A cross-sectional study of breastfed infants referred for tongue tie assessment and frenotomy in one Canadian health region.

Importance: Tongue tie (TT) is a condition that can cause infant feeding difficulties due to restricted tongue movement. When TT presents as a significant barrier to breastfeeding, a frenotomy may be recommended. Universally accepted diagnostic criteria for TT are lacking and wide prevalence estimates are reported.

High rates of International Code violations: a cross-sectional study in a region of Canada with low breastfeeding rates.

Background: Exposure to marketing and promotion of commercial milk formula is associated with an increased likelihood of formula-feeding. In 1981, the International Code (IC) of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes was adopted by the 34th World Health Assembly to restrict the promotion, marketing and advertising of commercial milk formula and protect breastfeeding.

Research Aim: The current study examines mothers' exposure to violations of the IC in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province of Canada with low breastfeeding rates.

Plasma cell myeloma following a prior diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

A 69-year-old man presented with plasma cell myeloma (PCM) 4 years after the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Light chain expressions in the two tumors were different suggesting unrelated cell of origin clonality. Few reports have been added to the literature describing synchronous CLL and PCM in a patient.

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL): Environment and pollution-A systematic review.

Introduction: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is an objective measurement of skin integrity measured as the amount of water lost across the stratum corneum. TEWL varies greatly across variables such as age and anatomic location, and disruptions in the skin barrier have been linked to inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Impact of environmental conditions and pollution on TEWL has yet to be determined.

Novelty-like activation of locus coeruleus protects against deleterious human pretangle tau effects while stress-inducing activation worsens its effects.

The earliest abnormality associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of persistently phosphorylated pretangle tau in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. LC neuron numbers and fiber density are positive predictors of cognition prior to death. Using an animal model of LC pretangle tau, we ask if LC activity patterns influence the sequelae of pretangle tau.

TIGIT blockade enhances NK cell activity against autologous HIV-1-infected CD4 T cells.

Objectives: During chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection, inhibitory molecules upregulated on lymphocytes contribute to effector cell dysfunction and immune exhaustion. People living with HIV (PLWH) are at greater risk for age-related morbidities, an issue magnified by human cytomegalovirus (CMV) coinfection. As CMV infection modifies natural killer (NK) cell properties and NK cells contribute to protection against HIV-1 infection, we considered the role of T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and intracellular tyrosine inhibitory motif domains (TIGIT) in NK cell-based HIV-1 immunotherapy and elimination strategies.

The prevalence and patterns of use of point-of-care ultrasound in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is used for diagnostic and procedural guidance by physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). POCUS use is largely limited to urban locations and the training is variable amongst physicians. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of POCUS devices in NL and the secondary aim was to characterise the patterns of POCUS use amongst physicians in NL.

Controversies in Vitamin D: A Statement From the Third International Conference.

The Third International Conference on Controversies in Vitamin D was held in Gubbio, Italy, September 10-13, 2019. The conference was held as a follow-up to previous meetings held in 2017 and 2018 to address topics of controversy in vitamin D research. The specific topics were selected by the steering committee of the conference and based upon areas that remain controversial from the preceding conferences.

Targeted Inhibition of Purine Metabolism Is Effective in Suppressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression.

Tumor-specific metabolic rewiring, acquired to confer a proliferative and survival advantage over nontransformed cells, represents a renewed focus in cancer therapy development. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a malignancy that has hitherto been resistant to compounds targeting oncogenic signaling pathways, represents a candidate cancer to investigate the efficacy of selectively antagonizing such adaptive metabolic reprogramming. To this end, we sought to characterize metabolic changes in HCC necessary for tumorigenesis.

Exploring the utility of the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model in evaluating nursing contributions in primary health care: A scoping review.

Aims: To inform a discussion for the applicability of using the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model (NREM) in the primary health care setting through a synthesis of the literature that has used the model in all health care sectors.

Design: Scoping Review.

Methods: Articles were considered for inclusion if they discussed any aspect of the NREM in health care research that presented information related to any nursing regulatory designation, such as nurse practitioner (NP), registered nurse (RN), licensed/registered practical nurse (LPN/RPN) and considered both quantitative and qualitative study designs, including expert opinions and reports.

Scholarly training objectives and requirements for paediatric residents in Canada.

In the absence of national standards for scholarly requirements, paediatric resident training varies significantly across Canadian programs. This variability may contribute to significant differences in trainee experiences and productivity. A panel of coordinators of paediatric resident research programs from across Canada met in 2014, to share experiences and identify barriers to successful resident scholarly activity.

Role of β and β-adrenoceptors in arterial stiffness in a state of hypertension.

An increase in arterial stiffness is associated with a high risk for morbidity and mortality in a state of elevated systemic pressure. The sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of vascular tone via activation of β-adrenoceptors. The aim of this investigation was to determine the involvement of β-adrenoceptors in the control of arterial stiffness in a state of hypertension versus normotension.

Effects of fumarates on inflammatory human astrocyte responses and oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Objective: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a fumaric acid ester approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In both the brain and periphery, DMF and its metabolite monomethyl fumarate (MMF) exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Our aim was to compare the effects of DMF and MMF on inflammatory and antioxidant pathways within astrocytes, a critical supporting glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS).

Corticospinal excitability to the biceps brachii and its relationship to postactivation potentiation of the elbow flexors.

We examined the effects of a submaximal voluntary elbow flexor contraction protocol on measures of corticospinal excitability and postactivation potentiation of evoked muscle forces and if these measures were state-dependent (rest vs. voluntary muscle contraction). Participants completed four experimental sessions where they rested or performed a 5% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the elbow flexors prior to, immediately, and 5 min following a submaximal contraction protocol.

Engaging patients in health research: identifying research priorities through community town halls.

Background: The vision of Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research is that patients be actively engaged as partners in health research. Support units have been created across Canada to build capacity in patient-oriented research and facilitate its conduct. This study aimed to explore patients' health research priorities in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

The effect of inflammation on sympathetic nerve mediated contractions in rat isolated caudal artery.

Chronic inflammatory process(es) contributes to changes in vascular function in a variety of diseases. Sympathetic nerve-mediated responses in blood vessels play a pivotal role in regular physiological functions. We tested the hypothesis that sympathetic neuro-effector function will be altered as consequence of inflammatory state.

Effects of fumarates on circulating and CNS myeloid cells in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), is implicated as acting on inflammatory and antioxidant responses within both systemic immune and/or central nervous system (CNS) compartments. Orally administered DMF is rapidly metabolized to monomethyl fumarate (MMF). Our aim was to analyze the impact of fumarates on antiinflammatory and antioxidant profiles of human myeloid cells found in the systemic compartment (monocytes) and in the inflamed CNS (blood-derived macrophages and brain-derived microglia).

A reproducible Endothelin-1 model of forelimb motor cortex stroke in the mouse.

Background: Despite the availability of numerous transgenic mouse lines to study the role of individual genes in promoting neural repair following stroke, few studies have availed of this technology, primarily due to the lack of a reproducible ischemic injury model in the mouse. Intracortical injections of Endothelin-1 (ET1) a potent vasoconstrictive agent, reliably produces focal infarcts with concomitant behavioral deficits in rats. In contrast, ET1 infarcts in mice are significantly smaller and do not generate consistent behavioral deficits.

Low ethanol intake prevents salt-induced hypertension in WKY rats.

Low alcohol intake in humans lowers the risk of coronary heart disease and may lower blood pressure. In hypertension, insulin resistance with altered glucose metabolism leads to increased formation of aldehydes. We have shown that chronic low alcohol intake decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and tissue aldehyde conjugates in spontaneously hypertensive rats and demonstrated a strong link between elevated tissue aldehyde conjugates and hypertension in salt-induced hypertensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Creating a Culture for Interdisciplinary Collaborative Professional Practice.

The future of the health system is dependent on health professionals re-tooling the way we practice together. No longer can a multi-disciplinary model support the complex health needs of many clients nor can any one-health profession have all the knowledge needed to provide total patient-centred care. However, our current education and health systems are structured around a multidisciplinary model of practice with physicians or nurse practitioners as decision-makers and rarely are clients included in care planning.

A Mixed Learning Technology Approach for Continuing Medical Education.

Introduction: Distance learning technologies have been used for many years to provide CME to rural physicians. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility and acceptability of a mixed learning technology approach for providing distance CME. The approach combined audio teleconferencing instruction with a Web-based learning system enabling the live presentation and archiving of instructional material and media, asynchronous computer conferencing discussions, and access to supplemental online learning resources.