Systematic review of empiric studies on lockdowns, workplace closures, and other non-pharmaceutical interventions in non-healthcare workplaces during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic: benefits and selected unintended consequences.

Background: We conducted a systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions within non-healthcare workplaces and community-level workplace closures and lockdowns on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, selected mental disorders, and employment outcomes in workers or the general population.

Methods: The inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions. The exclusion criteria included modeling studies.

Virtual Reality for the Management of Pain and Anxiety for IR Procedures: A Prospective, Randomized, Pilot Study on Digital Sedation.

Purpose: To assess the analgesic and anxiolytic effects of virtual reality (VR) augmentation in patients undergoing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement or fine-needle aspiration thyroid biopsy.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial with 107 patients enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard of care (SOC) or SOC+VR during PICC or thyroid biopsy procedures.

Hormonal Contraceptives Reduce Active Symptomatic Disease but May Increase Intestinal Inflammation in IBD.

Background: Among women of reproductive age with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we aimed to assess the relationship of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) with IBD-related symptoms, and intestinal inflammation.

Methods: A nested cohort of women in the longitudinal Manitoba Living with IBD Study, ages 18 to 49, were followed for 1 year, with bi-weekly online surveys. This included a validated measure of disease activity; IBD Symptom Inventory (IBDSI), and stool samples obtained at 3 time-points for assessment of fecal calprotectin (FCAL).

Toxicity and human health assessment of an alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) synthetic kerosene developed under an international agreement with Sweden.

Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) Synthetic Kerosene with Aromatics (SKA) fuels are produced by dehydration and refining of alcohol feed stocks. ATJ SKA fuel known as SB-8 was developed by Swedish Biofuels as a cooperative agreement between Sweden and AFRL/RQTF. SB-8 including standard additives was tested in a 90-day toxicity study with male and female Fischer 344 rats exposed to 0, 200, 700, or 2000 mg/m fuel in an aerosol/vapor mixture for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week.

Relationship between Telework Experience and Presenteeism during COVID-19 Pandemic, United States, March-November 2020.

Persons with COVID-19-like illnesses are advised to stay home to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We assessed relationships between telework experience and COVID-19 illness with work attendance when ill. Adults experiencing fever, cough, or loss of taste or smell who sought healthcare or COVID-19 testing in the United States during March-November 2020 were enrolled.

Urgency for bowel movements is a highly discriminatory symptom of active disease in persons with IBD (the Manitoba Living with IBD study).

Background: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptom Inventory (IBDSI) is a validated patient self-reported measure used to assess IBD disease activity. There have yet to be more granular analyses on which symptoms are most associated with active disease.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of symptoms, and to examine which are most associated with disease activity as measured by a symptom index and objective measure of inflammation METHODS: The Manitoba Living with IBD Study is a prospective study of 156 participants with confirmed IBD who completed bi-weekly IBDSI.

Improving Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation and Reducing Patient Anxiety Through Recently Developed Online Information Resource: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Invasive medical procedures such as colonoscopies can cause psychological distress and anxiety. Mycolonoscopy.ca is a multilanguage website that provides online written and video information (individual items reported in prior publications to be highly rated by patients) regarding preparation and what to expect before, during, and after colonoscopy.

Does severity of spinal cord injury predict likelihood of suffering chronically from severe depression and anxiety?

Study Design: Qualitative Survey study.

Objective: One might assume that those with higher and more complete spinal cord injuries are at higher risk of depression and anxiety. The objective of this study was to assess the association between level and severity of injury with the degree of anxiety and depression in chronic spinal cord injury.

Clinician based decision tool to guide recommended interval between colonoscopies: development and evaluation pilot study.

Background: Optimal intervals between repeat colonoscopies could improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. We evaluated: (a) concordance between clinician and guideline recommended colonoscopy screening intervals in Winnipeg, Manitoba, (b) clinician opinions about the utility of an electronic decision-making tool to aid in recommending screening intervals, and (c) the initial use of a decision-making smartphone/web-based application.

Methods: Clinician endoscopists and primary care providers participated in four focus groups (N = 22).

Self-reported flares among people living with inflammatory bowel disease are associated with stress and worry but not associated with recent diet changes: The Manitoba Living with IBD Study.

Background: In this matched case-control longitudinal study among people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated beliefs about what triggers a flare.

Methods: Adults with confirmed IBD and active disease within 2 years were enrolled in the Manitoba Living with IBD Study and followed biweekly with online surveys for 1 year. The 7-point IBD Symptom Change Indicator was used for participant identification of a flare.

The association of efficacy, optimism, uncertainty and health anxiety with inflammatory bowel disease activity.

Objective: Positive and negative psychological attributes have been shown to influence disease outcomes in many chronic health conditions. We aimed to evaluate the association between self-efficacy, optimism, health anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty and disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Adults with confirmed and recently active IBD enrolled in a prospective cohort study.

IBD Disability Index Is Associated With Both Direct and Indirect Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Introduction: We aimed to determine both direct (medical) and indirect (lost wages) costs of IBD and the association between the degree of IBD-related disability and extent of IBD-related costs.

