Manitoba

For many mosquito species, the females must obtain vertebrate blood to complete a gonotrophic cycle. These blood meals are frequently supplemented by feeding on sugary plant nectar, which sustains energy reserves needed for flight, mating, and overall fitness. Our understanding of mosquito nectar foraging behaviors is mostly limited to laboratory experiments and direct field observations, with little research into natural mosquito-host plant relationships done in North America. In this study, we collected nectar-fed female mosquitoes over a 2-year period in Manitoba, Canada, and amplified a fragment of the chloroplast rbcL gene to identify the plant species fed upon...

OBJECTIVES: To assess the racial and sociodemographic distribution of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake in Canada, identify disparities, and evaluate the potential predictors and barriers to CRC screening. METHODS: Data from the 2017 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) were analyzed, focusing on individuals aged 50-74 years. CRC screening participation rates were evaluated at both national and provincial levels and across various sociodemographic characteristics...

OBJECTIVES: To assess the distribution and spending by cost-effectiveness category among those drugs with the highest public spending levels in Canada. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Cost-effectiveness assessments by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) for top-100 brand-name outpatient drugs by gross public plan spending in any year between 2015 and 2021 in Canada Institute for Health Information's National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System data...

OBJECTIVE: To describe the financial capability (FC) and financial well-being (FWB) of adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI) from a lived experience perspective. DESIGN: People living with ABI completed a 32-item and close others a 22-item anonymous survey using either online or print/mail-in options. SETTING: Responses were collected from adults in the province of Manitoba (Canada) during August-October 2021. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents were adults (18+) living with ABI (n=38) or close others of ABI survivors (n=19)...

In this study, we describe Parachaetocladius lenferringtoni sp. nov., based on all its life stages, and provide keys to adult males and pupae of the Nearctic Parachaetocladius. The new species was originally placed in Parachaetocladius abnobaeus (Wlker 1959) due to the similarity in the hypopygium of these species. However, a detailed examination of adults and associated immature specimens demonstrates that P. lenferringtoni sp. nov. represents a single species that is different from P. abnobaeus. Diagnostic adult and pupal characters were identified to separate this new species from P...

INTRODUCTION: The International Society of Clinical Densitometry recommends omitting lumbar vertebrae affected by structural artifact from spine BMD measurement. Since reporting fewer than 4 vertebrae reduces spine BMD precision, least significant change (LSC) needs to be adjusted upwards when reporting spine BMD change based on fewer than 4 vertebrae. METHODOLOGY: In order to simplify estimating LSC from combinations of vertebrae other than L1-L4 (denoted LSCL1-4 ), we analyzed 879 DXA spine scan-pairs from the Manitoba BMD Program's ongoing precision evaluation...

Purpose: The Food and Nutrition for Manitoba Youth (FANS) study examined dietary intakes, food behaviours, food security status, health indicators, and body mass index of a cohort of grade 9 students. This paper describes regional differences and similarities in dietary intake (food and nutrients) and quality of youth participants in the FANS study. Methods: Grade 9 students completed a web-based survey on dietary intakes (24-hour recall), food behaviours, self-reported health indicators, and sociodemographic variables...

Snowmelt runoff is a dominant pathway of phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural lands in cold climatic regions. Soil amendments effectively reduce P losses from soils by converting P to less soluble forms; however, changes in P speciation in cold climatic regions with fall-applied amendments have not been investigated. This study evaluated P composition in soils from a manured field with fall-amended alum (Al2 (SO4 )3 ·18H2 O), gypsum (CaSO4 ·2H2 O), or Epsom salt (MgSO4 ·7H2 O) using three complementary methods: sequential P fractionation, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-rays (SEM-EDX) spectroscopy, and P K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES)...

Earth's deep continental subsurface is a prime setting to study the limits of life's relationship with environmental conditions and habitability. In Precambrian crystalline rocks worldwide, deep ancient groundwaters in fracture networks are typically oligotrophic, highly saline, and locally inhabited by low-biomass communities in which chemolithotrophic microorganisms may dominate. Periodic opening of new fractures can lead to penetration of surface water and/or migration of fracture fluids, both of which may trigger changes in subsurface microbial composition and activity...

