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Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC) is a rare disorder caused by deficient FGF23 signaling and resultant ectopic calcification. Here, we systematically characterized and quantified macro- and micro-calcification in a HFTC cohort using CT and 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT (18F-NaF PET/CT). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed on 4 phenotypically different calcifications from a patient with HFTC, showing the dominant component to be hydroxyapatite. Eleven patients with HFTC were studied with CT and/or 18F-NaF PET/CT. Qualitative review was done to describe the spectrum of imaging findings on both modalities. CT-based measures of volume (eg, total calcific burden and lesion volume) and density (Hounsfield units) were quantified and compared to PET-based measures of mineralization activity (eg, mean standardized uptake values-SUVs). Microcalcification scores were calculated for the vasculature of 6 patients using 18F-NaF PET/CT and visualized on a standardized vascular atlas. Ectopic calcifications were present in 82% of patients, predominantly near joints and the distal extremities. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in total calcific burden per patient (823.0 ± 670.1 cm3, n = 9) and lesion volume (282.5 ± 414.8 cm3, n = 27). The largest lesions were found at the hips and shoulders. 18F-NaF PET offered the ability to differentiate active vs quiescent calcifications. Calcifications were also noted in multiple anatomic locations, including brain parenchyma (50%). Vascular calcification was seen in the abdominal aorta, carotid, and coronaries in 50%, 73%, and 50%, respectively. 18F-NaF-avid, but CT-negative calcification was seen in a 17-year-old patient, implicating early onset vascular calcification. This first systematic assessment of calcifications in a cohort of patients with HFTC has identified the early onset, prevalence, and extent of calcification. It supports 18F-NaF PET/CT as a clinical tool for distinguishing between active and inactive calcification, informing disease progression, and quantification of ectopic and vascular disease burden., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2024.)

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada and a leading cause of cancer mortality. Lung cancer also affects First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples significantly in Canada, which deserves further investigation as there is a literature gap on this topic. We sought to develop a deeper understanding of lung cancer diagnosis, incidence, mortality, and survival in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. A systematic search was conducted in bibliographic databases to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and March 2023. Articles were screened and assessed for relevance using the Population/ Concept/ Context (PCC) framework. A total of 22 articles were included in the final analysis, of which 13 were Inuit-specific, 7 were First Nations-specific, and 2 were Métis-specific. The literature suggests that comparative incidence, mortality, and relative risk of lung cancer is higher and survival is poorer in First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Lung cancer also has varying impact on these population depending on sex, age, location and other factors. This review illustrates that more comprehensive quantitative and qualitative lung cancer research is essential to further identify the structural causes for the high incidence of the disease.

Background: Vascular calcification causes significant morbidity and occurs frequently in diseases of calcium/phosphate imbalance. Radiolabeled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography has emerged as a sensitive and specific method for detecting and quantifying active microcalcifications. We developed a novel technique to quantify and map total vasculature microcalcification to a common space, allowing simultaneous assessment of global disease burden and precise tracking of site-specific microcalcifications across time and individuals., Methods: To develop this technique, 4 patients with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis, a monogenic disorder of FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor-23) deficiency with a high prevalence of vascular calcification, underwent radiolabeled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. One patient received serial imaging 1 year after treatment with an IL-1 (interleukin-1) antagonist. A radiolabeled sodium fluoride-based microcalcification score, as well as calcification volume, was computed at all perpendicular slices, which were then mapped onto a standardized vascular atlas. Segment-wise mCS mean and mCS max were computed to compare microcalcification score levels at predefined vascular segments within subjects., Results: Patients with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis had notable peaks in microcalcification score near the aortic bifurcation and distal femoral arteries, compared with a control subject who had uniform distribution of vascular radiolabeled sodium fluoride uptake. This technique also identified microcalcification in a 17-year-old patient, who had no computed tomography-defined calcification. This technique could not only detect a decrease in microcalcification score throughout the patient treated with an IL-1 antagonist but it also identified anatomic areas that had increased responsiveness while there was no change in computed tomography-defined macrocalcification after treatment., Conclusions: This technique affords the ability to visualize spatial patterns of the active microcalcification process in the peripheral vasculature. Further, this technique affords the ability to track microcalcifications at precise locations not only across time but also across subjects. This technique is readily adaptable to other diseases of vascular calcification and may represent a significant advance in the field of vascular biology., Competing Interests: Disclosures None.

