Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in British Columbia, Canada: An interrupted time series study.

We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance among individuals with HCV diagnosed with cirrhosis in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We used data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), including all individuals in the province tested for or diagnosed with HCV from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2015, to assess HCC surveillance. To analyse the impact of the pandemic on HCC surveillance, we used pre-policy (January 2018 to February 2020) and post-policy (March to December 2020) periods.

Addressing Inequity in Spatial Access to Lung Cancer Screening.

Background: The successful implementation of an equitable lung cancer screening program requires consideration of factors that influence accessibility to screening services.

Methods: Using lung cancer cases in British Columbia (BC), Canada, as a proxy for a screen-eligible population, spatial access to 36 screening sites was examined using geospatial mapping and vehicle travel time from residential postal code at diagnosis to the nearest site. The impact of urbanization and Statistics Canada's Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation were examined.

Impact of Playground Shade Structures on Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Physical Activity among Children at a Childcare Facility.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada, and rates continue to rise. While sunscreen and protective clothing remain critical strategies to reduce skin cancer risk, shade is generally the most effective way to control exposure. There remains a lack of data, particularly in British Columbia (BC), demonstrating the extent to which shade availability reduces ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure in a real-world setting and the potential impacts of shade provision on physical activity.

Provincial variation in colorectal cancer screening adherence in Canada; evidence from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health.

Introduction: Although colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program is proven to reduce CRC incidence and mortality, understanding patterns and predictors of suboptimal adherence in screening program requires further investigation in Canada.

Methods: We used self-reported data from five regional cohorts of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath), namely the BC Generations Project (BCGP), Alberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP), the Ontario Health Study (OHS), Quebec's CARTaGENE, and the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow's Health Study (Atlantic PATH). We stratified participants into the following four risk categories: 1) age 50-74 years, 2) family history in a first-degree relative, 3) personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease and/or polyps, and 4) co-existence of personal risk and family history.

Efficacy and Safety of a Protein-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines FINLAY-FR-2 (Soberana 02) and FINLAY-FR-1A (Soberana Plus) showed good safety and immunogenicity in phase 1 and 2 trials, but the clinical efficacy of the vaccine remains unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 2-dose regimen of FINLAY-FR-2 (cohort 1) and a 3-dose regimen of FINLAY-FR-2 with FINLAY-FR-1A (cohort 2) in Iranian adults.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial was conducted at 6 cities in cohort 1 and 2 cities in cohort 2.

Agreement between self-report and administrative health data on occurrence of non-cancer chronic disease among participants of the BC generations project.

Population-based studies of non-cancer chronic disease often rely on self-reported data for disease diagnosis, which may be incomplete, unreliable and suffer from bias. Recently, the British Columbia Generations Project (BCGP;  = 29,736) linked self-reported chronic disease history data to a Chronic Disease Registry (CDR) that applied algorithms to administrative health data to ascertain diagnoses of multiple chronic diseases in the Province of British Columbia. For the 10 diseases captured by both self-report and the CDR, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, myocardial infarction, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and stroke, we calculated Cohen's kappa coefficient to examine concordance of chronic disease status (i.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among urban Iranian population: findings from the second large population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The first large serosurvey in Iran found a SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence of 17.1% among the general population in the first wave of the epidemic by April, 2020. The purpose of the current study was to assess the seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection among Iranian general population after the third wave of the disease.

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Middle-Aged Individuals with Positive HBsAg: Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: While hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most prevalent cause of adult liver transplants in Iran, the mortality rates and leading causes of death in HBV patients are not well-understood. This study aimed to investigate all-cause and cause-specific mortality among HBsAg positive individuals in a large Iranian cohort.

Methods: The Golestan Cohort Study includes 50045 individuals aged 40-75 residing in Iran's Golestan province, enrolled during 2004-2008.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in Major Private and Public Hospitals With COVID-19 Patient's Referral in Tehran, Iran.

Estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity among health care workers (HCWs) is crucial. In this study, the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs of five hospitals of Tehran, Iran with high COVID-19 patient's referrals from April to June, 2020, was assessed. In this cross-sectional study, HCWs from three public and two private hospitals, selected randomly as a pilot, were included.

Lifestyle factors and lung cancer risk among never smokers in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath).

Background: Although smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, 15-25% of lung cancers occur in never smokers. Emerging evidence suggests lifestyle factors are associated with lung cancer risk, but few studies among never smokers exist.

Methods: A case-control study of never smokers within the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health was conducted.

PUFA ω-3 and ω-6 biomarkers and sleep: a pooled analysis of cohort studies on behalf of the Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE).

Background: n-3 and n-6 PUFAs have physiologic roles in sleep processes, but little is known regarding circulating n-3 and n-6 PUFA and sleep parameters.

