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Background Multiple survey reports suggest that alcohol use has increased in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less is known about how per capita alcohol sales, which predict population-level alcohol use, have changed and whether changes in alcohol sales differ from changes in sales of other products due to pandemic factors. Methods We obtained monthly retail sales data by industry from Statistics Canada, for the six largest provinces in Canada (containing 93% of the national population), between January 2010 and November 2020, representing time before and 9 months after the start of the pandemic in Canada. We used an interrupted time series analysis to estimate pandemic impacts on the dollar value of monthly per capita (per individuals 15+ years) alcohol, essential and non-essential retail sales. We adjusted our analyses for pre-pandemic sales trends, inflation, seasonality and changing population demographics over time. Results During the first 9 months of the pandemic, the values of per capita alcohol, essential and non-essential sales were, respectively, 13.2% higher, 3.6% higher and 13.1% lower than the average values during the same period in the prior 3 years. Interrupted time series models showed significant level change for the value of monthly per capita alcohol sales (+$4.86, 95% CIs: 2.88, 6.83), essential sales (−$59.80, 95% CIs: − 78.47, − 41.03) and non-essential sales (−$308.70, 95% CIs: − $326.60, − 290.79) during the pandemic. Alcohol sales were consistently elevated during the pandemic, and the pre- and post-pandemic slopes were comparable. In contrast, essential and non-essential retail sales declined in the early months of the pandemic before returning to regular spending levels. Conclusion During the first 9 months of the pandemic, per capita alcohol sales were moderately elevated in Canada. In contrast, non-essential sales were lower than prior years, driven by large decreases during the initial months of the pandemic. These findings suggest that the pandemic was associated with increased population-level alcohol consumption, which may lead to increased alcohol-related harms. Ongoing research is needed to examine how factors, including pandemic-related stressors and specific alcohol sales-related policies, may have influenced changes in alcohol use and harms.

Introduction Cette étude a pour but de documenter la portée des infractions au Code de la publicité radio diffusée en faveur de boissons alcoolisées du Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC) (Code du CRTC) commises par certains établissements servant de l’alcool qui publient du contenu lié à l’alcool sur des plateformes de médias sociaux et d’évaluer si ces infractions au Code du CRTC sont en lien avec la popularité de ces établissements auprès des étudiants universitaires et avec les comportements de ces derniers en matière de consommation d’alcool. Méthodologie Au cours de la phase 1 de l’étude, un échantillon aléatoire de 477 étudiants provenant de quatre universités canadiennes ont répondu à un questionnaire portant sur leurs habitudes de consommation d’alcool et sur les établissements servant de l’alcool qu’ils préféraient. Au cours de la phase 2, nous avons évalué, auprès d’un échantillon aléatoire de 78 étudiants, si les publications de ces établissements dans les médias sociaux étaient conformes aux 17 lignes directrices du Code du CRTC. Nous avons regroupé les deux ensembles de données et nous les avons jumelés au moyen de la liste des établissements servant de l’alcool. Résultats Les établissements populaires servant de l’alcool ont publié massivement des contenus liés à l’alcool contrevenant au Code du CRTC. Les estimations d’effet ajusté indiquent qu’une réduction du niveau moyen de conformité au Code du CRTC est associée de manière significative à une augmentation de 1 % du taux de popularité des établissements servant de l’alcool (test t, p < 0,001). En ce qui a trait aux comportements de consommation d’alcool, une augmentation de 1 % du niveau moyen global de conformité au Code du CRTC est significativement associée à une diminution de 0,458 jour de consommation par semaine pendant un semestre (test t, p = 0,01), une diminution de 0,294 consommation par occasion (test t, p = 0,048) et une probabilité plus faible que les étudiants consomment de l’alcool lorsqu’ils se trouvent dans un établissement servant de l’alcool (test t, p = 0,001). Conclusion Les résultats de notre étude sont une invitation à ce que les agences de réglementation territoriales et provinciales réévaluent leurs pratiques, afin que les lignes directrices en matière de publicité sur l’alcool soient appliquées et respectées de manière uniforme. Au­delà, ces résultats justifient l’adoption d’une loi fédérale avec un mandat en santé publique applicable à tous les médias : médias imprimés, numériques et sociaux, télévision et radio.

