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OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a growing problem in Canada and worldwide. While obesity maps that convey changing rates over time and geography provide a useful way to convey such information, regional obesity surveillance maps for Canada have not been published since 1998. This research provides a summary of changing Canadian obesity rates since that time. METHODS: We computed estimated obesity rates for provinces and territories across Canada from 2000 to 2011. Data were based on Canadian Community Health Survey and corrected for self-report bias. Data reporting the estimated percent of the adult population who are obese were mapped over time overall and by sex according to Canadian province and territory. RESULTS: The data indicate that the estimated prevalence of obesity across Canada has continued to increase over the past 11 years. Current rates exceed 30% in the Maritime provinces (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and in two territories (Northwest Territory, Nunavut). Data for men and women are generally consistent. The major increase in obesity appears to have occurred in the first part of this period, with relatively stable rates found from 2008 to 2011. However, obesity rates are still climbing, warranting continued surveillance efforts. CONCLUSION: Maps showing changing regional obesity rates provide a compelling pan-Canadian portrait that can lead to an impetus for action for the public, health care providers, and decision makers. Such colour-coded maps offer an efficient way to convey complex data that transcends language differences and personalizes the data for the viewer. KEY WORDS: Canada/epidemiology; obesity/epidemiology; geography OBJECTIFS: L'obesite est un probleme croissant au Canada et dans le monde. Les cartes de l'obesite qui montrent l'evolution des taux dans l'espace et le temps sont un moyen utile de transmettre ce genre d'information, mais on ne publie plus de cartes regionales de surveillance de l'obesite au Canada depuis 1998. Nous presentons un resume de l'evolution des taux d'obesite au Canada depuis cette date. METHODE: Nous avons calcule les taux d'obesite estimatifs des provinces et des territoires du Canada entre 2000 et 2011. Nos donnees proviennent de l'Enquete sur la sante dans les collectivites canadiennes et sont corrigees en fonction du biais de declaration. Les donnees rendant compte du pourcentage estimatif de la population adulte obese ont ete cartographiees dans le temps globalement, et par sexe selon la province ou le territoire du Canada. RESULTATS: La prevalence estimative de l'obesite au Canada a continue d'augmenter au cours des 11 dernieres annees. Les taux actuels depassent 30 % dans les provinces maritimes (Terre-Neuve, Nouveau-Brunswick, Nouvelle-Ecosse, Ile-du-Prince-Edouard) et dans deux territoires (Territoires du Nord-Ouest, Nunavut). Les donnees pour les hommes et les femmes sont semblables en general. La principale hausse de l'obesite semble s'etre produite durant la premiere partie de la periode, les taux s'etant relativement stabilises entre 2008 et 2011. Cependant, ces taux augmentent encore, ce qui justifie la poursuite des efforts de surveillance. CONCLUSION: Les cartes montrant l'evolution regionale des taux d'obesite presentent un portrait pancanadien eloquent qui pourrait pousser le public, le personnel soignant et les decideurs a reagir. Ces cartes a code de couleur sont un moyen efficace de transmettre des donnees complexes; elles transcendent les frontieres linguistiques et personnalisent les donnees pour l'observateur. MOTS CLES: Canada/epidemiologie; obesite/epidemiologie; geographie, Although obesity is a preventable condition, rates worldwide have doubled since 1980. (1) Being overweight or obese is the fifth leading risk factor for global deaths, (1) and excess weight [...]

The article discusses webinar featuring Canadian experts discussing data that have impacted their field. It mentions investigation on the role of pembrolizumab as neoadjuvant immunotherapy before Radical cystectomy (RC); and also mentions effects of pre-treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a non-randomized comparison between pretreated and nonpretreated patients.