Objectives: We sought to assess associations between biomarkers of n-3 and n-6 PUFA intake with self-reported sleep duration and difficulty falling sleeping in the Fatty Acids and Outcome Research Consortium.

Methods: Harmonized, de novo, individual-level analyses were performed and pooled across 12 cohorts.

Dynamics of the COVID-19 Clinical Findings and the Serologic Response.

The factors affecting the dynamics of lengthening of symptoms and serologic responses are not well known. In order to see how the serologic responses change in relation to the clinical features, we selected a group of 472 adults with a positive IgM/IgG antibody test result from a baseline study of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, assessed their COVID-19 and past medical histories, and followed them up in about 3 months. Nearly one-fourth of the subjects were asymptomatic at the baseline; 12.

Impact of COVID-19-related public health measures on HCV testing in British Columbia, Canada: An interrupted time series analysis.

Background & Aims: Public health measures introduced to limit transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), also disrupted various healthcare services in many regions worldwide, including British Columbia (BC), Canada. We assessed the impact of these measures, first introduced in BC in March 2020, on hepatitis C (HCV) testing and first-time HCV-positive diagnoses within the province.

Methods: De-identified HCV testing data for BC residents were obtained from the provincial Public Health Laboratory.

Persistent organic pollutants and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma among women.

Background: Despite the increasing trend of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) incidence in Canada, especially among females, few risk factors other than ultraviolet radiation exposure, have been identified.

Aim: We conducted a case-control study of 406 CMM cases and 181 controls to evaluate the potential impact of body burdens of various persistent organic pollutants on CMM risk.

Methods: Detailed data on potential confounding factors, including lifetime repeated sun exposure and skin reaction to repeated sun exposure, were collected.

Differences in risk factors for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus infection by ethnicity: A large population-based cohort study in British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives: Addressing the needs of ethnic minorities will be key to finding undiagnosed individuals living with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To inform screening initiatives in British Columbia (BC), Canada, the factors associated with HBV and/or HCV and/or HIV infection among different ethnic groups within a large population-based cohort were assessed.

Methods: Persons diagnosed with HBV, HCV, or HIV in BC between 1990 and 2015 were grouped as East Asian, South Asian, Other Visible Minority (African, Central Asian, Latin American, Pacific Islander, West Asian, unknown ethnicity), and Not a Visible Minority, using a validated name-recognition software.

Elevated risk of colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers among HCV, HBV and/or HIV (co)infected individuals in a population based cohort in Canada.

Introduction: Studies of the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV mono and co-infections on the risk of cancer, particularly extra-hepatic cancer, have been limited and inconsistent in their findings.

Methods: In the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort, we assessed the risk of colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers in association with HCV, HBV and HIV infection status. Using Fine and Gray adjusted proportional subdistribution hazards models, we assessed the impact of infection status on each cancer, accounting for competing mortality risk.

Effect of metabolic genetic variants on long-term disease comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Underlying genetic determinants contribute to developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) future diseases. The present study aimed to identify which genetic variants are associated with the incident of the major T2D co-morbid disease. First, we conducted a discovery study by investigating the genetic associations of comorbid diseases within the framework of the Utrecht Cardiovascular Pharmacogenetic studies by turning information of > 25 years follow-up data of 1237 subjects whom were genotyped and included in the discovery study.

SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in the general population and high-risk occupational groups across 18 cities in Iran: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Rapid increases in cases of COVID-19 were observed in multiple cities in Iran towards the start of the pandemic. However, the true infection rate remains unknown. We aimed to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 18 cities of Iran as an indicator of the infection rate.

HCV reinfection rates after cure or spontaneous clearance among HIV-infected and uninfected men who have sex with men.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection among high-risk groups threatens HCV elimination goals. We assessed HCV reinfection rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Methods: We used data from the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort, which includes nearly 1.

Concurrent Hepatitis C and B Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections Are Associated With Higher Mortality Risk Illustrating the Impact of Syndemics on Health Outcomes.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are associated with significant mortality globally and in North America. However, data on impact of concurrent multiple infections on mortality risk are limited. We evaluated the effect of HCV, HBV, and HIV infections and coinfections and associated factors on all-cause mortality in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Association between markers of immune response at hospital admission and COVID-19 disease severity and mortality: A meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Background: To determine the utility of admission laboratory markers in the assessment and prognostication of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on the association between admission laboratory values in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and subsequent disease severity and mortality.

Material And Methods: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Pubmed, Embase, and the WHO Global Research Database from December 1,2019 to May 1, 2020 for relevant articles. A random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each of 27 laboratory markers.

Tattoos and Hematologic Malignancies in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Tattoos may cause a variety of adverse reactions in the body, including immune reactions and infections. However, it is unknown whether tattoos may increase the risk of lymphatic cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma.

Methods: Participants from two population-based case-control studies were included in logistic regression models to examine the association between tattoos and risk of NHL and multiple myeloma.