Search

BACKGROUND Aim2Be is a gamified lifestyle app designed to promote lifestyle behavior changes among Canadian adolescents and their families. OBJECTIVE The primary aim was to test the efficacy of the Aim2Be app with support from a live coach to reduce weight outcomes (BMI Z score [zBMI]) and improve lifestyle behaviors among adolescents with overweight and obesity and their parents versus a waitlist control group over 3 months. The secondary aim was to compare health trajectories among waitlist control participants over 6 months (before and after receiving access to the app), assess whether support from a live coach enhanced intervention impact, and evaluate whether the app use influenced changes among intervention participants. METHODS A 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted from November 2018 to June 2020. Adolescents aged 10 to 17 years with overweight or obesity and their parents were randomized into an intervention group (Aim2Be with a live coach for 6 months) or a waitlist control group (Aim2Be with no live coach; accessed after 3 months). Adolescents’ assessments at baseline and at 3 and 6 months included measured height and weight, 24-hour dietary recalls, and daily step counts measured with a Fitbit. Data on self-reported physical activity, screen time, fruit and vegetable intake, and sugary beverage intake of adolescents and parents were also collected. RESULTS A total of 214 parent-child participants were randomized. In our primary analyses, there were no significant differences in zBMI or any of the health behaviors between the intervention and control groups at 3 months. In our secondary analyses, among waitlist control participants, zBMI (P=.02), discretionary calories (P=.03), and physical activity outside of school (P=.001) declined, whereas daily screen time increased (PP=.001). App use did not modify any changes in outcomes among adolescents in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS The Aim2Be intervention did not improve zBMI and lifestyle behaviors in adolescents with overweight and obesity compared with the waitlist control group over 3 months. Future studies should explore the potential mediators of changes in zBMI and lifestyle behaviors as well as predictors of engagement. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03651284; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03651284 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1186/s13063-020-4080-2

Background The Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it! (MEND) childhood obesity intervention was implemented in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada from April 2013 to June 2017. The study objective was: a) to describe and explore program reach, attendance, satisfaction, acceptability, fidelity, and facilitators and challenges to implementation during scale-up and implementation of MEND in B.C. while b) monitoring program effectiveness in improving children’s body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist circumference, dietary and physical activity behaviours, and psychological well-being.Methods This prospective, pragmatic implementation evaluation (Hybrid Type 3 design) recruited families with children aged 7-13 with a BMI ≥ 85th percentile for age and sex. The 10-week MEND B.C. program was delivered in 27 sites, throughout all five B.C. health regions (Northern, Interior, Island, Fraser, and Vancouver Coastal) over four years. A mixed-method approach was used to collect and analyze the data. Evaluation measures included: program reach, attendance, fidelity, acceptability, satisfaction, facilitators and challenges to implementation, and effectiveness (change in children’s BMI z-score, physical activity, screen-time, eating behaviours, self-esteem and emotional distress).Results 136 MEND B.C. programs were delivered over four years. The program reached 987 eligible children. 755 (76.5%) children completed the program. The average program attendance was 81.5%. Parents reported the program content was easy to understand, culturally suitable for their family, respectful of their family's financial situation and provided adequate information to build a healthy lifestyle. Children achieved significant positive changes across all four evaluation years in BMI z-score, nutrition behaviours, physical activity levels, hours of screen time per week and emotional distress (p

Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity remains high in Canada, and the current standard for the treatment of childhood obesity is in-person, family-based, multidisciplinary interventions that target lifestyle behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors). These programs are costly to operate, have limited success, and report recruitment and retention challenges. With recent advances in technology, mobile health or mHealth has been presented as a viable alternative to in-person interventions for behavior change, especially with teens. Purpose The primary aim of this study is to test the efficacy of Aim2Be, a gamified app based on behavior change theory with health coaching to improve weight outcomes (i.e., decrease in standardized body mass index (zBMI)) and lifestyle behaviors (i.e., improve dietary quality, increase fruit and vegetable intake, reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake, increase physical activity, and reduce screen time) among children 10- to 17-years old with overweight or obesity versus their peers randomized into a waitlist control condition. The secondary aims of this study are to 1) test whether supplementing the Aim2Be program with health coaching increases adherence and 2) examine the mediators and moderators of adherence to the Aim2Be intervention. Methods We will employ a randomized controlled trial design and recruit 200 child and parent dyads to participate in the study (2019–2020). Participants will be recruited from Canadian pediatric weight management clinics and through online advertisements. Child participants must be between the ages of 10 and 17 years, have overweight or obesity, be able to read English at least at a grade 5 level, and have a mobile phone or home computer with internet access. Following baseline data collection, participants will be randomized into intervention and waitlist control groups. Intervention participants will receive access to Aim2Be, with access to health coaching. After having their data collected for 3 months, the control group will gain access to Aim2Be, with no access to health coaching. Participants will control their frequency and duration of app usage to promote autonomy. Discussion Findings from this study will determine the efficacy of using Aim2Be in improving child weight outcomes and lifestyle behaviors and guide future mHealth interventions for pediatric weight management. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03651284. Registered 29 August 2018.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity remains high in Canada, and the current standard for the treatment of childhood obesity is in-person family-based multidisciplinary interventions that target lifestyle behaviours (e.g. diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviours). These programs are costly to operate, have limited success, and report recruitment and retention challenges. With recent advances in technology, mobile health or mHealth has presented as a viable alternative to in-person interventions for behavior change, especially with teens. Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to test the efficacy of Aim2Be, a gamified app based on behavior change theory with health coaching at improving weight outcomes (i.e., decrease in zBMI) and lifestyle behaviours (i.e. improve dietary quality, increase fruit and vegetable intake, reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake, increase physical activity, and reduce screen time) among 10-17 year old children with overweight or obesity versus their peers randomized into a waitlist control condition. The secondary aims of this study are to: 1) test whether supplementing the Aim2Be program with health coaching increases adherence; and 2) examine the mediators and moderators of adherence to the Aim2Be intervention. Methods: We will employ a randomized controlled trial design and recruit 200 child and parent dyads to participate in the study (2019-2020). Participants will be recruited from Canadian pediatric weight management clinics, and through online advertisements. Child participants must be between the ages of 10-17 years, have overweight or obesity, be able to read English at a grade 5 level, and have a mobile phone or home computer with internet access. Following baseline data collection, participants will be randomized into intervention and waitlist control groups. Intervention participants will receive access to Aim2Be, with access to health coaching. Following 3-month data collection, the control group will gain access to Aim2Be; with no access to health coaching. Participants will control their frequency and duration of app usage to promote autonomy. Discussion: Findings from this study will determine the efficacy of using Aim2Be in improving child weight outcomes and lifestyle behaviours and guide future mHealth interventions for pediatric weight management.

