Magnetic nanomaterials belong to a class of highly-functionalizable tools for cancer therapy owing to their intrinsic magnetic properties and multifunctional design that provides a multimodal theranostics platform for cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. In this review article, we have provided an overview of the various applications of magnetic nanomaterials and recent advances in the development of these nanomaterials as cancer therapeutics. Moreover, the cancer targeting, potential toxicity, and degradability of these nanomaterials has been briefly addressed. Finally, the challenges for clinical translation and the future scope of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer therapy are discussed.

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is recommended for adults aged 50–75 years, yet screening rates are low, especially among the uninsured. The CDC initiated the Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) in 2009 with the goal of increasing CRC screening rates to 80% by 2014. A total of 29 grantees (states and tribal organizations) receive CRCCP funding to (1) screen uninsured adults and (2) promote CRC screening at the population level. Purpose CRCCP encourages grantees to use one or more of five evidence-based interventions (EBIs) recommended by the Guide to Community Preventive Services. The purpose of the study was to evaluate grantees’ EBI use. Methods A web-based survey was conducted in 2011 measuring grantees’ use of CRC screening EBIs and identifying their implementation partners. Data were analyzed in 2012. Results Twenty-eight grantees (97%) completed the survey. Most respondents (96%) used small media. Fewer used client reminders (75%); reduction of structural barriers (50%); provider reminders (32%); or provider assessment and feedback (50%). Provider-oriented EBIs were rated as harder to implement than client-oriented EBIs. Grantees partnered with several types of organizations to implement EBIs, many with county- or state-wide reach. Conclusions Almost all grantees implement EBIs to promote CRC screening, but the EBIs that may have the greatest impact with CRC screening are implemented by fewer grantees in the first 2 years of the CRCCP.

High rates of heart disease, cancer, and stroke exist in rural South Georgia where the Emory Prevention Research Center's Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network provided mini-grant funding to six churches to implement policy and environmental change to promote healthy eating and physical activity. This study sought to determine whether perceptions of the health promotion environment changed over time and whether perceived environmental change was associated with healthy behavior at church and in general. This study used a single-group pre-post design with 1-year follow-up. Parishioners (N = 258) completed self-administered questionnaires assessing perceptions of the church health promotion environment relative to healthy eating and physical activity, eating behavior and intention to use physical activity facilities at church, and eating and physical activity behaviors generally. Results indicate that perceived improvements in church nutrition environments were most strongly associated with decreases in unhealthy food consumed and stronger intentions to use physical activity resources at church (ps ≤ .05). Perceived changes in the physical activity environment were unrelated to church or general behavior. Findings suggest that church environments may play an important role in supporting healthy eating and physical activity at church; however, whether the influence of the church environment extends to other settings is unknown.

Asians are reported to have poorer healthcare experience than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), but the sources of the differences are not understood. One explanation is Asian's reluctance to choose extreme responses in survey. We thus sought to compare NHW-Asian differences in responses to healthcare experience surveys when asked to report versus rate their experiences. Patients of an outpatient care system in 2013 to 2014 in the United States were studied. Patient experience surveys were sent after randomly selected clinic visits. Responses from 6 major Asian subgroups and NHWs were included (N = 61,115). The surveys used a combined questionnaire of Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG-CAHPS) and Press Ganey surveys. CG-CAHPS questions are framed as “reporting” and Press Ganey questions as “rating” of experiences. We compared the proportion of favorable (or top box) responses to 2 related questions, one from CG-CAHPS and another from Press Ganey, and assessed racial/ethnic differences when using each of the 2 related questions, using a Pearson chi-squared test for independence. All Asian subgroups were less likely to select top box than NHWs for all questions. The Asian-NHW differences in "rating” questions were larger than the difference in related “reporting” questions. Of those who chose top box to CG-CAHPS questions (e.g., “Yes” on a question asking “Waited < 15 minutes”), their responses to related Press Ganey questions varied widely: 47% to 57% of Asian subgroups versus 67% of NHWs rated wait time as “Very good.” The extent of racial/ethnic differences in patient-reported experiences varies based on how questions are framed. The observed poorer experiences by Asians are in part explained by their worse rating of similar objectively measurable experiences.

Background: Today, approximately one in five United States adolescents age 12 to 19 years is obese and just over a third are either overweight or obese. This study examines how parents and peers influence diet and physical activity behaviors of older adolescents (14-18 years) with overweight or obesity to inform weight management interventions. Methods: Adolescent participants included 14 to 18-year-olds with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than the 85th percentile for their age and sex who were receiving care in a large healthcare system in Northern California. Adolescents and their parents participated in separate focus groups and interviews (if not able to attend focus groups) that were held at the same time in the same location. We used qualitative thematic analysis to identify common themes discussed in the adolescent and parent focus groups as well as paired analysis of adolescent-parent dyads. Results: Participants included 26 adolescents and 27 parents. Adolescent participants were 14 to 18 years old. Half were female and the participants were almost evenly distributed across year in school. The majority self-identified as White (56%) and Asian (36%).Three themes were identified which included 1) parents overestimated how supportive they were compared to adolescents' perception 2) parents and adolescents had different views regarding parental influence on adolescent diet and physical activity behaviors 3) parents and adolescents held similar views on peers' influential role on lifestyle behaviors. Conclusion: Parents' and adolescents' differing views suggest that alignment of parent and adolescent expectations and behaviors for supporting effective weight management could be incorporated into interventions.