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- OPEN ACCESSThis study examined the effects of a 12 week, treadmill-based, run sprint interval training (SIT) protocol compared with that of a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) protocol in healthy, inactive, overweight/obese women, on cardiovascular disease risk factors. After random assignment, the SIT group completed 4–10 × 30 s maximal sprints, with a 4 min active recovery between sprints, and the MICT group completed 30–60 min at moderate intensity (45–55% heart rate reserve (HRR)). The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded for each session, and perceived enjoyment was quantified every 3 weeks. Clinical and fitness testing were completed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Twelve female participants (age: 34.1 ± 6.1; body mass index (BMI): 31.3 ± 6.8; VO2peak: 27.0 ± 6.2) completed the intervention. There were significant main effects for time for VO2peak (p = 0.001), body fat percentage (p = 0.001), and session RPE (p = 0.006). VO2peak improved 20.7% in the SIT group (n = 5) and 24.4% in the MICT group (n = 7). Body fat percentage reduced by 1.7% in the SIT group and 2.6% in the MICT group. Perceived enjoyment was similarly high between the groups despite higher session RPE in the SIT group (p = 0.441). SIT training on a motor-driven treadmill elicits similar improvements in oxygen utilization and body composition as moderate-intensity training in this population.
- OPEN ACCESSPersistence of absorbable sutures in fishes in waters below 10 °C affects surgical decisions including approach, closure strategy, and suture selection. We hypothesized that the rate of suture hydrolysis would vary directly with water temperature. Two absorbable monofilament 3-0 suture materials used in fish surgery, poliglecaprone (Monocryl™) and polyglyconate (Maxon™), were evaluated. The maximum tensile load (strength) was measured for suture loops (n = 6) maintained in filtered city water for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks at 4, 25, or 37 °C. For Maxon™ at 4 or 25 °C, tensile strength did not decrease over time. However, for Monocryl™ at 4 °C, 2-, 4-, and 8-week loops were stronger than baseline loops. At 25 °C, tensile strength of the suture material declined after 2 weeks. Also, at 37 °C, the optimal design temperature for both suture materials, the strength of Maxon™ decreased at 6 and 8 weeks. Two 4-week loops of Monocryl™ disintegrated when handled, and after 6 and 8 weeks, all were untestable. This study confirms that absorbable sutures lose strength more slowly at ambient temperatures lower than the optimal design temperature (e.g., human body temperature) and will likely be retained longer in fishes living in waters below 25 °C.
- OPEN ACCESSThe cardiovagal baroreflex is an important physiological reflex that is commonly taught in health-related university physiology courses. This reflex is responsible for the rapid maintenance of blood pressure through dynamic changes in heart rate (HR) and vascular resistance. The use of lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) and lower-body positive pressure (LBPP) can manipulate these stretch sensitive baroreceptors. High performance and relatively inexpensive homemade LBNP and LBPP chambers can be easily constructed providing a valuable tool for both research and teaching purposes. There has been previous documentation of how to build a LBNP chamber; however, the information available usually lacks appropriate construction details, and there is currently no literature on how to build a chamber that can accommodate both LBNP and LBPP. In addition, a recently developed novel LBNP/LBPP chamber positioned on a 360° tilt-table provided the unique utility of superimposing both LBNP/LBPP and body position as independent or combined stressors to alter central blood volume. The primary purposes of this manuscript are to (1) provide step-by-step instructions on how to build a tilt-table LBNP/LBPP chamber, and (2) demonstrate the effectiveness of a tilt-table LBNP/LBPP chamber to facilitate undergraduate and graduate learning in the laboratory by effectively demonstrating the cardiovagal baroreflex.
- OPEN ACCESSWe have applied a Bauhaus design lens to inform a visual conceptual framework for a rational mental health care system. We believe that Canada’s healthcare system can often be fragmented and does not always allow for service delivery to easily meet patient care needs. Within our proposed framework, the form of services provided follows patient- and healthcare-centred needs. The framework is also informed by the ethics and values of social responsibility, population health, and principles of quality of care. We review evidence for this framework (based on need, acuity, risk, service intensity, and provider level) and describe patient care pathways from intake/triage to three patient-centred tiers of care: (1) primary care (low needs), (2) acute ambulatory transitional care (moderate needs), and (3) acute hospital and complex care (high needs). Within each tier, various models of care are organized from low to high service intensity as informed by reports from the British Columbia Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. We hope that our model may help to better conceptualize and organize our mental health care system and help providers clarify roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities to improve quality of care.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Krishna K. Thakur,
- Crawford Revie,
- Henrik Stryhn,
- Shannon Scott Tibbetts,
- Jean Lavallée, and
- Raphaël Vanderstichel
Soft-shelled lobsters pose economic challenges to the lobster industry due to low meat yields and survivability during holding and transportation. Our objectives were to describe spatio-temporal patterns of soft-shelled lobsters in southwestern Nova Scotia, and identify environmental and lobster-related factors associated with shell quality. We analyzed data obtained from a broad-scale, intensive monitoring project and remotely sensed water temperatures. Mixed-effect logistic regression and linear regression methods analyzed more than 130 000 samples collected between 2004 and 2014. The annual overall prevalence of soft-shelled lobsters ranged from 9% to 38% and varied significantly among fishing areas. Shell quality was influenced by sex and size, and in the 2 months before the fishing season, lower water temperatures (4–6 weeks prior to sampling) were associated with reduced prevalence of soft-shells. High annual variability of soft-shell prevalence, that water temperature alone could not explain, suggests that adjusting fishing seasons, arbitrarily, in two fishing areas will not improve the overall shell quality of landed lobsters. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of long-term temperature and ecosystem changes on lobster health in eastern Canada. - OPEN ACCESSA reliable marker of early coral response to environmental stressors can help guide decision-making to mitigate global coral reef decline by detecting problems before the development of clinically observable disease. We document the accumulation of acrylic acid in two divergent coral taxa, stony small polyp coral (Acropora sp.) and soft coral (Lobophytum sp.), in response to deteriorating water quality characterized by moderately increased ammonia (0.25 ppm) and phosphate (0.15 ppm) concentrations and decreased calcium (360 ppm) concentration, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)-based metabolomic techniques. Changes in acrylic acid concentration in polyp tissues free of zooxanthellae suggest that acrylic acid could be a product of animal metabolism and not exclusively a metabolic by-product of the osmolyte dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in marine algae or bacteria. Our findings build on previously documented depletions of acrylic acid in wild coral potentially correlated to temperature stress and provide additional insight into approaches to further characterize the nature of the metabolic accumulation of acrylic acid under controlled experimental conditions.
