Publications by authors named "Jennifer A Ritonja"

Article Synopsis
  • Excess body fat in older age can increase the risk of ovarian cancer, although the connection is not very strong.
  • A study in Montreal analyzed body mass index (BMI) data over decades for women 50 and older to understand different life stages' impact on ovarian cancer risk.
  • The findings indicate that the accumulation hypothesis best explains the link between BMI and ovarian cancer risk, particularly highlighting the early childbearing years as a potentially sensitive period for increased risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The evidence from previous studies of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and ovarian cancer risk is not conclusive. However, the 25(OH)D levels were generally only measured in late adulthood, which may not capture the etiologically relevant exposure periods. We investigated predicted 25(OH)D over the adult lifetime in relation to ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study conducted from 2011 to 2016 in Montreal, Canada (n = 490 cases and 896 controls).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Exposure to noise can increase biological stress reactions, which may increase adverse health effects, including metabolic disorders; however, the certainty in the association between exposure to noise and metabolic outcomes has not been widely explored. The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence between noise exposures and metabolic effects.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of English and comparative studies available in PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases between January 1, 1980 and December 29, 2021 was performed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Literature suggests that unrestricted and undisturbed sleep is vital for basic human function and performance; however, it is unclear as to what amount of sleep disturbance leads to dysregulation in biomarkers, which may underscore the development of adverse health effects. This systematic review aims to identify the amount of sleep disturbance that contributes to biomarker changes as a potential precursor to the development of adverse health effects. English-language comparative studies available in PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases from 1 January 1980 to 31 July 2021 were searched.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Exposure to noise can increase biological stress reactions and that could increase the risk of stress-related prenatal effects, including adverse obstetric outcomes; however, the association between exposure to noise and adverse obstetric outcomes has not been extensively explored. The objective of this review was to evaluate the evidence between noise exposures and adverse obstetric outcomes, specifically preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and gestational hypertension.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of English language, comparative studies available in PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases between January 1, 1980 and December 29, 2021 was performed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: : Exposure to acute noise can cause an increase in biological stress reactions, which provides biological plausibility for a potential association between sustained noise exposure and stress-related health effects. However, the certainty in the evidence for an association between exposures to noise on short- and long-term biomarkers of stress has not been widely explored. The objective of this review was to evaluate the strength of evidence between noise exposure and changes in the biological parameters known to contribute to the development of stress-related adverse cardiovascular responses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Finding efficient ways to meet the growing demand for library systematic review support is imperative for facilitating the production of high-quality research. The objectives of this study were threefold: 1) to ascertain the systematic review support provided by health sciences libraries at Ontario medical schools and their affiliated hospitals, 2) to determine the perceived educational needs by researchers at these institutions, and 3) to assess the potential usefulness of freely available, online educational modules for researchers that discuss all stages of the systematic review process.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in June and July of 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Current evidence might support the use of omega-3 fatty acids (preferably docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) for lowering blood pressure (BP), but the strength and shape of the dose-response relationship remains unclear. Methods and Results This study included randomized controlled trials published before May 7, 2021, that involved participants aged ≥18 years, and examined an association between omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, or both) and BP. A random-effects 1-stage cubic spline regression model was used to predict the average dose-response association between daily omega-3 fatty acid intake and changes in BP.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Mechanisms underlying the carcinogenicity of night shift work remain uncertain. One compelling yet understudied cancer mechanism may involve altered DNA methylation in circadian genes due to melatonin secretion patterns. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between melatonin secretion patterns and circadian gene methylation among day and night shift workers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Night shift work is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the reasons behind this link are not fully understood.
  • This study analyzed 74 female hospital workers to explore how DNA methylation of circadian genes could influence cardiometabolic risk factors like waist circumference, body mass index, and LDL cholesterol levels.
  • Results showed that specific DNA methylation changes vary between day and night shift workers, suggesting this could help explain the elevated CVD risk seen in those who work night shifts.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the multiple pathways linking shift work exposure to cardiometabolic risk (CMR) through the intermediates of circadian disruption, sleep disturbances, and stress. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Kingston Health Sciences Center that included female hospital workers, 160 who worked a day-only schedule and 168 who worked rotating days and nights. Participants completed questionnaires, a clinical exam, and wore accelerometers to collect sleep data for 8 days.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Night shift work is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, but the exact biological processes behind this connection are unclear.
  • This study examined the effects of night shift work on the methylation of circadian genes by comparing 74 female healthcare workers, with 36 on night shifts and 38 on day shifts, using advanced DNA methylation analysis techniques.
  • Results indicated that current night shift workers showed different patterns of methylation in specific genes compared to day workers, suggesting a possible mechanism for increased cancer risk that necessitates further research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF