Hepatocellular Carcinoma Etiology Drives Survival Outcomes: A Population-Based Analysis.

Background: Previous survival studies on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by etiology are limited to hospital-based series, restricted cohorts, and monolithic etiologic categories. We studied population-based survival by seven mutually exclusive HCC etiologic groups-standalone hepatitis-C virus (HCV), hepatitis-B virus (HBV), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and dual etiology HCV-HBV, HCV-ALD, and HBV-ALD-accounting for clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: All HCC cases diagnosed during 2005 to 2018 from the Florida Cancer Registry were linked for etiology using statewide discharge and viral hepatitis data.

Disparities in incidence and survival for patients with Ewing sarcoma in Florida.

Background: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant bone tumor most commonly affecting non-Hispanic White (NHW) adolescent males, though recognition among Hispanic individuals is rising. Prior population-based studies in the United States (US), utilizing Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) have shown higher all-cause mortality among White Hispanics, Blacks, and those of low socioeconomic status (SES). Florida is not part of SEER but is home to unique Hispanic populations including Cubans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans that contrasts with the Mexican Hispanic majority in other US states.

Assessing racial, ethnic, and nativity disparities in US cancer mortality using a new integrated platform.

Background: Foreign-born populations in the United States have markedly increased, yet cancer trends remain unexplored. Survey-based Population-Adjusted Rate Calculator (SPARC) is a new tool for evaluating nativity differences in cancer mortality.

Methods: Using SPARC, we calculated 3-year (2016-2018) age-adjusted mortality rates and rate ratios for common cancers by sex, age group, race and ethnicity, and nativity.

A prospective study of birth weight and prostate cancer risk and mortality in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

Background: Previous studies have observed inconsistent associations between birth weight and aggressive prostate cancer risk. This study aimed to prospectively analyse this association in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS).

Methods: Birth weight was self-reported in 1994, and prostate cancer diagnoses were assessed biennially through January 2017 and confirmed by medical record review.

Trends and Disparities in Curative-Intent Treatment for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis of Surgery and SBRT.

Background: Despite the increasing adoption of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as a recommended alternative for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), population-based research on racial/ethnic disparities in curative-intent treatment accounting for SBRT remains limited. This study investigated trends and disparities in receiving curative-intent surgery and/or SBRT in a diverse, retrospective cohort.

Methods: Early-stage NSCLC cases (2005-2017) from the Florida cancer registry were linked to individual-level statewide discharge data containing comorbidities and specific treatment information.

Elevated breast cancer mortality among highly educated Asian American women.

Background: Postmenopausal breast cancer (PMBC) is the most commonly diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the US. Research examining the association between PMBC and education level has been inconsistent; no study in the US has examined how educational level impacts PMBC mortality in Asian American women, a largely immigrant population with above-average educational attainment.

Methods: California Vital Statistics data from 2012-2017 were analyzed to derive age-adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) by education level (associates degree or above referred to as "higher education", high school, less than high school) and race [Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Asian/Pacific Islander (Asian), and its two largest subpopulations: Chinese and Filipino] from negative binomial regression models.

Balance and vestibular function and survival in US cancer survivors.

Background: Cancer and its treatment damage the musculoskeletal system and induce neurotoxicity, affecting the key sensory inputs for maintaining balance. The present study describes the pattern of balance impairment and evaluated its association with mortality among US cancer survivors.

Methods: Data on a nationally representative sample of cancer survivors from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2015 was analyzed.

Diet quality, school attendance, and body weight status in adolescent girls in rural Guatemala.

A cluster of factors affects nutritional status among adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated the association between school attendance and diet quality among 498 rural adolescent girls (352 attending and 146 not attending school) in Tecpán, Guatemala. In a cross-sectional study, we collected sociodemographic and anthropometric data and characterized the dietary intake using a Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Association between Intake of Energy and Macronutrients and Memory Impairment Severity in US Older Adults, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014.

Without a cure, dementia affects about 50 million people worldwide. Understanding the effects of dietary habits, a key lifestyle behavior, on memory impairment is critical to inform early behavioral modification to delay further memory loss and progression to dementia. We examined the associations of total energy intake and energy intake from macronutrients with memory impairment among older US adults using data from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study 2011-2014.

Trends in Sexual Activity and Associations With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among US Adults.

Background: Sexual activity can be referred to as a health behavior and may also act as an indicator of health status.

Aim: To evaluate temporal trends in sexual activity and to examine associations of sexual activity with all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk.

Methods: We examined the trends and prevalence of sexual activity and association of sexual activity with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a nationally representative sample using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2016 and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2014 Linked Mortality File (through December 31, 2015).

Regular Coffee Consumption Is Associated with Lower Regional Adiposity Measured by DXA among US Women.

Background: Coffee is among the most popular daily beverages in the United States. Importantly, coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of multiple health outcomes including a reduction in adiposity. DXA is a means to assess body fat and distribution.

Prevalence, correlates and misperception of depression symptoms in the United States, NHANES 2015-2018.

Purpose: To update the prevalence of depression in the US and identify whether misperception exists in depression assessed by self-report versus validated tools administered by trained professionals.

Methods: We extracted data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, medical conditions, depressive symptoms, and self-reported depressive feeling from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study 2015-2018. We calculated the weighted prevalence and 95% CI of depressive symptoms assessed by a validated tool PHQ-9 (score≥10) and self-reported depression respectively.

Association of Hot Tea Consumption with Regional Adiposity Measured by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in NHANES 2003-2006.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential antiobesity benefits of hot tea consumption at the population level.

Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006, the association between hot tea consumption and dual-energy x-ray-measured body fat was examined in a large representative sample of US adults (n = 5,681, 51.9% women).

Trends and prevalence of nocturia among US adults, 2005-2016.

Purpose: Increased nocturia episodes can be a clinical marker of poor health status. The present study aimed to evaluate patterns and temporal trends in nocturia and sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates in the US population.

Methods: Participants, aged 20 years or older, were included in this repeated cross-sectional study.

A p-i-n junction diode based on locally doped carbon nanotube network.

A p-i-n junction diode constructed by the locally doped network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was investigated. In this diode, the two opposite ends of the SWNT-network channel were selectively doped by triethyloxonium hexachloroantimonate (OA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) to obtain the air-stable p- and n-type SWNTs respectively while the central area of the SWNT-network remained intrinsic state, resulting in the formation of a p-i-n junction with a strong built-in electronic field in the SWNTs. The results showed that the forward current and the rectification ratio of the diode increased as the doping degree increased.

Carbon nanotube intramolecular p-i-n junction diodes with symmetric and asymmetric contacts.

A p-i-n junction diode based on the selectively doped single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) had been investigated, in which two opposite ends of individual SWCNT channel were doped into the p- and n-type SWCNT respectively while the middle segment of SWCNT was kept as the intrinsic. The symmetric and asymmetric contacts were used to fabricate the p-i-n junction diodes respectively and studied the effect of the contact on the device characteristics. It was shown that a low reverse saturation current of ~20 pA could be achieved by these both diodes.