- OPEN ACCESS
- OPEN ACCESSElectronic cigarettes (ECs) are devices that are used recreationally or as smoking cessation tools, and have become increasingly popular in recent years. We conducted a review of the available literature to determine the health effects caused by the use of these devices. A heating element in the EC aerosolizes a solution of propylene glycol, glycerol, nicotine (optional), and flavouring (optional). These compounds are generally harmless on their own. However, upon heating, they produce various carcinogens and irritants. We found that concentrations of these toxicants vary significantly depending on the type of EC device, the type of EC liquid, and the smoking behaviour of the user. Exposure to these vapours can cause inflammation and oxidative damage to in vitro and in vivo cells. EC aerosol can also potentially affect organ systems and especially cardiovascular and lung function. We concluded that EC use causes acute effects on health but not as severe as those of conventional cigarettes (CCs). These devices could, therefore, be of use for smokers of CCs wishing to quit. However, as EC aerosol introduces new toxicants not found in CCs, long-term studies are needed to investigate possible chronic effects associated with EC use.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Daniela Gomez Martin,
- Carolina David Wiener,
- Caroline Xavier de Freitas,
- Joice Luisa Costa,
- Airton José Rombaldi, and
- Jean Pierre Oses
Objectives: This work aims to assess changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in women after the practice of a specific short duration 10-session aquatic physical therapy protocol in patients with fibromyalgia (FB). Methods: Case–control study. Thirteen women diagnosed with FB and 11 controls with the same age group, 35–55 years. Patients were evaluated according to the visual analog scale of pain and the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ). All were subjected to a short protocol totaling 10 sessions of 40 min twice a week for five weeks. Heart rate and pain were monitored. BDNF levels were measured using enzyme immunoassay. Results: A statistically significant increase in BDNF values was noted in patients with FB between the pre- and post-10th session assessments (mean of 35.52–41.96; p = 0.041). Conclusion: BDNF values may present fluctuations during a short duration moderate aerobic exercise protocol, when measured and analyzed in a longitudinal design. Further studies with a more frequent BDNF evaluation could help in understanding its behavior more accurately and are warranted. - OPEN ACCESSIntroduction: Food insecurity at the individual level has been shown to be associated with the adoption of risky behavior and poor healthcare-seeking behavior. However, the impact of household food insecurity (HFI) on the utilization of maternal healthcare services (MHS) remains unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether or not household food insecurity was associated with non/inadequate utilization of MHS. Methods: Participants consisted of 3562 mothers aged between 15 and 49 years and with at least one child. The outcome variable was the utilization of MHS, e.g., institutional delivery, attendance ante-, and pre-natal visits. The explanatory variables included various sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, residence, education, wealth) apart from HFI. HFI was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Result: The prevalence of non- and under-utilization of MHS was 5.3 and 36.5, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, HFI, wealth index, and educational level were independently associated with MHS status. The odds of non- and under-utilization of MHS were 3.467 (CI = 1.058–11.354) and 4.104 (CI = 1.794–9.388) times higher, respectively, among women from households reporting severe food insecurity. Conclusion: Severe HFI was significantly associated with both under- and non-utilization of MHS. Interventions programs that address HFI and the empowerment of women can potentially contribute to an increased utilization of MHS.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Lesya Marushka,
- Malek Batal,
- Donald Sharp,
- Harold Schwartz,
- Amy Ing,
- Karen Fediuk,
- Andrew Black,
- Constantine Tikhonov, and
- Hing Man Chan
Consumption of fish and n-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) has been postulated to prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D). Objective: To explore the association between self-reported T2D and fish consumption, dietary n-3 FAs, and persistent organic pollutants (POP) intake in a regionally representative sample of First Nations (FNs) in Manitoba. Design: Data from the cross-sectional First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES) collected from 706 members of 8 Manitoba FNs in 2010 were used. Household interviews were used to collect social and lifestyle data. The consumption of fish was estimated using a traditional food frequency questionnaire. Fish samples were analyzed for the presence of POP. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for potential risk factors for T2D were developed. Results: A negative, dose–response relationship was found between fish intake and self-reported T2D. Fish consumptions of 2–3 portions per month and ≥1/week were inversely associated with T2D with odds ratio (OR) values of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.28–0.91) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.19–0.82), respectively, compared with no fish intake. Similarly, intake of n-3 FAs was negatively associated with T2D (OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.30–0.77). Dietary POP intake was not associated with T2D. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the consumption of traditionally harvested fish may have a beneficial effect on T2D in Manitoba FNs. - OPEN ACCESS
- Brett Emo,
- Li-Wen Hu,
- Bo-Yi Yang,
- Kahee A. Mohammed,
- Christian Geneus,
- Michael Vaughn,
- Zhengmin (Min) Qian, and
- Guang-Hui Dong
To assess the effects of housing characteristics and home environmental factors on lung function of Chinese children, 6740 children (aged 6–16 years) were recruited from seven cities in Northeast China in 2012. Performance of lung function was determined by comparison of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the associations with lung function deficit. The results showed that housing conditions were associated with lung function deficit in children. The adjusted odds ratios were 0.47 (95% CI: 0.26–0.83) for FVC for “ping-fang” housing compared with “dan-yuan-lou-fang” housing and 2.90 (95% CI: 2.43–3.47) for FEV1 with home renovations completed within two years compared with counterparts. The linear regression models consistently showed a significant association of housing conditions and home environmental factors with lung function measurements across subjects. A residence taller than seven stories was negatively associated with FEV1 (β = −55; 95% CI: −97 to −13). In conclusion, housing conditions and home environmental factors are particularly important to the development of lung function and respiratory health in children. These factors are concerning and action should be taken to improve them. - OPEN ACCESS
- Dawn M. Emerson,
- Toni M. Torres-McGehee,
- J. Mark Davis,
- Stephen C.L. Chen,
- J. Larry Durstine,
- Craig E. Pfeifer,
- Charles C. Emerson,
- Justin V. Stone, and
- Joseph D. Bivona
Few controlled laboratory studies have examined the negative effects non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have on fluid–electrolyte balance during exercise. Our objective was to determine whether a 24-h naproxen dose negatively affected hydration and electrolyte measures before, during, and 3 h after 90 min of cycling in a hot or ambient environment. Using a double blind, randomized and counterbalanced cross-over design, 11 volunteers (six male, five female) completed four trials, with conditions as follows: (1) placebo and ambient, (2) placebo and heat, (3) naproxen and ambient, and (4) naproxen and heat. We found no statistically significant differences among experimental conditions for any dependent measures. Though not statistically significant, mean fluid volume was higher and urine volume was lower during naproxen trials compared with placebos. Mean aggregate plasma sodium was <135 mmol/L at all time points and did not significantly change over time. Overall plasma potassium significantly increased pre- (3.9 ± 0.4) to post-exercise (4.2 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p = 0.02). In conclusion, an acute naproxen dose did not significantly alter hydration–electrolyte balance. The trend for naproxen to increase fluid volume and decrease urine volume suggests the start of fluid retention, which should concern individuals at risk for hyponatremia or with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. - OPEN ACCESSType 1 diabetes (T1DM) is known to cause an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevated intracellular glucose levels. We investigated the metallothionein I and II (MT I+II) antioxidants expression in soleus (mainly slow-twitch) and plantaris (predominantly fast-twitch) skeletal muscle using a rodent model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The presence of oxidative stress was confirmed by the detection of increased levels of protein carbonyl formation in the diabetic tissues. DAB (3,3′-diaminobenzidine) immunostaining and Western blotting analyses demonstrated that MT I+II expression was significantly upregulated in the diabetic soleus and plantaris muscle tissues compared with their respective controls. Moreover, no significant difference was detected between the plantaris and soleus controls or between the plantaris and soleus diabetic tissues. These findings suggest that there is an increase in MT protein expression in the soleus and plantaris muscles associated with the induction of T1DM. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that allow MT to prevent the oxidative stress associated with diabetes could lead to a novel therapeutic strategy for this chronic disease and its associated complications.
- OPEN ACCESSLittle is known about how the body composition of parents of preschool-aged children is associated with their food parenting practices. In this study, we examined associations between parental body composition and food parenting practices in a sample of Canadian families with preschool-aged children. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 68 parents and 52 preschool-aged children. Measures included height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and percentage of fat mass (%FM) measured by BOD POD™. Parents completed an adapted version of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. To account for correlated observations within families, we used generalized estimating equations with linear regression modelling to examine associations between parent body composition and food parenting practices, with child body mass index (BMI) z-score, child sex, parental sex, and family household income entered as covariates in all models. Parent BMI, WC, and %FM were each significantly and inversely associated with the encouragement of a balanced diet (= −0.021, p = 0.006;
= −0.007, p = 0.038;
= −0.010, p = 0.034, respectively) and child involvement in meal planning and preparation (
= −0.082, p = 0.002;
= −0.025, p = 0.032;
= −0.038, p = 0.049, respectively). We provide preliminary evidence that overweight/obesity may be associated with select food parenting practices in Canadian families with preschool-age children. Parental body composition may be an important consideration in intervention strategies that target food parenting practices.
- OPEN ACCESSDiethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a well-known carcinogen. The aim of our study was to determine the role of olive oil (7 g/kg) with fig (1 g/kg) (OF) and (or) date palm (1 g/kg) (D) fruit extracts during DEN treatment of male Wistar rats. The OF–DEN and (or) D–DEN groups were given oral antioxidants daily for two weeks before and during DEN treatment (21 weeks).The DEN-treated group showed dramatic results for all investigated parameters as compared with the control rats. All OF–DEN and D–DEN groups showed significant improvement in hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and nitric oxide concentration in the liver tissue, in addition to improvement in serum vascular endothelial growth factor level, alpha-fetoprotein, lipid profile, lipid risk ratios, and the hematological parameters as compared with the DEN-treated group.In conclusion, the administration of OF and (or) D fruit extracts to DEN-treated rats resulted in a considerable improvement in the investigated biochemical and hematological parameters. In addition, the combined OFD treatments showed greater improvements revealing the synergistic effect of the combination.
- OPEN ACCESSThe goal of this study was to determine the possible beneficial effect of olive oil (7 g/kg) with fig (1 g/kg) and date palm fruit (1 g/kg) extracts (OFD) on the toxicity hazards of doxorubicin (DOX) and (or) γ-radiation. The DOX-treated groups received doses of 2.5 mg/kg body weight via intravenous (IV) injection weekly for four consecutive weeks. Rats in the irradiated groups were exposed to whole-body γ-radiation with fractioned doses of 2 Gy weekly for four consecutive weeks. The OFD-treated groups received two weeks of pretreatment with OFD and daily supplementation via oral gavage during the experimental period. The DOX-treated and (or) irradiated groups showed decreases in the antioxidant parameters (reduced glutathione and nitric oxide) as well as increased lipid peroxidation products. In addition, we observed changes in the lipid profile parameters, lipid risk ratios, and hematological values (erythrocyte (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, hematocrit (Hct) percentage, platelet count, and total and differential leukocyte (WBC) count) in these groups compared with the control rats. The administration of OFD to DOX-treated and (or) irradiated rats significantly ameliorated the oxidative stress markers, lipid profile, risk ratios, and hematological parameters. In conclusion, OFD could be used synergistically to decrease the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- OPEN ACCESSLife satisfaction is directly related to positive mental and physical health outcomes. As such, the promotion of life satisfaction is desirable. To facilitate this process, it is beneficial to identify significant predictors of life satisfaction. Although previous research has established that personality is a reliable predictor of life satisfaction, personality is not easily modifiable. In contrast, perfectionism can be effectively adapted with appropriate therapy, leading to decreases in mental illness symptomology. The present study sought to determine if different aspects of perfectionism predicted life satisfaction beyond the influence of personality. A total of 448 online participants (75% female) completed questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, perfectionism, and personality. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that lower scores on neuroticism (being emotionally stable; p < 0.001) and higher scores on extraversion (p < 0.001) and conscientiousness (p = 0.003) significantly predicted life satisfaction. In addition, one aspect of perfectionism, high standards for others (p = 0.001), positively predicted life satisfaction beyond the influence of personality. We suggest that encouraging individuals to hold others to high standards is an effective strategy that may foster shared goals and achievements, which in turn may improve overall life satisfaction.
