Cancer in First Nations people in Ontario, Canada: Incidence and mortality, 1991 to 2010.

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.

Monitoring, treatment and control of blood glucose and lipids in Ontario First Nations people with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Indigenous people worldwide are disproportionately affected by diabetes and its complications. We aimed to assess the monitoring, treatment and control of blood glucose and lipids in First Nations people in Ontario. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal population-based study using administrative data for all people in Ontario with diabetes, stratified by First Nations status. We assessed age- and sex-specific rates of completion of recommended monitoring for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glycated hemoglobin (A1c) from 2001/02 to 2014/15. We used data from 2014/15 to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of rates of achievement of A1c and LDL targets and use of glucose-lowering medications. RESULTS: The study included 22 240 First Nations people and 1 319 503 other people in Ontario with diabetes. Rates of monitoring according to guidelines were 20%-50% for A1c and 30%-70% for lipids and were lowest for younger First Nations men. The mean age- and sex-adjusted A1c level was higher among First Nations people than other people (7.59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.57 to 7.61] v. 7.03 [95% CI 7.02 to 7.03]). An A1c level of 8.5% or higher was observed in 24.7% (95% CI 23.6 to 25.0) of First Nations people, compared to 12.8% (95% CI 12.1 to 13.5) of other people in Ontario. An LDL level of 2.0 mmol/L or less was observed in 60.3% (95% CI 59.7 to 61.6) of First Nations people, compared to 52.0% (95% CI 51.1 to 52.9) of other people in Ontario. Among those aged 65 or older, a higher proportion of First Nations people than other Ontarians were using insulin (28.1% v. 15.1%), and fewer were taking no medications (28.3% v. 40.1%). INTERPRETATION: As of 2014/15, monitoring and achievement of glycemic control in both First Nations people and other people in Ontario with diabetes remained suboptimal. Interventions to support First Nations patients to reach their treatment goals and reduce the risk of complications need further development and study.

Diabetes prevalence, incidence and mortality in First Nations and other people in Ontario, 1995-2014: a population-based study using linked administrative data.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is an established health concern in First Nations communities and is associated with complex influences of colonization. This study, a partnership between First Nations and academic researchers, was undertaken to determine patterns of diabetes prevalence, incidence and mortality in Ontario. METHODS: Using health services and population data from Ontario for 1995 to 2014, linked with the federal Indian Register, we calculated age- and sex-adjusted annual estimates of diabetes prevalence, incidence and mortality for First Nations people (living within and outside First Nations communities) and other people in Ontario. We also examined age- and sex-specific crude diabetes prevalence. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2014, the prevalence of diabetes increased and the incidence decreased somewhat in all populations. Both prevalence and incidence were substantially higher among First Nations people than among other people in Ontario. In particular, First Nations women had higher prevalence than other women (4.2% v. 1.6% for ages 20-34 yr and 17.6% v. 6.0% for ages 35-49 yr). The lifetime risk of diabetes was higher among First Nations people than among other people in Ontario (57.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 56.3%-57.6% v. 44.5%, 95% CI 44.4%-44.6%). Over time, all-cause mortality for those with diabetes declined but remained consistently higher for First Nations people than for other people in Ontario. INTERPRETATION: Diabetes is more common among First Nations people than among other people in Ontario, particularly at younger ages and in women. First Nations-led approaches to address the high prevalence of diabetes in younger First Nations women have the potential to improve metabolic health across generations.

Regulatory T cells control diabetes without compromising acute anti-viral defense.

While previous reports have demonstrated the efficacy of regulatory T cell therapy in the prevention of diabetes, systemic immunocompromise and Treg instability remain key safety concerns. Here we examined the influence of induced Treg (iTreg) cell therapy on anti-viral host defense and autoimmune T cell responses during acute viral infection in a murine model of autoimmune diabetes. Protective transfers of iTregs maintained IL-10 expression, expanded in vivo and controlled diabetes, despite losing FoxP3 expression. Adoptive transfer of iTregs affected neither the primary anti-viral CD8 T cell response nor viral clearance, although a significant and sustained suppression of CD4 T cell responses was observed. Following acute viral clearance, iTregs transferred early suppressed both CD4 and CD8 T cell responses, which resulted in the reversion of diabetes. These observations indicate that iTregs suppress local autoimmune processes while preserving the immunocompetent host's ability to combat acute viral infection.

