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Ethnic minority women experience disparities in mammography screening utilisation and breast cancer outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised multidomain and multilevel factors that intersect to influence the utilisation of mammography among ethnic minorities. A literature search was conducted in five databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) from inception to May 2022. Guided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparity research framework, the retrieved data were synthesised using narrative summaries and meta-analyses. Among the 27 studies, most (n = 24) reported individual, interpersonal, and community factors in the health care system domain. In the sociocultural domain, interpersonal and societal (n = 8) factors, such as modesty and karma beliefs, were less frequently identified than individual (n = 20) factors in relation to acculturation. Only individual-level factors were reported for the biological and physical/built environment (e.g., rural residence) domains. In the behavioural domain, cancer screening behaviours had a high combined prediction ability (odds ratio = 18.23; I2 = 23%), whereas interpersonal (e.g., family obligations) and community (e.g., neighbourhood violence) factors discouraged mammography screening. Special focus should be given to ethnic minority women, especially those living in rural areas, those with considerable family obligations, and those who have suffered from violence and other life pressures, to increase their access to mammography services. Multidomain and multilevel efforts, culturally appropriate strategies, and equity-advancing policies such as geographic access and insurance coverage would help to mitigate the ethnic disparities in mammography screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atherosclerosis is one of the most important global health hazards and air pollution (AP, PM2.5) has been implicated. In addition to traditional risk factors hyperhomocysteinemia (HC) has been recognized in many parts of China related to risk of stroke. Methods: To evaluate the impact of HC (homocysteine >14µmol/l) and PM2.5 air pollution on atherogenesis in modernizing China, we studied 756 asymptomatic Chinese in China from 1998–2007. PM2.5 exposure, HC, folate, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C/T genotype were evaluated. Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured by ultrasound. Locations were categorized as zones 1, 2 and 3, with increasing PM2.5 exposure. Results: HC was higher (19.4±13.1 and 27.1±25.1µmol/l) in high PM2.5-polluted zones 2 and 3 than in zone 1 (9.7±4.5µmol/l, p<0.0015). The top HC tertile was characterized by lower folate and vitamin B12, but a higher proportion of the MTHFR TT genotype, Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and PM2.5 level (p=0.0018). FMD was significantly lower (7.3±2.3%) and carotid IMT thicker (0.63±0.12mm) in the top HC tertile, compared with low HC tertile (8.4±2.5%, p<0.0001; 0.57±0.1mm, p<0.0001 respectively). Similar differences in FMD and IMT were seen in zones 2 and 3, compared with zone 1 (p<0.0001). On multivariate regression, HC was related to male gender (beta=0.106, p=0.021), MTHFR-TT (beta=0.935, p<0.0001), locations (beta=0.230, p<0.0001) and folate-MTHFR interaction (beta=−0.566, p<0.0001). FMD was related to age (beta= −0.221; p<0.0001), male gender (beta= −0.194, p=0.001) PM2.5 and location (beta=−0.285 to −0.303, p<0.0001). Carotid IMT was related to PM2.5 (beta=0.173, p<0.0001), HC (0.122, p=0.006) but not to MTHFR or location, independent of age, gender, MS, and LDL-C. No significant HC-PM2.5 interaction effect on FMD and IMT was observed. Conclusion: HC and PM2.5 pollution but not MTHFR genotype were both related to carotid IMT, independent of other traditional risk factors. This has potential implications in dietary and AP strategies for atherosclerosis prevention in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is on the cavitation erosion (CE) behavior of a thermally annealed duplex stainless steel having a triplex microstructure consisting of ferrite, austenite and sigma phase. As sigma forms, it siphons off alloying elements from ferrite, making it softer. Ferrite is the weakest against CE among the three phases, and its interfaces with sigma phase are often the initiation sites of damage which tends to grow into the ferrite side. The weakness of ferrite stems from its high strain-rate sensitivity. Austenite is beneficial because it helps to prevent sigma phase from being dislodged, and its interfaces with sigma phase are also more resistant to CE damage. Mechanical properties such as hardness and strength do not correlate with CE resistance (as measured by cumulative weight loss and the incubation time of CE damage). Preliminary results show that cumulative weight loss is not monotonically proportional to the quantity of sigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few studies have compared follow-up-care models for adult survivors of childhood cancer (ASCCs), though choice of model could impact medical test adherence, and health-related quality of life (QOL). This study compared two follow-up-care models, cancer-center-based versus community-based, for ASCCs in Alberta, Canada, to determine which model would demonstrate greater ASCC adherence to guideline-recommended medical screening tests for late effects, QOL, physical symptoms, and adherence to yearly follow-up.Methods: ASCC discharged to a community model (over 15 years) and those with comparable birth years (1973-1993) currently followed in a cancer center model were recruited via direct contact or multimedia campaign. Chart review identified chemotherapeutic and radiation exposures, and required medical late effect screening tests. ASCCs also completed questionnaires assessing QOL, physical symptoms, and follow-up behavior.Results: One hundred fifty-six survivors participated (community (n = 86); cancer center (n = 70)). Primary analysis indicated that cancer center ASCCs guideline-recommended total test adherence percentage (Mdn = 85.4%) was significantly higher than the community model (Mdn = 29.2%, U = 3996.50, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in QOL for cancer center ASCCs (M = 83.85, SD = 20.55 versus M = 77.50, SD = 23.94; t (154) = 1.77, p = 0.078) compared to community-based ASCCs. Cancer center-based ASCCs endorsed from 0.4-7.1% fewer physical symptom clusters, and higher adherence to follow-up behavior in comparisons using effect sizes without p values.Conclusion: This study highlights the cancer center model's superiority for adherence to exposure-based medical late effect screening guidelines, cancer-specific follow-up behaviors, and the reporting of fewer physical complaints in ASCCs.Implications For Cancer Survivors: ASCCs followed in a cancer center model likely benefit from earlier late-effects detection and opportunities for early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure is heterogeneous in aetiology, pathophysiology, and presentation. Despite this diversity, clinical trials of patients hospitalized for HF deal with this problem as a single entity, which may be one reason for repeated failures. Methods: The first EuroHeart Failure Survey screened consecutive deaths and discharges of patients with suspected heart failure during 2000–2001. Patients were sorted into seven mutually exclusive hierarchical presentations: (1) with cardiac arrest/ventricular arrhythmia; (2) with acute coronary syndrome; (3) with rapid atrial fibrillation; (4) with acute breathlessness; (5) with other symptoms/signs such as peripheral oedema; (6) with stable symptoms; and (7) others in whom the contribution of HF to admission was not clear. Results: The 10,701 patients enrolled were classified into the above seven presentations as follows: 260 (2%), 560 (5%), 799 (8%), 2479 (24%), 1040 (10%), 703 (7%), and 4691 (45%) for which index-admission mortality was 26%, 20%, 10%, 8%, 6%, 6%, and 4%, respectively. Compared to those in group 7, the hazard ratios for death during the index admission were 4.9 (p ≤ 0.001), 4.0 (p < 0.001), 2.2 (p < 0.001), 2.1 (p < 0.001), 1.4 (p < 0.04) and 1.4 (p = 0.04), respectively. These differences were no longer statistically significant by 12 weeks. Conclusion: There is great diversity in the presentation of heart failure that is associated with very different short-term outcomes. Only a minority of hospitalizations associated with suspected heart failure are associated with acute breathlessness. This should be taken into account in the design of future clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerically simulated true triaxial compression tests ( σ ≥ σ ≥ σ ) are conducted in this study to elucidate the failure mechanism of sandstone using 3D discrete element method (DEM), in particular the effect of the intermediate principal stress ( σ ). Eight series of tests ( σ = 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 100 MPa) are conducted. Within each series, σ is varied from σ = σ to σ = σ from test to test. For each test, σ is raised monotonically to failure while keeping σ and σ constant. The DEM simulations reveal the effect of σ on the variations of peak stress, Young's modulus, failure plane angles, the brittle-ductile transition, and the evolution of failure modes, the effect beyond the well-understood effect of σ . The simulation is in qualitative agreement with the results obtained experimentally. Detailed analyses performed on the particle-scale responses further the understanding of the microscopic mechanisms. The distribution of contact force becomes more homogeneous with the increase of σ , which leads to the resulting damage being more localized rather than diffused. The interaction between contact force distribution and coalescence of cracks determines the processes and patterns of fracturing in