No abstract

Background Ontario is home to the largest number of immigrants in Canada. However, very little is known about their dental care utilization patterns. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of poor dental health care use among the immigrant population of Ontario and how various socio-demographic, socio-economic and health-related factors are associated with it. Methods Analysis was performed on a total of 4208 Ontarian immigrants who participated in the dental care module of the 2014 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey. Poor dental care use was defined by the two variables: not visiting the dentist in the past year and/or visiting the dentist only for emergency purposes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between the two outcomes and the socio-demographic, socio-economic and health-related factors. Results Thirty three percent of immigrants reported not visiting the dentist in the past year and 25% reported visiting only for emergencies. The leading components associated with poor dental care utilization were being a new immigrant, of male gender, having low educational attainment, low household income and lacking dental insurance. Conclusions This study is the first to highlight oral health care use patterns amongst immigrants in Ontario. Given that a large proportion of the immigrant population in Ontario have poor dental care use, education and outreach programs informing incoming immigrants of preventative dental care may improve overall dental health.

This manuscript focuses on the physiological, environmental, nutritional, circadian, and aging factors affecting skin tissue water and hydration parameters. The literature findings indicate a multiplicity of interacting processes among these parameters, ultimately impacting skin hydration in normal skin and playing a role in conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. The maintenance of adequate skin hydration, aided by the proper functioning of the skin's protective barrier, is facilitated by stratum corneum integrity with the presence of tight junctions and lipids such as ceramides, each of which is impacted by changes in most of the evaluated parameters. Abnormalities in aquaporin 3 (AQP3) expression and associated deficits in skin hydration appear to have a role in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. AQP3 hydration-related aspects are influenced by circadian rhythms via modulations associated with CLOCK genes that alter AQP3 protein expression. Ultraviolet exposure, aging, and low temperatures are among those factors that affect skin ceramide composition, potentially leading to increased transepidermal water loss and negatively impacting skin hydration. Vitamin C, collagen, and probiotics may increase ceramide production and improve skin hydration. The extent to which each of the different evaluated factors affects skin hydration varies but is usually large enough to consider their potential effects when investigating skin in research and clinical settings.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and spread all over the world, causing the worst pandemic of the century. The disease has a broad continuum of clinical presentations, from mild to life-threatening. The virus is highly contagious and transmittable to humans. Emerging evidence of its effects on pregnant women and newborns is inconsistent and ever-evolving. Therefore, the objective of this review is to compile the scientific literature on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on pregnancy, pregnant women, and newborns. Data were obtained by several authors using PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. "COVID-19", "pregnancy", "vertical transmission", and "newborn" were the search words used to find relevant articles. Most studies suggested pregnant women and newborns are not at additional risk for unfavorable outcomes. Besides, very few studies found newborns who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon delivery from a COVID-positive mother. However, several studies showed no evidence of intrauterine or transplacental transmission of COVID-19 infection. Studies had mixed findings with a few showing the presence of the virus in breastmilk. In conclusion, there is no concrete evidence of additional adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnant women and newborns.

Objectives In 1998, Health Canada mandated folic acid fortification of white flour and enriched grain products to reduce the prevalence of neural tube defects. In 2009, we reported that the analyzed folate content of 95 of the mostly commonly purchased folic acid fortified foods in Canada was on average 151 ± 16% of that reported in the Canadian Nutrient File (CNF). The aim of this study was to assess whether 20 years after mandatory fortification, the CNF values for folate and folic acid accurately reflect amounts determined by direct assessment. Methods Using the 2007 ACNielsen Company data 15 of the most commonly purchased folic acid-fortified foods from each of the following categories were selected: “breads”, “rolls and buns”, “cookies” and “crackers”. Folate concentrations in foods were determined using the tri-enzyme digestion method followed by a microbiological assay. Synthetic folic acid concentrations were determined using stable-isotope liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Analyzed values were compared to the 2015 Canadian Nutrient File; unbranded foods. Results Our preliminary data show the total folate content analyzed in foods (n = 24 to date) was significantly higher than the CNF values across all categories (P < 0.01) and on average, 187% ± 15 of the CNF values. Similarly, the synthetic folic acid content in foods was significantly higher than CNF values for “rolls and buns” and “cookies” (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 respectively) and on average 163% ± 25 of the CNF values. Conclusions These preliminary data suggest, 20 years after mandatory fortification of the food supply, CNF values which include unbranded foods do not accurately represent the amounts of total folate and synthetic folic acid in foods. Hence dietary estimates established using the CNF many significantly underestimate actual intakes due to continued overages in folic acid fortification. Funding Sources Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.