Adipose Tissue as a Site of Toxin Accumulation

We examine the role of adipose tissue, typically considered an energy storage site, as a potential site of toxicant accumulation. Although the production of most persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was banned years ago, these toxicants persist in the environment due to their resistance to biodegradation and widespread distribution in various environmental forms (e.g., vapor, sediment, and water). As a result, human exposure to these toxicants is inevitable. Largely due to their lipophilicity, POPs bioaccumulate in adipose tissue, resulting in greater body burdens of these environmental toxicants with obesity. POPs of major concern include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), and polybrominated biphenyls and diphenyl ethers (PBBs/PBDEs), among other organic compounds. In this review, we 1) highlight the physical characteristics of toxicants that enable them to partition into and remain stored in adipose tissue, 2) discuss the specific mechanisms of action by which these toxicants act to influence adipocyte function, and 3) review associations between POP exposures and the development of obesity and diabetes. An area of controversy relates to the relative potential beneficial versus hazardous health effects of toxicant sequestration in adipose tissue

Growth-Deficient Mycobacteria in Patients with AIDS: Diagnosis by Analysis of DNA Amplified from Blood or Tissue

Amplification and sequencing of mycobacterial ribosomal RNA genes (16S rDNA) may permit the detection of growth-deficient species (i.e., those exhibiting no growth or those whose growth is delayed for more than 12 weeks). Of blood samples from 26 patients with AIDS and a liver sample from one additional AIDS patient, three samples (two of blood and the one of liver) were positive by polymerase chain reaction only; cultures of these three samples remained negative for more than 12 weeks. Analysis of amplified 16S rDNA from blood revealed a sequence characteristic of Mycobacterium genavense in the first case, in which one of many previous blood cultures had also been positive for M. genavense. The sequences found in the second and third cases were characteristic of Mycobacterium avium. The sample from the second patient was a liver biopsy specimen in which acid-fast bacilli were visualized; the culture of this specimen yielded M. avium after 7 months. The third sample was a blood sample from a patient in whom a relapse of treated M. avium infection was suspected. These results indicate that amplification and sequencing of mycobacterial 16S rDNA may permit early diagnosis and provide a rationale for treatment of infections due to growth-deficient mycobacteri

Genetic diversity of a flightless dung beetle appears unaffected by wildfire

The wildfires of Australia’s Black Summer in 2019/2020 caused a massive loss of wildlife and habitats, but the effects of the fire on invertebrate species post-burn are unknown. We hypothesised that the fires would negatively affect the genetic diversity of invertebrate species by impeding movement between populations due to habitat loss. We studied the genetic diversity of a flightless dung beetle, Amphistomus primonactus Matthews 1974, to determine the impact of the wildfires on this species. We examined 90 SNPs from 193 individuals across seven localities impacted by the wildfires in north-eastern New South Wales. We used STRUCTURE to determine the overall population structure of the seven localities. We calculated four within-locality genetic diversity measures (observed heterozygosity (Ho), unbiased expected heterozygosity (uHe), Shannon’s Information (1 H), and the inbreeding coefficient (FIS). We calculated three between-locality genetic diversity measures (Fixation Index (FST), Hedrick’s G”ST, and Shannon’s Mutual Information (I). We used partial Mantel tests to compare the between-locality genetic diversity measures with the mean fire intensity along each pairwise linear transect, while accounting for genetic variation due to geographic distance. We compared the within-locality genetic diversity measures to the mean fire intensity at each site. STRUCTURE showed a large degree of intermixing between localities. We found no significant effect of fire on any within-locality genetic diversity measure, or on any between-locality genetic diversity measure. We suggest that the genetic diversity of A. primonactus was not significantly affected by the Black Summer wildfires. Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that the 2019/2020 wildfires had a negligible impact on the genetic structure of A. primonactus. This offers a promising outlook for the species in its recovery from the fires

Evaluation of Information Systems Security in Local Municipalities: a Case Study in a Médio Tejo Municipality