the sample scale. σ is found to affect the microscopic stress distribution as well as structure evolution, and this effect weakens with the increase of σ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic pollutants and climate change are major threats to coral reefs today. Yet interactions between chemical and thermal perturbations have not been fully explored in reef studies. Here, we present the single and combined effects of copper (Cu) with thermal stress on five early life-history stages/processes (fertilization, larval mortality, swimming ability, metamorphosis and growth of juvenile recruits) of the massive coral Platygyra acuta in Hong Kong. In the first four experiments, coral gametes and larvae were exposed to different Cu doses (0-200 μg L, apart from the fertilization assay in which 0-1000 μg L was used) and temperature treatments (ambient and ambient +2 or +3 °C as a thermal stress treatment) following a factorial experimental design. Exposure time was 5 h for the fertilization assay and 48 h for the other experiments. The last experiment on growth of coral recruits was conducted over 56 d with 0-80 μg L Cu used. Cu significantly reduced percent fertilization success, percentage of active swimming larvae and larval survivorship (ECs, the half maximal effective concentrations, for percent fertilization success and percentage of active swimming larvae were 92-145 and 45-47 μg L respectively. While LC, the lethal concentration that kills 50% of the population, was 101-110 μg L), while growth of coral recruits was not affected at 80 μg L Cu for 56 d. No settling cues were used in the settlement experiment. In their absence, percent metamorphosis increased with Cu doses, in sharp contrast to earlier findings. Settlement and metamorphosis may thus be strategies for coral larvae to escape from Cu toxicity. Thermal treatment did not significantly affect any experimental end points. This is likely because the thermal regimes used in the experiments were within the range experienced by local corals. The high variability in Cu toxicities indicates differential susceptibilities of the various life-history stages/processes of P. acuta. The level of Cu tolerance was also markedly higher than that reported in the literature for other coral species. This provides evidence to suggest possible adaptation of this species to survive in a highly polluted marine environment like that in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose-response experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of ammonia nitrogen (NH/NH) and orthophosphate (PO) on four stages of larval development in Platygyra acuta, including fertilization, embryonic development and the survival, motility, and settlement of planula larvae. Fertilization success was reduced significantly under 200 μM NH/NH or PO. These high doses of NH/NH and PO affected egg viability (or sperm viability and polyspermic block simultaneously) and polyspermic block, respectively. These results provide the first evidence to indicate the mechanisms of how inorganic nutrients might affect coral fertilization processes. For embryonic development, NH/NH at 25-200 μM caused delay in cell division after 2-h exposure and NH/NH at 100-200 μM resulted in larval death after 72 h. However, no significant differences were observed in the mobility and survivorship of either planula or competent larvae under different levels of NH/NH or PO. There was a significant (~30 %) drop in the settlement of competent larvae under the combined effect of 100 μM NH/NH and PO. The effects of elevated nutrients appeared to become more significant only on gametes or larvae undergoing active cellular activities at fertilization, early development, and settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both informational and social support are vital components in achieving a high quality of life as a cancer survivor. The study aims to explore the perceptions of information needs and social support among Chinese-Australian breast cancer survivors and how these resources impacted their cancer experience. Methods: Three focus groups were conducted with 23 Chinese-Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer in their native language (Mandarin and Cantonese). Each interview was translated and transcribed. Content analysis was used to uncover the major themes. Result: Themes for information needs were identified as (1) using linguistically appropriate information, (2) the need for culturally sensitive information for the management of expected side effect and promotion of recovery and (3) the need for information on signs and symptoms of recurrence. Families were described as a primary source of multifaceted social support, although it was challenging to obtain. Support groups were also an important support source, but health care professionals were not identified as a source of support. Conclusion: Our study has provided practical insight into the information needs and