Trans-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of prostate cancer identifies new susceptibility loci and informs genetic risk prediction.

Prostate cancer is a highly heritable disease with large disparities in incidence rates across ancestry populations. We conducted a multiancestry meta-analysis of prostate cancer genome-wide association studies (107,247 cases and 127,006 controls) and identified 86 new genetic risk variants independently associated with prostate cancer risk, bringing the total to 269 known risk variants. The top genetic risk score (GRS) decile was associated with odds ratios that ranged from 5.06 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.84-5.29) for men of European ancestry to 3.74 (95% CI, 3.36-4.17) for men of African ancestry. Men of African ancestry were estimated to have a mean GRS that was 2.18-times higher (95% CI, 2.14-2.22), and men of East Asian ancestry 0.73-times lower (95% CI, 0.71-0.76), than men of European ancestry. These findings support the role of germline variation contributing to population differences in prostate cancer risk, with the GRS offering an approach for personalized risk prediction

Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference

Where are the Boys? Gender Imbalance in Higher Education

The gender breakdown in higher education in Canada and other western countries has switched from an imbalance in favour of men to an imbalance in favour of women over the last two decades. Programs to attract women into higher education have worked very well. At the University of Guelph for example, 70% of the students are women. Should educators be concerned about this phenomenon? Are there short- and long-term negative effects of gender imbalance? If so, what can and should educators do about the imbalance? Should programs to attract men into higher education be implemented? What accessibility steps can be taken to create a gender balance in higher education? This article explores the changes in the gender profile at universities and colleges in Canada, the United States, and other countries. Potential economic, social, and political causes and effects of gender imbalance are proposed. Accessibility techniques that could be used to create gender balance in university and college programs are explored.

Où sont les étudiants ? Déséquilibre étudiants-étudiantes dans l'enseignement supérieur

Au Canada et dans d’autres pays occidentaux, la ventilation par sexe dans l’enseignement supérieur est passée d’un déséquilibre en faveur des hommes à un déséquilibre en faveur des femmes. Les programmes visant à attirer les femmes vers l’enseignement supérieur ont été très efficaces. C’est ainsi que l’Université de Guelph compte 70 % d’étudiantes. Les enseignants doivent-ils être préoccupés par ce phénomène ? Ce déséquilibre peut-il avoir des effets négatifs à court et à long terme ? Si tel est le cas, que peuvent faire les éducateurs pour y remédier ? Faut-il mettre en place des programmes visant à attirer les hommes vers l’enseignement supérieur ? Quelles sont les mesures qui peuvent être prises sur le plan de l’accessibilité pour arriver à un équilibre hommes/femmes dans l’enseignement supérieur ? Cet article examine les changements intervenus dans la répartition hommes/femmes dans les universités et collèges au Canada, aux États-Unis et dans d'autres pays. Il expose les causes et les effets éventuels sur le plan économique, social et politique du déséquilibre entre hommes et femmes. On étudie les techniques d’accessibilité qu’il serait possible d’utiliser pour aboutir à un équilibre hommes/femmes dans les programmes des universités et des collèges.