Viral and host factors determine innate immune responses in airway epithelial cells from children with wheeze and atopy.

BACKGROUND: Airway epithelial cells (AEC) from patients with asthma, appear to have an impaired interferon (IFN)-ß and -λ response to infection with rhinovirus. OBJECTIVES: To determine if impaired IFN responses can be identified in young children at risk of developing asthma due to atopy and/or early life wheeze, and if the site of infection or the infecting virus influence the antiviral response. METHODS: Nasal (N) and tracheal (T) epithelial cells (EC) were collected from children categorised with atopy and/or wheeze based on specific IgE to locally common aeroallergens and a questionnaire concerning respiratory health. Submerged primary cultures were infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and IFN production, inflammatory cytokine expression and viral replication quantified. RESULTS: Nasal epithelial cells (NEC), but not tracheal epithelial cells (TEC), from children with wheeze and/or atopy produced less IFN-ß, but not IFN-λ, in response to RSV infection; this was associated with higher viral shedding. However, IFN-regulated factors IRF-7, Mx-1 and CXCL-10, and inflammatory cytokines were not differentially regulated. NECs and TECs from children with wheeze and/or atopy demonstrated no impairment of the IFN response (ß or λ) to hMPV infection. Despite this, more hMPV was shed from these cells. CONCLUSIONS: AECs from children with wheeze and/or atopy do not have an intrinsic defect in the production of IFN-ß or -λ, however, this response is influenced by the infecting virus. Higher viral load is associated with atopy and wheeze suggesting an impaired antiviral response to RSV and hMPV that is not influenced by production of IFNs.

Respiratory viral infections in children with asthma: do they matter and can we prevent them?

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a major public health problem with a huge social and economic burden affecting 300 million people worldwide. Viral respiratory infections are the major cause of acute asthma exacerbations and may contribute to asthma inception in high risk young children with susceptible genetic background. Acute exacerbations are associated with decreased lung growth or accelerated loss of lung function and, as such, add substantially to both the cost and morbidity associated with asthma. DISCUSSION: While the importance of preventing viral infection is well established, preventive strategies have not been well explored. Good personal hygiene, hand-washing and avoidance of cigarette smoke are likely to reduce respiratory viral infections. Eating a healthy balanced diet, active probiotic supplements and bacterial-derived products, such as OM-85, may reduce recurrent infections in susceptible children. There are no practical anti-viral therapies currently available that are suitable for widespread use. SUMMARY: Hand hygiene is the best measure to prevent the common cold. A healthy balanced diet, active probiotic supplements and immunostimulant OM-85 may reduce recurrent infections in asthmatic children.

Role of nursing students at rural nurse-managed clinics.

With stiff competition for clinical sites, one Midwestern university partners nursing students with faculty who provide primary healthcare to clients in 2 rural nurse-managed clinics. Some students are also assigned to follow select clients during weekly home visit rotations for their public health clinical course. The result has been a successful faculty practice and preceptor model that benefits rural communities, a clinical setting that provides opportunities for students to experience client care needs of the underinsured or uninsured in small communities, and student exposure to the financial burdens and challenges of today's healthcare environment in the United States.

Understanding Aging, Frailty, and Resilience in Ontario First Nations.

Following Canadian estimates of frailty, academic researchers and the Chiefs of Ontario came together to create the first Ontario-wide profile of aging in First Nations people in Ontario. Using self-reported data from First Nations adults who participated in the Ontario First Nations Regional Health Survey Phase 2, we found that First Nations people in Ontario experience higher rates of frailty than the general Canadian population and early onset frailty appears to affect First Nations communities. This is important to consider as communities plan for health care needs of an aging population and is particularly relevant in the face of Covid-19, as we know severity is exacerbated by underlying health conditions.

Characterizing risk of type 2 diabetes in First Nations people living in First Nations communities in Ontario: a population-based analysis using cross-sectional survey data.