Methods: Persons age 18-65 from the population-based University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry completed a survey including the IBD Disability Index (IBDDI) and questions related to employment, missed work (absenteeism), and reduced productivity at work (presenteeism). Administrative health data including surgeries, hospitalizations, physician claims, and prescriptions were linked to the survey and assessed.

The complex relationship between diet, symptoms, and intestinal inflammation in persons with inflammatory bowel disease: The Manitoba Living With IBD Study.

Background: We aimed to examine whether an association exists between diet quality, based on the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Healthy Diet Score (HDS), and active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Participants were drawn from the Manitoba Living With IBD Study cohort. The Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate the HDS at two time points: baseline and 1-year follow-up.

What Is a Flare? The Manitoba Living With IBD Study.

Background: Flare is a poorly defined term used by patients and clinicians to indicate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) status. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of a single-item 7-point flare indicator relative to other measures of disease flare.

Methods: The longitudinal Manitoba Living with IBD Study followed persons with IBD for 1 year; they completed biweekly online surveys and provided 3 stool samples.

Examination of Sleep and Obesity in Children and Adolescents in the United States.

Purpose: This study contributes to the growing literature on the association between sleep and obesity by examining the associations between hours of sleep, consistency of bedtime, and obesity among children in the US.

Design: Analysis of a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized children from the 2016-17 National Survey of Children's Health.

Setting: US, national.

Relaxation of social distancing restrictions: Model estimated impact on COVID-19 epidemic in Manitoba, Canada.

Objectives: The unprecedented worldwide social distancing response to COVID-19 resulted in a quick reversal of escalating case numbers. Recently, local governments globally have begun to relax social distancing regulations. Using the situation in Manitoba, Canada as an example, we estimated the impact that social distancing relaxation may have on the pandemic.

Determining the influence of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba's opioid policy on prescription opioid use amongst WCB recipients.

Background: Opioid medications are commonly used by Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants following workplace injuries. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of an opioid management policy on opioid prescriptions amongst a WCB-covered population compared to changes in the use of these medications in the general population of a Canadian province.

Methods: We linked WCB claims data from 2006 to 2016 (13,155 claims, 11,905 individuals) to Manitoba provincial health records and compared opioid use amongst this group to 478,606 individuals aged 18-65.

Toxicity and human health assessment of an alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) synthetic kerosene.

A toxicological investigation was conducted for alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuels intended as a 50:50 blend with petroleum-derived fuel Jet Propulsion (JP)-8. The ATJ synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) fuel was produced by Gevo (Englewood CO) and derived either from biomass (bio) or non-biomass sources. All toxicity tests were performed with one or both ATJ fuels following addition of a standard additive package required for JP-8.

An International Multicenter Comparison of IBD-Related Disability and Validation of the IBDDI.

Background: The IBD disability index (IBDDI) has been shown to be valid and reliable. We compared the distributional and predictive properties of the IBDDI, when collected from five populations of people living with IBD- from Winnipeg, Chicago, Toronto, Hong Kong, and Jerusalem.

Methods: People with IBD from five jurisdictions were invited to complete a survey including the IBDDI, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale, the Work and Social Adjustment Scale, the IBDQ, the Kessler-6 distress scale, and the Stanford presenteeism scale.

Ipilimumab-Induced Enterocolitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Checkpoint inhibitor drugs including ipilimumab have been reported to induce intestinal injury.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the risk of chronic (> 6 weeks) enterocolitis following ipilimumab administration, and the likelihood that an enteritis vs colitis or enterocolitis is seen.

Patients And Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry, and conference proceedings.

Anxiety and Depression Leads to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Discontinuation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims: Anxiety and mood disorders (AMDs) are common among persons with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and are associated with increased health care use and lower quality of life. We assessed the effects of AMDs on persistence on anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in patients with IBD, and risk of IBD-related adverse outcomes after therapy initiation.

Methods: We identified all persons with IBD in Manitoba, Canada who were dispensed an anti-TNF agent from 2001 through 2016 and then identified those with a validated administrative definition of AMD in the 2 years before initiation of therapy.

Association Between Change in Inflammatory Aspects of Diet and Change in IBD-related Inflammation and Symptoms Over 1 Year: The Manitoba Living With IBD Study.

Background: We aimed to investigate (1) the stability of inflammatory aspects of diet over 1 year among persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and (2) the impact of change in diet on changes in inflammation and IBD symptoms over 1 year.

Methods: Participants were recruited to the Manitoba Living with IBD Study and completed the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII) were used to calculate the inflammatory potential of the diet.

Utility of the MARS-5 in Assessing Medication Adherence in IBD.

Introduction: We aimed to validate the Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 (MARS-5) as a tool for assessing medication adherence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to determine predictors of medication adherence.

Methods: One hundred twelve (N = 112) adults with confirmed IBD participating in the longitudinal Manitoba Living With IBD Study were eligible. Demographics, IBD type, surgeries, disease activity (using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptom Inventory and fecal calprotectin levels), perceived stress, and medication use were collected biweekly through online surveys.