- OPEN ACCESSInnovative, highly processed foods are often designed to “substitute” for traditional, less-processed items in the diet. Yet, concerns about the unhealthfulness of diets high in highly processed foods are growing. Their dominance in the diet has been hypothesized to relate, in part, to the strategic use of on-package nutrition promotion. Our goal was to compare front-of-package (FOP) labelling on highly processed products that appear to have been explicitly designed as substitutes for traditional foods with the FOP labelling on their traditional counterparts. FOP references were recorded from packaged foods in three major Toronto grocery stores (N = 20520). Foods were categorized as substitute or traditional counterparts if these had (1) immediate interchangeability within the diet, (2) inherently different formulation, and (3) the substitute was more heavily processed than its traditional counterpart. Eight substitute–traditional pairs were identified, comprising 18% of products in the data set. Substitute foods were more likely than traditional products to bear FOP nutrition, “organic”, and “natural” references. Substitute foods bore 1.21 times more FOP references, the majority of which highlighted nutrients inherent to the traditional counterpart. Our findings support the contention that highly processed foods may be displacing less-processed foods at least in part through the use of strategic on-package marketing.
- OPEN ACCESSNovel, non-invasive, painless oral therapeutic agents are needed to replace the painful conventional treatment of arsenic-associated health hazards with metal chelators. Our aim was to examine the effect of spirulina (Spirulina platensis (Geitler, 1925)) on arsenic-mediated uterine toxicity. Female Wistar rats were divided equally into four experimental treatment groups: control group, sodium arsenite group (1.0 mg/100 g body mass), spirulina placebo group (20 mg/100 g body mass), and sodium arsenite + spirulina group. In contrast with the control group, spectrophotometric and electrozymographic evaluation revealed that rats that ingested arsenic for 8 d showed significant diminution of the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase (p < 0.001). Mutagenic uterine DNA breakage and tissue damage were prominent following arsenic consumption by the rats. Oral delivery of spirulina resulted in a significant amelioration of arsenic-induced adverse oxidative stress and genotoxic state of rats. A significant low-signaling (p < 0.001) of gonadotropins and estradiol was also noted in the arsenic-treated rats, which was terminated by spirulina; this arsenic-primed adverse effect was significant (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The spirulina treatment mechanism could be associated with augmentation of the antioxidant defense system that protects the arsenic-mediated pathological state of the uterus.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Krishna K. Thakur,
- Raphaël Vanderstichel,
- Shaorong Li,
- Emilie Laurin,
- Strahan Tucker,
- Chrys Neville,
- Amy Tabata, and
- Kristina M. Miller
Infectious diseases are likely contributing to large-scale declines in chinook salmon stocks in the Pacific Northwest, but the specific agents and diseases involved, and the prevalences in migratory salmon, are mostly unknown. We applied a high-throughput microfluidics platform to screen for 45 infectious agents in 556 out-migrating juvenile chinook salmon, collected from freshwater (FW) and saltwater (SW) locations in the Cowichan River system on Vancouver Island, Canada, during 2014. Nineteen agents (5 bacterial, 2 viral, and 12 parasitic) were detected, with prevalences ranging from 0.2% to 57.6%. Co-infections between Candidatus Branchiomonas cysticola Toenshoff, Kvellestad, Mitchell, Steinum, Falk, Colquhoun & Horn, 2012, Paranucleospora theridion Nylund, Nylund, Watanabe, Arnesen & Kalrsbakk, 2010, and gill chlamydia, all associated with gill disease, were observed in SW samples. We detected agents known to cause large-scale mortalities in Pacific salmon (Ceratonova shasta (Noble, 1950), Parvicapsula minibicornis Kent, Whitaker & Dawe, 1977), and agents only recently reported in Pacific salmon in BC (Ca. B. cysticola, P. theridion, Facilispora margolisi Jones, Prosperi-Porta & Kim, 2012 and Parvicapsula pseudobranchicola Karlsbakk, Saether, Hostlund, Fjellsoy & Nylund, 2002). Wild and hatchery fish were most divergent in agent profiles in FW, with higher agent diversity in wild fish. Differences in prevalence largely dissipated once they converged in the marine environment, although hatchery fish may be infected by a greater diversity of agents sooner after ocean entry by virtue of their more rapid migration from nearshore to offshore environments. - OPEN ACCESSHoney bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) potentially rely on a variety of visual cues when searching for flowers in the environment. Both chromatic and achromatic (brightness) components of flower signals have typically been considered simultaneously to understand how flower colours have evolved. However, it is unclear whether honey bees actually use brightness information in their colour perception. We investigated whether free-flying honey bees can process brightness cues in achromatic stimuli when presented at a large visual angle of 28° to ensure colour processing. We found that green contrast (modulation of the green receptor against the background) and brightness contrast (modulation of all three receptors against the background) did not have a significant effect on the proportion of correct choices made by bees, indicating that they did not appear to use brightness cues in a colour processing context. Our findings also reveal that, even at a small visual angle, honeybees do not reliably process single targets solely based on achromatic information, at least considering values up to 60% modulation of brightness. We discuss these findings in relation to proposed models of bee colour processing. Therefore, caution should be taken when interpreting elemental components of complex flower colours as perceived by different animals.
- OPEN ACCESSMercury (Hg) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are global pollutants known for their toxicity to wildlife. Because of their trophic position, common loons (Gavia immer (Brünnich 1764)) are excellent indicators of environmental quality. In 2014 and 2015, tissue samples of ten adult common loons (plus one recapture) were obtained in Meadow Lake Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, and assessed for Hg and PAH exposure. Blood and feather levels of these contaminants are indicative of exposure during breeding and in wintering areas, respectively. Compared with an international Hg database, blood Hg levels were low (<1 μg/g). In most loons (90.5%, 10 out of 11), blood PAH concentrations were also low (<10 ng/g), but high (120 ng/g) for one individual (9.5% 1 out of 11). Feather PAH concentrations were high (95.9 ng/g and 250.6 ng/g) in two of the four loons (50%) caught in 2015. These data indicate that loons breeding in Meadow Lake Provincial Park were exposed to low levels of Hg; however, some individuals are being exposed to PAHs in both their breeding and wintering locations. The effect of these environmental pollutants on individual loon fitness is unclear, but because of their extreme toxicity in biological systems we suggest that future monitoring in the surrounding region is warranted.
- OPEN ACCESSThe present study investigated the in vivo neuroprotective role of Panax ginseng extract (PGE) pretreatment against transient cerebral ischemia in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Rats were randomly divided as follows: group I, control; group II, sham-operated; group III, where animals were subjected to MCAO surgery; and group IV, where animals were orally administered 10 mL PGE per day (200 mg/kg of body weight per day) for 30 d followed by MCAO induction at day 31. Following 24 h of reperfusion, blood and tissue (brain, liver, and kidney) samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological examination. Biochemical testing included lipid profile, liver enzymes, kidney function tests, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose, and total protein estimation. Tissue antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione) were assessed in brain, liver, and kidney tissues. MCAO-induced histopathological changes were also examined in the tissues. Pretreatment with PGE showed significant improvement in tissue antioxidant status in brain, liver and kidney tissues. PGE treatment maintains plasma lipid profile, liver enzymes, kidney function, and CRP, LDH, and glucose levels. Histologically, monocytes and macrophage infiltration were observed in the tissues of MCAO animals, whereas PGE treatment preserved tissue architecture and minimal monocyte infiltration. PGE supplementation showed a neuroprotective effect against ischemia–reperfusion injury by effectively increasing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Rachael Dangarembizi,
- Christoph D. Rummel,
- Joachim Roth,
- Kennedy H. Erlwanger,
- Michael T. Madziva, and
- Lois M. Harden
Zymosan, an immunogenic cell wall extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has potential for use as an experimental pyrogen. However, the short-lived sickness responses noted with intraperitoneal and intra-articular administration of zymosan limits investigations on the long-term effectiveness of antipyretic drugs. Thus, there remains a need to establish an alternative route of zymosan administration that could induce long-lived fevers and inflammation. We injected male Sprague Dawley rats (250–300 g) subcutaneously with zymosan (30 or 300 mg/kg) or saline; n = 7–8. We measured core body temperature, cage activity, food intake and body mass for 24 h after injection. Blood and brain samples were collected at 2, 8, and 18 h after injection. Zymosan (300 mg/kg) induced fever, lethargy, and anorexia, which lasted for 24 h. Zymosan-induced sickness responses were accompanied by increased blood plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; activation of inflammatory transcription factors (nuclear factor (NF) for IL-6, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3, and NF-κB) in the hypothalamus and circumventricular organs; and increased hypothalamic mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and rate-limiting enzymes for prostaglandin synthesis. Our results confirm the suitability of subcutaneous administration of zymosan for screening antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs in rats. - OPEN ACCESSThe objective is to support development of a nutritional intervention for Chinese immigrants with diabetes by defining current deficiencies and identifying modifiable factors and mechanisms of change. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 13 ethnic Chinese with type 2 diabetes identified modifiable problems related to culturally relevant diabetes resources and low cultural acceptability of recommended diets. These factors could be addressed through creation of resources developed in partnership with Chinese-speaking health care professionals and persons with diabetes.
