Authors: Gabriela Ilie, Robert Rutledge, Ellen Sweeney Abstract Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent form of cancer among men and has one of the most favorable survival rates among all cancers. Here we examine the association between depression and anxiety symptoms in a population‐based sample of men. Methods: A cross‐sectional analysis was conducted on a subsample of 6 585 male participants aged 49‐69 from 2009 to 2015 survey cycle of the Atlantic PATH. Mild, moderate or severe depression or anxiety indicators were primary outcomes and were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD‐7) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9). The presence of a lifetime history of PCa, other forms of cancer (except PCa) or absence of either was the main predictor variable. Results: An estimated 3.9% of men self‐identified as having had a history of PCa diagnosis, 11.3% of men identified as having had a history of other forms of cancer and 84.9% reported never having had a diagnosis of cancer in their lifetime, respectively. Survivors of PCa had 2.45 or 2.05 statistically significantly higher odds of screening positive for current anxiety or depressive symptoms, respectively, compared with those who identified as without a lifetime history of any form of cancer in controlled analyses (including survivorship time). Conclusions: Increased rates of anxiety and depression among men with a history of PCa highlight the need for mental health screening among PCa survivors. The findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary effort to prioritize and deliver comprehensive mental health support to PCa survivors. Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pon.5244

Authors: Yunsong Cui, Ellen Sweeney, Cynthia Forbes, Vanessa DeClercq, Scott Grandy, Melanie Keats, Louise Parker, Zhijiie Michael Yu, Trevor JB Dummer Abstract The population of Atlantic Canada is aging rapidly and has among the highest rates of chronic disease in the country. This cross-sectional study drew data from the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (Atlantic PATH) study to investigate the association between physical activity and self-rated health among adults in this population. The results suggest that physical activity is associated with and may help to improve perceived health status of individuals with one or more chronic conditions. The findings support literature suggesting that physical activity can be beneficial for adults as they age with chronic disease. Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08952841.2020.1735286?journalCode=wjwa20

Authors: Melanie Keats, Yunsong Cui, Vanessa DeClercq, Scott Grandy, Ellen Sweeney, Trevor JB Dummer Abstract: Purpose: Individuals living with cancer have been shown to have a higher burden of comorbid disease and multimorbidity in comparison to their cancer-free counterparts consequently, leaving them at risk of polypharmacy (i.e., ≥ 5 medications) and its potential negative effects. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the self-reported prevalence of and association between multimorbidity and prescription medication use in a population-based sample of adult cancer survivors (CS). Methods: This retrospective, nested case–control study drew participant data from the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health cohort. CS (n = 1708) were matched to 4 non-cancer controls (n = 6832) by age and sex. Prevalence of polypharmacy by number of chronic conditions and age was estimated with 95% CI. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between multimorbidity and polypharmacy while adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. The comorbidity–polypharmacy score was also calculated as an estimate of disease burden. Results: Multimorbidity was common in both CS (53%) and non-cancer controls (43%); however, a significantly higher percentage of CS reported multimorbidity (p < 0.001). Prescription medication use was also found to be significantly higher among CS (2.3 ± 2.6) compared to non-cancer controls (1.8 ± 2.3; p < 0.0001). Exploratory comorbidity–polypharmacy score analyses indicated that CS had a significantly higher overall disease burden than the age/sex-matched non-cancer controls. Conclusions: As CS appear to be at a higher risk of multimorbidity and polypharmacy and by extension, increased healthcare burden, ongoing education on the prevention of medication-related harm, and interventions to reduce the occurrence of both co-morbid disease and unnecessary medications are warranted. Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-020-05529-3

Authors: David Fleming, Samantha Crook, Colby Evans, Michael Nader, Manuel Atia, Jason Hicks, Ellen Sweeney, Christopher McFarlane, Jong Sung Kim, Erin Keltie, Anil Adisesh Abstract: Zinc is an essential trace element in humans. Zinc deficiency can result in a range of serious medical conditions which include effects on growth and development, the immune system, the central nervous system, and the gastrointestinal system. Diagnosis of zinc deficiency is often precluded by the lack of a noninvasive and reliable biomarker. Zinc concentration in nail is considered an emerging biomarker of zinc status in humans. Whether zinc in nail accurately reflects zinc status is beyond the scope of the current study, but is an important research question. The development of a portable method to quickly assess zinc concentration from a single nail clipping could be a useful advance. In this study, single toenail clippings from 60 individuals living in Atlantic Canada were measured for zinc using a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. These samples were obtained from the Atlantic PATH cohort, part of the largest chronic disease study ever performed in Canada. Each toenail clipping was measured using three 300 s trials with a mono-energetic portable XRF system. Results were then assessed using two different approaches to the XRF analysis: (1) factory-calibrated zinc concentrations were output from each trial, and (2) energy spectra were analyzed for the characteristic X-rays resulting from zinc. Following the measurement of zinc using the non-destructive portable XRF method, the same clippings were measured for zinc concentration using the “gold standard” technique of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A linear equation of best fit was determined for the relationship between average XRF output zinc concentration and ICP-MS zinc concentration, with a correlation coefficient r = 0.60. Similarly, a linear equation of best fit was found for the relationship between a normalized XRF energy spectrum zinc signal and ICP-MS zinc concentration, with a correlation coefficient r = 0.68. Individual ICP-MS zinc concentrations ranged from 32 μg/g to 140 μg/g, with a population average of 85 μg/g. The results of this study indicate that portable XRF is a sensitive method for the measurement of zinc in a single nail clipping, and provides a reasonable estimation of zinc concentration. Further method development is required before portable XRF be considered a routine alternative to ICP-MS for the assessment of zinc in nail clippings. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0946672X20301681