Virtual Education is the Need of the Hour for the Global Gastroenterology Community: A Survey of Leaders of Professional Gastroenterology Organizations.

Background And Aims: Since the onset of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a significant opportunity to leverage virtual platforms for communication and dissemination of knowledge. An online survey was conducted to examine the viewpoints of World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) leaders concerning the necessity, primary priority areas, and implementation strategies for a virtual global gastroenterology educational program.

Methods: We conducted a survey of leaders of WGO member societies to assess their opinions on creating opportunities for global education using virtual platforms, identifying practical implementation steps and priority educational areas.

Senescence markers in subcutaneous preadipocytes differ in childhood- versus adult-onset obesity before and after weight loss.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of age of obesity onset on senescence-related markers in abdominal (AB) and femoral (FEM) subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) before and after moderate (~10%) weight loss.

Methods: AB and FEM SAT were collected from human females with childhood-onset obesity (CO) or adult-onset obesity (AO) before and after diet- and exercise-induced weight loss. Immunofluorescence analysis of γH2AX/RAD51 (DNA damage/repair markers) and p53/p21 (senescence markers) was conducted in cultured preadipocytes, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity was measured in SAT.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease Development After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for developing neurocognitive disorders, though this association remains controversial. Determination of risk factors for post-traumatic neurodegeneration in patients with TBI is critical given the high incidence of TBI. We hypothesized that cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities, in addition to TBI severity, are associated with the risk of post-traumatic development of Alzheimer disease dementia (ADD).

Longitudinal recovery of executive functions and social participation prediction following traumatic brain injury.

There is heterogeneity across studies and a lack of knowledge about recovery of EFs over time following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Also, EFs are associated with functional outcome, but there is still a gap in knowledge concerning the association between EFs and social participation following TBI. For this reason, we aim to (1) measure the recovery of the three executive function subcomponents of Miyake's model, namely flexibility, updating and inhibition between the acute phase (T1) and 6 months post TBI (T2) and (2) measure the relationship between EFs and social participation after TBI.

Gray matter substrates of depressive and anxiety symptoms in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder.

Introduction: Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a prodromal stage of Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Depressive and anxiety symptoms are frequent features of PD, DLB and iRBD, and some studies suggest that depressive symptoms are a marker for neurodegeneration in iRBD. However, the pathophysiology of depressive and anxiety symptoms in iRBD is still unclear.

Comparing external and internal validation methods in correcting outcome misclassification bias in logistic regression: A simulation study and application to the case of postsurgical venous thromboembolism following total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: We assessed the validity of postsurgery venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnoses identified from administrative databases and compared Bayesian and multiple imputation (MI) approaches in correcting for outcome misclassification in logistic regression models.

Methods: Sensitivity and specificity of postsurgery VTE among patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement (THR/TKR) were assessed against chart review in six Montreal hospitals in 2009 to 2010. Administrative data on all THR/TKR Quebec patients in 2009 to 2010 were obtained.

Narrative Review of the Pathophysiology of Headaches and Photosensitivity in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion.

The most common symptom of post-concussive syndrome (PCS) is post-traumatic headache (PTH) accompanied by photophobia. Post-traumatic headache is currently categorized as a secondary headache disorder with a clinical phenotype described by its main features and resembling one of the primary headache disorders: tension, migraine, migraine-like cluster. Although PTH is often treated with medication used for primary headache disorders, the underlying mechanism for PTH has yet to be elucidated.

Effects of aging and insulin resistant states on protein anabolic responses in older adults.

Insulin is the principal postprandial anabolic hormone and resistance to its action could contribute to sarcopenia. We developed different types of hyperinsulinemic clamp protocols to measure simultaneously glucose and protein metabolism in insulin resistant states (older adults, obesity, diabetes, etc.).

Defective bone repair in mast cell-deficient Cpa3Cre/+ mice.

In the adult skeleton, cells of the immune system interact with those of the skeleton during all phases of bone repair to influence the outcome. Mast cells are immune cells best known for their pathologic role in allergy, and may be involved in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disorders. Potential roles for mast cells in tissue homeostasis, vascularization and repair remain enigmatic.

Traumatic brain injury in a rural indigenous population in Canada: a community-based approach to surveillance.

Background: Indigenous populations are disproportionately affected by traumatic brain injury. These populations rely on large jurisdiction surveillance efforts to inform their prevention strategies, which may not address their needs. We examined the incidence and determinants of traumatic brain injury in an indigenous population in the Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James health region of the province of Quebec and compared them with the incidence and determinants in 2 neighbouring health regions and in the province overall.

Comparative Outcomes of Traumatic Brain Injury from Biking Accidents With or Without Helmet Use.

Objective: To determine if health outcomes and demographics differ according to helmet status between persons with cycling-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 128 patients admitted to the Montreal General Hospital following a TBI that occurred while cycling from 2007-2011. Information was collected from the Quebec trauma registry and the coroner's office in cases of death from cycling accidents.

Usefulness of the rivermead postconcussion symptoms questionnaire and the trail-making test for outcome prediction in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

The aim of the study was to determine if the Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) is a better tool for outcome prediction than an objective neuropsychological assessment following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The study included 47 patients with mTBI referred to an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The RPQ and a brief neuropsychological battery were performed in the first few days following the trauma.

Cytokine immunomodulation for the treatment of infectious diseases: lessons from primary immunodeficiencies.

Traditionally, management of infectious diseases focuses on identification of the causative microbe and the use of pathogen-targeted therapy. With increasing antimicrobial resistance, novel approaches are required. One strategy is to modulate those natural host immune responses that critically mediate resistance to specific microbes.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment in persons with traumatic brain injury.

The objective of this study was to examine the performance of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The MoCA was administered to 214 patients with TBI during their acute care hospitalization in a Level 1 trauma center. The results showed that patients with severe TBI had lower scores on the MoCA compared with patients with mild and moderate TBI, F(2, 211) = 10.

Acute evaluation of conversational discourse skills in traumatic brain injury.

This study looked at performance on the conversational discourse checklist of the Protocole Montréal d'évaluation de la communication (D-MEC) in 195 adults with TBI of all severity hospitalized in a Level 1 Trauma Centre. To explore validity, results were compared to findings on tests of memory, mental flexibility, confrontation naming, semantic and letter category naming, verbal reasoning, and to scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The relationship to outcome as measured with the Disability Rating Scale (DRS), the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E), length of stay, and discharge destinations was also determined.

Description of behaviors in nonverbal critically ill patients with a traumatic brain injury when exposed to common procedures in the intensive care unit: a pilot study.

Behavioral indicators are strongly recommended for pain assessment in nonverbal patients. Although pain-related behaviors have been studied in critically ill patients, those with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been either excluded or underrepresented. Because these patients also likely experience pain, research is urgently needed to generate knowledge in this field.

Metabolic activity measured on PET/CT correlates with clinical outcomes in patients with limb and girdle sarcomas.

Objective: To explore the relationship between metabolic activity and outcome in patients with extremity sarcomas.

Methods: Between June 2004 and December 2011, 120 patients with newly diagnosed limb and girdle sarcomas underwent FDG-PET/CT for disease staging prior to curative intent treatment. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) was measured for each primary tumor and correlated with outcome.

A descriptive study of bicycle helmet use in Montreal, 2011.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe bicycle helmet use among Montreal cyclists as a step towards injury prevention programming.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, cyclists were observed during 60-minute periods at 22 locations on the island of Montreal. There were 1-3 observation periods per location.

The mini-mental state examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after traumatic brain injury: an early predictive study.

Primary Objective: To compare results on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to those on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to predict the outcome at discharge from the acute care setting.

Research Design: A retrospective study.

Methods And Procedures: The MoCA and the MMSE were administered to 214 patients with TBI during their acute care hospitalization in a Level I trauma centre.

A systematic review of economic evaluations of enhanced recovery pathways for colorectal surgery.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of economic evaluations of enhanced recovery pathways (ERP) for colorectal surgery.

Background: Although there is extensive literature investigating the clinical effectiveness of ERP, little is known regarding its cost-effectiveness.

Methods: A systematic literature search identified all relevant articles published between 1997 and 2012 that performed an economic evaluation of ERP for colorectal surgery.

Acute global outcome in patients with mild uncomplicated and complicated traumatic brain injury.

Primary Objective: This study assesses the influence of socio-demographic, psychosocial, clinical and radiological variables on the outcome of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in an acute care inpatient setting.

Research Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods And Procedure: A total of 2127 inpatients with MTBI were included.

The economic burden of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterised by variable and unpredictable manifestations that can severely affect a person's physical and mental well-being, social life and ability to acquire and maintain gainful employment. Damage to vital organs may ensue as a result of the disease itself or as a consequence of treatment, and patients often consume substantial health-care resources and incur considerable health-care costs. Furthermore, SLE tends to affect women in young and middle adulthood, at a time in their lives when they are usually most actively engaged in the workforce, and can have important consequences with respect to acquiring and maintaining employment and advancing in one's career.