Risk-stratified breast screening has been proposed as a strategy to overcome the limitations of age-based screening. A prospective cohort study was undertaken within the PERSPECTIVE I&I project, which will generate the first Canadian evidence on multifactorial breast cancer risk assessment in the population setting to inform the implementation of risk-stratified screening. Recruited females aged 40-69 unaffected by breast cancer, with a previous mammogram, underwent multifactorial breast cancer risk assessment. The adoption of multifactorial risk assessment, the effectiveness of methods for collecting risk factor information and the costs of risk assessment were examined. Associations between participant characteristics and study sites, as well as data collection methods, were assessed using logistic regression; all p -values are two-sided. Of the 4246 participants recruited, 88.4% completed a risk assessment, with 79.8%, 15.7% and 4.4% estimated at average, higher than average and high risk, respectively. The total per-participant cost for risk assessment was CAD 315. Participants who chose to provide risk factor information on paper/telephone (27.2%) vs. online were more likely to be older ( p = 0.021), not born in Canada ( p = 0.043), visible minorities ( p = 0.01) and have a lower attained education ( p < 0.0001) and perceived fair/poor health ( p < 0.001). The 34.4% of participants requiring risk factor verification for missing/unusual values were more likely to be visible minorities ( p = 0.009) and have a lower attained education ( p ≤ 0.006). This study demonstrates the feasibility of risk assessment for risk-stratified screening at the population level. Implementation should incorporate an equity lens to ensure cancer-screening disparities are not widened.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) grown in high-density monolayers (sheets) are promising vehicles for numerous bioengineering applications. When MSC sheets are maintained in prolonged cultures, they undergo rapid senescence, limiting their downstream efficacy. Although rapamycin is a potential agent that can inhibit senescence in cell cultures, no study has investigated rapamycin's effect on MSCs grown in high-density culture and its effect on downstream target gene expression. In this study, placental-derived MSCs (PMSCs) were seeded at high density to generate PMSC sheets in 24 hours and were then treated with rapamycin or vehicle for up to 7 days. Autophagy activity, cell senescence and apoptosis, cell size and granularity, and senescence-associated cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) were analyzed. Differential response in gene expression were assessed via microarray analysis. Rapamycin significantly increased PMSC sheet autophagy activity, inhibited cellular senescence, decreased cell size and granularity at all timepoints. Rapamycin also significantly decreased the number of cells in late apoptosis at day 7 of sheet culture, as well as caspase 3/7 activity at all timepoints. Notably, while rapamycin decreased IL-6 secretion, increased IL-8 levels were observed at all timepoints. Microarray analysis further confirmed the upregulation of IL-8 transcription, as well as provided a list of 396 genes with 2-fold differential expression, where transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling were identified as important upregulated pathways. Rapamycin both decreased senescence and has an immunomodulatory action of PMSCs grown in sheet culture, which will likely improve the chemotaxis of pro-healing cells to sites of tissue repair in future bioengineering applications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder that leads to a decline in bone microarchitecture, predisposing individuals to catastrophic fractures. The current standard of care relies on detecting bone structural change; however, these methods largely miss the complex biologic forces that drive these structural changes and response to treatment. This review introduces sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as a powerful tool to quantify bone metabolism. Here, we discuss the methods of 18F-NaF PET/CT, with a special focus on dynamic scans to quantify parameters relevant to bone health, and how these markers are relevant to osteoporosis., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The manuscript reports findings from a screening-level assessment of cancer risk from outdoor air in Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Ambient air pollution can contribute to cardiovascular/respiratory diseases, and certain types of cancer. Certain communities may be at higher risk to the negative health impacts due to their geographical proximity to pollution sources. Outdoor air concentrations were mapped and the Lifetime Excess Cancer Risks (LECR) associated with long-term exposure to known carcinogens were estimated. LECR results for both benzene and 1,3-butadiene were above one per million. The LECR for benzene was 6.4 per million when the Health Canada slope factor was applied and 12.0 when using the US EPA. For 1,3-butadiene the LECR estimate was 8.8 per million. This work provides a better understanding of environmental exposures and potential associated cancer risks for residents in the Aamjiwnaang community and highlights the need for further air monitoring and a more detailed risk assessment.

The potential for cancer cells to grow and to metastasize depends on complex interactions between inflammatory signals and pathways, immune cells, and elements of the stromal tissue in which they invade. Related to the nature of many cancers, the probability of recurrence can potentially be quite high for some patients. Immunology, lifestyle modifications, timing of disease, genetics, age, gender, and race are only a handful of ways the likelihood of cancer recurrence can be influenced. The quantity, or density, of certain immunological cells or factors, plays a role in the propagation of cancer cells. Opioids are often used in cancer patients for acute postoperative and chronic pain management. While they can produce significant pain relief, the type of analgesic utilized is important, as it may influence cancer propagation. In this regard, certain opioids have been found to increase T regulatory cells while suppressing NK cell function. Morphine may promote tumor neovascularization and expansion. Fentanyl administration significantly diminishes NK-cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells. In a recent meta-analysis, propofol-based anesthesia improved both cancer-free survival and overall survival. COX inhibitors have also shown promise in persevering cancer immune function, as in literature involving ketorolac and celecoxib. In summary, inhaled anesthesia and opioids may contribute to a pro-tumor metastasis environment also known as cancer propagation; whereas propofol and COX inhibitors may provide a better alternative to reduce cancer recurrence and propagation., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose, in terms of funding and research support, employment, personal financial interest, patents, and consultation fees within the last five years. One of the authors (MNL) is one of the reviewers of this journal. Based on journal policy this author was completely excluded from any review of this article., (Copyright © 2022, Author(s).)

Although the complex mechanism by which skeletal tissue heals has been well described, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal tissue regeneration is less understood. It has been widely recognized that a high level of ROS is cytotoxic and inhibits normal cellular processes. However, with more recent discoveries, it is evident that ROS also play an important, positive role in skeletal tissue repair, specifically fracture healing. Thus, dampening ROS levels can potentially inhibit normal healing. On the same note, pathologically high levels of ROS cause a sharp decline in osteogenesis and promote nonunion in fracture repair. This delicate balance complicates the efforts of therapeutic and engineering approaches that aim to modulate ROS for improved tissue healing. The physiologic role of ROS is dependent on a multitude of factors, and it is important for future efforts to consider these complexities. This review first discusses how ROS influences vital signaling pathways involved in the fracture healing response, including how they affect angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation. The latter half glances at the current approaches to control ROS for improved skeletal tissue healing, including medicinal approaches, cellular engineering, and enhanced tissue scaffolds. This review aims to provide a nuanced view of the effects of ROS on bone fracture healing which will inspire novel techniques to optimize the redox environment for skeletal tissue regeneration., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sheppard, Barfield, Barton and Dong.)

Objectives: Poor housing conditions and household crowding have been identified as important health concerns for Indigenous populations in many countries but have not been explored in relation to adverse birth outcomes in these populations. We investigated housing conditions and adverse birth outcomes in a nationally representative sample of Indigenous people in Canada., Methods: Data were from a cohort of births between May 2004 and May 2006 created by linking birth and infant death registration data with the 2006 Canadian census. Log-binomial regression was used to examine associations between housing variables (persons per room and needed household repairs) and three adverse birth outcomes: preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth, and infant mortality. Separate regression models were run for First Nations, Métis and Inuit mothers, with adjustment for parity and parental socio-economic variables., Results: Need for major household repairs was associated with a slightly increased risk of PTB among First Nations and Métis mothers (adjusted RRs 1.12 and 1.13, respectively; 95% CI 0.94-1.34 and 0.89-1.44, respectively) and a moderately increased risk of infant death in all three groups (aRR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.00-2.85). Household crowding was also associated with a slightly elevated risk of PTB in all three groups (aRR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.95-1.29) and with an increased risk of infant mortality among First Nations (aRR = 1.57, 95% CI 0.97-2.53)., Conclusion: This study highlights the need to improve understanding of links between housing conditions and perinatal health outcomes in Indigenous populations, including examining cause-specific infant mortality in relation to housing characteristics., (© 2021. The Canadian Public Health Association.)

