Arrhythmogenic atrial remodeling during pregnancy in mice.

Background: Pregnancy is associated with greater vulnerability to supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Objective: As the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, we investigated whether pregnancy induces atrial remodeling that might contribute to this.

Methods: Atrial electrophysiological and contractile properties were examined in nonpregnant and pregnant (P) mice.

Acceptability, feasibility, equity and resource use for prenatal screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: A systematic review.

Background: A systematic review on acceptability, feasibility, equity and resource use was conducted as part of updating recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada on prenatal screening for (CT) and (NG).

Methods: Information sources, including MEDLINE® All, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL (January 2003-January 2021) electronic databases were searched for studies that assessed acceptability, feasibility, equity and resource use of screening for CT or NG in pregnant persons aged ≥12 years. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-Randomized Studies was used for quality assessment and a narrative synthesis was prepared.

Global Prevalence of Chronic Pain in Women with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Chronic pain is common among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and detrimental to quality of life and overall health. It is often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and frankly dismissed in women with HIV, despite growing evidence that it is highly prevalent in this population. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the global prevalence of chronic pain in women with HIV.

Characterization of vaccine confidence among teachers in British Columbia, Canada: A population-based survey.

Objectives: Teachers are an important occupational group to consider when addressing vaccine confidence and uptake for school-aged children due to their proximate role within school-based immunization programs. The objectives of this study were to characterize and identify sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine confidence and describe teachers' knowledge of and perceived role in the school-based immunization program, with the aim of informing public health policy and identifying opportunities for supporting teachers in their role in school-based immunization programs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of elementary and secondary public-school teachers in British Columbia was completed from August to November 2020.

Patient Perceptions of Telehealth for Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Follow-up Study.

Objectives: There was rapid uptake of pediatric diabetes telehealth at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and initial studies demonstrated good usability and satisfaction. As exposure to telehealth continued to increase during the pandemic, we aimed to determine changes in telehealth usability and changes in future preferences for telehealth care.

Methods: A telehealth questionnaire was administered early in the pandemic and again more than 1 year later.

Human Milk Calorie Guide: A Novel Color-Based Tool to Estimate the Calorie Content of Human Milk for Preterm Infants.

Fixed-dose fortification of human milk (HM) is insufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of preterm infants. Commercial human milk analyzers (HMA) to individually fortify HM are unavailable in most centers. We describe the development and validation of a bedside color-based tool called the 'human milk calorie guide'(HMCG) for differentiating low-calorie HM using commercial HMA as the gold standard.

Experiences of Mothers of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay following the birth of a preterm infant can be stressful and traumatic for families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NICU environment changed precipitously as infection control and visitor restriction measures were implemented.

Purpose: Our study aimed to examine the impact of the pandemic policies on the experiences of mothers of preterm infants during their stay in the NICU.

Web-Based Digital Storytelling for Endometriosis and Pain: Qualitative Pilot Study.

Background: Endometriosis is a complex chronic disease characterized by pain, including painful sex, that can contribute to considerable sexual function, self-esteem, and relationship challenges. Digital storytelling is an arts-based, participatory methodology wherein individuals create and share their illness experiences in detailing their lived experiences.

Objective: The study objective was to pilot-test a web-based digital storytelling workshop focused on endometriosis to understand storytellers' experiences of workshop participation.

The practice of genomic medicine: A delineation of the process and its governing principles.

Genomic medicine, an emerging medical discipline, applies the principles of evolution, developmental biology, functional genomics, and structural genomics within clinical care. Enabling widespread adoption and integration of genomic medicine into clinical practice is key to achieving precision medicine. We delineate a biological framework defining diagnostic utility of genomic testing and map the process of genomic medicine to inform integration into clinical practice.

HSV-2 infection and HPV incidence, persistence, and precancerous lesions in a cohort of HPV-vaccinated women living with HIV.

Background: Several co-factors for HPV oncogenesis have been proposed, including co-infection with HSV-2. We assessed the relationship between HSV-2 infection and HPV-related outcomes in quadrivalent HPV-vaccinated (qHPV) women living with HIV (WLWH).

Methods: In this multi-site study of immunogenicity and efficacy of the qHPV vaccine in WLWH, visits took place at months -3, 0, 2, 6, 12, 18, 24, and annually thereafter.

Telemedicine for First-Trimester Medical Abortion in Canada: Results of a 2019 Survey.

