Moderate exercise increases affinity of large very low density lipoproteins for hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase

Context: Postprandial triglyceride (TG) concentration is independently associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Exercise reduces postprandial TG concentrations but the mechanisms responsible are unclear. Objective: To determine the effects of exercise on affinity of chylomicrons, large very low density lipoproteins (VLDL1) and smaller VLDL (VLDL2) for lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mediated TG hydrolysis. Design: Within-participant cross-over study. Setting: A University metabolic investigation unit. Participants: Ten overweight/obese men. Interventions: Participants undertook two oral fat tolerance tests, separated by 7–14 days, in which they had blood taken fasting and for 4 hours after a high-fat mixed meal. On the afternoon before one test, they performed a 90-minute treadmill walk at 50% maximal oxygen uptake (EX); no exercise was performed before the control test (CON). Main outcome measures: Circulating TG-rich lipoprotein concentrations; affinity of chylomicrons, VLDL1, VLDL2 for LPL-mediated TG hydrolysis. Results: Exercise significantly reduced fasting VLDL1-TG concentration (CON: 0.49(0.33–0.72) mmol.l−1, EX: 0.36(0.22–0.59) mmol.l−1, [geometric means (95% confidence interval)]; p=0.04). Time-averaged postprandial chylomicron-TG (CON: 0.55±0.10 mmol.l−1, EX: 0.39±0.08 mmol.l−1, [mean±SEM], p=0.03) and VLDL1-TG (CON: 0.85±0.13 mmol.l−1, EX: 0.66±0.10 mmol.l−1, p=0.01) concentrations were both lower in EX than CON. Affinity of VLDL1 for LPL-mediated TG hydrolysis increased by 2.2(1.3–3.7) fold (geometric mean (95% confidence interval)) (p=0.02) in the fasted state and 2.6(1.8–2.6) fold (p=0.001) postprandially. Affinity of chylomicrons and VLDL2 was not significantly different between trials. Conclusions: Exercise increases affinity of VLDL1 for LPL-mediated TG hydrolysis both fasting and postprandially. This mechanism is likely to contribute to exercise's TG-lowering effect

Intercomparisons of high-resolution solar blind Raman lidar atmospheric profiles of water vapor with radiosondes and kytoon

A report is given of measurements of atmospheric profiles of water vapor in the boundary layer by use of solar blind Raman lidar. These measurement episodes, occuring twice a day over a two week period, were accompanied by a dense net of supporting measurements. The support included two radiosonde launches per measurement episodes as well as a kytoon support measurement of water vapor using a wet bulb-dry bulb instrument. The kytoon strategy included ten minute stops at strategic altitudes. Additional kytoon measurements included ozone profiles and nephelometric extinction profiles in the visible. Typically, six or seven 1000 shot lidar profile averages were collected during a measurement episode. Overall performance comparisons are provided and intercomparisons between auxiliary measurement devices are presented. Data on the accuracy of the lidar water vapor profiles are presented

Developing a Student Employee Leadership Program: The Importance of Evaluating Effectiveness

Outstanding student employees are essential for campus recreation programs to achieve organizational goals. To that end, this study examined the effectiveness of a leadership development program in which three groups of campus recreation (rec sports) student employees participated at various levels in the following: oncampus training, an off-site retreat, a scavenger hunt, and biweekly meetings. Using a quasi-experimental design, data were collected in two phases from 51 students and measured the growth of each student’s leadership capabilities as reported using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory. Statistical analyses revealed that group membership did significantly affect growth in the student’s leadership capacity, F(2, 48) = 7.07, p = .002, η2 = .228. Campus recreation programs are increasingly held accountable and rec sports professionals must understand assessment is vital. The results of this study reveal that rec sports professionals can impact the development of student leaders. Specifically, the findings indicate that growth does not occur with condensed training. Indeed lasting, meaningful growth transpires only when leadership lessons are embedded using a sustained approach. Implications for research and practice are presented

Construction and evaluation of group tests in reading for grades one, two, and three.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Nursing teamwork in the care of older people: A mixed methods study

Healthcare is increasingly complex and requires the ability to adapt to changing demands. Teamwork is essential to delivering high quality care and is central to nursing. The aims of this study were to identify the processes that underpin nursing teamwork and how these affect the care of older people, identify the relationship between perceived teamwork and perceived quality of care, and explore in depth the experience of working in nursing teams. The study was carried out in three older people's wards in a London teaching hospital. Nurses and healthcare assistants completed questionnaires (n=65) on known dynamics of teamwork (using the Nursing Teamwork Survey) together with ratings of organisational quality (using an adapted AHRQ HSPS scale). A sample (n=22; 34%) was then interviewed about their perceptions of care, teamwork and how good outcomes are delivered in everyday work. Results showed that many care difficulties were routinely encountered, and confirmed the importance of teamwork (e.g. shared mental models of tasks and team roles and responsibilities, supported by leadership) in adapting to challenges. Perceived quality of teamwork was positively related to perceived quality of care. Work system variability and the external environment influenced teamwork, and confirmed the importance of team adaptive capacity. The CARE model shows the centrality of teamwork in adapting to variable demand and capacity to deliver care processes, and the influence of broader system factors on teamworking

Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors

Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors.BackgroundHigh protein diets and diabetes increase renal renin angiotensin system (RAS) activity, which is associated with glomerular injury. Aminopeptidase A (APA) is a cell surface metalloprotease that degrades angiotensin II (AII) in the mesangium. Mesangial cells (MC) also possess receptors for AII; the type 1 (AT1 receptor) promotes proliferation and fibrosis, while the type 2 (AT2 receptor) opposes these effects. We evaluated whether amino acids and glucose alter expression of APA, AT1 receptor and AT2 receptor in a manner that further augments RAS activity.MethodsConfluent rat MC were grown in serum-free media for 48 hours prior to exposing to experimental conditions: control (C), high amino acids (HA, mixed amino acid solution added to raise concentrations 5- to 6-fold over C), high glucose (HG 30, mM glucose). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA for APA, AT1 receptor, AT2 receptor, and β-actin. Values are expressed relative to βbgr; actin.ResultsBoth HA and HG reduced APA mRNA (HG 1.13 ± 0.19, HA 1.12 ± 0.16 versus C 1.27 ± 0.16 P < 0.05, N = 8). HA increased AT1 receptor mRNA (HA 2.11 ± 0.43 versus C 1.14 ± 0.28 P < 0.05, N = 8). HG increased AT2 receptor mRNA (HG 1.31 ± 0.43 versus C 0.82 ± 0.33 P < 0.05, N = 6).ConclusionsA reduction of APA, in response to high levels of amino acids or glucose, could contribute to increased AII as a result of decreased degradation in MC. The effect of amino acids to increase AT1 receptor expression may further enhance adverse hemodynamic and pro-fibrotic actions of AII. Conversely, glucose increased AT2 receptor expression, which could modulate responses mediated by the AT1 receptor