R-loops, transcriptionally-induced RNA:DNA hybrids, occurring at repeat tracts (CTG)n, (CAG)n, (CGG)n, (CCG)n and (GAA)n, are associated with diseases including myotonic dystrophy, Huntington's disease, fragile X and Friedreich's ataxia. Many of these repeats are bidirectionally transcribed, allowing for single- and double-R-loop configurations, where either or both DNA strands may be RNA-bound. R-loops can trigger repeat instability at (CTG)·(CAG) repeats, but the mechanism of this is unclear. We demonstrate R-loop-mediated instability through processing of R-loops by HeLa and human neuron-like cell extracts. Double-R-loops induced greater instability than single-R-loops. Pre-treatment with RNase H only partially suppressed instability, supporting a model in which R-loops directly generate instability by aberrant processing, or via slipped-DNA formation upon RNA removal and its subsequent aberrant processing. Slipped-DNAs were observed to form following removal of the RNA from R-loops. Since transcriptionally-induced R-loops can occur in the absence of DNA replication, R-loop processing may be a source of repeat instability in the brain. Double-R-loop formation and processing to instability was extended to the expanded C9orf72 (GGGGCC)·(GGCCCC) repeats, known to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, providing the first suggestion through which these repeats may become unstable. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for R-loop-mediated instability at disease-associated repeats.

In general, Francophones in Ontario are more likely than their Anglophone counterparts to suffer from overweight and obesity. It has also been established that Francophones, Canada-wide, eat fewer daily servings of fruits and vegetables than Anglophones and tend to consume more kilocalories from fat . Despite these trends, comparative investigations amongst Francophone and Anglophone children in Ontario have not been completed. Therefore, the purpose of this literature review will be to investigate research evidence regarding Francophone children in Ontario and whether they are more likely or less likely to suffer from overweight or obesity than Anglophone children in Ontario. In addition, we will examine research on cultural factors that may be different between the two linguistic groups and which may contribute to the prevalence of obesity. This literature review will present an overview of childhood obesity in Northern Ontario and Francophone and Anglophone culture as well as identify the gaps within the literature for that require further research attention. Keywords: culture, childhood obesity, Sudbury RésuméEn général, les francophones de l'Ontario sont plus susceptibles que leurs homologues anglophones de souffrir de surpoids et d'obésité. Il a également été établi que les francophones, à l'échelle du Canada, mangent moins de portions quotidiennes de fruits et de légumes que les anglophones et ont tendance à consommer plus de kilocalories en gras . Malgré ces tendances, les enquêtes comparatives menées par des enfants francophones et anglophones en Ontario n'ont pas été complétées. Par conséquent, le but de cette revue de la littérature sera d'enquêter sur les résultats de la recherche concernant les enfants francophones en Ontario et s'ils sont plus susceptibles ou moins susceptibles d'être en surpoids ou d'obésité que les enfants anglophones en Ontario. En outre, nous examinerons la recherche sur les facteurs culturels qui peuvent être différents entre les deux groupes linguistiques et qui peuvent contribuer à la prévalence de l'obésité. Cette revue de la littérature présentera un aperçu de l'obésité infantile dans le Nord de l'Ontario et de la culture francophone et anglophone, ainsi que d'identifier les lacunes de la littérature qui nécessitent une attention accrue à la recherche.