Sex hormones drive changes in lipoprotein metabolism

Summary Women have a reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared to men which could be partially driven by sex hormones influencing lipid levels post-puberty. The interrelationship between sex hormones and lipids was explored in pre-pubertal children, young post-pubertal cis-men/women, and transgender individuals on cross-sex-hormone treatment (trans-men/women) using serum metabolomics assessing 149 lipids. High-density lipoproteins (HDL, typically atheroprotective) were significantly increased and very-low- and low-density lipoproteins (typically atherogenic) were significantly decreased in post-pubertal cis-women compared to cis-men. These differences were not observed pre-puberty and were induced appropriately by cross-sex-hormone treatment in transgender individuals, supporting that sex hormones regulate lipid metabolism in vivo. Only atheroprotective apolipoprotein (Apo)A1 expressing lipoproteins (HDL) were differentially expressed between all hormonally unique comparisons. Thus, oestradiol drives a typically atheroprotective lipid profile through upregulation of HDL/ApoA1 which could contribute to the sexual dimorphism observed in CVD risk post-puberty. Together, this could inform sex-specific therapeutic strategies for CVD management

Task-dependent neural control of regions within human genioglossus

Anatomical and imaging evidence suggests neural control of oblique and horizontal compartments of the genioglossus differs. However, neurophysiological evidence for differential control remains elusive. This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in neural drive to the oblique and horizontal regions of the genioglossus during swallowing and tongue protrusion. Adult participants (n = 63; 48 M) were recruited from a sleep clinic; 41 had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA: 34 M, 8 F). Electromyographic (EMG) was recorded at rest (awake, supine) using four intramuscular fine-wire electrodes inserted percutaneously into the anterior oblique, posterior oblique, anterior horizontal, and posterior horizontal genioglossus. Epiglottic pressure and nasal airflow were also measured. During swallowing, two distinct EMG patterns were observed – a monophasic response (single EMG peak) and a biphasic response (2 bursts of EMG). Peak EMG and timing of the peak relative to epiglottic pressure were significantly different between patterns (linear mixed models, P < 0.001). Monophasic activation was more likely in the horizontal than oblique region during swallowing (OR = 6.83, CI = 3.46–13.53, P < 0.001). In contrast, during tongue protrusion, activation patterns and EMG magnitude were not different between regions. There were no systematic differences in EMG patterns during swallowing or tongue protrusion between OSA and non-OSA groups. These findings provide evidence for functional differences in the motoneuronal output to the oblique and horizontal compartments, enabling differential task-specific drive. Given this, it is important to identify the compartment from which EMG is acquired. We propose that the EMG patterns during swallowing may be used to identify the compartment where a recording electrode is located. NEW & NOTEWORTHY During swallowing, we observed two distinct, stereotyped muscle activation patterns that define the horizontal (monophasic, maximal EMG) and oblique (biphasic, submaximal EMG) neuromuscular compartments of genioglossus. In contrast, volitional tongue protrusions produced uniform activation across compartments. This provides evidence for task-dependent, functionally discrete neuromuscular control of the oblique and horizontal compartments of genioglossus. The magnitude and temporal patterning of genioglossus EMG during swallowing may help guide electrode placement in tongue EMG studies

European tourism policy: Its evolution and structure

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. This article reviews the procedural complexity of tourism policy-making by the European Commission leading up to the 2010 Communication. Initially, the European Commission had to present interventions affecting tourism as a community action or measure; intended to assist in the implementation of the Internal Market. Later, integration of the sustainable development principle into European Treaties established a framework for governance and a foundation for tourism policy, and the Lisbon Treaty in 2007 established a European policy that explicitly related to tourism, albeit a complementary competence in character. This article highlights a lack of leadership from the Member States throughout the process and contrasts this with the self-serving, driving force of the Commission in making tourism policy that focuses primarily on promotional actions. Consequently, the Commission has not created a robust, dynamic, flexible European model for tourism, designed in a way to best serve the needs of the Member States

