Demographic Diversity of Clinical Trials for Therapeutic Drug Products: A Systematic Review of Recently Published Articles, 2017-2022.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages the use of enrollment practices that will lead to clinical trials that reflect the population most likely to use the therapeutic product (drug or biologic), if approved. In doing so, the benefit-risk profile of the product may be assessed more completely and offer patients and their health care providers a better understanding of the drug profile and greater confidence in clinical trial results. The objective of this systematic review was to assess recent literature on the demographic diversity of clinical trial participants, describe the methods used in defining clinical trial diversity, and address knowledge gaps to enhance clinical trial diversity.

Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among K-12 Staff, Parents, and Students: District of Columbia, February to April, 2022.

Objective: Despite widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, millions of Americans have not received the recommended vaccine doses. In the District of Columbia (DC), COVID-19 vaccination rates are lowest among residents who are Non-Hispanic (NH) Black and among school-aged children. We assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff and parents of students in DC K-12 public and public charter schools.

Utility of a Test-to-Return Strategy to Identify Individuals With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Prekindergarten Through Grade 12 School Setting-District of Columbia, January 2022.

The highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant led to increased hospitalizations, staffing shortages, and increased school closures. To reduce spread in school-aged children during the Omicron peak, the District of Columbia implemented a test-to-return strategy in public and public charter schools after a 2-week break from in-person learning.

Vitamin B-12 malabsorption and renal function are critical considerations in studies of folate and vitamin B-12 interactions in cognitive performance: NHANES 2011-2014.

Background: Cognitive health is a public health concern among older adults. Dietary supplement (SUP) use is common and concerns have been raised about high folic acid intake among those with vitamin B-12 deficiency and exacerbation of poor cognitive performance (PCP).

Objectives: We evaluated SUP use, usual folic acid intake, and blood folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations in relation to cognitive performance.

Types of oral contraceptives and breast cancer survival among women enrolled in Medicaid: A competing-risk model.

Introduction: Oral contraceptive pills have been implicated in the pathophysiology of breast cancer. Although many studies have examined the relationship between combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and breast cancer, there is a paucity of literature that discusses progestin-only oral contraceptives (POCs) and breast cancer. The purpose of this investigation is to examine potential associations between different types of oral contraceptives and breast cancer mortality in the South Carolina Medicaid population among different racial/ethnic groups.

Cardiovascular disease incidence among females in South Carolina by type of oral contraceptives, 2000-2013: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Certain types of oral contraceptives can produce favorable effects on lipid metabolism and vascular tone, while others have potentially detrimental effects. Endogenous and exogenous hormones exert different effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) depending on the type, combination, and dose of the hormone. The estrogenic and progestogenic effects of exogenous hormones on HDL and LDL are inconsistent.

Understanding the Association of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Breast Cancer Among African American and European American Populations in South Carolina.

Background: In South Carolina, the co-occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and breast cancer (BrCA) is much more prevalent among African American populations than among European American populations. The underlying relationship between diabetes and breast cancer may influence breast cancer survival. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the effect of diabetes on developing breast cancer and to reduce racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes.

The Impact of Obesity on Surgical Outcome in Endometrial Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Obesity is a significant public health problem in the United States, and many studies have established obesity as a significant risk factor for endometrial cancer. Surgery is the standard of care in staging and treatment of endometrial cancer, and obesity may influence surgical outcomes because of its attendant comorbid conditions. Therefore, assessment of the impact of obesity on surgical outcome is important for decreasing morbidity and improving survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

Diabetes Status and Being Up-to-Date on Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Introduction: Although screening rates for colorectal cancer are increasing, 22 million Americans are not up-to-date with recommendations. People with diabetes are an important and rapidly growing group at increased risk for colorectal cancer. Screening status and predictors of being up-to-date on screening are largely unknown in this population.

Disparities in Breast Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Quality of Care among African American and European American Women in South Carolina.

Objectives: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women and the second-leading cause of female cancer deaths in the United States. African Americans and other minorities in the United States experience lower survival rates and have a worse prognosis than European Americans despite European Americans having a much higher incidence of the disease. Adherence to breast cancer treatment-quality measures is limited, particularly when the data are stratified by race/ethnicity.