The metabolic syndrome contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. 1-4 Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006 reported a metabolic syndrome prevalence of 34%. 5 Understanding updated prevalence trends may be important given the potential effect of the metabolic syndrome and its associated health complications on the aging US population. We investigated trends in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome through 2012.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. CRC incidence and mortality can be reduced through screening. However, in the United States, screening participation remains suboptimal, particularly among underserved populations such as the uninsured, recent immigrants, and racial/ethnic minority groups. Increasing screening rates among underserved populations will reduce the US burden of CRC. In this commentary focusing on underserved populations, we highlight the public health impact of CRC screening, list key challenges to screening the underserved, and review promising approaches to boost screening rates. We identify four key policy and research priorities to increase screening among underserved populations: 1) actively promote the message, "the best test is the one that gets done"; 2) develop and implement methods to identify unscreened individuals within underserved population groups for screening interventions; 3) develop and implement approaches for organized screening delivery; and 4) fund and enhance programs and policies that provide access to screening, diagnostic follow-up, and CRC treatment for underserved populations. This commentary represents the consensus of a diverse group of experts in cancer control and prevention, epidemiology, gastroenterology, and primary care from across the country who formed the Coalition to Boost Screening among the Underserved in the United States. The group was organized and held its first annual working group meeting in conjunction with the World Endoscopy Organization's annual Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee meeting during Digestive Disease Week 2012 in San Diego, California.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the fastest rising causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with disparities observed in cancer incidence and survival between ethnic groups. This report provides updated analyses on race-specific disparities in US HCC trends. METHODS: This large, population-based cohort study was conducted using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry data from 2003 to 2011 to investigate race-specific disparities in HCC incidence and survival. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2011, Asians had the highest HCC incidence, followed by blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites. During the same period, Hispanics had the greatest increase in HCC incidence (135.8%), whereas Asians experienced a 5.5% decrease. Although patients aged 65 years had the highest HCC incidence among all racial/ethnic groups, the higher HCC incidence in Asians was observed only for patients ages <50 and 65 years, whereas HCC incidence among patients ages 50 to 64 years was similar among Asians, blacks, and Hispanics. The overall 5-year HCC survival rate was highest among Asians (26.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.5%-27.6%) and lowest among blacks (21.3%; 95% CI, 19.5%-23.1%). On multivariate regression, Asians (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.79-0.87; P < .001) and blacks (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99; P 5 .01) had significantly higher survival compared with non-Hispanic whites. CONCLUSIONS: Asians were the only group to demonstrate a declining HCC incidence in the form of a shift from advanced HCC to more localized HCC. These findings most likely reflect improved screening and surveillance efforts for this group. Cancer 2016;122:2512-23. V C 2016 American Cancer Society.KEYWORDS: incidence, liver cancer, racial differences, screening, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. [1][2][3] In the United States, the incidence of HCC has more than quadrupled, becoming the fastest rising cause of cancer-related deaths. 4,5 Although Asians have the highest overall HCC incidence, when stratified by race/ethnicity, the largest proportional increase in HCC incidence has been observed among Hispanics and blacks. 6,7 These observed differences in HCC trends may reflect race/ethnicity-specific differences in the underlying etiology of HCC, including chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and alcoholic liver disease. 8 For example, the predominant etiology of HCC among Asians is HBV, and improved treatment of HBV over time may contribute to decreased incidence of HCC. In addition, race/ethnicity-specific differences in disease progression and HCC risk may occur even when the underlying liver disease etiology is the same. Disparities in disease progression and HCC risk may warrant more aggressive disease managem...

Among US adults with HCC, MA, or NI patients had more advanced tumor stage at diagnosis, lower rates treatment, and significantly lower overall survival. Ensuring equal insurance coverage may improve access to care and mitigate some disparities in HCC outcomes.

Concurrent DM is associated with increased HCC risk among chronic HCV patients. BMI and steatosis may also increase HCC risk, but the limitations of the current studies do not allow us to draw strong conclusions.

Among US adults with HCC, blacks consistently had more advanced stage at diagnosis and lower rates of receiving treatment. After correcting for cancer stage and evaluating the subset of patients eligible for curative therapies, blacks and Hispanics had significantly lower rates of curative HCC treatment.

NAFLD represents a major healthcare burden among US adults with as many as 5 million adults estimated to have NAFLD with ≥F3 fibrosis. Age and the components of the metabolic syndrome are independently associated with higher risk of fibrosis.

CTE seems to add unique information to clinical assessment, both in detecting additional strictures and in changing clinicians' perceptions of the likelihood of steroids benefiting patients. The biomarker correlations suggest that CTE is measuring real biologic phenomena that correlate with inflammation, providing information distinct from that in a standard clinical assessment.