- OPEN ACCESSObjective: Females continue to participate in sport at lower rates than males. Girls who participate in sport gain many advantages. Even with programs designed to emphasize participation, some females continue with sport participation while others do not. Given the advantages and controversies surrounding testosterone and female sport, it is possible that testosterone may predispose females toward sport participation. Our objective was to determine if the second to fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio, a proxy for prenatal androgen exposure, correlates with sport participation throughout female adolescence and young adulthood. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of indirect prenatal androgen exposure (i.e., 2D:4D) was completed on 18–30-year-old women (n = 92) using demographics, anthropometrics, sport-specific behaviour tendencies, and retrospective sport participation. Results: 2D:4D was not significantly correlated with total sport participation (TSP) (r = −0.065, p = 0.538). Secondary analyses revealed significant correlations between TSP and maximum hand grip (r = 0.406, p = 0.000) and the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQcomp (r = 0.513475, p = 0.000), SOQgoal (r = 0.253, p = 0.015), SOQwin (r = 0.366, p = 0.000)). Conclusion: Although strength and competitiveness are strongly correlated with female sport participation, the impact of prenatal androgen exposure (i.e., 2D:4D) remains to be determined given its weak and negative association with female sport participation. Given that females participate in sport at lower rates than males, continuing to determine what factors influence sport participation is an important goal.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Rebecca K. Dirkes,
- Nathan C. Winn,
- Thomas J. Jurrissen,
- Dennis B. Lubahn,
- Victoria J. Vieira-Potter,
- Jaume Padilla, and
- Pamela S. Hinton
Estrogen receptor-α knockout (ERKO) in female rodents results in bone loss associated with increased osteocyte sclerostin expression; whether this also occurs in males is unknown. Here, we examined the effects of ERKO on femoral cortical geometry, trabecular microarchitecture, and osteocyte sclerostin expression of the femur and lumbar vertebrae. At 14 months of age, male ERKO and wild-type (WT) littermates (n = 6 per group) were sacrificed, and femora and vertebra were collected. Cortical geometry and trabecular microarchitecture were assessed via micro-computed tomography; osteocyte sclerostin expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry. ANCOVA with body weight was used to compare ERKO and WT for cortical geometry; t-tests were used for all other outcomes. Regardless of skeletal site, ERKO mice had greater trabecular bone volume and trabecular number and decreased trabecular separation compared with WT. In the femoral diaphysis, ERKO had lower total area, cortical area, and cortical thickness compared with WT. The percentage of sclerostin+ osteocytes was increased in ERKO animals in cortical bone but not in cancellous bone of the femur or the lumbar vertebrae. In conclusion, ERKO improved trabecular microarchitecture in aged male mice, but negatively altered femoral cortical geometry associated with a trend towards increased cortical sclerostin expression. - OPEN ACCESSEfficacy of high-intensity resistance exercise becomes progressively compromised with aging. Previously, to investigate this, we developed a rodent model of high-intensity training consisting of stretch-shortening contractions (SSCs) and determined that following one month of training, young rats exhibit a robust stress response and 20% performance increase, whereas old rats display a muted stress response and 30% performance decrease. Whether these age-specific responses occur early in training and constitute primary factors in adaptation/maladaptation was not addressed. The aim of the present study was to characterize performance, remodeling, and stress response transcriptional profile 6–120 h following acute SSC exposure. For young rats, the stress response pathway was highly regulated (≥20 differentially expressed genes at each time point) and was accompanied by robust DNA demethylation, tissue remodeling, and isometric torque recovery. For old rats, a muted transcriptional profile (13 and 2 differentially expressed genes at 6 and 120 h, respectively) coincided with deficiencies in demethylation, muscle remodeling, and torque recovery. These findings occurred in the context of heightened chronic levels of stress response gene expression with aging. This demonstrates that age-related constitutive elevations in stress response gene expression was accompanied by diminished SSC-induced responsiveness in epigenomic regulation and tissue remodeling.
- OPEN ACCESSRanaviruses are emerging pathogens of poikilothermic vertebrates. In 2015 the Global Ranavirus Reporting System (GRRS) was established as a centralized, open access, online database for reports of the presence (and absence) of ranavirus around the globe. The GRRS has multiple data layers (e.g., location, date, host(s) species, and methods of detection) of use to those studying the epidemiology, ecology, and evolution of this group of viruses. Here we summarize the temporal, spatial, diagnostic, and host-taxonomic patterns of ranavirus reports in the GRRS. The number, distribution, and host diversity of ranavirus reports have increased dramatically since the mid 1990s, presumably in response to increased interest in ranaviruses and the conservation of their hosts, and also the availability of molecular diagnostics. Yet there are clear geographic and taxonomic biases among the reports. We encourage ranavirus researchers to add their studies to the portal because such collation can provide collaborative opportunities and unique insights to our developing knowledge of this pathogen and the emerging infectious disease that it causes.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Nicole A. Lopez Vargas,
- Laura Adamovicz,
- Brittany Willeford,
- Brian F. Allan, and
- Matthew C. Allender
Ranaviruses are worldwide pathogens of ectothermic vertebrates that can threaten herptile conservation efforts. Identifying transmission routes is critical for understanding disease ecology and promoting species conservation. Frog virus 3 (FV3) DNA was detected in mosquitoes during a ranavirus outbreak in semicaptive box turtles, but the role that insect vectors play under natural conditions is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we collected mosquito species known to take blood meals from reptiles and amphibians (Aedes canadensis, Culex erraticus, Culex territans, and Uranotaenia sapphirina) from mid-May to early August, 2014, at four study sites in Vermilion County, Illinois, two of which had historic or ongoing FV3 outbreaks in box turtles and amphibians. Mosquitoes were batched by date and species, DNA was extracted, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed for detection of FV3. FV3 was not detected despite one of the sites having an active FV3 outbreak during the study period. Our findings indicate that FV3 detection is uncommon in mosquitoes during outbreak and nonoutbreak conditions at these sites in Illinois. Thus, we cannot establish that mosquitoes contribute to transmission during natural mortality events without performing further studies. - OPEN ACCESSThe effect of treatment with human relaxins on cell death was studied in oxygen- and glucose-deprived brain slices. In addition, involvement of nitric oxide and the relaxin receptor, RXFP3, was studied. Brain slices (n = 12–18/group) were cultured under standard conditions for two weeks and then exposed to: (i) an oxygenated balanced salt solution, (ii) a deoxygenated, glucose-free balanced salt solution (OGD media), or (iii) OGD media containing 10−7 mol/L H2 relaxin, 10−7 mol/L H2 relaxin with 50 μmol/L L-NIL, 10−7 mol/L H3 relaxin, or 10−7 mol/L H3 relaxin with 50 μmol/L L-NIL. Cell death was assessed using propidium iodide fluorescence. In a separate experiment, 10−5 mol/L R3 B1-22R (an antagonist of RXFP3) was added to both H2 and H3 relaxin treatments. H2 and H3 relaxin treatment reduced cell damage or death in OGD slices and L-NIL partially attenuated the effect of H3 relaxin. Antagonism of RXFP3 blocked the effect of H3 but not H2 relaxin. These data increase our understanding of the role of relaxin ligands and their receptors in protecting tissues throughout the body from ischemia and reperfusion injury.
