Socio-Economic Inequities in the Age-Specific Burden of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Canada, 2016-2019.

Background: Socio-economic status (SES) is an important determinant of severe respiratory infections. Despite being a leading cause of hospitalization, limited attention has been given to social inequities in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), particularly outside of childhood and beyond neighbourhood-level measures. This study aimed to quantify the burden of severe RSV disease across the age continuum by individual-level SES indicators.

TRPC1 links calcium signaling to cellular senescence in the protection against post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1) is a widely expressed mechanosensitive ion channel located within the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, crucial for refilling depleted internal calcium stores during activation of calcium-dependent signaling pathways. Here, we demonstrate that TRPC1 activity is protective within cartilage homeostasis in the prevention of cellular senescence associated cartilage breakdown during mechanical and inflammatory challenge. We reveal that TRPC1 loss is associated with early stages of osteoarthritis (OA) and plays a non-redundant role in calcium signaling in chondrocytes.

Speciating volatile organic compounds in indoor air: using GC to interpret real-time PTR-MS signals.

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is often employed to characterize gas-phase compounds in both indoor and outdoor environments. PTR-MS measurements are usually made without upstream chromatographic separation, so it can be challenging to differentiate between an ion of interest, its isomers, and fragmentation products from other species all detected at the same mass-to-charge ratio. These isomeric contributions and fragmentation interferences can confound the determination of accurate compound mixing ratios, the assignment of accurate chemical properties, and corresponding analyses of chemical fate.

Preferences, Perceptions, and Environmental Considerations of Natural and Synthetic Psychedelic Substances: Findings from the Global Psychedelic Survey.

Although several studies have well described the characteristics of people who use psychedelics alongside their motivations and beliefs, little research has examined the preferences surrounding the source of psychedelic substances. In an anonymous online survey, we collected data from 6,379 consumers of 11 different psychedelic substances from 85 different countries, exploring their preferences and perceptions on natural and synthetic psychedelics. There was a strong preference of natural sources over synthetic alternatives for psilocybin (75%), DMT (56%), and mescaline (56%).

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived models for autism spectrum disorder drug discovery.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent and complex neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with genetic and environmental origins. Currently, there are no effective pharmacological treatments targeting core ASD features. This leads to unmet medical needs of individuals with ASD and requires relevant human disease models recapitulating genetic and clinical heterogeneity to better understand underlying mechanisms and identify potential pharmacological therapies.

Comparison of subjective self-reported hearing and objective speech-in-noise perception as predictors of social isolation and loneliness in adults 60 years and older.

Objective: Hearing decline in ageing increases the risk of loneliness and social isolation. This correlation is most often observed when hearing is measured by subjective self-report, and less often for objectively measured speech listening ability, raising questions about differences between self-assessments and behavioural performance. This study compared self-reported hearing ability and objective speech-in-noise performance as predictors of loneliness and social isolation in adults older than 60.

Long-term outcome of pediatric acute severe colitis: A prospective 5-year follow-up of the PRASCO trial.

Objectives: The PRASCO trial reported the short-term superiority of an antibiotic cocktail plus intravenous corticosteroids (IVCS) over IVCS alone in children with acute severe colitis (ASC). Here, we report the extension of the PRASCO trial and the long-term outcomes of the antibiotic cocktail in ASC.

Methods: This prospective follow-up of the PRASCO trial documented disease outcomes and treatments annually through 5 years.

1924-2024: First centennial of EEG.

On July 6th of 1924 Hans Berger -a German psychiatrist- first recorded electric signals from the human brainvia scalp electrodes. This date marks the beginning of Electroencephalography. In this review a representative panel of past and present Officers of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN) and of its Official Journal briefly summarizes the past, present and future of Electroencephalographic and related neurophysiological techniques' impact and the role of the IFCN in global collaboration, education, standardization, research innovation, and clinical practice.

Clinical and Pathological Features of a Schwannoma Harboring a Gene Fusion in a Pre-pubescent Patient.

An 11-year-old girl presented with a soft tissue lesion on the dorsal aspect of the left middle finger. Ultrasound imaging demonstrated a 2.8 cm × 0.

Selective termination: a life-saving procedure for complicated monochorionic gestations.

Monochorionic twin pregnancies are a subset of twin pregnancies that face potential complications related to a shared circulation between the fetuses. These complications are related to anastomotic placental vessels connecting the cardiovascular systems of the two fetuses, which can result in significant sequela if one twin experiences intrauterine death. The sudden cardiovascular collapse in this scenario leads to a massive blood shift away from the healthy co-twin, significantly jeopardizing its life and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome.

The association of combinations of social factors and SARs-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective population-based cohort study in Ontario, 2020-2021.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated health inequities worldwide. While several studies have examined the impact of individual social factors on COVID infection, our objective was to examine how interactions of social factors were associated with the risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first two years of the pandemic.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted an observational cohort study using linked health administrative data for Ontarians tested for SARS-CoV-2 between January 1st, 2020, and December 31st, 2021.

