Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada
The researchers conducted a national survey of 700 LGBTQ+ individuals to evaluate skin cancer risk factors, sun-protective behaviors, and related concerns. Some participants were recruited with the help of longitudinal cohorts, notably the Manitoba Tomorrow Project and Atlantic PATH. The researchers found that 60% reported over 10 lifetime sunburns, 58% experienced at least one blistering sunburn, 34% had used tanning beds, and 69% reported having a tan in the last 12 months. Regular sunscreen use was reported by only half of the respondents. These findings emphasize the urgent need for culturally sensitive public health campaigns targeting sun safety practices within the LGBTQ+ community.
Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate relates to cognitive impairment and brain alterations
The researchers investigated the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and cognitive function in 15,897 CARTaGENE participants. They found that lower eGFR was linked to reduced cognitive performance and that brain regions associated with eGFR were enriched in mitochondrial and inflammation-related genes. These associations were independent of age, sex, education, BMI, Framingham risk score, and white matter lesion volume.
Sex-Specific Associations of Aldosterone and Renin with Body Composition: A Population-Based Cohort Study
The researchers investigated the associations of aldosterone and renin with body composition according to sex in a population-based cohort. Using data from 3,687 adults aged 40-69 years enrolled in the CARTaGENE study, they found that among males, higher aldosterone and renin levels were linked to increased waist to hip ratio, increased fat mass, and decreased lean and muscle mass, while aldosterone specifically was also associated with increased ectopic cardiac adiposity. In contrast, among females higher renin, but not aldosterone, was associated with increased waist circumference, increased waist-to-hip ratio, and increased cardiac adiposity. Higher renin and aldosterone were associated with increased fat mass but were not associated with lean body mass or muscle mass.
Addressing dispersion in mis-measured multivariate binomial outcomes: A novel statistical approach for detecting differentially methylated regions in bisulfite sequencing data
The researchers investigated the association between DNA methylation and levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), a preclinical marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk, using asymptomatic samples from the CARTaGENE cohort. Through targeted custom capture sequencing of whole blood, their analysis identified 23 significant genes potentially contributing to ACPA-related differential methylation. These findings emphasize the roles of cell signaling and collagen metabolism in RA.
Polygenic inheritance and its interplay with smoking history in predicting lung cancer diagnosis: a French-Canadian casecontrol cohort
The researchers equipped a case-control dataset, consisting of 4002 lung cancer cases from the LORD project and 20,010 ethnically matched controls from the CARTaGENE cohort. The researchers aimed to generate a genome-wide polygenic risk score for lung cancer to improve risk prediction and delineate individuals at high genetic risk of lung cancer for earlier detection and prevention.
Subclinical primary aldosteronism and cardiovascular health: a population-based cohort study
This study explores the impact of subclinical primary aldosteronism, a less recognized form of hypertension characterized by renin-independent aldosterone production, on cardiovascular health. With data from 1284 CARTaGENE participants, researchers found that a higher aldosterone-to-renin ratio, indicative of this condition, was associated with increased arterial stiffness, adverse cardiac remodeling, and higher odds of developing hypertension, independent of traditional blood pressure measures.
Relationship between diet quality and antihypertensive medication intensity among adults with metabolic syndrome-associated high blood pressure
This study aimed to investigate whether there’s a relationship between diet quality and the intensity of medication used to manage high blood pressure in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Using data from 915 CARTaGENE participants with MetS-associated high blood pressure, of whom 677 were using blood pressure-lowering medication, researchers found that, overall, there wasn’t a clear link between diet quality and medication intensity. However, in younger individuals and those with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, better diet quality was associated with lower medication intensity.
Relationship between diet quality and statin use among adults with metabolic syndrome from the CARTaGENE cohort.
This study investigated how the use of statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering medication, impacts diet quality in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) who are free of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using data from 2481 CARTaGENE participants, researchers revealed that adults using statins tended to have slightly lower diet quality, particularly characterized by reduced consumption of vegetables and whole grains. This effect was more pronounced in older individuals and those with lower incomes or a history of high blood pressure.
Relationship between diet quality and glucose-lowering medication intensity among adults with type 2 diabetes: results from the CARTaGENE cohort
This study aimed to understand if there’s a relationship between diet quality and the amount of medication used to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Using data from 352 CARTaGENE participants, the researchers found no clear link between diet quality and medication intensity. In younger adults, better diet quality was associated with lower medication intensity, so there may be importance of diet in managing diabetes in young adults.
Impact of successive office blood pressure measurements during a single visit on cardiovascular risk prediction: analysis of CARTaGENE
The researchers sought to assess the long-term impact of multiple office blood pressure (BP) readings and whether they improve cardiovascular risk prediction. Using data from CARTaGENE participants, they found that cardiovascular risk prediction is improved by successive office systolic BP values, especially when the first reading is discarded. These findings reinforce the necessity of using multiple office BP readings.