It is essential to quantify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer screening, including for vulnerable sub-populations, to inform the development of evidence-based, targeted pandemic recovery strategies. We undertook a population-based retrospective observational study in Ontario, Canada to assess the impact of the pandemic on organized cancer screening and diagnostic services, and assess whether patterns of cancer screening service use and diagnostic delay differ across population sub-groups during the pandemic. Provincial health databases were used to identify age-eligible individuals who participated in one or more of Ontario's breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer screening programs from January 1, 2019-December 31, 2020. Ontario's screening programs delivered 951,000 (-41%) fewer screening tests in 2020 than in 2019 and volumes for most programs remained more than 20% below historical levels by the end of 2020. A smaller percentage of cervical screening participants were older (50-59 and 60-69 years) during the pandemic when compared with 2019. Individuals in the oldest age groups and in lower-income neighborhoods were significantly more likely to experience diagnostic delay following an abnormal breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening test during the pandemic, and individuals with a high probability of living on a First Nation reserve were significantly more likely to experience diagnostic delay following an abnormal fecal test. Ongoing monitoring and management of backlogs must continue. Further evaluation is required to identify populations for whom access to cancer screening and diagnostic care has been disproportionately impacted and quantify impacts of these service disruptions on cancer incidence, stage, and mortality. This information is critical to pandemic recovery efforts that are aimed at achieving equitable and timely access to cancer screening-related care., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Setting: The Indigenous Tobacco Program (ITP) operated by the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit at Cancer Care Ontario provides customized tobacco prevention workshops to First Nations youth across Ontario, in partnership with First Nations communities and partner organizations., Intervention: First Nations youth in Canada are more likely than non-Indigenous youth to be smokers. The ITP aims to address the negative health impacts of commercial tobacco, using culturally relevant approaches, tools and resources while remaining respectful to the significance of sacred tobacco. This paper aims to determine whether a culturally tailored tobacco prevention workshop increases tobacco-related knowledge among First Nations youth in Ontario., Outcomes: The workshops exhibited promise in impacting First Nations youth knowledge on the harms of commercial tobacco, as after the workshop intervention, all indicators showed improved knowledge. Building strong and ongoing relationships with communities and partner organizations is vital to the success of the program., Implications: Culturally tailored workshops grounded in traditional knowledge and values provide an opportunity to increase the knowledge of the harms of commercial tobacco among First Nations youth in Ontario. With commercial tobacco use and exposure having tremendous health consequences, such interventions are essential.

Background: This study aims to measure cancer incidence and mortality rates of Registered First Nations people in Ontario and compare them with those of other people in Ontario from 1991 to 2010., Data and Methods: The federal Indian Register, the Ontario Cancer Registry and the Registered Persons Database were linked to develop a cohort of First Nations people diagnosed with cancer in Ontario. Sex-and site-specific age-standardized cancer incidence and mortality rates, and selected trends over time, were calculated. Rate ratios (RRs) were used to compare rates in First Nations peoples with those of other people in Ontario., Results: The First Nations cohort comprised 194,392 people, with 6,859 cancer diagnoses. First Nations people had higher rates for certain cancers than others in Ontario: lung (males RR 1.19; females RR 1.47), colorectal (males RR 1.36; females RR 1.34) and kidney (males RR1.95; females RR 2.23). While lung cancer rates rose in First Nations females (annual percent change [APC] +2.67), they fell at a similar rate (APC -2.28) in males. Cervical cancer rates fell (APC -9.53) and approached the rate among other females in Ontario. Kidney cancer rates increased in First Nations people., Discussion: First Nations people in Ontario have higher incidence and mortality for certain cancers compared with other people in Ontario. However, the declines in cervical cancer rates in First Nations females and lung cancer rates in First Nations males illustrate the likely impact of Pap test uptake and smoking cessation programs. Community-led efforts to develop culturally appropriate prevention and screening programs are essential to further reduce cancer rates in First Nations people.

Background: Inuit experience the highest cancer mortality rates from lung cancer in the world with increasing rates of other cancers in addition to other significant health burdens. Inuit who live in remote areas must often travel thousands of kilometers to large urban centres in southern Canada and negotiate complex and sometimes unwelcoming health care systems. There is an urgent need to improve Inuit access to and use of health care. Our study objective was to understand the experiences of Inuit in Canada who travel from a remote to an urban setting for cancer care, and the impacts on their opportunities to participate in decisions during their journey to receive cancer care., Methods: We are an interdisciplinary team of Steering Committee and researcher partners ("the team") from Inuit-led and/or -specific organizations that span Nunavut and the Ontario cancer health systems. Guided by Inuit societal values, we used an integrated knowledge translation (KT) approach with qualitative methods. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Inuit participants and used process mapping and thematic analysis., Results: We mapped the journey to receive cancer care and related the findings of client (n = 8) and medical escort (n = 6) ("participant") interviews in four themes: 1) It is hard to take part in decisions about getting health care; 2) No one explains the decisions you will need to make; 3) There is a duty to make decisions that support family and community; 4) The lack of knowledge impacts opportunities to engage in decision making. Participants described themselves as directed, with little or no support, and seeking opportunities to collaborate with others on the journey to receive cancer care., Conclusions: We describe the journey to receive cancer care as a "decision chain" which can be described as a series of events that lead to receiving cancer care. We identify points in the decision chain that could better prepare Inuit to participate in decisions related to their cancer care. We propose that there are opportunities to build further health care system capacity to support Inuit and enable their participation in decisions related to their cancer care while upholding and incorporating Inuit knowledge.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Ontario and imposes a high burden on many Indigenous populations. There are two aims for this short communication: ■ Highlight colorectal risk factor findings from a population-based case-control study■ Highlight trends and challenges of colorectal cancer research in Indigenous populations in Ontario., Methods: Prevalences of cigarette smoking, obesity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and family history of colorectal cancer were estimated using the Indigenous identifier in the Ontario Familial Colon Cancer Registry for 1999-2007 and then compared for cases and controls using age-adjusted odds ratios (ors) with 95% confidence intervals (cis)., Results: The registry search identified 66 Indigenous cases and 23 Indigenous controls. Cigarette smoking (or: 1.88; 95% ci: 0.63 to 5.60) and obesity (or: 2.16; 95% ci: 0.72 to 6.46) were higher in cases, but not statistically significantly so., Conclusions: Findings were consistent with previous literature describing Indigenous populations. A small sample size and poor Indigenous identification questions make it challenging to comprehensively understand cancer risk factors and burden in Indigenous populations., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES We have read and understood Current Oncology’s policy on disclosing conflicts of interest, and we declare that we have none., (2020 Multimed Inc.)