Numa Era caracterizada pela importancia da ınformaçâo, a generalidade das organizaçoes depende fortemente dos Sistemas de Informaçâo para o desempenho da sua missäo. Para as Autarquías Locais, onde se verificam constantes mudanças nos processos organizacionais com o objetivo de uma melhor utilizaçâo económica, eficiente e equitativa dos recursos públicos, os Sistemas de Informaçâo säo um fator-chave. Ao lidarem diariamente com informaçâo confidencial estäo sujeitas a obrigaçoes de conformidade ética e legal que geram grande responsabilidade na gestâo da informaçâo que tratam e produzem. Com este estudo de caso pretendeuse aferir, através da aplicaçâo de um inquérito por questionário baseado na ISO/ IEC 27002:2013 associado a um modelo de maturidade qual o grau de maturidade dos controlos de segurança do Sistema de Informaçâo num Municipio do Médio Tejo (MMT). A aplicaçâo destas ferramentas permitiu identificar quais as áreas mais críticas e formas de melhorar os processos.In a time characterized by the importance of information, most organizations strongly depend on information systems for the fulfilment of their mission. For local Municipality Halls, where there are constant changes in organizational processes aimed at economically, efficiently and equitably improving the usage of public resources, information systems are key factors. Dealing daily with confidential information, they are subject to obligations of ethical and legal conformity that imply great responsibility in the management of the information they process and generate. This study aimed at understanding, through a questionnaire based on ISO/IEC 27002:2013 associated with a maturity model, what is the degree of maturity of the security controls in the information system of a municipality in the Médio Tejo region (MMT). The application of these tools allowed the identification of the most critical areas and ways to improve processes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Obesity Reduces Left Ventricular Strains, Torsion, and Synchrony in Mouse Models: A Cine Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects a third of adults in the US and results in an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. While the mechanisms underlying this increased risk are not well understood, animal models of obesity have shown direct effects on the heart such as steatosis and fibrosis, which may affect cardiac function. However, the effect of obesity on cardiac function in animal models is not well-defined. We hypothesized that diet-induced obesity in mice reduces strain, torsion, and synchrony in the left ventricle (LV). METHODS: Ten 12-week-old C57BL/6 J mice were randomized to a high-fat or low-fat diet. After 5 months on the diet, mice were imaged with a 7 T ClinScan using a cine DENSE protocol. Three short-axis and two long-axis slices were acquired for quantification of strains, torsion and synchrony in the left ventricle. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass was increased by 15% (p = 0.032) with no change in volumes or ejection fraction. Subepicardial strain was lower in the obese mice with a 40% reduction in circumferential strain (p = 0.008) a 53% reduction in radial strain (p = 0.032) and a trend towards a 19% reduction in longitudinal strain (p = 0.056). By contrast, subendocardial strain was modestly reduced in the obese mice in the circumferential direction by 12% (p = 0.028), and no different in the radial (p = 0.690) or longitudinal (p = 0.602) directions. Peak torsion was reduced by 34% (p = 0.028). Synchrony of contraction was also reduced (p = 0.032) with a time delay in the septal-to-lateral direction. CONCLUSIONS: Diet-induced obesity reduces left ventricular strains and torsion in mice. Reductions in cardiac strain are mostly limited to the subepicardium, with relative preservation of function in the subendocardium. Diet-induced obesity also leads to reduced synchrony of contraction and hypertrophy in mouse models

Not the End of the World? Post-Classical Decline and Recovery in Rural Anatolia

Between the foundation of Constantinople as capital of the eastern half of the Roman Empire in 330 CE and its sack by the Fourth Crusade in 1204 CE, the Byzantine Empire underwent a full cycle from political-economic stability, through rural insecurity and agrarian decline, and back to renewed prosperity. These stages plausibly correspond to the phases of over-extension (K), subsequent release (Ω) and recovery (α) of the Adaptive Cycle in Socio-Ecological Systems. Here we track and partly quantify the consequences of those changes in different regions of Anatolia, firstly for rural settlement (via regional archaeological surveys) and secondly for land cover (via pollen analysis). We also examine the impact of climate changes on the agrarian system. While individual histories vary, the archaeological record shows a major demographic decline between ca .650 and ca. 900 CE in central and southwestern Anatolia, which was then a frontier zone between Byzantine and Arab armies. In these regions, and also in northwest Anatolia, century-scale trends in pollen indicate a substantial decline in the production of cereal and tree crops, and a smaller decline in pastoral activity. During the subsequent recovery (α) phase after 900 CE there was strong regional differentiation, with central Anatolia moving to a new economic system based on agro-pastoralism, while lowland areas of northern and western Anatolia returned to the cultivation of commercial crops such as olive trees. The extent of recovery in the agrarian economy was broadly predictable by the magnitude of its preceding decline, but the trajectories of recovery varied between different regions

A one-stop perineal clinic: our eleven-year experience.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The perineal clinic is a dedicated setting offering assessment for various childbirth-related presentations including obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs), perineal wound complications, pelvic floor dysfunction and other conditions such as female genital mutilation(FGM). We describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of women from a tertiary perineal clinic based on data collected over an 11-year period. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study. A one-stop outpatient service was offered to all women who sustained OASIs (postnatally and antenatally in a subsequent pregnancy), perineal complications (within 16 weeks postpartum), FGM and/or peripartum symptoms of urinary/anal incontinence or prolapse. Assessment included history with validated questionnaires, examination and anal manometry and endoanal ultrasound when appropriate. Outcomes were compared among different grades of OASIs. Management of each type of presentation was reported with outcomes. RESULTS: There were 3254 first attendance episodes between 2006 and 2016. The majority (58.1%) were for OASIs, followed by perineal wound complications. Compared to the lower grades, the higher grades of OASI were associated with poorer outcomes in terms of symptoms, investigations and complications. Women with OASIs had unrelated symptoms such as urinary incontinence, perineal pain and wound infections that needed further intervention. A high proportion(42%) of wound complications required further specialist management. CONCLUSION: We describe a dedicated, one-stop perineal clinic model for antenatal and postnatal women for management of perineal and pelvic floor disorders. This comprehensive and novel data will enable clinicians to better counsel women regarding of outcomes after OASI and focus training to minimize risks of morbidities

XX Sex Chromosome Complement Promotes Atherosclerosis in Mice

Men and women differ in circulating lipids and coronary artery disease (CAD). While sex hormones such as estrogens decrease CAD risk, hormone replacement therapy increases risk. Biological sex is determined by sex hormones and chromosomes, but effects of sex chromosomes on circulating lipids and atherosclerosis are unknown. Here, we use mouse models to separate effects of sex chromosomes and hormones on atherosclerosis, circulating lipids and intestinal fat metabolism. We assess atherosclerosis in multiple models and experimental paradigms that distinguish effects of sex chromosomes, and male or female gonads. Pro-atherogenic lipids and atherosclerosis are greater in XX than XY mice, indicating a primary effect of sex chromosomes. Small intestine expression of enzymes involved in lipid absorption and chylomicron assembly are greater in XX male and female mice with higher intestinal lipids. Together, our results show that an XX sex chromosome complement promotes the bioavailability of dietary fat to accelerate atherosclerosis