A National Survey of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use for Treatment Among Asian-Americans.

Asian Americans (AAs) are more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) compared to other race/ethnicities, yet previous studies have conflicting results. The 2012 National Health Interview Survey data was analyzed to investigate AA's (n = 2214) CAM use for treatment. AAs were divided into four subgroups: Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, and Other Asian. Only 9% of AAs reported using CAM for treatment, with 6% indicating CAM use specifically for chronic conditions. This could be a form of medical pluralism, a mixture of Eastern and Western health approaches. The "Other Asian" subgroup reported highest use of CAM for treatment. Significant predictors included age (≥ 65 years) and high educational attainment (≥ college degree). Sociodemographic factors were also significant predictors within Asian subgroups. Further investigation of this and other forms of medical pluralism among AAs are needed to explore potential cofounders and risks like underreporting, CAM schedules/dosages, cultural influences, and CAM's impact on one's health.

Accuracy of visual inspection performed by community health workers in cervical cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer and mortality in low-resource areas with healthcare personnel shortages. Visual inspection is a low-resource alternative method of cervical cancer screening in areas with limited access to healthcare. OBJECTIVES: To assess accuracy of visual inspection performed by community health workers (CHWs) and licensed providers, and the effect of provider training on visual inspection accuracy. SEARCH STRATEGY: Five databases and four websites were queried for studies published in English up to December 31, 2015. Derivations of "cervical cancer screening" and "visual inspection" were search terms. SELECTION CRITERIA: Visual inspection screening studies with provider definitions, colposcopy reference standards, and accuracy data were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: A priori variables were extracted by two independent reviewers. Bivariate linear mixed-effects models were used to compare visual inspection accuracy. MAIN RESULTS: Provider type was a significant predictor of visual inspection sensitivity (P=0.048); sensitivity was 15 percentage points higher among CHWs than physicians (P=0.014). Components of provider training were significant predictors of sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based visual inspection programs using adequately trained CHWs could reduce barriers and expand access to screening, thereby decreasing cervical cancer incidence and mortality for women at highest risk and those living in remote areas with limited access to healthcare personnel.

Barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening in high incidence populations: A synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Despite the efficacy and availability of screening and treatment for cervical cancer, it remains the leading cause of death for women in many low resource countries. The inability or reluctance of women to use screening and treatment is the largest contributor to cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. The aim of the author in this article is to determine knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that facilitate or hinder women's use of screening in high incidence countries through a synthesis of qualitative research. CINAHL, Medline, AnthroSource, Sociological Abstracts, Social Service Abstracts, GenderWatch, Ethnic News Watch, and ASSIA databases were queried for qualitative research published from 2008 to 2013. Ten studies meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed and analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Barriers to cervical cancer screening included fatalism, mistrust of non-traditional healthcare providers, masculine/feminine beliefs, limited knowledge, and misunderstandings of causes of cervical cancer. Facilitators included knowledge of sexual risk factors, recognition of signs and symptoms, and community/social support. Pragmatic solutions suggested by this synthesis, that may decrease barriers and enhance facilitators, involved cultural humility (a continual commitment to cultural competence), promotion of gender equality, collaboration among stakeholders, and the translation of evidence-based practices from low to high incidence populations.

Differential effects of metformin and exercise on muscle adiposity and metabolic indices in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

The HIV-lipodystrophy syndrome is associated with fat redistribution and metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance (IR). The mechanisms and treatment strategies for IR in HIV-lipodystrophy are unclear, but data suggest that intramuscular lipids contribute to IR in this population. We previously showed that metformin and exercise improve hyperinsulinemia more than metformin alone in HIV-lipodystrophy. Now we investigate the effects of these treatment strategies on thigh muscle adiposity measured by computed tomography and additional body composition measures. Twenty-five HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral therapy with hyperinsulinemia and fat redistribution participated in a prospective, randomized, 3-month study of metformin alone or metformin and resistance training three times a week. Thigh muscle adiposity decreased significantly more as shown by increased muscle attenuation [2.0 (range, 0.5-5.0) vs. -1.0 (-3.5-0), P = 0.04] and sc leg fat tended to decrease more [-3.3 (-7.5-4.3) vs. 0.8 (-2.1-9.5), P = 0.06] in the combined treatment group in comparison with metformin alone. In multivariate analysis, change in thigh muscle adiposity remained a significant predictor of change in insulin (P = 0.04), controlling for changes in other body composition measurements. These data suggest that muscle adiposity, in addition to other fat depots, is an important determinant of hyperinsulinemia and that exercise has complex effects on regional fat depots in HIV-infected patients. Reduction in muscle adiposity may be an important mechanism by which exercise improves hyperinsulinemia in this population.

Effects of exercise training and metformin on body composition and cardiovascular indices in HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exercise training in combination with metformin improves cardiovascular risk indices and insulin in comparison to metformin alone among HIV-infected patients. METHODS AND DESIGN: We conducted a prospective, randomized, 3-month study of HIV patients on stable antiretroviral therapy with hyperinsulinemia and fat redistribution. Subjects received metformin alone or metformin and exercise training consisting of 1 h of aerobic and resistance training three times a week. Cardiovascular parameters, including blood pressure and endurance during sub-maximal stress testing, body composition, strength, insulin and other biochemical parameters were determined. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were randomized and 25 subjects completed the study. Subjects receiving exercise training and metformin demonstrated significant decreases in median waist-to-hip ratio [-0.02 (-0.06, -0.01) (median (interquartile range) versus -0.01 (0.03, 0.02), P = 0.026], resting systolic [-12 (-20, -4) versus 0 (-11, 11), P = 0.012] and diastolic blood pressures [-10 (-14, -8) versus 0 (-7, 8), P = 0.001], increased thigh muscle cross-sectional area [3 (-3, 12) versus -7 (-11, 0), P = 0.015], and improved exercise time [3 (0, 4) versus 0 (-1, 1), P = 0.045] compared with subjects receiving metformin alone. Fasting insulin and insulin area under the curve decreased significantly more in the exercise and metformin group (P < 0.05). Lipids and resting lactate did not change significantly between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that exercise training in combination with metformin significantly improves cardiovascular and biochemical parameters more than metformin alone in HIV-infected patients with fat redistribution and hyperinsulinemia. Combined treatment was safe, well tolerated and may be a useful strategy to decrease cardiovascular risk in this population.