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The Left Hand Doesn't Know What The Right Hand Is Doing—Or Does It?, Jody C. Culham

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

In this issue of Cell Reports, Ossmy and Mukamel (2016) show that virtual reality enhances learning of new motor sequences through practice with one hand and synchronous feedback of the other hand moving. The approach holds promise for motor rehabilitation.

The Association Between Social Cohesion And Physical Activity In Canada: A Multilevel Analysis, Calvin Yip, Sisira Sarma, Piotr Wilk

Paediatrics Publications

Although previous research has shown that social cohesion may promote physical activity, social cohesion at the individual level was not always differentiated from social cohesion at the community level, and studies were often limited to specific population subgroups or geographical areas. We addressed the above limitations through the use of a multilevel modelling approach and nationally-representative data from the 2009–2014 Canadian Community Health Survey. Physical activity level was operationalized as average daily energy expenditure; social cohesion was assessed by self-rated sense of belonging to the local community; and communities were represented by Canada's Forward Sortation Areas. The sample included 245,150 …

Psoriasis And Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review, Madhulika A. Gupta, Fiona C. Simpson, Aditya K. Gupta

Paediatrics Publications

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disorder which manifests as dermatologic lesions, and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in about 30% of cases. Psoriasis is associated with multiple comorbidities including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular events, obesity and psychiatric disorders, which can all affect the course of sleep disorders. A systematic review of the literature on the relationship between psoriasis, PsA, and formal sleep disorders identified 33 studies. There is an increased prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with 36%-81.8% prevalence in psoriasis versus 2%-4% in the general population. There was also an increase in the prevalence of restless legs syndrome of …

The Serotonin Transporter Promoter Variant, Stress, And Attentional Biases In Middle Childhood, Yuliya Kotelnikova, Joelle Lemoult, Sarah V.M. Mackrell, Haroon I. Sheikh, Shiva M. Singh, Jutta Joormann, Ian H. Gotlib, Elizabeth P. Hayden, Stevenson

Paediatrics Publications

Although evidence suggests that 5-HTTLPR variants may shape risk for depression, the influence is likely complex, and involves effects on endophenotypes. We examined associations between 5-HTTLPR and biases in attention to affective stimuli in a sample of girls and a sample of both boys and girls. Children with at least one short (S) variant of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism had lower positive attentional bias scores in both samples. This association was qualified by an interaction with stress in one sample, such that links between the S allele and decreased positive attentional bias was significant only when life stress was elevated. This …

Ethical And Clinical Considerations At The Intersection Of Functional Neuroimaging And Disorders Of Consciousness, Adrian C. Byram, Grace Lee, Adrian M. Owen, Urs Ribary, A. Jon Stoessl, Andrea Townson, Judy Illes

BrainsCAN Publications

© Cambridge University Press 2016. Recent neuroimaging research on disorders of consciousness provides direct evidence of covert consciousness otherwise not detected clinically in a subset of severely brain-injured patients. These findings have motivated strategic development of binary communication paradigms, from which researchers interpret voluntary modulations in brain activity to glean information about patients' residual cognitive functions and emotions. The discovery of such responsiveness raises ethical and legal issues concerning the exercise of autonomy and capacity for decisionmaking on matters such as healthcare, involvement in research, and end of life. These advances have generated demands for access to the technology against …

Domestic Violence In The Canadian Workplace: Are Coworkers Aware?, Jennifer C.D. Macgregor, C. Nadine Wathen, Barbara J. Macquarrie

Nursing Publications

Background Domestic violence (DV) is associated with serious consequences for victims, children, and families, and even national economies. An emerging literature demonstrates that DV also has a negative impact on workers and workplaces. Less is known about the extent to which people are aware of coworkers’ experiences of DV. Methods Using data from a pan-Canadian sample of 8,429 men and women, we examine: (1) awareness of coworker DV victimization and perpetration; (2) the warning signs of DV victimization and perpetration recognized by workers; (3) whether DV victims are more likely than nonvictims to recognize DV and its warning signs in …

The Effect Of Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Positive Airway Pressure On Depression And Other Subjective Symptoms: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Madhulika A. Gupta, Fiona C. Simpson, Danika C.A. Lyons

Paediatrics Publications

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently present with symptoms of depression and anxiety. The objective of this study is to determine if treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) improves symptoms of depression and anxiety. A systematic review was conducted to identify clinical trials of PAP that contained a validated measure of depression severity. Meta-analysis was conducted for depression, anxiety, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), quality of life (QoL) and respiratory variables. The systematic review included 33 reports. Pre-post-test analysis of PAP showed a moderate effect size (Hedge's g, 95% CI) for depression 0.524 [0.401-0.647], but a low effect size compared …

Nuclear Weapons And Nato_Is It Safer To Deter Or To Disarm?, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

Debates about whether to retain or abolish nuclear weapons have intensified. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) maintains its nuclear weapons are essential to the alliance’s security. NATO’s 2010 Strategic Concept reasserted in 2014 that, “As long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.” Conversely, many observers of the negotiations regarding the United Nations (UN) Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) argue the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) in the 28-member NATO alliance are obliged to move NATO’s posture toward nuclear disarmament rather than deterrence. The resarch project analyses the arguments in favour of the alliance’s continued reliance …

Moving Knowledge About Family Violence Into Public Health Policy And Practice: A Mixed Method Study Of A Deliberative Dialogue, Jennifer A. Boyko, Anita Kothari, C. Nadine Wathen

Nursing Publications

Background: There is a need to understand scientific evidence in light of the context within which it will be used. Deliberative dialogues are a promising strategy that can be used to meet this evidence interpretation challenge. Methods: We evaluated a deliberative dialogue held by a transnational violence prevention network. The deliberative dialogue included researchers and knowledge user partners of the Preventing Violence Across the Lifespan (PreVAiL) Research Network and was incorporated into a biennial full-team meeting. The dialogue included pre- and post-meeting activities, as well as deliberations embedded within the meeting agenda. The deliberations included a preparatory plenary session, small …

The Role Of Executive Processes In Working Memory Deficits In Parkinson's Disease, Aleksandra Gruszka, Daniel Bor, Roger R. Barker, Edward Necka, Adrian M. Owen

BrainsCAN Publications

© Polish Academy of Sciences, Committee for Psychological Sciences 2016. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) impairs working memory, but the exact nature of this deficit in terms of the underlying cognitive mechanisms is not well understood. In this study patients with mild clinical symptoms of PD were compared with matched healthy control subjects on a computerized battery of tests designed to assess spatial working memory and verbal working memory. In the spatial working memory task, subjects were required to recall a sequence of four locations. The verbal working memory task was methodologically identical except for the modality of the stimuli used, …

Low Oxygen Tension Modulates The Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Or -2 Signaling Via Both Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor And Insulin Receptor To Maintain Stem Cell Identity In Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Amer Youssef, Victor K.M. Han

Paediatrics Publications

Placental mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) are readily available multipotent stem cells for potential use in regenerative therapies. For this purpose, PMSCs must be maintained in culture conditions that mimicthe in vivo microenvironment. IGFs (IGF-1 and IGF-2) and oxygen tension are low in the placenta in early gestation and increase as pregnancy progresses. IGFs bind to two receptor tyrosine kinases, the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and the insulin receptor (IR), and their hybrid receptors. We hypothesized that IGF-1 and IGF-2 signal via distinct signaling pathways under low-oxygen tension to maintain PMSC multipotency. In preterm PMSCs, low-oxygen tension increased the expression of IGF-2 …

The Isletcore Program: Improving The Supply Of Human Islets To Satisfy The Demand For Research, Tyler T. Cooper, David A. Hess

Paediatrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics And Pregnancy Outcomes In Women With Mustard Palliation For Complete Transposition Of The Great Arteries, Laura Jimenez Juan, Anne Marie Valente, Candice K. Silversides, Tal Geva, Jack M. Colman, S. Lucy Roche, Samuel C. Siu, Rachel M. Wald

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Women with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) following atrial redirection surgery are at risk of pregnancy-associated arrhythmia and heart failure. The cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of these women and the relationship of CMR findings to pregnancy outcomes have not been described. Methods: We included 17 women with atrial redirection surgery and CMR within 2 years of delivery. Results: All women were asymptomatic at baseline (New York Heart Association Class 1). CMR studies were completed pre-pregnancy in 3, antepartum/peripartum in 2, and postpartum in 12 women. Three women (3/17, 18%) experienced major cardiovascular events related to pregnancy: …

Foxo1 Plays An Important Role In Regulating Β-Cell Compensation For Insulin Resistance In Male Mice, Ting Zhang, Dae Hyun Kim, Xiangwei Xiao, Sojin Lee, Zhenwei Gong, Radhika Muzumdar, Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Rennian Wang, Rita Bottino, Juan Carlos Alvarez-Perez, Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, George Gittes, H. Henry Dong

Paediatrics Publications

β-Cell compensation is an essential mechanism by which β-cells increase insulin secretion for overcoming insulin resistance to maintain euglycemia in obesity. Failure of β-cells to compensate for insulin resistance contributes to insulin insufficiency and overt diabetes. To understand the mechanism of β-cell compensation, we characterized the role of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) in β-cell compensation in mice under physiologicalandpathological conditions.FoxO1is a key transcription factor that serves as a nutrient sensor for integrating insulin signaling to cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation.Weshowed that FoxO1 improvedβ-cell compensation via 3 distinct mechanisms by increasing β-cell mass, enhancing β-cell glucose sensing, and augmenting β-cell antioxidative …

Operationalizing Neuroimaging For Disorders Of Consciousness: The Canadian Context, Judy Illes, Adrian M. Owen, Adrian C. Byram

BrainsCAN Publications

No abstract provided.

Hypoxia Increases Igfbp-1 Phosphorylation Mediated By Mtor Inhibition, Ian Damerill, Kyle K. Biggar, Majida Abu Shehab, Shawn Shun Cheng Li, Thomas Jansson, Madhulika B. Gupta

Paediatrics Publications

In fetal growth restriction (FGR), fetal growth is limited by reduced nutrient and oxygen supply. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a key regulator of fetal growth and IGF binding protein -1(IGFBP-1) is the principal regulator of fetal IGF-I bioavailability. Phosphorylation enhances IGFBP-1’s affinity for IGF-I. Hypoxia induces IGFBP-1 hyperphosphorylation, markedly decreasing IGF-I bioavailability. We recently reported that fetal liver IGFBP-1 hyperphosphorylation is associated with inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in a nonhuman primate model of FGR. Here, we test the hypothesis that IGFBP-1 hyperphosphorylation in response to hypoxia is mediated by mTOR inhibition. We inhibited mTOR …

A Model Of Engagement In Reflective Writing-Based Portfolios: Interactions Between Points Of Vulnerability And Acts Of Adaptability, Shannon Arntfield, Brittney Parlett, Christine N. Meston, Tavis Apramian, Lorelei Lingard

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Portfolios are widely used for meeting new accreditation standards in the age of competency-based medicine. However, the method of learning through portfolio has been suggested to be vulnerable. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore conditions affecting the experience of teaching and learning from the perspective of both students and mentors in a reflective writing-based portfolio initiative. Method: Using mixed-methods rooted in grounded theory, 139 students and 13 mentors completed questionnaires, 23 students participated in four focus groups and 9 mentors in individual interviews. Results: The overarching theme in our data was student-mentor engagement. Our results confirm …

Group-Based Exercise And Cognitive-Physical Training In Older Adults With Self-Reported Cognitive Complaints: The Multiple-Modality, Mind-Motor (M4) Study Protocol, Michael A. Gregory, Dawn P. Gill, Erin M. Shellington, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Ryosuke Shigematsu, Guangyong Zou, Kevin Shoemaker, Adrian M. Owen, Vladimir Hachinski, Melanie Stuckey, Robert J. Petrella

