Publications

These publications are examples of research made possible with data from CanPath and its regional cohorts.

2020

Long-term exposure to a mixture of industrial SO 2, NO 2, and PM 2.5 and anti-citrullinated protein antibody positivity

Authors: Naizhou Zhao, Audrey Smagiassi, Marianne Hatzopoulou, Ines Colmegna, Marie Hudson, Marvin Fritzler, Philip Awadalla, Sasha Bernatsky

The research team looked at exposures to SO2, NO2, and fine particles matter on anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, a characteristic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It was found that there was a positive correlation between ACPA and industrial emissions of PM2.5 and SO2.

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2020

Founder BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2 pathogenic variants in French-Canadian breast cancer cases and controls

Authors: Supriya Behl, Nancy Hamel, Manon de Laduarantaye, Stephanie Lepage, Rejean LaPointe, Anne-Marie Mes-Massson, William Foulkes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of genetic testing for these variants of the BRCA gene in Montreal French Canadians. A total of 555 breast cancer cases unselected for family history or age of diagnosis were genotyped, along with 1940 controls without a personal or family history of cancer. Almost 10% of the early onset cases of BC were heterozygous for founder BRCA1 or BRCA2. 7 of the 20 variants of the breast cancer gene tested for were found in this study.

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2017

Industrial air emissions, and proximity to major industrial emitters, are associated with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies

Authors: Sasha Bernatsky, Audrey Smargiassi, Lawrence Joseph, Philip Awadalla, Ines Colmega, Marie Hudson, Marvin Fritzler

They assessed the relationships between PM25, SO2, and ACPA which is a marker for RA, they found there was a positive association between ACPA and industrial PM2.5/SO2 emissions. Finally there was a correlation between air pollution from industrial emissions and ACPA suggests a role for these exposures in RA.

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