BACKGROUND: Population-based planning tools are important for informing diabetes-prevention efforts in First Nations communities. We used the Diabetes Population Risk Tool (DPoRT) to predict 10-year diabetes risk and describe the factors that contribute to diabetes risk in First Nations adults living in Ontario First Nations communities. METHODS: We examined population data from adult (≥ 20 yr) respondents to the First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS) phase 3, a representative cohort of First Nations people living in Ontario First Nations communities. We applied the DPoRT to risk factor information in the survey to predict the distribution of 10-year type 2 diabetes incidence and number of new diabetes cases from 2015/16 to 2025/26. RESULTS: There were 993 respondents to the RHS phase 3 adult survey, of whom 936 (708 without diabetes and 228 with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes) were eligible for inclusion. The DPoRT predicted a type 2 diabetes risk of 9.6% (confidence interval [CI] 8.3-10.8) between 2015/16 and 2025/26, corresponding to 3501 (95% CI 2653-4348) new diabetes cases. Diabetes cases were predicted to occur disproportionately among those experiencing food insecurity, low income, overweight, obesity and physical inactivity. Reduced diabetes risk was predicted among those who reported connections to Indigenous culture, as measured by eating traditional vegetative foods a few times or often in the previous 12 months. INTERPRETATION: Socioeconomic conditions and known risk factors for type 2 diabetes are important determinants of diabetes risk in First Nations communities. Culturally appropriate policies, programming and services that address socioeconomic disadvantage and other diabetes risk factors in First Nations communities likely have an important role for diabetes prevention in First Nations adults.

Prevalence, incidence and outcomes of diabetes in Ontario First Nations children: a longitudinal population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: First Nations people are known to have a higher risk of childhood-onset type 2 diabetes, yet population-level data about diabetes in First Nations children are unavailable. In a partnership between Chiefs of Ontario and academic researchers, we describe the epidemiologic features and outcomes of diabetes in First Nations children in Ontario. METHODS: We created annual cohorts from 1995/96 to 2014/15 using data from the Registered Persons Database linked with the federal Indian Register. We used the Ontario Diabetes Database to identify children with all types of diabetes and calculated the prevalence and incidence for First Nations children and other children in Ontario. We describe glycemic control in First Nations children and other children in 2014. RESULTS: In 2014/15, there were 254 First Nations children and 10 144 other children with diagnosed diabetes in Ontario. From 1995/96 to 2014/15, the prevalence increased from 0.17 to 0.57 per 100 children, and the annual incidence increased from 37 to 94 per 100 000 per year among First Nations children. In 2014/15, the prevalence of diabetes was 0.62/100 among First Nations girls and 0.36/100 among other girls. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin level among First Nations children was 9.1% (standard deviation 2.7%) and for other children, 8.5% (standard deviation 2.1%). INTERPRETATION: First Nations children have substantially higher rates of diabetes than non-Aboriginal children in Ontario; this is likely driven by an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes and increased risk for diabetes among First Nations girls. There is an urgent need for strategies to address modifiable factors associated with the risk of diabetes, improve access to culturally sensitive diabetes care and improve outcomes for First Nations children.

Diabetes during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes among First Nations women in Ontario, 2002/03-2014/15: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, increasing numbers of women, especially First Nations women, are affected by diabetes during pregnancy, which is a major risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine temporal trends in pregnancy outcomes and use of health care services in a population-based cohort of First Nations women compared to other women in Ontario according to diabetes status during pregnancy. METHODS: Using health administrative databases, we created annual cohorts of pregnant women from 2002/03 to 2014/15 and identified those with preexisting diabetes and gestational diabetes. We used the Indian Register to identify First Nations women. We estimated rates of adverse maternal and infant outcomes, and measures of use of health care services in each population. RESULTS: There were 1 671 337 deliveries among 1 065 950 women during the study period; of these deliveries, 31 417 (1.9%) were in First Nations women, and 1 639 920 (98.1%) were in other women. First Nations women had a higher prevalence of preexisting diabetes and gestational diabetes than other women in Ontario. First Nations women with preexisting diabetes had higher rates of preeclampsia (3.2%-5.6%), labour induction (33.4%-42.9%) and cesarean delivery (47.8%-53.7%) than other women in Ontario, as did First Nations women with gestational diabetes (3.2%-4.7%, 38.5%-46.9% and 41.4%-43.4%, respectively). The rate of preterm birth was similar between First Nations women and other women in Ontario. Although First Nations women had a higher rate of babies who were large for gestational age than other women, regardless of diabetes status, obstructed labour rates were similar for the 2 cohorts. Almost all First Nations women, regardless of diabetes status, were seen by a primary care provider during their pregnancy, but rates of use of specialty care were lower for First Nations women than for other women. Fifteen percent of all pregnant women with preexisting diabetes visited an ophthalmologist during their pregnancy. INTERPRETATION: Our results confirm disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes between First Nations women and other women in Ontario. Access to primary care for pregnant women seemed adequate, but access to specialized care, especially for women with preexisting diabetes, needs to improve.

