Background: Mental health problems have emerged as a significant health complication in United States colleges during COVID-19, and as a result, they have been extensively investigated in the United States and internationally. In contrast, research on coping among the college population during the pandemic is scant. Hence, this study investigated coping strategies proposed by undergraduate students attending a Midwestern university.Objectives: The purpose of this preliminary study was to obtain college students’ feedback/opinions about coping strategies for mental health problems, suicide ideation, and self-harm during COVID-19.Methods: In December 2021, one-hundred and four undergraduate students (ages 18–22 years) completed an online survey on coping strategies using Qualtrics. Major topics included: (1) Types of coping strategies/styles expressed by students for general mental health problems, (2) Types of coping strategies for suicide ideation and self-harm behaviors, (3) Preferred platforms for receiving coping therapy, and (4) Reasons for accepting or refusing parent involvement with mental health problems.Results: The most beneficial coping strategies for mental health were ranked by college students as follows: (1) a skills training development program (30%), (2) meditation (19%), and (3) mindfulness exercises (15%), and physical education (11%). The respondents’ best coping strategies for preventing self-harm and suicide ideation/behaviors during COVID-19 were ranked as: (1) improving support from friends (32%), (2) building self-esteem (29%), and (3) addressing anger, depression, stress, and loneliness (25%). Finally, a total of 50% of participants felt that parents should be involved in college student interventions. Students stated that the most important type of support that they received from their parents were: (1) emotional support (31%), (2) direction and/or assistance with solutions (27%), and problem-solving (16%).Conclusion: This study identified potential avenues which could be implemented into action during future outbreaks. Specifically, employing interventions that: (i) train undergraduate students to employ more effective skills training coping strategies or practicing mindfulness or meditation; (ii) integrate mental health, suicide, and self-harm prevention into the curriculum; (iii) offer more in-person campus services targeted toward the psychological and emotional effects of a pandemic, and (iv) involve support persons (e.g., family) in students’ lives to enhance their well-being during and after COVID-19.

Background: There are no reference guidelines for health care providers regarding appropriate use and interpretation of urine eosinophil protein X (u-EPX) in clinical practice. Currently, there are no clear-cut clinical or laboratory parameters to diagnose asthma in young children. Objective: In this study, we (1) systematically reviewed and qualitatively appraised the epidemiological evidence to determine diagnostic u-EPX cut points for pediatric asthma, and (2) performed a meta-analysis to provide u-EPX estimates for diagnosing pediatric asthma. Methods: Research articles in literature were identified from PubMed/Medline and Web of Science databases from 1966 to August 2015. Children <18 years of age were included. Both serum and urine EPX were included. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and nine studies for the meta-analysis. Details regarding EPX analyses, treatment efficacy, and outcomes were assessed. For meta-analyses, effect estimates were abstracted using standardized means. Results: Over 70% of studies found a significant relationship between u-EPX and childhood asthma. There was 1.94 times higher standardized means of u-EPX among acute asthmatics compared to healthy controls (confidence interval [CI]: 1.67–2.22). Similarly, the difference in standardized means between asymptomatic asthmatics and healthy controls was 1.58 times higher (CI: 1.27–1.88). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Despite differences in sample sizes, EPX processing and measurement, and ages of children, a consistent trend of higher EPX levels with childhood asthma was revealed.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the third leading cause of death among infants younger than one year of age. Effective SIDS prediction models have yet to be developed. Hence, we developed a risk score for SIDS, testing contemporary factors including infant exposure to passive smoke, circumcision, and sleep position along with known risk factors based on 291 SIDS and 242 healthy control infants. The data were retrieved from death certificates, parent interviews, and medical records collected between 1989–1992, prior to the Back to Sleep Campaign. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to develop a risk score model. Our finalized risk score model included: (i) breastfeeding duration (OR = 13.85, p < 0.001); (ii) family history of SIDS (OR = 4.31, p < 0.001); (iii) low birth weight (OR = 2.74, p = 0.003); (iv) exposure to passive smoking (OR = 2.64, p < 0.001); (v) maternal anemia during pregnancy (OR = 2.07, p = 0.03); and (vi) maternal age <25 years (OR = 1.77, p = 0.01). The area under the curve for the overall model was 0.79, and the sensitivity and specificity were 79% and 63%, respectively. Once this risk score is further validated it could ultimately help physicians identify the high risk infants and counsel parents about modifiable risk factors that are most predictive of SIDS.