- OPEN ACCESSTo explore whether non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) is associated with depression, a total of 26 819 Canadians aged 45–85 from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) were included in analysis. Non-HDL-c, the difference between total-c and HDL-c, was categorized into five levels, i.e., <2.6, 2.6 to <3.7, 3.7 to <4.8, 4.8 to 5.7, and ≥5.7 mmol/L. History of clinical depression was collected by questionnaire at an in-home interview, and current potential depression status was determined by CES-D10 (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale 10 questions version) score, i.e., ≥10 vs. <10. Logistic continuation ratio model for ordinal data was used to estimate the odds of being at or above a higher non-HDL-c category for depression status. Compared with those without clinical depression history and currently undepressed, the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.09 (1.02, 1.17) for those without clinical depression history but currently depressed, 1.05 (0.98, 1.12) for those had clinical depression history but currently undepressed, and 1.21 (1.10, 1.32) for those had clinical depression history and currently depressed. The average of non-HDL-c for four depression groups were 3.64, 3.71, 3.69, and 3.82 mmol/L, respectively, and group 4 was statistically higher than others (p < 0.001). In conclusion, people with both current depression and a history clinical depression are at an increased risk of having high level of non-HDL-c.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Martin Krkošek,
- Madeline Jarvis-Cross,
- Kiran Wadhawan,
- Isha Berry,
- Jean-Paul R. Soucy,
- Korryn Bodner,
- Ariel Greiner,
- Leila Krichel,
- Stephanie Penk,
- Dylan Shea,
- Juan S. Vargas Soto,
- Ed W. Tekwa,
- Nicole Mideo, and
- Péter K. Molnár
This study empirically quantifies dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 establishment and early spread in Canada. We developed a transmission model that was simulation tested and fitted in a Bayesian framework to timeseries of new cases per day prior to physical distancing interventions. A hierarchical version was fitted to all provinces simultaneously to obtain average estimates for Canada. Across scenarios of a latent period of 2–4 d and an infectious period of 5–9 d, the R0 estimate for Canada ranges from a minimum of 3.0 (95% CI: 2.3–3.9) to a maximum of 5.3 (95% CI: 3.9–7.1). Among provinces, the estimated commencement of community transmission ranged from 3 d before to 50 d after the first reported case and from 2 to 25 d before the first reports of community transmission. Among parameter scenarios and provinces, the median reduction in transmission needed to obtain R0 < 1 ranged from 46% (95% CI: 43%–48%) to 89% (95% CI: 88%–90%). Our results indicate that local epidemics of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada entail high levels of stochasticity, contagiousness, and observation delay, which facilitates rapid undetected spread and requires comprehensive testing and contact tracing for its containment. - OPEN ACCESSThe role of α1-adrenergic receptors (α-ARs) in the regulation of myocardial function is less well-understood than that of β-ARs. Previous reports in the mouse heart have described that α1-adrenergic stimulation shortens action potential duration in isolated cells or tissues, in contrast to prolongation of the action potential reported in most other mammalian hearts. It has since become appreciated, however, that the mouse heart exhibits marked variation in inotropic response to α1-adrenergic stimulation between ventricles and even individual cardiomyocytes. We investigated the effects of α1-adrenergic stimulation on action potential duration at 80% of repolarization in the right and left ventricles of Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts using optical mapping. In hearts under β-adrenergic blockade (propranolol), phenylephrine or noradrenaline perfusion both increased action potential duration in both ventricles. The increased action potential duration was partially reversed by subsequent perfusion with the α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine (1 μmol L−1). These data show that α1-receptor stimulation may lead to a prolonging of action potential in the mouse heart and thereby refine our understanding of how action potential duration adjusts during sympathetic stimulation.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Gordon J.G. Asmundson,
- Cindy Blackstock,
- Marie Claire Bourque,
- Glenn Brimacombe,
- Allison Crawford,
- S. Hélène Deacon,
- Ken McMullen,
- Patrick J. McGrath,
- Christopher Mushquash,
- Sherry H. Stewart,
- Jennifer Stinson,
- Steven Taylor, and
- Marsha Campbell-Yeo
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of the people of Canada. Most have found it challenging to cope with social distancing, isolation, anxiety about infection, financial security and the future, and balancing demands of work and home life. For some, especially those who have had to face pre-existing challenges such as structural racism, poverty, and discrimination and those with prior mental health problems, the pandemic has been a major impact.The Policy Briefing Report focuses on the current situation, how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated significant long-standing weaknesses in the mental health system and makes specific recommendations to meet these challenges to improve the well-being of the people of Canada.The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on mental health of people in Canada but the impact has been variable, impacting those facing pre-existing structural inequities hardest. Those living in poverty, and in some socially stratified groups facing greater economic and social disadvantage, such as some racialized and some Indigenous groups and those with preexisting mental health problems, have suffered the most. Some occupational groups have been more exposed to the virus and to psychological stress with the pandemic. The mental health care system was already overextended and under resourced. The pandemic has exacerbated the problems. The care system responded by a massive move to virtual care. The future challenge is for Canada to strengthen our knowledge base in mental health, to learn from the pandemic, and to provide all in Canada the support they need to fully participate in and contribute to Canada’s recovery from the pandemic. - OPEN ACCESSIntroduction: Early childhood overweight and obesity, as a result of unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary life, is a growing global public health concern, particularly in Canada. There are limited data on how socioeconomic factors influence dietary habits of young children living in developed countries. Methods: We conducted a scoping review to examine the existing literature on how socioeconomic settings influence food consumption patterns of children 2–5 years old in developed countries. The inclusion criteria were relevant articles in the English language between 2007 and 2019. Results: From the initial 1854 articles, only 12 articles from Europe, Canada, and the United States met the inclusion criteria. There are differences in eating patterns of preschool-aged children based on parental education, whereas income level did not have a clear influence on dietary patterns. The existing studies suffer from a variety of limitations that limit a cohesive conclusion. Conclusion: Studies with children 2–5 years old are scarce. Parental education seems to influence the dietary habits of young children, whereas the role of income is not clear. There is a need for further high-quality research, preferably longitudinal studies, to inform health promotion initiatives and preventive strategies to facilitate healthy growth and development in young children.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Stefan Baral,
- Andrew Bond,
- Andrew Boozary,
- Eva Bruketa,
- Nika Elmi,
- Deirdre Freiheit,
- S. Monty Ghosh,
- Marie Eve Goyer,
- Aaron M. Orkin,
- Jamie Patel,
- Tim Richter,
- Angela Robertson,
- Christy Sutherland,
- Tomislav Svoboda,
- Jeffrey Turnbull,
- Alexander Wong, and
- Alice Zhu
Those experiencing homelessness in Canada are impacted inequitably by COVID-19 due to their increased exposure, vulnerability of environment and medical comorbidities, and their lack of access to preventive care and treatment in the context of the pandemic. In shelter environments one is unable to effectively physically distance, maintain hygiene, obtain a test, or isolate. As a result, unique strategies are required for this population to protect them and those who serve them. Recommendations are provided to reduce or prevent further negative consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness. These recommendations were informed by a systematic review of the literature, as well as a jurisdictional scan. Where evidence did not exist, expert consensus from key providers and those experiencing homelessness throughout Canada was included. These recommendations recognize the need for short-term interventions to mitigate the immediate risk to this community, including coordination of response, appropriate precautions and protective equipment, reducing congestion, cohorting, testing, case and contact management strategies, dealing with outbreaks, isolation centres, and immunization. Longer-term recommendations are also provided with a view to ending homelessness by addressing the root causes of homelessness and by the provision of adequate subsidized and supportive housing through a Housing First strategy. It is imperative that meaningful changes take place now in how we serve those experiencing homelessness and how we mitigate specific vulnerabilities. These recommendations call for intersectoral, collaborative engagement to work for solutions targeted towards protecting the most vulnerable within our community through both immediate actions and long-term planning to eliminate homelessness. - OPEN ACCESSContact tracing has played a central role in COVID-19 control in many jurisdictions and is often used in conjunction with other measures such as travel restrictions and social distancing mandates. Contact tracing is made ineffective, however, by delays in testing, calling, and isolating. Even if delays are minimized, contact tracing triggered by testing of symptomatic individuals can only prevent a fraction of onward transmissions from contacts. Without other measures in place, contact tracing alone is insufficient to prevent exponential growth in the number of cases in a population with little immunity. Even when used effectively with other measures, occasional bursts in call loads can overwhelm contact tracing systems and lead to a loss of control. We propose embracing approaches to COVID-19 contact tracing that broadly test individuals without symptoms, in whatever way is economically feasible—either with fast and cheap tests that can be deployed widely, with pooled testing, or with screening of judiciously chosen groups of high-risk individuals. These considerations are important both in regions where widespread vaccination has been deployed and in those where few residents have been immunized.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Yannan Huang,
- Lindsay Johnston,
- Ana Parra,
- Crystal Sweeney,
- Emalie Hayes,
- Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen,
- Graham Gagnon,
- Amina Stoddart, and
- Rob Jamieson
Wastewater-based surveillance methods have been implemented in several countries as a tool for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 at a community scale. A variety of methods have been used for concentrating, extracting, and detecting the virus, with no clear consensus on the most effective approach. In this note, we report preliminary findings from a study that is tracking SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a specific focus on the use of four reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for detecting the virus in wastewater. We were able to detect the virus in wastewater samples during the initial rise of cases in the Halifax region in early November 2020. Levels of the targeted SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments increased and fell in response to reported cases of COVID-19. The CDC N1 and E RT-qPCR assays demonstrated greater relative sensitivity than the CDC N2 and N3 assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in raw sewage samples. - OPEN ACCESSThis paper summarizes COVID-19 disease epidemiology in Canada in the pre-vaccine era—from January through to December 2020. Canadian case numbers, risk factors, disease presentations (including severe and critical disease), and outcomes are described. Differences between provinces and territories in geography, population size and density, health demographics, and pandemic impact are highlighted. Key concepts in public health response and mitigation are reviewed, including masking, physical distancing, hand washing, and the promotion of outdoor interactions. Adequate investment in public health infrastructure is stressed, and regional differences in screening and testing strategies are highlighted. The spread of COVID-19 in Canadian workplaces, long-term care homes, and schools is described and lessons learned emphasized. The impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations in Canada—including Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities and newcomers, people who use drugs, people who are homeless, people who are incarcerated, and people with disabilities—is described. Sex and gender disparities are also highlighted. Author recommendations include strategies to reduce transmission (such as test–trace–isolate), the establishment of nationally standardized definitions and public reporting, the protection of high risk and vulnerable populations, and the development of a national strategy on vaccine allocation.