(2009). The Homs Cairn Survey, 1st June–13th July 2008. Palestine Exploration Quarterly: Vol. 141, No. 1, pp. 67-71.

This is a case of a patient presenting with extensive metastatic non-seminoma who remains in remission. The classification and prognosis for non-seminoma and the management options for stage I disease are discussed. The chemotherapy options for advanced disease at presentation and for relapsed disease are explored. Issues surrounding acute treatment-related toxicity are considered, particularly lung injury secondary to bleomycin. Given the improvements that have been made, in terms of prognosis, for patients with germ cell cancers, it is essential to consider the potential late effects of treatment. The risk of cardiovascular complications and secondary malignancy are discussed in this context. Some of the current challenges and controversies in advanced disease, such as the management of residual metastatic disease in multiple sites and brain metastases, are also explored.

Background: Treatment options for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remain inadequate. Irinotecan has been tested in various combinations with platinum agents but the optimal regimen remains uncertain. We undertook a phase I trial to optimise the dose intensity of a 3-weekly irinotecan/carboplatin combination. Methods: Twenty patients with extensive stage SCLC received intravenous carboplatin at an area under the curve (AUC) of 5 on day 1, and irinotecan in 40–70 mg/m2 dose levels on days 1 and 8, every 21 days, for up to 6 cycles. Results: Dose-limiting toxicity occurred in 1 patient at the 50 mg/m2 irinotecan level (grade 3 diarrhoea) and in 2 patients at 70 mg/m2 (grade 5 neutropenic sepsis; combined grade 4 febrile neutropenia, grade 4 diarrhoea and grade 3 thrombosis). Toxicity patterns were consistent with the expected profile for this combination. The objective response rate was 75% and the median survival was 9.3 months (95% confidence interval 7.5–11.2). Conclusion: Irinotecan 60 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 combined with carboplatin AUC 5 every 21 days is recommended for phase II evaluation. This regimen has clinical activity, acceptable toxicity and greater dose intensity over those currently tested in phase III trials.

Background Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication following abdominal surgery. It is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, and its management results in significant cost to health services within both primary and secondary care. Some surgeons believe that the use of a wound-edge protection device may reduce the incidence of SSI. Whilst there is some encouraging evidence showing that such devices may lead to a reduction in SSI, there are no controlled trials of sufficient size or quality to support their routine use. Methods/Design 750 patients will be recruited from around 20 surgical units within the United Kingdom. Patients undergoing laparotomy through any major abdominal incision for any indication, elective or emergency, are eligible. Patients under the age of 18, those undergoing a laparoscopic assisted procedure or who have undergone laparotomy within the previous 3 months, and those who are unable to give informed consent will be excluded. Patients will be randomised (1:1 ratio) to the use of a wound-edge protection device or no wound-edge protection device during surgery. Follow up will consist of blinded clinical wound reviews at 5-7 days and 30-33 days postoperatively with a self-completed questionnaire covering the intervening period. Quality of life questionnaires will be completed prior to surgery and at the subsequent wound review points and information on resource usage will also be captured. The primary outcome measure is SSI within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes include the impact of the degree of wound contamination, patient comorbidity, and operative characteristics on the efficacy of a wound-edge protection device in reducing SSI and whether the use of a wound-edge protection device has an effect on health-related quality of life or length of hospital stay and is cost-effective. Discussion Rossini is the first multicentre observer-blinded randomised controlled trial of sufficient size and quality to establish whether the use of a wound-edge protection device in adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery leads to a lower rate of SSI. The results of this study will be used to inform current surgical practice and may potentially benefit patients undergoing surgery in the future. Trial registration number Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN: ISRCTN40402832

Responding to concerns articulated by Canadian women living with breast cancer and their families, the federal government has provided $2.7 million over five years to establish five regional information exchange pilot projects. Women experience considerable variation in access to information reflecting different resources, communication links and health care delivery systems in each province or territory. The five information projects are taking different approaches to enhance coordination of existing resources and involve women living with breast cancer to improve access to credible, timely, breast cancer information.