omi JDF promises 'strong' action against abusive soldiers By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:56:17 -0500 The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is promising "strong" action against soldiers found guilty of instructing violators of the national nightly COVID-19 curfew to engage in “corrective measures”. News of the allegations came in an... Full Article
omi Russian Economic Policy and the Russian Economic System: Stability Versus Growth By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:50:53 +0000 17 December 2019 How is it possible for the directors of the Russian economy to pursue an orthodox stabilization policy with a great measure of success and yet to have achieved so little to stem the growth slowdown? This paper examines the reasons for the divergence in economic management. Read online Download PDF Professor Philip Hanson OBE Former Associate Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme GettyImages-1174485152.jpg Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, Labour and Social Safety Minister Maxim Topilin, Economy and Finance Department Head Valery Sidorenko, and Russian presidential aide Andrei Belousov (l–r) after a meeting on stimulating economic growth, at Gorki residence, Moscow, on 8 October 2019. Photo: Getty Images. SummaryRussia’s economic management is currently praised for its achievement of macroeconomic stability. Inflation has been brought down; the budget is in surplus; national debt is low; and the reserves are ample. At the same time, there is much criticism of the failure at present to secure more than very slow economic growth.The macro-stabilization of 2014–18 was of a conventional, ‘liberal’ kind. Public spending was cut, and a budget rule was introduced that (so far) has weakened the link between increases in oil prices and increases in budgetary expenditure. The austerity campaign was harsh. Pensioners, the military, regional budgets and business all lost out, but in reality put up little resistance. The austerity drive was facilitated by the autocratic nature of the regime.The growth slowdown dates from 2012, and cannot simply be blamed on falls in the oil price and sanctions. Rapid growth in 1999–2008 consisted in large part of recovery from the deep recession of the 1990s and the initial development of a services sector. These sources of growth are no longer available; investment is low; and the labour force is declining. The Western world also has a slow growth problem, but at a higher level of per capita output. In Russia, private investment and competition are inhibited by an intrusive and corrupt state. If the rule of law were in place, the economy would perform better in the long run. That would require a profound reform of formal and informal institutions.The leadership wants faster growth, but has powerful incentives not to embark on systemic reform. Even the pragmatic ministers of the ‘economic bloc’ of government, who understand the problem, share this interest in maintaining the status quo. Growth is thus being sought through a highly ambitious programme, in 2018–24, of ‘national projects’, state-led and largely state-financed. This is already running into difficulties.The contrast between successful stabilization and a (so far) unsuccessful growth strategy illustrates the difference between policymaking within a given system and reform of that system. Systemic reform brings with it more potential unintended consequences than do changes in policy. In the case of Russia, movement towards a rule of law could destabilize the social and political system. It is therefore unlikely to be attempted. Department/project Russia and Eurasia Programme, Russia's Domestic Politics Full Article
omi Mark Ricketts | Time to rethink economic implications - Jamaica engages IMF but the cost of the pandemic remains high By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:15:32 -0500 On Tuesday, April 14, the International Monetary Fund downgraded Jamaica’s growth prospects to -5.6 per cent. This is a severe contraction warranting substantial Government intervention. However, at times, the Government waits too late to respond... Full Article
omi O's pitchers welcoming high-tech revolution By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 13:49:26 EDT Like so many pitchers in Major League camps, Orioles hurlers have extra sets of eyes on them this spring. The Edgertronic cameras, perched on tripods, are set about a stride's length beyond the backfield bullpen mounds at the club's Ed Smith Stadium complex, as conspicuous as the coaches standing cross-armed behind them. Full Article
omi CSME needed to rescue COVID-hit economies By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:23:04 -0500 COVID-19-ravaged regional economies, including Jamaica, will need the united strength of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) to help revive their micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors, many of which have been decimated. That... Full Article
omi Blinding the randomisation By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Nov 2016 15:58:27 +0000 Allocation concealment - blinding which arm of a trial a patient is randomised to - is being questioned in an analysis published on thebmj.com. David Torgerson, director of the York Trials Unit at the university of York and colleagues have been looking at the way in which trials do this randomisation, and how they subsequently report it - and... Full Article
omi neoadjuvant treatment for breast cancer - not living up to the promise By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:07:35 +0000 Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer is a new strategy that was introduced towards the end of the 20th century with the aim of reducing tumour size - rendering an otherwise inoperable tumour operable, allowing more conservative surgery, and hopefully improving overall survival. Although data indicate that the first rationale remains valid,... Full Article
omi Mendelian Randomisation - for the moderately intelligent By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Jul 2018 18:47:48 +0000 Mendelian randomisation - it’s a technique that uses the chance distribution of genes in a population, combined with big data sets, to investigate causative relationships. But there are a lot of questions we have in The BMJ about how the technique works - the association between genes and apparently non-biologically mediated behaviours, how much... Full Article
omi Behind the campaign promises - GP numbers, and appointment slots By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:59:59 +0000 A UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week has... Full Article
omi Behind the campaign promises - Health and social care spending By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:21:30 +0000 A UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week... Full Article
omi Behind the campaign promises - Health beyond the NHS By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:10:48 +0000 A UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week... Full Article
omi Behind the campaign promises - what the NHS means for the election By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Dec 2019 19:09:30 +0000 UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week we're... Full Article
omi Behind the campaign promises - Doctors in parliament By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Dec 2019 18:52:26 +0000 The UK general election is happening this week, and you’ve probably made your mind up which MP you’re voting for already - and maybe the NHS has influenced that decision. This year has seen an increase in the number of doctors running for parliament, and in this podcast we find out what motivates doctors to step away from clinical practice, and... Full Article
omi From the Triumvirate to the Ominous Octet: A New Paradigm for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2009-04-01 Ralph A. DeFronzoApr 1, 2009; 58:773-795Banting Lecture Full Article
omi Comprehensive Glycomic Analysis Reveals That Human Serum Albumin Glycation Specifically Affects the Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of Different Anticoagulant Drugs in Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:29-07:00 Long-term hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes leads to human serum albumin (HSA) glycation, which may impair HSA function as a transport protein and affect the therapeutic efficacy of anticoagulants in patients with diabetes. In this study, a novel mass spectrometry approach was developed to reveal the differences in the profiles of HSA glycation sites between patients with diabetes and healthy subjects. K199 was the glycation site most significantly changed in patients with diabetes, contributing to different interactions of glycated HSA and normal HSA with two types of anticoagulant drugs, heparin and warfarin. An in vitro experiment showed that the binding affinity to warfarin became stronger when HSA was glycated, while HSA binding to heparin was not significantly influenced by glycation. A pharmacokinetic study showed a decreased level of free warfarin in the plasma of diabetic rats. A preliminary retrospective clinical study also revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the anticoagulant efficacy between patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes who had been treated with warfarin. Our work suggests that larger studies are needed to provide additional specific guidance for patients with diabetes when they are administered anticoagulant drugs or drugs for treating other chronic diseases. Full Article
omi Dominica going ahead with national examinations By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:55:50 -0500 ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC –A senior education official Thursday said students would sit the Grade Six National Assessment examinations later this year, despite the disruption caused to the education system by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Dominica... Full Article
omi Rammya Mathew: Liquid diets offer promise, but we still need upstream solutions By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, January 3, 2019 - 10:25 Full Article
omi Bariatric Surgery Rapidly Decreases Cardiac Dietary Fatty Acid Partitioning and Hepatic Insulin Resistance Through Increased Intra-abdominal Adipose Tissue Storage and Reduced Spillover in Type 2 Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:28-07:00 Reduced storage of dietary fatty acids (DFAs) in abdominal adipose tissues with enhanced cardiac partitioning has been shown in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes. We measured DFA metabolism and organ partitioning using positron emission tomography with oral and intravenous long-chain fatty acid and glucose tracers during a standard liquid meal in 12 obese subjects with T2D before and 8–12 days after bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy or sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch). Bariatric surgery reduced cardiac DFA uptake from a median (standard uptake value [SUV]) 1.75 (interquartile range 1.39–2.57) before to 1.09 (1.04–1.53) after surgery (P = 0.01) and systemic DFA spillover from 56.7 mmol before to 24.7 mmol over 6 h after meal intake after surgery (P = 0.01), with a significant increase in intra-abdominal adipose tissue DFA uptake from 0.15 (0.04–0.31] before to 0.49 (0.20–0.59) SUV after surgery (P = 0.008). Hepatic insulin resistance was significantly reduced in close association with increased DFA storage in intra-abdominal adipose tissues (r = –0.79, P = 0.05) and reduced DFA spillover (r = 0.76, P = 0.01). We conclude that bariatric surgery in subjects with T2D rapidly reduces cardiac DFA partitioning and hepatic insulin resistance at least in part through increased intra-abdominal DFA storage and reduced spillover. Full Article
omi The Economics of Natural Capital By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:15:02 +0000 Members Event 24 June 2015 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm Chatham House, London Transcriptpdf | 120.49 KB Transcript: Q&Apdf | 135.64 KB Event participants Professor Dieter Helm CBE, Professor of Energy Policy, University of OxfordChair: David Shukman, Science Editor, BBC News As the global population and economy continues to grow, the international community faces the challenge of accommodating significant growth over the coming decades without a major loss of biodiversity and natural capital, the world’s stock of natural resources. Presenting an economic analysis of these natural assets, Dieter Helm will argue that natural capital and environmental concerns should be placed at the core of economic policy. He will set out a framework for sustainable growth, outlining key measures that could help to preserve the environment while also enabling economic growth. Members Events Team Email Full Article
omi Introduction to Radiomics By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-01T06:00:28-07:00 Radiomics is a rapidly evolving field of research concerned with the extraction of quantitative metrics—the so-called radiomic features—within medical images. Radiomic features capture tissue and lesion characteristics such as heterogeneity and shape and may, alone or in combination with demographic, histologic, genomic, or proteomic data, be used for clinical problem solving. The goal of this continuing education article is to provide an introduction to the field, covering the basic radiomics workflow: feature calculation and selection, dimensionality reduction, and data processing. Potential clinical applications in nuclear medicine that include PET radiomics-based prediction of treatment response and survival will be discussed. Current limitations of radiomics, such as sensitivity to acquisition parameter variations, and common pitfalls will also be covered. Full Article
omi Fibrotic Encapsulation Is the Dominant Source of Continuous Glucose Monitor Delays By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2019-09-20T12:00:23-07:00 Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings are delayed relative to blood glucose, and this delay is usually attributed to the latency of interstitial glucose levels. However, CGM-independent data suggest rapid equilibration of interstitial glucose. This study sought to determine the loci of CGM delays. Electrical current was measured directly from CGM electrodes to define sensor kinetics in the absence of smoothing algorithms. CGMs were implanted in mice, and sensor versus blood glucose responses were measured after an intravenous glucose challenge. Dispersion of a fluorescent glucose analog (2-NBDG) into the CGM microenvironment was observed in vivo using intravital microscopy. Tissue deposited on the sensor and nonimplanted subcutaneous adipose tissue was then collected for histological analysis. The time to half-maximum CGM response in vitro was 35 ± 2 s. In vivo, CGMs took 24 ± 7 min to reach maximum current versus 2 ± 1 min to maximum blood glucose (P = 0.0017). 2-NBDG took 21 ± 7 min to reach maximum fluorescence at the sensor versus 6 ± 6 min in adipose tissue (P = 0.0011). Collagen content was closely correlated with 2-NBDG latency (R = 0.96, P = 0.0004). Diffusion of glucose into the tissue deposited on a CGM is substantially delayed relative to interstitial fluid. A CGM that resists fibrous encapsulation would better approximate real-time deviations in blood glucose. Full Article
omi Manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture and usual care for prophylaxis of episodic migraine without aura: multicentre, randomised clinical trial By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 22:31 Full Article
omi Comparison of dietary macronutrient patterns of 14 popular named dietary programmes for weight and cardiovascular risk factor reduction in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - 22:31 Full Article
omi Prospective registration and reporting of trial number in randomised clinical trials: global cross sectional study of the adoption of ICMJE and Declaration of Helsinki recommendations By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - 09:20 Full Article
omi Use of genetic variation to separate the effects of early and later life adiposity on disease risk: mendelian randomisation study By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 22:31 Full Article
omi Dwayne Devonish | Smart virus testing necessary for economic reboot By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:13:10 -0500 OP-ED CONTRIBUTION: COVID-19 AND THE ECONOMY FOR MOST countries in the Caribbean, the current testing for COVID-19 has not reached levels suitable for ascertaining an accurate picture of the state of outbreak and spread of the infection. This... Full Article
omi Can the New European Commission Deliver on Its Promises to Africa? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 15:27:00 +0000 4 December 2019 Fergus Kell Projects Assistant, Africa Programme LinkedIn Damir Kurtagic Former Academy Robert Bosch Fellow, Africa Programme @kurtagic_damir LinkedIn Familiar promises of equal partnership must be backed by bolder action, including an expanded budget, internal reform and a rethink of its approach to trade negotiations. 2019-12-03-Urpilainen.jpg Jutta Urpilainen, new EU commissioner for international partnerships, at the European Parliament in Brussels in October. Photo: Getty Images. The new European Commission, headed by Ursula von der Leyen, assumed office on 1 December, and there are early signs that Africa will begin near the top of their foreign policy priorities. Policy towards Africa under the new EU administration is yet to be fully defined, but its contours are already visible in the selection of commissioners and assignment of portfolios. Although rumours of a dedicated commissioner for Africa were unfounded, the appointment of Jutta Urpilainen to the new role of commissioner for international partnerships – replacing the former post of development commissioner – is a strong signal of ongoing change in EU development thinking, away from bilateral aid towards trade and investment, including by the private sector. This may have significant consequences for the EU’s relationship with Africa. In her mission letter to Urpilainen in September, von der Leyen listed the first objective as a new ‘comprehensive strategy for Africa’. Urpilainen, Finland’s finance minister before being posted to Ethiopia as special representative on mediation, has also described her appointment as an opportunity to move on from traditional measures of aid delivery. Ambition or incoherence? However, this ambition may be at odds with other EU priorities and practices, notably managing migration and institutions and instruments for governing EU–Africa relations that remain rooted in a ‘traditional’ model of North–South development cooperation rather than equitable partnership.Another newly created post will see Margaritis Schinas assume the role of vice-president for promoting the European way of life – formerly ‘protecting our European way of life’ before a backlash saw it changed – a reminder that migration will remain high on the EU’s foreign policy agenda. The new high representative for foreign and security policy and chief EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, has highlighted the need for bilateral partnership with countries of origin and transit, mainly in Africa. Negotiations also continue to stall on a replacement to the Cotonou Agreement, the 20-year partnership framework between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states, which now looks certain to be extended for at least 12 months beyond its expiry in February 2020.Ambiguities in the EU’s negotiating approach have certainly contributed to the delay: having pushed initially for a separate regional pillar for Africa that would be opened to the North African countries (who are not ACP members) and include a loosely defined role for the African Union, this would later be abandoned in favour of a dual-track process on separate new agreements with the AU and ACP respectively.The EU also continues to pursue controversial economic partnership agreements under the aegis of Cotonou, despite their increasing appearance of incompatibility with the pathbreaking African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – one of the clearest expressions to date of African agency.The EU has so far attempted to gloss over this incoherence, claiming that EPAs can somehow act as the ‘building blocks’ for Africa-wide economic integration. But tensions are appearing between EU departments and within the commission, with the European External Action Service inclined to prioritize a more strategic continental relationship with the AU, while the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development remains committed to the ACP as the conduit for financial support and aid delivery.And it is unlikely to get away with such incoherence for much longer. Change is now urgent, as numerous countries in sub-Saharan Africa continue to attract the strategic and commercial interests of the EU’s competitors: from established players such as China and potentially in future the UK, which is intent on remodelling its Africa ties post-Brexit, to emerging actors such as Turkey or Russia, which held its first Africa summit in October. The need for deliveryIf the EU is serious about its rhetoric on equal partnership, it must therefore move beyond convoluted hybrid proposals. Delivering on the Juncker administration’s proposal to increase funding for external action by 30 per cent for 2021–27 would mark an important first step, particularly as this involves streamlining that would see the European Development Fund – the financial instrument for EU-ACP relations – incorporated into the main EU budget.The new commission should therefore continue to exert pressure on the European Council and European Parliament to adopt this proposal, as negotiations on this financial framework have been repeatedly subject to delay and may not be resolved before the end of the year. Beyond this, proactive support for the AfCFTA and for structural transformation more broadly must be prioritized ahead of vague promises for a continent-to-continent free trade agreement, as held out by Juncker in his final State of the Union address in 2018. The significance of internal EU reforms for Africa should also not be discounted. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, for instance, has placed the African sector at a particular disadvantage and has made it harder to compete even in domestic markets, let alone in the distant EU export markets. EU efforts to stimulate inflows of private investments into the African agricultural sector, abolish import tariffs and offer technical support for African producers to satisfy EU health and safety regulations will be of little use if they are undermined by heavy subsidies across Europe.Ultimately, changes to job titles alone will be insufficient. The new commission’s rhetoric, while ambitious, differs little from that of the previous decade – Africa has heard the promise of a ‘partnership of equals’ and of ‘shared ownership’ since before the advent of the Joint Africa–EU Strategy in 2007. Now is the time for truly bold steps to implement this vision. Full Article
omi Deepening Economic Ties? The Future of Africa-UK Trade and Investment By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 07 Feb 2020 12:10:01 +0000 Corporate Members Event 25 February 2020 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Event participants Raj Kulasingam, Senior Counsel, DentonsMegan McDonald, Head of Investment Banking (International), Standard Bank GroupChair: Dr Alex Vines OBE, Managing Director, Ethics, Risk & Resilience; Director, Africa Programme, Chatham House Theresa May’s announcement in 2018 on the UK’s ambition to become the G7’s largest investor in Africa by 2022 has been followed by similar stated ambitions at the recent UK-Africa Investment Summit, which saw the attendance of 16 African heads of states. Such ambitions mirror overtures from various international players including a call for a ‘comprehensive strategy for Africa’ by the EU in 2019. While the UK’s recent expansion of its diplomatic networks in Africa and the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique appear promising, there are significant challenges to deepening partnerships including visa restrictions and complex business environments. At this event, the panellists will assess the future of trade and investment relations between the UK and Africa. Amid a proliferation of new trading partners including Asia’s emerging economies, Russia and the Gulf states, what are the points of change and continuity in the long-standing relationship between Africa and the UK? And what are the challenges and opportunities facing governments and businesses in Africa and the UK in efforts to build long-lasting economic ties? This event will be followed by a drinks reception.This event is open to Chatham House Corporate Members and corporate contacts of Chatham House's Africa Programme only. Not a member? Find out more. For further information on the different types of Chatham House events, visit Our Events Explained. Members Events Team Email Full Article
omi Webinar: European Union – The Economic and Political Implications of COVID-19 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:25:01 +0000 Corporate Members Event Webinar 26 March 2020 - 5:00pm to 5:45pm Online Event participants Colin Ellis, Chief Credit Officer, Head of UK, Moody’s Investors ServiceSusi Dennison, Director, Europe Power Programme, European Council of Foreign RelationsShahin Vallée, Senior Fellow, German Council of Foreign Relations (DGAP)Pepijn Bergsen, Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham HouseChair: Hans Kundnani, Senior Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House In the past few weeks, European Union member states have implemented measures such as social distancing, school and border closures and the cancellation of major cultural and sporting events in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Such measures are expected to have significant economic and political consequences, threatening near or total collapse of certain sectors. Moreover, the management of the health and economic crises within the EU architecture has exposed tensions and impasses in the extent to which the EU is willing to collaborate to mitigate pressures on fellow member states.The panellists will examine the European Union's response to a series of cascading crises and the likely impact of the pandemic on individual member states. Can the EU prevent an economic hit from developing into a financial crisis? Are the steps taken by the European Central Bank to protect the euro enough? And are member states expected to manage the crisis as best they can or will there be a united effort to mitigate some of the damage caused? This event is part of a fortnightly series of 'Business in Focus' webinars reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on areas of particular professional interest for our corporate members. Not a corporate member? Find out more. Full Article
omi Webinar: European Democracy in the Last 100 Years: Economic Crises and Political Upheaval By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:25:01 +0000 Members Event Webinar 6 May 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm Event participants Pepijn Bergsen, Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham HouseDr Sheri Berman, Professor of Political Science, Barnard CollegeChair: Hans Kundnani, Senior Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House In the last 100 years, global economic crises from the Great Depression of the 1930s to the 2008 financial crash have contributed to significant political changes in Europe, often leading to a rise in popularity for extremist parties and politics. As Europe contends with a perceived crisis of democracy - now compounded by the varied responses to the coronavirus outbreak - how should we understand the relationship between externally-driven economic crises, political upheaval and democracy?The panellists will consider the parallels between the political responses to some of the greatest economic crises Europe has experienced in the last century. Given that economic crises often transcend borders, why does political disruption vary between democracies? What can history tell us about the potential political impact of the unfolding COVID-19-related economic crisis? And will the unprecedented financial interventions by governments across Europe fundamentally change the expectations citizens have of the role government should play in their lives?This event is based on a recent article in The World Today by Hans Kundnani and Pepijn Bergsen who are both researchers in Chatham House's Europe Programme. 'Crawling from the Wreckage' is the first in a series of articles that look at key themes in European political discourse from the last century. You can read the article here. This event is open to Chatham House Members. Not a member? Find out more. Full Article
omi Covid-19 is no worse in immunocompromised children, says NICE By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Friday, May 1, 2020 - 14:22 Full Article
omi Atomic force microscopy-based characterization of the interaction of PriA helicase with stalled DNA replication forks [DNA and Chromosomes] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01T00:06:09-07:00 In bacteria, the restart of stalled DNA replication forks requires the DNA helicase PriA. PriA can recognize and remodel abandoned DNA replication forks, unwind DNA in the 3'-to-5' direction, and facilitate the loading of the helicase DnaB onto the DNA to restart replication. Single-stranded DNA–binding protein (SSB) is typically present at the abandoned forks, but it is unclear how SSB and PriA interact, although it has been shown that the two proteins interact both physically and functionally. Here, we used atomic force microscopy to visualize the interaction of PriA with DNA substrates with or without SSB. These experiments were done in the absence of ATP to delineate the substrate recognition pattern of PriA before its ATP-catalyzed DNA-unwinding reaction. These analyses revealed that in the absence of SSB, PriA binds preferentially to a fork substrate with a gap in the leading strand. Such a preference has not been observed for 5'- and 3'-tailed duplexes, suggesting that it is the fork structure that plays an essential role in PriA's selection of DNA substrates. Furthermore, we found that in the absence of SSB, PriA binds exclusively to the fork regions of the DNA substrates. In contrast, fork-bound SSB loads PriA onto the duplex DNA arms of forks, suggesting a remodeling of PriA by SSB. We also demonstrate that the remodeling of PriA requires a functional C-terminal domain of SSB. In summary, our atomic force microscopy analyses reveal key details in the interactions between PriA and stalled DNA replication forks with or without SSB. Full Article
omi Australia: A Welcoming Destination for Some By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Mon, 12 Feb 2018 12:34:51 -0500 Immigration has driven economic and social development in Australia for more than two centuries. Even as more than one-fourth of the country’s population is foreign born and Australia ranks third among top refugee resettlement countries worldwide, controversy surrounding its hardline treatment of asylum seekers arriving by boat has cast a shadow on its reputation as a welcoming country, as this article explores. Full Article
omi Achieving Skill Mobility in the ASEAN Economic Community: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:15:00 -0500 This report by MPI and the Asian Development Bank lays out a realistic roadmap toward freer movement among skilled professionals within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), encouraging cooperation among ASEAN Member States in recognizing foreign qualifications and making government investments in training and educations systems that prepare workers in accordance with common standards. Full Article
omi Firing Up Regional Brain Networks: The Promise of Brain Circulation in the ASEAN Economic Community By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:01:28 -0500 Given diverging demographics, rising educational attainment and wide variation in economic opportunities, countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are poised to see an expansion of both the demand for and supply of skilled migrants willing and able to move. The convergence of these megatrends represents unique opportunities for human-capital development and brain circulation, as this report explores. Full Article
omi Migrants Deported from the United States and Mexico to the Northern Triangle: A Statistical and Socioeconomic Profile By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 15:46:25 -0400 This report examines the rising numbers of apprehensions and deportations of Central American children and adults by the United States and Mexico, and provides a demographic, socioeconomic, and criminal profile of deportees to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The report traces how rising Mexican enforcement is reshaping regional dynamics and perhaps ushering in changes to long-lasting trends in apprehensions. Full Article
