The association of migration-related stress with poor mental health among recently resettled Afghan refugees.

Background: The resettlement of Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City, OK, provides a critical context for examining the mental health challenges faced by this population due to post-migration stressors.

Methods: This study utilized online surveys to recently resettled Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City, with support provided by bilingual research assistants to accommodate low literacy rates. Surveys, initially in English, were professionally translated into Dari and Pashto and validated through back-translation.

Symptom trajectories over time by cannabis use status among patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Adults with cancer may perceive cannabis as beneficial for managing their cancer-related symptoms, but the evidence supporting its medical use is varied and inconclusive. This study characterized associations of cannabis use with cancer-related symptom trajectories. Participants were adults undergoing cancer treatment at the Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC; n = 218) in Oklahoma; they were 71% female, 10% minoritized race, and 45% had stage III or IV cancer.

A pilot randomized clinical trial of a smartphone-based application to support at-home PSA screening and culturally tailored prostate cancer education for African American men: A study protocol.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality.

Secondhand cannabis smoke exposure and respiratory symptoms among adults living in a state with legalized medical cannabis with limited smoke-free protections.

Background: Little is known about the demographic and health correlates of secondhand cannabis smoke (SHCS) exposure, despite increased availability and use of cannabis across the U.S. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of SHCS exposure in a sample of N=5,410 adults living in Oklahoma and the association of SHCS exposure with self-reported respiratory problems.

Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals (ie, those with low socioeconomic status [SES]) have difficulty quitting smoking and may benefit from incentive-based cessation interventions.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of incentivizing smoking abstinence on smoking cessation among adults with low SES.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This study used a 2-group randomized clinical trial design.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms conferring susceptibility to leukemia and oral mucositis: a multi-center pilot study of patients prior to conditioning therapy for hematopoietic cell transplant.

Purpose: Leukemias have been associated with oral manifestations, reflecting susceptibility to cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis. We sought to identify SNPs associated with both leukemia and oral mucositis (OM).

Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed on leukemia and non-cancer blood disorder (ncBD) patients' saliva samples (N = 50) prior to conditioning therapy.

Associations between morning affect and later-day smoking urges and behavior.

Objective: Affective experiences are associated with smoking urges and behavior. Few studies have examined the temporal nature of these associations within a day, such as whether positive and negative affect in the morning are associated with smoking urges and behavior later in the day.

Method: Participants ( = 63; = 50 years, 48% female; 60% White) were randomized into one of three smoking cessation interventions and answered up to five daily ecological momentary assessments for 28 days during a quit attempt ( = 21.

The association of sleep with physical and mental health among people experiencing homelessness.

Background: Sleep deprivation is a critical risk factor for physical and mental health problems. The current study examined whether sleep problems were related to housing status and physical and mental health among people experiencing homelessness.

Methods: Data were collected via an anonymous survey completed by adults accessing services at a day shelter in Oklahoma City, OK.

Prediction of mechanistic subtypes of Parkinson's using patient-derived stem cell models.

Parkinson's disease is a common, incurable neurodegenerative disorder that is clinically heterogeneous: it is likely that different cellular mechanisms drive the pathology in different individuals. So far it has not been possible to define the cellular mechanism underlying the neurodegenerative disease in life. We generated a machine learning-based model that can simultaneously predict the presence of disease and its primary mechanistic subtype in human neurons.

Cannabis use among adults undergoing cancer treatment.

Background: Little is known about the risks and benefits of cannabis use in the context of cancer care. This study characterized the prevalence, reasons for use, and perceived benefits of cannabis and compared symptoms and perceived risks between those who reported past 30-day cannabis use and those who did not.

Methods: Adults undergoing cancer treatment at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center completed measures of sociodemographic characteristics, cannabis use, use modalities, reasons for use, perceived harms/benefits of use, physical and psychological symptoms, and other substance/medication use.

Unsheltered homeless and unstably housed adults have higher levels of stress and more health risk factors than sheltered homeless adults.

In the United States, approximately 580,000 individuals were homeless on a single night in 2020. Homelessness can be categorized into three subgroups: sheltered homeless, unsheltered homeless, and unstably housed. Few studies have examined the relations between homelessness subtypes, shelter service utilization, levels of stress experienced, and health risk factors.

Development of a Clinical Decision Support System to Predict Unplanned Cancer Readmissions.

Unplanned 30-day cancer readmissions are an important outcome of cancer hospitalization and can significantly raise mortality rates and costs for both the patient and the hospital. This paper aimed to develop a predictive model using machine learning and electronic health records to predict unplanned 30-day cancer readmissions and further develop it as a clinical decision support system. The three-stage study design followed the 2022 AMIA Artificial Intelligence Evaluation Showcase.

The Association of Cultural Identification with Obesity among African Americans.

Introduction: The influence of culture on body mass index (BMI) and obesity within the African American population is an underexplored area in the literature. Therefore, this study explored the extent to which cultural identity was associated with BMI and obesity among African Americans and whether the association of cultural identity with obesity differed between males and females.

Methods: Participants were African Americans (n = 304) who responded to an online survey.

Seeing is believing: How cannabis marketing exposure is associated with cannabis use attitudes and behavior in a permissive medical cannabis policy environment.

Background And Objectives: Oklahoma has a fast-growing medical cannabis industry, showing a proliferation of industry marketing. While cannabis marketing exposure (CME) is a risk factor for cannabis use and positive attitudes about use, no studies have examined the impact of CME on attitudes and use behavior in a permissive cannabis policy environment, like Oklahoma.

Methods: N = 5428 Oklahoma adults ages 18 and older completed assessments of demographics, past 30-day cannabis use, and past 30-day exposure to each of four types of cannabis marketing: outdoor (billboards, signs), social media, print (magazines), and Internet.

Tobacco use characteristics, treatment preferences, and motivation to quit among adults accessing a day shelter in Oklahoma City.

Background: Smoking rates are exceptionally high among adults experiencing homelessness (AEH). Research is needed to inform treatment approaches in this population.

Methods: Participants (n=404) were adults who accessed an urban day shelter and reported current smoking.

Greater Discrimination Frequency and Lower Distress Tolerance Are Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Racially Privileged and Minoritized Adults Accessing an Urban Day Shelter.

Introduction: Discrimination experiences may be a contributing factor to the elevated prevalence of mental health problems among adults experiencing homelessness.

Methods: Using survey data (N = 552) collected from adults seeking services at an urban day shelter, the relationships between everyday and major discrimination experiences, distress tolerance, and mental health problems (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, poor mental health days) were characterized. Distress tolerance was examined as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and mental health problems.

Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy screening guidelines: a false positive.

Hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQ) is widely used for the treatment of a variety of rheumatological and dermatological conditions. Despite the advantages of HCQ as a treatment option, it is important to be aware of its potential retinal toxicity, which may be irreversible and progressive. In December 2020, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists published revised recommendations on monitoring HCQ retinopathy.

A Scoping Review and Meta-analysis of the Use of Remote Biochemical Verification Methods of Smoking Status in Tobacco Research.

Introduction: Increasing digital delivery of smoking cessation interventions has resulted in the need to employ novel strategies for remote biochemical verification.

Aims And Methods: This scoping review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate best practices for remote biochemical verification of smoking status. The scientific literature was searched for studies that reported remotely obtained (not in-person) biochemical confirmation of smoking status (ie, combustible tobacco).

Efficacy of Web-Delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Helping Black Adults Quit Smoking.

Background: Digital smoking cessation interventions may reduce racial disparities in cessation because they are low cost, scalable, and can provide support at any place or time. Despite their promise, whether Black adults engage with and benefit from these tools is largely unknown. In a secondary analysis of a randomized trial, we explored the efficacy of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based website (WebQuit) for smoking cessation compared to a US clinical practice guidelines-based website (Smokefree.

Non-adherence to psychiatric medication in adults experiencing homelessness is associated with incurred concussions.

This study investigated the relationship between concussions and medication adherence among 247 adults experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who were prescribed medication for a psychiatric disorder. Participants were asked whether they had "ever experienced a blow to the head that caused a concussion," and medication adherence was measured by asking participants whether they had taken their psychiatric medication yesterday. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regressions.

Pandemic-Related Stress May Be Associated with Symptoms of Poor Mental Health Among African Americans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected African Americans and has been a significant source of stress for this population due to increased economic hardship and social isolation. This study characterized the associations between COVID-19 vulnerability (e.g.