Perspectives of African American women about barriers to breast cancer prevention and screening practices: A qualitative study

Breast cancer is a severe illness that often has fatal consequences. Adherence to the recommendations for breast cancer surveillance is poorly practiced among African American women. The study aimed to identify barriers to preventative screening for breast cancer among African American women (AAW) using a qualitative research design. We explored the influence of personal barriers,stereotypes, socioeconomic status, culture, attitudes, and beliefs on African American women's behavior regarding breast cancer screening. Fourteen African American women were interviewed. Data analysis was completed with Interpretative Phenomenology Approach (IPA). This study's findings demonstrated that African American women perceived the barriers to breast cancer screening include lack of information about available resources, belief that screening cannot change genetic predisposition, embarrassment from exposing the breast for a mammogram, fear of mammograms, and fear of a positive result. These findings may be used to develop interventions to increase AAW's participation in breast cancer screening. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[7]: 22-28).

Exploring the Sexuality of African American Older Women.

Aims: To identify sexually-related themes of the sexuality of older African American women. Study Design: Mixed method. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Psychology, California State University Northridge, between July 2009 and June 2011. Methodology: We included 13 African American older women (57 to 82 years of age), 11 of whom self-identified as heterosexual, one as bisexual, and one as lesbian. We used a semi-structured interview protocol through which we explored some aspects of the respondents’ sexuality (assessed at a superficial level, to be as tactful as possible). Moreover, we collected information on demographics and self-rated physical health. Two co-authors served as coders, and used content analysis to identify the most salient sexuality themes. Results: Emerging themes were (in order from most to least endorsed): having sexual desire (often unfulfilled); engaging in less sexual activity in older age; experiencing changes in one’s sexual life as a function of absence of a spouse; and exercising control over how one’s sexual life is conducted. Motivated by the paucity of our sexuality data, we have also provided suggestions to scholars interested in conducting more in-depth further research on this topic with older African American women. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the common notion that older women are asexual is a myth, while lack of a suitable sexual partner is a problem reported by many African American older women who would otherwise enjoy sexual interaction.

The Efficacy of Intravenous versus Subcutaneous Recombinant Erythropoietin in Obese African-African Patients in a Southeast U.S. Dialysis Cohort.

Aims: To correct renal anemia, subcutaneous (SC) route of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) administration has been associated with increased efficacy and decreased dose requirements, when compared with intravenous (IV) route. The effect of obesity as a potential modifier during rhuEPO administration has not been well explored. Study Design: Single-center, Longitudinal Cohort Study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Mississippi Medical Center Outpatient Dialysis Unit, between February and November of 2009. Methodology: We performed IV to SC rhuEPO conversion for 86 in-center dialysis patients and, following a six-month equilibration period, we monitored outcomes over a period of three months. We obtained baseline demographic parameters, calculated Body Mass Index (BMI) and monitored iron saturation, ferritin, hemoglobin (Hgb) along with rhuEPO requirements. Patients were divided into 3 categories based on BMI [<25 (n=27), 25-35 (n=38), >35 (n= 21) kg/m2]. Results are reported either as percents, means with SD or median with 25-75% interquartile range, as appropriate. Results: The cohort was all African-American, 48.8% male, aged 54.7 (13.3) years and BMI calculated at 29.9 (7.4) kg/m2. Baseline iron saturation was 24 (10.6)%, ferritin measured 641 (277) ng/mL. Hgb remained unchanged during the observation period: 11.1 (1.3) vs. 11.2 (1.3) gm/dL. Initial rhuEPO weekly dose for the entire cohort was 19,729 (17,448) Units/week (U/week); final dose 17,482 (14,860) U/week, with close correlation between initial and final doses (r: 0.653, P<0.0001). Weekly rhuEPO dose remained virtually unchanged in BMI categories 1 and 2 [13,927 (10,938) vs. 13,297 (10,247) U/week; 20,684 (15,788) vs. 20,997 (17.917)] (P=NS for both) but decreased in the category 3: 25,459 (24,403) vs. 16,444 (12,749) (P=0.081). However, BMI had no independent effect in linear regression modeling with multiple covariates (age, BMI, iron saturation, ferritin) included. Conclusion: Obesity may affect relative efficacy of rhuEPO conversion; additional studies may be needed.

An evaluation of treatment strategies for head and neck cancer in an African American population / Evaluación de las estrategias del tratamiento para el cáncer de cabeza y cuello en una población afroamericana

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated treatment strategies for head and neck cancers in a predominantly African American population. METHODS: Data were collected utilizing medical records and the tumour registry at the Howard University Hospital. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis predicted the hazard of death. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that the main treatment strategy was radiation combined with platinum for all stages except stage I. Cetuximab was employed in only 1% of cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed stage II patients had poorer outcome than stage IV while Cox proportional hazard regression analysis (p = 0.4662) showed that stage I had a significantly lower hazard of death than stage IV (HR = 0.314; p = 0.0272). Contributory factors included tobacco and alcohol but body mass index (BMI) was inversely related to hazard of death. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in survival using any treatment modality for African Americans.

