Journal: Cancer Causes and Control Authors: Rachel A. Murphy,  Maryam Darvishian, Jia Qi, Yixian Chen, Quincy Chu, Jennifer Vena, Trevor J. B. Dummer, Nhu Le, Ellen Sweeney, Vanessa DeClercq, Scott A. Grandy, Melanie R. Keats, Yunsong Cui, Philip Awadalla, Darren R. Brenner & Parveen Bhatti   Abstract Background Although smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, 15–25% of lung cancers occur in never smokers. Emerging evidence suggests lifestyle factors are associated with lung cancer risk, but few studies among never smokers exist. Methods A case–control study of never smokers within the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health was conducted. At recruitment, participants provided data on lifestyle, health history and sociodemographic factors. Incident lung cancers were identified through linkage with administrative health records. Cases (n = 190) were matched to controls (n = 760) on age, sex, and follow-up time. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for matching factors and annual income, were used to identify associations between lifestyle factors and lung cancer risk. Results Consumption of < 5 servings of fruits and vegetables/day was associated with higher risk of lung cancer (OR  1.50, 95% CI 1.03–2.17). Short or long sleep (≤ 6 or > 9 h/night) was also associated with increased risk of lung cancer (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.29). No associations were observed for obesity measures, alcohol consumption, or physical activity. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence of a potential role between sleep, fruits and vegetable consumption, and lung cancer risk in a pan-Canadian, non-smoking population. However, the sample size is modest, and further investigation is needed. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-022-01566-x

Authors: Vanessa DeClercq, Jacob T. Nearing, and Morgan G.I. Langille Journal: PLOS One Abstract Background: Commonly used medications produce changes in the gut microbiota, however, the impact of these medications on the composition of the oral microbiota is understudied. Methods: Saliva samples were obtained from 846 females and 368 males aged 35-69 years from a Canadian population cohort, the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH). Samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and differences in microbial community compositions between nonusers, single-, and multi-drug users as well as the 3 most commonly used medications (thyroid hormones, statins, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI)) were examined. Results: Twenty-six percent of participants were taking 1 medication and 21% were reported taking 2 or more medications. Alpha diversity indices of Shannon diversity, Evenness, Richness, and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity were similar among groups, likewise beta diversity as measured by Bray-Curtis dissimilarity (R2 = 0.0029, P = 0.053) and weighted UniFrac distances (R2 = 0.0028, P = 0.161) were non-significant although close to our alpha value threshold (P = 0.05). After controlling for covariates (sex, age, BMI), six genera (Saprospiraceae uncultured, Bacillus, Johnsonella, Actinobacillus, Stenotrophomonas, and Mycoplasma) were significantly different from non-medication users. Thyroid hormones, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and PPI were the most reported medications. Shannon diversity differed significantly among those taking no medication and those taking only thyroid hormones, however, there were no significant difference in other measures of alpha- or beta diversity with single thyroid hormone, statin, or PPI use. Compared to participants taking no medications, the relative abundance of eight genera differed significantly in participants taking thyroid hormones, six genera differed in participants taking statins, and no significant differences were observed with participants taking PPI. Conclusion: The results from this study show negligible effect of commonly used medications on microbial diversity and small differences in the relative abundance of specific taxa, suggesting a minimal influence of commonly used medication on the salivary microbiome of individuals living without major chronic conditions. Doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0261032

Journal: Environmental Research Authors: Crystal L. Sweeney, Nathan K. Smith, Ellen Sweeney, Alejandro M. Cohen, and Jong Sung Kim Abstract: Human serum and urine samples were analyzed for a suite of nitrosatable pesticides and potentially carcinogenic pesticide-associated N–nitroso (PANN) compounds. Formation of PANN compounds may occur in vivo after consumption of food or water containing trace amounts of nitrosatable pesticide residues and nitrate. Using a modified version of the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method, nine nitrosatable pesticides and byproducts were extracted from serum and urine from 64 individuals from two different sample populations in Atlantic Canada: (i) Prince Edward Island, a region where nitrate and trace amounts of nitrosatable pesticides have been detected in groundwater; and (ii) Halifax, Nova Scotia, a non-agricultural urban area. Samples were then analyzed using ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) single-stage orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS), which allows for semi-targeted analysis and tentative identification of a virtually limitless number of exposure biomarkers. Two nitrosatable target analytes, ethylenethiourea (ETU) and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) were found in serum, while atrazine (ATR) and ETU were detected in urine. Five and six PANN compounds were tentatively identified in serum and urine, respectively. The two PANN compounds that were most frequently tentatively identified in serum were N-nitroso dimethoate (N-DIM) and N-nitroso omethoate (N-OME) with a detection frequency of 78% and 95%, respectively. This is the first biomonitoring study of its kind to investigate PANN compounds in human serum and urine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112493

Journal: BMC Medical Ethics Authors: Judy M. Luu, Anand K. Sergeant, Sonia S. Anand, Dipika Desai, Karleen Schulze, Bartha M. Knoppers, Ma’n H. Zawati, Eric E. Smith, Alan R. Moody, Sandra E. Black, Eric Larose, Francois Marcotte, Erika Kleiderman, Jean-Claude Tardif, Douglas S. Lee, Matthias G. Friedrich on behalf of the CAHHM Study Investigators Abstract Background In the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) cohort, participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, heart, and abdomen, that generated incidental findings (IFs). The approach to managing these unexpected results remain a complex issue. Our objectives were to describe the CAHHM policy for the management of IFs, to understand the impact of disclosing IFs to healthy research participants, and to reflect on the ethical obligations of researchers in future MRI studies. Methods Between 2013 and 2019, 8252 participants (mean age 58 ± 9 years, 54% women) were recruited with a follow-up questionnaire administered to 909 participants (40% response rate) at 1-year. The CAHHM policy followed a restricted approach, whereby routine feedback on IFs was not provided. Only IFs of severe structural abnormalities were reported. Results Severe structural abnormalities occurred in 8.3% (95% confidence interval 7.7–8.9%) of participants, with the highest proportions found in the brain (4.2%) and abdomen (3.1%). The majority of participants (97%) informed of an IF reported no change in quality of life, with 3% of participants reporting that the knowledge of an IF negatively impacted their quality of life. Furthermore, 50% reported increased stress in learning about an IF, and in 95%, the discovery of an IF did not adversely impact his/her life insurance policy. Most participants (90%) would enrol in the study again and perceived the MRI scan to be beneficial, regardless of whether they were informed of IFs. While the implications of a restricted approach to IF management was perceived to be mostly positive, a degree of diagnostic misconception was present amongst participants, indicating the importance of a more thorough consent process to support participant autonomy. Conclusion The management of IFs from research MRI scans remain a challenging issue, as participants may experience stress and a reduced quality of life when IFs are disclosed. The restricted approach to IF management in CAHHM demonstrated a fair fulfillment of the overarching ethical principles of respect for autonomy, concern for wellbeing, and justice. The approach outlined in the CAHHM policy may serve as a framework for future research studies.   Link: https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-021-00706-3#group-1