Background: To examine perinatal health differences between foreign-born and native-born mothers in Canada across multiple outcomes and two cohorts 10 years apart., Methods: Using 94 896 and 131 271 births in the 1996 and 2006 Canadian Census-Birth Cohort, respectively, we estimated risk ratios and risk differences of preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational age (SGA), large-for-gestational age (LGA), stillbirth and infant mortality between foreign-born and Canadian-born mothers., Results: In the 1996 cohort, we observed no important differences in adverse outcomes between foreign-born and native-born mothers. In the 2006 cohort, however, foreign-born mothers had lower risks of PTB, LGA, stillbirth, and infant mortality and a higher risk of SGA on both the relative and absolute scales. Lowered risk of PTB among foreign-born mothers in the 2006 cohort was also observed within Caucasian, East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian mothers. Favourable outcomes associated with foreign-born status in the 2006 cohort were negatively graded by duration of residence in Canada among immigrant mothers., Conclusions: Differences in perinatal health by maternal foreign-born status varied across cohorts and a more pronounced 'healthy migrant' effect was observed among more recent migrants. The native-born mothers' perinatal health over time and a more restrictive/selective immigration policy in recent years would explain our results., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Survival after a breast cancer diagnosis is poorer in First Nations women with a preexisting comorbidity compared with comorbidity-free First Nations women in Ontario, Canada. Given the high prevalence of diabetes in this population, it is important to determine whether preexisting diabetes is related to poorer survival after a breast cancer diagnosis., Methods: All First Nations women were identified from a cohort of First Nations people diagnosed with breast cancer in diagnostic periods-1995 to 1999 and 2000 to 2004-and seen at a regional cancer program (RCP) in Ontario. Preexisting diabetes status and other factors, such as age at diagnosis, body mass index, and stage at diagnosis, were collected from medical charts at the regional cancer programs. The association between preexisting diabetes and First Nations status was examined by each of the demographic, personal, tumor, and treatment factors using logistic regression models. Survival was compared between First Nations women with (n = 67) and without (n = 215) preexisting diabetes, adjusted by significant study factors using a Cox proportional hazards regression model., Results: The 5-year survival rate among First Nations women with diabetes was 59.8% versus 78.7% among those without diabetes ( P < .01). Preexisting diabetes significantly increased the risk of death among First Nations women with breast cancer (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.12 to 3.13) after adjustment for age group, period of diagnosis, body mass index, other comorbidities at diagnosis, and stage., Conclusion: This study recommends awareness of this survival discrepancy among the treatment team for First Nations patients with breast cancer with preexisting diabetes.

Background: In relation to the general Canadian population, Inuit face increased cancer risks and barriers to health services use. In shared decision-making (sdm), health care providers and patients make health care decisions together. Enhanced participation in cancer care decisions is a need for Inuit. Integrated knowledge translation (kt) supports the development of research evidence that is likely to be patient-centred and applied in practice., Objective: Using an integrated kt approach, we set out to promote the use of sdm by Inuit in cancer care., Methods: An integrated kt study involving researchers with a Steering Committee of cancer care system partners who support Inuit in cancer care ("the team") consisted of 2 theory-driven phases:■ using consensus-building methods to tailor a previously developed sdm strategy and developing training in the sdm strategy; and■ training community support workers (csws) in the sdm strategy and testing the sdm strategy with community members., Results: The team developed a sdm strategy that included a workshop and a booklet with 6 questions for use by csws with patients. The sdm strategy (training and booklet) was finalized based on feedback from 5 urban-based Inuit csws who were recruited and trained in using the strategy. Trained csws were matched with 8 community members, and use of the sdm strategy was assessed during interviews, reported as 6 themes. Participants found the sdm strategy to be useful and feasible for use., Conclusions: An integrated kt approach of structured research processes with partners developed a sdm strategy for use by Inuit in cancer care. Further work is needed to test the sdm strategy., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES We have read and understood Current Oncology’s policy on disclosing conflicts of interest, and we declare that we have none.

Objective: Studies of perinatal health outcomes in Canadian First Nations populations have largely focused on limited geographical areas and have been unable to examine outcomes by registered status and community residence. In this study, we compare rates of adverse birth outcomes among First Nations individuals living within vs. outside of First Nations communities and those with vs. without registered status., Methods: Data included 13,506 singleton pregnancies from the 2006 Canadian Birth-Census Cohort. Outcomes examined included preterm birth (PTB), small- and large-for-gestational-age birth (SGA, LGA), stillbirth, overall infant mortality, and neonatal and postneonatal mortality. Risk ratios (RRs) were estimated with adjustment for maternal age, education, parity, and paternal education., Results: Mothers living in First Nations communities and those with status had elevated adjusted risks of LGA (RR for First Nations community residence = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.09-1.35; RR for status = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.16-1.93). Rates of SGA were significantly lower among mothers with status (adjusted RR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44-0.86). Rates of PTB did not vary substantially by residence or by status. Adjusted differences in fatal outcomes could not be estimated, owing to small cell sizes. However, mothers living in First Nations communities had higher crude rates of infant mortality (10.9 vs. 7.7 per 1000), particularly for neonatal mortality (6.1 vs. 2.9)., Conclusion: Future investigations should explore risk factors, including food security and access to health care services, that may explain disparities in SGA and LGA by status and residence within First Nations populations.

