Circulating microRNAs associated with prolonged overall survival in lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab.

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Circulating microRNAs associated with prolonged overall survival in lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab.

Acta Oncol. 2018 Apr 23;:1-7

Authors: Halvorsen AR, Sandhu V, Sprauten M, Flote VG, Kure EH, Brustugun OT, Helland Å

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The introduction of immune check-point inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy represents improved prospects for the patients. The response rates to check-point inhibitors are approximately 20% in unselected NSCLC patients. Increasing levels of tumor PD-L1 expression are associated with higher response rates. However, patients with low PD-L1 levels may also have durable responses, and improved strategies for patient stratification are needed.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated circulating microRNAs aiming to identify circulating predictive biomarkers associated with increased overall survival after immune check-point treatment. Using next generation sequencing, we performed microRNA profiling in serum from NSCLC patients (n = 20) treated with nivolumab. Serum samples from 31 patients were used for validation using qPCR assays. Serum samples were collected prior to immune therapy initiation.
RESULTS: Based on multivariate regression analysis, we identified a signature of seven microRNAs (miR-215-5p, miR-411-3p, miR-493-5p, miR-494-3p, miR-495-3p, miR-548j-5p and miR-93-3p) significantly associated with overall survival (OS) > 6 months in discovery cohort (p = .0003). We further validated this in another similar set of samples (n = 31) and the model was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) > 6 months (p = .001) with sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 90%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study of circulating microRNAs, we have identified a 7-miR signature associated with survival in nivolumab-treated NSCLC patients. This signature may lead to better treatment options for patients with NSCLC, but a validation in an independent cohort is needed to confirm the predicted potential.

PMID: 29683761 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Parental Alcohol Drinking Habit as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students in Barbados

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Parental Alcohol Drinking Habit as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students in Barbados

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Apr 23;19(S1):57-62

Authors: Oshi, Abel WD, Oshi DC, Smith PW, Ricketts Roomes TF, Meka IA, Weaver S, Rae T, Mitchell G, Belinfante A, Agu CF

Abstract
Background: In Barbados and the wider Caribbean region, alcohol is widely consumed by adolescents and young people, including those in secondary schools. The high prevalence of alcohol use, and its potential adverse effects are a source of concern to policy makers and the general population, which calls for better understanding of the drivers of this problem. This study thus aimed at investigating whether parental alcohol drinking habit is a predictor of alcohol use among secondary school students in the country. Methods: The predictor variables and response variables in the study were categorical, and so descriptive, univariate analysis consisted of computation of frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analysis using Pearson's Chi Square was done to test for significant differences in the response variables among groups. Logistic regression modeling was used in multivariate analysis to determine the predictor variables that were significantly associated with the response variables. Results: Significant associations were seen between students' age, (P= 0.00), grade (P=0.00), fathers' drinking habit (P=0.00), mothers' drinking habit (P=0.00), and both past year and past month alcohol use, in bivariate analysis. Logit model shows that students whose fathers drink only on weekends, sometimes during the week, or every day, respectively, had significantly increased risk of alcohol use in the past month (AOR= 2.62, 95%CI= 1.81- 3.77; AOR= 1.85, 95%CI= 1.19- 2.85; AOR= 2.18, 95%CI= 1.49- 3.18). Students whose mothers drink only on special occasion had significantly higher risk of alcohol use in the past year and past month (AOR= 1.99, 95%CI= 1.06- 3.74; AOR= 2.30, 95%CI= 1.36- 3.89 respectively). Conclusion: Having fathers who drink only on weekend, sometimes during the week and every day were significantly positively associated with alcohol use in the past month. Having mothers who drink only on special occasion was a risk factor for past year and past month alcohol use. However, having mothers who drin

PMID: 29682922 [PubMed - in process]

https://ift.tt/2qRDzBy

Alcohol Drinking among Primary School Children in Trinidad and Tobago: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

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Alcohol Drinking among Primary School Children in Trinidad and Tobago: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Apr 23;19(S1):51-55