Peripheral arterial disease in Ontario First Nations people with diabetes: a longitudinal population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease is an important vascular complication of diabetes that may lead to lower-extremity amputation. We aimed to compare the treatment and complications of peripheral arterial disease between First Nations people and other people in Ontario with diabetes. METHODS: Using health care administrative databases, we identified annual cohorts, from 1995/96 to 2014/15, of all people aged 20-105 years in Ontario with a diagnosis of diabetes. We used the Indian Register to identify those who were First Nations people and compared them to all other people in Ontario. We identified revascularization procedures (angioplasty or bypass surgery) and lower-extremity amputation procedures in the 2 populations and determined the mortality rate among those who had had lower-extremity amputation. RESULTS: First Nations people received revascularization procedures at a rate comparable to that for other people in Ontario. However, they had lower-extremity amputation procedures at 3-5 times the frequency for other Ontario residents. First Nations people had higher mortality than other people in Ontario after lower-extremity amputation (adjusted hazard ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.26), with median survival of 3.5 years versus 4.1 years. INTERPRETATION: First Nations people in Ontario had a markedly increased risk for lower-extremity amputation compared to other people in Ontario, and their mortality rate after amputation was 15% higher. Future research is needed to understand what barriers First Nations people face to receive adequate peripheral arterial disease care and what interventions are necessary to achieve equitable outcomes of peripheral arterial disease for First Nations people in Ontario.

First Nations people with diabetes in Ontario: methods for a longitudinal population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To improve diabetes care, First Nations leaders and others need access to population-level health data. We provide details of the collaborative methods we used to describe the prevalence and incidence of diabetes in First Nations people in Ontario and present demographic data for this population compared to the rest of the Ontario population. METHODS: To identify the population of First Nations people and other people in Ontario, we created annual cohorts of the Ontario population for each year between Apr. 1, 1995, and Mar. 31, 2015. Through a partnership between First Nations and academic researchers, we linked provincial population-based health administrative data stored at ICES with the Indian Register, which identifies all Status First Nations people. Our collaborative process was guided by the First Nations principles of ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP). RESULTS: Demographic characteristics for the 2014/15 cohort (n = 13 406 684) are presented here. The cohort includes 158 241 Status First Nations people and 13 248 443 other people living in Ontario. Using postal codes, we were able to identify virtually all (99.9%) First Nations people in Ontario as living in (n = 55 311) or outside (n =102 889) a First Nations community. First Nations people were younger and more likely to live in semiurban or rural areas than the rest of Ontario's population. INTERPRETATION: The collaborative methodology used in this study is applicable to many jurisdictions working with Indigenous groups who have access to similar data. The Ontario cohort defined here is being used to conduct analyses of health outcomes and use of health care services among First Nations people with diabetes in Ontario.

Kidney disease and care among First Nations people with diabetes in Ontario: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: End-stage kidney disease is a serious complication of diabetes. We describe the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, prevalence and incidence of end-stage kidney disease and quality of care of early-stage chronic kidney disease for First Nations people with diabetes compared to other Ontarians with diabetes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Ontario using linked administrative data at ICES. We included adults with incident diabetes between 1994 and 2014, and used laboratory values to identify kidney disease and quality indicators for care for early-stage disease. We compared measures in First Nations people to those in other people in Ontario, and used direct age and sex standardization. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to compare the incidence of end-stage kidney disease between groups. RESULTS: Our study included 21 968 First Nations people with diabetes. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of chronic kidney disease was higher for First Nations people than for other Ontarians (20.7% v. 18.4%), as was the prevalence of end-stage kidney disease (2.9% v. 1.0%). The incidence of end-stage kidney disease was higher among First Nations people than among other people in Ontario (9.3 v. 4.7 events per 10 000 person-years; age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.72-2.89). The 2 groups were similarly likely to receive recommended medications, but First Nations people were less likely to receive laboratory tests for their kidney disease. INTERPRETATION: Despite receiving similar quality of care for early-stage kidney disease, First Nations people with diabetes had higher rates of end-stage kidney disease than other Ontarians. Further research is needed to better understand contributing factors to help inform future interventions.

