Lipoprotein ontology as a functional knowledge base

The advances of high throughput research in the biomedical domain have resulted in an onslaught of data being generated at an exponential rate. As a result, researchers face challenges in navigating through overwhelming amounts of information in order to derive relevant scientific insights. Ontologies address these issues by providing explicit description of biomedical entities and a platform for the integration of data, thereby enabling a more efficient retrieval of information. There have been major efforts in the development of biomedical ontologies in the recent years; however no such ontology exists for lipoproteins, which play a crucial role in various biological and cellular functions. Dysregulation in lipoprotein metabolism is significantly associated with an increased risk to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in the world today. The aim of this paper is to propose a preliminary framework for Lipoprotein Ontology, with particular focus on the etiology and treatment of lipoprotein dysregulation. This may provide a novel and effective strategy for managing at risk individuals

Towards the mental health ontology

Lots of research have been done within the mental health domain, but exact causes of mental illness are still unknown. Concerningly, the number of people being affected by mental conditions is rapidly increasing and it has been predicted that depression would be the world's leading cause of disabilityby 2020. Most mental health information is found in electronic form. Application of the cutting-edge information technologies within the mental health domain has the potential to greatly increase the value of the available information. Specifically, ontologies form the basis for collaboration between researchteams, for creation of semantic web services and intelligent multi-agent systems, for intelligent information retrieval, and for automatic data analysis such as data mining. In this paper, we present Mental Health Ontology which can be used to underpin a variety of automatic tasks and positively transform the way information is being managed and used within the mental health domain

Dose-Dependent Effect of Rosuvastatin on VLDL-Apolipoprotein C-III Kinetics in the Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE - Dysregulated apolipoprotein (apo)C-III metabolism may account for hypertriglyceridemia and increased cardiovascular risk in the metabolic syndrome. This study investigated the dose-dependent effect of rosuvastatin on VLDL apoC-III transport in men with the metabolic syndrome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Twelve men with the metabolic syndrome were studied in a randomized double-blind crossover trial of 5-week intervention periods with placebo, 10 mg rosuvastatin, or 40 mg rosuvastatin, with 2-week placebo washouts between each period. VLDL apoC-III kinetics were examined using a stable isotope method and compartmental modeling at the end of each intervention period. RESULTS - Compared with placebo, there was a significant dose-dependent reduction with rosuvastatin in plasma triglyceride and VLDL apoC-III concentrations. Rosuvastatin significantly (P P P P CONCLUSIONS - In this study, rosuvastatin decreased the production and increased the catabolism of VLDL apoC-III, a mechanism that accounted for the significant reduction in VLDL apoC-III and triglyceride concentrations. This has implications for the management of cardiometabolic risk in obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome

A framework for lipoprotein ontology

Clinical and epidemiological studies have established a significant correlation between abnormal plasma lipoprotein levels and cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of mortality in the world today. In addition, lipoprotein dysregulation, known as dyslipidemia, is a central feature in disease states, such as diabetes and hypertension, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. While a corpus of literature exists on different areas of lipoprotein research, one of the major challenges that researchers face is the difficulties in accessing and integrating relevant information amidst massive quantities of heterogeneous data. Semantic web technologies, specifically ontologies, target these problems by providing an organizational framework of the concepts involved in a system of related instances to support systematic querying of information. In this paper, we identify issues within the lipoprotein research domain and present a preliminary framework for Lipoprotein Ontology, which consists of five specific areas of lipoprotein research: Classification, Metabolism, Pathophysiology, Etiology, and Treatment. By integrating specific aspects of lipoprotein research, Lipoprotein Ontology will provide the basis for the design of various applications to enable interoperability between research groups or software agents, as well as the development of tools for the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia

Towards a Methodology for Lipoprotein Ontology

Abnormal plasma lipoprotein levels have been found to be significantly correlated to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In addition, lipoprotein dysregulation, known as dyslipidemia, is a central feature in disease states such as diabetes and hypertension, which also increases the risk to cardiovascular disease. Despite progress in lipoprotein research, a vast number of the world population suffers from dyslipidemia. One of the major challenges that researchers face is the difficulties in accessing and integrating relevant information amidst massive quantities of heterogeneous data. Ontologies target these problems by providing a semantic framework of the concepts involved in a system of related instances to support systematic querying of information, data mining, as well as form the basis for collaboration between research teams. Lipoprotein Ontology will provide the basis for the design of various applications to enable interoperability between research groups or software agents, as well as the development of tools for the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia. In this paper we present a nine-step methodology for the design of Lipoprotein Ontology. This methodology can be adapted for use in the design of other domain-specific ontologies

An ABC of apolipoprotein C-III: a clinically useful new cardiovascular risk factor?

Background: Hypertriglyceridaemia, commonly found in subjects with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and may provide a new approach to assessing hypertriglyceridaemia. Aims: We review the role of apoC-III in regulating TRL metabolism and address the potential importance of apoC-III in clinical practice. Discussion: Hypertriglyceridaemia is chiefly a consequence of alterations in the kinetics of TRLs, including overproduction and delayed clearance of very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL). ApoC-III is an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase and of TRLs remnant uptake by hepatic lipoprotein receptors. Elevated apoC-III, usually resulting from hepatic overproduction of VLDL apoC-III, may cause accumulation of plasma TRLs leading to hypertriglyceridaemia. The results from recent observational studies demonstrate that apoC-III is a strong predictor of risk for CHD, but this chiefly relates to apoC-III in apoB-containing lipoproteins. Lifestyle and pharmacological intervention can correct hypertriglyceridaemia by a mechanism of action that regulates apoC-III transport. Conclusions: Targeting apoC-III metabolism may therefore be an important, new therapeutic approach to managing dyslipidaemia and CHD risk in obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, further work is required to establish the practical aspects of measuring apoC-III in routine laboratory service and the precise therapeutic targets for serum total apoC-III and/or apoC-III in apoB-containing lipoproteins. While showing much promise as a potentially useful cardiovascular risk factor, apoC-III is not yet ready for prime time use in clinical practice

A modern approach to total wellbeing

The events of the last decades have impacted our lives and our health significantly. We expected that the technology boom will improve our lives. While this may be true in a specific context, generally speaking our societies are suffering from moral decays, terrorism fears, wars, financial crisis andunpredictable acts of nature that are increasing in frequency and in intensity. The complex nature of the world we live is impacting our health and wellbeing considerably. Our health is not only determined by our physical health but is the end product of the interplay of the physical, mental, emotional, financial,relational and spiritual events of a lifetime. In this paper we develop a framework that will help us define and measure total wellbeing of individuals in our volatile societies. This framework will help us better understand the complex nature of total wellbeing and develop effective prevention and intervention strategies