social support of Chinese women with breast cancer. These findings can be used to inform the development of linguistically and culturally tailored support and survivorship interventions for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical-state response of granular assemblies composed of elastic spheres under generalised three-dimensional loading conditions was investigated using the discrete element method (DEM). Simulations were performed with a simplified Hertz-Mindlin contact model using a modified version of the LAMMPS code. Initially isotropic samples were subjected to three-dimensional stress paths controlled by the intermediate stress ratio, $$b=[(\sigma '_{2}-\sigma '_{3})/$$ $$(\sigma '_{1}-\sigma '_{3})]$$ . Three types of simulation were performed: drained (with $$b$$ -value specified), constant volume and constant mean effective stress. In contrast to previous DEM observations, the position of the critical state line is shown to depend on $$b$$ . The data also show that, upon shearing, the dilatancy post-peak increases with increasing $$b$$ , so that at a given mean effective stress, the void ratio at the critical state increases systematically with $$b$$ . Four commonly-used three-dimensional failure criteria are shown to give a better match to the simulation data at the critical state than at the peak state. While the void ratio at critical state is shown to vary with $$b$$ , the coordination number showed no dependency on $$b$$ . The variation in critical state void ratios at the same $$p'$$ value is apparently related to the directional fabric anisotropy which is clearly sensitive to $$b$$ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of pond sediment, fish, and shrimp were collected from the Ramsar site at Mai Po marshes, Hong Kong (south China), and samples of pond sediment, fish, and shrimp, as well as eggs of water birds (Chinese Pond Herons ( Ardeola bacchus) and Little Egrets ( Egretta garzetta)), were collected from two smaller wetland sites at Jiangsu Province (mid-China), between 2004 and 2007. Accumulation levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the biota were used to calculate biota–sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF). For fish and shrimp, BSAFs of OCPs (3.8–56) were greater than those of PAHs (0.12–6.3). BSAFs and BAFs of 11–79 and 4–34, respectively, were registered for OCPs in eggs of the birds and were greater than those for PAHs (0.11–1.5 and 0.02–1.3, respectively). Assuming that fish were the main prey of the birds, greater bioaccumulation of OCPs was detected for both bird species (BAFs = 4.5–34), while accumulation of PAHs was only detected in Little Egret (BAF = 1.3). A significant linear relationship ( p < 0.01) was observed between concentrations of OCPs in bird eggs and in the prey fish. The present study provides a new possibility of using OCP levels detected in prey fish to predict the extent of OCPs contamination in eggs of waterbirds including the endangered species, as a noninvasive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species of freshwater fish collected from 10 fishponds in Shunde and Zhongshan, China, four species of marine fishes collected from different mariculture farms [four in Hong Kong (Tung Lung Chau, Ma Wan, Cheung Chau and Kat O) and two in mainland China (Daya Bay and Shenzhen)] together with feed (both trash fish and commercial pellets) and sediment were analyzed for DDTs. Total DDTs in freshwater fish flesh decreased in the order of: carnivores [1742 μg/kg lipid weight (l.w.)] > herbivores (165 μg/kg, l.w.) > omnivores (42.5 μg/kg, l.w.), with the highest concentration detected in mandarin fish ( Siniperca chuatsi) (2641 μg/kg, l.w.). For marine fish, snubnose pompano ( Trachinotus blochii) and orange-spotted grouper ( Epinephelus coioides) collected in Ma Wan contained elevated levels of total DDTs (2590 and 2034 μg/kg l.w., respectively). Trash fish used in both freshwater and marine fish farms contained significantly higher levels (86.5–641 μg/kg l.w.) ( p < 0.05) of DDTs than in commercial pellets, but correlations between DDT levels in fish feed and muscle were not significant. The elevated biota-sediment accumulating factor for tilapia ( Tilapia mossambicus) (24.1) indicated that accumulation of DDTs from sediment to the fish was evident. It can be concluded that trash fish should not be used for fish culture in order to lower the level of residual DDTs in fish muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gene critical to esophageal cancer has been identified. Functional studies using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer of intact and truncated donor chromosomes 3 into an esophageal cancer cell line and nude mouse tumorigenicity assays were used to identify a 1.61 Mb tumor suppressive critical region (CR) mapping to chromosome 3p14.2. This CR is bounded by D3S1600 and D3S1285 microsatellite markers. One candidate tumor suppressor gene, ADAMTS9, maps