Telemedicine has the potential to improve abortion access disparities in Canada. We aimed to explore the provision of telemedicine for first-trimester medical abortion and related barriers in 2019. We conducted a national, cross-sectional, anonymized, web-based survey of clinicians who provided abortion care in 2019 in Canada.

Seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 in an unvaccinated cohort in British Columbia, Canada: a cross-sectional survey with dried blood spot samples.

Objectives: Gathering population-based data on prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is vital to the public health response and planning. Current seroprevalence data in BC are limited with respect to considerations of how socioeconomic and demographic factors, such as age, sex, gender, income, identifying as a visibility minority and occupation, are related to SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection due to infection-acquired immunity. We aimed to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in a cohort of British Columbians, using at-home self-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples.

Post-partum contraception in women living with HIV.

Introduction: Rates of unintended pregnancy are higher in women living with HIV than in those without HIV. The World Health Organization and the Canadian HIV Pregnancy Planning Guidelines recommend preventing unintended pregnancies and offering contraception counselling to women living with HIV to reduce the rate of perinatal HIV transmission worldwide. No studies have assessed post-partum (PP) contraception use in women living with HIV in Canada.

Impact of Differing Language Background Exposures on Bayley-III Language Assessment in a National Cohort of Children Born Less than 29 Weeks' Gestation.

Preterm infants are at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially language delay. Preterm infants < 29 weeks’ gestational age, cared for in Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network affiliated hospitals, were assessed between 18 to 21 months corrected age using the Bayley-III. Bayley-III Language Composite Scores were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses for children in three primary language groups: English, French and other.

Improving Fetal Fraction of Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Samples Collected in EDTA-Gel Tubes Using Gel Size Selection: A Head-To-Head Comparison of Methods.

The aim of this study was to compare the use of EDTA-gel blood collection tubes with and without size selection to cell-stabilizing collection tubes for remote blood sampling for noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS). Sixty-one pregnant women at 10 to 14 weeks' gestation undergoing NIPS were recruited. Participants were phlebotomized with Streck and EDTA-gel tubes.

Women's Preferences and Design Recommendations for a Postpartum Depression Psychoeducation Intervention: User Involvement Study.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity, affecting up to 18% of Canadian new mothers. Yet, PPD often remains untreated due to numerous barriers in access to care, including location and cost. Development of eHealth interventions in collaboration with patient partners offers an exciting opportunity to fill this care gap and provide effective and affordable care to new parents across British Columbia.

A Canadian survey of patients' attitudes toward donation of products of conception for research at the time of their aspiration abortion.

Objective: We explored patients' attitudes toward donating products of conception for research at the time of their aspiration abortion.

Study Design: We surveyed patients presenting for first or second trimester aspiration abortion to the abortion service at British Columbia Women's Hospital over a 6-month period in 2018. Questions explored demographics, attitudes toward tissue donation, willingness to donate products of conception for research, and how the option of donating tissue influenced patients' perception of their abortion.

Prescribing patterns of antiretroviral treatments during pregnancy for women living with HIV in Canada 2004-2020: A surveillance study.

Background: While treatment guidelines for HIV in adults have evolved rapidly with the advent of new antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, those for the prevention of vertical HIV transmission in pregnancy have evolved more slowly due to safety and efficacy concerns. Here we describe Canadian prescribing patterns for ARV treatments during pregnancy and compare them to perinatal HIV prescribing guidelines of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that are commonly used in Canada and include recommendations for newly commercialized therapies.

Methods: The Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP) captures annual medical data on mothers living with HIV and their infants from 23 sites across Canada.

Side effects and acceptability measures for thermal ablation as a treatment for cervical precancer in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.

Objective: Understanding the side effects and acceptability of thermal ablation (TA) is necessary before large-scale application in screen-and-treat programmes can be justified in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design: Articles were selected for inclusion by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black's criteria.

A pharmacogenomic investigation of the cardiac safety profile of ondansetron in children and pregnant women.

Background: Ondansetron is a highly effective antiemetic for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. However, this medication has also been associated with QT prolongation. Pharmacogenomic information on therapeutic response to ondansetron exists, but no investigation has been performed on genetic factors that influence the cardiac safety of this medication.

Epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of incident tuberculosis in children in Canada in 2013-2016: results of a national surveillance study.

Purpose: Childhood tuberculosis disease is difficult to diagnose and manage and is an under-recognised cause of morbidity and mortality. Reported data from Canada do not focus on childhood tuberculosis or capture key epidemiologic, clinical and microbiologic details. The purpose of this study was to assess demographics, presentation and clinical features of childhood tuberculosis in Canada.