The Association between Diet Quality and Metabolic Syndrome among Older African American Women.

Diet is a modifiable lifestyle factor that could impact the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its components. MetS prevalence is high and diet quality is suboptimal among older African American women. MetS has been associated with many individual food groups, however, emerging research suggests that analyzing overall diet quality provides insight into the synergistic effects of food groups on health outcomes.

Validation Study of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in African-American Men and Women.

Background: Self-reported data of physical activity are practical and inexpensive ways to collect data, although, subject to significant measurement errors. Most physical activity questionnaires used in the USA have been predominately validated among non-Hispanic White American populations with limited attention paid to the validity of the measures among racial/ethnic minorities. Additionally, there are limited studies that have evaluated factors related to over- and under-reporting errors linked to self-reported physical activity data, particularly among African Americans.

An 8-week exercise study to improve cancer treatment related fatigue and QOL among African American breast cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

Background: Cancer treatment related fatigue (CTRF) is one of the most debilitating side effects of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). Several studies have found that physical activity (PA) may be an effective intervention to decrease fatigue and enhance QOL in cancer survivors. The primary objective of the PEDLAR study is to test the feasibility of an easily administered 8-week structured moderate-intensity PA intervention, delivered concurrently with RT, in reducing CTRF and improving health-related QOL among African-American breast cancer patients.

Dietary fiber intake and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal African American women with obesity.

Fiber intake may be associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) but data from metabolically unhealthy African American women is sparse. We examined the association of dietary fiber intake and MetS among postmenopausal African American women with obesity. Baseline cross-sectional data from the Focused Intervention on Exercise to Reduce CancEr (FIERCE) trial of 213 women (mean age 58.

A prospective cohort study of physical activity in relation to lung cancer incidence among Black women.

Background: Black women have higher lung cancer incidence and mortality rates despite a lower smoking prevalence than White women. Physical activity may reduce lung cancer risk through several pathways, including the immune and inflammatory systems, as well as those with effects on sex hormones and metabolism.

Methods: We examined vigorous physical activity, walking for exercise, sitting watching television, and metabolic equivalents (METs) in relation to lung cancer risk among 38,432 participants in a prospective cohort of Black women.

A Prospective Analysis of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Colorectal Cancer in the Black Women's Health Study.

Background: Black Americans have the highest incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) of any racial/ethnic group in the United States. High intake of red and processed meats has been associated with an increased CRC risk in predominately White populations. However, 3 prior studies in Black populations, who have been reported to have high intakes of red and processed meats, have reported no associations.

Predicted Vitamin D Status and Colorectal Cancer Incidence in the Black Women's Health Study.

Background: Observational studies, mostly among White populations, suggest that low vitamin D levels increase colorectal cancer risk. African Americans, who are disproportionately burdened by colorectal cancer, often have lower vitamin D levels compared with other populations.

Methods: We assessed predicted vitamin D score in relation to colorectal cancer among 49,534 participants in the Black Women's Health Study, a cohort of African American women followed from 1995 to 2017 through biennial questionnaires.

The Effect of a 6-Month Exercise Intervention Trial on Allostatic Load in Black Women at Increased Risk for Breast Cancer: the FIERCE Study.

Background: Allostatic load comprises cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory markers, which is characterized by abdominal obesity, high blood glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension and associated with an increased risk in breast cancer.

Methods: The study was a 6-month, 3-arm randomized controlled trial of two moderate-intensity exercise interventions (compared with a control group) among obese, physically inactive, postmenopausal Black women aged 45 to 65 years, who were at increased risk for breast cancer based on the CARE model. Two hundred thirteen participants were randomly assigned to (1) supervised, facility-based aerobic exercise intervention (n = 73), (2) home-based exercise intervention (n = 69), or (3) a wait-listed control group (n = 71).

A Feasibility Study of Smoking Cessation Utilizing an Exercise Intervention among Black Women: 'Quit and Fit'.

Background: Women who engage in higher levels of exercise while trying to quit smoking have been shown to be less likely to relapse and to sustain their smoking abstinence longer. This study sought to examine the benefits of exercise for improving smoking cessation among Black women.

Methods: We evaluated the feasibility of a 12-week smoking and exercise intervention, Quit and Fit, tailored for Black women.

Insulin resistance and breast cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Insulin resistance is associated with higher all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in postmenopausal women. However, to the authors' knowledge, information regarding insulin resistance and breast cancer mortality risk is limited. Therefore, the authors examined associations between insulin resistance and breast cancer incidence and mortality in a subsample of Women's Health Initiative participants.

Obesity is an initiator of colon adenomas but not a promoter of colorectal cancer in the Black Women's Health Study.

Purpose: Evidence for the association of anthropometrics with colorectal neoplasms is limited for African Americans.