OBJETIVO: Este estudio evaluó las estrategias del tratamiento para los cánceres de cabeza y cuello en una población predominantemente afroamericana. MÉTODOS: Se recopilaron datos utilizando historias clínicas y el registro de tumores del Hospital Universitario Howard. Se utilizó el método de Kaplan-Meier para el análisis de supervivencia, y el análisis de regresión de riesgos proporcionales de Cox para predecir los riesgos de muerte. RESULTADOS: El análisis reveló que la estrategia principal para el tratamiento fue la radiación combinada con platino para todas las etapas, excepto la etapa I. Se empleó cetuximab en sólo 1% de los casos. El análisis de Kaplan-Meier reveló que los pacientes de etapa II tuvieron resultados más pobres que los de la etapa IV, mientras que el análisis de regresión de riesgos proporcionales de Cox (p = 0.4662) mostró que la etapa I tenía un riesgo de muerte significativamente menor que la etapa IV (HR = 0.314; p = 0.0272). Los factores contribuyentes incluyeron el tabaco y el alcohol, pero el índice de masa (IMC) fue inversamente proporcional al riesgo de muerte. CONCLUSIONES: No hubo diferencias en la supervivencia con ninguna de las modalidades de tratamiento para los afroamericanos.

Distribución de tres polimorfismos del gen TSLP en población afrodescendiente de San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia / Distribution of three polymorphisms of theTSLPgen in African-descendent population from San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia

Introducción. La linfopoyetina tímica del estroma ( Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin, TSLP) se ha vinculado como un gen de propensión al desarrollo de enfermedades alérgicas. Se sabe que la población de Cartagena es una mezcla triétnica, en la cual el componente de herencia africana se asoció con el riesgo de asma y altos niveles séricos de IgE total. Este componente provino de esclavos africanos que lograron organizarse en "palenques", uno de ellos es San Basilio de Palenque, en la Costa Caribe colombiana. Objetivo. Determinar la distribución de los polimorfismos de nucleótido simple ( Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, SNP) rs1837253, rs17551370 y rs2289276 del gen TSLP en individuos afrodescendientes de San Basilio de Palenque. Materiales y métodos. Mediante PCR en tiempo real y sondas TaqMan SNP Genotyping ™ se genotipificaron estos SNP en 80 individuos afrodescendientes entre los 5 y 18 años de edad. Resultados. El alelo de menor frecuencia para el polimorfismo rs1837253 fue el alelo T (41,9 %), para el rs17551370, el alelo A (14,3 %), y para el rs2289276, el alelo T (22,5 %). La distribución de los polimorfismos rs17551370 y rs2289276 se mantuvo en equilibrio genético de Hardy-Weinberg. Las frecuencias alélicas de cada SNP no mostraron diferencias significativas con las reportadas para poblaciones africanas. Conclusiones. Los tres polimorfismos analizados en el gen TSLP estuvieron presentes en la muestra de población de San Basilio de Palenque y su distribución es similar a la reportada para poblaciones africanas y para poblaciones americanas de ancestro africano. Palabras clave: frecuencia de los genes, afroamericanos, polimorfismo de nucleótido simple, citocinas, endogamia, Colombia.

Introduction: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been linked as a susceptibility gene for the development of allergic diseases. It is known that the population of Cartagena is a triethnic mix, in which the component of African ancestry was significantly associated with risk of asthma and high total serum IgE levels. This component comes from African slaves brought into the continent and settled in "palenques", one of them is San Basilio de Palenque, in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Objective: To analyze the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1837253, rs17551370 and rs2289276 located in TSLP gene, in the African-descendent population of San Basilio de Palenque. Materials and methods: By real time-PCR and probes TaqMan SNP Genotyping ™ , we genotyped three polymorphisms in 80 individuals of African-descent aged 5 to 18 years of age. Results: The frequency of the rs1837253 allele T was 41.9%, for the allele A, 14.3% for rs17551370, and 22.5% for the allele T of rs2289276. The rs17551370 and rs2289276 distribution remained in Hardy- Weinberg genetic equilibrium. The allele frequency of each SNP did not show statistically significant differences with those reported for other African and African-descendent populations. Conclusion: The three polymorphisms in the TSLP were present in the sample population of San Basilio de Palenque and its distribution is similar to that reported for African populations and African ancestry in America.

Incrementos continuos de las hospitalizacionesdebidas a angioedema / Continued increases in hospitalizations due to angioedema

Es posible que las hospitalizaciones y las consultas a lasala de emergencias debidas a angioedema estén enaumento. En este estudio se determinó el patrón de losingresos hospitalarios por angioedema en el estado deNueva York para los años 1990 a 2005...

Hospitalizations and emergency visits due to angioedemamay be on the rise. In this study, the pattern of hospital admissions for angioedema in New York state were profiled for the years 1990 through 2005...

Fitness of Adjustable Dental Impression Trays on the Caucasian and African American / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the fitness of adjustable dental impression trays on the Caucasian and African American. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The size and shape of these trays were designed from the results of the dental arch size of Korean adults. Tray samples were made by CAD-CAM working. Sixty Caucasian (male: 30, female: 30) and sixty African American (male: 30, female: 30) were selected for taking irreversible hydrocolloid impression using these trays. The author measured the width and length of impression material on the several measuring points. RESULTS: 1. Uniform impression material width was achieved by controling the width of the tray using stops and beveled guides. 2. In the maxillary tray on the Caucasian, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the midpalatal part 13.0 mm. 3. In the maxillary tray on the African American, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the midpalatal part 12.0 mm, posterior palatal part 11.0 mm and the labial frenum width was 11.0 mm. 4. In the maxillary tray on the African American, the impression material width of posterior border (0.8 mm) was measured to be small. 5. In the mandibular tray on the Caucasian, the impression material width was measured (2.7-6.7 mm) and posterior border width (2.1 mm) was measured small. The impression material length was measured (2.8-6.7 mm). 6. In the mandibular tray on the African American, the impression material width was measured to be rather great showing width of the labial frenum 9.2 mm and the width of posterior border was measured too small (0.3 mm). CONCLUSION: This adjustable dental tray shows good accuracy to Korean because it was designed by the analysis of the dental arch size of Korean adult model. With this result, it can be applied to Caucasian and African American, we can take more easy and accurate dental impressions.