Effect of upper airway fat on tongue dilation during inspiration in awake people with obstructive sleep apnea

Study Objectives: To investigate the effect of upper airway fat composition on tongue inspiratory movement and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Participants without or with untreated OSA underwent a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Anatomical measurements were obtained from T2-weighted images. Mid-sagittal inspiratory tongue movements were imaged using tagged MRI during wakefulness. Tissue volumes and percentages of fat were quantified using an mDIXON scan. Results: Forty predominantly overweight participants with OSA were compared to 10 predominantly normal weight controls. After adjusting for age, BMI, and gender, the percentage of fat in the tongue was not different between groups (analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], p = 0.45), but apnoeic patients had a greater tongue volume (ANCOVA, p = 0.025). After adjusting for age, BMI, and gender, higher OSA severity was associated with larger whole tongue volume (r = 0.51, p < 0.001), and greater dilatory motion of the anterior horizontal tongue compartment (r = -0.33, p = 0.023), but not with upper airway fat percentage. Higher tongue fat percentage was associated with higher BMI and older age (Spearman r = 0.43, p = 0.002, and r =0.44, p = 0.001, respectively), but not with inspiratory tongue movements. Greater inspiratory tongue movement was associated with larger tongue volume (e.g. horizontal posterior compartment, r = -0.44, p = 0.002) and smaller nasopharyngeal airway (e.g. oblique compartment, r = 0.29, p = 0.040). Conclusions: Larger tongue volume and a smaller nasopharynx are associated with increased inspiratory tongue dilation during wakefulness in people with and without OSA. This compensatory response was not influenced by higher tongue fat content. Whether this is also true in more obese patient populations requires further investigation

Hungary and the European Union: the political implications of societal security promotion

Hungary's constitutional commitment to support kin-nationals beyond its borders (nation policy) has been a central feature of its post-1989 foreign policy and highlights a particularly important national security concern—the societal security of national identity, culture, language and tradition. This article examines Hungary's societal security concerns and the policy methods it utilises, including its EU membership and the promotion of minority rights at the European level, to help combat these concerns. It is suggested that Hungary has found it somewhat difficult to balance its societal security policy objective with internal economic demands on its welfare system and its external foreign policy objective to maintain good neighbourly relations. This article also notes that Hungary's attempts to Europeanise, or rather 'EU-ise', minority and ethnic rights issues as a means to enhance societal security for the Hungarian nation has certain political consequences for the EU. This suggests that societal security provision is an issue that cannot be overlooked when trying to understand the longer-term implications of EU eastern enlargement

Dioxin Toxicity In Vivo Results from an Increase in the Dioxin-Independent Transcriptional Activity of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) is the nuclear receptor mediating the toxicity of dioxins -widespread and persistent pollutants whose toxic effects include tumor promotion, teratogenesis, wasting syndrome and chloracne. Elimination of Ahr in mice eliminates dioxin toxicity but also produces adverse effects, some seemingly unrelated to dioxin. Thus the relationship between the toxic and dioxin-independent functions of Ahr is not clear, which hampers understanding and treatment of dioxin toxicity. Here we develop a Drosophila model to show that dioxin actually increases the in vivo dioxin-independent activity of Ahr. This hyperactivation resembles the effects caused by an increase in the amount of its dimerisation partner Ahr nuclear translocator (Arnt) and entails an increased transcriptional potency of Ahr, in addition to the previously described effect on nuclear translocation. Thus the two apparently different functions of Ahr, dioxin-mediated and dioxin-independent, are in fact two different levels (hyperactivated and basal, respectively) of a single function