Objective: Alcohol labels are one strategy for communicating health information to consumers. This study tested the extent to which consumers recalled alcohol labels with national drinking guidelines and examined the impact of labels on awareness and knowledge of the guidelines. Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two jurisdictions in northern Canada examining the impact of labels on the following outcomes: unprompted and prompted recall of the drinking guideline label message, awareness of the drinking guidelines, and knowledge of the daily and weekly recommended drink limits. The intervention site applied labels with national drinking guidelines, a cancer warning, and standard drink information to alcohol containers in its liquor store, whereas the comparison site did not apply these labels. In total, 2,049 cohort participants in both sites were recruited to complete surveys before and at two time points after the intervention. Changes in outcomes were examined using generalized estimating equations. Results: After the intervention, unprompted and prompted recall of the drinking guideline label message increased more in the intervention versus comparison site (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.8, 95% CI [0.9, 127.6]; AOR = 7.0, 95% CI [3.3, 14.9], respectively). Awareness of the drinking guidelines increased 2.9 times more in the intervention versus comparison site (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI [2.0, 4.3]). In addition, knowledge of the daily and weekly drink limits increased 1.5 and 1.4 times more in the intervention versus comparison site, respectively (daily: AOR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.0, 2.1]; weekly: AOR = 1.4, 95% CI [1.0, 2.0]). Conclusions: Enhanced alcohol labels get noticed and may be an effective population-level strategy for increasing awareness and knowledge of national drinking guidelines.

Objective: This study tested the initial and continued effects of cancer warning labels on drinkers’ recall and knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. Method: A quasi-experiment was conducted to examine changes in the intervention versus comparison site for three outcomes: unprompted and prompted recall of the cancer warning, and knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. The intervention site applied cancer warning labels to alcohol containers in its liquor store for 1 month, and the two liquor stores in the comparison site did not apply cancer labels. In total, 2,049 unique cohort participants (1,056 male) were recruited at liquor stores in the intervention and comparison sites to participate in surveys 4 months before labels were applied and 2 and 6 months after the cancer label was halted because of alcohol industry interference. Generalized estimating equations tested differences in outcomes between sites over time adjusting for socio-demographics and other covariates. Results: Two months after the cancer label, unprompted (+24.2% vs. +0.6%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 32.7, 95% CI [5.4, 197.7]) and prompted (+35.7% vs. +4.1%; AOR = 6.2, 95% CI [3.6, 10.9]) recall increased to a greater extent in the intervention versus comparison site. There was a 10% greater increase in knowledge (+12.1% vs. +11.6%; AOR = 1.1, 95% CI [0.7, 1.5]) 2 months after the cancer label in the intervention versus comparison site. Similar results were found 6 months after the cancer label for all three outcomes. Conclusions: In a real-world setting, cancer warning labels get noticed and increase knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. Additional cancer label intervention studies are required that are not compromised by industry interference.