Compact and full-range carbon dioxide sensor using photoacoustic and resonance dependent modes.

A compact and robust optical excitation photoacoustic sensor with a self-integrated laser module excitation and an optimized differential resonator was developed to achieve high sensitivity and full linear range detection of carbon dioxide (CO) based on dual modes of wavelength modulated photoacoustic spectroscopy (WMPAS) and resonant frequency tracking (RFT). The integrated laser module equipped with three lasers (a quantum cascade laser (QCL), a distributed feedback laser (DFB) and a He-Ne laser) working in a time-division multiplexing mode was used as an integrated set of spectroscopic sources for detection of the designated concentration levels of CO. With the absorption photoacoustic mode, the WMPAS detection with the QCL and DFB sources was capable of CO detection at concentrations below 20 %, yielding a noise equivalent concentration (NEC) as low as 240 ppt and a normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient (NNEA) of 4.

Cost evaluation of acute ischemic stroke in Latin America: a multicentric study.

Background: Current literature highlights a gap in precise stroke cost data for Latin America. This study measures the real costs associated with acute ischemic stroke care in Latin America using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC). The findings aim to lay a solid foundation for adopting value-based healthcare (VBHC) strategies in the region.

Suboptimal Attainment of Global Goals of Human Rights, Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals in Gaza During 2023-2024.

The Israel military occupation, ongoing for over 75 years, has profoundly impacted the health and well-being of Palestinians. Despite longstanding calls for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustainable development, the response of global health systems and organizations to crises such as the recent large-scale military assault on Gaza in October 2023 has been inadequate. There is a critical need to examine why these global health approaches have failed and how they can be restructured to address the unique challenges in Gaza effectively.

Relationship between Air Pollution and Serum Vitamin D Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Elevated levels of atmospheric pollutants might disrupt the metabolism of vitamin D in the skin. Studies showed inconsistent results about the impact of air pollution on the serum vitamin D level. This study aims to systematically review the influence of air pollution on vitamin D levels.

A model of co-creation: strengthening primary health care (PHC) in Ghana through an innovative "Nyansapo" partnership.

The Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) initiative embarked on a transformative ten-year collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Toronto (U of T) to co-create continuing education programs geared toward augmenting the proficiency of primary care practitioners in Ghana. While upholding core principles within the AHC framework, emphasizing respect, inclusivity, equity, reciprocity, ethics, dynamism, and stewardship, seven teams of U of T and KNUST faculty engaged in collaborative efforts to design, administer, and evaluate five in-person "short courses" in Ghana on Palliative Care, Quality Improvement for Health Professionals, Prehospital Emergency Care, Community Emergency Care, and Emergency Preparedness and Response to Epidemic-Prone Diseases to approximately 100 Ghanaian primary care professionals. This paper describes a model of co-creation, highlights lessons learned from a robust evaluation process, and proposes that this co-creation model can strengthen primary health care in Ghana and ultimately transform health systems in Africa.

Baseline kidney function and the effects of dapagliflozin on health status in heart failure in DEFINE-HF and PRESERVED-HF.

Aims: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve health status and outcomes in the setting of heart failure (HF) across the range of ejection fraction (EF). Baseline kidney disease is common in HF, complicates HF management and is strongly linked to worse health status. This study aimed to assess whether the treatment effects of dapagliflozin on health status vary based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Efficacy and Safety of OnabotulinumtoxinA for the Treatment of Pediatric Upper and Lower Limb Spasticity: Results From 2 Open-Label, Long-term Extension Trials.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA for treating upper and lower limb spasticity among pediatric patients in 2 open-label extension trials.

Methods: Patients aged <18 years received ≤5 doses of onabotulinumtoxinA (maximum: 8 U/kg [300 U], cycle 1; 10 U/kg [340 U], cycles 2-5) over 60 weeks. Week 6 efficacy endpoints included mean change from baseline in Modified Ashworth Scale-Bohannon and Modified Tardieu Scale scores, and mean Clinical Global Impression of Overall Change score.

Trends, characteristics, and circumstances surrounding stimulant toxicity deaths in Ontario, Canada from 2018 to 2021.

Introduction: As the drug toxicity crisis continues to evolve globally, harms related to non-opioid substances, including stimulants, have risen in parallel. Our study aims were to describe trends in accidental stimulant toxicity deaths and to characterize demographic characteristics of decedents and the circumstances surrounding death.

Methods: We conducted a population-based repeated cross-sectional study, of all accidental stimulant toxicity deaths between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, in Ontario, Canada.

Deafness-associated mitochondrial 12S rRNA mutation reshapes mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis.

Human mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) 1555A>G mutation has been associated with aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic deafness in many families worldwide. Our previous investigation revealed that the m.1555A>G mutation impaired mitochondrial translation and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).