child aged 0-5 years. After generation of verbatim transcripts, data were analyzed by two independent coders in order to identify themes. Results Parental perceptions were categorized into four areas: (1) Utilization of community services, (2) Helpful aspects of community services, (3) Negative aspects of community services and (4) Parental recommendations for improved resource utilization. Helpful aspects identified included social and economic support, provision of parental education, and developmental screening and medical support. Negative aspects included utilization of standardized assessment tools, awareness of agencies and resources, and access to services. In order to improve resource utilization, parents suggested improved communication with parents and the child's medical home, transparency, and translation of program information into other languages. Conclusions For Practice Overall, participants felt that community programs that support early childhood development and parenting were helpful. However, community agencies can improve on communication with parents and medical providers as well as translation of program information.

In this randomized trial, the authors compared the instructional quality of instructor candidates trained in instructional methods through an Internet-based versus a traditional classroom-led version of the American Heart Association Core Instructor Course. The self-guided, Internet-based group had significantly higher posttest scores than did the traditional instructor-led group (although not when adjusted for pretest scores). The Internet-based group scores changed from 54% to 67%, exceeding the a priori definition of 8% as a minimally practically significant improvement (instructor-led group scores changed from 49% to 53%). The Internet-based course appeared to be a suitable alternative to the traditional course.

Objective: Increased long-term survival rates have led to a greater focus on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of prostate cancer survivors. This study assessed the motivations of prostate cancer survivors for disclosing their diagnosis and treatment to close others, and their perceptions of their own and others' responses to the disclosure., Methods: Prostate cancer survivors (N=35) who were 24-36 months post-treatment for localized disease completed a semi-structured telephone interview. Open-ended questions concerning disclosure of men's diagnosis and treatment and their perceptions of their own and others' reactions to the disclosure were included., Results: Regarding men's motivations for disclosing their diagnosis and treatment, men reported that they were seeking social support (SS) and that others had a 'right to know.' Further, the receipt of emotional support and feeling a sense of positive emotions were common following disclosure about their diagnosis and treatment. Participants reported continuing to discuss their treatment side effects 2-3 years post-treatment., Conclusion: Prostate cancer survivors reported an overall positive and supportive response following the disclosure of their diagnosis and treatment. Further examination of the relationship between SS and HRQL will be necessary to identify interventions to enhance the well-being of this growing population of survivors., Practice Implications: Providers need to be aware of the extent and long-term nature of the side effects following treatment for prostate cancer. If providers encourage men to talk about their diagnosis, treatment, and side effects, providers may better understand men's experience with the disease, and men may be more likely to accept these commonly experienced changes, as well as seek treatment for them. These efforts may result in improved quality of life for survivors of prostate cancer., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This report describes spectator recall of SunSmart skin cancer prevention advertising displayed on the Brisbane Cricket Ground scoreboard at intermittent periods throughout the 1999/2000 cricket season and the sun-protective behaviors of these spectators. Two hundred and thirty-one spectators were asked a series of five questions about their recall of SunSmart advertising and their present sunscreen usage. Respondents' sun-protective behavior observed at the time of questioning was also recorded. The SunSmart advertising was seen by 15.6% of respondents. Recall of the SunSmart advertising was higher amongst spectators observed to have high levels of sun protection than amongst spectators with low levels of sun protection. Females were more likely than males to recall the SunSmart advertising. The efficacy of health-promoting advertising in the sports setting has yet to be established and therefore results cannot be compared against accepted benchmarks. This study contributes baseline data that will enable such comparisons to be made. The increase in recent years of health-promoting advertising at sports events, often as part of a comprehensive sponsorship program, necessitates the need for further research in this area.

Physicians and physician groups that participate in incentive plans offered by Medicare and Medicaid HMOs may be affected by a change in the rules pertaining to such plans. The change, which became effective January 1, 1997, sets a threshold percentage for substantial risk sharing for referral services; obliges HMOs to conduct annual enrollment surveys; and requires HMOs that contract with physician groups that serve 25,000 or fewer patients to obtain stop-loss protection. In addition to these rule changes, Medicare and Medicaid HMOs are now required to disclose information about physician incentive plans to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who request it and report changes in incentive plans to HCFA at least 45 days before they take effect. Physicians should familiarize themselves with the changes pertaining to incentive plans to ensure that the Medicare and Medicaid HMOs with which they contract are in compliance and that they do not assume an excessive degree of financial risk for referral services.