After brain damage such as stroke, topographically organized sensory and motor cortical representations remap onto adjacent surviving tissues. It is conceivable that cortical remapping is accomplished by changes in the temporal precision of sensory processing and regional connectivity in the cortex. To understand how the adult cortex remaps and processes sensory signals during stroke recovery, we performed in vivo imaging of sensory-evoked changes in membrane potential, as well as multiphoton imaging of dendrite structure and tract tracing. In control mice, forelimb stimulation evoked a brief depolarization in forelimb cortex that quickly propagated to, and dissipated within, adjacent motor/hindlimb areas (<100 ms). One week after forelimb cortex stroke, the cortex was virtually unresponsive to tactile forelimb stimulation. After 8 weeks recovery, forelimb-evoked depolarizations reemerged with a characteristic pattern in which responses began within surviving portions of forelimb cortex (<20 ms after stimulation) and then spread horizontally into neighboring peri-infarct motor/hindlimb areas in which depolarization persisted 300-400% longer than controls. These uncharacteristically prolonged responses were not limited to the remapped peri-infarct zone and included distant posteromedial retrosplenial cortex, millimeters from the stroke. Structurally, the remapped peri-infarct area selectively exhibited high levels of dendritic spine turnover, shared more connections with retrosplenial cortex and striatum, and lost inputs from lateral somatosensory cortical regions. Our findings demonstrate that sensory remapping during stroke recovery is accompanied by the development of prolonged sensory responses and new structural circuits in both the peri-infarct zone as well as more distant sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusions Androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a cornerstone in treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. ADT is associated with several adverse effects, including osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular events, leading to guidelines recommending routine testing to monitor for these toxicities. There is a lack of data assessing adherence to these recommendations.The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data from Ontario, Canada between 2008 and 2021. They identified all older men (aged 65 years and older) who received ADT for prostate cancer using comprehensive provincial health databases. The primary outcomes were the use of testing for lipids, dysglycemia (glucose), bone health serum, and bone density between 6 weeks before and 1 year after the initiation of ADT.In total, 29,097 patients were examined, of whom 52.8% were prescribed ADT by urologists, 37.9% were prescribed ADT by radiation oncologists, 2.8% were prescribed ADT by medical oncologists, and 2.4% were prescribed ADT by other physicians. Adherence to guidelines was low: only 21.3% of patients received a bone density scan, 41.2% underwent bone health–related serum tests, 51.3% completed a lipid profile, and 65.9% underwent dysglycemia testing within 1 year of diagnosis. Overall, only 11.9% of patients received all of the recommended investigations. Adherence to testing did not appear to improve over time (2008–2021) or with guideline publication. Patient (age) and physician (specialty) factors had important associations with adherence to testing.Most patients receiving ADT for prostate cancer do not receive recommended testing to monitor for treatment‐related toxicity. Further study is required to address barriers to therapeutic monitoring of men on ADT and to reduce treatment‐associated adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article profiles Dr. Sharon Salloum, former Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) undergraduate program at the University of British Columbia. Aside from being considered as a true caregiver, Salloum is a woman of many accomplishments. Among her professional positions include general practitioner and clinical associate Professor in the department of family practice. Educational background of Salloum is discussed.

The article discusses the efficacy of clinical genomics and personalized medicine in enhancing drug therapy. According to Stan Bardal, a faculty member with the University of British Columbia (UBC) Medical Undergraduate Program, the practicality of pharmacogenomics depends on the presentation of amount of data on genetic polymorphisms and their drug interactions to physicians. Bardal recognized the advantage of pharmacogenomics to cancer therapy.

Objectives: Obesity is a growing problem in Canada and worldwide. While obesity maps that convey changing rates over time and geography provide a useful way to convey such information, regional obesity surveillance maps for Canada have not been published since 1998. This research provides a summary of changing Canadian obesity rates since that time., Methods: We computed estimated obesity rates for provinces and territories across Canada from 2000 to 2011. Data were based on Canadian Community Health Survey and corrected for self-report bias. Data reporting the estimated percent of the adult population who are obese were mapped over time overall and by sex according to Canadian province and territory., Results: The data indicate that the estimated prevalence of obesity across Canada has continued to increase over the past 11 years. Current rates exceed 30% in the Maritime provinces (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and in two territories (Northwest Territory, Nunavut). Data for men and women are generally consistent. The major increase in obesity appears to have occurred in the first part of this period, with relatively stable rates found from 2008 to 2011. However, obesity rates are still climbing, warranting continued surveillance efforts., Conclusion: Maps showing changing regional obesity rates provide a compelling pan-Canadian portrait that can lead to an impetus for action for the public, health care providers, and decision makers. Such colour-coded maps offer an efficient way to convey complex data that transcends language differences and personalizes the data for the viewer.