The regulation of hormone-sensitive lipase in macrophages

The mechanism by which type 2 diabetes dramatically increases atherosclerotic risk remains poorly understood. Type 2 diabetes is preceeded by long periods of insulin resistance and associated abnormalities such as, high serum free fatty acid (FFA) levels, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycaemia and obesity, collectively described as 'syndrome X'. Due to the fact that atherosclerosis is generally observed at the time of diagnosis of diabetes it is thought that syndrome X could be the cause of increased atherogenesis. Accumulation of cholesterol esters (CE) in macrophage foam cells is an important early event in atherosclerosis. The neutral cholesterol esterase responsible for the hydrolysis of CEs in macrophages is identical to hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in adipocytes. In adipocytes insulin exerts an anti-lipolytic function by decreasing HSL activity, suggesting that insulin may also regulate HSL in macrophages. Therefore the regulation of HSL in macrophages has been studied and compared to that in adipocytes. HSL activity is acutely downregulated by insulin, as it is in adipocytes. However this acute effect of insulin on HSL in macrophages does not appear to be dependent on PI 3-kinase activity, as it is in adipocytes. Leptin is a hormone, produced in adipocytes, that is raised in the circulation of obese individuals and this hormone was found to acutely increase HSL activity in macrophages. The regulation of HSL activity by leptin is blocked by wortmannin, suggesting that PI 3-kinase is involved. HSL expression and activity were increased in adipocytes upon chronic stimulation with insulin under high glucose conditions but activity and expression were decreased in macrophages. Chronic incubation with leptin and high glucose also caused a reduction in HSL expression and activity in macrophages. Insulin and leptin in combination with high glucose also caused an increase in CE accumulation. Therefore a mechanism linking hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycaemia and obesity to foam cell formation and increased atherogenesis has been identified

Linguistic Imperialism, Toponymy, Semiotics & Taxonomies: The Anglicisation of Irish place names in hegemonic library cataloguing systems

Background. Cataloguing systems are generally assumed to be logical, objective and non-political. In this sense they are often assumed to be rather like maps. However, assumptions around the neutrality of both are erroneous. Maps and cataloguing systems reflect and reproduce dominance and power. In Ireland the six inch to a mile mapping project in the early to mid-1800s is generally accepted as the point at which much of the Anglicisation of Irish place names was formalised. As such it is often assumed that this Anglicisation is a historic event and that similar practices do not continue into the present. Objective. This paper sought to examine how vernacular names for places are treated in a mainstream international library classification and cataloguing system. Methods. The treatment of vernacular place names vis-à-vis English was examined under the dominant Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, the Dewey Decimal Classification & Relative Index (DDC) and the Resource Description and Access (RDA) system. Results. This paper demonstrates how established international library classification and cataloguing systems continue to explicitly require English forms of names over the vernacular. Contributions. This paper reveals how library classification and cataloguing systems both reinforce the legacy of colonial oppression, and continue to assert the dominance of English. Cataloguing systems may therefore be viewed in terms of their power and purpose, and as such should not be seen as ideologically neutral

Campus & alumni news

Boston University Medicine was published by the Boston University Medical Campus, and presented stories on events and topics of interest to members of the BU Medical Campus community. It followed the discontinued publication Centerscope as Boston University Medicine from 1991-2005, then continued as Campus & Alumni News from 2006-2013 before returning to the title Boston University Medicine from 2014-present

Linguistic Imperialism, Toponymy, Semiotics & Taxonomies: The Anglicisation of Irish place names in hegemonic library cataloguing systems

Background. Cataloguing systems are generally assumed to be logical, objective and non-political. In this sense they are often assumed to be rather like maps. However, assumptions around the neutrality of both are erroneous. Maps and cataloguing systems reflect and reproduce dominance and power. In Ireland the six inch to a mile mapping project in the early to mid-1800s is generally accepted as the point at which much of the Anglicisation of Irish place names was formalised. As such it is often assumed that this Anglicisation is a historic event and that similar practices do not continue into the present. Objective. This paper sought to examine how vernacular names for places are treated in a mainstream international library classification and cataloguing system. Methods. The treatment of vernacular place names vis-à-vis English was examined under the dominant Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, the Dewey Decimal Classification & Relative Index (DDC) and the Resource Description and Access (RDA) system. Results. This paper demonstrates how established international library classification and cataloguing systems continue to explicitly require English forms of names over the vernacular. Contributions. This paper reveals how library classification and cataloguing systems both reinforce the legacy of colonial oppression, and continue to assert the dominance of English. Cataloguing systems may therefore be viewed in terms of their power and purpose, and as such should not be seen as ideologically neutral

Linguistic Imperialism, Toponymy, Semiotics & Taxonomies: The Anglicisation of Irish place names in hegemonic library cataloguing systems

Background. Cataloguing systems are generally assumed to be logical, objective and non-political. In this sense they are often assumed to be rather like maps. However, assumptions around the neutrality of both are erroneous. Maps and cataloguing systems reflect and reproduce dominance and power. In Ireland the six inch to a mile mapping project in the early to mid-1800s is generally accepted as the point at which much of the Anglicisation of Irish place names was formalised. As such it is often assumed that this Anglicisation is a historic event and that similar practices do not continue into the present. Objective. This paper sought to examine how vernacular names for places are treated in a mainstream international library classification and cataloguing system. Methods. The treatment of vernacular place names vis-à-vis English was examined under the dominant Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, the Dewey Decimal Classification & Relative Index (DDC) and the Resource Description and Access (RDA) system. Results. This paper demonstrates how established international library classification and cataloguing systems continue to explicitly require English forms of names over the vernacular. Contributions. This paper reveals how library classification and cataloguing systems both reinforce the legacy of colonial oppression, and continue to assert the dominance of English. Cataloguing systems may therefore be viewed in terms of their power and purpose, and as such should not be seen as ideologically neutral