The aim of this study was to document the scope of violations of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) "Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages" (CRTC Code) by drinking venues posting alcohol-related content on social media platforms, and to assess whether CRTC Code violations by drinking venues relate to their popularity among university students and to students' drinking behaviours.In phase 1 of the study, a probability sample of 477 students from four Canadian university responded to a questionnaire about their drinking and preferred drinking venues. In phase 2, a probability sample of 78 students assessed the compliance of drinking venues' social media posts with the 17 CRTC Code guidelines. We pooled both datasets and linked them by drinking venues.Popular drinking venues were overwhelming posting alcohol-related content that contravenes the CRTC Code. Adjusted effect estimates show that a decrease in the mean level of compliance with the CRTC Code was significantly associated with a 1% increase in popularity score of drinking venues (t-test, p.001). With regard to drinking behaviours, a 1% increase in the overall mean level of compliance with the CRTC Code was associated with 0.458 fewer drinking days per week during a semester (t-test, p = .01), 0.294 fewer drinks per occasion (t-test, p = .048) and a lesser likelihood of consuming alcohol when attending a drinking venue (t-test, p = .001).The results of this study serve as a reminder to territorial and provincial regulatory agencies to review their practices to ensure that alcohol advertising guidelines are applied and enforced consistently. More importantly, these results call for the adoption of federal legislation with a public health mandate that would apply to all media, including print, television and radio, digital and social.Cette étude a pour but de documenter la portée des infractions au Code de la publicité radiodiffusée en faveur de boissons alcoolisées du Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC) (Code du CRTC) commises par certains établissements servant de l’alcool qui publient du contenu lié à l’alcool sur des plateformes de médias sociaux et d’évaluer si ces infractions au Code du CRTC sont en lien avec la popularité de ces établissements auprès des étudiants universitaires et avec les comportements de ces derniers en matière de consommation d’alcool.Au cours de la phase 1 de l’étude, un échantillon aléatoire de 477 étudiants provenant de quatre universités canadiennes ont répondu à un questionnaire portant sur leurs habitudes de consommation d’alcool et sur les établissements servant de l’alcool qu’ils préféraient. Au cours de la phase 2, nous avons évalué, auprès d’un échantillon aléatoire de 78 étudiants, si les publications de ces établissements dans les médias sociaux étaient conformes aux 17 lignes directrices du Code du CRTC. Nous avons regroupé les deux ensembles de données et nous les avons jumelés au moyen de la liste des établissements servant de l’alcool.Les établissements populaires servant de l’alcool ont publié massivement des contenus liés à l’alcool contrevenant au Code du CRTC. Les estimations d’effet ajusté indiquent qu’une réduction du niveau moyen de conformité au Code du CRTC est associée de manière significative à une augmentation de 1 % du taux de popularité des établissements servant de l’alcool (test t, p0,001). En ce qui a trait aux comportements de consommation d’alcool, une augmentation de 1 % du niveau moyen global de conformité au Code du CRTC est significativement associée à une diminution de 0,458 jour de consommation par semaine pendant un semestre (test t, p = 0,01), une diminution de 0,294 consommation par occasion (test t, p = 0,048) et une probabilité plus faible que les étudiants consomment de l’alcool lorsqu’ils se trouvent dans un établissement servant de l’alcool (test t, p = 0,001).Les résultats de notre étude sont une invitation à ce que les agences de réglementation territoriales et provinciales réévaluent leurs pratiques, afin que les lignes directrices en matière de publicité sur l’alcool soient appliquées et respectées de manière uniforme. Au­delà, ces résultats justifient l’adoption d’une loi fédérale avec un mandat en santé publique applicable à tous les médias : médias imprimés, numériques et sociaux, télévision et radio.According to Canadian university students surveyed, popular drinking venues are overwhelmingly posting alcohol-related content on Facebook and Instagram that contravenes the CRTC "Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages" (CRTC Code). The heaviest drinkers tend to prefer drinking venues that post images that violate several CRTC Code guidelines. The current self-regulatory system fails Canadian youth by not taking action when a great number of alcohol portrayals and promotions support a culture of excessive drinking. The federal government should adopt new legislation that would apply to all media, include mandatory preclearance of alcohol advertisements and administrative and deterrence systems for infringements on marketing restrictions.Selon les étudiants universitaires canadiens sondés, les établissements populaires servant de l’alcool publient massivement du contenu lié à l’alcool sur Facebook et Instagram qui enfreint le Code de la publicité radiodiffusée en faveur de boissons alcoolisées du CRTC (Code du CRTC). Les grands consommateurs ont tendance à préférer les établissements qui publient des images enfreignant plusieurs lignes directrices du Code du CRTC. L’actuel système d’autoréglementation faillit à soutenir les jeunes Canadiens en n’agissant pas alors que de nombreuses images et promotions de l’alcool favorisent une culture de consommation excessive. Le gouvernement fédéral devrait adopter de nouvelles lois applicables à tous les médias, en particulier une approbation préalable obligatoire des publicités sur l’alcool, ainsi que des systèmes administratifs de dissuasion pour les infractions aux restrictions sur le marketing.

