Electrochemical immunomagnetic assay for interleukin-6 detection in human plasma.

An electrochemical immunoassay for interleukin-6 (IL-6) was developed based on IL-6 capture using magnetic beads and electrochemical signal production using horseradish peroxidase/tetramethylbenzidine. We achieved IL-6 detection from the 50-1000 pg mL range, which is a physiologically relevant IL-6 range for a variety of biological systems. The sandwich assay performed well in phosphate buffered solution as well as in cellular media and human plasma spiked with IL-6, and decreased time to IL-6 concentration readout to approximately one hour.

Considerations from employed African-American and white prostate cancer survivors on prostate cancer treatment and survivorship: a qualitative analysis.

Objective: To solicit information/suggestions from prostate cancer survivors to improve survivorship experiences specific to work/workability.

Design: The study employed a qualitative/phenomenological approach. Black/African-American and white prostate cancer survivors who: (1) had prostatectomy or radiation therapy 6-36 months prior, (2) were working for pay within 30 days before having treatment, and (3) expected to be working for pay 6 months later ( = 45) were eligible for this study.

Hybrid delivery of cluster-set resistance training for individuals previously treated for lung cancer: the results of a single-arm feasibility trial.

Background: Individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are burdened by long-lasting symptoms (e.g., dyspnea and fatigue) post-treatment.

Efficacy of Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for Supporting Informed Prostate Cancer Screening Decisions for African-American Men.

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent non-skin cancer among all men, but African-Americans have morbidity and mortality at significantly higher rates than White men. To reduce this burden, authorities such as the American Cancer Society recommend that men make informed/shared screening decisions with a healthcare provider. Informed/shared screening decisions require that men have adequate prostate cancer knowledge.

Using Virtual Home Assistants to Address Vulnerable Adults' Complex Care Needs: An Exploratory Feasibility Study.

Harnessing technology has been proposed as one strategy to meet the social and health needs of older adults who prefer to age in place, but solutions remain elusive. In the current study, we evaluated the feasibility of using voice-activated virtual home assistants (VHAs; i.e.

The COVID-19 pandemic impact on independent and provider-based rural health clinics' operations and cancer prevention and screening provision in the United States.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care, but it is unknown how the pandemic has affected care in Medicare-certified rural health clinics (RHCs) where cancer prevention and screening services are critical for their communities. This study examined how the provision of these cancer services changed pre- and peri-pandemic overall and by RHC type (independent and provider-based).

Methods: We administered a cross-sectional survey to a stratified random sample of RHCs to assess clinic characteristics, pandemic stressors, and the provision of cancer prevention and control services among RHCs pre- and peri-pandemic.

Development and testing of "Is Lung Cancer Screening for You?" A computer-based decision aid.

Purpose: To reduce lung cancer mortality, individuals at high-risk should receive a low-dose computed tomography screening annually. To increase the likelihood of screening, interventions that promote shared decision-making are needed. The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary effectiveness of a computer-based decision aid.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Survivors of Lung Cancer and Their Partners: A Systematic Review.

Background: Survivors of lung cancer and their partners often have complex unresolved physical, psychosocial, and behavioral needs that can negatively affect the survivors' and partners' well-being. This systematic review aimed to (1) examine the content and delivery of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and (2) summarize and synthesize the current evidence for effectiveness of MBIs targeting survivors of lung cancer and/or one selected partner (dyads).

Method: Six databases were searched for interventional studies published in English between 1980 and June 2020 using three terms (lung neoplasms, mindfulness, caregivers).

Adsorption and Electropolymerization of -Aminophenol Reduces Reproducibility of Electrochemical Immunoassays.

This paper investigates the electrochemical behavior of -aminophenol (PAP) on commercially available carbon screen-printed electrodes (CSPEs) and gold screen-printed electrodes (GSPEs) at neutral and basic pHs for the development of inexpensive immunoassays. The electrochemical oxidative signal from PAP results from its adsorption to the electrode. The formation of self-assembled monolayers on gold electrodes prevented PAP adsorption but also reduced its oxidative current, confirming that adsorption increases signal production.

Study protocol: investigating the feasibility of a hybrid delivery of home-based cluster set resistance training for individuals previously treated for lung cancer.

Background: Symptom burden remains a critical concern for individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following the completion of treatment. The most common symptom clusters, dyspnea (shortness of breath) and fatigue, can contribute to physical decline, reductions in quality of life, and a higher risk of comorbidities and mortality. Dyspnea is a primary limiter of exercise capacity in individuals with lung cancer, resulting in exercise avoidance and an accelerated physical decline.

Development of the Prostate Cancer Treatment Decision Framework: A Context-Specific Expansion of the Risk-as-Feelings Hypothesis.

Background: Over the past 2 decades, numerous decision-making interventions have been developed to guide the prostate cancer (PrCA) treatment choices of patients and families. These interventions are often supported by economic decision frameworks, which do not account for the role of emotions in treatment decisions. In some instances, emotion-driven decisions can override an individual's cognitive evaluation of a decision, leading to unfavorable outcomes such as decision regret.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) As a Surface Mapping Tool in Microorganisms Resistant Toward Antimicrobials: A Mini-Review.