Purpose: An increasing percentage of children are born to couples who cohabit but are not legally married. Using data from a nationally representative Canadian sample, we estimated associations of maternal marital and cohabitation status with stillbirth, infant mortality, preterm birth (PTB), and small- and large-for-gestational-age (SGA and LGA) birth., Methods: The 2006 Canadian Birth-Census Cohort was created by linking birth registration data with the 2006 long-form census. We used log-binomial regression to estimate risk ratios (RRs) for adverse birth outcomes associated with being single or living with a common-law partner. Analyses were adjusted for maternal age and education., Results: Data were analyzed for 130,931 singleton births. Adjusted RRs (95% confidence intervals) for single mothers compared with married mothers were 1.92 (1.51-2.42) for stillbirth, 2.08 (1.55-2.81) for infant mortality, 1.36 (1.27-1.46) for PTB, 1.31 (1.22-1.39) for SGA birth, and 0.95 (0.90-1.01) for LGA birth. Adjusted RRs for cohabiting mothers compared with married mothers were 0.93 (0.74-1.16) for stillbirth, 1.05 (0.81-1.35) for infant mortality, 1.09 (1.03-1.15) for PTB, 1.05 (0.99-1.10) for SGA birth, and 0.96 (0.92-1.00) for LGA birth., Conclusions: In a nationally representative Canadian birth cohort, cohabiting and legally married women experienced similar birth outcomes, but most outcomes for single women were substantially worse., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are at higher risk of adverse birth outcomes than are non-Indigenous people. However, relatively little perinatal information is available at the national level for Indigenous people overall or for specific identity groups., Data and Methods: This analysis describes and compares rates of preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age birth, large-for-gestational-age birth, stillbirth, and infant mortality (neonatal, postneonatal, and cause-specific) in a nationally representative sample of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and non-Indigenous births. The study cohort consisted of 17,547 births to Indigenous mothers and 112,112 births to non-Indigenous mothers from 2004 through 2006. The cohort was created by linking the Canadian Live Birth, Infant Death and Stillbirth Database to the long form of the 2006 Census, which contains a self-reported Indigenous identifier., Results: With the exception of small-for-gestational-age birth, adverse birth outcomes occurred more frequently among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women than among non-Indigenous women. Inuit had the highest preterm birth rate (11.4 per 100 births; 95% CI: 9.7 to 13.1) among the three Indigenous groups. The large-for-gestational-age rate was highest for First Nations births (20.9 per 100 births; 95% CI: 19.9 to 21.8). Infant mortality rates were more than twice as high for each Indigenous group compared with the non-Indigenous population, and rates of sudden infant death syndrome were more than seven times higher among First Nations and Inuit., Discussion: The results confirm disparities in birth outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, and demonstrate differences among First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

Background: Research on predictors of adverse birth outcomes has focused on maternal characteristics. Much less is known about the role of paternal factors. Paternal education is an important socioeconomic marker that may predict birth outcomes over and above maternal socioeconomic indicators., Methods: Using data from the 2006 Canadian Birth-Census Cohort, we estimated the associations between paternal education and preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth, stillbirth and infant mortality in Canada, controlling for maternal characteristics. Binomial regression was used to estimate risk ratios and risk differences for adverse birth outcomes associated with paternal education, after controlling for maternal education, age, marital status, parity, ethnicity and nativity., Results: A total of 131 285 singleton births were included in the present study. Comparing the lowest to the highest paternal education category, adjusted risk ratios (95% CIs) were 1.22 (1.10 to 1.35) for preterm birth, 1.13 (1.03 to 1.23) for SGA birth, 1.92 (1.28 to 2.86) for stillbirth and 1.67 (1.01 to 2.75) for infant mortality. Consistent patterns of associations were observed for absolute risk differences., Conclusions: Our study suggests that low paternal education increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes, and especially of fetal and infant mortality, independently from maternal characteristics., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Background: Research on predictors of birth outcomes tends to focus on maternal characteristics. Less is known about the role of paternal factors. Missing paternal data on administrative records may be a marker for risk of adverse birth outcomes., Data and Methods: Analyses were performed on a cohort of births that occurred from May 16, 2004 through May 15, 2006, which was created by linking birth and death registration data with the 2006 Canadian census. Log-binomial and binomial regression were used to estimate relative risks and risk differences for preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age birth, stillbirth and infant mortality associated with the absence of paternal information. Analyses controlled for maternal age, education, household income, parity, marital status, ethnicity and birthplace., Results: The analyses pertained to 135,285 singleton births. Paternal data were missing from the birth registration for 7,461 births (4.6%) and from the census data for 17,713 births (11.4%). The adjusted relative risks associated with missing paternal data on the birth registration were 1.12 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.26) for preterm birth; 1.15 (1.05, 1.26) for small-for-gestational-age birth; 1.86 (1.27, 2.73) for stillbirth; and 1.53 (1.00, 2.34) for infant mortality. Estimates were robust to varying definitions of missing paternal information, based on the birth registration, census data, or both., Interpretation: This study suggests that missing paternal data is a marker for increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, over and above maternal characteristics.

Background: Evidence on socioeconomic and ethnocultural disparities in perinatal health in Canada tends to be limited to analyses by neighbourhood or for selected provinces. In 2010, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research awarded funding for a project on perinatal outcomes. This article describes the resulting 2006 Canadian Birth-Census Cohort Database., Data and Methods: From the Canadian Live Birth, Infant Death and Stillbirth Database, 687,340 records of children born in Canada from May 16, 2004 through May 15, 2006 to mothers whose usual place of residence was Canada were selected as in-scope births. Deterministic rules were applied to link each person on the birth record-child, mother, father-to 2006 Census data.The cohort was restricted to records linked to a long-form questionnaire, and a cohort weight was developed. Cohort rates (unweighted and weighted) for five birth outcomes-preterm birth, small-for-gestational age, large-for-gestational age, stillbirth, and infant mortality-were compared with rates for all in-scope births across birth characteristics. Cohort rates for these birth outcomes were examined across selected census characteristics., Results: Linkage rates were 91% for births surviving to age 1, 76% for stillbirths, and 80% for infant deaths matched to a birth registration. The cohort estimates were similar to those for all in-scope births, particularly after the cohort weight was applied. The cohort data produced plausible estimates of selected birth outcomes across maternal ethnocultural categories and levels of education., Interpretation: The 2006 Canadian Birth-Census Cohort data can help inform perinatal surveillance and research in Canada.

