Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Chunking In Backward Recall Of Digits: An Fmri Study, Khashayar Khasheeipour

2022 Undergraduate Awards

Working memory is the mind’s sketchpad for mental storage and manipulation of information (Miller et al., 2018). It is crucial to everyday tasks such as recalling PINs and passwords, mental mathematical manipulations, and learning new sequences of action. Dysfunction of this executive function is detrimental to these everyday tasks and significantly lowers the quality of life, as seen in patients living with schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury (Forbes et al., 2008; Litvan et al, 1988; McDowell et al., 1997). Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying working memory is crucial to having a better understanding of these disorders. In most …

Usability And Feasibility Of A Spoken Language Outcome Monitoring Procedure In A Canadian Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program: Results Of A 1-Year Pilot, Olivia Daub University Of Western Ontario, Bj Cunningham, Marlene P. Bagatto, Janis Oram Cardy

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

Purpose: Best practice recommendations for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs include routine spoken language outcome monitoring. The present article reports on pilot data that evaluated the usability and feasibility of a spoken language outcome monitoring procedure developed for Ontario’s Infant Hearing Program (IHP). This procedure included both Program-level monitoring using omnibus language tests from birth to 6 years of age and individual vulnerability monitoring of key domains of spoken language known to be at risk in children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Methodology: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the IHP piloted the new procedures for one year …

The Quality Of Life In Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Therapy Of Esophageal Cancer Treatment Trial (Quintett): Randomized Parallel Clinical Superiority Trial, Richard Malthaner, Edward Yu, Michael Sanatani, Debra Lewis, Andrew Warner, A. Dar, Brian Yaremko, Joel Bierer, David Palma, Dalilah Fortin, Richard Inculet, Eric Frechette, Jacques Raphael, Steward Gaede, Sara Kuruvilla, Jawaid Younus, Mark Vincent, George Rodrigues

Data and Test Instruments

Background: We compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patientsundergoing trimodality therapy for resectable stage I-III esophageal cancer.Methods: A total of 96 patients were randomized to standard neoadjuvant cisplatinand 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (neoadjuvant) followed by surgicalresection or adjuvant cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and epirubicin chemotherapy with concurrentextended volume radiotherapy (adjuvant) following surgical resection.Results: There was no significant difference in the functional assessment of cancertherapy-esophageal (FACT-E) total scores between arms at 1 year (p = 0.759) with36% versus 41% (neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant), respectively, showing an increase of ≥15points compared to pre-treatment (p = 0.638). The HRQOL was significantly inferiorat 2 months …

Parental Perspectives On The Transfer Process For Critically Ill Children, Saoirse Cameron, Anna C. Gunz

Paediatrics Publications

Objective: To understand parental stressors and identify potential stress-mitigators during interfacility transfer of critically ill children. Methods: Descriptive qualitative multi-case study using semi-structured interviews. This study involved caregivers of patients admitted to the Paediatric Critical Care Unit at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre transported from outlying hospitals. Study participants were recruited through purposeful sampling. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and manually de-identified. Coding was performed by two independent coders using a standard method of content analysis to identify common themes. Results: Themes were identified and reached saturation after twelve interviews were completed. Children were admitted primarily from Northwestern and …

Sex-Specific Alterations In Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism In Low Birth Weight Adult Guinea Pigs., Ousseynou Sarr, Katherine E Mathers, Christina Vanderboor, Kristina Wiggers, Aditya Devgan, Daniel B Hardy, Lin Zhao, Timothy Regnault

Paediatrics Publications

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight (LBW) have been widely reported as an independent risk factor for adult hypercholesterolaemia and increased hepatic cholesterol in a sex-specific manner. However, the specific impact of uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI), a leading cause of LBW in developed world, on hepatic cholesterol metabolism in later life, is ill defined and is clinically relevant in understanding later life liver metabolic health trajectories.

METHODS: Hepatic cholesterol, transcriptome, cholesterol homoeostasis regulatory proteins, and antioxidant markers were studied in UPI-induced LBW and normal birth weight (NBW) male and female guinea pigs at 150 days.

