Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Patient Educ Couns 2021 Apr 1. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States. Electronic address:

Objective: Develop and validate a text message bank to support healthier lifestyle behaviors in older adults at risk for cardiovascular disease utilizing a codesign approach.

Methods: Initially, the researchers, based on literature, developed a bank of 68 SMS text messages focusing on healthy eating (24 messages), physical activity (24 messages), and motivational feedback (20 messages), based on a scoping review of the literature on promoting behavioral change to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors. In the next step, a panel of five experts analyzed every subset of SMS text messages. Read More

Cureus 2021 Mar 12;13(3):e13857. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Humanities, Health, and Society/Family Medicine, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, USA.

Estimates place low intake of fruits and vegetables, physical inactivity, and high BMI (overweight-obesity) as all in the top 12 causes of death. Food and dietary education are becoming a focus in how we approach disease prevention and management, and food prescription programs in particular are showing promise, especially in under-resourced, food-insecure communities. This paper describes a pilot food prescription program in a handful of uninsured patients enrolled in an interprofessional clinical and educational program of a medical school in South Florida. Read More

JMIR Med Inform 2021 Apr 14;9(4):e17503. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Instituto de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain.

Background: Obesity and overweight are a serious health problem worldwide with multiple and connected causes. Simultaneously, chatbots are becoming increasingly popular as a way to interact with users in mobile health apps.

Objective: This study reports the user-centered design and feasibility study of a chatbot to collect linked data to support the study of individual and social overweight and obesity causes in populations. Read More

JMIR Form Res 2021 Apr 13;5(4):e23304. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: Although many mobile health (mHealth) apps have evolved as support tools for self-management of breast cancer, limited studies have developed a comprehensive app and described the algorithms for personalized rehabilitation throughout the breast cancer care continuum.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive mobile app and to describe an algorithm that adjusts personalized content to facilitate self-management throughout the breast cancer care continuum.

Methods: The development process of the modular mHealth app included the following 4 steps: (1) organizing expert teams, (2) defining evidence-based fundamental content and modules, (3) classifying user information for algorithms to personalize the content, and (4) creating the app platform and connectivity to digital health care devices. Read More

JMIR Form Res 2021 04 12;5(4):e25513. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Background: The link between chronic diseases and the Big 6 lifestyle risk behaviors (ie, poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol use, sedentary recreational screen time, and poor sleep) is well established. It is critical to target these lifestyle risk behaviors, as they often co-occur and emerge in adolescence. Smartphones have become an integral part of everyday life, and many adolescents already use mobile apps to monitor their lifestyle behaviors and improve their health. Read More

Eur J Nutr 2021 Apr 11. Epub 2021 Apr 11.

Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Purpose: Recent trials demonstrated remission of type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) following formula diet-induced weight loss. To improve the outreach for populations in need, many mobile health apps targeting weight loss have been developed with limited scientific evaluation of these apps. The present feasibility study investigated the effects of a novel approach incorporating a regular 'whole food-based' low-calorie diet combined with app-based digital education and behavioral change program on glucose metabolism and disease management. Read More

Transl Behav Med 2021 Apr 10. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Mobile applications and paired devices allow individuals to self-monitor physical activity, dietary intake, and weight fluctuation concurrently. However, little is known regarding patterns of use of these self-monitoring technologies over time and their implications for weight loss. The objectives of this study were to identify distinct patterns of self-monitoring technology use and to investigate the associations between these patterns and weight change. Read More

Obes Sci Pract 2021 Feb 23. Epub 2021 Feb 23.

Department of Population Health New York University School of Medicine New York New York USA.

Objective: COVID-19 has changed diet and food shopping behaviors, but a lack of disaggregated data by racial and ethnic subgroup makes it challenging to identify whether specific populations are experiencing greater challenges in safely securing an adequate food supply and engaging in healthy eating behaviors during the pandemic. Thus, the objective of this study was to measure such changes among Asian-American (AA) adults, overall and by ethnic subgroup.

Methods: Using a nationally derived nonprobability sample, 3084 AA adults were recruited, including 1737 East Asian, 570 South Asian, 587 Southeast Asian, and 124 multiethnic Asian adults. Read More

Alzheimers Dement (N Y) 2021 31;7(1):e12155. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) Barcelona Spain.

Introduction: Subjects exhibiting subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are at an increased risk for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Given the delay between risk exposure and disease onset, SCD individuals are increasingly considered a good target population for cost-effective lifestyle-based Alzheimer's disease prevention trials.

Methods: The PENSA study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial that aims to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized multimodal intervention in lifestyle (diet counseling, physical activity, cognitive training, and social engagement) combined with the use of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) over 12 months, in slowing down cognitive decline and improving brain connectivity. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 30;18(7). Epub 2021 Mar 30.

School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

Background: Reaching and engaging individuals, especially young adults, in web-based prevention programs is challenging. 'No Money No Time' (NMNT) is a purpose built, healthy eating website with content and a social marketing strategy designed to reach and engage a young adult (18-34 year olds) target group. The aim of the current study was to conduct a process evaluation of the 12-month social marketing strategy to acquire and engage NMNT users, particularly young adults. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Mar 27;13(4). Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

Poor diet quality among low-income populations is a major contributing factor to their poor health and wellbeing, and thus is a focus of many government aid programs. Mobile food pantries are an increasingly popular method of emergency food assistance, targeting the communities most affected by food insecurity; however, little is known about the dietary characteristics of mobile food pantry users. This study aims to characterize the diet quality and nutrient adequacy level and examine its association with sociodemographic characteristics among mobile food pantry users in Windham County, Connecticut. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 28;18(7). Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Department of Health Administration, Kongju National University, Chungnam 32588, Korea.

Dietary mobile applications (apps) continue to hold promise for facilitating a healthy diet and managing nutrition. However, few studies have objectively evaluated the content and quality of such apps in Korea. The present study assessed the content and quality of dietary mobile apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Read More

Circ Res 2021 Apr 1;128(7):808-826. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon (N.S.V., S.M., D.P.).

In recent decades low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been witnessing a significant shift toward raised blood pressure; yet in LMICs, only 1 in 3 are aware of their hypertension status, and ≈8% have their blood pressure controlled. This rising burden widens the inequality gap, contributes to massive economic hardships of patients and carers, and increases costs to the health system, facing challenges such as low physician-to-patient ratios and lack of access to medicines. Established risk factors include unhealthy diet (high salt and low fruit and vegetable intake), physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and obesity. Read More

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021 Apr 1;9(4):e24249. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

University of Connecticut, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Storrs, CT, United States.

Background: Although calorie tracking is one of the strongest predictors of weight loss in behavioral weight loss interventions, low rates of adherence are common.

Objective: This study aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using the Slip Buddy app during a 12-week web-based weight loss program.

Methods: We conducted a randomized pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using the Slip Buddy app compared with a popular commercial calorie tracking app during a counselor-led, web-based behavioral weight loss intervention. Read More

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021 Apr 1:ATVBAHA121315933. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta, Canada (Y.-X.C., C.S., J.D., C.D., N.M., M.R., V.S., A.A.H., S.B., A.A., A.U.-L., B.G., Z.B., E.R.O.).

Objective: Elevated HSP27 (heat shock protein 27) levels predict relative freedom from cardiovascular events. Over-expression or twice daily subcutaneous injections of human HSP27 in mice reduces blood and plaque cholesterol levels, as well as inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque burden. Antibodies to HSP27 are present in human blood, and the purpose of the current studies is to explore their role. Read More

Front Public Health 2021 11;9:604439. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Department of Informatics, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden.

Child and adolescent overweight is a growing public health problem globally. Europe and low and middle-income (LMIC) countries in Sub-Saharan Africa provide sufficiently suitable populations to learn from with respect to the potential for mobile health (mHealth) interventions in this area of research. The aim of this paper is to identify mHealth interventions on prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Sweden and report on their effects, in order to inform future research in this area. Read More

Prev Med 2021 Mar 24;148:106532. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Given that the one-size-fits-all approach to mobile health interventions have limited effects, a personalized approach might be necessary to promote healthy behaviors and prevent chronic conditions. Our systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of personalized mobile interventions on lifestyle behaviors (i.e. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021 03 26;3:CD012675. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of disability and mortality globally. Premature fatal and non-fatal CVD is considered to be largely preventable through the control of risk factors by lifestyle modifications and preventive medication. Lipid-lowering and antihypertensive drug therapies for primary prevention are cost-effective in reducing CVD morbidity and mortality among high-risk people and are recommended by international guidelines. Read More

Phys Ther 2021 Mar 24. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The Kolling Institute, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Level 10 Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia.

Objective: To describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial that will investigate the effects of the TEXT4myBACK self-management text message intervention compared with control, in people with low back pain.

Methods: A single-blind (assessor and statistician) randomized controlled trial with economic analysis and process evaluation will be conducted. 304 people with non-specific low back pain of less than 12 weeks will be enrolled and randomly allocated either to TEXT4myBACK intervention or control groups. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Mar 24;11(1):6763. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Department of Biology, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, USA.

