Evaluation of an online Cardiometabolic and Weight Loss Program. A mixed methods study.

Risk factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) can be addressed through behavior modification, including changes in diet and physical activity. In 2021, The Wellness Institute (WI), located at Seven Oaks General Hospital, created a virtual cardiometabolic risk reduction program in response to COVID-19 pandemic public health restrictions, encompassing virtual health coaching and lifestyle education. The objective was to evaluate the acceptability, adherence, efficacy and engagement of the WI online cardiometabolic and weight loss program.

Identifying Research Priorities for Cognition in CKD: A Delphi Study.

Background: Cognition is a research priority for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but identification of critical research questions is lacking. This study aimed to determine which cognition-related research questions are most important to CKD stakeholders.

Methods: A modified Delphi technique with 3 survey rounds was used.

Semantic similarity is not emotional: No effect of similarity defined by valence, arousal, and dominance on short-term ordered recall.

In short-term ordered recall tasks, phonological similarity impedes item and order recall, while semantic similarity benefits item recall with a weak or null effect on order recall. Ishiguro and Saito recently suggested that these contradictory findings were due to an inadequate assessment of semantic similarity. They proposed a novel measure of semantic similarity based on the distance between items in a three-dimensional space composed of the semantic dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance.

Symptoms in Persons With Either Active or Inactive Crohn's Disease Are Agnostic to Disease Phenotype: The Magic in Imagine Study.

Background: We aimed to examine the relationship between disease symptoms and disease phenotype in a large Canadian cohort of persons with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: Adults (n=1515) with CD from 14 Canadian centers participated in the Mind And Gut Interactions Cohort (MAGIC) between 2018 and 2023. Disease activity was measured using the 24-item IBD Symptom Inventory-Short-Form (IBDSI-SF).

Risk Factors for Coronary Events After Robotic Hybrid Off-Pump Coronary Revascularization.

Objectives: The impact of long-term complications after robotic hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR), including persistent angina, repeat revascularization, and myocardial infarction (MI), remains limited. This study aims to determine the risk factors for coronary events after robotic HCR and their time-varying effects on outcomes.

Methods: We identified all consecutive patients who underwent robotic HCR at our institution.

A Protocol for AI-Powered Tools to Enhance Mobility and Function in Older Adults: An Evidence and Gap Map.

: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment, and patient monitoring, benefiting older adults by offering personalized care plans. AI-powered tools help manage chronic conditions and maintain independence, making them a valuable asset in addressing aging challenges. : The objectives are as follows: 1.

Matched Unrelated Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Increased Usage and Improvements in Clinical Outcomes in Canada.

In allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), a minority of patients have access to a suitable human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related donor (MRD). To fill this gap, matched unrelated donors (MUDs) are an increasingly selected donor source. Usage and outcomes after MUD HCT for Canada are not described.

Impact of practice changes on catheter-related exit-site and bloodstream infection rates in a Canadian hemodialysis center: A retrospective study.

Background: Hemodialysis vascular access predisposes patients to exit-site infections (ESIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The objective was to characterize hemodialysis catheter-related (CR) ESIs and BSIs while considering potential factors associated with infection.

Methods: The study period was selected to coincide with new CR-infection prevention measures at the midpoint.

Socioeconomic and Health-Related Characteristics Associated with Initiation and Completion of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Males in the United States: An In-Depth Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among males is poorly understood. We systematically reviewed individual socioeconomic/health-related characteristics associated with HPV vaccine initiation and vaccination series completion among males in the United States. We searched for literature up to August 1, 2023, and pooled appropriate multivariable-adjusted results using an inverse variance random effects model, with results expressed as odds ratios.

The Fem cell-surface signaling system is regulated by ExsA in and affects pathogenicity.

Bacterial interspecies interactions shape microbial communities and influence the progression of polymicrobial infections. FemI-FemR-FemA, a cell-surface signaling system, in , is involved in the uptake of iron-chelating mycobactin produced by spp. In this report, we present the data that indicates the -PA1909 operon is positively regulated by ExsA, a master regulator for the type three secretion system (T3SS), connecting the Fem system with T3SS.

Assessing the Effects of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on Bone Utilizing Machine Learning-assisted Opportunistic Quantitative Computed Tomography.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are widely used in cancer treatment, yet their impact on bone health remains unclear. This study aimed to perform a retrospective cohort study utilizing routine computed tomography (CT) scans from patients with melanoma to perform opportunistic quantitative CT (QCT) analysis to investigate the effects of ICI treatment on skeletal health, including volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) measurements and osteoarthritis (OA) parameters. A previously established machine-learning assisted opportunistic QCT pipeline was used to estimate lumbar spine vBMD from baseline and 12-month follow-up CT scans in patients with melanoma treated with ICI therapy and those not treated with ICI therapy.

High pressure processing at different hydration levels as a tool to enhance rice bran stability and techno-functionality.

High-pressure processing (HPP) enhances food safety and shelf life by inactivating microorganisms and preserving food quality, yet its effectiveness in low-humidity environments has not been evaluated. This study investigated the effects of HPP at 500 MPa for 15 min across varying hydration levels (15, 30, 60, 77 %) on rice bran (RB), aiming to identify microbial effectiveness, besides techno-functional and physicochemical properties. HPP effectively reduced mesophilic bacteria, molds and yeast of RB at > 15 % hydration level, achieving reductions of up to 4 logarithmic cycles in the latter, nearing the detection limit of the method.

Methylmercury in subarctic amphibians: environmental gradients, bioaccumulation, and estimated flux.