The worldwide emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses due to a plethora of reasons, such as genetic mutation and indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, is a major challenge faced by the healthcare sector today. One of the issues at hand is to effectively screen and isolate resistant strains from sensitive ones. Utilizing the distinct nanomechanical properties (e.

A Prospective Pilot Study Evaluating Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of : A Mindfulness-based Intervention for Survivors of Lung Cancer and Their Family Members (Dyads).

Unlabelled: Symptom burden remains a distressing problem for survivors with non-small-cell lung cancer (stages I-IIIa). This pilot study evaluated feasibility and preliminary effects of a tailored mindfulness-based intervention, Breathe Easier, which encompasses meditation, 2 levels of mindful hatha yoga, breathing exercises, and participant interaction.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 2 cancer programs in the US Southeast.

A Focus Group Evaluation of Breathe Easier: A Mindfulness-Based mHealth App for Survivors of Lung Cancer and Their Family Members.

Purpose: To explore attitudes and acceptance (i.e., intent for future adoption) of survivors of lung cancer and their family members toward a dyad-focused mHealth mindfulness-based intervention (MBI).

A Qualitative Cultural Sensitivity Assessment of the Breathe Easier Mobile Application for Lung Cancer Survivors and Their Families.

Purpose: To evaluate the cultural sensitivity of the Breathe Easier mobile health application for African American lung cancer survivors and their families. Breathe Easier is an intervention designed to teach strategies to combat symptoms related to lung cancer.

Participants & Setting: 12 African American lung cancer survivors and their family members were recruited from an American College of Surgeons-approved cancer program in South Carolina.

After Ringing the Bell: Receptivity of and Preferences for Healthy Behaviors in African American Dyads Surviving Lung Cancer.

Purpose: To explore receptivity of and preferences for risk-reducing health behavior changes among African American survivors of early-stage lung cancer and their family members.

Participants & Setting: 26 African American non-small cell lung cancer survivor-family member dyads were recruited from two cancer programs in the southeastern United States.

Methodologic Approach: Social cognitive theory principles guided the design and implementation of focus groups.

Adaptation and Initial Psychometric Evaluation of an Informed Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Self-Efficacy Scale for African-American Men.

Objective: To evaluate whether computer-based prostate cancer screening decision aids enhance decision self-efficacy for African-American men, culturally relevant and reliable measures are needed. However, limited psychometric evidence exists on the health-related decision self-efficacy of African-American men. This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the 11-item Informed Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Self-Efficacy Scale among 354 African-American men.

Development and Psychometric Properties of a Prostate Cancer Knowledge Scale for African American Men.

African American men have the highest prostate cancer-related mortality nationally. In response to this disparity, targeted interventions are emerging to enhance African American men's prostate cancer (PrCA) knowledge to ensure they are equipped to make informed decisions about PrCA screening with health-care providers. African American men's PrCA knowledge has been measured inconsistently over time with limited psychometric evidence.

Development and initial psychometric evaluation of the computer-based prostate Cancer screening decision aid acceptance scale for African-American men.

Background: To reliably evaluate the acceptance and use of computer-based prostate cancer decision aids (CBDAs) for African-American men, culturally relevant measures are needed. This study describes the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the 24-item Computer-Based Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Aid Acceptance Scale among 357 African-American men.

Methods: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with maximum likelihood estimation and polychoric correlations followed by Promax and Varimax rotations.

Maximal-Effort Cytoreductive Surgery for Ovarian Cancer Patients with a High Tumor Burden: Variations in Practice and Impact on Outcome.

Background: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of two distinct patient populations treated within two neighboring UK cancer centers (A and B) for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all new stages 3 and 4 EOC patients treated between January 2013 and December 2014 was performed. The Mayo Clinic surgical complexity score (SCS) was applied.

'I'm not a chance taker': A mixed methods exploration of factors affecting prostate cancer treatment decision-making.

Objectives: African American prostate cancer survivors experience post-treatment decisional regret more often than European Americans, which can lead to negative long-term effects on quality of life. A prominent driver of health-related decision-making is emotion, yet little work has examined the impact emotions may have on decisional regret. The goal of this study was to explore experiences, perceptions, and emotions of prostate cancer survivors in relation to their diagnostic and treatment decision-making processes, prostate cancer treatment, and outcomes.

Health behavior changes in African American family members facing lung cancer: Tensions and compromises.

Purpose: Behavioral interventions targeting cancer survivors often fail to address the clustering of unhealthy behaviors among family members and friends, and the impact of close relationships on behavior change. The study's aim was to identify factors associated with receptivity and preferences for lifestyle behavior change among family members of African-American survivors of lung cancer.

Methods: Principles of social cognitive theory guided the design.

Systematic Review of Commercially Available Mobile Phone Applications for Prostate Cancer Education.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer among all men and the second most common cause of death. To ameliorate the burden of prostate cancer, there is a critical need to identify strategies for providing men with information about prostate cancer screening and the importance of informed decision making. With mobile phones becoming more ubiquitous, many individuals are adopting their phones as sources for health information.