Low Cancer Risk of South Asians: A Brief Report

Rates of Compliance in South Indian American Communities of Southern California Regarding Cancer Screening

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown lower rates of cancer screening and high mortality rates among all Asian Americans than among non-Hispanic White populations. However, most of these studies often confound diverse Asian American subgroups with limited data on cancer screening for Indian Americans, with this group being particularly interesting because of their counterintuitive socioeconomic status. For this reason, the objective of this study is to evaluate knowledge of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) cancer screening guidelines and compliance among South Indian Americans residing in Southern California.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study gathering community responses through an electronic survey. The survey reports knowledge of USPSTF screening guidelines and participant compliance rates. Rates were further compared to non-Hispanic White populations from official sources.

RESULTS

South Indian Americans residing in California had lower rates of compliance for colorectal, lung, and breast cancer screening when compared to that of non-Hispanic White populations in the same region, with the exception of cervical cancer screening rates.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the cultural characteristics of special populations, such as Indian Americans, can help communities adhere to more effective screening practices that can improve outcomes.

Mechanisms Behind the Pharmacological Application of Biochanin-A: A review

This review was aimed at summarizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the various pharmacological actions of biochanin-A. Many studies have been reported claiming its application in cancers, metabolic disorders, airway hyperresponsiveness, cardiac disorders, neurological disorders, etc. With regard to hormone-dependent cancers like breast, prostate, and other malignancies like pancreatic, colon, lung, osteosarcoma, glioma that has limited treatment options, biochanin-A revealed agreeable results in arresting cancer development. Biochanin-A has also shown therapeutic benefits when administered for neurological disorders, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and other chronic diseases/disorders. Isoflavones are considered phenomenal due to their high efficiency in modifying the physiological functions of the human body. Biochanin-A is one among the prominent isoflavones found in soy (glycine max), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and alfalfa sprouts, etc., with proven potency in modulating vital cellular mechanisms in various diseases. It has been popular for ages among menopausal women in controlling symptoms. In view of the multi-targeted functions of biochanin-A, it is essential to summarize it's mechanism of action in various disorders. The safety and efficacy of biochanin-A needs to be established in clinical trials involving human subjects. Biochanin-A might be able to modify various systems of the human body like the cardiovascular system, CNS, respiratory system, etc. It has shown a remarkable effect on hormonal cancers and other cancers. Many types of research on biochanin-A, particularly in breast, lung, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, have shown a positive impact. Through modulating oxidative stress, SIRT-1 expression, PPAR gamma receptors, and other multiple mechanisms biochanin-A produces anti-diabetic action. The diverse molecular mechanistic pathways involved in the pharmacological ability of biochanin-A indicate that it is a very promising molecule and can play a major impact in modifying several physiological functions.

A need for diet assessment technology for South Asians living in the USA

South Asians are among the fastest growing ethnic group in the USA yet remain understudied in epidemiologic studies. Due to their unique disease profile, identifying risk moderators and mitigators, such as dietary patterns and food intake, will help to determine the diet-disease relationship that is specific to this largely immigrant population group in the USA. The aim of this commentary is to highlight the dietary traditions and acculturated practices experienced by South Asians in the USA with a call for a diet assessment instrument that adequately captures their dietary diversity. Specifically, we call for (i) the inclusion of traditional food items, such as herbs and spices, that individualize diet assessment for participants; and (ii) leveraging technology that will enhance the experience of diet assessment for both researchers and participants, tailoring the collection of habitual dietary intake in this diverse population group.

Social determinants of psychological distress in Sierra Leone

PURPOSE

Growing evidence demonstrates that daily stressors such as family violence, unemployment, and living conditions play an important part in causing psychological distress. This paper investigates the impact of distressing events and day-to-day living conditions on psychological distress in the fragile context of Sierra Leone.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 904 adults (454 men, 450 women) in 5 districts of Sierra Leone. The survey questionnaire comprised the Sierra Leone Psychological Distress scale and measures of demographic variables and personal characteristics, current life circumstances and potentially distressing events.

RESULTS

Multiple regression results identified three factors to be the greatest contributors to psychological distress: family conflict (β = 0.185, p < 0.001) and inability to afford basic needs (β = 0.175, p < 0.001). Gender differences were evident: factors predicting men's psychological distress included severe sickness or injury (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and being unable to afford basic needs (β = 0.190, p < 0.001); for women, predicting factors were family conflict (β = 0.212, p < 0.001), perceived poor health (β = 0.192, p < 0.001) and inability to afford basic needs (β = 0.190, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Initiatives to promote good mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Sierra Leone should focus on enhancing income-generating and employment opportunities, promoting access to education, and strengthening family relationships.

The South Asian Paradox

For several decades we have studied health outcomes in identified Asian American (ASAM) ethnic groups, comparing ASAM subgroups to whites and to each other. The most striking disparities we found involved South Asians (SAs). The SA individuals had higher coronary artery disease (CAD) risk and lower cancer risk than whites or any other ASAM group. The SA individuals also did not share the lower venous thromboembolism risk of all other ASAM groups. The relatively low prevalence of CAD risk traits in SAs with high CAD incidence defines a paradox. Exploration of these data might help the search for therapeutic and preventive medical benefits.

Lipoprotein(a): An underrecognized genetic risk factor for malignant coronary artery disease in young Indians

Malignant coronary artery disease (CAD) refers to a severe and extensive atherosclerotic process involving multiple coronary arteries in young individuals (aged <45 years in men and <50 years in women) with a low or no burden of established risk factors. Indians, in general, develop acute myocardial infarction (AMI) about 10 years earlier; AMI rates are threefold to fivefold higher in young Indians than in other populations. Although established CAD risk factors have a predictive value, they do not fully account for the excessive burden of CAD in young Indians. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is increasingly recognized as the strongest known genetic risk factor for premature CAD, with high levels observed in Indians with malignant CAD. High Lp(a) levels confer a twofold to threefold risk of CAD-a risk similar to that of established risk factors, including diabetes. South Asians have the second highest Lp(a) levels and the highest risk of AMI from the elevated levels, more than double the risk observed in people of European descent. Approximately 25% of Indians and other South Asians have elevated Lp(a) levels (≥50 mg/dl), rendering Lp(a) a risk factor of great importance, similar to or surpassing diabetes. Lp(a) measurement is ready for clinical use and should be an essential part of all CAD research in Indians.