omi Promising Strategies for Reintegration of Migrants Returning to Mexico and Central America By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Mon, 07 Jan 2019 10:55:18 -0500 Authors of a year-long study of reception and reintegration services in Mexico and the Northern Triangle discuss the findings of their fieldwork, including the differing reintegration needs of individual migrant groups, promising reception and reintegration programs, ongoing challenges for origin communities, and policy recommendations to improve reintegration strategies. Full Article
omi Randomized Study to Evaluate the Impact of Telemedicine Care in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes With Multiple Doses of Insulin and Suboptimal HbA1c in Andalusia (Spain): PLATEDIAN Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of a telemedicine visit using the platform Diabetic compared with a face-to-face visit on clinical outcomes, patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and physicians’ satisfaction in patients with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS PLATEDIAN (Telemedicine on Metabolic Control in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Andalusian Patients) (NCT03332472) was a multicenter, randomized, 6-month follow-up, open-label, parallel-group controlled study performed in patients with type 1 diabetes with suboptimal metabolic control (HbA1c <8% [<64 mmol/mol]), treated with multiple daily injections. A total of 388 patients were assessed for eligibility; 379 of them were randomized 1:1 to three face-to-face visits (control cohort [CC]) (n = 167) or the replacement of an intermediate face-to-face visit by a telemedicine visit using Diabetic (intervention cohort [IC]) (n = 163). The primary efficacy end point was the mean change of HbA1c levels from baseline to month 6. Other efficacy and safety end points were mean blood glucose, glucose variability, episodes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, patient-reported outcomes, and physicians’ satisfaction. RESULTS At month 6, the mean change in HbA1c levels was –0.04 ± 0.5% (–0.5 ± 5.8 mmol/mol) in the CC and 0.01 ± 0.6% (0.1 ± 6.0 mmol/mol) in the IC (P = 0.4941). The number of patients who achieved HbA1c <7% (<53 mmol/mol) was 73 and 78 in the CC and IC, respectively. Significant differences were not found regarding safety end points at 6 months. Changes in HRQoL between the first visit and final visit did not differ between cohorts, and, regarding fear of hypoglycemia (FH-15 score ≥28), statistically significant differences observed at baseline remained unchanged at 6 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The use of telemedicine in patients with type 1 diabetes with HbA1c <8% (<64 mmol/mol) provides similar efficacy and safety outcomes as face-to-face visits. Full Article
omi Sex Difference in Effects of Low-Dose Aspirin on Prevention of Dementia in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Long-term Follow-up Study of a Randomized Clinical Trial By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the efficacy of long-term use of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of dementia in men and women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study is a follow-up cohort study of the Japanese Primary Prevention of Atherosclerosis With Aspirin for Diabetes (JPAD) trial, which was a randomized, open-label, standard care–controlled trial examining the effects of low-dose aspirin on cardiovascular events. We followed up 2,536 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) enrolled in the JPAD trial from 2002 to 2017. The primary outcome of this post hoc analysis was the incidence of dementia, which was defined by the prescription of antidementia drugs or admission due to dementia. RESULTS Among the originally enrolled patients, 2,121 (84%) retained their original allocation. During a median follow-up of 11.4 years, 128 patients developed dementia. The overall effect of low-dose aspirin on the prevention of dementia adjusted for age, sex, and other established risk factors was not significant (hazard ratio [HR] 0.82, 95% CI 0.58–1.16). However, a significant reduction was seen in the risk of dementia in women (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.95), but not in men (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.75–2.13) (Pinteraction = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Long-term use of low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk for dementia in women with T2D. Full Article
omi Targeting CXCR1/2 Does Not Improve Insulin Secretion After Pancreatic Islet Transplantation: A Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Type 1 Diabetes By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE Reparixin is an inhibitor of CXCR1/2 chemokine receptor shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory adjuvant in a pilot clinical trial in allotransplant recipients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-assignment study (NCT01817959) was conducted in recipients of islet allotransplants randomized (2:1) to reparixin or placebo in addition to immunosuppression. Primary outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) for C-peptide during the mixed-meal tolerance test at day 75 ± 5 after the first and day 365 ± 14 after the last transplant. Secondary end points included insulin independence and standard measures of glycemic control. RESULTS The intention-to-treat analysis did not show a significant difference in C-peptide AUC at both day 75 (27 on reparixin vs. 18 on placebo, P = 0.99) and day 365 (24 on reparixin vs. 15 on placebo, P = 0.71). There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups at any time point for any secondary variable. Analysis of patient subsets showed a trend for a higher percentage of subjects retaining insulin independence for 1 year after a single islet infusion in patients receiving reparixin as compared with patients receiving placebo (26.7% vs. 0%, P = 0.09) when antithymocyte globulin was used as induction immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS In this first double-blind randomized trial, islet transplantation data obtained with reparixin do not support a role of CXCR1/2 inhibition in preventing islet inflammation-mediated damage. Full Article
