The Effects of Apolipoprotein F Deficiency on High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Metabolism in Mice

Apolipoprotein F (apoF) is 29 kilodalton secreted sialoglycoprotein that resides on the HDL and LDL fractions of human plasma. Human ApoF is also known as Lipid Transfer Inhibitor protein (LTIP) based on its ability to inhibit cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-mediated transfer events between lipoproteins. In contrast to other apolipoproteins, ApoF is predicted to lack strong amphipathic alpha helices and its true physiological function remains unknown. We previously showed that overexpression of Apolipoprotein F in mice reduced HDL cholesterol levels by 20–25% by accelerating clearance from the circulation. In order to investigate the effect of physiological levels of ApoF expression on HDL cholesterol metabolism, we generated ApoF deficient mice. Unexpectedly, deletion of ApoF had no substantial impact on plasma lipid concentrations, HDL size, lipid or protein composition. Sex-specific differences were observed in hepatic cholesterol content as well as serum cholesterol efflux capacity. Female ApoF KO mice had increased liver cholesteryl ester content relative to wild type controls on a chow diet (KO: 3.4+/−0.9 mg/dl vs. WT: 1.2+/−0.3 mg/dl, p<0.05). No differences were observed in ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity in either sex. Interestingly, ApoB-depleted serum from male KO mice was less effective at promoting ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux from J774 macrophages relative to WT controls

Acidentes de trabalho envolvendo os olhos: avaliação de riscos ocupacionais com trabalhadores de enfermagem Accidentes de trabajo involucrando los ojos: evaluación de riesgos laborales con trabajadores de enfermería Labor accidents involving the eyes: assessment of occupational risks involving nursing workers

Objetivou-se identificar trabalhadores de enfermagem que sofreram acidentes oculares e o tipo de acidente; descrever as providências tomadas e propor metodologias de Educação em Saúde. Estudo descritivo, exploratório, realizado em maternidade pública, de setembro de 2002 a janeiro de 2003. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de observação direta do ambiente e entrevista com os trabalhadores. Os sujeitos foram dez profissionais de enfermagem (uma enfermeira, duas técnicas e sete auxiliares) que sofreram acidente de trabalho envolvendo o olho. Os acidentes agruparam-se de acordo com o tipo de material causador do trauma: com substância química (4), com medicações (3), por trauma mecânico (1), escalpe (1) e urina (1). Diante dos resultados encontrados, é interessante enfatizar que trabalhadores hospitalares estão propícios a acidentes de trabalho porque o ambiente oferece riscos biológicos, químicos e físicos. Uma importante medida para impedir a ocorrência de novos acidentes seria a prevenção dos erros humanos, mediante adoção de treinamento contínuo dos profissionais e uso de óculos de proteção.<br>El objetivo fue identificar a los trabajadores de enfermería que sufrieron accidentes oculares y el tipo de accidente, describir las medidas tomadas y proponer metodologías de Educación en Salud. Estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, realizado en una maternidad pública, de septiembre/2002 a enero/2003. Se recopiló los datos mediante observación directa del ambiente y entrevista con los trabajadores. Diez profesionales del equipo de enfermería (una enfermera, dos técnicas y siete auxiliares) sufrieron accidentes de trabajo involucrando el ojo. Se agrupó los accidentes según el tipo de material causador del trauma: sustancia química (4); remedios (3); trauma mecánico (1); escalpe (1) y orina (1). Ante los resultados encontrados, es importante enfatizar que los trabajadores de hospitales están propensos a accidentes de trabajo porque el ambiente ofrece riesgos biológicos, químicos y físicos. Una medida importante para impedir que ocurran nuevos accidentes sería la prevención de errores humanos, adoptando entrenamiento continuado de los profesionales, y uso de gafas de protección.<br>The study aimed at identifying nursing workers who were victims of eye accidents and the type of accident; describing the measures taken and proposing Health Education methods. A descriptive and exploratory study was carried out at a public maternity hospital from September 2002 to January 2003. Data were collected through direct observation of the environment and interviews with workers. Subjects were ten professionals (one nurse, two technicians and seven nursing auxiliaries) who were victims of work accidents involving the eye. The accidents were grouped according to the type of material that caused the trauma: chemical substances (4), medication (3), mechanical trauma (1), scalp (1) and urine (1). The results reveal that hospital workers are vulnerable to labor accidents because the environment presents biological, chemical and physical risks. An important step to prevent the occurrence of new accidents would be the prevention of human mistakes through permanent training and the use of protection glasses