James Gomes
@uottawa.ca
University of Ottawa
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Dibyakanti Mishra, Priyam Narain, Upma Dave, and James Gomes
Elsevier BV
Upma Dave, Shumayila Khan, and James Gomes
Elsevier BV
Amos Buh, Raywat Deonandan, James Gomes, Alison Krentel, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, and Sanni Yaya
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) needs to be taken for life with near perfect levels of adherence for it to be effective. Nonetheless, ART non-adherence is still observed in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries such as Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the factors influencing non-adherence and or adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH) who have experienced non-adherence to ART in Cameroon. Methods A descriptive qualitative study of PLWH who have experienced non-adherence with ART in Cameroon was conducted. Data were collected using in-depth interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the NVIVO 12 software. Results In total, 43 participants participated in this study. The Southwest and Littoral regions each contributed 15 (34.88%) of participants, participants’ mean age was 37.1 years (SD: 9.81) and majority 34 (82.93%) were females. ART adherence barriers include those related to patient (forgetfulness, business with other things, unwillingness to swallow drugs daily), medication (side effects), health service (arrogance of caregivers, occasional drug shortages at treatment centre, poor counseling of patient), stigma (fear of status disclosure), use of alternative treatment (traditional medicine, prayers and deliverance), resource limitation (limited food, limited finances), environmental/social (limited or no home support), and political instability (disruption of free circulation by ghost towns, roadblocks and gunshots in some regions). ART adherence facilitators include social support (family and peer support), aligning treatment with patient’s daily routines (align ART with schedule of family members), use of reminders (phone alarm, sound of church bell), health sector/caregiver support (messages to patient, financial support, proper counseling), and patient’s awareness of HIV status/ART knowledge (awareness of HIV positive status, Knowledge of ART benefits). Conclusion ART adherence barriers in Cameroon include those related to patient, medication, health service, stigma, use of alternative treatment, resource limitation, environmental/social, and political instability. ART adherence facilitators include social support, aligning treatment with patient’s daily routines, use of reminders, health sector/caregiver support, and patient’s awareness of HIV status/ART knowledge. Given these barriers and facilitators, continuous information provision and consistent support both from patients’ families and caregivers are needed to improve adherence among patients. Further studies including many regions and larger samples using both in-depth and focused group discussions as well as quantitative approaches are required to uncover the burden related to ART non-adherence.
Amos Buh, Raywat Deonandan, James Gomes, Alison Krentel, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, and Sanni Yaya
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Background In Cameroon, HIV care decentralization is enforced as a national policy, but follow-up of people living with HIV (PLWH) is provider-driven, with little patient education and limited patient participation in clinical surveillance. These types of services can result in low antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of ART non-adherence among PLWH in Cameroon. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study of PLWH in HIV treatment centres in Cameroon was conducted. Only PLWH, receiving treatment in a treatment centre within the country, who had been on treatment for at least six months and who were at least 21 years old were included in the study. Individuals were interviewed about their demographics and ART experiences. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using STATA version 14. Results A total of 451 participants participated in this study, 33.48% were from the country’s Southwest region. Their mean age was 43.42 years (SD: 10.42), majority (68.89%) were females. Overall proportion of ART non-adherence among participants was 37.78%, 35.88% missed taking ART twice in the last month. Reasons for missing ART include forgetfulness, business and traveling without drugs. Over half of participants (54.67%) know ART is life-long, 53.88% have missed ART service appointments, 7.32% disbelieve in ART benefits, 28.60% think taking ART gives unwanted HIV Status reminder and 2.00% experienced discrimination seeking ART services. In the multivariate analysis, odds of ART non-adherence in participants aged 41 and above was 0.35 times (95%CI: 0.14, 0.85) that in participants aged 21–30 years, odds of ART non-adherence comparing participants who attained only primary education to those who attained higher than secondary education was 0.57 times (95%CI: 0.33, 0.97) and the odds of ART non-adherence in participants who are nonalcohol consumers was 0.62 times (95%CI: 0.39, 0.98) that in alcohol consumers. Conclusion High proportion of participants are ART non-adherent, and the factors significantly associated with ART non-adherence include age, education and alcohol consumption. However, some reasons for missing ART are masked in participants’ limited knowledge in taking ART, disbelief in ART benefits, feelings that ART gives unwanted HIV status reminder and experiencing discrimination when seeking ART services. These underscores need to improve staff (health personnel) attitudes, staff-patient-communication, and proper ART prior initiation counselling of patients. Future studies need to focus on assessing long-term ART non-adherence trends and predictors using larger samples in many treatment centres and regions.
Selim M. Khan, James Gomes, and Anne-Marie Nicol
Frontiers Media SA
Radon is a potent indoor air pollutant, especially in radon prone areas and in countries with long winters. As the second top lung carcinogen, radon is disproportionately affecting certain population subgroups. While many provinces have taken sporadic actions, the equity issue has remained unaddressed across all policy measures. Attempts to enforce radon guidelines and enact building regulations without considering residents' views have proved ineffective. Research linking residents' radon risk perception and worldviews regarding radon control policy is lacking in Canada. We applied mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods in a pro-equity social justice lens to examine the variations in residents' risk perception, access to risk communication messages, and worldviews about risk management across the sociodemographic strata. Triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative findings strengthened the evidence base to identify challenges and potential solutions in addressing the health risk through upstream policy actions. Enacting radon control policy requires actions from all levels of governments and relevant stakeholders to ensure equal opportunities for all residents to take the preventive and adaptive measures. Small sample size limited the scope of findings for generalization. Future studies can examine the differential impacts of radon health risk as are determined by various sociodemographic variables in a representative national cohort.
Premkumari Kumarathasan, Nazila Nazemof, Dalibor Breznan, Erica Blais, Hiroyuki Aoki, James Gomes, Renaud Vincent, Sadhna Phanse, and Mohan Babu
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Application of mitochondrial proteomic analysis in toxicity screening of amorphous silica nanoforms. Concordance between SiNP exposure-related perturbations in mitochondrial proteins and cellular ATP responses.
Amos Buh, Raywat Deonandan, James Gomes, Alison Krentel, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, and Sanni Yaya
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Background The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a major public health concern, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite efforts to reduce new infections and deaths with the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), SSA countries continue to bear the heaviest burden of HIV/AIDS globally, accounting for two-thirds of global new infections. The goal of this review is to identify common barriers to ART adherence as well as common effective interventions that can be implemented across SSA countries to improve ART adherence. Methods A systematic review of published studies on adult HIV-positive patients aged 15 or above, that have assessed the barriers to ART adherence and interventions improving patients’ adherence to ART in SSA countries shall be conducted. We will conduct electronic searches for articles that have been published starting from January 2010 onwards. The databases that shall be searched will include Medline Ovid, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus. The review will include experimental and quasi-experimental studies such as randomized and non-randomized controlled trials as well as comparative before and after studies, and observational studies—cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, prospective and retrospective studies. Two independent reviewers will screen all identified studies, extract data and appraise the methodological quality of the studies using standard critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. The extracted data will be subjected to a meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Discussion This review will synthesize existing evidence on ART adherence barriers and strategies for improving patient adherence to ART in SSA countries. It will identify common barriers to adherence and common interventions proven to improve adherence across SSA. We anticipate that the findings of this review will provide information policy makers and stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV, will find useful in deriving better ways of not only retaining patients on treatment but having them adhere to their treatment. Review registration This protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO); registration number CRD42021262256.
S. M. Khan, J. Gomes, and S. Chreim
SAGE Publications
Background Radon is a predominant indoor air pollutant and second leading cause of lung cancer in radon-prone areas. Despite the gravity of the health risk, residents in Canada have inadequate perception and taken minimal protective actions. Better perception of a risk motivates people to take preventive measures. Scholarship about radon health risk perception is lacking in Canada. We applied a mixed methods population health approach to explore the determinants shaping perception and actions of a resident population in Canada. Methods We conducted mixed surveys (n = 557) and qualitative bilingual interviews (n = 35) with both homeowners and tenants of Ottawa–Gatineau areas. The study explored residents' risk perception and adaptations factors. Descriptive, correlational and regression analyses described and established associations between quantitative variables. Thematic, inductive analyses identified themes in the qualitative data. A mixed methods analysis triangulated both results to draw a holistic perception of the health risk. Results Residents’ quantitative perceptions of radon health risk, smoking at home, synergistic risk perception, social influence and care for family were associated significantly with their intention to test for radon levels in their home, actual testing and mitigation. These results were explained further with the qualitative findings. Residents who had dual cognitive and emotional awareness of the risk were motivated enough to take preventive actions. Caring for family, knowing others who contracted lung cancer and financial capability were enablers, whereas lack of awareness and homeownership, cost of mitigation and stigma were obstacles to preventive actions. We also explored the dual subjective and objective aspects of risk perception that are influenced by micro- and macro-level determinants. Conclusions Inducing protective action to reduce risk requires comprehensive population-level interventions considering dual perceptions of the risk that can modify the risk determinants. Future research can explore the dual aspects of risk perception and unequal distribution of the risk factors.
Dalibor Breznan, Nazila Nazemof, Filip Kunc, Myriam Hill, Djordje Vladisavljevic, James Gomes, Linda J. Johnston, Renaud Vincent, and Prem Kumarathasan
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Rapid acellular screening of amorphous silica nanoforms of different sizes and surface modifications for their oxidative potential.
Priyam Narain, Aditya K. Padhi, Upma Dave, Dibyakanti Mishra, Rohit Bhatia, Perumal Vivekanandan, and James Gomes
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
J. Gomes, F. Au, A. Basak, S. Cakmak, R. Vincent, and P. Kumarathasan
Informa UK Limited
Abstract Background: Pregnancy is a vulnerable period for the mother and the infant and exposures to environmental chemicals in utero can influence neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is a momentum toward understanding and exploring the current maternal biological mechanisms specific to in utero effects, to improve birth outcomes. This study aims to examine the current understanding of the role of biomarkers that may be associated with term of pregnancy, infant birth weights and infant development in utero. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, OvidMD, and Scopus databases; and all relevant research articles in English were retrieved. Studies were selected if they evaluated maternal blood plasma/serum biomarkers proposed to influence adverse birth outcomes in the neonate. Data were extracted on characteristics, quality, and odds ratios from each study and meta-analysis was conducted. Results: A total of 54 studies (35 for meta-analysis), including 43,702 women, 50 plasma markers and six descriptors of birth outcomes were included in the present study. The random effect point estimates for risk of adverse birth outcomes were 1.61(95%CI: 1.39–1.85, p < 0.0001) for inflammation-related biomarkers and 1.65(95%CI: 1.22–2.25, p = 0.0013) for growth factor/hormone-related biomarkers. All subgroups of plasma markers showed significant associations with adverse birth outcomes with no apparent study bias. Conclusions: The two subsets of plasma markers identified in this study (inflammation-related and growth factor/hormone-related) may serve as potentially valuable tools in the investigation of maternal molecular mechanisms, especially select pathways underlying inflammatory and immunological mediation in terms of modulating adverse infant outcomes. Future large, prospective cohort studies are needed to validate the promising plasma biomarkers, and to examine other maternal biological matrices such as cervicovaginal fluid and urine.
Selim M. Khan, James Gomes, and Daniel R. Krewski
Elsevier BV
Selim M. Khan, Daniel Krewski, James Gomes, and Raywat Deonandan
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
ObjectivesCanadians have reason to care about indoor air quality as they spend over 90% of the time indoors. Although indoor radon causes more deaths than any other environmental hazard, only 55% of Canadians have heard of it, and of these, 6% have taken action. The gap between residents’ risk awareness and adoption of actual protective behaviour presents a challenge to public health practitioners. Residents’ perception of the risk should inform health communication that targets motivation for action. In Canada, research about the public perception of radon health risk is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe residents’ perceptions of radon health risks and, applying a theoretical lens, evaluate how perceptions correlate with protection behaviours.MethodsWe conducted a mixed online and face-to-face survey (N = 557) with both homeowners and tenants in Ottawa-Gatineau census metropolitan area. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses addressed the research questions.ResultsCompared to the gravity of the risk, public perception remained low. While 32% of residents expressed some concern about radon health risk, 12% of them tested and only 3% mitigated their homes for radon. Residents’ perceptions of the probability and severity of the risk, social influence, care for children, and smoking in home correlated significantly with their intention to test; these factors also predicted their behaviours for testing and mitigation.ConclusionHealth risk communication programs need to consider the affective aspects of risk perception in addition to rational cognition to improve protection behaviours. A qualitative study can explore the reasons behind the gap between testing and mitigation.RésuméObjectifsLes Canadiens ont de bonnes raisons de se préoccuper de la qualité de l’air intérieur, car ils passent plus de 90 % de leur temps à l’intérieur. Bien que le radon domiciliaire (RD) cause plus de décès que tout autre risques environnementaux, seulement 55 % des Canadiens en ont déjà entendu parler, et d’entre eux seulement 6 % ont pris des mesures concrètes pour l’éradiquer. L’écart entre la sensibilisation aux risques et la prise de mesures de protection réelles par les résidents constitue un défi pour les professionnels