AhR transcriptional activity in serum of Inuits across Greenlandic districts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human exposure to lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated dibenzo-<it>p</it>-dioxins/furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticide is ubiquitous. The individual is exposed to a complex mixture of POPs being life-long beginning during critical developmental windows. Exposure to POPs elicits a number of species- and tissue-specific toxic responses, many of which involve the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The aim of this study was to compare the actual level of integrated AhR transcriptional activity in the lipophilic serum fraction containing the actual POP mixture among Inuits from different districts in Greenland, and to evaluate whether the AhR transactivity is correlated to the bio-accumulated POPs and/or lifestyle factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study included 357 serum samples from the Greenlandic districts: Nuuk and Sisimiut (South West Coast), Qaanaaq (North Coast) and Tasiilaq (East Coast). The bio-accumulated serum POPs were extracted by ethanol: hexane and clean-up on Florisil columns. Effects of the serum extract on the AhR transactivity was determined using the Hepa 1.12cR mouse hepatoma cell line carrying an AhR-luciferase reporter gene, and the data was evaluated for possible association to the serum levels of 14 PCB congeners, 10 organochlorine pesticide residues and/or lifestyle factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total 85% of the Inuit samples elicited agonistic AhR transactivity in a district dependent pattern. The median level of the AhR-TCDD equivalent (AhR-TEQ) of the separate genders was similar in the different districts. For the combined data the order of the median AhR-TEQ was Tasiilaq > Nuuk ≥ Sisimiut > Qaanaaq possibly being related to the different composition of POPs. In overall, the AhR transactivity was inversely correlated to the levels of sum POPs, age and/or intake of marine food.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>i) We observed that the proportion of dioxin like (DL) compounds in the POP mixture was the dominating factor affecting the level of serum AhR transcriptional activity even at very high level of non DL-PCBs; ii) The inverse association between the integrated serum AhR transactivity and sum of POPs might be explained by the higher level of compounds antagonizing the AhR function probably due to selective POP bioaccumulation in the food chain.</p

Xenohormone transactivities are inversely associated to serum POPs in Inuit

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Scenario-based sustainable water management and urban regeneration

Copyright © ICE PublishingDeployable output (source availability) from water resources in north west England is predicted to decrease over the next 25 years. Alternative supply management strategies are planned to help avoid a deficit in the supply–demand balance within the region but have yet to be considered in detail. This paper assesses the contribution of such an alternative supply strategy at local level on the water resource supply–demand balance at regional level based on a proposed urban regeneration site in north west England. Various water conservation and reuse measures are investigated considering local and regional conditions and constraints. Four future scenarios are presented and used to describe how the future might be (rather than how it will be), to allow an assessment to be made of how current ‘sustainable solutions’ might cope whatever the future holds. The analysis determines the solution contributions under each future and indicates that some strategies will deliver their full intended benefits under scenarios least expected but most needed. It is recommended that to help reduce the regional supply–demand deficit and maximise system resilience to future change, a wide range of water demand management measures should be incorporated on this and other sites

Self-reported health status and access to health services in a sample of prisoners in Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Self-reported health status in underserved population of prisoners has not been extensively explored. The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to assess self-reported health, quality of life, and access to health services in a sample of male prisoners of Italy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 908 prisoners received a self-administered anonymous questionnaire pertaining on demographic and detention characteristics, self-reported health status and quality of life, access to health services, lifestyles, and participation to preventive, social, and rehabilitation programs. A total of 650 prisoners agreed to participate in the study and returned the questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Respectively, 31.6% and 43.5% of prisoners reported a poor perceived health status and a poor quality of life, and 60% admitted that their health was worsened or greatly worsened during the prison stay. Older age, lower education, psychiatric disorders, self-reported health problems on prison entry, and suicide attempts within prison were significantly associated with a perceived worse health status. At the time of the questionnaire delivery, 30% of the prisoners self-reported a health problem present on prison entry and 82% present at the time of the survey. Most frequently reported health problems included dental health problems, arthritis or joint pain, eye problems, gastrointestinal diseases, emotional problems, and high blood pressure. On average, prisoners encountered general practitioners six times during the previous year, and the frequency of medical encounters was significantly associated with older age, sentenced prisoners, psychiatric disorders, and self-reported health problems on prison entry.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings suggest that prisoners have a perceived poor health status, specific care needs and health promotion programs are seldom offered. Programs for correction of risk behaviour and prevention of long-term effects of incarceration on prisoners' health are strongly needed.</p