Metabolic Engineering of for the Production of Flavonoids and Stilbenoids.

Flavonoids and stilbenoids, crucial secondary metabolites abundant in plants and fungi, display diverse biological and pharmaceutical activities, including potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. However, conventional production methods, such as chemical synthesis and plant extraction, face challenges in sustainability and yield. Hence, there is a notable shift towards biological production using microorganisms like and yeast.

Uptake of SGLT2i and Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes and Heart Failure: A Population-Based Cohort and a Specialized Clinic Cohort.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are effective in adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) based on randomized clinical trials. We compared SGLT2 inhibitor uptake and outcomes in two cohorts: a population-based cohort of all adults with DM and HF in Alberta, Canada and a specialized heart function clinic (HFC) cohort.

Methods: The population-based cohort was derived from linked provincial healthcare datasets.

Association Between Hemoglobin A1c and Development of Cardiovascular Disease in Canadian Men and Women Without Diabetes at Baseline: A Population-Based Study of 608 474 Adults.

Background: We examined the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and women, without diabetes or CVD at baseline.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study included adults aged 40 to <80 years in Alberta, Canada. Men and women were divided into categories based on a random HbA1c during a 3-year enrollment period.

Real-world Use and Outcomes of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Adults With Diabetes and Heart Failure: A Population-level Cohort Study in Alberta, Canada.

Objectives: Since 2016, clinical guidelines have recommended sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) for people with type 2 diabetes with heart failure. We examined SGLT2i dispensation, factors associated with dispensation, and heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes and heart failure.

Methods: This retrospective, population-based cohort study identified people with diabetes and heart failure between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, in Alberta, Canada, and followed them for a minimum of 3 years for SGLT2i dispensation and outcomes.

Compound K Production: Achievements and Perspectives.

Compound K (CK) is one of the major metabolites found in mammalian blood and organs following oral administration of plants. CK, also known as minor ginsenoside, can be absorbed in the systemic circulation. It has garnered significant attention in healthcare and medical products due to its pharmacological activities, such as antioxidation, anticancer, antiproliferation, antidiabetics, neuroprotection, and anti-atherogenic activities.

Association Between Vaccination Status and Outcomes in Patients Admitted to the ICU With COVID-19.

Objectives: Although COVID-19 vaccines can reduce the need for intensive care unit admission in COVID-19, their effect on outcomes in critical illness remains unclear. We evaluated outcomes in vaccinated patients admitted to the ICU with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and the association between vaccination and booster status on clinical outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Association Between Insulin Resistance and the Inflammatory Marker C-reactive Protein in a Representative Healthy Adult Canadian Population: Results From the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Multiple IR causes have been identified, including inflammation. This study determines the association between IR and the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) in a healthy Canadian population and examines potential differences by sex and age.

Disparities in adherence to diabetes screening guidelines among males and females in a universal care setting: A population-based study of 1,380,697 adults.

Background: National guidelines recommend that all adults over the age of 40 years undergo screening for diabetes at least once every 3-years. We examined the adherence to these guidelines among males and females after accounting for age, urban/rural residence, and material deprivation. We also examined the incidence of prediabetes and diabetes in adherent and non-adherent individuals.

Microorganisms for Ginsenosides Biosynthesis: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives.

Ginsenosides are major bioactive compounds present in the species. Ginsenosides exhibit various pharmaceutical properties, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimetastatic, hypertension, and neurodegenerative disorder activities. Although several commercial products have been presented on the market, most of the current chemical processes have an unfriendly environment and a high cost of downstream processing.

Association between liver enzymes and metabolic syndrome in Canadian adults: results from the Canadian health measures survey - cycles 3 &4.

Background: The relationship between liver enzymes and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in different populations, including Canadians, is not consistent and well understood. We used the Canadian Health Measures Survey data (Cycles 3 and 4) to examine the cross-sectional relationships between select liver biomarkers and MetS in the adult Canadian population. The biomarkers selected were gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP).

Impact of low health literacy on patients' health outcomes: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: This study aims to assess the health literacy of medical patients admitted to hospitals and examine its correlation with patients' emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, and durations of hospital stay.

Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited patients admitted to the general internal medicine units at the two urban tertiary care hospitals. Health literacy was measured using the full-length Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults.

A scoping review of asthma and machine learning.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the extent of machine learning (ML) application in asthma research and to identify research gaps while mapping the existing literature.