- OPEN ACCESSThe Canadian federal Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy has recently been released. This will require Canadian universities and other research institutes to create and share strategic plans regarding data management and to equip their researchers with skills to complete data deposits. To help maximize the success of data sharing we outline five domains for research institutions to consider during implementation: training and education, paying for data sharing, audit and feedback, meta-science, and career advancement.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Jaya Shanker Tedla,
- Devika Rani Sangadala,
- Ravi Shankar Reddy,
- Kumar Gular,
- Venkata Nagaraj Kakaraparthi, and
- Paul Silvian Samuel
Normative reference values for muscle strength are needed for muscle strength assessment and estimation of prognosis in lower extremity related neuromuscular disorders, as muscle strength influenced by anthropometric parameters and muscle strength itself affects balance. Normative reference values for muscle strength in the Saudi Arabian population is lacking in the literature. Hence, the current study aimed to establish normative reference values for lower extremity muscle strength and to correlate these values with anthropometric parameters and balance. Lower extremity muscle strength and balance were assessed by baseline hand-held dynamometer and by forward, lateral, and oblique direction reach tests in 421 young male adults between 21 and 23 years of age. The mean and standard deviation of lower extremity strength ranged from 43.83 ± 16.92 lb to 62.07 ± 10.74 lb. Body weight, body mass index, and oblique and lateral reach distances were correlated with some knee and ankle muscle strength values. Body weight, body mass index, and balance showed significant effect on lower extremity muscle strength. Furthermore, decreased muscle strength may impair balance; the current clinical practice should evaluate body weight, body mass index, and muscle strength during the assessment process. - OPEN ACCESS
SARS-CoV-2 detection from the built environment and wastewater and its use for hospital surveillance
- Aaron Hinz,
- Lydia Xing,
- Evgueni Doukhanine,
- Laura A. Hug,
- Rees Kassen,
- Banu Ormeci,
- Richard J. Kibbee,
- Alex Wong,
- Derek MacFadden, and
- Caroline Nott
Patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infections are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in health care settings. Our understanding of the distribution of this virus in the built health care environment and wastewater, and relationship to disease burden, is limited. We performed a prospective multi-center study of environmental sampling of SARS-CoV-2 from hospital surfaces and wastewater and evaluated their relationships with regional and hospital COVID-19 burden. We validated a qPCR-based approach to surface sampling and collected swab samples weekly from different locations and surfaces across two tertiary care hospital campuses for a 10-week period during the pandemic, along with wastewater samples. Over the 10-week period, 963 swab samples were collected and analyzed. We found 61 (6%) swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2, with the majority of these (n = 51) originating from floor samples. Wards that actively managed patients with COVID-19 had the highest frequency of positive samples. Detection frequency in built environment swabs was significantly associated with active cases in the hospital throughout the study. Wastewater viral signal changes appeared to predate change in case burden. Our results indicate that environment sampling for SARS-CoV-2, in particular from floors, may offer a unique and resolved approach to surveillance of COVID-19. - OPEN ACCESSAlthough nutrition influences performance, many athletes, including football players, do not meet nutritional requirements for their sport. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a nutrition intervention combining nutrition education and cooking workshops on nutrition knowledge, intention, and perceived behavioral control in the preparation of healthy meals, dietary intakes, and diet quality in male university football players. Athletes (n = 23; age: 22 ± 1 year) were randomly assigned to an intervention (2 h/week) (n = 13) or control group (n = 10) over three weeks. Questionnaires were completed before (pre), immediately after (post 1), and two months after the intervention (post 2). Dietary intakes and diet quality were evaluated from three web-based 24-h dietary recalls per visit. Mixed linear models for repeated measures with Tukey’s post hoc test were performed to determine the effects of the intervention on all outcomes. There was a group by time interaction for nutrition knowledge (p = 0.002) that was higher immediately after and two months after the intervention compared to the control group. No differences on other outcomes were observed. Combining nutrition education and cooking workshops improved nutrition knowledge, but did not affect intention and perceived behavioral control in the preparation of healthy meals, dietary intakes, and diet quality in male university football athletes.
- OPEN ACCESSAttenuated skeletal muscle glucose uptake (GU) has been observed with advancing age. It is important to elucidate the mechanisms linked to interventions that oppose this detrimental outcome. Earlier research using young rodents and (or) cultured myocytes reported that treatment with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR; an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator) can increase γ3-AMPK activity and reduce membrane cholesterol content, each of which has been proposed to elevate GU. However, the effect of AICAR treatment on γ3-AMPK activity and membrane cholesterol in skeletal muscle of aged animals has not been reported. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of AICAR treatment on these potential mechanisms for enhanced glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle of aged animals. Epitrochlearis muscles from 26–27-month-old male rats were isolated and incubated ± AICAR, followed by 3 h incubation without AICAR, and then incubation with 3-O-methyl-[3 H] glucose (to assess GU ± insulin). Muscles were also analyzed for γ3-AMPK activity and membrane cholesterol content. Prior AICAR treatment led to increased γ3-AMPK activity, reduced membrane cholesterol content, and enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle from aged rats. These observations revealed that two potential mechanisms for greater GU previously observed in younger animals and (or) cell models are also potentially relevant for enhanced GU by muscles from older animals.
- OPEN ACCESSCopeptin (C-terminal fragment of pro-arginine vasopressin) levels change as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and blood pressure change. To explore the clinical significance of changes in copeptin levels in development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we enrolled patients undergoing physical health examinations who met diagnostic criteria for prediabetes and T2DM. Subjects were divided into eight subgroups based on FPG levels and presence or absence of hypertension, including: a normal group (NGT), FPG < 5.6 mmol/L; prediabetes A, 5.6 mmol/L ≤ FPG < 6.1 mmol/L; prediabetes B, 6.1 mmol/L ≤ FPG < 7.0 mmol/L; and T2DM, FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/L; participants were further into two subgroups by whether they had hypertension or not. Measures included biochemical indicators, fasting insulin (FINS), and copeptin. Copeptin levels in prediabetes A, prediabetes B, and T2DM groups increased significantly compared to NGT group (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in copeptin levels between normal blood pressure and hypertension subgroups in all four groups. Copeptin levels correlated positively with systolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), FPG, FINS, and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR; P < 0.05–0.001), and negatively with insulin secretion index (P < 0.05–0.001). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that copeptin levels correlated independently with elevated HbA1c and aggravated HOMA-IR (P < 0.001). Increase in copeptin levels may aggravate insulin resistance, finally leading to T2DM.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Eric Kai-Chung Wong,
- Jennifer Watt,
- Hanyan Zou,
- Arthana Chandraraj,
- Alissa Wenyue Zhang,
- Jahnel Brookes,
- Ashley Verduyn,
- Anna Berall,
- Richard Norman,
- Katrina Lynn Piggott,
- Terumi Izukawa,
- Sharon E. Straus, and
- Barbara Arlena Liu
Atypical disease presentations are common in older adults with COVID-19. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of atypical and typical symptoms in older adults with COVID-19 through progressive pandemic waves and the association of these symptoms with in-hospital mortality. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive adults aged over 65 years with confirmed COVID-19 infection who were admitted to seven hospitals in Toronto, Canada, from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2021. The median age for the 1786 patients was 78.0 years and 847 (47.5%) were female. Atypical symptoms (as defined by geriatric syndromes) occurred in 1187 patients (66.5%), but rarely occurred in the absence of other symptoms (n = 106; 6.2%). The most common atypical symptoms were anorexia (n = 598; 33.5%), weakness (n = 519; 23.9%), and delirium (n = 449; 25.1%). Dyspnea (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62–2.62), tachycardia (aOR 1.87; 95% CI 1.14–3.04), and delirium (aOR 1.52; 95% CI 1.18–1.96) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. In a cohort of older adults hospitalized with COVID-19 infection, atypical presentations frequently overlapped with typical symptoms. Further research should be directed at understanding the cause and clinical significance of atypical presentations in older adults. - OPEN ACCESSSince the initial outbreak in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than four million deaths worldwide. Ecuador initially experienced one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world. The pandemic quickly overwhelmed health care systems resulting in excess deaths of 37 000 from March to October, 2020. The public health measures taken to stop the spread of the virus had a devastating impact on the economy. There was a sharp contraction (7.8%) in Ecuador’s GDP in 2020. Furthermore, income poverty and inequality increased dramatically. The lasting effects of the pandemic will be harder to overcome. This article recounts and analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador, to draw lessons from this complex experience, and from the benefit of limited but important successes. We also aim to provide suggestions for best practices moving forward.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Christine Fahim,
- Danielle Kasperavicius,
- Robyn Beckett,
- Keelia Quinn de Launay,
- Arthana Chandraraj,
- Amanda Crupi,
- Suvabna Theivendrampillai, and
- Sharon E. Straus
Knowledge translation (KT) is the science and practice of dissemination and implementation of evidence. We describe how research funders operationalize and evaluate KT initiatives, identify challenges and opportunities, and suggest strategic considerations for KT support. We conducted an environmental scan, which included a systematic search of published and grey literature and a focus group with Canadian funders. A total of 130 published articles and 2415 grey literature sources were screened; 212 unique data sources were included. Published literature commonly described KT initiatives related to “KT practice and science funding.” These initiatives commonly provided funds for infrastructure development (e.g., clinical technologies, database subscriptions) to facilitate translational or applied research to address regional health priorities. Of the articles, 44% outlined an evaluation plan; few provided validated KT metrics. In the grey literature, 364 initiatives were described; the most commonly described initiatives related to “exchange and integrated KT.” Focus group participants hoped to see increased resources to support KT, exchange opportunities with policy/decision-makers, and evaluate KT initiatives. Funders completed various KT initiatives, which tended to engage stakeholders to set research priorities, collaborate with a range of stakeholders, build KT capacity, and mandate KT requirements. We provide six considerations for funders to support KT. - OPEN ACCESSWildlife health surveillance is important in rapidly expanding urban areas, where wildlife live in close association with humans and face unique health risks. Urban areas are not homogeneous, and social and environmental factors may affect the distribution of surveillance data we receive from these environments. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) operates a national wildlife surveillance programme that receives carcass submissions for diagnostic evaluation. Our objective was to evaluate sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with CWHC submissions within two cities in Ontario, Canada. Submissions were mapped at two geographic scales and linked with census and environmental data. The results of mixed multivariable Poisson and negative binomial regression analyses suggest that natural (e.g., percent parkland) and anthropogenic environmental (e.g., presence of a zoo) and social variables (e.g., low income) are associated with submissions at both administratively relevant scales. Associations that are common across scales may represent robust intervention points and inform surveillance methodology/messaging. Surveillance data may influence public health policy, wildlife management, and other decision-making regarding the benefits/risks associated with coexistence with wildlife. This study highlights gaps in surveillance methodology that may prevent equal opportunity for participation in wildlife health surveillance and enable equal opportunity to benefit from the associated outputs.
- OPEN ACCESSPiscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV-1) is a common virus in farmed and wild salmon in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Its regional occurrence in freshwater is far less clear. From 2019 to 2021, tissues of 5619 juvenile anadromous salmon (primarily Atlantic, Chinook, and coho) sampled from 12 commercial and 27 enhancement British Columbia hatcheries during 83 sampling events were screened for PRV-1 prior to seawater entry. More than 2200 (∼40%) were also screened using a Pan-PRV assay targeting all known PRV genotypes. PRV-1 was detected in four coho salmon at two freshwater enhancement facilities and in one Chinook salmon at a commercial facility. Partial (S1 segment) genome sequencing identified detections to be of the PRV-1 subgenotype endemic to the northeastern Pacific. PRV-1 was not detected (5611 individuals; 99.9%) or test results were inconclusive (3 individuals; 0.05%) for all remaining samples screened for PRV-1. PRV-2 and PRV-3 were not detected using the Pan-PRV assay. It is concluded that commercial and enhancement freshwater hatcheries of British Columbia contribute minimally to the prevalence and persistence of PRV-1 in anadromous salmon of the northeastern Pacific, and these hatcheries appear not to have contracted or participated in the distribution of nonendemic forms of PRV in recent years.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Lesya Marushka,
- Xue Feng Hu,
- Tiff-Annie Kenny,
- Malek Batal,
- Karen Fediuk,
- Tonio Sadik,
- Christopher D. Golden,
- William W. L. Cheung,
- Anne K. Salomon, and
- Hing Man Chan
The objective of this study is to examine the potential cardiovascular risk of climate-related declines in seafood consumption among First Nations in British Columbia by assessing the combined effects of reduced omega-3 fatty acids and mercury intake from seafood on the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in 2050 relative to 2009. The data were derived from the First Nations Food, Nutrition, and Environment Study. Seafood consumption among 369 randomly selected participants was estimated, and hair mercury concentrations were measured. Declines in seafood consumption were modelled based on previously projected climate change scenarios, and the associated changes in nutrients and contaminants were used to estimate the cardiovascular risk. Reduced seafood consumption was projected to increase the risk of MI by 4.5%–6.5% among older individuals (≥50 years), by 1.9%–2.6% in men, and by 1.3%–1.8% in women under lower and upper climate change scenarios, respectively. Reduced seafood consumption may have profound cardiovascular implications. Effective strategies are needed to promote sustainable seafood harvests and access to seafood for coastal First Nations. - OPEN ACCESS
- Changxi Chen,
- Sha Si,
- Juan Du, and
- Hongliang Li
To investigate the epidemiological connection between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). 6,478 retired and active workers, aged 22-69 years, were included in the study. Their baseline measures of height, weight, waist measurement, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, plasma lipid, liver function index, glycosylated hemoglobin, abdominal ultrasonography, and findings from the line “13 C urea breath test” H. pylori test were analyzed, and follow-up with consistent baseline methods and criteria was performed annually. Over a 4-year period, the prevalence of NAFLD increased by 16.9%, with 612 (18.7%) of those who tested positive for H. pylori developing NAFLD, whereas 484 (15.1%) of those who did not test positive for H. pylori were later diagnosed with new NAFLD (χ2 = 14.862, P < 0.05). One of the risk factors identified in the univariable Cox regression model for NAFLD was H. pylori (Hazard Ratio = 1.297; 95.0% confidence interval (CI) 1.150,1.485, P < 0.000); however, H. pylori continued to be an independent factor affecting the risk of NAFLD even after accounting for gender, age, and aspects of the metabolic syndrome (Hazard Ratio = 1.240; 95.0% CI 1.077,1.429, P = 0.003). The growth of NAFLD may be correlated with H. pylori infection. - OPEN ACCESS
- Tracie O. Afifi,
- Janique Fortier,
- Samantha Salmon,
- Tamara Taillieu,
- Ana Osorio,
- Leslie Roos,
- Ashley Stewart-Tufescu,
- Lil Tonmyr,
- Andrea Gonzalez,
- Melissa Kimber,
- Jitender Sareen, and
- Harriet L. MacMillan