Background: A public health initiative that is common across jurisdictions is provision of advice to people to limit the frequency, amount of time and amount of money spent gambling in order to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm. The purpose of this study is to use consistent methodology with existing population-based prevalence surveys of gambling and related harms from different countries to identify quantitative limits for lower and higher risk gambling. Risk limits from different countries and for men and women are compared. Methods: Risk curve analyses were conducted with eleven high quality data sets from eight Western countries to identify optimal limits for predicting increased risk of gambling-related harms. Gambling indicators were monthly expenditure, percentage of income spent on gambling, monthly frequency, duration of gambling sessions, and number of different types of gambling. Harm indicators included financial, emotional, health, and relationship impacts. Findings: The limit ranges were remarkably consistent across harm indicators, cross nationally and between men and women. Reliable results were obtained for all gambling indicators except gambling session duration. Risk of gambling-related harm is likely to increase if an individual gambles at these levels of greater: $60 to $120 CAD per month, five to eight times per month, spends more than 1 to 3% of gross monthly income or plays three to four different gambling types. Interpretation: This study provides evidence that lower-risk gambling guidelines can be based upon empirically derived lower-risk limits, which are relatively consistent across Western countries. Funding Statement: La Fondation Mise sur Toi Declaration of Interests: DH, MA, RB, NB, JMC, MD, SK, DOUR, AS, RV, LN, and SC report receiving personal fees from the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction during this project. MY, CP, and MCFP have no conflicts to report.

Knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer is low in Canada. Alcohol labels are one strategy for communicating alcohol-related harms, including cancer. Extending existing research observing an association between knowledge of the alcohol&ndash, cancer link and support for alcohol policies, this study examined whether increases in individual-level knowledge that alcohol is a carcinogen following an alcohol labelling intervention are associated with support for alcohol polices. Cancer warning labels were applied to alcohol containers at the intervention site, and the comparison site did not apply cancer labels. Pre-post surveys were conducted among liquor store patrons at both sites before and two-and six-months after the intervention was stopped due to alcohol industry interference. Limiting the data to participants that completed surveys both before and two-months after the cancer label stopped, logistic regression was used to examine the association between increases in knowledge and support for policies. Support for pricing and availability policies was low overall, however, increases in individual-level knowledge of the alcohol-cancer link was associated with higher levels of support for pricing policies, specifically, setting a minimum unit price per standard drink of alcohol (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.11&ndash, 3.12). Improving knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer using labels may increase support for alcohol policies. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/16320