RESULTS: Hepatic free and …

A Framework To Support The Progressive Implementation Of Integrated Team-Based Care For The Management Of Copd: A Collective Case Study., Shannon L. Sibbald, Vaidehi Misra, Madelyn Dasilva, Christopher Licskai

Health Studies Publications

BACKGROUND: In Canada, there is widespread agreement about the need for integrated models of team-based care. However, there is less agreement on how to support the scale-up and spread of successful models, and there is limited empirical evidence to support this process in chronic disease management. We studied the supporting and mitigating factors required to successfully implement and scale-up an integrated model of team-based care in primary care.

METHODS: We conducted a collective case study using multiple methods of data collection including interviews, document analysis, living documents, and a focus group. Our study explored a team-based model of care for …

A Framework To Support The Progressive Implementation Of Integrated Team-Based Care For The Management Of Copd: A Collective Case Study, Shannon L. Sibbald, Vaidehi Misra, Madelyn Dasilva, Christopher Licskai

Family Medicine Publications

Background In Canada, there is widespread agreement about the need for integrated models of team-based care. However, there is less agreement on how to support the scale-up and spread of successful models, and there is limited empirical evidence to support this process in chronic disease management. We studied the supporting and mitigating factors required to successfully implement and scale-up an integrated model of team-based care in primary care. Methods We conducted a collective case study using multiple methods of data collection including interviews, document analysis, living documents, and a focus group. Our study explored a team-based model of care for …

Moving Forward Together For Maximum Impact: Research In Sport And Exercise Medicine Demands A Team Effort!, Jane S. Thornton, Luc De Garie, Cathy Campbell

Family Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Neural Activity During Story Listening Is Synchronized Across Individuals Despite Acoustic Masking., Vanessa C Irsik, Ingrid Johnsrude, Björn Herrmann

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Older people with hearing problems often experience difficulties understanding speech in the presence of background sound. As a result, they may disengage in social situations, which has been associated with negative psychosocial health outcomes. Measuring listening (dis)engagement during challenging listening situations has received little attention thus far. We recruit young, normal-hearing human adults (both sexes) and investigate how speech intelligibility and engagement during naturalistic story listening is affected by the level of acoustic masking (12-talker babble) at different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). In Experiment 1, we observed that word-report scores were above 80% for all but the lowest SNR (-3 dB …

Factors Impacting Primary Care Engagement In A New Approach To Integrating Care In Ontario, Canada., Amanda C Everall, Kristina M Kokorelias, Shannon L Sibbald, Walter P Wodchis, Gayathri Embuldeniya

Health Studies Publications

INTRODUCTION: In 2019, Ontario's Ministry of Health (the Ministry) introduced Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) to provide population-based integrated healthcare. Primary care was foundational to this approach. We sought to identify factors that impacted primary care engagement during OHT formation from different perspectives.

METHODS: Interviews with 111 participants (administrators n = 80; primary care providers n = 17; patient family advisors = 14) from 11 OHTs were conducted following a semi-structured guide. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed.

RESULTS: Participants felt that primary care engagement was an ongoing, continuous cycle. Four themes were identified: 1) 'A low rules environment': limited …

The Origin And Contribution Of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts In Colorectal Carcinogenesis, Hiroki Kobayashi, Krystyna A. Gieniec, Tamsin R.M. Lannagan, Tongtong Wang, Naoya Asai, Yasuyuki Mizutani, Tadashi Iida, Ryota Ando, Elaine M. Thomas, Akihiro Sakai, Nobumi Suzuki, Mari Ichinose, Josephine A. Wright, Laura Vrbanac, Jia Q. Ng, Jarrad Goyne, Georgette Radford, Matthew J. Lawrence, Tarik Sammour, Yoku Hayakawa, Sonja Klebe, Alice E. Shin, Samuel Asfaha, Mark L. Bettington, Florian Rieder, Nicholas Arpaia, Tal Danino, Lisa M. Butler, Alastair D. Burt

Paediatrics Publications

Background & Aims: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and predict poor prognosis in CRC patients. However, the cellular origins of CAFs remain unknown, making it challenging to therapeutically target these cells. Here, we aimed to identify the origins and contribution of colorectal CAFs associated with poor prognosis. Methods: To elucidate CAF origins, we used a colitis-associated CRC mouse model in 5 different fate-mapping mouse lines with 5-bromodeoxyuridine dosing. RNA sequencing of fluorescence-activated cell sorting–purified CRC CAFs was performed to identify a potential therapeutic target in CAFs. To examine the prognostic significance of the …

