Inflammasome activation links enteric Typhimurium infection to a rapid, cytokine-dependent increase in intestinal mucin release.

The host restricts serovar Typhimurium infection of the gut via inflammasome-dependent sloughing of infected epithelial cells. Here we determined that concurrent caspase 1/11-dependent release of the goblet cell-derived mucin, Muc2, into the intestinal lumen also controls burdens in infected mice. The increased release of mucins from goblet cells in the cecum and nearby proximal colon, and the subsequent thickening of the protective mucus barrier layer in the distal colon, were all dependent on the cytokines interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-22, as deficiencies in either cytokine resulted in reduced mucin secretion.

Adolescents' mental health is associated with food parenting practices among British Columbian families.

Background: Adolescence is a developmental period marked by significant changes related to the body and food parenting practices. However, few studies have explored child-level psychological correlates of these practices during adolescence. Our study examined whether adolescents' weight status, weight concerns, self-esteem, and anxiety were associated with food parenting practices, and whether these associations significantly differed by adolescents' gender among 297 families in British Columbia, Canada.

Fontan circulation and systemic disease - a retrospective cohort analysis over 35 years of follow-up.

Background: The Fontan operation provides lifesaving palliation for individuals with single ventricle (SV) physiology. Given recent concerns of systemic disease (SD) for patients with a Fontan circulation, we sought to (1) quantify the increase in SD incidence associated with the Fontan circulation; (2) identify the risk factor of SD; (3) assess the association between SD and mortality in patients with a Fontan circulation.

Methods: A matched retrospective cohort study design was adopted.

Factors affecting mammogram breast cancer surveillance effectiveness in the ipsilateral and contralateral breast.

Aim: Mammography is the mainstay of imaging surveillance after breast cancer (BC) treatment, but false negatives can occur. The objective of the study was to determine the factors that can predict poorer second breast cancer (SBC) mammogram detection of the ipsilateral and contralateral breast separately.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective review was performed on female patients with a previous history of treated BC who developed a second breast cancer (SBC) in the ipsilateral (ISBC) or contralateral breast (CSBC) within 10 years from the first BC.

Enhancing HPV vaccine uptake in girls and boys - A qualitative analysis of Canadian school-based vaccination programs.

The purpose of this study was to better understand barriers and enabling conditions for HPV vaccination in school-based vaccination programs in Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone or in person with parents, nurses, and school staff (n = 50) in three Canadian provinces. Interviews explored views on HPV and HPV vaccination, strengths and weaknesses of the school-based HPV vaccination programs and proposed interventions to increase uptake.

Discovering Subtypes with Imaging Signatures in the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome Consortium using Weakly-Supervised Clustering.

Introduction: Understanding the heterogeneity of brain structure in individuals with the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR) may improve the current risk assessments of dementia.

Methods: We used data from 6 cohorts from the (N=1987). A weakly-supervised clustering algorithm called HYDRA was applied to volumetric MRI measures to identify distinct subgroups in the population with gait speeds lower than one standard deviation (1SD) above mean.

Rhythmic high-amplitude delta with superimposed spikes (RHADS): a treatment dilemma.

Pathognomonic EEG patterns have been described in genetic conditions such as Angelman and Rett syndromes. EEG patterns along the ictal-interictal continuum have been increasingly recognized with the greater availability of continuous EEG monitoring; however, treatment decisions may be difficult with unpredictable clinical implications. Rhythmic High-Amplitude Delta Activity with Superimposed (Poly) Spikes (RHADS) has been described as a particular EEG pattern in POLG1 Alpers Syndrome.

Zinc finger nuclease-mediated gene editing in hematopoietic stem cells results in reactivation of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease.

BIVV003 is a gene-edited autologous cell therapy in clinical development for the potential treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are genetically modified with mRNA encoding zinc finger nucleases (ZFN) that target and disrupt a specific regulatory GATAA motif in the BCL11A erythroid enhancer to reactivate fetal hemoglobin (HbF). We characterized ZFN-edited HSC from healthy donors and donors with SCD.

Clear lens extraction and intraocular lens implantation to correct extreme myopia after retinopathy of prematurity.

We report 3 patients who developed extreme myopia after ROP laser treatment. Their subsequent optical correction was problematic, prompting bilateral clear lens extractions with intraocular lens implantation.

Participant-reported neurological events following immunization in the Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network-COVID-19 vaccine (CANVAS-COVID) study.

Introduction: The Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS) conducted active participant-based surveillance for adverse events following immunization during the COVID-19 vaccine campaign. This study evaluated the association between COVID-19 vaccination and neurological adverse events.

Methods: Participants were invited to complete online surveys to report health events that prevented daily activities and/or required medical attention within 7 days after COVID-19 vaccination or 7 days prior to the survey (unvaccinated controls); follow-up surveys were sent 7 months later.

Protein requirements in adults with phenylketonuria and bioavailability of glycomacropeptide compared to an l-amino acid-based product.

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is caused by phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency. Treatment is primarily a low-Phe diet combined with l-amino acid-based products (l-AA). Protein requirements in adults with PKU have not been directly determined.

Exome variant prioritization in a large cohort of hearing-impaired individuals indicates IKZF2 to be associated with non-syndromic hearing loss and guides future research of unsolved cases.

Although more than 140 genes have been associated with non-syndromic hereditary hearing loss (HL), at least half of the cases remain unexplained in medical genetic testing. One reason is that pathogenic variants are located in 'novel' deafness genes. A variant prioritization approach was used to identify novel (candidate) genes for HL.

Baseline absolute lymphocyte count as a prognostic indicator in advanced or metastatic breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study used meta-analysis to examine the role of baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in the prognosis of advanced breast cancer (ABC) or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A comprehensive search encompassing PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases was undertaken to identify and screen literature based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF), post-progression survival (PPS), and overall survival (OS) were selected as outcome measures.

Trust of inpatient physicians among parents of children with medical complexity: a qualitative study.

Background: Trust is a foundation of the therapeutic relationship and is associated with important patient outcomes. Building trust between parents of children with medical complexity (CMC) and physicians during inpatient care is complicated by lack of relational continuity, cumulative (sometimes negative) parent experiences and the need to adjust roles and expectations to accommodate parental expertise. This study's objective was to describe how parents of CMC conceptualize trust with physicians within the pediatric inpatient setting and to provide recommendations for building trust in these relationships.

Analysis of invasive group A streptococcal puerperal sepsis in Calgary, Alberta: clinical consequences and policy implications.

We analyzed invasive group A streptococcal puerperal sepsis cases in a large health zone in Alberta, Canada between 2013 and 2022. Of the 21 cases, 85.7% were adjudicated as hospital/delivery-acquired, with 2 clusters having identical isolates found through whole genome sequencing.