Background: Changes in the use of alcohol and other substances during COVID-19 is of considerable public health interest. This study examined changes in per capita alcohol, cannabis and other essential retail sales across Canada during the early phase of COVID-19, and associations between these changes and different jurisdictional approaches to drug control. Methods: A time series analysis was used to examine trends in monthly per capita alcohol, cannabis, and essential and non-essential retail sales before and during the first three months of COVID-19 for 12 jurisdictions across Canada. We compared observed sales during the first three months of COVID-19 to predicted sales based on model outputs using pre-COVID-19 trends. Next, we used difference in difference models to estimate the associations between different models of alcohol and cannabis retail systems and changes in retail sales during COVID-19. Findings: In Canada, observed per capita sales were significantly greater than predicted for alcohol (+9.6%) and cannabis (+14.1%) during March 2020, and consistent with predicted sales in April and May 2020. Essential retail sales were significantly less than predicted during March to May 2020 (average of -7.4%). During COVID-19, per capita alcohol sales in jurisdictions with a private retail system increased significantly (+$8.5 on average, 95%CIs; 2.1,15.6) after accounting for changes over time. In contrast, the relative change in per capita alcohol sales in jurisdictions with a public retail model prior to and during COVID-19 was, on average, $13.3 lower (95% CIs; -22.6,-4.0) compared to the changes in jurisdictions with a private retail model. Similar trends were observed for cannabis sales with respect to retail model. Interpretation: There was a modest increase in alcohol and cannabis purchasing during the first three months of COVID-19. Changes in sales were influenced by pre-existing policies, and jurisdictions with a private retail model had greater than expected alcohol and cannabis sales compared to jurisdictions with a public model. This study adds to the body of research showing that government-run retail models for alcohol and cannabis provide protection for public health. Funding Statement: There is no funding to disclose for this project. Declaration of Interests: The authors have all completed ICMJE conflict of interest forms. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: This project was approved by the Public Health Ontario Ethics Review Board file number 2020-038.01.

On 1 March 2018, a 14-year-old girl was found lifeless in a stream behind her high school after having consumed FCKDUP-a beverage containing 11.9% alcohol and sold in 568 mL cans-during her lunch hour. Following her death, the Canadian government took actions at ministerial and parliamentary levels by seeking experts' advice to better regulate highly sweetened alcoholic beverages, otherwise referred to as 'alcopops'. We suggest that the Canadian government uses the work surrounding the alcopop tragedy as an opportunity to make significant amendments and revisions of federal alcohol regulations.

Few empirical studies have examined the relationships between differing regulatory approaches and patterns of gambling behaviors. This article reports on a correlational cross-cultural comparison of differences in the regulatory approaches and gambling behavior among general adult populations in France and Québec, Canada. We drew data from two large population surveys conducted in France and Québec (N=27 653 and N=11 888, respectively). We found diverging and converging aspects of government regulatory policies. Statistical analyses demonstrated significantly higher participation rates and prevalence of 'assiduous gamblers' in Québec. In France, among assiduous gamblers, the proportion of moderate-risk and probable pathological gamblers is significantly higher. Future research should examine environmental conditions and varying gambling offerings, as well as gambling regulation, to determine their potential influence on gambling behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether alcohol labels with a cancer warning and national drinking guidelines are an effective tool for supporting more informed and safer alcohol consumption among drinkers. METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design, pre-post surveys were conducted with 1647 cohort participants systematically selected in liquor stores in two matched sites in Canada in 2017–2018. Enhanced labels designed according to best practices for effective product labels were applied to alcohol containers in the liquor store in the intervention site for one month, and usual practice continued in the comparison site. Generalized estimating equations tested the differences between sites over time in label salience and processing, and self-reported impact of the labels on drinking behaviours. RESULTS: After the intervention, recall of the cancer warning label increased to a greater extent in the intervention versus comparison site (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 32.2, 95% CI = 5.4, 191.1), but not the national drinking guideline label (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 0.2, 31.8). There were significant label effects in the intervention versus comparison site for reading (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.3, 2.5), thinking about (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.4, 2.9), and talking with others about (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3, 3.6) the labels, as well as self-reported impact to cut down on drinking (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3, 4.7) and to drink less (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.3, 4.3). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol labels with a cancer warning and national drinking guidelines do a better job conveying risk information and promoting safer consumption than existing practices. Industry has a legal duty to adequately inform consumers about their products and should be mandated to include key information on alcohol containers. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.17269/s41997-020-00320-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract: This evaluation practice note describes the current state of a monitoring framework developed to help evaluate the implementation of Canada’s National Alcohol Strategy (NAS). The note presents the method chosen to assess whether the NAS is effective in promoting moderation and reducing the overall harm from alcohol. The discussion focuses on current challenges associated with this monitoring framework, as well as the project’s achievements so far. The evaluation system based on the monitoring framework should lead to more informed discussions among alcohol stakeholders about developing a culture of moderation in Canada.

