Targeting GOF p53 and c-MYC through LZK Inhibition or Degradation Suppresses Head and Neck Tumor Growth.

The worldwide frequency of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is approximately 800,000 new cases, with 430,000 deaths annually. We determined that LZK (encoded by ) is a therapeutic target in HNSCC and showed that inhibition with small molecule inhibitors decreases the viability of HNSCC cells with amplified . A drug-resistant mutant of LZK blocks decreases in cell viability due to LZK inhibition, indicating on-target activity by two separate small molecules.

TNIK Is a Therapeutic Target in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Regulates FAK Activation through Merlin.

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the second most prevalent type of lung cancer. Despite extensive genomic characterization, no targeted therapies are approved for the treatment of LSCC. Distal amplification of the 3q chromosome is the most frequent genomic alteration in LSCC, and there is an urgent need to identify efficacious druggable targets within this amplicon.

A social media-based physical activity intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Online social networks, such as Facebook™, have extensive reach, and they use technology that could enhance social support, an established determinant of physical activity. This combination of reach and functionality makes online social networks a promising intervention platform for increasing physical activity.

Purpose: To test the efficacy of a physical activity intervention that combined education, physical activity monitoring, and online social networking to increase social support for physical activity compared to an education-only control.

Tools for healthy tribes: improving access to healthy foods in Indian country.

There is growing recognition that policymakers can promote access to healthy, affordable foods within neighborhoods, schools, childcare centers, and workplaces. Despite the disproportionate risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes among American Indian children and adults, comparatively little attention has been focused on the opportunities tribal policymakers have to implement policies or resolutions to promote access to healthy, affordable foods. This paper presents an approach for integrating formative research into an action-oriented strategy of developing and disseminating tribally led environmental and policy strategies to promote access to and consumption of healthy, affordable foods.

Engaging tribal leaders in an American Indian healthy eating project through modified talking circles.

Frequently used in the American Indian (AI) community and proven to be a valuable tool in health research, a talking circle is a method used by a group to discuss a topic in an egalitarian and nonconfrontational manner. Using community-based participatory research, a modified Talking Circle format was developed for engaging tribal leaders in an American Indian Healthy Eating Project in North Carolina. The culturally informed formative research approach enabled us to garner project support from 7 tribes, as well as insights on developing planning and policy strategies to improve access to healthy eating within each of the participating communities.

The neighborhood recreational environment and physical activity among urban youth: an examination of public and private recreational facilities.

Recreational facility availability has been shown to associate positively with youth physical activity levels. Nonetheless, little is known about additional facility characteristics affecting their use for physical activity as well as differences between private and public facilities. This study examines (1) perceptions and use of public and private recreational facilities and (2) environmental and individual-level correlates of both facility use and physical activity among urban adolescents.

Physical activity interventions and changes in perceived home and facility environments.

Objective: To examine changes in environmental perceptions over time and associations between changes in perceptions and physical activity among participants in two physical activity interventions.

Methods: Two independent trials were examined. Project STRIDE (STRIDE) (N=239) was conducted from 2000 to 2004 in Rhode Island.

A quantitative examination of park characteristics related to park use and physical activity among urban youth.

Purpose: Although several studies have identified a positive association between recreational facility availability and physical activity, few have examined facility attributes beyond availability and involved minority adolescents. This study examines how both objective and perceived measures of the facility environment are associated with urban adolescents' use of parks and physical activity.

Methods: Study participants included 329 adolescents from two high schools in Baltimore, Maryland, the majority (69%) of whom was African American.

The environment and urban adolescents' use of recreational facilities for physical activity: a qualitative study.

Purpose: Investigate environmental factors influencing the use of recreational facilities for physical activity by urban African-American adolescents.

Design: Qualitative in-depth interviews and direct observation.

Setting: Two public high schools and 24 public recreational facilities in Baltimore, Maryland.

Adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity.

Objectives: To examine African American adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity and identify physical activity promotion strategies.

Methods: Concept mapping with 50 adolescents was used to obtain cluster maps of conceptual domains affecting physical activity.

Results: Seven domains were identified, including physical activity settings, social support, negative social influences, parental control, negative environmental influences, transportation and technology issues, and financial issues.