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Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized care for many cancer indications, with considerable effort now being focused on increasing the rate, depth, and duration of patient response. One strategy is to combine immune strategies (for example, ctla-4 and PD-1/L1-directed agents) to harness additive or synergistic efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Despite encouraging results with such combinations in multiple tumour types, numerous clinical challenges remain, including a lack of biomarkers that reliably predict outcome, the emergence of therapeutic resistance, and optimal management of immune-related toxicities. Furthermore, the selection of ideal combinations from the myriad of immune, systemic, and locoregional therapies has yet to be determined. A longitudinal network-based approach could offer advantages in addressing those critical questions, including long-term follow-up of patients beyond individual trials. The molecular cancer registry Personalize My Treatment, managed by the Networks of Centres of Excellence nonprofit organization Exactis Innovation, is uniquely positioned to accelerate Canadian immuno-oncology (io) research efforts throughout its national network of cancer sites. To gain deeper insight into how a pan-Canadian network could advance research in io combinations, Exactis invited preeminent clinical and scientific advisors from across Canada to a roundtable event in November 2017. The present white paper captures the expert advice provided: leverage longitudinal patient data collection; facilitate network collaboration and assay harmonization; synergize with existing initiatives, networks, and biobanks; and develop an io combination trial based on Canadian discoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Plant Science is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Plant Science is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

FHB resistance QTL alleles from Nyuubai, Sumai-3, and Wuhan-1 were evaluated for their effect on Fusarium head blight (FHB) index, Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation, plant height, anthesis date, and numerous grain quality traits in three elite Canadian spring wheat backgrounds. The three FHB resistance parameters were negatively correlated with plant height in the three populations. The Wuhan-1 4B resistance allele was the most effective resistance allele but was associated with a 9.3 cm increase in plant height. The Wuhan-1 2D, Nyuubai 3BSc, Sumai-3 3BSc, Nyuubai 5AS, and Sumai-3 5AS alleles were also effective FHB resistance alleles in these populations. The Nyuubai and Sumai-3 3BS alleles were the least effective of the FHB resistance alleles in the FHB nursery tests. The Sumai-3 5AS resistance allele was significantly associated with reduced grain protein content, while the same trend was observed for the Nyuubai 5AS resistance allele but was not significant. FHB resistance tended to increase with more FHB resistance alleles introgressed into the elite genetic background, which suggested that marker-assisted selection (MAS) will prove useful for improving FHB resistance in Canadian germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to estimate the soil N flux from the vadose zone to the aquifer of the Wilmot watershed (Prince Edward Island, Canada) for a typical three-year cropping rotation (barley-red clover-potato). A conceptual model estimates that 199-221 tons of N were yearly available for leaching at the watershed scale. A significant portion of this N amount was available for leaching at the end of the crop season representing 80-90% of the annual N balance. Drainage water nitrate concentrations were significantly higher after the potato-rotation year than during the crop season. Low nitrate concentrations were measured at spring thaw indicating that most of the nitrate available from the preceding potato crop season was likely leached at the end of fall or during winter. Early spring ionic exchange membrane sampling show a large availability of nitrate in soil possibly throughout winter as well, resulting from soil N mineralization and nitrification over the winter period. These findings are corroborated by the isotope natural abundance analysis of nitrate in groundwater implying that nitrifiers are significantly active during winter, as well as during the crop season, and that leaching of soil nitrates with seasonal signals takes place whenever recharge is occurring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cites a study from Canada regarding methods and issues of detection of deoxynivalenol, Fusarium-damaged kernels, and Fusarium species in commercial grain. Variation in requirements for technical investment in destructive wet methods; Advantages of nondestructive techniques; Considerations for selection of an approach.

Fusarium head blight of barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a devastating disease in many countries. We undertook a study to identify barley cultivars, if any, that are resistant to Fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation and to determine if DON concentration is correlated with other plant traits in Eastern Canada and China. Barley cultivars were grown in the field under artificial inoculation conditions at two locations (Charlottetown and Ottawa) in Canada during two summers and at Hangzhou in China during two winters. Seed samples were collected for DON analysis from the barley performance trial at five locations in Ontario. None of the 64 barley cultivars were immune to Fusarium head blight infection. Two-row cultivars, however, were significantly more resistant to Fusarium head blight infection and DON accumulation than six-row cultivars. Three cultivars (Island, AC Alberte, and Chevron) were found to be most resistant, as they were consistently low in Fusarium head blight incidence and DON concentration in both Eastern Canada and China. In six-row barley, DON concentration was correlated positively with Fusarium head blight incidence at both Charlottetown and Ottawa, and it was negatively correlated with plant height at Ottawa. DON concentration and heading date were not consistently correlated. Barley yellow dwarf and powdery mildew appeared to have very little effect on Fusarium head blight infection. Susceptibility to DON accumulation did not result in low yield under natural infection conditions in Ontario. Cultivar x location interactions for DON concentration, Fusarium head blight incidence, and heading date were significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of August 2023, 220 species in 57 genera and 10 families of damselflies and dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) are recorded for Canada. Since the publication of the first edition in 2005, 14 species have been added to the list; one,Neurocordulia obsoleta (Say) has been removed because of a misidentification and another, Sympetrum occidentale, has been to synonymy. Conservation ranks are given for species in all 13 provinces and territories. English and French names for all listed species are included. Literature sources are discussed and presented, as is information on species status and the addition and exclusion of species. Sections on taxonomy and variation, subspecies, presumed hybrids, the introduction of exotic species, notable range extensions and observations, and conservation and protection are also provided.

Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with a low rate of survival with favourable neurologic recovery. The most common mechanism of death after successful resuscitation from CA is withdrawal of life-sustaining measures on the basis of perceived poor neurologic prognosis due to underlying hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Neuroprognostication is an important component of the care pathway for CA patients admitted to hospital but is complex, challenging, and often guided by limited evidence. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to evaluate the evidence underlying factors or diagnostic modalities available to determine prognosis, recommendations were generated in the following domains: (1) circumstances immediately after CA; (2) focused neurologic exam; (3) myoclonus and seizures; (4) serum biomarkers; (5) neuroimaging; (6) neurophysiologic testing; and (7) multimodal neuroprognostication. This position statement aims to serve as a practical guide to enhance in-hospital care of CA patients and emphasizes the adoption of a systematic, multimodal approach to neuroprognostication. It also highlights evidence gaps., (Copyright © 2022 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) epitopes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are accurate biomarkers for a pathological and clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are seen to be increased in preclinical stage of the disease. However, it is unknown if these increases transpire earlier, prior to amyloid-beta (Aβ) positivity as determined by position emission tomography (PET), and if an ordinal sequence of p-tau epitopes occurs at this incipient phase METHODS: We measured CSF concentrations of p-tau181, p-tau217 and p-tau231 in 171 participants across the AD continuum who had undergone Aβ ([ 18 F]AZD4694) and tau ([ 18 F]MK6240) position emission tomography (PET) and clinical assessment FINDINGS: All CSF p-tau biomarkers were accurate predictors of cognitive impairment but CSF p-tau217 demonstrated the largest fold-changes in AD patients in comparison to non-AD dementias and cognitively unimpaired individuals. CSF p-tau231 and p-tau217 predicted Aβ and tau to a similar degree but p-tau231 attained abnormal levels first. P-tau231 was sensitive to the earliest changes of Aβ in the medial orbitofrontal, precuneus and posterior cingulate before global Aβ PET positivity was reached INTERPRETATION: We demonstrate that CSF p-tau231 increases early in development of AD pathology and is a principal candidate for detecting incipient Aβ pathology for therapeutic trial application FUNDING: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration and Aging, Weston Brain Institute, Brain Canada Foundation, the Fonds de Recherche du Québec., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests EVM is the Chief scientific officer in ADx Neurosciences. ES and CF are employees of ADx NeuroSciences. SG has served as a consultant for TauRx, Biogen Canada Member and Roche Canada. HZ has served at scientific advisory boards for Denali, Roche Diagnostics, Wave, Samumed, Siemens Healthineers, Pinteon Therapeutics and CogRx, and has given lectures in symposia sponsored by Fujirebio, Alzecure and Biogen. Alzheimer's Association Global Biomarker Standardization Consortium chair and cofounder of Brain Biomarker Solutions in gothenburg AB (BBS) which is a part of the GU ventures Incubator program. KB has served as a consultant, at advisory boards, or at data monitoring committees for Abcam, Axon, Biogen, JOMDD/Shimadzu. Julius Clinical, Lilly, MagQu, Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, and Siemens Healthineers, and is a co-founder of Brain Biomarker Solutions in Gothenburg AB (BBS), which is a part of the GU Ventures Incubator Program. CF, and ES and are employee of ADx NeuroSciences, Gent, Belgium, EVM is a co-founder of ADx NeuroSciences. The other authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Recent studies suggest a framework where white-matter (WM) atrophy plays an important role in fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) pathophysiology. However, these studies often overlook the fact that WM tracts bridging different brain regions may have different vulnerabilities to the disease and the relative contribution of grey-matter (GM) atrophy to this WM model, resulting in a less comprehensive understanding of the relationship between clinical symptoms and pathology. Using a common factor analysis to extract a semantic and an executive factor, we aimed to test the relative contribution of WM and GM of specific tracts in predicting cognition in the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Neuroimaging Initiative (FTLDNI). We found that semantic symptoms were mainly dependent on short-range WM fibre disruption, while damage to long-range WM fibres was preferentially associated to executive dysfunction with the GM contribution to cognition being predominant for local processing. These results support the importance of the disruption of specific WM tracts to the core cognitive symptoms associated with FTD. As large-scale WM tracts, which are particularly vulnerable to vascular disease, were highly associated with executive dysfunction, our findings highlight the importance of controlling for risk factors associated with deep WM disease, such as vascular risk factors, in patients with FTD in order not to potentiate underlying executive dysfunction., Competing Interests: MS, TP, SS, TD, YI, MK, PV, JT, SM, AB, SG, PR No competing interests declared, (© 2022, Savard et al.)

Background: Most Canadian children do not meet daily recommendations for consumption of vegetables and fruits (V/F) and dairy products (DP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Team Nutriathlon on V/F and DP consumption of children., Methods: Participants were 404 children from grades 5 and 6 (intervention group [IG] N = 242, control group [CG] N = 162). Teams of children were guided to increase their consumption and variety of V/F and DP over an 8-week period. Daily servings of V/F and DP were compared between groups at 4 time points: baseline (week 0), during (week 6), immediately after (week 9 or 10), and a follow-up 10 weeks after (week 20) the intervention., Results: During and after the program and at follow-up, children in the IG consumed more servings of V/F and DP compared to the CG (group × time, p < .0001). Sex, baseline consumption levels, and school socioeconomic status did not influence the results (p > .05)., Conclusions: Team Nutriathlon is an innovative school-based nutrition program that can help to increase the V/F and DP consumption of children., (© 2016, American School Health Association.)