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B Godard

Publications and source records attributed to B Godard.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Strategies for consulting with the community: the cases of four large-scale genetic databases.

Large-scale genetic databases are being developed in several countries around the world. However, these databases depend on public participation and acquiescence. In the past, information campaigns have been waged and little attention has been paid to dialogue. Nowadays, it is important to include the public in the development of scientific research and to encourage a free, open and useful dialogue among those involved. This paper is a review of community consultation strategies as part of four proposed large-scale genetic databases in Iceland, Estonia, United Kingdom and Quebec. The Iceland Health Sector Database and Estonian Genome Project have followed a "communication approach" in order to address public concerns, whereas, UK Biobank and Quebec CARTaGENE have chosen a "partnership approach" to involve the public in decision-making processes. Following a comparison of community consultation strategies, the main concerns of the public are examined as well as the challenges of involving communities. Importantly, reported across all groups is the concern for confidentiality, respect of the individual, transparency, and the donor's right to access to their own result. However, even if researchers demonstrate a willingness to respect values such as fair representation, transparency and accountability, there is still a risk that the public will mistrust researchers and simply will not participate in sufficient numbers. Complications may arise when individual and community interests conflicts. The implementation of a partnership approach is definitely involving and costly; however, if used properly, this method can improve both participation and so database development.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1998

Risk factors for familial and sporadic ovarian cancer among French Canadians: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare risk factors between familial and sporadic ovarian cancer by means of a case-control approach. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study among French Canadian women in Montreal during 1995-1996. One hundred seventy women 20 to 84 years old with histologically confirmed diagnoses of primary ovarian carcinomas or borderline tumors were interviewed concerning their reproductive, family, and medical histories. During the same period 170 randomly selected population control subjects, frequency-matched to the case patients according to age and ethnic group, were also interviewed. Unconditional logistic regression methods were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The major factors influencing the risk of development of ovarian cancer were as follows: (1) family history of breast or ovarian cancer, (2) a late age at use of oral contraceptives (a protective effect), and (3) a late age at last childbirth (a protective effect for familial case patients only). CONCLUSION: These factors had equally great impacts in familial and sporadic cases, implying that the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis in sporadic and familial ovarian cancer may be similar and that hereditary ovarian cancer may be preventable.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Ethical issues involved in establishing a registry for familial Alzheimer's disease.

In January 1992, the IMAGE Project extended the establishment of its registry of familial Alzheimer cases to all areas of the province of Quebec, for collection of epidemiological and clinical data, as well as biological samples. The aim is to study genetic transmission patterns of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to provide a sampling framework for further etiologic and risk factor studies. The IMAGE registry already includes data of a population-based study in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean area; the project to collect data on familial AD (FAD) cases across the province of Quebec is known as the ALGENE Initiative. The registry is thus a collection of "AD families" for both familial and sporadic cases. The establishment of the registry involves several steps in the field work: recruitment and selection of families; collection of information on family medical history; selection of informative families and genetic testing for AD/FAD by linkage analysis. As AD is not homogeneous in its etiology and since we do not know if, in the event that genetics is involved in AD whether or not penetrance of the gene(s) is high, we must be aware of the "genetic horizons" of AD in collecting and conserving data on families of cases, and in the genetic testing for AD/FAD by linkage analysis. Families who choose genetic testing must be aware of the implications of our undertaking, assured of the confidentiality of the test and, at the same time, they must understand its limitations. The experimental nature of our research project raises ethical dilemmas. This article examines these initial considerations of the field work involved in developing a registry pertaining to genetic testing for AD/FAD by linkage analysis and offers some preliminary observations on the experience of the first year of this project.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

In situ double-beam NADH laser fluorimetry: choice of a reference wavelength.

A double-beam laser fluorimeter, using a single optical fiber to guide the lights, was constructed for in situ and on-line monitoring of NADH concentration [( NADH]) from normally blood-perfused living tissues. The device was tested on an isolated blood-perfused rat heart system to determine the most efficient reference wavelength for the compensation of the hemodynamic artifact induced by blood circulation in the tissues on the fluorescence measure; 586 nm was found to be an accurate reference wavelength, and a mathematical relationship was established that allowed the digital treatment of the measured fluorescence to give a signal (compensated fluorescence) that varied only with [NADH] in the volume of tissue investigated.

Animals↗