Data Sources: We conducted a scoping review. PubMed, ProQuest, and Embase Scopus databases were searched with an end date of September 18, 2020.

CRISPR-Cas system in microbial hosts for terpenoid production.

Terpenoids represent the largest group of secondary metabolites with variable structures and functions. Terpenoids are well known for their beneficial application in human life, such as pharmaceutical products, vitamins, hormones, anticancer drugs, cosmetics, flavors and fragrances, foods, agriculture, and biofuels. Recently, engineering microbial cells have been provided with a sustainable approach to produce terpenoids with high yields.

Bacterial endophytes from ginseng and their biotechnological application.

Ginseng has been well-known as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. Bacterial endophytes ubiquitously colonize the inside tissues of ginseng without any disease symptoms. The identification of bacterial endophytes is conducted through either the internal transcribed spacer region combined with ribosomal sequences or metagenomics.

Predictive biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in adult Canadian population.

Background: Elevated levels of the enzymes gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objective: To assess cross-sectional relationships between biomarkers GGT, ALT, AST, ALP and CVD in adult Canadian population.

Methods: The Canadian Health Measures Surveys (CHMSs) are a series of cross-sectional national surveys and collect information on indicators of general health and wellness of Canadians.

Canadian surveillance study of complex regional pain syndrome in children.

This study describes the minimum incidence of pediatric complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), clinical features, and treatments recommended by pediatricians and pain clinics in Canada. Participants in the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program reported new cases of CRPS aged 2 to 18 years monthly and completed a detailed case reporting questionnaire from September 2017 to August 2019. Descriptive analysis was completed, and the annual incidence of CRPS by sex and age groupings was estimated.

A randomized community trial to advance digital epidemiological and mHealth citizen scientist compliance: A smart platform study.

Background: This study aims to understand how participants' compliance and response rates to both traditional validated surveys and ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) vary across 4 cohorts who participated in the same mHealth study and received the same surveys and EMAs on their smartphones, however with cohort-specific time-triggers that differed across the 4 cohorts.

Methods: As part of the Smart Platform, adult citizen scientists residing in Regina and Saskatoon, Canada, were randomly assigned to 4 cohorts in 2018. Citizen Scientists provided a complex series of subjective and objective data during 8 consecutive days using a custom-built smartphone application.

Atopy risk among school-aged children in relation to early exposures to a farm environment: A systematic review.

Background And Objectives: Childhood atopy is a complex condition with both a genetic and an environmental component. This systematic review will explore the current understanding of the importance of early life exposures to a farm in the development of atopy measured by objective markers of skin prick testing, and specific IgE measurements in school age children.

Methods: A systematic review was performed.

Digital epidemiological and citizen science methodology to capture prospective physical activity in free-living conditions: a SMART Platform study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a replicable methodology of mobile ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) to capture prospective physical activity (PA) within free-living social and physical contexts by leveraging citizen-owned smartphones running on both Android and iOS systems.

Design: Data were obtained from the cross-sectional pilots of the SMART Platform, a citizen science and mobile health initiative.

Setting: The cities of Regina and Saskatoon, Canada.

Lung Function Decline in Farm and Nonfarm Rural Residents of Saskatchewan.

Objective: This study aims to assess the annual changes in lung function among farm and nonfarm adult residences in rural Saskatchewan, Canada.

Methods: Data from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study survey (2010 to 2014) among 724 adults were used.

Results: For forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) measurements, estimates of annual decline (in milliliters) were highest in older age male (65+ years) (Mean, SD) (-42.

Recent Advances in the Metabolic Engineering of Yeasts for Ginsenoside Biosynthesis.

Ginsenosides are a group of glycosylated triterpenes isolated from species. Ginsenosides are promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer as well as food additives. However, owing to a lack of efficient approaches for ginsenoside production from plants and chemical synthesis, ginsenosides may not yet have reached their full potential as medicinal resources.

Increased Production of Dicinnamoylmethane Via Improving Cellular Malonyl-CoA Level by Using a CRISPRi in Escherichia coli.

Curcuminoids are natural phenylpropanoids that are biosynthesized via an L-phenylalanine metabolism pathway in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Curcuminoids have various chemopreventive activities and pharmaceutical applications in human life.

Methodology to Derive Objective Screen-State from Smartphones: A SMART Platform Study.

Time on screens (screen time) on multiple digital devices (computers, mobile phones, tablets, television screens, etc.) due to varied motivations (work, leisure, entertainment, gaming, etc.) has become an integral part of population behaviour.