Protecting LGBT+ persons in Africa from torture: Challenges, opportunities, and comparative experiences

This news piece is about REDRESS' webinar held on 1 July 2021 on the protection of LGBT+ persons in Africa from torture and ill-treatment. The speakers on that occasion included (i) Victor Madrigal, the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; (ii) Sibongile Ndashe, founder and Executive Director of the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), based in South Africa; Ayo Sogunro, Manager of the Sexual Orientation, Gender identity and Sex Characteristics Unit at the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, in South Africa; and (iv) Gabriela Oporto, from the Peruvian organisation PROMSEX. This news piece was written by Chris Esdaile and Renata Politi, from REDRESS

Glycaemic control in people with diabetes following acute myocardial infarction

Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease associated with considerable cardiovascular end organ damage and mortality. Despite significant changes to the management of acute myocardial infarction over the last two decades, people with diabetes remain at risk of complications and mortality following a myocardial infarct for a multitude of reasons, including increased coronary atherosclerosis, associated coronary microvascular dysfunction, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Dysglycaemia causes significant endothelial dysfunction and upregulation of inflammation within the vasculature and epigenetic changes mean that these deleterious effects may persist despite subsequent efforts to tighten glycaemic control. Whilst clinical guidelines advocate for the avoidance of both hyper- and hypoglcyaemia in the peri-infarct period, the evidence base is lacking, and currently there is no consensus on the benefits of glycaemic control beyond this period. Glycaemic variability contributes to the glycaemic milieu and may have prognostic importance following myocardial infarct. The use of continuous glucose monitoring means that glucose trends and parameters can now be captured and interrogated, and its use, along with newer medicines, may provide novel opportunities for intervention after myocardial infarction in people with diabetes

Wellington : the Iron Duke

Le duc de Wellington est l’une des figures de l’histoire moderne britannique sur laquelle on a le plus écrit. Dans les vingt dernières années, ont été publiées quatre longues biographies, auxquelles doivent être ajoutées sept séries d’essais sur divers aspects de sa carrière, deux études de ses relations avec Napoléon et trois ou quatre monographies sur des sujets tels que son généralat, son mariage ou sa carrière politique. Aucun signe de tarissement dans ce flot : une biographie de plus est..

« Par delà les monts et dans le lointain » :l’armée britannique dans la péninsule ibérique (1808-1814)

Cet article discute la certitude des historiens de la période napoléonienne que l’Empire français fut seulement vaincu parce qu’il recourut aux armes de la Révolution française et, par-dessus tout, à la « nation en armes ». L’expérience britannique, était très différente. En effet, bien que jamais défaite sur le champ de bataille, l’armée du duc de Wellington en Espagne et au Portugal était le produit d’un système militaire entièrement fondé sur les pratiques du XVIIIe siècle. Reflet d’une stratégie qui évitait un engagement continental massif et préférait combiner guerres coloniales, blocus naval et alliances étendues, les troupes britanniques étaient peu nombreuses et recrutées selon des engagements volontaires parmi, majoritairement, les classes inférieures de la société. Le rang était grossi d’un grand nombre d’étrangers, que l’on utilisait tout aussi intensivement pour les auxiliaires (ce fut le cas au Portugal). La discipline était rude autant que la tactique paraissait d’un autre âge. Même si les Britanniques vainquirent quand même Napoléon en Espagne, les explications traditionnelles méritent d’être remises en question.Over the Hills and Far Away: the British army in the Peninsula, 1808-1814It is virtually an article of faith amongst historians of the Napoleonic era that the French empire was only defeated by recourse to the weapons of the French Revolution, and, above all, the Nation-in-Arms. The British experience, however, was very different. Thus, though never defeated in the field, the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington in Spain and Portugal was the product of a military system founded entirely in the practices of the eighteenth century. The reflection of a strategy that eschewed a massive continental commitment in favour of a combination of colonial warfare, naval blockade and great-power alliances, the British army was very small and recruited by voluntary enlistment from - in large part - the lowest classes of society. As in the eighteenth century, the ranks were swelled by large numbers of foreigners, whilst extensive use was also made of foreign auxiliaries (in this case the Portuguese). Discipline, too, was savage, whilst the army’s tactical system was seemingly antiquated. Yet Britain still defeated Napoleon in the Peninsula, the traditional argument therefore being open to serious question

The Armies of Wellington

Pour des raisons diverses, l’armée de Wellington en Espagne n’a jamais cessé de fasciner les historiens anglais du fait militaire. Jamais vaincue par les Français, elle y gagna une extraordinaire réputation de courage, endura de terribles privations, joua un rôle clé dans l’éviction de l’Empire napoléonien hors d’Espagne et redora le crédit britannique sur la scène internationale. Aussi, ses actions (la marche de la division Light sur Fuentes des Oñoro, le siège de la brigade Hoghton à Albuer..

Australian policy levers for obesity prevention in early childhood

The five studies in this thesis focused on the actions undertaken and policy infrastructure provided by the Australian Federal, State and Territory Governments to prevent obesity in early childhood. The first study used the WHO Ending Childhood Obesity implementation plan to facilitate policy mapping and compare Australia’s national action to five similar countries (published paper). The second study explored the role of intergovernmentalism in achieving national food system action and policy coherence across states working on the same policy areas (published paper). The third study used policy mapping to compare states and territories and explored their eclectic approaches to obesity policy (published paper). Both studies interviewed senior officials in health departments in Australian jurisdictions to understand the barriers and enablers of prevention policy implementation. The fourth study used the New South Wales (NSW) Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Strategy 2013-2018 as a case study of cross-sectoral collaboration in Australia (paper under review). An in-depth policy mapping tool was developed to undertake iterative policy mapping. Semi-structured interviews with 25 senior public officials across 18 agencies in the NSW Government explored the factors effecting implementation of obesity prevention policies. The fifth study explored the perspectives of mothers of young children living in NSW (published paper). Survey questions were embedded into a follow-up cross-sectional survey in a large, randomised control trial – Communicating Healthy Beginnings Advice by Telephone. Mothers were asked how much they supported six different types of policy interventions by the NSW Government. These included food and physical activity environments, settings, support programs and routine measurement of children at health appointments. Potential confounders were included in the analysis to explore associations with their level of policy support

Creating a policy mapping tool for early childhood obesity prevention in Australian states and territories

Childhood obesity is an internationally recognised public health problem. The prevention of obesity is complex, it requires a systematic approach across all sectors of government. Policy represents the intention of a government to act in a particular area. Currently, there is no comprehensive tool to assess childhood obesity prevention policies in an Australian context

Utilization of Waist Circumference to Determine Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Normal and Overweight Individuals

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether noninvasive measurements such as waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are effective for people who have a normal to overweight BMI in determining risk for type 2 diabetes. 29 million US adults have diabetes and 86 million have prediabetes. Numerous studies have indicated waist circumference as a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals. However there are few that research the effects of these anthropometric measurements with individuals who look lean but are potentially metabolically obese