Still Trouble With Serum Creatinine Measurements, Alexandra Kowalczyk, Maria Esther Diaz-Gonzalez De Ferris, Guido Filler

Paediatrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Cervicofacial Actinomycosis In The Pediatric Population: Presentation And Management, Karan Gandhi, Benjamin D. Van Der Woerd, M. Elise Graham, Michelle Barton, Julie E. Strychowsky

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Infection caused by Actinomyces species is a rare cause of head and neck infection in children. This chronic cervicofacial infection can present with localized swelling, abscess formation, sinus drainage and can be complicated by osteomyelitis. Methods: Presented are 2 pediatric cases of secondary actinomycosis in the context of congenital lesions: 1 patient with a previously excised preauricular sinus and another with a persistent sublingual mass. A comprehensive literature search was conducted for reported cases of pediatric actinomycosis in the cervicofacial region. Results: Both cases presented were successfully treated with a combination of complete surgical excision of the lesions and …

The Prevalence Of Physical Multimorbidity Among People With Non‐Affective Psychotic Disorders 10 Years After First Diagnosis: A Matched Retrospective Cohort Study, Kelly Anderson, Myanca Rodrigues, Saverio Stranges, Bridget Ryan

Data and Test Instruments

No abstract provided.

School-Level Perspectives Of The Ontario School Nutrition Program, Mariam R. Ismail, Jason A. Gilliland, June I. Matthews, Danielle S. Battram

Paediatrics Publications

The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of a school snack program for children in elementary schools. School-level program volunteers’ experiences were explored using semi-structured interviews. Fieldnotes were taken during on-site school visits. Quantitative data were collected through a General Information Form and Weekly Logbooks. Seven elementary schools in Southwestern Ontario were invited and agreed to participate. Interviews (n = 27) revealed that volunteers valued the program for its universality, the excitement it created, the opportunity for students to try new foods, and the social interactions that it generated. Challenges included the burden on snack volunteers to …

Sex And Gender Differences In Symptoms Of Early Psychosis: A Systematic Review And Meta‐Analysis, Kelly Anderson, Amanda Terry, Suzanne Archie, Jared Wootten, Brooke Carter

Data and Test Instruments

No abstract provided.

School-Level Perspectives Of The Ontario Student Nutrition Program, Mariam R. Ismail, Jason A. Gilliland, June I. Matthews, Danielle S. Battram

Geography & Environment Publications

The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of a school snack program for children in elementary schools. School-level program volunteers’ experiences were explored using semi-structured interviews. Fieldnotes were taken during on-site school visits. Quantitative data were collected through a General Information Form and Weekly Logbooks. Seven elementary schools in Southwestern Ontario were invited and agreed to participate. Interviews (n = 27) revealed that volunteers valued the program for its universality, the excitement it created, the opportunity for students to try new foods, and the social interactions that it generated. Challenges included the burden on snack volunteers to …

The Process Of Telepractice Implementation During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Inquiry Of Preschool Speech-Language Pathologists And Assistants From One Center In Canada, Elaine Yl Kwok, Jessica Chiu, Peter Rosenbaum, Barbara Jane Cunningham

PRECISe Preschool Speech and Language Publications

Background: Many professional services were pressed to adopt telepractice in response to the global coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. The need to adopt a new service delivery approach quickly created different implementation challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of frontline clinicians who successfully transitioned their in-person speech-language therapy services to telepractice through an implementation science lens.

Methods: The study was conducted in partnership with one publicly funded program in Ontario, Canada that offers services to preschoolers with speech, language and communication disorders. Sixteen frontline speech-language pathologists and assistants at this organization shared their lived experience transitioning to telepractice during the …

Exploring Practice-Based Clinical–Research Partnerships In Speech-Language Pathology: A Scoping Review, Lisa Archibald

Data and Test Instruments

No abstract provided.

Spectrograms For Seizure Detection In Critically Ill Children, Saptharishi Lalgudi Ganesan, Cecil Hahn

Data and Test Instruments

No abstract provided.

