Publications by authors named "Amrit Baral"

Article Synopsis
  • The study explores cannabis use among cancer patients undergoing active treatment (CDTX) versus those who do not use cannabis during treatment (-CDTX).
  • Data collected from 385 cancer patients indicates that a significant portion (41%) of patients used cannabis while receiving treatment, with most starting before their diagnosis.
  • Key reasons for cannabis use included managing depression/mood and pain, with differences between the motivations for CDTX and -CDTX groups.
  • The results highlight the importance of understanding cannabis use patterns to inform future research on its interactions with cancer treatments.
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Given the scarcity of literature regarding COVID-19 impacts on cannabis consumers with chronic illnesses who widely use cannabis to manage their health conditions, we aim to assess the effect of COVID-19 on cannabis use patterns among adults living with chronic diseases. Cannabis consumers with a chronic disease ( = 1,466) from COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study were included in this analysis. The primary outcomes were change in cannabis dosage, past 30-day cannabis usage, and change in route of cannabis administration, with the main exposure being self-reported fear of COVID-19 diagnosis.

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Cannabis use among cancer patients for managing treatment-related symptoms is increasing, yet little is known about patterns in patient-provider communication. This study examines demographic differences in cannabis use communication at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. The analysis included cancer patients aged ≥ 18 years who self-reported current cannabis use (past 30 days) and had visited Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center within the past 5 years (N = 226).

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Previous studies have identified racial-ethnic disparities in modifiable risk factors for cancers. However, the impact of US nativity on these risks is understudied. Hence, we assessed the association between US nativity and length of time in the US on modifiable cancer risk factors.

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Despite medicinal cannabis gaining popularity for managing symptoms in cancer patients, a knowledge gap exists in patient-provider communication crucial for monitoring outcomes, optimizing dosing, and educating healthcare providers to integrate cannabis into treatment plans. Our goal is to understand communication dynamics, identify gaps, and pave the way for effective cannabis communication for individuals living with cancer (PLWC). We searched PubMed, CINAHL, and EBSCO for articles published between 2013 and July 2023, capturing the key concepts of cannabis use in cancer patients and their communication with healthcare providers in oncology settings.

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Objective: This study aims to describe patterns, sources, and reasons for cannabis use among cancer patients by ethnic group.

Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional study of 416 surveys collected via RedCap anonymously from adult cancer patients seen at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center within the last 5 years. A harmonized survey was created with 11 other National Cancer Institute centers to assess cannabis use patterns, sources, and reasons for use.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the relationship between cannabis use and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among emerging adults, focusing on race/ethnicity differences.
  • Data from a large health survey revealed that Hispanic respondents had the highest prevalence of MetS but the lowest cannabis use, while non-Hispanic black respondents had the highest cannabis use and the lowest MetS prevalence.
  • The findings suggest that current cannabis use is linked to lower odds of MetS, particularly among non-Hispanic blacks, indicating the need for further research into how various factors may influence these outcomes.
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Background: Individuals with a history of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are at risk of subsequent cannabis use. However, at present no existing systematic review explores ACEs as they relate to cannabis use.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review paper is to examine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact rates, patterns, and the nature of cannabis use in adulthood.

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Knowledge of the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of cannabis use by route of administration is unclear. This evidence is necessary to increase clinical and public health awareness given the recent trend in cannabis legalization, normalization, and surge in the availability and usage of various forms of cannabis products. Search was conducted in Web of Science, ProQuest, Psych INFO, Scopus, Embase, and Medline databases, and subsequently in the references of retrieved articles.

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Growing cannabis use among young adults in the United States surpasses research and public understanding, raising health concerns despite potential benefits. Limited research focuses on their knowledge, attitudes, risks, and motivations, especially in states with limited legalization. This study explores cannabis knowledge and attitudes among healthy young adult cannabis consumers to understand their risk and benefit perceptions.

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Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health worldwide, with depression and sleep problems among the most common issues experienced by many individuals. Depression can lead to sleep problems, which can increase the risk of developing depressive symptoms. However, it is unclear which United States (US) sub-population was most affected by depression and sleep problems during the pandemic.

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Introduction: The relationship between cardiovascular disorders and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been extensively studied. To better pool this data and make a more definite conclusion, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between NAFLD and the thickness of media and intima of carotid artery (CIMT) and cardiovascular disorders.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, and analyzed the pooled data using R studio and the "metafor" package.

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Background: The role of cigarette smoking as a prognostic factor for kidney cancer (KC) is unclear. In this population-based study, we analyze cancer-specific survival (CSS) outcomes among KC patients by smoking status at diagnosis in the diverse state of Florida.

Methods: All primary KC cases from the Florida Cancer Registry diagnosed during 2005-2018 were analyzed.

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