Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) that may be related to the cardiotoxic effects of radiation or chemotherapy and concomitant reductions in cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, we sought to compare cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake, V̇O2peak) between CCS and age-matched non-cancer controls (CON). Secondary outcomes included hemodynamics and resting cardiac function.

Rationale and design of the multi organ inflammation with serial testing study: a comprehensive assessment of functional and structural abnormalities in patients with recovered COVID-19.

Introduction: Short-term clinical outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection are generally favorable. However, 15-20% of patients report persistent symptoms of at least 12 weeks duration, often referred to as long COVID. Population studies have also demonstrated an increased risk of incident diabetes and cardiovascular disease at 12 months following infection.

Control4Life: A randomized controlled trial protocol examining the feasibility and efficacy of a combined pelvic health rehabilitation and exercise fitness program for individuals undergoing prostatectomy.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI), erectile dysfunction and cardiometabolic conditions are common after prostatectomy for prostate cancer (PCa). Although physical activity could improve overall survival and quality of survivorship, fear of UI can restrict participation in exercise. Individuals with PCa could benefit from therapeutic exercise programming to support continence recovery and cardiometabolic health.

A Review on the Role of Exercise Training to Prevent a Decline in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cardiac Function in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: Improvements in diagnosis and treatment mean that the long-term health of breast cancer survivors (BCS) is increasingly dictated by cardiovascular comorbidities. This is partly a consequence of exposure to cardiotoxic therapies, which result in cardiac dysfunction and decreased cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Exercise training (ExT) is a key therapeutic strategy for secondary prevention and increasing CRF in adults with established cardiovascular disease.

Endothelin Receptor Blocker Reverses Breast Cancer-Induced Cardiac Remodeling.

Background: Although some cancer therapies have overt and/or subclinical cardiotoxic effects that increase subsequent cardiovascular risk in breast cancer patients, we have recently shown that the breast tumor itself can also induce cardiac hypertrophy through the activation of the endothelin system to contribute to cardiovascular risk. However, the extent to which the suppression of the activation of the endothelin system could improve cardiac remodeling in breast cancer patients has yet to be investigated.

Objectives: We aimed to retrospectively assess the cardiac morphology/function in patients with breast cancer before receiving cancer chemotherapy and to investigate if the suppression of the activation of the endothelin system improves cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of breast cancer.

Cardio-oncology and Cancer Rehabilitation: Is an Integrated Approach Possible?

With significant improvements in the understanding of cancer biology, improved detection, and the use of novel adjuvant therapies, each year more Canadians are surviving a cancer diagnosis. Despite their effectiveness these therapies often result in short- and long-term deleterious effects to major organ systems, particularly cardiovascular. Cardio-oncology is an emerging field of study with the aim to improve cardiovascular health across the oncology disease spectrum.

Does cardiac imaging surveillance strategy influence outcomes in patients with early breast cancer?

Background: Many patients with breast cancer receive therapies with the potential to cause cardiotoxicity. Echocardiography and multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scans are the most used modalities to assess cardiac function during treatment in high-risk patients; however, the optimal imaging strategy and the impact on outcome are unknown.

Methods: Consecutive patients with stage 0-3 breast cancer undergoing pre-treatment echocardiography or MUGA were identified from a tertiary care cancer center from 2010-2019.

Rural Prenatal Care by Nurse Practitioners: A Narrative Review.

Background: Rural Canadian populations face many challenges due to their geographical isolation, including inaccessible and inequitable primary health care. Specifically, pregnant women are at risk of not receiving prenatal care (PNC) due to physical and social barriers. Inadequate PNC can have detrimental effects on both maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Exercise Preferences, Barriers, and Facilitators of Individuals With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy Before Stem Cell Transplantation: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Exercise can help mitigate side effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly when initiated before HSCT. However, the exercise-related barriers, facilitators, and preferences of this population remain unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the patient experience to inform future implementation of a prehabilitation intervention.

Virtual or In-Person: A Mixed Methods Survey to Determine Exercise Programming Preferences during COVID-19.

A survey was conducted to identify barriers and facilitators to engaging in virtual and in-person cancer-specific exercise during COVID-19. A theory-informed, multi-method, cross-sectional survey was electronically distributed to 192 individuals with cancer investigating preferences towards exercise programming during COVID-19. Respondents had previously participated in an exercise program and comprised two groups: those who had experience with virtual exercise programming ('Virtual') and those who had only taken part in in-person exercise ('In-Person').

Effectiveness of interventions on healthcare professionals' understanding and use of conscience: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Conscience is central to moral decision making. In the context of morally pluralistic workplaces today, healthcare professionals' conscience may prompt them to make moral decisions to refrain from providing services they morally disagree with. However, such decisions are largely viewed as contentious, giving rise to polarising arguments for and against healthcare professionals' freedom of conscience.