Unlocking First Nations health information through data linkage.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of Indigenous data sovereignty and Indigenous-led research processes is increasingly being recognized in Canada and internationally. For First Nations in Ontario, Canada, access to routinely-collected demographic and health systems data is critical to planning and measuring health status and outcomes in their populations. Linkage of this data with the Indian Register (IR), under First Nations data governance, has unlocked data for use by First Nations organizations and communities. OBJECTIVES: To describe the linkage of the IR database to the Ontario Registered Persons Database (RPDB) within the context of Indigenous data sovereignty principles. METHODS: Deterministic and probabilistic record linkage methods were used to link the IR to the RPDB. There is no established population of First Nations people living in Ontario with which we could establish a linkage rate. Accordingly, several approaches were taken to determine a denominator that would represent the total population of First Nations we would hope to link to the RPDB. RESULTS: Overall, 201,678 individuals in the national IR database matched to Ontario health records by way of the RPDB, of which 98,562 were female and 103,116 were male. Of those First Nations individuals linked to the RPDB, 90.2% (n=181,915) lived in Ontario when they first registered with IR, or were affiliated with an Ontario First Nation Community. The proportion of registered First Nations people linking to the RPDB improved across time, from 62.8% in the 1960s to 94.5% in 2012. CONCLUSION: This linkage of the IR and RPDB has resulted in the creation of the largest First Nations health research study cohort in Canada. The linked data are being used by First Nations communities to answer questions that ultimately promote wellbeing, effective policy, and healing.

Cancer risk factors and screening in First Nations in Ontario. / Facteurs de risque et dépistage du cancer chez les Premières Nations en Ontario.

INTRODUCTION: A lack of identifiers in health administrative databases limits our understanding of the cancer burden in First Nations. This study compares cancer risk factors and screening between First Nations in Ontario (on and off reserve) and non-Aboriginal Ontarians using two unique health surveys. METHODS: We measured age-standardized prevalence estimates using the First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS) Phase 2, 2008/10 (for First Nations on reserve) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2013 (for First Nations off reserve and non-Aboriginal Ontarians). We used prevalence rate ratios (RR) and Pearson's chisquare tests for differences in proportions to compare estimates between First Nations (on and off reserve) and non-Aboriginal Ontarians. RESULTS: A higher proportion of First Nation men, women and adolescents on reserve smoked (RR = 1.97, 2.78 and 7.21 respectively) and were obese (RR = 1.73, 2.33 and 3.29 respectively) compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Similar patterns were observed for First Nations off reserve. Frequent binge drinking was also more prevalent among First Nation men and women living on reserve (RR = 1.28 and 2.22, respectively) and off reserve (RR = 1.70 and 1.45, respectively) than non-Aboriginal Ontarians. First Nation men and women on reserve were about half as likely to consume fruit at least twice per day and vegetables at least twice per day compared to non-Aboriginal men and women (RR = 0.53 and 0.54, respectively). Pap test uptake was similar across all groups, while First Nation women on reserve were less likely to have had a mammogram in the last five years than non-Aboriginal women (RR = 0.85). CONCLUSION: First Nations, especially those living on reserve, have an increased risk for cancer and other chronic diseases compared to non-Aboriginal Ontarians. These results provide evidence to support policies and programs to reduce the future burden of cancer and other chronic diseases in First Nations in Ontario.

