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Although group-level evidence supports the use of behavioral interventions to enhance cognitive and emotional well-being, different interventions may be more acceptable or effective for different people. N-of-1 trials are single-patient crossover trials designed to estimate treatment effectiveness in a single patient. We designed a mobile health (mHealth) supported N-of-1 trial platform permitting US adult volunteers to conduct their own 30-day self-experiments testing a behavioral intervention of their choice (deep breathing/meditation, gratitude journaling, physical activity, or helpful acts) on daily measurements of stress, focus, and happiness. We assessed uptake of the study, perceived usability of the N-of-1 trial system, and influence of results (both reported and perceived) on enthusiasm for the chosen intervention (defined as perceived helpfulness of the chosen intervention and intent to continue performing the intervention in the future). Following a social media and public radio campaign, 447 adults enrolled in the study and 259 completed the post-study survey. Most were highly educated. Perceived system usability was high (mean scale score 4.35/5.0, SD 0.57). Enthusiasm for the chosen intervention was greater among those with higher pre-study expectations that the activity would be beneficial for them (p < 0.001), those who obtained more positive N-of-1 results (as directly reported to participants) (p < 0.001), and those who interpreted their N-of-1 study results more positively (p < 0.001). However, reported results did not significantly influence enthusiasm after controlling for participants' interpretations. The interaction between pre-study expectation of benefit and N-of-1 results interpretation was significant (p < 0.001), such that those with the lowest starting pre-study expectations reported greater intervention enthusiasm when provided with results they interpreted as positive. We conclude that N-of-1 behavioral trials can be appealing to a broad albeit highly educated and mostly female audience, that usability was acceptable, and that N-of-1 behavioral trials may have the greatest utility among those most skeptical of the intervention to begin with.

Background: There is limited research on how fatalism influences risky health behaviors that are linked to higher cancer risks. This study investigates the relationship between risky health behaviors (tobacco smoking, electronic cigarette use, and heavy alcohol drinking) and fatalistic cancer beliefs while controlling for health care–related self-efficacy and sociodemographic and clinical factors among adults without a history of cancer. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 Cycle 4. The study sample included noninstitutionalized adults (aged ≥18 years without a self-reported cancer history (n = 2464). The outcome variable was risky health behaviors comprised of tobacco smoking, electronic cigarette use, and heavy alcohol drinking. We combined these 3 risky behaviors into a binary variable (0, not having risky health behavior; 1, having ≥1 risky health behavior). The key independent variable was cancer fatalistic beliefs. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 50% of the sample were women, 64.7% of participants self-identified as non-Hispanic White, 16.4% as Hispanic, and 10.6% as non-Hispanic Black. About 43% of participants reported having at least one risky health behavior. While holding all other factors constant, each unit increase in cancer fatalism score was associated with 30.0% higher odds of increased risky health behaviors (odds ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.62, P =.021) among adults without a history of cancer. Conclusion: By understanding the relationship between cancer-related fatalistic beliefs and risky health behaviors, cancer prevention outreach programs can be personalized to suit the unique needs of specific individuals and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer screening (LCS) use among adults with disabilities has not been well characterized. We estimated the prevalence of LCS use by disability types and counts and investigated the association between disability counts and LCS utilization among LCS‐eligible adults. Methods: We used cross‐sectional data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Lung Cancer Screening Module. Based on the 2013 US Preventive Services Task Force criteria for LCS, the sample included 4407 LCS‐eligible adults, aged 55–79 years, with current or former (quit smoking in the past 15 years) tobacco use history of at least 30 pack‐years. Disability types included limitations in hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self‐care, and independent living. We also categorized respondents by number of disabilities (no disability, 1 disability, 2 disabilities, 3+ disabilities). We utilized descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine the association between disability counts and the receipt of LCS (yes/no) in the past 12 months. Results: In 2019, 16.4% of LCS‐eligible adults were screened for lung cancer. Overall, 49.6% of participants had no disability, and 14.5% had >3 disabilities. Mobility was the most prevalent disability type (35.4%), followed by cognitive impairment (18.2%) and hearing (16.6%). LCS was more prevalent in adults with disability in self‐care versus no disability in self‐care (24.0% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.01), disability in independent living versus no disability in independent living (22.2% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.02), and cognitive impairment disability versus no cognitive impairment (22.1% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.03). The prevalence rates of LCS among groups of LCS‐eligible adults with different disability counts were not significant (p = 0.17). Conclusions: Despite the lack of clinical guidelines on LCS among individuals with disabilities, some individuals with disabilities are being screened for lung cancer. Future research should address this knowledge gap to determine clinical benefit versus harm of LCS among those with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Existing evidence shows that people who report Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are more likely to exhibit health-risk behaviors. However, limited research on this topic pertains to oncology population. We aim to address this knowledge gap by estimating the prevalence of ACEs and investigating their association with self-reported health-risk behaviors among adult cancer survivors living in the U.S. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using cross-sectional data from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE module. We included 4,126 adults, aged ≥18 years, with a history of cancer. The outcome variable was self-reported health-risk behaviors, which included cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, and binge alcohol drinking. Self-reported ACEs history was the primary independent variable, comprised of 11 questions regarding child abuse and dysfunctional households. We conducted descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression to describe the relationship between the ACE history and health-risk behaviors. Results: Overall, 84.2% of cancer survivors self-reported as White, 58.4% were women, and 76.6% were aged 65+ years. Nearly two-thirds of the sample (63.2%) self-reported at least one ACE (prior to age 18) and 21.7% engaged in ≥1 health-risk-behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, binge alcohol drinking, or e-cigarette use. Experiencing ≥3 ACEs was associated with 145% increased odds of reporting at least one health-risk behavior (OR = 2.45, 95% CI [1.78–3.38]) when compared to those without a history of ACEs. Besides, survivors who were younger, divorced, less educated, and had low income had higher odds of reporting at least one health-risk behavior. Conclusions: Overall, a history of ACEs is associated with health-risk behaviors. These all can negatively impact cancer survivors' overall well-being. Early screening for ACE during oncologic visits can be a protective measure for preventing health-risk behaviors among cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An eight-session interdisciplinary laboratory curriculum has been designed using a suite of analytical chemistry techniques to study biomaterials derived from an inexpensive source such as the tomato fruit. A logical progression of research-inspired laboratory modules serves to "tour" the macroscopic characteristics of the fruit and the submicroscopic properties of its constituent cuticular biopolymers by atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods at increasingly detailed molecular levels. The modular curriculum can be tailored for specialty undergraduate courses or summer high school workshops. By applying analytical tools to investigate biopolymers, making connections between molecular and microscale structure, and linking both structural regimes to the functional properties of natural polymers, groundwork is established for further student investigations at the interface of chemistry with biology or chemical engineering. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