Authors: Agu CF, Oshi DC, Weaver S, Abel WD, Rae T, Ricketts Roomes TF, Oshi SN

Abstract
Background: Underage alcohol use is a pervasive problem with serious health, social and safety consequences. This study was undertaken to assess alcohol use by primary school children in Trinidad and Tobago, and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: We analysed data collected from 40 primary schools in Trinidad and Tobago by the National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (NADAPP). The sample comprised of children aged 8 -15 years old, in standards 3, 4 and 5. Result: Out of the 2052 children, 648 (31.6%) have consumed alcohol in their lifetime, and same proportion reported ever being drunk (31.6%). Male gender was significantly associated with lifetime alcohol use (AOR =1.60, 95% CI= 1.25 - 2.05). Children not living with their father (AOR= 2.45, 95% CI=1.86- 3.24) and those whose fathers have either primary or secondary education (AOR = 1.88, 95%CI=1.07 - 3.31; AOR= 1.58, 95%CI=1.12 - 2.23 respectively) were at higher risk for lifetime alcohol consumption. However, age group 8 – 11 years was significantly inversely associated with lifetime alcohol consumption (AOR= 0.67, 95% CI=0.48 - 0.94). Conclusion: Being a male student, not living with father, and father attaining either primary or secondary education level were significantly associated with increased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use. However, children between 8 – 11 years were less likely to consume alcohol.

PMID: 29682921 [PubMed - in process]

https://ift.tt/2HnRXrq

Investigating the Role of Alcohol in Behavioural Problems at School among Secondary School Students in Barbados

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Investigating the Role of Alcohol in Behavioural Problems at School among Secondary School Students in Barbados

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Apr 23;19(S1):45-50

Authors: Oshi DC, Abel WD, Agu CF, Ricketts Roomes TF, Weaver S, Rae T, Smith PW, Harrison J, Oshi SN

Abstract
Background: The prevalence of alcohol use is quite high in the Caribbean region, and specifically, in Barbados. Alcohol use has been documented to negatively affect the way students behave within and outside school. This study set out to examine the role alcohol plays in students' behavioural problems at school. Methods: An analysis of crosssectional data collected during the National Secondary Schools Survey was done. Mean (and standard deviation), frequencies and percentages were computed, and differences in proportions among the groups were assessed using Pearson's Chi Square. Multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression was done to determine the association between explanatory variables and outcome variables. Results: In bivariate analysis, behavioural problems at school were significantly associated with age (p= 0.001), grade (p= 0.000), sense of belonging at school (p= 0.000), relationship with teachers (p= 0.000), and past month alcohol use (p= 0.007). In multivariate analysis, students' having frequent behavioural problems at school was significantly associated with neither past year nor past month alcohol use (AOR= 1.13, 95% CI= 0.91- 1.40, AOR= 1.02, 95% CI= 0.83- 1.24 respectively). Significant inverse associations were found between students' behavioural problems and age (11- 14 years: AOR= 0.53, 95% CI= 0.33- 0.84; AOR= 0.51, 95% CI= 0.32- 0.82 for models 1 and 2 respectively), and relationship with teachers (very good: AOR= 0.10, 95% CI= 0.07- 0.16; AOR= 0.13, 95% CI= 0.09- 0.20 for models 1 and 2 respectively). Conclusion: Neither past year nor past month alcohol consumption by students was associated with frequent behavioural problems at school. Students who were younger than 17 years, and who had a relationship with their teachers that was not very bad were significantly less likely to engage in frequent behavioural problems.

PMID: 29682920 [PubMed - in process]

https://ift.tt/2qUogIh

Are Adolescents likely to Start Smoking Early if Their Parents are Smokers? A Study of Jamaican High School Students

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Are Adolescents likely to Start Smoking Early if Their Parents are Smokers? A Study of Jamaican High School Students

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Apr 23;19(S1):25-31

Authors: Agu CF, Weaver S, Abel WD, Rae T, Oshi SN, Smith PW, Ukwaja KN, Ricketts Roomes T, Meka I, Oshi DC