BrainsCAN Publications

© 2016 Gregory et al. Background: Dementia is associated with cognitive and functional deficits, and poses a significant personal, societal, and economic burden. Directing interventions towards older adults with self-reported cognitive complaints may provide the greatest impact on dementia incidence and prevalence. Risk factors for cognitive and functional deficits are multifactorial in nature; many are cardiovascular disease risk factors and are lifestyle-mediated. Evidence suggests that multiple-modality exercise programs can provide cognitive and functional benefits that extend beyond what can be achieved from cognitive, aerobic, or resistance training alone, and preliminary evidence suggests that novel mind-motor interventions (i.e., Square Stepping Exercise; …

Sleep-Promoting Medications In Children: Physician Prescribing Habits In Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Dirk E. Bock, Elizabeth Roach-Fox, Jamie A. Seabrook, Michael J. Rieder, Doreen Matsui

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Research indicates that physicians may frequently use pharmacotherapy to treat pediatric insomnia despite minimal safety data and very limited indications. Canadian data on the subject are lacking. This study aimed to determine physicians' views on and prescribing habits for sleep-promoting over-the-counter medication (OTCM) and prescription (RXM) medications for children. Methods: A modified 26-item version of the 'Pediatric Sleep Medication Survey', originally developed by Judith Owens and colleagues, was sent to 100 pediatricians and a random sample of 421 family physicians in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Results: A total of 67 returned surveys were sufficiently complete for analysis. Sixty-one respondents indicated …

A Domain-Specific Approach For Assessing Physical Activity Efficacy In Adolescents: From Scale Conception To Predictive Validity, Nerissa Campbell, Casey Gray, Louise Foley, Ralph Maddison, Harry Prapavessis

Paediatrics Publications

Objective: To develop and test the utility of a domain-specific physical activity efficacy scale in adolescents for predicting physical activity behaviour. Design: Two independent studies were conducted. Study 1 examined the psychometric properties of a newly constructed Domain-Specific Physical Activity Efficacy Questionnaire (DSPAEQ) and study 2 tested the utility of the scale for predicting leisure- and school-time physical activity. Methods: In study 1, descriptive physical activity data were used to generate scale items. The scales factor structure and internal consistency were tested in a sample of 272 adolescents. A subsequent sample of Canadian (N = 104) and New Zealand (N …

Cystic Fibrosis Gene Modifier Slc26a9 Modulates Airway Response To Cftr-Directed Therapeutics, Lisa J. Strug, Tanja Gonska, Gengming He, Katherine Keenan, Wan Ip, Pierre Yves Böelle, Fan Lin, Naim Panjwani, Jiafen Gong, Weili Li, David Soave, Bowei Xiao, Elizabeth Tullis, Harvey Rabin, Michael D. Parkins, April Price, Peter C. Zuberbuhler, Harriet Corvol, Felix Ratjen, Lei Sun, Christine E. Bear, Johanna M. Rommens

Paediatrics Publications

Cystic fibrosis is realizing the promise of personalized medicine. Recent advances in drug development that target the causal CFTR directly result in lung function improvement, but variability in response is demanding better prediction of outcomes to improve management decisions. The genetic modifier SLC26A9 contributes to disease severity in the CF pancreas and intestine at birth and here we assess its relationship with disease severity and therapeutic response in the airways. SLC26A9 association with lung disease was assessed in individuals from the Canadian and French CF Gene Modifier consortia with CFTR-gating mutations and in those homozygous for the common Phe508del mutation. …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Time-Resolved Fnirs To Detect Brain Activity During Motor Imagery, Androu Abdalmalak, Daniel Milej, Mamadou Diop, Lorina Naci, Adrian M. Owen, Keith St Lawrence

BrainsCAN Publications

© 2016 SPIE. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive optical technique for detecting brain activity, which has been previously used during motor and motor executive tasks. There is an increasing interest in using fNIRS as a brain computer interface (BCI) for patients who lack the physical, but not the mental, ability to respond to commands. The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of time-resolved fNIRS to detect brain activity during motor imagery. Stability tests were conducted to ensure the temporal stability of the signal, and motor imagery data were acquired on healthy subjects. The NIRS probes …

Ethical Considerations In Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research In Acutely Comatose Patients, Charles Weijer, Tommaso Bruni, Teneille Gofton, G. Bryan Young, Loretta Norton, Andrew Peterson, Adrian M. Owen

BrainsCAN Publications

No abstract provided.