Evaluating Decisions on Primary Sample Aliquot Volumes Based on Experience of Utilization: Recommendations for Today’s Biobanks
CanPath revisited its original decisions around how biological samples are divided and stored, comparing those early choices against what researchers have actually requested over time. Based on this reflection, they propose an updated aliquoting strategy for new collections that better balances upfront resource costs with the volumes needed for downstream analysis. The aim is to offer practical, evidence-informed guidance for teams building new biobanks or reconsidering storage approaches for existing ones.
Influence of dietary components on the gut microbiota of middle-aged adults: the gut-Mediterranean connection
Researchers used data, blood and stool samples from 368 participants from the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. They aimed to explore the relationships between the Mediterranean diet and gut health. They found that participants who adherence closer to the Mediterranean diet had increased alpha diversity and more beneficial fibre-degrading bacteria.
Sociodemographic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance studies with diverse recruitment strategies, Canada, 2020 to 2023
Using data from 25,156 CanPath participants, Matthew J. Knight and colleagues investigated the general population representation of serology investigations conducted in Canada. Racialized groups were frequently underrepresented, they discovered, especially in conventional cohort-based studies such as CanPath. The study demonstrates that no one recruiting strategy is completely representative, underscoring the necessity for several approaches in national health surveillance, even though other strategies were able to capture greater variety among rural and low-income individuals.
Association between nitrogen dioxide and incident breast cancer in Alberta’s tomorrow project
Mohadeseh Ahmadi and collaborators examined 15,536 postmenopausal women from the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project over a period of 12.6 years to determine whether air pollution from nitrogen dioxide raises the risk of breast cancer. Hazard ratios for every 10 ppb rise in NO₂ were from 1.01 to 1.10, indicating no discernible correlation. The results are consistent with data from throughout the world and imply that Alberta’s lower pollution levels could account for the lack of correlation.
Metformin use and risk of total joint replacement in patients with diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
The researchers looked into the possibility that people with diabetes who use metformin, a common first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, have a lower risk of total joint replacement (TJR). They looked at 3,001 participants with newly diagnosed diabetes using longitudinal data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project and used time-varying Cox regression models to assess the association between TJR incidence and metformin dose. The findings indicate a potential protective effect of metformin on joint health, with reduced TJR rates seen among metformin users compared to non-users, despite the fact that the results were not statistically significant. This study offers early data that could guide future investigations into the relationship between musculoskeletal results and diabetes care.
Covert vascular brain injury and cognitive dysfunction among Chinese adults living in Canada and China
The researchers examined how country of residence influences covert cerebrovascular disease (VBI) and cognitive dysfunction among Chinese adults living in Canada and China. The study compared Chinese adults in Canada and China. They found that people in Canada had a lower prevalence of covert VBI and cognitive dysfunction than those living in China, even though both groups shared the same ethnicity. Living in China was associated with a much higher risk of covert VBI and lower cognitive function, although the link between cognitive dysfunction and country of residence was explained by education and traditional cerebrovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol.
Healthcare costs associated with receipt of effective mental healthcare coverage in individuals with moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The researchers assessed the factors and healthcare costs associated with effective mental healthcare coverage (EMHC) for anxiety and depression using data from 720 participants in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that only 26.7% of participants received EMHC, defined as adequate pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy. Individuals reporting worsening self-rated mental health after the pandemic compared to before were less likely to receive EMHC. Lifetime diagnoses of anxiety and depression increased the likelihood of receiving EMHC. Adjusted total healthcare costs attributable to EMHC were $2601. These findings underscore unmet mental health needs during the pandemic and highlight the need for policies to ensure timely access to EMHC.
Association of lifetime lactation and characteristics of menopause: a longitudinal cohort study
The researchers used survey data on 19,783 parous women aged 40 to 65 years at enrollment in the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project to investigate the association between lifetime duration of lactation and the timing and type of menopause in midlife women. They found that in a dose-response manner, longer lactation was associated with reduced risk of natural menopause before age 50, surgical menopause before age 55, and indeterminate menopause before age 50. Longer lactation was associated with lower odds of surgical and indeterminate menopause, compared to natural menopause.
Exposure to air pollutants and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis measured by magnetic resonance imaging: A cross-sectional analysis
The researchers examined how long-term exposure to air pollution affects early signs of heart disease. They used data to explore whether low levels of air pollutants are linked to the thickening of artery walls. The study included 6,645 adults from five Canadian provinces and estimated their exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over several years. Using MRI scans to measure carotid artery wall thickness, the researchers found mixed results. Higher levels of ozone were linked to thicker artery walls, suggesting a potential negative effect, while higher nitrogen dioxide levels were associated with thinner artery walls, a finding that requires further investigation.
Unilateral Oophorectomy and Age at Natural Menopause: A Longitudinal Community-Based Cohort Study.
The researchers investigated the impact of unilateral oophorectomy (UO) on the age of natural menopause using data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. They found that UO was linked to an earlier age at natural menopause, with the strongest effect seen in women who had UO between ages 20-40. These findings highlight that UO, particularly before the age of 40, increases the risk of earlier natural menopause.