Rapid warming in polar regions is causing large changes to ecosystems, including altering environmentally available mercury (Hg). Although subarctic freshwater systems have simple vertebrate communities, Hg in amphibians remains unexplored. We measured total Hg (THg) in wetland sediments and methylmercury (MeHg) in multiple life-stages (eggs to adults) of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and larval boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) from up to 25 wetlands near Churchill, Manitoba (Canada), during the summers of 2018-2019.

Targeting LMO2-induced autocrine FLT3 signaling to overcome chemoresistance in early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Early T-cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ETP-ALL) is an immature subtype of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) commonly show deregulation of the LMO2-LYL1 stem cell transcription factors, activating mutations of cytokine receptor signaling, and poor early response to intensive chemotherapy. Previously, studies of the Lmo2 transgenic mouse model of ETP-ALL identified a population of stem-like T-cell progenitors with long-term self-renewal capacity and intrinsic chemotherapy resistance linked to cellular quiescence. Here, analyses of Lmo2 transgenic mice, patient-derived xenografts, and single-cell RNA-sequencing data from primary ETP-ALL identified a rare subpopulation of leukemic stem cells expressing high levels of the cytokine receptor FLT3.

Magnetic field probe-based co-simulation method for irregular volume-type inductively coupled wireless MRI radiofrequency coils.

Background: Inductively coupled wireless coils are increasingly used in MRI due to their cost-effectiveness and simplicity, eliminating the need for expensive components like preamplifiers, baluns, coil plugs, and coil ID circuits. Existing tools for predicting component values and electromagnetic (EM) fields are primarily designed for cylindrical volume coils, making them inadequate for irregular volume-type wireless coils.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to introduce and validate a novel magnetic (H-) field probe-based co-simulation method to accurately predict capacitance values and EM fields for irregular volume-type wireless coils, thereby addressing the limitations of current prediction tools.

Microbial communities in Hudson Strait amidst rapid environmental changes.

Climate change is rapidly altering Arctic marine environments, leading to warmer waters, increased river discharge, and accelerated sea ice melt. The Hudson Bay Marine System (HBMS) experiences the fastest rate of sea ice loss in the Canadian North resulting in a prolonged open water season during the summer months. We examined microbial communities in the Hudson Strait using high throughput 16s rRNA gene sequencing during the peak of summer, in which the bay was almost completely ice-free, and air temperatures were high.

Surveillance for variants escaping detection with the Aptima Combo 2 assay in Canada from 2019 to 2021.

Unlabelled: Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the method of choice for diagnosis, but these strategies are susceptible to target site mutations. variants escaping detection with the Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) assay on the Hologic Panther instrument from 23S rRNA mutations have been reported in Nordic countries, England, Japan, and the United States. Given the potential for false negative results, this study investigated whether strains of with AC2 target site mutations were present in Canada.

The prevalence and burden of musculoskeletal disorders amongst Indigenous people in Pimicikamak, northern Manitoba, Canada: A community health survey.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of spine symptoms and spine disability, self-care and care seeking behaviors in a random sample of Indigenous adults residing in Cross Lake, northern Manitoba, Canada.

Study Design And Setting: Orally administered survey in Cree or English to a representative sample of Pimicikamak citizens from the treaty ( = 150/1931 houses) and non-treaty ( = 20/92 houses) land, between May and July 2023. Questions ( = 154) were derived from the 2018 First Nations Regional Health Survey, 2020 Canadian Community Health Survey, and 2021 The Global Burden of Disease study, covering demographics, spine symptoms, chronic conditions, activity limitations, general health, self-care, medication, and satisfaction with care.

A case of disseminated blastomycosis in New England.

infections are classified as dimorphic fungal infections commonly seen geographically throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys, St. Laurence Seaways, as well as the Canadian providences of Ontario Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Although primarily endemic in the Midwestern United States, there has been a rise in cases throughout New England.

Lymph Node Staging and Treatment in Pediatric Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Consensus Opinion from the Children's Oncology Group, European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group, and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe.

Accurate staging of nodal involvement in pediatric sarcoma patients is important to determine correct systemic and local therapy, with the goal to reduce subsequent recurrences. However, differences in lymph node staging strategies, definitions, and treatment protocols between the Children's Oncology Group (COG), European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG), and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe (CWS) complicate comparisons. In this article, we aim to establish internationally recognized recommendations for lymph node assessment and treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS) according to the Consensus Conference Standard Operating Procedure methodology.

The Association between Pregnancy Complications and Long-Term Maternal Cardiometabolic Health in the MIREC Cohort Study.

Context: During pregnancy, women who experience certain pregnancy complications show elevations in biomarkers of inflammation and insulin resistance; however, few studies have examined these cardiometabolic biomarkers in the decade following pregnancy.

Objective: To examine the association between pregnancy complications and cardiometabolic biomarkers 9 years postpartum including: blood pressure, blood lipids, body fat percentage, insulin resistance (glucose, insulin, proinsulin, C-peptide, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, leptin, adiponectin) and inflammation (hs-C-reactive protein).

Methods: Using data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort study (2008-2021) we determined 3 groups of pregnancy complications: 1) hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (n=35); any pregnancy complication in the index pregnancy, defined as preterm birth, HDP, impaired glucose tolerance or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (n=55); or self-reported recurrence of one of these pregnancy complications (n=19).

Network Analyses to Explore Comorbidities Among Older Adults Living With Dementia.

Background: Older persons living with dementia (PLWD) often have multiple other chronic health conditions (i.e., comorbidities).

Differences in Care and Outcomes in Cardiogenic Shock in Cardiac Intensive Care Units in the United States and Canada: CCCTN Registry Insights.

Background: Mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS) remains high. Significant inter-hospital heterogeneity in critical care therapies have been described, which reflects the lack of high-quality evidence to guide optimal treatment. We aimed to describe differences in practices and clinical outcomes among patients with CS in the United States (US) and Canada.