Methods: We examined anthropometric measures with both colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in the ongoing Black Women's Health Study. In a nested case-control analysis, 954 cases of colorectal adenoma were compared with 3,816 polyp-free controls, matched on age and follow-up time.

Circulating microRNAs and endothelial cell migration rate are associated with metabolic syndrome and fitness level in postmenopausal African American women.

Postmenopausal African American women are at elevated risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS), which predisposes them to cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. Circulating microRNAs (ci-miR) are potential mediators of cardiometabolic diseases also impacted by cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level. Using real-time quantitative PCR, we compared the expression of vascular-related ci-miRs (miR-21-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-126-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-221-3p) in sedentary, overweight/obese, postmenopausal African American women based on 1) presence (n = 31) or absence (n = 42) of MetS and 2) CRF level (VO ) (Very Low < 18.

A qualitative study of oral health knowledge among African Americans.

Objectives: The purpose of this qualitative oral health needs assessment was to probe and better understand the oral health knowledge, beliefs, and barriers of District residents, particularly in DC wards where oral health disparities are most prevalent.

Methods: Forty-eight (n = 48) participants were recruited for four focus groups. The focus group instrument consisted of a structured interview guide addressing the following topics: oral health history, perceived barriers to oral health, knowledge and perceptions about oral systemic health, and preferred message channels for receiving information on oral/dental health.

Fruit and VegeTable Intake and Lung Cancer Incidence Among Black Women According to Cigarette Smoking Status.

This project evaluated associations between fruit and vegetable intake, cigarette smoking and lung cancer incidence among U.S. Black women.

Effect of exercise on metabolic syndrome in black women by family history and predicted risk of breast cancer: The FIERCE Study.

Background: This study examined the effects of supervised and home-based exercise interventions on changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to breast cancer risk (high vs low) in black women enrolled in the Focused Intervention on Exercise to Reduce Cancer (FIERCE) trial.

Methods: Postmenopausal, obese, metabolically unhealthy black women, 45 to 65 years old, were randomized to supervised aerobic exercise (73 women), home-based walking-based exercise (69 women), or a control arm (71 women). Participants in the exercise arms underwent a 6-month intervention with study assessments conducted at the baseline and 6 months.

Exogenous Hormone Use and Endometrial Cancer in U.S. Black Women.

Although endometrial cancer risk differs among white and black women, few data on its associations with exogenous hormone use in the latter group are available. Studies have reported lower endometrial cancer risk among users of oral contraceptives (OCs), but higher risk among users of estrogen-only female menopausal hormones (FMHs). Evidence for the risk among estrogen plus progestin FMHs users is equivocal.

The effect of a randomized controlled physical activity trial on health related quality of life in metabolically unhealthy African-American women: FIERCE STUDY.

Purpose: African-American women (AAW) are more likely to be metabolically unhealthy than White women (WW). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased breast cancer risk and mortality from breast cancer is greater in AAW compared to WW. Data show MetS affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Developing a Mass Media Campaign to Promote Mammography Awareness in African American Women in the Nation's Capital.

This study developed and examined the reach and impact of a culturally appropriate mass media campaign pilot, designed to increase awareness about the importance of mammography screening and the available community mammography services for low-income African American women ages 40 and above. We conducted formative research using focus groups to inform campaign development, resulting in five emergent themes-good breast health, holistic views of healthiness, cancer fatalism, fear of mammogram machines, and mammogram affordability. The campaign targeted specific low-income African American communities in the District of Columbia via print ads in Metro stations and on buses, print ads in the Washington Informer, and online ads on a local TV network website.

Breast density in multiethnic women presenting for screening mammography.

Data on ethnic variations in breast density are limited and often not inclusive of underrepresented minorities. As breast density is associated with elevated breast cancer risk, investigating racial and ethnic difference may elucidate the observed differences in breast cancer risk among different populations. We reviewed breast density from initial screening of women from the Capital Breast Care Center and Georgetown University Hospital from 2010 to 2014.

Sedentary time and postmenopausal breast cancer incidence.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prospective association between sedentary time and postmenopausal breast cancer incidence, and whether associations differ by race/ethnicity, physical activity levels, and body measurements.

Methods: The Women's Health Initiative Observational Study is a prospective cohort among women ages 50-79 years at baseline (1994-1998) (analytic cohort = 70,233). Baseline questionnaire data were used to estimate time spent sitting and total sedentary time.

Reproductive factors and incidence of endometrial cancer in U.S. black women.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that reproductive history is a strong determinant of endometrial cancer risk among white women. Less is known about how reproductive history affects endometrial cancer risk among black women, whose incidence and mortality differ from white women. We investigated the associations of age at menarche, parity, timing of births, and menopausal age with endometrial cancer in the Black Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort study.