Implementation of a Provincial Long COVID Care Pathway in Alberta, Canada: Provider Perceptions.

A novel, complex chronic condition emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic: long COVID. The persistent long COVID symptoms can be multisystem and varied. Effective long COVID management requires multidisciplinary, collaborative models of care, which continue to be developed and refined.

Predicting inpatient rehabilitation length of stay for adults with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Most post-injury traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) care occurs in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. The inpatient rehabilitation length of stay (R-LOS) has been shown to be a significant predictor of motor function restoration in persons with TSCI. Due to the complexity, and heterogeneity of individuals with TSCI, the R-LOS is challenging to predict at admission.

Exploring Rehabilitation Provider Experiences of Providing Health Services for People Living with Long COVID in Alberta.

Background: COVID-19 infection can result in persistent symptoms, known as long COVID. Understanding the provider experience of service provision for people with long COVID symptoms is crucial for improving care quality and addressing potential challenges. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the provider experience of long COVID service delivery.

Accessing Care Services for Long COVID Sufferers in Alberta, Canada: A Random, Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Designing appropriate rehabilitation programs for long COVID-19 remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to explore the patient experience of accessing long COVID-19 rehabilitation and recovery services. In this cross-sectional, observational study, a telephone survey was administered to a random sample of persons with long COVID-19 in a Canadian province.

Nonfasting remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk prediction in Albertans: a prospective cohort study.

Background: European studies have shown that nonfasting remnant cholesterol can be a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease risk and may contribute to identifying residual risk; however, Canadian data are lacking on nonfasting remnant cholesterol. In this study, we aimed to determine the relation between nonfasting remnant cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and cardiovascular disease among people in Alberta.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we used data from Alberta's Tomorrow Project, a large prospective cohort that enrolled Albertans aged 35-69 years (2000-2015).

Understanding the Experience of Long COVID Symptoms in Hospitalized and Non-Hospitalized Individuals: A Random, Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

The relationship between initial COVID-19 infection and the development of long COVID remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the experience of long COVID in previously hospitalized and non-hospitalized adults in a community-based, cross-sectional telephone survey. Participants included persons with positive COVID-19 test results between 21 March 2021 and 21 October 2021 in Alberta, Canada.

Mobilizing registry data for quality improvement: A convergent mixed-methods analysis and application to spinal cord injury.

Introduction: The rising prevalence of complex chronic conditions and growing intricacies of healthcare systems emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary partnerships to advance coordination and quality of rehabilitation care. Registry databases are increasingly used for clinical monitoring and quality improvement (QI) of health system change. Currently, it is unclear how interdisciplinary partnerships can best mobilize registry data to support QI across care settings for complex chronic conditions.

Empowerment, Communication, and Navigating Care: The Experience of Persons With Spinal Cord Injury From Acute Hospitalization to Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in long-term functional impairments that significantly impact participation and role in the community. Newly injured persons are often reintroduced to the community with significant deficits in knowledge, including how to access and navigate community resources and supports. This warrants a better understanding of the patient experience of in-hospital care and discharge planning to ensure individuals with SCI are best supported during transitions in care and while living in the community.

Development of a Novel Care Rehabilitation Pathway for Post-COVID Conditions (Long COVID) in a Provincial Health System in Alberta, Canada.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the development and composition of a codesigned, multidisciplinary, integrated, systematic rehabilitation framework for post-COVID conditions (PCC) that spans the care continuum to streamline and standardize rehabilitation services to support persons with PCC in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: A collaborative, consensus-based approach was used involving 2 iterative provincial taskforces in a Canadian provincial health system. The first taskforce (59 multidisciplinary stakeholders) sought to clarify the requisite facets of a sustainable, provincially coordinated rehabilitation approach for post-COVID rehabilitation needs based on available research evidence.

Elucidating the role of the gut microbiota in the physiological effects of dietary fiber.

Background: Dietary fiber is an integral part of a healthy diet, but questions remain about the mechanisms that underlie effects and the causal contributions of the gut microbiota. Here, we performed a 6-week exploratory trial in adults with excess weight (BMI: 25-35 kg/m) to compare the effects of a high-dose (females: 25 g/day; males: 35 g/day) supplement of fermentable corn bran arabinoxylan (AX; n = 15) with that of microbiota-non-accessible microcrystalline cellulose (MCC; n = 16). Obesity-related surrogate endpoints and biomarkers of host-microbiome interactions implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity (trimethylamine N-oxide, gut hormones, cytokines, and measures of intestinal barrier integrity) were assessed.

Clinical practice recommendations for prehabilitation and post-operative rehabilitation for arthroplasty: A scoping review.

Background: The rising need for arthroplasty (joint replacement) has resulted in a significant increase in wait-times. Longer surgical wait-times may further exacerbate functional decline in adults with osteoarthritis as well as delay postoperative functional recovery. This review aims to better inform rehabilitation care provision before (prehabilitation) and after (post-rehabilitation) hip or knee arthroplasty based on recommendations from clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).

ApoB-lipoprotein remnant dyslipidemia and high-fat meal intolerance is associated with markers of cardiometabolic risk in youth with obesity.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) originates in childhood and risk is exacerbated in obesity. Mechanisms of the etiologic link between early adiposity and CVD-risk remain unclear. Postprandial or non-fasting dyslipidemia is characterized by elevated plasma triglycerides (TG) and intestinal-apolipoprotein(apo)B48-remnants following a high-fat meal and is a known CVD-risk factor in adults.

ApoB48-remnant lipoproteins are associated with increased cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) begins in youth, and is exacerbated by obesity and metabolic syndrome. Apolipoprotein (Apo)B-remnant cholesterol is considered a primary contributor to CVD risk. Fasting plasma apoB48 can be used as a biomarker of intestinal remnant cholesterol as well as postprandial dyslipidemia.

Low birth weight causes insulin resistance and aberrant intestinal lipid metabolism independent of microbiota abundance in Landrace-Large White pigs.

Low birth weight (LBW) and postnatal nutrition are risk factors for adult metabolic diseases. However, the interactions between LBW, diet, and intestinal lipid absorption and secretion leading to adult metabolic disease remain unclear. The current study determined the impact of LBW on intestinal lipid and carbohydrate metabolism under both control and Western diet (high fat, high fructose, and cholesterol) conditions in 5-wk-old LBW and normal birth weight (NBW) Landrace-Large White × Duroc pigs.

The Effect of PCSK9 Loss-of-Function Variants on the Postprandial Lipid and ApoB-Lipoprotein Response.

Context: Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) mediates degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), thereby increasing plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Variations in the PCSK9 gene associated with loss of function (LOF) of PCSK9 result in greater expression of hepatic LDLR, lower concentrations of LDL-C, and protection from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Apolipoprotein-B (apoB) remnants also contribute to CVD risk and are similarly cleared by the LDLR.

Nutritional and Lipid Modulation of PCSK9: Effects on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a serine protease involved in the regulation of LDL receptor (LDLR) expression and apolipoprotein B lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism. Hepatic PCSK9 protein expression, activity, and secretion have been shown to affect cholesterol homeostasis. An upregulation of hepatic PSCK9 protein leads to increased LDLR degradation, resulting in decreased uptake of apoB lipoproteins and a consequent increase in the plasma concentration of these lipoproteins, including LDL and chylomicron remnants.