de la santé publique. La perception des résidents face aux risques associés au RD devrait guider la communication en matière de santé pour cibler la motivation. Au Canada, très peu d’études portant sur les perceptions de la population face aux risques associés au RD ont été réalisées. Le but de cette étude est de décrire les perceptions qu’entretiennent les occupants de bâtiments résidentiels face aux risques pour la santé associée au RD et évaluer comment ces perceptions sont corrélées aux comportements de protection, notamment en appliquant la théorie de la motivation et de la protection.MéthodesNous avons réalisé une enquête mixte en ligne et en personne (n = 557) auprès de propriétaires et de locataires de la région d’Ottawa-Gatineau. Des analyses descriptives, corrélationnelles et des analyses de régressions ont été effectuées en fonction de nos questions de recherche.RésultatsEn comparaison à la gravité des risques, les perceptions du public demeurent faibles. Bien que 32 % des résidents ont exprimé des préoccupations au sujet du danger que représente le radon pour la santé, seulement 12 % d’entre eux ont réalisé des tests à domicile et seulement 3 % ont pris des actions concrètes pour réduire les risques. Les perceptions des résidents quant à la probabilité et à la gravité des risques du RD sur leur santé, l’influence sociale, les soins prodigués aux enfants, ainsi que le tabagisme à la maison étaient significativement corrélées avec leur intention de réaliser un test. Ces facteurs ont également prédit leurs comportements en lien avec l’utilisation du test et les actions entreprises pour diminuer les risques.ConclusionLes programmes de communication sur les risques du RD sur la santé doivent tenir compte des aspects affectifs associés à la perception des risques, en plus de tenir compte du niveau de connaissances pour améliorer les comportements de protection. Une recherche de nature qualitative serait nécessaire pour explorer les raisons qui expliquent l’écart entre le taux d’utilisation des tests de détection et les actions concrètes pour diminuer les risques.
Priyam Narain, James Gomes, Rohit Bhatia, Inder Singh, and Perumal Vivekanandan
Elsevier BV
Daniel Krewski, Caroline Barakat-Haddad, Jennifer Donnan, Rosemary Martino, Tamara Pringsheim, Helen Tremlett, Pascal van Lieshout, Stephanie J. Walsh, Nicholas J. Birkett, James Gomes,et al.
Elsevier BV
Mona Hersi, Brittany Irvine, Pallavi Gupta, James Gomes, Nicholas Birkett, and Daniel Krewski
Elsevier BV
Ming-Dong Wang, Julian Little, James Gomes, Neil R. Cashman, and Daniel Krewski
Elsevier BV
Julian Little, Caroline Barakat-Haddad, Rosemary Martino, Tamara Pringsheim, Helen Tremlett, Kyla A. McKay, Pascal van Lieshout, Stephanie J. Walsh, James Gomes, and Daniel Krewski
Elsevier BV
Mona Hersi, Pauline Quach, Ming-Dong Wang, James Gomes, Janet Gaskin, and Daniel Krewski
Elsevier BV
Pauline Quach, Reem El Sherif, James Gomes, and Daniel Krewksi
Elsevier BV
J. Gaskin, J. Gomes, S. Darshan, and D. Krewski
Elsevier BV
Priya Sandhu, Mansur Mohammad Naeem, Chunyu Lu, Premkumari Kumarathasan, James Gomes, and Ajoy Basak
Elsevier BV
A. Rahman, P. Kumarathasan, and J. Gomes
Elsevier BV
Bernard Kadio, Sanni Yaya, Ajoy Basak, Koffi Djè, James Gomes, and Christian Mesenge
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
The central role played by calcium ion in biological systems has generated an interest for its potential implication in human malignancies. Thus, lines of research, on possible association of calcium metabolism regulation with tumorigenesis, implying disruptions and/or alterations of known molecular pathways, have been extensively researched in the recent decades. This paper is a critical synthesis of these findings, based on a functional approach of the calcium signaling toolkit. It provides strong support that this ubiquitous divalent cation is involved in cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. Different pathways have been outlined, involving equally different molecular and cellular structures. However, if the association between calcium and cancer can be described as constant, it is not always linear. We have identified several influencing factors among which the most relevant are (i) the changes in local or tissular concentrations of free calcium and (ii) the histological and physiological types of tissue involved. Such versatility at the molecular level may probably account for the conflicting findings reported by the epidemiological literature on calcium dietary intake and the risk to develop certain cancers such as the prostatic or mammary neoplasms. However, it also fuels the hypothesis that behind each cancer, a specific calcium pathway can be evidenced. Identifying such molecular interactions is probably a promising approach for further understanding and treatment options for the disease.
Felicia Au, Agnieszka Bielecki, Erica Blais, Mandy Fisher, Sabit Cakmak, Ajoy Basak, James Gomes, Tye E. Arbuckle, William D. Fraser, Renaud Vincent,et al.
Elsevier BV