Heterogeneity Of Diabetes: B-Cells, Phenotypes, And Precision Medicine: Proceedings Of An International Symposium Of The Canadian Institutes Of Health Research’S Institute Of Nutrition, Metabolism And Diabetes And The U.S. National Institutes Of Health’S National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases, William T. Cefalu, Dana K. Andersen, Guillermo Arreaza-Rubín, Christopher L. Pin, Sheryl Sato, C. Bruce Verchere, Minna Woo, Norman D. Rosenblum

Paediatrics Publications

One hundred years have passed since the discovery of insulin—an achievement that transformed diabetes from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition. The decades since that momentous achievement have brought ever more rapid innovation and advancement in diabetes research and clinical care. To celebrate the important work of the past century and help to chart a course for its continuation into the next, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recently held a joint international symposium, bringing together …

A Million Is More Than A Thousand: Children's Acquisition Of Very Large Number Words, Pierina Cheung, Daniel Ansari

Paediatrics Publications

Very large numbers words such as “hundred,” “thousand,” “million,” “billion,” and “trillion” pose a learning problem for children because they are sparse in everyday speech and children's experience with extremely large quantities is scarce. In this study, we examine when children acquire the relative ordering of very large number words as a first step toward understanding their acquisition. In Study 1, a hundred and twenty-five 5–8-year-olds participated in a verbal number comparison task involving very large number words. We found that children can judge which of two very large numbers is more as early as age 6, prior to entering …

Frequency Of Diabetes Team Contacts In Children And Adolescents Using Insulin Pumps, Funmbi T. Babalola, Michael R. Miller, Andrea R. Ens, Robert I. Stein, Patricia H. Gallego, Cheril L. Clarson

Paediatrics Publications

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess if a relationship exists between A1c within target (≤ 7.5%) and frequency of patient-initiated contact with diabetes team, in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) on an insulin pump. Additionally, to determine factors impacting frequency of contact. Methods: This was a retrospective study of children with T1DM on an insulin pump. Frequency of contact, type of contact, and A1c were collected. Study participants filled out a questionnaire at study entry. Results: One hundred and seventy-six participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 13 years. The median duration of T1DM was …

Through An Equity Lens: Illuminating The Relationships Among Social Inequities, Stigma And Discrimination, And Patient Experiences Of Emergency Health Care, Colleen Varcoe, Annette J. Browne, Vicky Bungay, Nancy Perrin, Erin Wilson, C.Nadine Wathen, David Byres, Elder Roberta Price

Nursing Publications

People who experience the greatest social inequities often have poor experiences in emergency departments (EDs) so that they are deterred from seeking care, leave without care complete, receive inadequate care, and/or return repeatedly for unre- solved problems. However, efforts to measure and monitor experiences of care rarely capture the experiences of people facing the greatest inequities, experiences of discrimination, or relationships among these variables. This analysis examined how patients’ experiences, including self-reported ratings of care, experiences of discrimination, and repeat visits vary with social and economic circumstances. Every consecutive person presenting to three diverse EDs was invited if/when they were …

"Maybe I'M Not That Approachable": Using Simulation To Elicit Team Leaders' Perceptions Of Their Role In Facilitating Speaking Up Behaviors, Rachael Pack, Lauren Columbus, Trevor Hines Duncliffe, Harrison Banner, Priyanka Singh, Natashia Seemann, Taryn Taylor

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

BACKGROUND: Simulation research that seeks to solve the problem of silence among interprofessional teams has focused almost exclusively on training subordinate team members to be more courageous and to speak up to team leaders using direct challenge scripts despite the great interpersonal cost. Consequently, the existing literature overemphasizes the responsibility of subordinate team members for speaking up and fails to consider the role and responsibilities of team leaders in sustaining silence. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the subtle behaviors and actions of team leaders that both promote and discourage speaking up.

METHODS: This study used …

Gestational Age Impacts Birth To Placental Weight Ratio And Umbilical Cord Oxygen Values With Implications For The Fetal Oxygen Margin Of Safety, Bryan S Richardson, Barbra De Vrijer, Hilary K Brown, Larry Stitt, Sheryl Choo, Timothy R H Regnault

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

Background: We determined the impact of gestational age (GA) from near term to term to post-term on birth/placental weight ratio and cord oxygen values with implications for placental transport efficiency for oxygen, fetal O2 consumption relative to delivery or fractional O2 extraction, and oxygen margin of safety.

