Aboriginal-Social Justice Alliances: Understanding the Landscape of Relationships through the Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash

Despite their growing popularity, alliances and coalitions between Indigenous peoples and other actors fighting for social and environmental justice have been little documented or analyzed. Alliances form often in the context of land and resource disputes, struggles against discrimination and racism, and other areas of life where there are grounds for strategic co-operation. Using grounded theory and resource mobilization theory, this study examines relationships between social justice and Indigenous activists who formed the "Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash", a social justice struggle in Ontario, Canada. The authors analyze participants' narratives noting their understandings of their relationships, strengths and tensions, and lessons learned. It is apparent that Indigenous and social movement alliances represent an exceptional site of encounter and transformation, always in the shadow of ongoing colonization and the movement to Indigenous self-determination. The Coalition provides a window into complex relationships that are forming across Canada and globally.Malgré leur popularité croissante, les alliances et les coalitions entre les peuples autochtones et les autres intervenants qui luttent pour la justice sociale et environnementale ont fait l’objet de peu d’études ou d’analyses. Les alliances se créent souvent dans le cadre de différends concernant les terres et les ressources, de luttes contre la discrimination et le racisme et d’autres domaines de la vie où il y a des raisons d’établir une coopération stratégique. Fondée sur une théorie à base empirique et une théorie de la mobilisation des ressources, cette étude porte sur les relations entre la justice sociale et les activistes autochtones qui ont créé la « Coalition pour une enquête publique sur les événements d’Ipperwash », une lutte pour la justice sociale en Ontario (Canada). Les auteurs analysent les textes des participants en relevant leur connaissance de leurs rapports, les points forts et les tensions ainsi que les leçons retenues. Il est évident que les alliances entre les Autochtones et les mouvements sociaux constituent un lieu exceptionnel de rencontre et de transformation, toujours à l’ombre de la colonisation permanente et de la marche des Autochtones vers l’autodétermination. La Coalition ouvre une fenêtre sur les relations complexes qui s’établissent au Canada et à l’échelle internationale

Clinical Outcomes of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Extremity Sarcomas

Purpose. Radiation of extremity lesions, a key component of limb-sparing therapy, presents particular challenges, with significant risks of toxicities. We sought to explore the efficacy of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. Patients. Between 1995 and 2001, 17 patients received IORT for soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. Indications for IORT included recurrent tumors in a previously radiated field or tumors adjacent to critical structures. Results. Gross total resections were achieved in all 17 patients. Two patients experienced locoregional relapses, six patients recurred at metastatic sites, and one patient died without recurrence. Thirty-six month estimates for locoregional control, disease free survival, and overall survival were 86%, 50%, and 78%, respectively. IORT was extremely well tolerated, with no toxicities referable to IORT. Conclusions. For patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities, IORT used as a boost to EBRT provides excellent local control, with limited acute toxicities

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) Collaborative Quality Improvement Initiative in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72388/1/j.1540-8183.2002.tb01071.x.pd

A genome-wide association study identifies protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs)

There is considerable evidence that human genetic variation influences gene expression. Genome-wide studies have revealed that mRNA levels are associated with genetic variation in or close to the gene coding for those mRNA transcripts - cis effects, and elsewhere in the genome - trans effects. The role of genetic variation in determining protein levels has not been systematically assessed. Using a genome-wide association approach we show that common genetic variation influences levels of clinically relevant proteins in human serum and plasma. We evaluated the role of 496,032 polymorphisms on levels of 42 proteins measured in 1200 fasting individuals from the population based InCHIANTI study. Proteins included insulin, several interleukins, adipokines, chemokines, and liver function markers that are implicated in many common diseases including metabolic, inflammatory, and infectious conditions. We identified eight Cis effects, including variants in or near the IL6R (p = 1.8×10 -57), CCL4L1 (p = 3.9×10-21), IL18 (p = 6.8×10-13), LPA (p = 4.4×10-10), GGT1 (p = 1.5×10-7), SHBG (p = 3.1×10-7), CRP (p = 6.4×10-6) and IL1RN (p = 7.3×10-6) genes, all associated with their respective protein products with effect sizes ranging from 0.19 to 0.69 standard deviations per allele. Mechanisms implicated include altered rates of cleavage of bound to unbound soluble receptor (IL6R), altered secretion rates of different sized proteins (LPA), variation in gene copy number (CCL4L1) and altered transcription (GGT1). We identified one novel trans effect that was an association between ABO blood group and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels (p = 6.8×10-40), but this finding was not present when TNF-alpha was measured using a different assay , or in a second study, suggesting an assay-specific association. Our results show that protein levels share some of the features of the genetics of gene expression. These include the presence of strong genetic effects in cis locations. The identification of protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) may be a powerful complementary method of improving our understanding of disease pathways. © 2008 Melzer et al

Exposure to repetitive head impacts is associated with corpus callosum microstructure and plasma total tau in former professional American football players