A gender divide in gambling is commonly observed among college populations. This study examines whether settings where students gamble on poker mediate the relationship between gender and poker gambling behaviours. Undergraduate poker players, 126 females and 242 males, were randomly sampled from three universities in Montreal, Canada. Three outcomes measuring risky behaviours were considered: severity of gambling problems as measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), past-year poker spending and past-year poker debt. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted. The effect of gender on outcomes was analysed through three putative mediators: gambling on poker in private residences, in public locations or on the Internet. Male gender positively relates to risky gambling behaviours and occurrence of gambling in various settings. Risky gambling behaviours are positively related to gambling in various settings. Overall, the occurrence of playing poker in public locations and on the Internet...

Alcohol labels are one strategy for raising consumer awareness about the negative consequences of alcohol, but evidence to inform labels is limited. This quasi-experimental study sought to test the real-world impact of strengthening health messages on alcohol container labels on consumer attention, message processing (reading, thinking, and talking with others about labels), and self-reported drinking. Alcohol labels with a cancer warning, national drinking guidelines, and standard drink information were implemented in the intervention site, and usual labelling practices continued in the comparison site. Changes in key indicators of label effectiveness were assessed among a cohort of adult drinkers in both the intervention and comparison sites using three waves of surveys conducted before and at two time-points after the alcohol label intervention. Generalized Estimating Equations with difference-in-difference terms were used to examine the impact of the label intervention on changes in outcomes. Strengthening health messages on alcohol container labels significantly increased consumer attention to [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=17.2, 95%CI:8.2,36.2] and processing of labels (e.g., reading labels: AOR=2.6, 95%CI:1.8,3.7), and consumer reports of drinking less due to the labels (AOR=3.7, 95%CI: 2.0,7.0). Strengthening health messages on alcohol containers can achieve their goal of attracting attention, deepening engagement, and enhancing motivation to reduce alcohol use. Strengthening alcohol labelling policies should be a priority for alcohol control globally.

On 1 March 2018, a 14‐year‐old girl was found lifeless in a stream behind her high school after having consumed FCKDUP—a beverage containing 11.9% alcohol and sold in 568 mL cans—during her lunch hour. Following her death, the Canadian government took actions at ministerial and parliamentary levels by seeking experts’ advice to better regulate highly sweetened alcoholic beverages, otherwise referred to as ‘alcopops’. We suggest that the Canadian government uses the work surrounding the alcopop tragedy as an opportunity to make significant amendments and revisions of federal alcohol regulations.

Peptidoglycan (PG) is the main structural component of bacterial envelopes. It protects bacterial cells against variations in osmotic pressure and cell lysis. The newly discovered Escherichia coli factor ElyC has been shown to be important for peptidoglycan biosynthesis at low temperatures. PG production in ΔelyC mutant cells is totally blocked after a few hours of growth at 21°C, triggering cell lysis. In this study, we took a candidate approach to identify genetic suppressors of the ΔelyC mutant cell lysis phenotype. We identified the periplasmic proteins DsbG and Spy as multicopy suppressors and showed that their overproduction restores PG biosynthesis in the ΔelyC mutant. Interestingly, we found that DsbG acts by a novel mechanism, which is independent of its known reductase activity and substrates. DsbG, like Spy, acts as a chaperone to reduce the amounts of protein aggregates in the envelopes of ΔelyC cells. In fact, we found that the amount of protein aggregates was greater in the ΔelyC mutant than in the wild type. Taken together, our results show a protein-folding defect in the envelope compartments of ΔelyC cells that blocks PG production, and they reveal a new physiological activity of DsbG. IMPORTANCE Peptidoglycan biosynthesis is a dynamic and well-controlled pathway. The molecular assembly of PG and the regulatory pathways ensuring its maintenance are still not well understood. Here we studied the newly discovered Escherichia coli factor ElyC, which is important for PG biosynthesis at low temperatures. We revealed an important protein-folding defect in the ΔelyC mutant and showed that overproduction of the periplasmic chaperone DsbG or Spy was sufficient to correct the protein-folding defect and restore PG biosynthesis. These results show that the PG defect in the absence of ElyC is caused, at least in part, by a protein-folding problem in the cell envelope. Furthermore, we showed, for the first time, that the periplasmic protein DsbG has chaperone activity in vivo.

Peptidoglycan (PG) is the main structural component of bacterial envelopes. It protects bacterial cells against variations in osmotic pressure and cell lysis. The newly discovered Escherichia coli factor ElyC has been shown to be important for peptidoglycan biosynthesis at low temperatures. PG production in ΔelyC mutant cells is totally blocked after a few hours of growth at 21°C, triggering cell lysis. In this study, we took a candidate approach to identify genetic suppressors of the ΔelyC mutant cell lysis phenotype. We identified the periplasmic proteins DsbG and Spy as multicopy suppressors and showed that their overproduction restores PG biosynthesis in the ΔelyC mutant. Interestingly, we found that DsbG acts by a novel mechanism, which is independent of its known reductase activity and substrates. DsbG, like Spy, acts as a chaperone to reduce the amounts of protein aggregates in the envelopes of ΔelyC cells. In fact, we found that the amount of protein aggregates was greater in the ΔelyC mutant than in the wild type. Taken together, our results show a protein-folding defect in the envelope compartments of ΔelyC cells that blocks PG production, and they reveal a new physiological activity of DsbG.IMPORTANCE Peptidoglycan biosynthesis is a dynamic and well-controlled pathway. The molecular assembly of PG and the regulatory pathways ensuring its maintenance are still not well understood. Here we studied the newly discovered Escherichia coli factor ElyC, which is important for PG biosynthesis at low temperatures. We revealed an important protein-folding defect in the ΔelyC mutant and showed that overproduction of the periplasmic chaperone DsbG or Spy was sufficient to correct the protein-folding defect and restore PG biosynthesis. These results show that the PG defect in the absence of ElyC is caused, at least in part, by a protein-folding problem in the cell envelope. Furthermore, we showed, for the first time, that the periplasmic protein DsbG has chaperone activity in vivo.

Background: Research has yet to disentangle and estimate the relative contributions of both contextual and individual characteristics to explain time and money expenditures on gambling. Methods: Data are drawn from the University Student Gambling Habit Survey (ENHJEU), a campus-stratified survey targeting full-time undergraduates enrolled at three universities in Montreal, Canada (N = 2139). Up to three gambling occasions were investigated per respondent, resulting in 1757 gambling occasions distributed among 916 students. Multilevel analyses were performed to estimate the variances in time and money expenditures that are derived at the individual level (level 2) and at the contextual level (level 1). Results: Regarding time expenditures, the intraclass correlation revealed that 58% of the estimated variance is between students, whereas 42% is between occasions. All contextual variables including alcohol use, days of the week, social context, group size and experience of play were significantly re...

We describe the use of the ortho-nitrophenyl-β-galactoside (ONPG) assay developed by Lehrer et al. to which a new mathematical data treatment was applied. In this simplified assay, only one enzymatic assay is needed to provide direct evidence of the kinetics of Escherichia coli membrane permeabilization induced by different concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Analysis of the data obtained from the revised ONPG assay with our adapted mathematical formula indicates that BAC induces permeabilization of the bacterial outer and inner membranes in a two-step process. The two effective concentration (EC50) values obtained in this study, combined with the results from an outer membrane permeabilization assay, suggest that the two steps observed in the permeabilization process are related to the two different bacterial membranes. We show that membrane permeabilization occurs very fast upon the addition of bacterial cells to the BAC solutions and demonstrate that sub-lethal concentrations of BAC disturb the integrity of the Gram-negative bacterial membranes. Overall, our work broadens our knowledge on the mode of action of BAC on bacterial cells and emphasizes that BAC, and quaternary ammonium compounds in general, should not be used at sub-lethal concentrations in order to lower the risk of bacterial tolerance and resistance to antibiotics.