to this CR. Further studies showed normal expression levels of this gene in tumor-suppressed microcell hybrids, levels that were much higher than observed in the recipient cells. Complete loss or downregulation of ADAMTS9 gene expression was found in 15 out of 16 esophageal carcinoma cell lines. Promoter hypermethylation was detected in the cell lines that do not express this gene. Re-expression of ADAMTS9 was observed after demethylation drug treatment, confirming that hypermethylation is involved in gene downregulation. Downregulation of ADAMTS9 was also found in 43.5 and 47.6% of primary esophageal tumor tissues from Hong Kong and from the high-risk region of Henan, respectively. Thus, this study identifies and provides functional evidence for a CR associated with tumor suppression on 3p14.2 and provides the first evidence that ADAMTS9, mapping to this region, may contribute to esophageal cancer development.Oncogene (2007) 26, 148–157. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209767; published online 26 June 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in insulin sensitivity and expression of the gene encoding resistin ( Retn) in adipocytes from long-term nitric oxide (NO)-deficient rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats received % MathType!Translator!2!1!AMS LaTeX.tdl!TeX -- AMS-LaTeX! % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaaeaart1ev0aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbbjxAHX % garmWu51MyVXgatuuDJXwAK1uy0HwmaeHbfv3ySLgzG0uy0Hgip5wz % aebbnrfifHhDYfgasaacH8qrps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaq % Fr0xc9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qq % Q8frFve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeWaeaaakeaaca % WGobWaaWbaaSqabeaacqaHjpWDaaaaaa!3A5D! $$ N^{\omega } $$ -nitro- l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME 0.5 mg/ml) in their drinking water for 4 weeks, while control rats received plain drinking water. During the experimental period, changes in plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were measured. After administration of L-NAME for 4 weeks, insulin sensitivity was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. An insulin binding assay was also performed to determine the number and binding affinity of insulin receptors in adipocytes. Adipocyte Retn mRNA levels were examined using northern blotting. Successful induction of NO deficiency was demonstrated by an increase in systemic blood pressure. No difference in plasma glucose levels was found between the two groups. Compared with the control rats, plasma insulin and C-peptide levels were significantly decreased in the NO-deficient rats, and insulin sensitivity was significantly increased. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and insulin binding capacity, but not binding affinity, were significantly increased in adipocytes isolated from NO-deficient rats. In addition, adipocyte Retn mRNA levels, but not plasma resistin levels, were significantly decreased in NO-deficient rats, and the Retn mRNA levels were negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity was increased in NO-deficient rats and this was associated with insulin binding capacity and downregulated Retn expression. These findings suggest that NO plays a regulatory role in metabolism. Dysregulation of NO production may result in the development of metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report cerebral SPECT studies on two siblings with the syndrome of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT was performed 8, 19 and 30 days after a stroke-like episode in one case and 10 days after a stroke-like episode, 6 h after a partial seizure and as a follow-up study in the other. Increased blood flow was seen in both these patients with stroke-like episodes due to MELAS. The cause of the increased blood flow is uncertain, but it may be related to the decreased pH created by local increase in lactic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of simultaneous dual-isotope myocardial perfusion imaging was assessed using a ca. 12 mCi dose of technetium-99m sestamibi (MIBI) and ca. 3 mCi thallium-201. Planar and single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) data from 40 patients (41 studies) imaged with both a single- and a dual-isotope protocol were analyzed. Rest injected [sup 201] Tl (pure-Tl) images were acquired using 20% windows at 70 and 166 keV about 15 min after the [sup 201] Tl injection. Patients were then stressed, and at peak stress [sup 99m] Tc-sestamibi was injected. About 30 min later [sup 99m] Tc data were recorded with a 20% window center at 140 keV, and simultaneous [sup 201] Tl (dual-Tl) data were recorded with a single 20% window centered at 80 keV. Total myocardial counts based on SPET data in the dual-T1 images were increased by 18.61%±2.91% (SEM) (range: -12.8% to 84.1%) compared to pure-Tl images. Region of interest analysis revealed the greater increase in counts in the apical region and the least in the lateral wall. Pure Tl and dual-Tl images were visually evaluated for image quality (IQ) on a five-point scale (0=unacceptable to 4=excellent). Dual-Tl IQ was lower than that of pure-Tl in 61% of cases, and similar in 37% (12% of the pure-Tl and 41% of the dual-Tl images fell into the 0 and 1 categories). Thallium perfusion abnormalities were of similar extent in 70% of segments, less severe in 18%, and more severe in 12%. There was an inverse correlation with patient weight, such that patients weighing more than 180 lbs had substantially worse images than those below this cutoff value. While dual-tracer images are of lower quality, they are interpretable if the patient is not severely overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 173 boys aged 10 to 179 months with previous unilateral inguinal herniotomy were called back for follow-up. Clinical and ultrasound examinations of the scrotum were performed. The interval between operation and follow-up was 6 to 123 months (mean 31.68 months). One boy (0.58%) had a more than 50% and 10 (5.8%) had a more than 25% decrease in testicular volume on the operated side when compared with the non-operated side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Home ownership as opposed to renting is associated with lower rates of food insecurity, the latter being a marker of household economic deprivation associated with adverse health outcomes. It is unclear whether this relationship persists during a major economic decline, or whether different subgroups of home owners are equally protected. The 2008-2009 recession in Canada was tied to events in the United States related to inappropriate mortgage financing; the impact of the recession on food insecurity among home owners may identify policies to mitigate recessionary outcomes., Methods: We used a before-and-after natural experimental design using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) cycles 2007/2008 (pre-recession) and 2009/2010 (post-recession) with information on household food insecurity, home ownership versus renting, and socio-demographics. Applying multivariable logistic regression, we examined changes in household food insecurity by housing tenure and sex over the period., Results: Pre-recession, food insecurity affected 3.3% of home owners and 17.1% of renter households. Among home owners, the risk of food insecurity increased post-recession by 10%, which was not statistically significant. Post-recession, and with adjustment, although renters' higher absolute risk of food insecurity persisted, male-respondent home owners experienced the highest rate of increase in food insecurity prevalence by subgroup (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.06-1.50) versus renters (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05-1.29)., Conclusion: Housing policies in Canada protected most home owners from precarity during the 2008-2009 economic recession; however, male-respondent home owners exhibited a unique economic vulnerability during this time. Implications of Canadian home ownership policies are discussed in light of differential vulnerability of home owner groups.

Objective: Although there is widespread recognition that poverty is a key determinant of health, there has been less research on the impact of poverty reduction on health. Recent calls for a guaranteed annual income (GAI), defined as regular income provided to citizens by the state regardless of work status, raise questions about the impact, relative to the costs, of such a population health intervention. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Canadian seniors' benefits (Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement, analogous to a GAI program) on the self-reported health, self-reported mental health and functional health of age-eligible, low-income seniors., Methods: We used the 2009-2010 Canadian Community Health Survey to examine unattached adult respondents with an annual income of $20,000 or less, stratified by seniors' benefits/GAI eligibility (55-64 years: ineligible; 65-74 years: eligible). Using regression, we assessed self-reported health, selfreported mental health and functional health as measured by the Health Utilities Index, as outcomes for seniors' benefits/GAI-eligible and -ineligible groups., Results: We found that individuals age-eligible for seniors' benefits/GAI had better health outcomes than recipients of conditional income assistance programs. Eligibility for seniors' benefits/GAI after age 64 was associated with better self-reported health, functional health and self-reported mental health outcomes, and these effects were observed until age 74., Conclusion: Using seniors' benefits as an example, a GAI leads to significantly better mental health and improved health overall. These improvements are likely to yield reduced health care costs, which may offset the costs associated with program expansion.