BACKGROUND: Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks are the principal vectors of the agent of Lyme disease and several other tick-borne diseases in Canada. Tick surveillance data can be used to identify local tick-borne disease risk areas and direct public health interventions. The objective of this article is to describe the seasonal and spatial characteristics of the main Lyme disease vectors in Canada, and the tick-borne pathogens they carry, using passive and active surveillance data from 2020...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than one in ten people worldwide. However, results from the REVEAL-CKD study suggest that it is often not diagnosed. Many patients are therefore unaware that they have CKD, putting them at increased risk of disease progression and complications. Empowering patients with knowledge about CKD will allow them to become active participants in their own care, driving improvements in diagnosis rates and changing patient outcomes for the better. In this article, we provide patient and clinician perspectives on the importance of early CKD diagnosis and management...

IMPORTANCE: Data on the middle school outcomes of preterm children are limited and have methodologic issues. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between preterm birth and grade 7 school performance. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study of children born in Manitoba, Canada between 1994 and 2006 using their grade 7 school performance data. A secondary sibling cohort was created comprising children born preterm and their full-term siblings...

Health Canada (HC) has, since 2013, issued safety alerts restricting the use of codeine-containing drugs among breastfeeding women and children/adolescents under 18 years of age. These products are linked to breathing problems among ultra-rapid CYP2D6 metabolizers and early use of opioid can lead to future opioid misuse. Using a multi-province population-based cohort study, we estimate the impact of federal safety alerts on annual rates of codeine use in the Canadian pediatric population. We analyzed data from 8,156,948 children/adolescents in five Canadian provinces between 1996 and 2021, using a common protocol...

BACKGROUND: In spring 2022, a series of reports from the United Kingdom and the United States identified an increase in the incidence of acute severe hepatitis in children. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) collaborated with provincial/territorial health partners to investigate in Canada. Clinical hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, is not reportable in Canada, so to determine if an increase was occurring above historical levels, the baseline incidence in Canada was estimated...

Unlike other developed countries that hold national burn registries to monitor burn injury and care, Canada relies on single-centre secondary datasets and administrative databases as surveillance mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge gap faced in Canada for not having a dedicated burn registry. A comprehensive scoping review was conducted to identify the burn literature that has arisen from secondary datasets in Canada. Literature of all study designs was included with the exception of case reports and cases series...

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence on variation in radiotherapy use in different countries, although it is a key treatment modality for some patients with cancer. Here we aimed to examine such variation. METHODS: This population-based study used data from Norway, the four UK nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), nine Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan), and two Australian states (New South Wales and Victoria)...

BACKGROUND: There are few data on international variation in chemotherapy use, despite it being a key treatment type for some patients with cancer. Here, we aimed to examine the presence and size of such variation. METHODS: This population-based study used data from Norway, the four UK nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), eight Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan), and two Australian states (New South Wales and Victoria)...

INTRODUCTION: Kenya reported its first COVID-19 case on 13 March 2020. Pandemic-driven health system changes followed and unforeseen societal, economic and health effects reported. This protocol aims to describe the methods used to identify the gender equality and health equity gaps and possible disproportional health and socioeconomic impacts experienced by paid and unpaid (community health volunteer) female healthcare providers in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties, Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic...

INTRODUCTION: Following the emergence of COVID-19, multiple preventative measures were implemented to limit the spread of the disease. This study aims to elucidate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on hospital admissions of otolaryngology-related infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted to capture all admissions for otolaryngology-related infections in the 2 years pre- and post-COVID-19 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba...

OBJECTIVE: This study explored patient and caregiver expectations and experiences of virtual primary care in Manitoba, Canada. This study focused on accessibility of care, acceptability and perceptions of quality from 'users' of primary healthcare services. Due to the rapid implementation of virtual primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, patient/public input was largely bypassed. METHODS: A mixed method was conducted in collaboration with Patient and Caregiver Community Advisors...