There are few patient- or public-facing tools for longitudinal and comprehensive symptom assessment, especially when faced with an uncharacterized condition such as COVID-19 or a chronic condition in which symptoms have not been adequately specified. To address this need, we developed the Symptom Discovery mobile application and tested its feasibility with the US public early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there were challenges, results showed feasibility and acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) alone or in combination with other drugs is the main basis of chemotherapeutic treatment in colorectal cancer although patients with microsatellite instability generally show resistance to 5-FU treatment. The present investigation is focussed on the mechanistic insight of a pure herbal carbazole alkaloid, mahanine, as a single or in combination with 5-FU in colon cancer. We demonstrated that mahanine-induced apoptosis involved reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated nuclear accumulation of PTEN and its interaction with p53/p73. Mahanine and 5-FU in combination exerted synergistic inhibitory effect on cell viability. This combination also enhanced ROS production, increased tumour suppressor proteins and suppressed chemo-migration. Taken together, our results revealed that mahanine can be a potential chemotherapeutic agent with efficacy to reduce the concentration of toxic 5-FU in colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports that researchers at two New York universities have designed an eight-session interdisciplinary laboratory curriculum to study biomaterials from an inexpensive source like the tomato fruit. The course uses a suite of analytical chemistry techniques including UV-vis spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The article also explains the rationale behind the curriculum as well as its different laboratory modules.

Background: Factors like dehydration and respiratory infection pose risks to infant survival in the critical first 28 days of life. UNICEF reported the 2016 global rate of neonatal death was 19 per 1000 live births. Typically, women manage multiple household and family responsibilities in addition to care of a new baby and often feel overwhelmed by the demands of new motherhood. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that support to new mothers be an ongoing process, rather than a single postnatal visit. However, in low-resource environments such as developing countries and remote communities, access to ongoing support for breastfeeding, health education, and infant check-ups from a professional health care provider or health worker may not be possible. Numerous examples exist of successful mobile health interventions in low-resource environments. However, existing mobile apps for newborn health often focus on single issues that are disconnected from health care providers. There is a need to comprehensively address multiple newborn health issues, with evidence-based and personalized interventions that support new mothers. Objective: This study aims to design and build a prototype of a mobile app to comprehensively identify early signs and symptoms of common newborn illnesses, access relevant evidence-based health information, and support decision-making with the overall goal of enhancing new mothers' ability to improve newborn health outcomes. The prototype will be used in a future pragmatic trial. Methods: An interdisciplinary and international team including nursing, medicine, dietary, health informatics, and public health collaborated on this study. First, a literature review was conducted to supplement the team's existing knowledge on common neonatal problems, generate the evidence base for appropriate in-home interventions, and identify best practices in breast feeding. Second, a review of current mobile apps available in neonatal risks was conducted to assess gaps with attention to comprehensiveness of health issues, interface/integration with clinical decision support systems, and application of user-centered design and state of the art design principles and standards. Results: Our app, First 28, works offline for easy accessibility and displays evidence-based best practices and guidelines, personalized for mothers based on risks. Using a tailored symptoms list and computerized data entry to gather information, the mobile app performs analysis using a decision table algorithm to identify the risks the baby might encounter and suggests best solutions based on the outcomes. Mothers can submit images or crucial information about their baby and track growth through the app's data visualization tools. Data is stored on a FHIR server for integration with health care services and electronic health records. Future plans include automated data and image analytics of the uploaded information to alert health care providers of any abnormalities that may provide critical early evidence for potential neonatal risks and complications. Conclusions: First 28 empowers mothers with the knowledge and resources to maintain proper breastfeeding techniques, assess newborn health risks, and improve health outcomes within the crucial first 28 days of life. In the next phase, the prototype will be evaluated by users with a plan to utilize it in a pragmatic trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]