Abstract
Background: The prevalence of cigarette smoking is high among adolescents in the Caribbean, including Jamaica. Age of initiation of cigarette smoking varies among adolescents. A number of factors has been reported to influence early age of initiation of cigarette smoking. The aim of this study was to determine if parental smoking status was associated with early age of onset of cigarette smoking among Jamaican adolescents. Methods: Data from the Jamaican National School Survey (NSS) conducted in 2013 were analysed. The nationally representative sample comprised of 3,365 students enrolled in 8th grade to 12th grade in 38 public and private secondary schools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using SPSS. Results: The mean age of initiation of cigarette smoking among the subjects was 12.4years [SD: 2.69]. There was no significant association between parental cigarette smoking status and the age of initiation of cigarette smoking among the adolescents (female X2 = 0.753, P = 0.861; male X2 = 6.953, P = 0.073). Logistic regression analysis showed that parental smoking status was not a predictor of early age of initiation of cigarette smoking among the adolescents (father/ guardian AOR= 0.81, 95% CI= 0.56- 1.11; mother/guardian AOR= 0.96, 95% CI= 0.44 – 2.10; both parent AOR= 0.49, 95%CI= 0.22- 1.07). However, having a parent with secondary education was a risk factor for early initiation of smoking (AOR= 1.71, 95%CI= 1.13-2.57), while being in 8th grade was a protective factor against early age of initiation of cigarette smoking (AOR= 0.43, 95% CI= 0.23 - 0.80). Conclusion: Parental smoking cigarette smoking status was not a predictor of early age of cigarette smoking initiation among Jamaican adolescents.

PMID: 29682917 [PubMed - in process]

https://ift.tt/2vDK4wx

Single Parent Family Structure as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students: Evidence from Jamaica

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Single Parent Family Structure as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students: Evidence from Jamaica

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Apr 23;19(S1):19-23

Authors: Oshi SN, Abel WD, Agu CF, Omeje JC, Smith PW, Ukwaja KN, Ricketts Roomes T, Meka IA, Weaver S, Rae T, Oshi DC

Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between Jamaican secondary students' alcohol drinking habits and their family structure. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative survey of 3,365 students were analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Results: Out of the 3,365 students, 1,044 (31.0%) were from single-parent families. Single-parent families, married-parent families and common law-parent families were significantly associated with lifetime use of alcohol (AOR= 1.72, 95% CI= 1.06 - 2.79; AOR= 1.73, 95% CI= 1.07- 2.81, AOR= 1.94, 95%CI= 1.17- 3.21 respectively). However, family structure was not significantly associated with past year and past month alcohol use. Students whose parents "sometimes" knew their whereabouts were significantly less likely to use alcohol in their lifetime compared to students whose parents "Always" knew where the students were. Conclusion: Family structure is an independent predictor of alcohol use among high school students in Jamaica. Being from single-parent families, married-parent and common- law parent families were significantly associated with increased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use.

PMID: 29681146 [PubMed - in process]

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Does Risk Perception Affect Alcohol Consumption among Secondary School Students in Jamaica?

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Does Risk Perception Affect Alcohol Consumption among Secondary School Students in Jamaica?

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018 Apr 23;19(S1):13-18

Authors: Oshi SN, Abel WD, Ricketts Roomes T, Meka IA, Harrison J, Weaver S, Agu CF, Smith PW, Omeje JC, Rae T, Oshi DC

Abstract
Background: Alcohol consumption among young people is a major public health problem world-wide and in Jamaica. A number of factors have been reported to affect alcohol use among high school students. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of perception of the harmfulness of alcohol on alcohol use among secondary school students in Jamaica. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative sample of 3,365 students were analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS. Results: Students' perception of risk of drinking alcohol frequently and getting drunk respectively had positive and significant associations with past month alcohol use (AOR= 1.44, 95% CI= 1.09- 1.88 and AOR= 1.38, 95% CI= 1.02- 1.86, respectively) compared to students who felt that drinking alcohol frequently and getting drunk were very harmful. Males, 12 years or younger were significantly less likely to use alcohol in the past month (AOR= 0.77, 95% CI=0.60- 0.97; AOR= 0.68, 95% CI= 0.53-0.97 respectively). Students with good relationship with their mothers were less likely to use alcohol in the past year and past month (AOR= 0.55, 95% CI= 0.35-0.87; AOR= 0.50, 95% CI= 0.32- 0.78). Conclusion: Risk perception of the harmfulness of alcohol significantly affects alcohol use among secondary school students in Jamaica. Males, 12 years or younger, who had good relationship with mothers, were significantly less likely to use alcohol in past month

PMID: 29681145 [PubMed - in process]

https://ift.tt/2vDte0U