Validation of breast cancer risk assessment tools on a French-Canadian population-based cohort
This study evaluated the use of the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), International Breast Cancer Intervention Study risk evaluation tool (IBIS), Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) and combined scores to predict the occurrence of invasive breast cancers at 5 years in a French-Canadian population.
Normal sex and age-specific parameters in a multi-ethnic population: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study of the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds cohort
Researchers sought to create a robust, reference value set for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters, and understand their relationship with age and sex in people without cardiovascular disease (CVD) history or risk factors. They were able to uncover a significant influence of sex and age on these parameters for use in clinical evaluations of CVD.
Prediction of Cardiovascular Events by Type I Central Systolic Blood Pressure
This study assessed which of central or brachial blood pressure best predicts cardiovascular risk and identified the central SBP threshold associated with increased risk of future cardiovascular events. It was concluded that central BP measured with a type I device is statistically but likely not clinically superior to brachial BP in a general population without prior cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes, Brain Infarcts, Cognition and Small Vessels in the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds Study
The CAHHM study collected brain and carotid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and two cognitive tests (DSST and MoCA) in a cross-sectional sample of 7,733 men and women. It was concluded that small vessel disease characterizes much of the relationship between diabetes and vascular brain injury. However, additional factors are required to disentangle the relationship between diabetes and cognitive impairment.
Long-term exposure to a mixture of industrial SO 2, NO 2, and PM 2.5 and anti-citrullinated protein antibody positivity
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.
Founder BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2 pathogenic variants in French-Canadian breast cancer cases and controls
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.
Association of Glomerular Hyperfiltration and Cardiovascular Risk in Middle-Aged Healthy Individuals
In this cohort study of 9,515 patients with health information accessed through the CARTaGENE cohort, glomerular hyperfiltration was shown to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in middle-aged healthy individuals. This suggests that glomerular hyperfiltration could be a useful cardiovascular biomarker in this population.
Reduced Cognitive Assessment Scores Among Individuals With Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Detected Vascular Brain Injury
This study investigated if scores on a cognitive screen were lower in individuals with higher cardiovascular risk, and those with covert vascular brain injury. Among a middle-aged community-dwelling population, scores on a cognitive screen were lower in individuals with higher cardiovascular risk factors or MRI vascular brain injury. Much of the population attributable risk of low cognitive scores can be attributed to lower educational attainment, higher cardiovascular risk factors, and MRI vascular brain injury.
Impact of updated recommendations on acetylsalicylic acid use for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in Canada: a population-based survey
This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with ASA use, and the potential impact of implementing the most recent (2016) US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for primary CVD prevention in a Canadian setting.
Investigating associations between anti-nuclear antibody positivity and combined long-term exposures to NO2, O3, and PM2.5 using a Bayesian kernel machine regression approach.
This group determined ANA using biobanked sera, they asssesed the effects of exposures to NO2 and O3 and PM2.5, they compared the results obtained by the BKMR to standard logistic regression models