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Abstract: We investigated the validity of the child-feeding questionnaire (CFQ) among parents of adolescents. The original CFQ was developed to assess perceptions of obesity-proneness and child-feeding practices among parents of 2- to 11-year-old children. We modified the CFQ to make it applicable to parents of adolescents and added one item on monitoring sugared beverages. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using the latent variable approach. Factor scores were related to adolescent body mass index percentiles (BMI%) using structural equation modeling. The modified CFQ was completed by 260 parent/guardians (mean age 39.8 years; 92% female; 55% Black, 35% White, 10% Other). The original published measurement model was fit to our sample and yielded an acceptable fit (CFI=0.95, TLI=0.93, RMSEA=0.05). Adding the extra variables decreased the fit; however, minor modifications improved the fit without changing the factor structure (CFI=0.95, TLI=0.94, RMSEA=0.05). Cronbach''s alphas for the subscales ranged from 0.60 to 0.88. The factors, parental perceptions of child weight, concern for child weight, monitoring and restriction were positively associated, and pressure to eat was inversely associated with adolescent BMI%. In conclusion, the psychometric properties of the modified CFQ tested among parents of a multi-ethnic adolescent sample were similar to those of the original CFQ. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim Approximately 50% of African American smokers are light smokers (smoke ≤ 10 cigarettes a day). The prevalence of light smoking in the United States is increasing, yet there has not been a single smoking cessation clinical trial targeting light smokers. The purpose of this 2 × 2 factorial, randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of nicotine gum (2 mg versus placebo) and counseling (motivational interviewing versus health education) for African American light smokers. Design Participants were assigned randomly to one of four study arms: 2 mg nicotine gum plus health education (HE); 2 mg nicotine gum plus motivational interviewing (MI); placebo gum plus HE; and placebo gum plus MI. Participants and setting A total of 755 African American light smokers (66% female, mean age = 45) were enrolled at a community health center over a 16-month period. Intervention and measurements Participants received an 8-week supply of nicotine gum and six counseling sessions during the course of the 26-week study. Biochemical measures included expired carbon monoxide (CO) and serum and salivary cotinine. Findings Seven-day quit rates for nicotine gum were no better than for the placebo group (14.2% versus 11.1%, P = 0.232) at 6 months. However, a counseling effect emerged, with HE performing significantly better than MI (16.7% versus 8.5%, P < 0.001). These results were consistent across outcome time-points (weeks 1, 8, and 26). Conclusions Results highlight the potential positive impact of directive information and advice-oriented counseling on smoking cessation. Studies are needed to assess other interventions that may further improve quit rates among African American light smokers who are motivated to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the predictors of quitting among African American (AA) light smokers (<10 cigarettes per day) enrolled in a smoking cessation trial.Methods: Baseline variables were analyzed as potential predictors from a 2 x 2 cessation trial in which participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: nicotine gum plus health education (HE) counseling, nicotine gum plus motivational interviewing (MI) counseling, placebo gum plus HE counseling, or placebo gum plus MI counseling. Chi-square tests, 2 sample t-tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of cotinine (COT) verified abstinence at month 6.Results: In the final regression model, HE rather than MI counseling (odds ratio [OR]=2.26%, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.36 to 3.74), older age (OR=1.03%, 95% CI=1.01 to 1.06), and higher body mass index (OR=1.04%, 95% CI=1.01 to 1.07) significantly increased the likelihood of quitting, while female gender (OR=0.46%, 95% CI=0.28 to 0.76),Conclusions: Individual characteristics may decrease the likelihood of quitting; however, the provision of directive, advice-oriented counseling focused on the addictive nature of nicotine, health consequences of smoking, benefits of quitting, and development of a concrete quit plan may be an important and effective facilitator of quitting among AA light smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: This study sought to explore home food availability and common settings of food consumption as correlates of fruit, vegetable, and fat intake among a sample of non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white adolescents. Participants and Design: Adolescents (n=144 black, 84 white) and their parents completed a cross-sectional survey in an urban adolescent health clinic. The adolescent survey included screening measures for fruit, vegetable, and fat intake and items on frequency of eating meals with family, while watching television, and at three types of restaurants. Parents provided information on home availability of foods. Main Outcomes: Correlates of fruit, vegetable, and fat consumption. Statistical Analysis: Spearman correlations for associations among variables, t tests for mean comparisons, and multiple stepwise regression conducted separately for black and white adolescents. Results: In multiple regression, home availability was not significantly associated with fruit, vegetable, or fat intake except for fruit intake among white adolescents only. Use of non–fast-food restaurants was the strongest positive predictor of vegetable intake. For both black and white adolescents, fast-food and buffet restaurant use and eating while watching television were the strongest predictors of fat intake. Conclusions: Compared with restaurant use and eating while watching television, home availability had a relatively small impact on fruit, vegetable, and fat consumption for both black and white adolescents. Intervention programs on adolescent nutrition should target not just availability of healthful foods, but also ease of access, such as the preparation of fruits and vegetables so that they are flavorful and ready to eat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The profile of tetrodotoxin sensitive (TTX-S) and resistant (TTX-R) Na+ channels and their contribution to action potentials and firing patterns were studied in isolated small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Total TTX-R Na+ currents and Nav 1.8 mRNA were reduced in injured L5 DRG neurons 14 days after SNL. In contrast, TTX-R Na+currents and Nav 1.8 mRNA were upregulated in uninjured L4 DRG neurons after SNL. Voltage-dependent inactivation of TTX-R Na+ channels in these neurons was shifted to hyperpolarized potentials by 4 mV. Two types of neurons were identified in injured L5 DRG neurons after SNL. Type I neurons (57%) had significantly lower threshold but exhibited normal resting membrane potential (RMP) and action potential amplitude. Type II neurons (43%) had significantly smaller action potential amplitude but retained similar RMP and threshold to those from sham