Negative Association of Smoking History With Clinically Manifest Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Case-Control Study
Researchers aimed to explore whether smoking was associated with a specific sarcoidosis phenotype, primarily in Caucasian patients with clinically manifest cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Ontario Health Study participants’ data were used as controls, while the cases came from the Cardiac Sarcoidosis Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study. They found a strong association between smoking history and clinically manifest CS, but more research is required to understand whether these associations have therapeutic potential.
Applying Machine Learning to Arsenic Species and Metallomics Profiles of Toenails to Evaluate Associations of Environmental Arsenic with Incident Cancer Cases
This preliminary study aimed to understand the association between environmental metal pathogenicity and carcinogenicity and prostate cancer. Researchers used toenails to capture arsenic exposure!
Recombination affects allele-specific expression of deleterious variants in human populations
This study investigates how changes in the genetic makeup of a population, influenced by random genetic drift and selective forces, impact the variation in observable traits over time. The researchers found that specific factors like recombination rates and population size affect patterns of allele-specific gene expression, with regions of high recombination showing a higher efficiency in using this mechanism to suppress harmful genetic variations.
Analyzing cohort studies with interval-censored data: A new model-based linear rank-type test
When analyzing cohort studies with interval-censored data, the researchers suggest that statisticians employ their proposed test to test survival distributions’ quality between two or more groups.
The Genetic and Molecular Analyses of RAD51C and RAD51D Identifies Rare Variants Implicated in Hereditary Ovarian Cancer from a Genetically Unique Population
This study aimed to identify specific genetic mutations associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. The mutations they discovered were found in many early-onset cases, particularly RAD51D, suggesting their role in hereditary ovarian cancer and the importance of the genes in the development of this disease.
A dietary carbohydrate – gut Parasutterella – human fatty acid biosynthesis metabolic axis in obesity and type 2 diabetes
This study aimed to characterize Parasutterella, a gut bacteria, in a European cohort. 438 participants from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project were included to validate the results of this study. Researchers found that this bacteria have a role in type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Health-Related and Behavioral Factors Associated With Lung Cancer Stage at Diagnosis: Observations From Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
This study examined sociodemographic characteristics and health-related factors and their associations with subsequent lung cancer stage at diagnosis. Using data from 221 Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants, researchers found that a history of sunburn in the past year and more prostate-specific antigen tests were protective against late-stage lung cancer diagnosis, whereas physical activity increased late-stage cancer diagnosis odds.
Pre-diagnosis lifestyle, health history and psychosocial factors associated with stage at breast cancer diagnosis – Potential targets to shift stage earlier
This study aimed to examine associations between risk factors for breast cancer diagnosis, prior to and and at diagnosis. Some protective factors include older age at diagnosis, high household income, parity, smoking, spending time in the sun (high ultraviolet), having a mammogram, and high daily protein intake. Factors that increase risk of later stage at diagnosis include comorbidities, stressful situations, and high daily caloric intake.
The association between religiosity, spirituality, and breast cancer screening: A cross-sectional analysis of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
Researchers explored data from 2,569 ATP participants regarding religiosity, spirituality, and breast cancer screening. They found that greater religiosity and spirituality salience were unrelated to mammogram receipt. However, they suggest future research to investigate subgroups of the population and whether religiosity and spirituality may promote screening amongst those with strong pre-existing connections to faith.
Analysis of human serum and urine for tentative identification of potentially carcinogenic pesticide-associated N-nitroso compounds using high-resolution mass spectrometry
Using data from 64 Atlantic PATH participants, this study marks the first biomonitoring investigation of PANN compounds in human serum and urine. A majority of the participants were found to have been exposed to some nitrosatable pesticides and potentially carcinogenic PANN compounds.