The effect of dietary interventions or patterns on the cardiometabolic health of individuals treated with androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: A systematic review

Prostate cancer survivors treated with androgen deprivation therapy may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary recommendations for the prevention and/or management of cardiovascular disease for these individuals are lacking. This review synthesizes the evidence on the effect of dietary interventions on cardiometabolic biomarkers and cardiovascular disease risk in prostate cancer survivors receiving androgen deprivation therapy. A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Intervention or observational cohort studies evaluating diets, nutrients, or nutraceuticals with or without concurrent exercise interventions on cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular events, or cardiovascular disease biomarkers in those treated with androgen deprivation therapy were included. Confidence in the body of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. Twelve studies reported across fifteen papers were included. Interventions were heterogenous, with most studies including an exercise co-intervention (n = 8). Few significant findings for the effects of diet on cardiometabolic markers were likely due to weak methodology and sample sizes. Strongest evidence was for the effect of a healthy Western dietary pattern with exercise on improved blood pressure (Confidence: moderate). The healthy Western dietary pattern with exercise may improve high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Confidence: Low) and flow-mediated dilation. Soy may improve total cholesterol (Confidence: Very low). A low-carbohydrate diet with physical activity may improve high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, incidence of metabolic syndrome, and Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score. Evidence of the effect of dietary interventions on cardiometabolic biomarkers and cardiovascular disease risk of prostate cancer survivors receiving androgen deprivation therapy is insufficient to inform practice. Well-designed dietary interventions aimed at improving cardiometabolic outcomes of this population are warranted to inform future dietary recommendations

On the Evolution of Catalysis: The changing kinetics of core metabolic enzymes

Enzymes are biological catalysts that are essential to life: they are largely very efficient and exquisitely specialised to their substrate. They are, however, predicted to have evolved from simple promiscuous catalysts (able to catalyse multiple reactions on multiple substrates). The goal of this thesis was to explore the multiple models of evolution with three model enzymes. In a complementary model for enzyme evolution, it is hypothesised that some ancient enzymes may have exhibited higher catalytic rates than their extant descendants. This model was investigated through the reconstruction of core bacterial enzymes AroA (aromatic amino acid biosynthesis) and MurA (peptidoglycan biosynthesis), from the common ancestor of modern Streptoccocci species. The ~300 million year old ancestral enzyme conformed to the model, with 20-fold higher activity than MurA enzymes in modern Streptococci. Several models for enzyme evolution, both primordial and contemporary, require a multifunctional precursor enzyme as a starting point. This was the case in a previous study, in which model enzyme HisA (histidine biosynthesis) from Salmonella enterica was evolved to acquire novel activity towards the TrpF (tryptophan biosynthesis) substrate (Näsvall et al., 2012). In the current study, the variant enzymes representing a mutational trajectory between HisA and TrpF were kinetically characterised and the structure-function link identified for many causative mutations. A three-amino acid duplication was key for establishing the novel TrpF function, altering the induced fit mechanism of the enzyme and repositioning the general acid side chain. Other amino acid substitutions improved novel activity and substrate specificity by excluding the HisA substrate. The S. enterica HisA active site and that of the variant specialised to TrpF activity were characterised through site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic assays. It was found that the new TrpF enzyme employed two different catalytic mechanisms. In addition to an entirely enzyme-based mechanism (as in HisA), the enzyme also employed substrate-assisted catalysis, whereby a functional group of the substrate contributed to catalysis. Such primitive mechanisms might – like multifunctional enzymes – be common intermediates during the evolution of enzymatic function. The requirements for TrpF function in the S. enterica HisA active site were further probed through site-directed mutagenesis to find the relative contribution of different residues to function. A duplicated arginine residue was important to alter the orientation of the active site aspartate to optimise its role as a general acid. A library generated through site-saturation mutagenesis in the active site of a bifunctional HisA variant was selected for improved TrpF function and yielded an enzyme with 13-fold improved activity and absolute substrate specificity. This study has demonstrated the ruggedness of the extended HisA landscape and how highly connected the enzyme is with other functions. The elegant complexity of enzymatic function and its evolution is demonstrated on many different fronts

Subliminal Priming—State of the Art and Future Perspectives

The influence of subliminal priming (behavior outside of awareness) in humans is an interesting phenomenon and its understanding is crucial as it can impact behavior, choices, and actions. Given this, research about the impact of priming continues to be an area of investigative interest, and this paper provides a technical overview of research design strengths and issues in subliminal priming research. Efficient experiments and protocols, as well as associated electroencephalographic and eye movement data analyses, are discussed in detail. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of different priming experiments that have measured affective (emotional) and cognitive responses. Finally, very recent approaches and findings are described to summarize and emphasize state-of-the-art methods and potential future directions in research marketing and other commercial applications.Applied Science, Faculty ofMedicine, Faculty ofOther UBCNon UBCElectrical and Computer Engineering, Department ofOccupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Department ofReviewedFacult

Double-balloon enteroscopy

MSAC application 1102; Assessment Report; Publication approval number: P3-1291Elizabeth Buckley, Skye Newton, Hedyeh Hedayati, Tracy Merlin, John Moss and Janet Hille

Computer aided detection systems in mammography

Petra Bywood, Skye Newton, Tracy Merlin, Annette Braunack-Mayer and Janet Hille

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fracture

Tracy Merlin, Skye Newton, Hedyeh Hedayati, Nikki McCaffrey, John Moss and Janet Hille

Lumbar non-fusion posterior stabilisation devices

MSAC application 1099Date Received by MSAC Secretariat May 200

Prevalence of parental supply of alcohol to minors: A systematic review

Parental supply of alcohol to minors (i.e. those under the legal drinking age) is often perceived by parents as protective against harms from drinking, despite evidence linking it with adverse alcohol-related outcomes. This systematic review describes the prevalence of parental supply of alcohol, as reported in the international literature. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020218754). We searched seven online databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and Public Health Database) and grey literature from January 2011 to December 2022 and assessed the risk of bias with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Among 58 articles included in narrative synthesis from 29 unique datasets, there was substantial variation in the definition and measurement of parental supply of alcohol. Overall prevalence rates ranged from 7.0 to 60.0% for minor-report samples, and from 24.0 to 8.0% for parent-report samples. Data indicate that parental supply prevalence is generally proportionately higher for older minors or later-stage students, for girls, and has increased over time among minors who report drinking. Literature on the prevalence of parental supply of alcohol is robust in quantity but inconsistent in quality and reported prevalence. Greater consistency in defining and measuring parental supply is needed to better inform health promotion initiatives aimed at increasing parents’ awareness

Intragastric balloons for the temporary management of morbid obesity

MSAC application 111