Association of Cancer Prevention-Related Nutrition Knowledge, Beliefs, and Attitudes to Cancer Prevention Dietary Behavior

Objective To examine the relationship of cancer prevention-related nutrition knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes to cancer prevention dietary behavior.Subjects/setting Noninstitutionalized US adults aged 18 years and older.Methods Data collected in the 1992 National Health Interview Survey Cancer Epidemiology Supplement were analyzed. The supplement included questions to ascertain knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes and a food frequency questionnaire to ascertain nutrient intake.Statistics Multivariate linear regression modeling was conducted to assess the hypothesized relationships.Results After adjustment for relevant covariates (age, sex, education, total energy, perceived barriers to eating a more healthful diet), knowledge and belief constructs were predictive of dietary behavior. Specifically, fat, fiber, and fruit and vegetable intakes more closely approximated dietary recommendations for persons with more cancer-prevention knowledge. The strength of the associations between these constructs and dietary behavior varied in some cases according to level of education and perceived barriers to eating a healthful diet. Of the perceived barriers to eating a healthful diet, perceived ease of eating a healthful diet was most strongly and consistently predictive of intake.Conclusions Research findings challenge dietetics practitioners to design diet- and health-promotion programs and activities that not only educate the public about the importance of diet to health, but also address barriers to dietary change.     

Quantitative electroencephalography during rapid eye movement (REM) and non‐REM sleep in combat‐exposed veterans with and without post‐traumatic stress disorder

Sleep disturbances are a hallmark feature of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Few studies have examined sleep quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), a technique able to detect subtle differences that polysomnography does not capture. We hypothesized that greater high‐frequency qEEG would reflect ‘hyperarousal’ in combat veterans with PTSD (n = 16) compared to veterans without PTSD (n = 13). EEG power in traditional EEG frequency bands was computed for artifact‐free sleep epochs across an entire night. Correlations were performed between qEEG and ratings of PTSD symptoms and combat exposure. The groups did not differ significantly in whole‐night qEEG measures for either rapid eye movement (REM) or non‐REM (NREM) sleep. Non‐significant medium effect sizes suggest less REM beta (opposite to our hypothesis), less REM and NREM sigma and more NREM gamma in combat veterans with PTSD. Positive correlations were found between combat exposure and NREM beta (PTSD group only), and REM and NREM sigma (non‐PTSD group only). Results did not support global hyperarousal in PTSD as indexed by increased beta qEEG activity. The correlation of sigma activity with combat exposure in those without PTSD and the non‐significant trend towards less sigma activity during both REM and NREM sleep in combat veterans with PTSD suggests that differential information processing during sleep may characterize combat‐exposed military veterans with and without PTSD.     

Increased fibrovascular invasion of subcutaneous polyvinyl alcohol sponges in SPARC-null mice

The expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine/osteonectin/BM-40) is elevated in endothelial cells participating in angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. SPARC acts on endothelial cells to elicit changes in cell shape and to inhibit cell cycle progression. In addition, SPARC binds to and diminishes the mitotic activity of vascular endothelial growth factor. To determine the effect(s) of SPARC on angiogenic responses in vivo, we implanted polyvinyl alcohol sponges subcutaneously into wild-type and SPARC-null mice. On days 12 and 20 following implantation, SPARC-null mice showed increased cellular invasion of the sponges in comparison to wild-type mice. Areas of the sponge with the highest cell density exhibited the highest numbers of vascular profiles in both wild-type and SPARC-null animals. The endothelial component of the vessels was substantiated by immunoreactivity with three different markers specific for endothelial cells. Although sponges from SPARC-null relative to wild-type mice were populated by significantly more cells and blood vessels, an increase in the ratio of vascular to nonvascular cells was not apparent. No differences in the percentage of proliferating cells within the sponge were detected between wild-type and SPARC-null sections. However, elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor were associated with sponges from SPARC-null versus wild-type mice. An increase in vascular endothelial growth factor production was also observed in SPARC-null primary dermal fibroblasts relative to those of wild-type cells. In conclusion, we have shown that the fibrovascular invasion of polyvinyl alcohol sponges is enhanced in mice lacking SPARC, and we propose that increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor account, at least in part, for this response.     

Early white-matter abnormalities of the ventral frontostriatal pathway in fragile X syndrome

Aim  Fragile X syndrome is associated with cognitive deficits in inhibitory control and with abnormal neuronal morphology and development.
Method  In this study, we used a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography approach to reconstruct white-matter fibers in the ventral frontostriatal pathway in young males with fragile X syndrome ( n =17; mean age 2y 9mo, SD 7mo, range 1y 7mo–3y 10mo), and two age-matched comparison groups: (1) typically developing ( n =13; mean age 2y 3mo, SD 7mo, range 1y 7mo–3y 6mo) and (2) developmentally delayed ( n =8; mean age 3y, SD 4mo, range 2y 9mo–3y 8mo).
Results  We observed that young males with fragile X syndrome exhibited increased density of DTI reconstructed fibers than those in the typically developing ( p =0.001) and developmentally delayed ( p =0.001) groups. Aberrant white-matter structure was localized in the left ventral frontostriatal pathway. Greater relative fiber density was found to be associated with lower IQ (Mullen composite scores) in the typically developing group ( p =0.008).
Interpretation  These data suggest that diminished or absent fragile X mental retardation 1 protein expression can selectively alter white-matter anatomy during early brain development and, in particular, neural pathways. The results also point to an early neurobiological marker for an important component of cognitive dysfunction associated with fragile X syndrome.     

Barriers to methamphetamine withdrawal treatment in Australia: Findings from a survey of AOD service providers

Introduction and Aims. Despite the high prevalence of methamphetamine use and dependence in Australia, withdrawal treatment access for methamphetamine accounts for only 9.3% of total withdrawal treatment presentations. Furthermore, treatment completion for methamphetamine users is one of the lowest of all drugs. There is not a clear understanding for the reasons why methamphetamine withdrawal treatment presentations and efficacy is so low. This study examined the current practices and barriers to methamphetamine withdrawal treatment in Australia. Design and Methods. Twenty‐four interviews were conducted with employees from alcohol and other drug services from around Australia. These services were questioned about a range of issues relating to methamphetamine withdrawal treatment including current treatment practices, perception of the effectiveness of current treatment and barriers to treatment. Results. The study found that current practices in the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal are diverse and uncertain. Service providers identified a great number of barriers to the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal that encompass personal, social, cultural and organisational barriers. Discussion and Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that alcohol and other drug service providers are not clear about the best way to respond to clients seeking methamphetamine withdrawal treatment. Furthermore, the study showed a general pessimism about withdrawal treatment for this group. Treatment services should consider improving withdrawal protocols, educating clinicians and reconsidering entry criteria to better respond to methamphetamine users who have made the important first step into withdrawal treatment.[Pennay AE, Lee NK. Barriers to methamphetamine withdrawal treatment in Australia: Findings from a survey of AOD service providers. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009]