INTRODUCTION: L'absence d'identificateurs, dans les bases de données administratives sur la santé, nous empêche de bien comprendre le fardeau du cancer chez les Premières Nations. Notre étude compare les facteurs de risque et le dépistage du cancer chez les membres des Premières Nations en Ontario (vivant dans des réserves et hors réserves) et chez les Ontariens non autochtones, en s'appuyant sur deux enquêtes sur la santé. MÉTHODOLOGIE: L'absence d'identificateurs, dans les bases de données administratives sur la santé, nous empêche de bien comprendre le fardeau du cancer chez les Premières Nations. Notre étude compare les facteurs de risque et le dépistage du cancer chez les membres des Premières Nations en Ontario (vivant dans des réserves et hors réserves) et chez les Ontariens non autochtones, en s'appuyant sur deux enquêtes sur la santé. RÉSULTATS: Une proportion plus élevée d'hommes, de femmes et d'adolescents des Premières Nations vivant dans des réserves fumaient (RT = 1,97, 2,78 et 7,21 respectivement) et souffraient d'obésité (RT = 1,73, 2,33 et 3,29 respectivement), comparativement à leurs homologues non autochtones. Des tendances similaires ont été observées chez les membres des Premières Nations vivant hors réserves. La consommation excessive ponctuelle d'alcool fréquente était également plus répandue chez les hommes et les femmes des Premières Nations vivant dans des réserves (RT = 1,28 et 2,22, respectivement) et hors réserves (RT = 1,70 et 1,45, respectivement) que chez les Ontariens non autochtones. Les hommes et les femmes des Premières Nations vivant dans des réserves étaient deux fois moins susceptibles de consommer des fruits au moins deux fois par jour et des légumes au moins deux fois par jour que les hommes et les femmes non autochtones (RT = 0,53 et 0,54, respectivement). La participation au test de Pap était similaire dans tous les groupes, mais les femmes des Premières Nations étaient moins susceptibles que les femmes non autochtones (RT = 0,85) d'avoir subi une mammographie au cours des cinq années précédant l'enquête. CONCLUSION: Comparativement aux Ontariens non autochtones, les membres des Premières Nations, en particulier ceux qui vivent dans une réserve, présentent un risque accru de cancer et d'autres maladies chroniques. Ces résultats fournissent des éléments probants à l'appui de politiques et de programmes visant à réduire le fardeau futur du cancer et d'autres maladies chroniques chez les Premières Nations en Ontario.

Designing Incentives to Change Behaviors: Examining College Student Intent Toward Healthy Diets.

College is a time when young adults establish lifestyle habits. This research examines how personalization and limited resources might be balanced most effectively when designing incentives to shift college students' intentions toward positive dietary changes. A randomized 2 × 2 experiment (Coaching/Coupons × Fruits and Vegetables/Low Fat) was conducted, where respondents were exposed to virtual interventions and asked pre- and post-intervention about their intent to eat healthy. Results suggest that interventions may incentivize students, but are dependent on student characteristics. On-campus students and students with more knowledge about healthy diets were more likely to increase their intent when offered coaching; students living off campus and those with less knowledge resonated with coupons. On- and off-campus students differed in their positive responses to eating fruits and vegetables versus low fat foods, respectively. Younger students may be more susceptible to interventions. Findings may be useful in designing meaningful incentives for college students.

Direct infection of dendritic cells during chronic viral infection suppresses antiviral T cell proliferation and induces IL-10 expression in CD4 T cells.

Elevated levels of systemic IL-10 have been associated with several chronic viral infections, including HCV, EBV, HCMV and LCMV. In the chronic LCMV infection model, both elevated IL-10 and enhanced infection of dendritic cells (DCs) are important for viral persistence. This report highlights the relationship between enhanced viral tropism for DCs and the induction of IL-10 in CD4 T cells, which we identify as the most frequent IL-10-expressing cell type in chronic LCMV infection. Here we report that infected CD8αneg DCs express elevated IL-10, induce IL-10 expression in LCMV specific CD4 T cells, and suppress LCMV-specific T cell proliferation. DCs exposed in vivo to persistent LCMV retain the capacity to stimulate CD4 T cell proliferation but induce IL-10 production by both polyclonal and LCMV-specific CD4 T cells. Our study delineates the unique effects of direct infection versus viral exposure on DCs. Collectively these data point to enhanced infection of DCs as a key trigger of the IL-10 induction cascade resulting in maintenance of elevated IL-10 expression in CD4 T cells and inhibition of LCMV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell proliferation.