The number of cancer survivors is projected to increase to 22.1 million by 2030. Late effects incorporate the full domains of cancer survivorship (e.g., physiologic, psychosocial, economic). They are numerous, complex, and potentially alter the life trajectories of cancer survivors. Currently, research is missing on the impact of late effects (e.g., cardiomyopathy, fertility, lymphedema, anxiety) on cancer survivors. The goal of this study is to present a systematic review of existing instruments for identifying, diagnosing, and managing late effects within cancer survivors. Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted using the electronic databases of PubMed and Web of Science to identify relevant papers. Articles considered eligible for this review met the following criteria: 1) written in English, 2) published until September 30, 2019, and 3) containing instruments with questions on late effects. Hypothesis, study design, study sample, questionnaire domains, details of late effects, results, conclusions, and advantages/disadvantages of each article were assessed using a modified version of the NHLBI quality assessment tool. An exhaustive literature review revealed 576 publications in PubMed, 628 in Web of Science, and 260 from additional sources. After removing duplicates, articles without late-effects questionnaires, and publications using identical questionnaires, 11 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Study quality assessment was measured on a scale of 0–6 (0 = poor quality; 6 = highest quality). Only one study was rated with a score of 5 (Rocque). Taken in totality, none of the studies adequately addressed the prevalence, etiology, characteristics, management, and prevention of late effects. There is currently no comprehensive questionnaire that captures all of the relevant details of late effects across the cancer survivorship continuum nor that tracks the interrelatedness of multiple late effects. Hence, it is difficult to identify, diagnose, manage, and ultimately prevent late effects.

Purpose: Currently, 1 in 5 college students struggle with suicidal ideation while 7% to 44% engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. Illinois has one of the highest teenage and college student suicide rates in the United States. This pilot study assessed suicide ideation and self-harm behaviors at a public Illinois university. This is the first study to use 5 standardized psychological instruments to investigate these 2 crises in freshmen college students who are all required to reside in dormitories. The main hypothesis was to determine if the independent effects of freshmen students’ depression, Five-Factor Model, and Reasons for Living affected the dependent variables, self-harm behaviors and suicide ideation. Methods: Forty first-year college dormitory students completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Scale of Suicidal Ideation, Five-Factor Model, Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, and Reasons for Living Scale in person. Results: Participants were 18 to 19 years old, predominantly female (65%), and non-White (62%). Forty percent reported self-harm behaviors and 19% reported suicidal ideation. The top reasons for contemplated suicide attempts included the inability to solve problems (33%) and attention/revenge (28%). Students experienced high levels of anxiety (55%), self-consciousness (43%), and depression (18%). Depression was associated with suicide ideation (β = 0.05, P = .006), while neuroticism and openness were associated with self-harm behaviors ( aOR = 3.36, P = .02, aOR = 0.48, P = .047, respectively). Ninety-five percent reported “responsibility to family” as a Reason for Living. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence necessitates an examination of self-harm and suicide ideation among all freshmen, investigating both risk and protective factors. In the future, a prevention intervention should be implemented campus-wide (and eventually nationwide) for all first-year dormitory students to enhance their mental well-being.

Every day 43 children are newly diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, almost 90% of these childhood cancer patients will survive. However, 60–90% of these survivors will experience late effects, health problems that occur months or years after treatment has ended. Late effects could occur as a result of the disease, its treatment, and patient-related factors. The two main objectives of this research are to: 1) Examine the existence of all web-based resources for childhood cancer survivors with acute lymphocytic leukemia which focus on medical and psychological aspects of late effects, and 2) Create an innovative website specifically designed to fill this void. A systematic literature review, followed by input from >20 different organizations, resulted in the creation of LEAP³ AHEAD (Late Effects Awareness for Patients, Physicians and the Public; Advancing Health and Eliminating All Disparities), a multi-dimensional website centering on late effects. An extensive review revealed 14 pediatric cancer websites, none of which focused exclusively on late effects. LEAP³ AHEAD is the first interactive website for acute lympocytic leukemia childhood cancer survivors and families, as well as physicians, and the public to: a) increase awareness about risks, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of medical and psychological late effects, b) provide suggestions to successfully reintegrate into schools, careers, and socially, and c) present opportunities including camps, scholarships, and pet therapy programs. LEAP³ AHEAD is the first national website to provide a comprehensive, accessible, affordable, and multi-dimensional resource for pediatricians, internists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, survivors and their families, as well as the public about late effects.