All free-living bacterial cells are delimited and protected by an envelope of high complexity. This physiological barrier is essential for bacterial survival and assures multiple functions. The molecular assembly of the different envelope components into a functional structure represents a tremendous biological challenge and is of high interest for fundamental sciences. The study of bacterial envelope assembly has also been fostered by the need for novel classes of antibacterial agents to fight the problematic of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. This chapter focuses on the two most intensively studied classes of bacterial envelopes that belong to the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The envelope of Firmicutes typically has one membrane and is defined as being monoderm whereas the envelope of Proteobacteria contains two distinct membranes and is referred to as being diderm. In this chapter, we will first discuss the multiple roles of the bacterial envelope and clarify the nomenclature used to describe the different types of envelopes. We will then define the architecture and composition of the envelopes of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria while outlining their similarities and differences. We will further cover the extensive progress made in the field of bacterial envelope assembly over the last decades, using Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli as model systems for the study of the monoderm and diderm bacterial envelopes, respectively. We will detail our current understanding of how molecular machines assure the secretion, insertion and folding of the envelope proteins as well as the assembly of the glycosidic components of the envelope. Finally, we will highlight the topics that are still under investigation, and that will surely lead to important discoveries in the near future.

OBJECTIVES: To describe gambling practices and trends in Quebec between 2009 and 2012 given that, in Canada, public funding allocation to address the risks associated with gambling practices should be based on valid prevalence data and knowledge of patterns and trends in vulnerable populations. METHODS: The study data were taken from the 2009 and 2012 cross-sectional waves of the Enquete sur les habitudes de jeu des Quebecois (ENHJEU-Quebec). The analytical sample consisted of 11,888 respondents in 2009 and 12,008 respondents in 2012. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime non-gamblers in the adult population of Quebec increased from 13.6% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2012, and past-year gambling participation decreased from 70.5% to 66.2%. Changes in gambling patterns were not contingent on demographic characteristics; gambling prevalence decreased in all subcategories. The proportion of problem and low-risk gamblers remained unchanged, whereas the prevalence of non-problem gamblers decreased significantly from 66.1% in 2009 to 61.5% in 2012. CONCLUSION: Gambling participation in Quebec is decreasing, though the proportion of problem gamblers remains stable. Given these findings, allocation of public resources for health care services should be maintained. Secondary and primary prevention efforts need to be initiated or maintained to prevent gambling harm.

All free-living bacterial cells are delimited and protected by an envelope of high complexity. This physiological barrier is essential for bacterial survival and assures multiple functions. The molecular assembly of the different envelope components into a functional structure represents a tremendous biological challenge and is of high interest for fundamental sciences. The study of bacterial envelope assembly has also been fostered by the need for novel classes of antibacterial agents to fight the problematic of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. This chapter focuses on the two most intensively studied classes of bacterial envelopes that belong to the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The envelope of Firmicutes typically has one membrane and is defined as being monoderm whereas the envelope of Proteobacteria contains two distinct membranes and is referred to as being diderm. In this chapter, we will first discuss the multiple roles of the bacterial envelope and clarify the nomenclature used to describe the different types of envelopes. We will then define the architecture and composition of the envelopes of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria while outlining their similarities and differences. We will further cover the extensive progress made in the field of bacterial envelope assembly over the last decades, using Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli as model systems for the study of the monoderm and diderm bacterial envelopes, respectively. We will detail our current understanding of how molecular machines assure the secretion, insertion and folding of the envelope proteins as well as the assembly of the glycosidic components of the envelope. Finally, we will highlight the topics that are still under investigation, and that will surely lead to important discoveries in the near future.