Serum adiponectin is positively associated with lung function in young adults, independent of obesity: The CARDIA study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Rationale</p> <p>Adipose tissue produces adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory protein. Adiponectin deficiency in mice is associated with abnormal post-natal alveolar development.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>We hypothesized that lower serum adiponectin concentrations are associated with lower lung function in humans, independent of obesity. We explored mediation of this association by insulin resistance and systemic inflammation.</p> <p>Methods and Measurements</p> <p>Spirometry testing was conducted at years 10 and 20 follow-up evaluation visits in 2,056 eligible young adult participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Body mass index, serum adiponectin, serum C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation), and insulin resistance were assessed at year 15.</p> <p>Main Results</p> <p>After controlling for body mass index, years 10 and 20 forced vital capacity (FVC) were 81 ml and 82 ml lower respectively (p = 0.004 and 0.01 respectively) in the lowest <it>vs</it>. highest adiponectin quartiles. Similarly, years 10 and 20 forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were 50 ml and 38 ml lower (p = 0.01 and 0.09, respectively) in the lowest <it>vs</it>. highest adiponectin quartiles. These associations were no longer significant after adjustment for insulin resistance and C-reactive protein. Serum adiponectin was not associated with FEV₁/FVC or peak FEV₁.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Independent of obesity, lower serum adiponectin concentrations are associated with lower lung function. The attenuation of this association after adjustment for insulin resistance and systemic inflammation suggests that these covariates are on a causal pathway linking adiponectin and lung function.</p

Pioneering the human development revolution: Analysing the trajectory of Mahbub ul Haq

Mahbub ul Haq's work to coordinate, establish and propagate the human development approach offers an example of effective leadership in promoting more ethical socio-economic development. This article reviews Pioneering the Human Development Revolution-An Intellectual Biography of Mahbub ul Haq (edited by Haq and Ponzio), and extends themes from the United Nations Intellectual History Project to examine Haq's contributions in terms of four aspects of leadership: articulating and applying values that combine depth with broad appeal; providing a fruitful and vivid way of seeing, a 'vision', that reflects the values; embodying the values and vision in workable practical proposals; and supporting and communicating the previous aspects through wide and relevant networks. It suggests that the human development approach may need to update its values and vision, including through better integration of human security thinking, if it is to retain the leadership role it acquired thanks to Haq

Illegal Immigration, Deportation Policy, and the Optimal Timing of Return

Countries with strict immigration policies often resort to deportation measures to reduce their stocks of illegal immigrants. Many of their undocumented foreign workers, however, are not deported but rather choose to return home voluntarily. This paper studies the optimizing behavior of undocumented immigrants who continuously face the risk of deportation, modeled by a stochastic process, and must decide how long to remain in the host country. It is found that the presence of uncertainty with respect to the length of stay abroad unambiguously reduces the desired migration duration and may trigger a voluntary return when a permanent stay would otherwise be optimal. Voluntary return is motivated by both economic and psychological factors. Calibration of the model to match the evidence on undocumented Thai migrants in Japan suggests that the psychological impact of being abroad as an illegal alien may be equivalent to as large as a 68% cut in the consumption rate at the point of return

The effect of Polystimulin-A6 on some morphological properties of beech seedlings (Fagus orientalis L.)

WOS: 000186926700006An investigation was carried out to consider the effect of polystimulin-A6 on the growth of beech seedlings. A total of 1200 seedlings treated with Polystimulin-A6 at four different concentrations, and a total of 300 control seedlings, were investigated taking account of height, collar diameter, dry weight, number and size of leaves. The greatest height and collar diameter were found with the treatment Polystimulin-A6 at 200 mg/l. In contrast, the control treatment resulted in the least height and collar diameter. The greatest seedling height measured 52.77 cm at the 200 mg/l level, compared with 38.37 cm for the control seedlings. The greatest root collar diameter measured 16.44 mm with the transplanted seedlings, while the least measured 7.01 mm. with the control seedlings. Also, seedling dry weight, root percentage, number and size of leaves were higher than the control. To conclude, it is obvious that Polystimulin-A6 is very effective and has contributed significantly to the metabolism of Fagus orientalis L . seedlings. According to this study, the application of Polystimulin-A6 to beech seedlings has been recommended for practical use in nursery situations

Zymodeme patterns of Entamoeba histolytica strains isolated from clinical patients

Amebiasis is a common medical problem throughout the world. Recently, the nonpathogenic, genetically distinct and morphologically identical parasite Entamoeba dispar was differentiated from invasive Entamoeba histolytica(1). It has has been shown that isoenzyme analysis of the cultured amebae can be used for differentiation. In this study, we aimed to determine isoenzyme patterns of pathogenic E. histolytica strains. Maleic enzyme ME (E.C.1.1.1.40), hexokinase HK (E.C.2.7.1.1), phosphoglucomutase PGM (E.C.2.7.5.1) and glucosephosphate isomerase GPI (E.C.5.3.1.9) enzyme bands were determined by Laemmli method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in all of 5 E.histolytica stains characterized by direct microscopic examination and trichrome staining