Utilizing a Global Cancer Center Network for Tobacco Control: Baseline Survey of MD Anderson´s Global Academic Program´s Sister Institution

Background: Globally, tobacco can be attributed to more than 7 million deaths each year. To address this potentially avoidable mortality, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has engaged its Global Academic Program´s (GAP) sister institutions (SI) by conducting an inaugural tobacco control assessment survey. A similar survey was done with our University of Texas academic and health science center affiliates that led to improved adoption of tobacco control policies as well as prevention and cessation services on all campuses. The baseline data collected will serve as a mechanism to develop a tobacco prevention and control strategy within a global cancer center network. Aim: To assess SI laws and policies regarding tobacco use, existing screening and cessation services. Strategy/Tactics: Qualtrics was used to administer a 27-item survey to our GAP SI from April-October 2017. Survey questions focused on key areas of tobacco prevention and control: policy, tobacco use screening, and cessation services. A survey link was emailed to 34 institutions in 23 countries. Program/Policy process: Survey GAP SI to determine current tobacco prevention and control measures being implemented. Convene GAP SI in May 2018 to share tobacco control best practices across the network and identify resources and supports to strengthen tobacco control efforts at each institution. Build collaborations aimed at progressive actions in tobacco control policies, educational programs and cessation services culturally appropriate to the needs and resources of the GAP network. Outcomes: Of the 34 GAP SI, 26 responded to the survey (76% response rate). Key findings among the 26 responding institutions: policy - 96% are located in cities with laws regulating the sale and/or use of tobacco products by minors and 77% of the cities have laws regulating the use of tobacco in the workplace; 42% of the campuses have designated smoking areas; tobacco use screening - 65% screen for and document patients´ tobacco status, however only 27% screen “all the time”; cessation services - 19% offer telephone counseling as a cessation service; 38% offer cessation services to the community; 46% offer cessation services to employees. What was learned: The baseline assessment identified areas of institutional needs: cessation services and campus policies. Further discussion with the SI will help engage them in further efforts to address gaps in tobacco control. Collectively, we aim to develop action steps to collaborate and enhance existing services by creating a global platform in which tobacco control best practices and resources can be shared.

Identification of phytanoyl-CoA ligase as a distinct acyl-CoA ligase in peroxisomes from cultured human skin fibroblasts

Phytanic acid accumulates in excessive amounts in Refsum disease, a rare neurological disorder, due to a defect in its alpha-oxidation enzyme system in peroxisomes. The activation of phytanic acid to phytanoyl-CoA by phytanoyl-CoA ligase is a prerequisite for its alpha-oxidation. The studies described in this manuscript report that phytanoyl-CoA ligase in peroxisomes is an enzyme distinct from the previously reported acyl-CoA ligases.

Staff and patient perceptions of the psychosocial concerns of spinal cord injured persons

There is growing evidence that traditional theoretical models of adjustment to disability have provided very limited predictive utility for professionals in understanding individual responses to spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation personnel may not accurately perceive the nature and degree of their spinal cord injured (SCI) patients' emotional states or psychological concerns. This study was an attempt to further delineate perceptual discrepancies or similarities between attending staff and SCI patients. A group of SCI patients and staff were asked to complete a Psychosocial Questionnaire for Spinal Cord Injured Persons. This instrument assesses four dimensions of psychosocial adjustment to spinal cord injury: Anxiety, Depression, Social Discomfort, and Positive Outlook. The latter appears not to have been systematically studied in this context, and was included to eliminate the total negativity of the questionnaire. Staff were asked to complete the inventory as they thought most of their SCI patients would respond. Results confirmed previous findings that patients and staff vary significantly in their perceptions of SCI patients' psychosocial conditions. This study found that patients reported being less depressed, but more anxious and optimistic, than their caregivers predicted. Several factors were identified which may have affected staff's misperceptions, including most significantly length of time in SCI service.