rats. None of the injured neurons could generate repetitive firing. In the presence of TTX, only 26% of injured neurons could generate action potentials that had smaller amplitude, higher threshold, and higher rheobase compared with sham rats. In contrast, action potentials and firing patterns in uninjured L4 DRG neurons after SNL, in the presence or absence of TTX, were not affected. These results suggest that TTX-R Na+ channels play important roles in regulating action potentials and firing patterns in small DRG neurons and that downregulation in injured neurons and upregulation in uninjured neurons confer differential roles in shaping electrogenesis, and perhaps pain transmission, in these neurons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although the overall prevalence of tobacco smoking in the United States is decreasing, the proportion of light smokers is increasing and is as high as 50% among some groups. There is growing evidence that light smokers experience significantly higher health risks compared to nonsmokers, and they are often unable to quit smoking on their own. The prevalence of light smoking differs among subpopulations in the US and is particularly common among adolescents, college students, pregnant women, and some ethnic minorities. Characteristics of light smokers in these subpopulations vary, as do the underlying reasons for smoking, barriers to cessation, and treatment issues. Unfortunately, the paucity of research to develop and test effective cessation aids is common across all groups of light smokers. Given the substantial portion of light smokers in these populations, development and dissemination of effective behavioral and pharmacological interventions for light smokers is likely to result in substantial smoking reduction rates in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the overall prevalence of tobacco smoking in the United States is decreasing, the proportion of light smokers is increasing and is as high as 50% among some groups. There is growing evidence that light smokers experience significantly higher health risks compared to nonsmokers, and they are often unable to quit smoking on their own. The prevalence of light smoking differs among subpopulations in the US and is particularly common among adolescents, college students, pregnant women, and some ethnic minorities. Characteristics of light smokers in these subpopulations vary, as do the underlying reasons for smoking, barriers to cessation, and treatment issues. Unfortunately, the paucity of research to develop and test effective cessation aids is common across all groups of light smokers. Given the substantial portion of light smokers in these populations, development and dissemination of effective behavioral and pharmacological interventions for light smokers is likely to result in substantial smoking reduction rates in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recruitment is often the rate-limiting step in conducting clinical trials among ethnic minorities. Little is known about participants who consent and enroll into a trial, but do not return for randomization. Why participants fail to return for randomization is largely unknown.Methods: We compared 287 enrolled African American smokers who did not return for randomization, to the 500 who returned and were randomized to participate in a clinical trial for smoking cessation in African Americans. Analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with not returning for randomization.Results: Univariate comparisons found the nonrandomized group to be significantly different from those randomized. Logistic regression showed younger age, less readiness to quit, having been proactively recruited, lacking a regular source of health care, believing that they will be smoking in 6 months, less church attendance, and a lower literacy level to be jointly related with not returning for randomization.Conclusions: African American participants who did not return for randomization into a clinical trial were different from those who did. Better understanding of these factors may allow researchers to target recruitment efforts resulting in enhanced accrual in clinical trials and increased efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Recruitment is often the rate-limiting step in conducting clinical trials among ethnic minorities. Little is known about participants who consent and enroll into a trial, but do not return for randomization. Why participants fail to return for randomization is largely unknown.METHODS: We compared 287 enrolled African American smokers who did not return for randomization, to the 500 who returned and were randomized to participate in a clinical trial for smoking cessation in African Americans. Analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with not returning for randomization.RESULTS: Univariate comparisons found the nonrandomized group to be significantly different from those randomized. Logistic regression showed younger age, less readiness to quit, having been proactively recruited, lacking a regular source of health care, believing that they will be smoking in 6 months, less church attendance, and a lower literacy level to be jointly related with not returning for randomization.CONCLUSIONS: African American participants who did not return for randomization into a clinical trial were different from those who did. Better understanding of these factors may allow researchers to target recruitment efforts resulting in enhanced accrual in clinical trials and increased efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: National data indicate a higher prevalence of obesity among American Indian (AI) populations and greater disparity of morbidity and mortality among younger age groups compared with other ethnicities. Diet and physical activity are important obesity preventive behaviors, but no published data exist that describe these behaviors in relation to obesity in AI young adults at tribal colleges. Study purposes were to: (1) identify fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity practices of AI young adults from three U.S. tribal colleges according to BMI categories; (2) identify the accuracy of body weight perceptions; and (3) identify predictor variables for weight misperception.Methods: In this observational study during 2011-2014, a total of 1,256 participants were recruited from three participating U.S. tribal colleges to complete an online survey addressing issues related to diet, physical activity, and weight perception. Reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI categories, and differences between BMI categories were examined. Gender differences related to accuracy of weight perception by BMI categories were also examined. Analyses were conducted in 2016.Results: Based on self-reported height and weight, 68% of the sample was overweight or obese (BMI ≥25) and mean BMI was 28.9 (SD=6.9). Most did not meet recommendations for fruit intake (78.7%), vegetable intake (96.6%), or physical activity (65.6%). More than half (53.7%%) who were overweight/obese underestimated their weight category. Men more often underestimated their weight category (54.2%) than women (35.1%).Conclusions: Interventions are needed to improve weight-related lifestyle behaviors of AI tribal college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]