Materials and methods: A hospital database was used to obtain birth/placental weight ratios, cord PO2 and other information on patients delivering between Jan 1, 1990 and Jun 15, 2011 with GA > 34 completed weeks (N=69,852). Oxygen saturation was calculated from the cord PO2 and pH data, while fractional O2 extraction was calculated from …

Impostorism And Anxiety Contribute To Burnout Among Resident Physicians, Rachel Q. Liu, Jacob Davidson, Tamara A. Van Hooren, Julie Ann M. Van Koughnett, Sarah Jones, Michael C. Ott

Paediatrics Publications

Purpose: Physician burnout is an issue that has come to the forefront in the past decade. While many factors contribute to burnout the impact of impostorism and self-doubt has largely been ignored. We investigated the relationship of anxiety and impostorism to burnout in postgraduate medical learners. Materials and methods: Postgraduate learners in four diverse training programs: Family Medicine (FM), Paediatric Medicine (PM), Anesthesiology (AN), and General Surgery (GS) were surveyed to identify the incidence of impostorism (IP), anxiety, and burnout. IP, anxiety, and burnout were evaluated using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and …

The 2021 Eurpean Alliance Of Associations For Rheumatology/American College Of Rheumatology Points To Consider For Diagnosis And Management Of Autoinflammatory Type I Interferonopathies: Candle/Praas, Savi And Ags, Kader Cetin Gedik, Lovro Lamot, Micol Romano, Erkan Demirkaya, David Piskin, Sofia Torreggiani, Laura A. Adang, Thais Armangue, Kathe Barchus, Devon R. Cordova, Yanick J. Crow, Russell C. Dale, Karen L. Durrant, Despina Eleftheriou, Elisa M. Fazzi, Marco Gattorno, Francesco Gavazzi, Eric P. Hanson, Min Ae Lee-Kirsch, Gina A. Montealegre Sanchez, Bénédicte Neven, Simona Orcesi, Seza Ozen, M. Cecilia Poli, Elliot Schumacher, Davide Tonduti, Katsiaryna Uss, Daniel Aletaha, Brian M. Feldman

Paediatrics Publications

Objective: Autoinflammatory type I interferonopathies, chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperature/proteasome-associated autoinflammatory syndrome (CANDLE/PRAAS), stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) are rare and clinically complex immunodysregulatory diseases. With emerging knowledge of genetic causes and targeted treatments, a Task Force was charged with the development of 'points to consider' to improve diagnosis, treatment and long-term monitoring of patients with these rare diseases. Methods: Members of a Task Force consisting of rheumatologists, neurologists, an immunologist, geneticists, patient advocates and an allied healthcare professional formulated research questions for a systematic literature …

Concordance Of Regional Hypoperfusion By Pcasl Mri And 15O-Water Pet In Frontotemporal Dementia: Is Pcasl An Efficacious Alternative?, Tracy Ssali, Lucas Narciso, Justin Hicks, Linshan Liu, Sarah Jesso, Lauryn Richardson, Matthias Günther, Simon Konstandin, Klaus Eickel, Frank Prato, Udunna C. Anazodo, Elizabeth Finger, Keith St Lawrence

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Clinical diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) remains a challenge due to the overlap of symptoms among FTD subtypes and with other psychiatric disorders. Perfusion imaging by arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a promising non-invasive alternative to established PET techniques; however, its sensitivity to imaging parameters can hinder its ability to detect perfusion abnormalities. Purpose: This study evaluated the similarity of regional hypoperfusion patterns detected by ASL relative to the gold standard for imaging perfusion, PET with radiolabeled water (15O-water). Methods and materials: Perfusion by single-delay pseudo continuous ASL (SD-pCASL), free-lunch Hadamard encoded pCASL (FL_TE-pCASL), and 15O-water data were acquired …

"Making Change By Shared Doing": An Examination Of Occupation In Processes Of Social Transformation In Five Case Studies., Sandra Schiller, Hanneke Van Bruggen, Sarah Kantartzis, Debbie Rudman, Ryan Lavalley, Nick Pollard

Occupational Therapy Publications

BACKGROUND: As social and health inequalities deepen around the world, scholarship in occupational therapy and occupational science has increasingly emphasised the role of occupation as a powerful tool in transformative processes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how opportunities for everyday doing together may contribute to processes of social transformation by identifying ways occupation is being taken up in socially-transformative practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A generic descriptive qualitative case study design was utilised in order to describe current practice examples and identify ways occupation was being taken up in five initiatives working towards social transformation located in Canada, Germany, South Africa and the …