Publications by authors named "Healy B"
Background: PET quantifies tau and amyloid-ß (Aß) pathology in preclinical AD. A 2-min digital clock-drawing test (DCTclock ) captures clock-drawing outcomes and processes, potentially more sensitive to cognitive deficits in preclinical AD than pencil-and-paper tests. The DCTclock summary score comprised subscores targeting multi-domain cognitive performance (i.
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- Recent autopsy studies show that interface astroglial scarring (IAS) can occur at the gray-white matter junction in military personnel who experience repeated blast brain injuries.
- There is currently no neuroimaging test available to detect IAS, making it difficult to diagnose and treat these injuries.
- In a study of 27 U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel, five individuals (18.5%) showed elevated neuroinflammation signals at the gray-white matter interface compared to healthy controls, suggesting that TSPO PET scans may help identify repeated blast brain injury.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how combinations of specific signs and symptoms can identify individuals in the early stages of Parkinson's disease (PD), analyzing data from over 6,100 men for an average of 3.4 years.
- Findings revealed that men with constipation, probable REM sleep behavior disorder (pRBD), and hyposmia had a significantly higher risk (23-fold) of developing PD compared to those without these symptoms, and similar high risks were associated with a calculated probability of prodromal PD.
- The research suggests that these symptom combinations can be effective in predicting future PD and could be used in screening efforts for potential prevention trials.
Rare B cells can have special pathogen-recognition features giving them the potential to make outsized contributions to protective immunity. However, rare naive B cells infrequently participate in immune responses. We investigated how germline-targeting vaccine antigen delivery and adjuvant selection affect priming of exceptionally rare BG18-like HIV broadly neutralizing antibody-precursor B cells (~1 in 50 million) in non-human primates.
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- A new study is testing a five-session phone-based peer support program called STEPP, aimed at helping patients with blood cancers undergoing stem cell transplantation improve their quality of life and reduce psychological distress.
- The pilot trial will involve 90 patients, comparing those who receive the STEPP intervention to those who receive standard care, with goals for high enrollment and session completion rates.
- The study will assess how well the intervention is received and its initial impact on patient-reported outcomes like anxiety and quality of life, paving the way for a larger clinical trial in the future.
Long-term prophylaxis (LTP) has been shown to reduce the frequency of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks; however, attacks occurring in patients receiving LTP have not been well characterized. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the proportion of type I/II HAE (HAE-C1INH) patients who experience attacks while receiving LTP, the characteristics of these attacks, and associated on-demand therapy use. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies reporting LTP use with plasma-derived C1 inhibitor (pdC1INH), lanadelumab, berotralstat, androgens, or antifibrinolytics in patients with HAE-C1INH.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLatent change-on-change between amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline.
Alzheimers Dement
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between changes in β-amyloid (Aβ) levels and cognitive decline over time, highlighting that Aβ accumulation is linked to subsequent cognitive deterioration in older adults.
- Researchers utilized sophisticated statistical models on data from a long-term study of 352 cognitively normal older participants, revealing that short-term changes in Aβ are more impactful on cognition than traditional measurements of Aβ burden and tau levels.
- Contrary to previous findings, the study found no significant link between tau levels in the medial temporal lobe and cognitive performance, suggesting that understanding cognitive decline requires looking at dynamic changes rather than static measures.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to explore how cognitive changes following inpatient rehabilitation impact participation and life satisfaction one year later for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- The analysis included 499 participants from a larger dataset, focusing on their performance in cognitive assessments (BTACT) at discharge and one year post-injury.
- Results indicated that while changes in episodic memory were linked to better participation and life satisfaction outcomes, changes in executive function did not show a significant association once controlled for other factors.
Article Synopsis
- Cervical cancer screening participation among First Nations women in Canada is lower compared to non-First Nations women, with a significant 13.9% average participation gap.
- The study linked Alberta's Cervical Cancer Screening Program data with First Nations identifiers and analyzed trends in participation and retention rates from 2012 to 2018.
- Findings revealed First Nations women had a higher occurrence of high-risk abnormal cytology tests, highlighting the need to address screening inequities to lessen the impact of cervical cancer in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Deep gray matter (DGM) atrophy and lesions are prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), with a higher incidence of thalamic lesions.
- An optimized automated segmentation technique using 7 T MRI revealed significant DGM volume loss in MS patients compared to healthy controls, particularly in the caudate region.
- The study found strong correlations between DGM atrophy, white matter lesions, and physical disability, suggesting that DGM abnormalities are closely linked to the severity of disability in RRMS.
Article Synopsis
- GFAP is a protein expressed in astrocytes that may serve as a biomarker for non-active progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
- A study with 741 MS patients found that serum GFAP levels predict progression independent of relapse activity and future needs for mobility aids.
- The results indicate that baseline GFAP levels are more useful for predicting progression than changes over time, with no correlation found between GFAP and cognitive dysfunction or fatigue.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain as biomarkers in pediatric multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin
August 2024
Article Synopsis
- sNfL and sGFAP are markers of neuroaxonal injury and reactive astrogliosis, respectively, and they are significantly elevated in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) compared to healthy controls.
- A study found that higher levels of sNfL and sGFAP in POMS are associated with increased disability and correlate with MRI lesion burden and disease activity.
- The findings suggest that monitoring sNfL could be valuable for understanding ongoing neuroaxonal injury and disease stability in children with MS, while sGFAP may indicate early neurodegeneration.