omi Diabetic Neuropathy Is a Substantial Burden in People With Type 1 Diabetes and Is Strongly Associated With Socioeconomic Disadvantage: A Population-Representative Study From Scotland By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To assess the contemporaneous prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Scotland and study its cross-sectional association with risk factors and other diabetic complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed data from a large representative sample of adults with T1D (N = 5,558). We assessed the presence of symptomatic neuropathy using the dichotomized (≥4) Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Patient Questionnaire score. Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between DPN and risk factors, as well as with other complications. RESULTS The burden of DPN is substantial with 13% prevalence overall. Adjusting for attained age, diabetes duration, and sex, the odds of DPN increased mainly with waist-to-hip ratio, lipids, poor glycemic control (odds ratio 1.51 [95% CI 1.21–1.89] for levels of 75 vs. 53 mmol/mol), ever versus never smoking (1.67 [1.37–2.03]), and worse renal function (1.96 [1.03–3.74] for estimated glomerular filtration rate levels <30 vs. ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). The odds significantly decreased with higher HDL cholesterol (0.77 [0.66–0.89] per mmol/L). Living in more deprived areas was associated with DPN (2.17 [1.78–2.65]) for more versus less deprived areas adjusted for other risk factors. Finally, individuals with prevalent DPN were much more likely than others to have other diabetes complications. CONCLUSIONS Diabetic neuropathy remains substantial, particularly affecting those in the most socioeconomically deprived groups. Those with clinically manifest neuropathy also have a higher burden of other complications and elevated levels of modifiable risk factors. These data suggest that there is considerable scope to reduce neuropathy rates and narrow the socioeconomic differential by better risk factor control. Full Article
omi New Insulin Glargine 300 Units/mL Versus Glargine 100 Units/mL in People With Type 2 Diabetes Using Oral Agents and Basal Insulin: Glucose Control and Hypoglycemia in a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial (EDITION 2) By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-12-01 Hannele Yki-JärvinenDec 1, 2014; 37:3235-3243Emerging Technologies and Therapeutics Full Article
omi Day and Night Home Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Three-Center Randomized Crossover Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-07-01 Lalantha LeelarathnaJul 1, 2014; 37:1931-1937Emerging Technologies and Therapeutics Full Article
omi Overnight Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery in Young People With Type 1 Diabetes: A Free-Living, Randomized Clinical Trial By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-05-01 Roman HovorkaMay 1, 2014; 37:1204-1211Advances in Artificial Pancreas Development Full Article
omi Exploring the Potential of the SGLT2 Inhibitor Dapagliflozin in Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2015-03-01 Robert R. HenryMar 1, 2015; 38:412-419Evolving Tactics With Inhibition of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporters Full Article
omi Empagliflozin as Add-On to Metformin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-06-01 Hans-Ulrich HäringJun 1, 2014; 37:1650-1659Emerging Technologies and Therapeutics Full Article
omi Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting With Standing or Walking Attenuates the Postprandial Metabolic Response in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Acute Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2016-01-01 Joseph HensonJan 1, 2016; 39:130-138IDF-ADA Translational Symposium Full Article
omi New Insulin Glargine 300 Units/mL Versus Glargine 100 Units/mL in People With Type 2 Diabetes Using Basal and Mealtime Insulin: Glucose Control and Hypoglycemia in a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial (EDITION 1) By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-10-01 Matthew C. RiddleOct 1, 2014; 37:2755-2762Emerging Technologies and Therapeutics Full Article
omi Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Can Be Prevented by Lifestyle Intervention: The Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL): A Randomized Controlled Trial By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2016-01-01 Saila B. KoivusaloJan 1, 2016; 39:24-30Considerations in the Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Full Article
omi Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2017 By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2018-05-01 American Diabetes AssociationMay 1, 2018; 41:917-928The Costs Of Diabetes Full Article