The Ohio COVID-19 Survey: Preliminary Findings and Their Use During the Pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created exceptional health and economic uncertainty for Ohioans in 2020. In the spring of 2020, the state commissioned the Ohio COVID-19 Survey (OCS) to ask residential Ohio adults about how the pandemic was affecting them. The purpose of this research is to provide state leadership with real-time information about the effects of the pandemic and concurrent recession on Ohio households.Methods: The OCS is a special supplement to the Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey (OMAS), a stratified random digit dial, cell phone and landline telephone survey. This study includes data collected weekly between April 20, 2020, and August 24, 2020. We conducted descriptive time-series analysis of the survey data and provided updates to the state's COVID-19 Response Team throughout the survey period.Results: Preliminary findings from the OCS reflect 3 themes among respondents: 1) elevated levels of concern over health and household economics; 2) disproportionate effects that exacerbate existing inequities; and 3) majority adjustment to "new normal" and acceptance of public health guidelines .Conclusion: Preliminary findings indicate that groups that were struggling before the pandemic have faced the biggest challenges with regard to health and household economics since it began. Data from the OCS enabled us to provide real-time analysis to state leadership regarding Ohioans' experience during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further analysis and integration of additional data will allow us to provide deeper insights as Ohio seeks to move into recovery

Quality of Life in Hormone Receptor–Positive HER-2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment with Letrozole Alone or in Combination with Lapatinib

This paper presents analyses evaluating quality of life in patients with hormone receptor–positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive tumors receiving letrozole alone or in combination with lapatinib in clinical trial EGF30008

Lapatinib plus Letrozole as First-Line Therapy for HER-2+ Hormone Receptor–Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

Reported are results from a subgroup analysis of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive metastatic breast cancer from a phase III trial of letrozole plus placebo versus letrozole plus lapatinib. The combination was well tolerated and more efficacious than letrozole alone

Physical activity coaching for adults with mobility limitations: protocol for the ComeBACK pragmatic hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 1 randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Mobility limitation is common and often results from neurological and musculoskeletal health conditions, ageing and/or physical inactivity. In consultation with consumers, clinicians and policymakers, we have developed two affordable and scalable intervention packages designed to enhance physical activity for adults with self-reported mobility limitations. Both are based on behaviour change theories and involve tailored advice from physiotherapists. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This pragmatic hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 1 randomised control trial (n=600) will be undertaken among adults with self-reported mobility limitations. It aims to estimate the effects on physical activity of: (1) an enhanced 6-month intervention package (one face-to-face physiotherapy assessment, tailored physical activity plan, physical activity phone coaching from a physiotherapist, informational/motivational resources and activity monitors) compared with a less intensive 6-month intervention package (single session of tailored phone advice from a physiotherapist, tailored physical activity plan, unidirectional text messages, informational/motivational resources); (2) the enhanced intervention package compared with no intervention (6-month waiting list control group); and (3) the less intensive intervention package compared with no intervention (waiting list control group). The primary outcome will be average steps per day, measured with the StepWatch Activity Monitor over a 1-week period, 6 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes include other physical activity measures, measures of health and functioning, individualised mobility goal attainment, mental well-being, quality of life, rate of falls, health utilisation and intervention evaluation. The hybrid effectiveness-implementation design (type 1) will be used to enable the collection of secondary implementation outcomes at the same time as the primary effectiveness outcome. An economic analysis will estimate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of the interventions compared with no intervention and to each other. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained by Sydney Local Health District, Royal Prince Alfred Zone. Dissemination will be via publications, conferences, newsletters, talks and meetings with health managers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12618001983291

Cardioprotection Via Modulation of Calcium Homeostasis by Thiopental in Hypoxia-Reoxygenated Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes

PURPOSE: Ca(2+) homeostasis plays an important role in myocardial cell injury induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation, and prevention of intracellular Ca(2+) overload is key to cardioprotection. Even though thiopental is a frequently used anesthetic agent, little is known about its cardioprotective effects, particularly in association with Ca(2+) homeostasis. We investigated whether thiopental protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury by regulating Ca(2+) homeostasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated. Cardiomyocytes were exposed to different concentrations of thiopental and immediately replaced in the hypoxic chamber to maintain hypoxia. After 1 hour of exposure, a culture dish was transferred to the CO(2) incubator and cells were incubated at 37 for 5 hours. At the end of the experiments, the authors assessed cell protection using immunoblot analysis and caspase activity. The mRNA of genes involved in Ca(2+) homeostasis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular Ca(2+) levels were examined. RESULTS: In thiopental-treated cardiomyocytes, there was a decrease in expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax, caspase-3 activation, and intracellular Ca(2+) content. In addition, both enhancement of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and activation of Erk concerned with survival were shown. Furthermore, thiopental attenuated alterations of genes involving Ca(2+) regulation and significantly modulated abnormal changes of NCX and SERCA2a genes in hypoxia-reoxygenated neonatal cardiomyocytes. Thiopental suppressed disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation. CONCLUSION: Thiopental is likely to modulate expression of genes that regulate Ca(2+) homeostasis, which reduces apoptotic cell death and results in cardioprotectionope