Beyond High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels Evaluating High-Density Lipoprotein Function as Influenced by Novel Therapeutic Approaches

A number of therapeutic strategies targeting high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reverse cholesterol transport are being developed to halt the progression of atherosclerosis or even induce regression. However, circulating HDL cholesterol levels alone represent an inadequate measure of therapeutic efficacy. Evaluation of the potential effects of HDL-targeted interventions on atherosclerosis requires reliable assays of HDL function and surrogate markers of efficacy. Promotion of macrophage cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport is thought to be one of the most important mechanisms by which HDL protects against atherosclerosis, and methods to assess this pathway in vivo are being developed. Indexes of monocyte chemotaxis, endothelial inflammation, oxidation, nitric oxide production, and thrombosis reveal other dimensions of HDL functionality. Robust, reproducible assays that can be performed widely are needed to move this field forward and permit effective assessment of the therapeutic potential of HDL-targeted therapies

Financing rural industrialization and employment creation:The case of Ethiopia

The objective of the study was to examine financing rural industrialization and employment creation practices and possibilities in Ethiopia. In this context, rural industrialization refers to encouraging small to large industries to be established in rural areas. As rural industrialization is a new concept at a policy level let alone to the practice on the ground in Ethiopia, a full-fledged data regarding the rural industrialization and the rural financing practice is inadequate. However, attempts were made to see at least the trends in agricultural commercialization, off farm practices, the government’s policy, the financial institutions practices, and above all how other countries approached rural industrialization and financing such industries. Hence, relevant data were collected from CSA, NBE, DHS, World Bank, and Ethiopian Investment Commission and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The major finding of the study indicates rural industrialization process is at conception stage and financing the rural strategy is still poorly developed despite the immense economic and social implications. Hence, a combination of centralized financing rural industrialization through commercial banks and a decentralized financing rural industrialization through microfinance institutions is recommended for the country to get better depth and breadth of rural industrialization

Marketing strategies of textile companies : the case of selected medium and large Ethiopian textile companies

The objective of the study was to examine the marketing strategies of Ethiopian medium and large textile companies. The textile sector became the focus of this study because it has performed far below expectation, despite the government‘s unreserved support to the sector and the country‘s comparative advantage in the sector. To attain the stated objective, qualitative research approach with case study design was employed. The cases were selected based on two criteria; production of finished textile products and operation in both local and global markets. Accordingly, nine companies qualified these criteria and all of them were used as cases. The RBV was the theory employed to explain the differences in performances among firms‘ in similar environment. Furthermore, within and cross case analyses were employed to get in-depth understanding and to explain about the marketing strategies of the firms. The major findings of the study indicate that the emphasis given to marketing strategy and the marketing resources and capabilities commitment thereof were found to be so low that the companies seemed to equate marketing strategy with selling strategy. Furthermore, the companies failed to link their marketing enabling environment with their marketing strategy. Similarly, such weak link was reflected between the firms‘ marketing strategy and their market performances. Hence, the marketing strategies of the case companies are so weak that with their current marketing strategy, it is difficult for them to be competent in the local market, let alone in the international markets. Generally, both empirical and conceptual conclusions were drawn from the findings. As a result, the cross-case findings indicate that marketing resources commitment is linearly linked to marketing strategy which in turn is linked to export performances. Therefore, it can be understood that the link between enabling environment and marketing strategy is direct and the link between marketing strategy and marketing performances is linear. Hence, it can be understood from this transitivity that there exists a link between firms‘ enabling environment and their marketing performances.Business ManagementD.B.L

Pengendalian mutu selama proses pengolahan nugget ikan patin (Pangasius sp.)

Nugget merupakan produk siap saji yang telah mengalami pemasakan hingga setengah matang (precooked), kemudian dibekukan. Nugget juga merupakan salah satu produk frozen food. Frozen food adalah produk setengah matang yang kemudian dikemas dan dibekukan untuk diolah kembali dengan cara dipanaskan. Pada dasarnya ikan hanya diolah dengan cara digoreng maupun dibakar, oleh karena itu dilakukan inovasi dengan mengolah menjadi nugget. Ikan patin merupakan salah satu ikan yang masih belum banyak diolah dan untuk memproses ikan patin cukup mudah sehingga dapat digunakan menjadi salah satu bahan baku nugget. Nugget pada umumnya terbuat dari bahan baku hewani harus dijaga kualitasnya karena bahan baku hewani mudah mengalami kerusakan. Kerusakan yang biasa terjadi adalah kerusakan fisik maupun kimia. Pengendalian mutu dari nugget berbahan baku hewani harus dilakukan sejak awal proses produksi hingga mencapai produk akhir dan proses distribusi untuk mencegah banyaknya produk yang rusak dan mencegah pemborosan biaya akibat kerugian yang ditimbulkan. Oleh karena itu, dalam karya ilmiah ini dibahas mengenai cara pengendalian mutu pada produk nugget ikan patin mulai dari pemilihan bahan baku sampai dengan proses pembekuan, serta distribusinya. Proses pengendalian mutu nugget ikan mengacu pada Standar Nasional Indonesia sehingga dapat mengurangi resiko bahaya. Pada pembuatan nugget ikan terdapat beberapa titik kritis, yaitu pada proses pemilihan bahan baku, penggilingan dan pencampuran, serta proses pembekuan dan distribusi

Genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in baseline levels of C-reactive protein: A longitudinal twin study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cross-sectional twin and family studies report a moderate heritability of baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), ranging from 0.10 to 0.65 for different age ranges. Here, we investigated the stability and relative impact of genetic and environmental factors underlying serum levels of CRP, using a longitudinal classical twin design. METHODS: A maximum of 6201 female twins from the TwinsUK registry with up to three CRP measurements (i.e. visit 1 [V1], visit 2 [V2] and visit 3 [V3]) over a 10-year follow-up period were included in this study. Structural equation modeling was applied to dissect the observed phenotypic variance into its genetic and environmental components. To estimate the heritability of CRP as well as its genetic and environmental correlations across different time points, a trivariate model was used. RESULTS: Natural log (ln) CRP levels significantly increased from V1 to V2 (p=4.4 × 10(-25)) and between V1 and V3 (p=1.2 × 10(-15)), but not between V2 and V3. The median (IQR) follow-up time between V1 and V3 was 9.58 (8.00-10.46) years. Heritability estimates for CRP were around 50% and constant over time (0.46-0.52). Additionally, adjustment for BMI did not meaningfully change the heritability estimates (0.49-0.51). The genetic correlations between visits were significantly smaller than one, ranging from 0.66 to 0.85. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence for stable heritability estimates of CRP of around 50% with advancing age. However, between-visit genetic correlations are significantly lower than 1, indicating emergence of new genetic effects on CRP levels with age

Short term effects of a low-carbohydrate diet in overweight and obese subjects with low HDL-C levels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term effects of a low-carbohydrate diet in overweight and obese subjects with low HDL-C levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Overweight (BMI between 25-30 kg/m²) or obese (BMI over 30 kg/m²) subjects with low HDL-C levels (men with HDL-C <1.03, women <1.29 mmol/l) were invited to the study. A 1400 kcal 75-gram carbohydrate (CHO) diet was given to women and an 1800 kcal 100-gram CHO diet was given to men for four weeks. The distribution of daily energy of the prescribed diet was 21-22% from CHO, 26-29% from protein and 49-53% from fat. Subjects completed a three-day dietary intake record before each visit. Anthropometric indices, body fat ratio, blood lipids, glucose and insulin were measured. Baseline and week-four results were compared with a Wilcoxon signed ranks test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-five women and 18 men participated. Basal median LDL-C level of men was 3.11 and basal median LDL-C level of women was 3.00 mmol/l. After four weeks of a low-carbohydrate diet, the median energy intake decreased from 1901 to 1307 kcal/day, daily energy from carbohydrate from 55% to 33%, body weight from 87.7 to 83.0 kg and HDL-C increased from 0.83 to 0.96 mmol/l in men (p < 0.002, for all). After four weeks of a low-carbohydrate diet, the median energy intake tended to decrease (from 1463 to 1243 kcal, p = 0.052), daily energy from carbohydrate decreased from 53% to 30% (p < 0.001) and body weight decreased from 73.2 to 70.8 kg (p < 0.001) in women, but HDL-C did not significantly change (from 1.03 to 1.01 mmol/l, p = 0.165). There were significant decreases in body mass index, waist circumference, body fat ratio, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin levels in all subjects.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HDL-C levels increased significantly with energy restriction, carbohydrate restriction and weight loss in men. HDL-C levels didn't change in women in whom there was no significant energy restriction but a significant carbohydrate restriction and a relatively small but significant weight loss. Our results suggest that both energy and carbohydrate restriction should be considered in overweight and obese subjects with low HDL-C levels, especially when LDL-C levels are not elevated.</p

2017 Update of ESC/EAS Task Force on practical clinical guidance for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibition in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or in familial hypercholesterolaemia

A correction has been published: European Heart Journal, Volume 39, Issue 22, 7 June 2018, Pages 2105Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio