Publications by authors named "Russell De Souza"
Article Synopsis
- - A systematic review analyzed the impact of probiotics on bone health in rodent models, indicating potential benefits for bone mineral density and structure when compared to no supplementation.
- - In intact rodents, probiotics significantly increased volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) at the femur, although they didn't change the cortical bone structure.
- - In ovariectomized models, probiotic supplementation led to notable improvements in vBMD, BV/TV, and cortical thickness across various bones, suggesting that probiotics could be a promising approach for enhancing bone health.
Background: Many clinical practice guidelines recommend dietary pulses for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The impact of extracted pulse proteins remains unclear. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the effect of extracted pulse proteins on therapeutic lipid targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Long-term exposure to air pollution has been associated with higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. Less is known about the association of air pollution with initial development of cardiovascular disease. Herein, the association between low-level exposure to air pollutants and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in adults without known clinical cardiovascular disease was investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaternal diet may modulate human milk microbiota, but the effects of nutritional supplements are unknown. We examined the associations of prenatal diet and supplement use with milk microbiota composition. Mothers reported prenatal diet intake and supplement use using self-administered food frequency and standardised questionnaires, respectively.
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- Maternal smoking adversely affects newborn health, but its impact has not been fully quantified using cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm) scores; this study explores the connection in White European and South Asian populations.
- Researchers examined CpG sites related to maternal smoking in two White European birth cohorts and developed an epigenetic score that predicts smoking exposure, validated in an independent cohort.
- The epigenetic score correlated with higher smoking levels during pregnancy and was linked to smaller birth size and lower birth weight in newborns, particularly in the South Asian cohort.
We evaluated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among South Asians living in Ontario, Canada compared to non-South Asians and compared the odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and related hospitalizations and deaths among non-vaccinated South Asians and non-South Asians. This was a test negative design study conducted in Ontario, Canada between December 14, 2020 and November 15, 2021. All eligible individuals >18 years with symptoms of COVID-19 were subdivided by ethnicity (South Asian vs other) and vaccination status (vaccinated versus not).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Red and processed meat is considered risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the evidence is inconclusive. We aimed to examine the association between red and processed meat intake and odds of GDM among South Asian and White European women living in Canada.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of pregnant women from two birth cohorts: SouTh Asian biRth cohorT (START; n = 976) and Family Atherosclerosis Monitoring In earLY life (FAMILY; n = 581).
Article Synopsis
- Health care is responsible for 4.4% of global carbon emissions, largely due to high resource use in hospitals, particularly during a patient's last year of life.
- In this crucial period, health care demands rise sharply, leading to increased emissions that often conflict with patients' preferences for care.
- Suggested solutions include improving advanced care planning, initiating palliative care sooner, reducing unnecessary medication prescriptions, and increasing access to community care options, with findings primarily based on Canadian data but relevant to other wealthy nations.
A mother's intrauterine environment influences her health and that of her offspring, at birth and in the future. Herein, we present an overview of our Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded grant "Understanding the impact of maternal and infant nutrition on infant/child health"-set within The NutriGen Birth Cohort Alliance. NutriGen is a consortium of four Canadian prospective birth cohorts representing >5000 mother-child pairs of diverse ethnic groups including South Asians, White Europeans, and Indigenous peoples.
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- A study focused on South Asian Canadians aimed to identify factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting this group's unique challenges in Canada.
- Researchers collected data from 1,496 participants in Ontario and British Columbia, assessing demographic characteristics and vaccine attitudes using the Vaccine Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale.
- Key findings revealed that factors like immigration time, previous COVID-19 infection, marital and living situation, age, education, and employment status influenced vaccine hesitancy among South Asians, providing insights for future public health strategies.
Article Synopsis
- Obesity rates have significantly increased since 1975, and this study aims to explore the potential link between air pollution and obesity, specifically its effects on body weight and related health conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- The research will adhere to systematic review guidelines and involves extensive database searches, with findings being aggregated using statistical models to ensure accurate results.
- Ethical approval isn't required for this type of analysis, and results will be shared in peer-reviewed journals and with healthcare stakeholders to inform public health policies.
Objectives: To present an application of specification curve analysis-a novel analytic method that involves defining and implementing all plausible and valid analytic approaches for addressing a research question-to nutritional epidemiology.
Study Design And Setting: We reviewed all observational studies addressing the effect of red meat on all-cause mortality, sourced from a published systematic review, and documented variations in analytic methods (eg, choice of model, covariates, etc.).
Background: Access to and engagement with greenspace is related to improved health benefits. We sought to collaborate with community members as partners in research and co-creators in knowledge to better understand which components within a newcomer-dense community help or hinder individual and community efforts to access greenspace and nature-based activities.
Methods: We used photovoice methodology to engage with local residents in focus groups, photowalks, and photo-elicitation interviews.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) during the COVID-19 lockdown, finding that while VAs are typically associated with stress, no cases were reported among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators in March 2020.
- It compared data on physical activity and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after the lockdown, revealing a decrease in physical activity but no significant change in HRV.
- The results suggest that the lack of VAs during the pandemic may be linked to reduced physical activity rather than changes in heart function.
Background: Inulin-type fructans (ITF) are the leading prebiotics in the market. Available evidence provides conflicting results regarding the beneficial effects of ITF on cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ITF supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults.
Article Synopsis
- Precision medicine can enhance the prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in individuals with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), based on a systematic review of various studies.
- Out of 9380 studies, 416 met criteria, focusing on biomarkers, genetic markers, and risk score/models to find new prognostic factors.
- Only 13 biomarkers improved prediction, with NT-proBNP showing the strongest evidence, while other markers like troponin-T and triglyceride-glucose also showed moderate promise, highlighting a need for further research in this area.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the representation of racialized people and white participants in clinical trials (RCTs) for type 2 diabetes pharmacotherapies, highlighting concerns about limited enrolment of racialized groups.
- It analyzes data from 83 trials published from 2000 to 2020, focusing on the proportion of participants based on ethnicity and race, and calculates the participation-to-prevalence ratio (PPR) to assess representation.
- Findings aim to reveal potential disparities in trial participation relative to the incidence of type 2 diabetes among different racial and ethnic groups, emphasizing the need for greater diversity in diabetes research.
Background: South Asian people living in Canada face higher rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to national trends. The objective of this study was to design and pilot test a knowledge translation (KT) tool to support GDM prevention counselling in primary care.
Methods: This study is a mixed-methods pilot evaluation of the "SMART START" KT tool involving 2 family physicians in separate practices and 20 pregnant South Asians in Ontario, Canada.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers analyzed 1,767 potential studies and included 55 eligible RCTs, finding that reporting quality significantly improved after the CONSORT guidelines were published, with an average increase of 8.5 checklist items reported.
- * The analysis highlighted that reporting quality varied significantly, suggesting that certain study characteristics influenced how well researchers adhered to the CONSORT checklist before and after the guidelines were introduced.
Article Synopsis
- Antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic was prevalent, with 67% of hospitalized patients receiving them, but a significant 80% of these prescriptions were given to patients without confirmed bacterial coinfections.
- The study conducted a systematic review across several databases, focusing on antibiotic prescribing patterns in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and used meta-analysis to pool results.
- Findings indicate that overprescribing antibiotics can contribute to increased antimicrobial resistance, and there was considerable variation in prescribing practices across different income-level countries and pandemic phases.
Article Synopsis
- Precision medicine is an evolving approach in healthcare that aims to enhance decision-making and health outcomes, particularly in managing diabetes, which poses serious health risks for millions globally.
- The second international consensus report on precision diabetes medicine reviews current findings on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis across different forms of diabetes, highlighting the potential for translating research into clinical practice.
- The report also identifies knowledge gaps and sets out key milestones for better clinical implementation, emphasizing the need for standards addressing cost-effectiveness, health equity, and accessibility in treatment options.
Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!): A protocol for the co-design and evaluation of a healthy active living program among a newcomer community in Canada.
PLoS One
October 2023
Article Synopsis
- Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic risks among newcomer Canadians in low-income areas are significant public health concerns addressed by the SCORE! program in Hamilton, Ontario.
- The project involves a collaborative approach to develop nature-based activities promoting healthy living for children and their families, guided by a socio-ecological model across three phases: evidence synthesis, program development, and eventual implementation.
- The initiative aims to tackle the multifaceted nature of obesity and chronic diseases through a partnership of community members, service providers, and researchers, fostering sustainable interventions to enhance well-being.
Article Synopsis
- A pilot survey was conducted among young adults at a Canadian university to assess their knowledge and adherence to the 2019 Canada's Food Guide (CFG) and its influence on their eating habits.
- The results showed that only 33% of women and 8% of men met the recommended vegetable and fruit intake, with men consuming more protein than women.
- Majority of participants felt the CFG has low influence on their food choices (mean score 2.2 out of 7) and suggested that awareness could be improved through social media outreach.
Article Synopsis
- Accelerated postnatal growth can negatively impact adult cardiovascular health, and this study investigates how growth trajectories differ between children born late preterm (34-36 weeks) and full term (39+ weeks).
- A cohort of 4,423 children in Ontario was tracked from birth to age 14, with researchers analyzing changes in weight and height over time using statistical models.
- The findings revealed that late preterm children had generally lower weight and height than full-term peers but showed faster height growth in the first year of life, while weight gain differences became less significant after age 7.