Background: A higher risk of preterm birth among black women than among white women is well established in the United States. We compared differences in preterm birth between non-Hispanic black and white women in Canada and the US, hypothesizing that disparities would be less extreme in Canada given the different historical experiences of black populations and Canada's universal health care system., Methods: Using data on singleton live births in Canada and the US for 2004-2006, we estimated crude and adjusted risk ratios and risk differences in preterm birth (< 37 wk) and very preterm birth (< 32 wk) among non-Hispanic black versus non-Hispanic white women in each country. Adjusted models for the US were standardized to the covariate distribution of the Canadian cohort., Results: In Canada, 8.9% and 5.9% of infants born to black and white mothers, respectively, were preterm; the corresponding figures in the US were 12.7% and 8.0%. Crude risk ratios for preterm birth among black women relative to white women were 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32 to 1.66) in Canada and 1.57 (95% CI 1.56 to 1.58) in the US (p value for heterogeneity [pH] = 0.3). The crude risk differences for preterm birth were 2.94 (95% CI 1.91 to 3.96) in Canada and 4.63 (95% CI 4.56 to 4.70) in the US (pH = 0.003). Adjusted risk ratios for preterm birth (pH = 0.1) were slightly higher in Canada than in the US, whereas adjusted risk differences were similar in both countries. Similar patterns were observed for racial disparities in very preterm birth., Interpretation: Relative disparities in preterm birth and very preterm birth between non-Hispanic black and white women were similar in magnitude in Canada and the US. Absolute disparities were smaller in Canada, which reflects a lower overall risk of preterm birth in Canada than in the US in both black and white populations., (© 2016 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors.)

The interaction of B-H-functionalized boron nanoparticles with alkenes and nitrogen-rich ionic liquids (ILs) is investigated by a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, and helium ion microscopy. Surface B-H bonds are shown to react with terminal alkenes to produce alkyl-functionalized boron particles. The interaction of nitrogen-rich ILs with the particles appears, instead, to be dominated by boron-nitrogen bonding, even for an ILs with terminal alkene functionality. This chemistry provides a convenient approach to producing and capping boron nanoparticles with a protective organic layer, which is shown to protect the particles from oxidation during air exposure. By controlling the capping group, particles with high dispersibility in nonpolar or polar liquids can be produced. For the particles capped with ILs, the effect of particle loading on hypergolic ignition of the ILs is reported.

We aimed to compare cancer survival in Ontario First Nations people to that in other Ontarians for five major cancer types: colorectal, lung, cervix, breast and prostate. A list of registered or "Status" Indians in Ontario was used to create a cohort of over 140,000 Ontario First Nations people. Cancers diagnosed in cohort members between 1968 and 2001 were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry, with follow-up for death until December 31st, 2007. Flexible parametric modeling of the hazard function was used to compare the survival experience of the cohort to that of other Ontarians. We considered changes in survival from the first half of the time period (1968-1991) to the second half (1992-2001). For other Ontarians, survival had improved over time for every cancer site. For the First Nations cohort, survival improved only for breast and prostate cancers; it either declined or remained unchanged for the other cancers. For cancers diagnosed in 1992 or later, all-cause and cause-specific survival was significantly poorer for First Nations people diagnosed with breast, prostate, cervical, colorectal (male and female) and male lung cancers as compared to their non-First Nations peers. For female lung cancer, First Nations women appeared to have poorer survival; however, the result was not statistically significant. Ontario's First Nations population experiences poorer cancer survival when compared to other Ontarians and strategies to reduce these inequalities must be developed and implemented., (© 2014 UICC.)

Because of the unusually high heats of vaporization of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), volatilization of RTILs through thermal decomposition and vaporization of the decomposition products can be significant. Upon heating of cyano-functionalized anionic RTILs in vacuum, their gaseous products were detected experimentally via tunable vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry performed at the Chemical Dynamics Beamline 9.0.2 at the Advanced Light Source. Experimental evidence for di- and trialkylimidazolium cations and cyano-functionalized anionic RTILs confirms thermal decomposition occurs primarily through two pathways: deprotonation of the cation by the anion and dealkylation of the imidazolium cation by the anion. Secondary reactions include possible cyclization of the cation and C2 substitution on the imidazolium, and their proposed reaction mechanisms are introduced here. Additional evidence supporting these mechanisms was obtained using thermal gravimetric analysis-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and temperature-jump infrared spectroscopy. In order to predict the overall thermal stability in these ionic liquids, the ability to accurately calculate both the basicity of the anions and their nucleophilicity in the ionic liquid is critical. Both gas phase and condensed phase (generic ionic liquid (GIL) model) density functional theory calculations support the decomposition mechanisms, and the GIL model could provide a highly accurate means to determine thermal stabilities for ionic liquids in general.

Most studies reporting more favourable biological features of screen-detected breast cancers compared with symptomatic or interval cancers include initial or prevalent screens and therefore may not indicate the real benefit of screening on breast cancer mortality. We conducted case-case comparisons within a cohort of eligible women (N=771 715) who were aged 50-69 between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2003. A randomly selected sample of breast cancers (N=1848) diagnosed among these women were compared by detection method. Tumour characteristics of interval cancers (N=362) diagnosed after 6-24 months of a negative screen or symptomatic breast cancers (N=491) were compared with subsequent screen-detected breast cancers diagnosed within 6 months of a positive screen (N=995) using polytomous logistic regression. Tumours were evaluated for clinical presentation, histology and expression of hormone receptors. Women with symptomatic detected [odds ratio (OR)=7.48, 95% confidence interval (CI)=5.38-10.38] and interval cancers (OR=2.20, 95% CI=1.56-3.10) were more often diagnosed at stage III-IV versus I than women with rescreen-detected cancers. After adjusting for tumour size, women with symptomatic cancers had tumours of higher grade (OR=1.50, 95% CI=1.05-2.15) and mitotic score (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.15-2.49) and women with interval cancers had tumours of higher mitotic score (OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.01-2.28) compared with women diagnosed at screening. Subsequent screen-detected cancers are not only detected at an earlier stage but are also less aggressive, leading to a better prognosis. As long-term mortality reduction for breast screening may depend on subsequent screens, our study indicates that mammography screening can be effective in women aged 50-69.