Adolescents and young adults have been particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were to identify youth's self-reported pandemic-related stressors and examine how these stressors were related to six negative health outcomes: self-perceived, fair-to-poor physical, and mental health, depression, anxiety, and at-risk alcohol and cannabis use. Data were from the Well-Being and Experiences Study (The WE Study) from Manitoba, Canada (17–22 years old; n = 587; collected from November 2021 to January 2022). The COVID-19 stressors reported most frequently since pandemic onset included: (1) not being able to spend time with friends (78.5%); (2) feeling lonely or isolated (69.9%); and (3) remote learning for school, college, or university (68.4%). In reference to the “past month”, frequently reported stressors were (1) remote learning (42.6%); (2) feeling lonely or isolated (41.2%); and (3) uncertainty about the future (41.1%). Overall, 26.1% of the sample perceived their physical health as fair-to-poor and 59.1% perceive their mental health as fair-to-poor. A number of stressors were related to fair-to-poor mental health, depression, and anxiety; fewer were related to fair-to-poor physical health and at-risk alcohol and cannabis use. These findings can inform future pandemics and recovery efforts to improve pandemic-related health risks among youth. - OPEN ACCESS
- Janique Fortier,
- Samantha Salmon,
- Tamara Taillieu,
- Ashley Stewart-Tufescu,
- Harriet L. MacMillan,
- Lil Tonmyr,
- Andrea Gonzalez,
- Melissa Kimber,
- Leslie Roos,
- Jitender Sareen, and
- Tracie O. Afifi
The aim of this study was to understand associations between pandemic stressors and parents’ self-rated physical and mental health; symptoms of mental health problems, and at-risk substance use problems. Data were collected from February 2022 to March 2022 as part of Wave 2 of the Well-being and Experiences Study in Manitoba, Canada (n = 749). Stressors frequently identified since the onset of the pandemic included inability to spend time with family and friends, worry about getting coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and travel restrictions. In the past month, the most frequently identified stressors were worry about getting COVID-19, travel restrictions, public health restrictions, and worry about the future. The stressors with the greatest number of associations with worse health outcomes included: job loss or financial burden; feeling lonely or isolated; disrupted or poor sleep; uncertainty about the future; accessing health care for any reason; increased conflict in relationships; cancellation of surgeries, caregiving for children; and inability to spend time with family. Understanding the COVID-19 stressors that were associated with health and substance problems can inform clinical approaches to respond to pandemic-related problems, as well as public health preparedness to mitigate declines in parents’ health and well-being in the context of future pandemics. - OPEN ACCESS
- Angela McLaughlin,
- Jolene Giacinti,
- Ishraq Rahman,
- Jordan Wight,
- Kathryn Hargan,
- Andrew S. Lang,
- Mark L. Mallory,
- Gregory J. Robertson,
- Kyle Elliot,
- Davor Ojkic,
- Stéphane Lair,
- Megan Jones,
- Yohannes Berhane,
- Grant Gilchrist,
- Laurie Wilson,
- Sabina I. Wilhelm,
- Michael G.C. Brown, and
- Jennifer F. Provencher
Migratory seabirds move across ocean basins and are one of the primary reservoirs of low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). This includes the millions of thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) and common murres (Uria aalge) that are distributed across northern hemisphere oceans. In response to increasingly frequent detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in Europe in 2020–2021, avian influenza virus (AIV) monitoring in wildlife has increased. We compiled data from murres tested for AIV in Canada between 2007 and 2022 to quantify spatiotemporal variation in the prevalence of LPAIV and HPAIV in these birds. No HPAIV was detected in murres prior to 2022, but HPAIV was present in 46% of both live/harvested and found dead murres in the northwestern Atlantic in 2022 with prevalence peaking at 63% among live birds in the summer. In the eastern Canadian Arctic, HPAIV prevalence in 2022 was <1% while LPAIV prevalence was 21%, which was significantly higher than previous sampling years. Power analyses suggest approximately 100 samples from breeding murres should be collected annually per colony or region to detect moderate changes in HPAIV prevalence. These analyses inform robust monitoring of viruses in wildlife, with implications for conservation, harvest management, and public health. - OPEN ACCESS
- Steffen Riemann,
- Mandy Roheger,
- Jan Kohlschmidt,
- Jennifer Kirschke,
- Margherita Lillo,
- Agnes Flöel, and
- Marcus Meinzer
Gender inequalities are well documented in science and typically favor male scientists. A particularly pervasive gender difference is undercitation of publications authored by women, resulting in profound negative effects on academic visibility and career advancement. This inequality has been documented in fields where author gender distributions are strongly skewed towards men (astronomy, physics, neuroscience). By investigating citation practices in a field that has traditionally been more accessible to female scientists (speech–language pathology, SLP), we demonstrate that gendered citation practices are mediated by author gender distribution in specific fields, rather than being a universal pattern. Specifically, our results revealed a citation pattern in SLP that overall tends to favor female authors, persists after controlling for potential confounding factors and, is particularly strong when female authors are citing publications involving female first and senior author teams. Our results suggest that the implementation of effective measures to increase the number and influence of underrepresented individuals in specific fields of science may contribute to mitigate downstream disadvantages for career advancement. However, future research in fields with different author gender distributions and consideration of additional mediating factors is required to establish a potential causal link between field specific authorship patterns and gendered citation inequality. - OPEN ACCESSFarmers globally face significant occupational stressors and are reported to experience high levels of depression, anxiety, burnout, suicide ideation, and suicide. While the impacts of high stress and poor mental health have been well-studied in the general population, and to some extent, in specific occupations, the impacts on farmers are understudied. The objective here was to explore the lived experience of high stress and (or) poor mental health in Canadian farmers, including the perceived impacts. Using a phenomenological approach within a constructivist paradigm, we conducted 75 one-on-one research interviews with farmers and people who work closely with farmers, in Ontario, Canada, between July 2017 and May 2018. We analysed the data via thematic analyses and identified four major themes. Participants described myriad negative impacts of farmers’ high stress and (or) poor mental health: (1) personally, (2) interpersonally, and (3) cognitively, which ultimately negatively impacted them (4) professionally, including consequences for productivity, animals, and farm success. The data described far-reaching, interconnected impacts of high stress and poor mental health on participants, the people and animals in their lives, and most aspects of their farming operations, financial viability, and success. Farmer stress, mental health, and well-being are important considerations in promoting sustainable, successful agriculture.
- OPEN ACCESS
- Bianca Andrade Martha,
- Giovana Vivan Tonial,
- Carolina Luft,
- Bruna Pasqualotto Costa,
- Géssica Luana Antunes,
- Mariana Severo da Costa,
- Lucas Strassburger Matzenbacher,
- Maria Cláudia Rosa Garcia, and
- Jarbas Rodrigues de Oliveira
Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory disease with a high incidence and prevalence that can lead to death. While L-thyroxine is widely used as a synthetic hormone in the treatment of hypothyroidism, its effects on inflammatory processes are not fully understood. Physical exercise, recommended for the general population, serves as an ally in treating various pathologies. Due to this and the lack of understanding of how L-thyroxine affects the immune response, coupled with the well-known benefits of exercise, this study aimed to evaluate L-thyroxine’s effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and its combination with exercise in ALI. We assessed L-thyroxine’s effects on RAW 264.7 cells exposed to LPS and its association with exercise in a mouse ALI model. Pre-treatment with L-thyroxine demonstrated a decrease in the production of reactive oxygen species (P < 0.01) and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and proteins (P < 0.05). In ALI, pre-treatment with L-thyroxine, either alone or combined with exercise, reduced the cell influx (P < 0.01) and the release of inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05), in addition to mitigating lung damage caused by LPS (P < 0.01). However, combining L-thyroxine with exercise did not enhance its anti-inflammatory effect. - OPEN ACCESS
- James E. Newman,
- Grace L. Rose,
- Morgan J. Farley,
- Nicole Flemming,
- Tina L. Skinner,
- David G. Jenkins,
- Christopher D. Askew, and
- Mia A. Schaumberg
Irisin blood concentrations are investigated in many applied physiology studies, however between-day reliability is required for accurate interpretation, particularly in longitudinal interventions. Between-day reliability of irisin was calculated, and the influence of participant characteristics explored. Venous blood was sampled 24 h apart in 32 rested and fasted healthy adults (males n = 15, 19–80 years). Plasma irisin concentrations were measured using MILLIPLEX® xMAP immunoassay analysis (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany). Irisin reliability was analysed using coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Regression analysis was used to explore the influence of participant characteristics. Overall, irisin was reliable between days (CV 12.7%, ICC r = 0.963, p < 0.001), with no influence of participant characteristics, when pre-sampling controls (intake, activity) were applied. - OPEN ACCESS
- Danial Habibi,
- Amir Hossein Koochekian,
- Hamid Reza Marateb,
- Homayoon masoudi,
- Hanifeh Mirtavoos-Mahyari,
- Muhammadhosein Moradi,
- Mahdi Akbarzadeh,
- Marjan Mansourian,
- Miguel Ángel Mañanas, and
- Roya Kelishadi
The objective of the present systematic review was to incorporate previous studies investigating the association of birth order with the risk of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). We employed random-effects and Bayesian meta-analyses, complemented by subgroup and sensitivity analyses, including funnel plots, Begg's rank correlation test, Egger's linear regression test, Galbraith plots, and leave-one-out meta-analysis. Of the 13 articles analyzed, 92% (12 articles) were published from 2010 onwards. The aggregate sample comprised 466 853 firstborns and 646 786 later-born individuals. Geographically, the studies were primarily conducted in Europe (54%), followed by Asia (23%), and America (23%). The pooled mean difference for systolic blood pressure (SBP) under a random-effects model was 0.28 mm Hg (95% CI: −7.03 to 7.59), and for DBP was 0.33 mm Hg (95% CI: −5.38 to 6.04), neither of which reached statistical significance (SBP: Z = 0.08, P = 0.939; DBP: Z = 0.11, P = 0.910). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings. Bayesian meta-analysis presented a 95% credible interval for SBP and DBP ranging from −7.25 to 7.84 and −5.60 to 6.27, respectively. The investigation found no substantial evidence of a significant difference in SBP and DBP between firstborns and later-born individuals, challenging the hypothesis that birth order significantly impacts blood pressure levels. ID registration number: 567971.