Background: Disparities in health outcomes, including increased chronic disease prevalence and decreased life expectancy for Indigenous people, have been shown across settings affected by white settler colonialism including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Emergency departments (EDs) represent a unique setting in which urgent patient need and provider strain interact to amplify inequities within society. The aim of this scoping review was to map the ED-based interventions aimed at improving equity in care for Indigenous patients in EDs.
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- Spatial extent (EXT) of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the neocortex may be more effective than traditional Aβ levels for early detection of Alzheimer's disease deposits and understanding their impact on cognitive decline.
- A study using PIB-PET scans from 261 older adults found that EXT could predict cognitive decline and tau proliferation better than Aβ levels alone, revealing that Aβ spreads unevenly across regions of the brain.
- Overall, the findings suggest that measuring Aβ spatial extent could enhance the identification of individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease, potentially improving intervention strategies in preclinical stages.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on the psychological challenges faced by survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and tests a telephone-based positive psychology intervention called PATH to improve their well-being.
- PATH involved 9 weekly phone sessions emphasizing gratitude, personal strengths, and finding meaning in life, and aimed for high participant enrollment and session completion.
- Results showed promising improvements in gratitude, anxiety, physical function, and other psychological factors among those who participated in PATH compared to those receiving usual care.
Background: Accumulating preclinical and preliminary translational evidence shows that the hypothalamic peptide oxytocin reduces food intake, increases energy expenditure, and promotes weight loss. It is currently unknown whether oxytocin administration is effective in treating human obesity.
Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned adults with obesity 1:1 (stratified by sex and obesity class) to receive intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo four times daily for 8 weeks.
Determination of kilovoltage x-ray therapy depth doses with open-ended applicators.
Phys Eng Sci Med
September 2024
The purpose of this work was to determine percentage depth dose (PDD) curves for kilovoltage x-rays from the WOmed-T105 unit, with open-ended steel applicators and beam qualities ranging from 0.5 to 4.2 mm Al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Patients with MS and related disorders (pwMSARD) on B-cell depleting treatments have attenuated immune responses to vaccination and were eligible to receive tixagevimab/cilgavimab.
Objectives: Understand incidence and severity of COVID-19 in pwMSARD on B-cell depleting therapies who received tixagevimab/cilgavimab compared to an untreated group.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical records review of adult pwMSARD on B-cell depleting treatments who received tixagevimab/cilgavimab between 1/2022-1/2023.
Article Synopsis
- Stigma refers to negative perceptions linked to certain characteristics or conditions, often impacting individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) by reinforcing stereotypes and highlighting their differences from societal norms.
- The presence of stigma in people with MS is influenced by factors like disease duration, age, onset, and course, as well as psychological issues such as depression and anxiety, ultimately affecting their quality of life.
- The article emphasizes the need for clearer definitions of different stigma types (anticipated, experienced, internalized) and evaluates seven commonly used stigma measurement tools, suggesting that improved understanding could lead to better interventions and enhance the quality of life for those with MS.
Background: Ionization chambers play an essential role in dosimetry measurements for kilovoltage (kV) x-ray beams. Despite their widespread use, there is limited data on the absolute values for the polarity correction factors across a range of commonly employed ionization chambers.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the polarity effects for five different ionization chambers in kV x-ray beams.
Background: Our previous research showed that, in Alberta, Canada, a higher proportion of visits to emergency departments and urgent care centres by First Nations patients ended in the patient leaving without being seen or against medical advice, compared with visits by non-First Nations patients. We sought to analyze whether these differences persisted after controlling for patient demographic and visit characteristics, and to explore reasons for leaving care.
Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study, including a population-based retrospective cohort study for the period of April 2012 to March 2017 using provincial administrative data.
Article Synopsis
- The effects of repeated blast exposure (RBE) on the brain health of US Special Operations Forces (SOF) are not fully understood, and currently, there is no test to diagnose injury from such exposures.
- A study involving 30 active-duty US SOF found that higher blast exposure correlates with changes in brain structure and cognitive performance, particularly affecting the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC).
- These findings indicate that increased blast exposure can lead to health-related issues and suggest that a comprehensive, network-based diagnostic method may be beneficial for identifying brain injuries in SOF personnel.
Article Synopsis
- Understanding the connection between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS) remains challenging, focusing on why only some infected individuals develop the disease.
- The study aimed to analyze the immune response to EBV peptides in individuals before they showed MS symptoms, seeing if a distinct immune reaction correlates with the disease onset.
- Results indicated that people with MS had a stronger overall antibody response to EBV peptides, particularly those related to EBNA antigens, although specific patterns varied.
Article Synopsis
- Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) can lead to neurological issues like optic neuritis and transverse myelitis, with various treatment options being used for relapsing cases.
- A study reviewed the effectiveness of different treatments (steroids, B-cell depletion, IVIG, and mycophenolate mofetil) on annualized relapse rates (ARRs) and relapse-freedom in 88 patients with MOGAD.
- Results showed that IVIG had the best outcomes with the lowest ARRs and highest chance of relapse-freedom, while B-cell depletion showed the least effectiveness, particularly in pediatric patients where mycophenolate mofetil was most effective.
Background: Breast cancer (BC) incidence rates for First Nations (FN) women in Canada have been steadily increasing and are often diagnosed at a later stage. Despite efforts to expand the reach of BC screening programs for FN populations in Alberta (AB), gaps in screening and outcomes exist.
Methods: Existing population-based administrative databases including the AB BC Screening Program, the AB Cancer Registry, and an AB-specific FN registry data were linked to evaluate BC screening participation, detection, and timeliness of outcomes in this retrospective study.