Background: There is ample evidence that residential neighbourhoods can influence mental well-being (MWB), with most studies relying on census or similar data to characterize communities. Few studies have actively investigated local residents' perceptions., Methods: Concept mapping was conducted with residents from five Toronto neighbourhoods representing low income and non-low income socio-economic groups. These residents participated in small groups and attended two sessions per neighbourhood. The first session (brainstorming) generated neighbourhood characteristics that residents felt influenced their MWB. A few weeks later, participants returned to sort these neighbourhood characteristics and rate their relative importance in affecting residents' 'good' and 'poor' MWB. The data from the sorting and rating groups were analyzed to generate conceptual maps of neighbourhood characteristics that influence MWB., Results: While agreement existed on factors influencing poor MWB (regardless of neighbourhood, income, gender and age), perceptions related to factors affecting good MWB were more varied. For example, women were more likely to rank physical beauty of their neighbourhood and range of services available as more important to good MWB, while men were more likely to cite free access to computers/internet and neighbourhood reputation as important. Low-income residents emphasized aesthetic attributes and public transportation as important to good MWB, while non-low-income residents rated crime, negative neighbourhood environment and social concerns as more important contributors to good MWB., Conclusion: These findings contribute to the emerging literature on neighbourhoods and MWB, and inform urban planning in a Canadian context.

Inuit Canadians are on average about 20 years younger and have a 10-year lower life expectancy than other Canadians. While there have been improvements in Inuit health status over time, significant health disparities still remain. This paper will review the peer-reviewed literature related to Inuit child, youth, and maternal health between 2000 and 2010, investigate which thematic areas were examined, and determine what proportion of the research is related to each group. Establishing areas of research concentrations and scarcities may help direct future research where it is needed. We followed a systematic literature review and employed peer-reviewed research literature on child, youth, and maternal health which were selected from 3 sources, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Circumpolar Health Bibliographic Database. The resulting references were read, and summarized according to population group and thematic area. The thematic areas that emerged by frequency were: infectious disease; environment/environmental exposures; nutrition; birth outcomes; tobacco; chronic disease; health care; policy, human resources; interventions/programming; social determinants of health; mental health and wellbeing; genetics; injury; and dental health. The 72 papers that met the inclusion criteria were not mutually exclusive with respect to group studied. Fifty-nine papers (82%) concerned child health, 24 papers (33%) youth health, and 58 papers (81%) maternal health. The review documented high incidences of illness and significant public health problems; however, in the context of these issues, opportunities to develop research that could directly enhance health outcomes are explored.

Background: Indigenous populations in Canada and abroad have poorer survival after a breast cancer diagnosis compared with their geographic counterparts; however, the influence of many demographic, personal, tumor, and treatment factors has not been examined to describe this disparity according to stage at diagnosis., Methods: A case-case design was employed to compare First Nations (FN) women (n = 287) to a frequency-matched random sample of non-FN women (n = 671) diagnosed with breast cancer within the Ontario Cancer Registry. Women were matched on period of diagnosis (1995-1999 and 2000-2004), age at diagnosis (<50 vs. ≥50), and Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). Stage and other factors were collected from medical charts at the RCCs. Survival was compared using an adjusted Cox proportional hazards model and stratified by stage at diagnosis (I, II, and III-IV). Determinants of survival in FN women stratified by stage at diagnosis were also modeled., Results: Survival was more than three times poorer for FN women diagnosed at stage I than for non-FN women (HR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.39-6.88). The risk of death after a stage I breast cancer diagnosis was about five times higher among FN women with a comorbidity other than diabetes (HR = 4.65, 95% CI = 1.39-15.53) and was more than five times greater for women with diabetes (HR = 5.49, 95% CI = 1.69-17.90) than for those without a comorbidity., Conclusions: Having a preexisting comorbidity was the most important factor in explaining the observed survival disparity among FN women., Impact: Improving the general health status of FN women could increase their survival after an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis., (©2011 AACR)

Objective: To compare the distribution of stage at breast cancer diagnosis between First Nations (FN) and non-FN women, and to investigate factors associated with later diagnosis in FN women., Methods: A case-case design was employed to compare FN women (N = 287) to a frequency-matched random sample of women (N = 671) from the general population diagnosed with breast cancer in the Ontario Cancer Registry. Women were matched (2:1) on period of diagnosis (1995-1999, 2000-2004), age at diagnosis (< 50 vs. > or = 50), and Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). Stage and data relevant to the determinants of stage were collected from medical charts at the RCCs. The association between stage (stage II + vs. I) and FN status was modeled using logistic regression analyses; for FN women, the association between risk factors and stage was examined., Results: FN women (66%) were diagnosed with a later stage significantly more often than non-FN women (56%). FN women with a non-screened cancer (OR 5.03, 95% CI 2.48-10.21) and those who were overweight or obese (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.27-6.98 and OR 4.46, 95% CI 1.95-10.21, respectively) were significantly more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage. Having a comorbidity reduced the odds of a later stage (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.96) in FN women., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the need for FN women, in particular those who are not accessing the health care system, to participate in breast screening programs aimed at detecting breast cancers earlier with a better prognosis. These findings suggest that the cancer care system in Ontario should better target this population through increasing awareness and access to screening.

The preparation, characterisation and testing of stable non-porous coated perfluorocarbon supports functionalised with the metal chelate, iminodiacetic acid (IDA) is described. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a neutral hydrophilic polymer was esterified with perfluorooctanoyl chloride and anchored to the surface of solid perfluorocarbon particles through multiple fluorophilic interactions. The PVA-coated particles were then activated by epoxidation and coupled with IDA. The presence of surface-attached chelates was clearly demonstrated by the binding and selective desorption of Zn2+ ions. Three particulate perfluorocarbons were selected as potential starting materials and the conditions for preparation of metal chelating adsorbents optimised with respect to ease of manufacture, ligand density and binding capacity towards a monoclonal antibody known to bind to commercial Zn(2+)-IDA supports. The choice of base particle strongly influenced the ligand densities and specific binding capacities towards the monoclonal antibody that could be achieved under optimal preparative conditions. Possible ways in which these metal chelating adsorbents may be employed to recover the monoclonal antibody directly from culture vessels are discussed.

Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, indirect immunofluorescence, and radioimmunoassay were used to demonstrate that antisera from rabbits immunized with some strains of Streptococcus mutans contain antibodies that cross-react with human cardiac tissue. These rabbits were sensitized to a shocking dose of human heart antigen, and anaphylactic deaths were sometimes produced. Myocarditis was also a result of the immunization procedure. Data obtained with all five techniques were comparable. Cross-reactivity could be associated with three antigens designated ID, IF, and HL. Antigens ID and IF were major immunogens of S. mutans Ingbritt, but HL antibodies were produced only after hyperimmunization. Corss-reactivity was of an immunological nature and not the result of nonspecific factors such as bacterial Fc reactive components or antibody elicited to growth medium constituents. These findings support the hypothesis that immunization with S. mutans can induce autoimmune reactions and indicate that antigens must be selected with caution before formulating any dental caries vaccine.

Butter oil is extracted from butter with hexane, using a rolling boil technique. The resulting 10% butter oil in hexane is converted to butyl esters, using butanol in place of methanol as specified in the official final action method, 28.063-28.067. A water wash and centrifuge technique is used to remove butanol from the n-hexane-butyl ester solution. Conversions to butyl esters are quantitative by the boron trifluoride, sulfuric acid, and sodium butoxide procedures. When methyl ester methods are used, there are serious losses of the short chain volatile and water-soluble acids, making the methyl ester procedures questionable for determining the authenticity of milk fat.

A no-reflow phenomenon (NRP) develops in hearts subjected to global ischemia and prevents reperfusion of the subendocardial myocardium upon restoration of arterial supply. In the present study the transmural progression of the NRP across the left ventricular wall in globally ischemic rat hearts was quantitatively defined by using autoradiographic nuclear track emulsion (NTE) as an indicator of microvascular competence. Rat hearts were isolated and perfused for 10 min with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer, then were made completely globally ischemic for from 0 to 60 min and were maintained at 37 degrees C. They were then fixed by perfusion with glutaraldehyde after which NTE was injected into the coronary arteries. Transverse sections through the left ventricles were examined by scanning electron microscopy using back-scattered electron imaging and the vessels in a standard transmural contiguous series of photomicrographs were classified according to whether they did or did not permit the flow of NTE. Non-ischemic control myocardium showed a mean proportion of filled vessels of 99.4 +/- 0.5% SD, and those subjected to 15 min of ischemia showed only a slight overall reduction. After 30 min of ischemia 96 +/- 3% of vessels in the subepicardial third could be reperfused, but the proportion progressively diminished across the myocardium to total no-reflow near the endocardium. From 45-60 min of ischemia the totally non-reperfusible region remained confined to the subendocardial third but there was a significant reduction in the proportion of reperfusible vessels in the subepicardial third to 40% +/- 27%. Ischemia thus progressively reduces the capacity of myocardium to be reperfused.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electron ionization mass spectrometry (MS) of sterol butyrates is described. Fragmentation of common sterol butyrates is related to structure and is discussed in relation to the fragmentation of free sterols and of commonly used sterol derivatives. Derivatized samples of vegetable oils are introduced using a 10 m capillary gas chromatographic (GC) column for complete separation of the sterol butyrates. Quantitation of sterol butyrates in vegetable oils by packed column GC/flame ionization detection is based on percent relative area of peaks identified by MS. Results of analyses of sunflower, castor, rapeseed, and virgin olive oils, and other oils are presented. These techniques have been applied to the rapid screening of marketed olive oils for possible adulteration.

A high pressure liquid chromatographic method that uses the benzoate ester of cholesterol has been developed for the measurement of cholesterol in foods. A 300 x 3.9 mm id muBondapak C18 column and a variable wavelength ultraviolet detector are used with a 100% methanol mobile phase. Amounts as low as 10 ng cholesterol benzoate can be detected. The results from the analyses of a variety of foods are given and compared with results from gas-liquid chromatographic analyses. The comparison of the 2 chromatographic techniques is favorable.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding Lunaria oil to chicks. A deit containing Lunaria oil produced poorer growth and lower feed conversion than one containing corn oil. White Plymouth Rock chicks had apparent digestibility values of 89.9% and 55.8% for corn and Lunaria oil, respectively. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of heart, liver, and body cavity lipids (fat) showed that more erucic and nervonic acids accumulated in the fat of the birds fed Lunaria oil than in the fat of those fed corn oil.

Adult male rats were surgically provided with a drainage catheter in the left thoracic lymphatic channel and an indwelling gastric catheter for constant infusion of saline-glucose. After an overnight fast, animals were given a single gastric dose of an aqueous emulsion containing one of the following 1-14C-labeled fatty acids: oleic, arachidonic or eicosapentaenoic acid, and [1,2-3H]cholesterol. Absorption was estimated by the appearance of radioactivity in lymph over a 24-h collection period, and the lymph lipoprotein distributions and lipoprotein lipid distribution were determined in the 24-h samples. Although there were apparent differences in the rates of eicosapentaenoic and arachidonic acid absorption, the overall appearance (after 24 h) of these acids in lymph was quantitatively equivalent to that of oleate. Furthermore, cholesterol absorption from each fatty acid medium was quantitatively similar. The distributions of each fatty acid among major lymph lipoproteins were similar with 93-95% recovered in chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions. Furthermore in these lipoproteins, 85-91% of each of the three fatty acids was recovered as triglycerides. With both polyunsaturated fatty acids, there was greater incorporation into phospholipids and their precursor partial glycerides than with oleate. These studies suggest that unesterified eicosapentaenoic acid is absorbed efficiently into the lymphatic system, and has lymph lipoprotein and lipid distribution comparable to those of the more typical mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Monoclonal antibodies against tetanus toxin were produced to obtain highly specific antisera. Ten hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies were derived from the fusion of rat myeloma cells and spleen cells from rats immunized with tetanus toxoid. Eight produced monoclonal antibodies specific for determinants on toxin and toxoid, whereas two were specific only for determinants on the toxoid. The antibodies produced by hybridomas were characterized by determination of the class of light and heavy chain components, epitope specificity, toxin neutralization, and subunit specificity. All of the antibodies contained kappa light chain, eight contained the gamma 1 heavy chain, and the remaining two contained the gamma 2a heavy chain. Five distinct epitopes were indicated by competition assay of paired monoclonal antibodies, and 4 of the 10 monoclonal antibodies neutralized the in vivo activity of tetanus toxin. The four neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and one other were specific for the C fragment of the heavy chain of the toxin molecule.