Understanding the factors governing predation remains a top priority in ecology. Using a dragonfly nymph-tadpole system, we experimentally varied predator density, prey density, and prey species ratio to investigate: (i) whether predator interference varies between prey types that differ in palatability, (ii) whether adding alternate prey influences the magnitude of predator interference, and (iii) whether patterns of prey selection vary according to the predictions of optimal diet theory. In single-prey foraging trials, predation of palatable leopard frog tadpoles was limited by prey availability and predator interference, whereas predation of unpalatable toad tadpoles was limited by handling time. Read More

Psychooncology 2021 Mar 20. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Objective: Although digital health tools (DHTs) are a promising alternative and effective strategy to deliver cancer care and support, their role in health promotion among cancer survivors remains relatively unexplored. We aimed to investigate the acceptability and impact of DHT for health promotion in cancer survivors.

Methods: Data was pooled from cycle three of the fifth edition of the Health Information National Trends Survey. Read More

JMIR Res Protoc 2021 Mar 19;10(3):e21116. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Background: Intensive face-to-face weight loss programs using continuous low-energy diets (CLEDs) providing approximately 800 kcal per day (3347 kJ per day) can produce significant weight loss and remission from type 2 diabetes (T2D). Intermittent low-energy diets (ILEDs) and remotely delivered programs could be viable alternatives that may support patient choice and adherence.

Objective: This paper describes the protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial to test the feasibility and potential efficacy of remotely supported isocaloric ILED and CLED programs among patients with overweight and obesity and T2D. Read More

Glob Food Sec 2021 Mar;28:100474

Department of Public Health, Purdue University, USA.

We study the relationship between the food environment (FE) and the food purchase patterns, dietary intakes, and nutritional status of individuals in peri-urban Tanzania. In Africa, the prevailing high density of informal vendors creates challenges to characterizing the FE. We present a protocol and tool developed as part of the Diet, Environment, and Choices of positive living (DECIDE) study to measure characteristics of the FE. Read More

PLoS One 2021 18;16(3):e0248679. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Centre for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) technologies are innovative solutions for delivering instructions to patients preparing for colonoscopy.

Objective: To systematically review the literature evaluating the effectiveness of mHealth technologies supporting colonoscopy preparation on patient and clinical outcomes.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of mHealth technologies for colonoscopy preparation on patient and clinical outcomes. Read More

Adv Nutr 2021 Mar 18. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.

Mobile-based applications are popular and prevalently used in the US population. Applications focusing on nutrition offer platforms for quantifying and changing behaviors to improve dietary intake. Such behavior changes can intervene in the relation of diet to promote health and prevent disease. Read More

Health Educ Behav 2021 Mar 17:1090198121998287. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.

Background: Mobile fruit and vegetable (F&V) markets may be a promising strategy to improve F&V intake among low-income and racial/ethnic minority groups. However, challenges remain in terms of maximizing the reach and utilization of such markets. Therefore, this study identifies perceived barriers to and facilitators of utilizing a mobile F&V market among residents who lived in low-income housing that received the markets. Read More

J Healthc Eng 2021 1;2021:6693810. Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Department of Endocrine, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132012, China.

As the pace of people's lives accelerates, there are more and more diabetic patients. This research mainly explores the treatment effect of type 2 diabetic patients based on blockchain electronic mobile medical app. Considering that it is more realistic to adopt an off-chain storage solution, the blockchain-based medical data sharing platform in this study adopts an off-chain storage solution. Read More

Epilepsy Curr 2021 Mar 10:1535759721999670. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Purpose: Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) presents management challenges due to the absence of randomized controlled trials and a plethora of potential medical therapies. The literature on treatment options for SRSE reports variable success and quality of evidence. This review is a sequel to the 2020 American Epilepsy Society (AES) comprehensive review of the treatment of convulsive refractory status epilepticus (RSE). Read More

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021 Mar 11;9(3):e26091. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy is a major public health concern associated with negative health outcomes for both mother and child. Scalable interventions are needed, and digital interventions have the potential to reach many women and promote healthy GWG. Most previous studies of digital interventions have been small pilot studies or have not included women from all BMI categories. Read More

J Nutr 2021 Mar 9. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Accurate measurement of dietary intake is vital for providing nutrition interventions and understanding the complex role of diet in health. Traditional dietary assessment methods are very resource intensive and burdensome to participants. Technology may help mitigate these limitations and improve dietary data capture. Read More