BACKGROUND: Exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) is associated with an increased risk of later-life neurobehavioral dysregulation and neurodegenerative disease. The underlying pathomechanisms are largely unknown. PURPOSE: To investigate whether RHI exposure is associated with later-life corpus callosum (CC) microstructure and whether CC microstructure is associated with plasma total tau and neuropsychological/neuropsychiatric functioning. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective cohort study. POPULATION: Seventy-five former professional American football players (age 55.2 ± 8.0 years) with cognitive, behavioral, and mood symptoms. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MRI at 3 T. ASSESSMENT: Subjects underwent diffusion MRI, venous puncture, neuropsychological testing, and completed self-report measures of neurobehavioral dysregulation. RHI exposure was assessed using the Cumulative Head Impact Index (CHII). Diffusion MRI measures of CC microstructure (i.e., free-water corrected fractional anisotropy (FA), trace, radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD)) were extracted from seven segments of the CC (CC1-7), using a tractography clustering algorithm. Neuropsychological tests were selected: Trail Making Test Part A (TMT-A) and Part B (TMT-B), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Stroop Interference Test, and the Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI) from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Adult version (BRIEF-A). STATISTICAL TESTS: Diffusion MRI metrics were tested for associations with RHI exposure, plasma total tau, neuropsychological performance, and neurobehavioral dysregulation using generalized linear models for repeated measures. RESULTS: RHI exposure was associated with increased AD of CC1 (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.32, P < 0.05) and with increased plasma total tau (r = 0.34, P < 0.05). AD of the anterior CC1 was associated with increased plasma total tau (CC1: r = 0.30, P < 0.05; CC2: r = 0.29, P < 0.05). Higher trace, AD, and RD of CC1 were associated with better performance (P < 0.05) in TMT-A (trace, r = 0.33; AD, r = 0.31; and RD, r = 0.28) and TMT-B (trace, r = 0.31; RD, r = 0.34). Higher FA and AD of CC2 were associated with better performance (P < 0.05) in TMT-A (FA, r = 0.36; AD, r = 0.28), TMT-B (FA, r = 0.36; AD, r = 0.27), COWAT (FA, r = 0.36; AD, r = 0.32), and BRI (AD, r = 0.29). DATA CONCLUSION: These results suggest an association among RHI exposure, CC microstructure, plasma total tau, and clinical functioning in former professional American football players. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Technical Efficacy Stage: 1

Fentanyl self-testing outside supervised injection settings to prevent opioid overdose: Do we know enough to promote it?

Since 2013, North America has experienced a sharp increase in unintentional fatal overdoses: fentanyl, and its analogues, are believed to be primarily responsible. Currently, the most practical means for people who use drugs (PWUD) to avoid or mitigate risk of fentanyl-related overdose is to use drugs in the presence of someone who is in possession of, and experienced using, naloxone. Self-test strips which detect fentanyl, and some of its analogues, have been developed for off-label use allowing PWUD to test their drugs prior to consumption. We review the evidence on the off-label sensitivity and specificity of fentanyl test strips, and query whether the accuracy of fentanyl test strips might be mediated according to situated practices of use. We draw attention to the weak research evidence informing the use of fentanyl self-testing strips

Astro2020 Must Issue Actionable Recommendations Regarding Diversity, Inclusion, and Harassment

The 2010 Decadal survey failed to issue any recommendations on diversity and inclusion.Astro2020 cannot make the same mistake. Findings can be ignored by funding agencies;recommendations cannot. In the past decade, multiple groups have assembled detailed actionplans to fix a broken climate within our profession. Astro2020 should play a key role, bysynthesizing this work to produce actionable recommendations to support diversity andinclusion and stop harassment within our profession

Improving equity and cultural responsiveness with marginalized communities: a position paper.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of culture on health, healthcare provision and its contribution towards health inequity experienced by some marginalised communities. Background: Health inequity is a global issue, which occurs across and within countries, and is the greatest barrier to worldwide health and the development of the human race. In response to this challenge, there is an international commitment to ensure universal health coverage based on the fundamental principle that individuals should be able to access healthcare services they need. Despite this, there is clear evidence that indigenous and other cultural minorities such as New Zealand Māori and Gypsy Roma Travellers still experience far poorer health outcomes when compared to the majority population. Furthermore, when they do access health care, their experiences are often not positive and this in turn results in reluctance to access preventative health care, instead accessing health services much later, reducing treatment options and compounding higher mortality rates. What is often not explored or examined is the impact of the different cultural beliefs of individuals in these communities and the nurses caring for them. Design: This is a position paper drawing upon research experience with New Zealand Māori and Gypsy Roma Travellers. We critically review the experiences of health inequity of marginalised communities. It does so by examining how these communities may have a different world view to the nurses caring for them and it is this lack of understanding and valuing of alternative worldviews that contributes to the poorer health outcomes both communities face. Conclusion and relevance to clinical practice: As nurses work with many different individuals and groups we have to find ways of ensuring a more embracing, culturally responsive health care environment which respects and values the beliefs of others

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms