me The fatty acids from LPL-mediated processing of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are taken up rapidly by cardiomyocytes By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-02 Haibo JiangApr 2, 2020; 0:jlr.ILR120000783v1-jlr.ILR120000783Images in Lipid Research Full Article
me Skin barrier lipid enzyme activity in Netherton patients is associated with protease activity and ceramide abnormalities By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-07 Jeroen van SmedenApr 7, 2020; 0:jlr.RA120000639v1-jlr.RA120000639Research Articles Full Article
me Membrane domains beyond the reach of microscopy By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01 Ilya LeventalMay 1, 2020; 61:592-594Commentary Full Article
me Commentary on SSO and other putative inhibitors of FA transport across membranes by CD36 disrupt intracellular metabolism, but do not affect fatty acid translocation By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01 Henry J. PownallMay 1, 2020; 61:595-597Commentary Full Article
me Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 hijacks the host plasma membrane to form the virus envelope By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-15 Souad AmiarApr 15, 2020; 0:jlr.ILR120000753v1-jlr.ILR120000753Images in Lipid Research Full Article
me Dispersed lipid droplets: an intermediate site for lipid transport and metabolism in primary human adipocytes. By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-15 Björn MorénApr 15, 2020; 0:jlr.ILR120000808v1-jlr.ILR120000808Images in Lipid Research Full Article
me UK Tech Weekly Podcast - Episode Six: The Internet of Board Games (IoBG) + The Budget & AlphaGo By play.acast.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:50:14 GMT In this week's UK Tech Weekly Podcast host Matt Egan is joined by first time podder Tamlin Magee (1:50), online editor at ComputerworldUK.com, to discuss the UK tech implications of this year's Budget, including rural broadband and driverless cars. Then Christina Mercer, assistant online editor at Techworld.com, chats AlphaGo (10:00) and board games following the AI's historic win over world Go champion Lee Sedol. Later, resident Virtual Reality (VR) enthusiast and PCAdvisor.co.uk staff writer Lewis Painter discussed "the big three" VR headset release dates, pricing and features from HTC, Sony Playstation and Oculus Rift (19:00). Finally, UKTW Podcast regular David Price, acting editor at Macworld.co.uk chats about Apple's big upcoming event (28:45). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 14 - The Internet of Cleaning Products in the Sky (IoCPitS): games, nVidia, EE vs Three By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 13 May 2016 14:39:31 GMT In this week's fiery episode host Matt Egan talks war and gaming with Macworld UK's David Price, the greatest graphics ever with Christopher Minasians of PC Advisor and Macworld UK (14:21), and the best networks in the UK with fellow PCA and MWUK stalwart Henry Burrell (25:23). Expect songs and laughter, and tech ever after. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 17 - The Internet of Not Terrible Windows Phones (IoNTWP) - VR games & phones at gigs By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:22:59 GMT This week host Matt Egan is joined by PC Advisor staff writer Chris Minasians to chat about the AMD Radeon RX 480 graphics card and what this could mean for the future of virtual reality games. Fellow staff writer at PC Advisor Henry Burrell jumps in to talk about the "not terrible" Windows 10 phone as he starts using the Microsoft Lumia 950 and can't see what everyone's beef with it is (13:00). Finally Ashleigh Allsopp, engagement editor at Macworld UK chats about using your technology at concerts (24:30). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 18 - The Internet of the EU (IoEU) Website crashes, Oculus games & WWDC By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 10 Jun 2016 14:57:35 GMT Host Matt Egan is joined this week by Henry Burrell, staff writer at Macworld UK to talk about the EU referendum website crashing Lewis Painter, staff writer at PC Advisor, jumps in to chat about Oculus Rift games and how immersive they are. Finally regular David Price comes on to talk about Apple's upcoming WWDC software developer conference and what we can (and cannot) expect. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 28 - The Internet of Gamescom (IoG) Blackberry security and plane hacks By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 11:40:59 GMT David Price is in the host chair this week and is joined by Lewis Painter, staff writer at PC Advisor and Macworld UK to discuss all the news coming out of Gamescom, including No Man's Sky, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy and Battlefield. Henry Burrell, staff writer at PC Advisor and Macworld UK jumps in to chat Blackberry and its trumped up security claims (15:00). Finally, Charlotte Jee, editor at Techworld.com talks about hacking planes, trains and automobiles (26:30). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 42 - The Internet of Chinese Boogie Men (IoCBM) Black Friday, Facebook and Autumn Statement By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Nov 2016 07:00:00 GMT Matt Egan is in the presenter chair this week as he chats about Black Friday and the changing face of online retail with acting editor at Macworld UK, David Price. Then online editor at Techworld.com Scott Carey talks Facebook and its recent issues with fake news and Chinese censorship (12:00). Finally, online editor at Computerworld UK Tamlin Magee brings us up to date with the Government's Autumn Statement and what it means for the technology sector (26:00). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 44 - The Internet of Police, Camera, Action! (IoPCA!) Pebble, police cameras & Amazon Go By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:20:40 GMT This week Henry Burrell is in the presenter chair and he has brought puns, sing-songs and tenuous Field of Dreams references. First up is producer Chris to discuss the Fitbit acquisition of fellow wearable maker Pebble and why owners are sad. Then online editor at Techworld Tamlin Magee is discussing the Met Police's decision to upload their body camera footage to the cloud and why this could be problematic (12:00). Finally, fellow online editor Scott Carey runs us through the Amazon Go news and how the retail giant is trying to pull off the technology behind its 'just walk out' shopping experience (24:00). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 53 - The Internet of UberEATS Itself (IoUEI) Uber's mess, Apple's orchards and MWC's phones By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Feb 2017 12:25:36 GMT Allow Matt Egan (and Shed7) to lull you into this week's pod as we tackle the big tech issues of the week. Staff Writer at Digital Arts Miriam Harris explains the latest HR and PR mess over at Uber. How long will consumers use a service when the company are clearly not treating its staff well? Then (16:30) Deputy Editor of Macworld UK David Price gets excited about Apple Park, the so-called 'spaceship campus' that has been under construction for years. May contain orchards. Finally (26:48) Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor Henry Burrell previews Mobile World Congress which gets underway on 26th February. Are any of the major handset launches worth your attention? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article pocast pod mobile world congress tech technology mwc 2017 apple uber sony huawei samsung LG blackberry motorola
me Episode 54 - The Internet of Insecure Robots (IoIR) MWC, the government's digital strategy and pesky hackable robots By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 03 Mar 2017 16:32:09 GMT The gang muck in to discuss the hottest tech topics of the week (as is tradition). Deputy Editor of Macworld UK David Price asks Jim Martin what was hot at MWC, where phones are birthed or something. Then Techworld Online Editor Thomas MacAuley chats about the government's digital strategy. First question: does it have one? Finally Tamlin Magee, Computerworld UK's Online Editor explains how to hack a robot and why people will almost certainly use this for EVIL. Thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article tech pod technology podcast mwc phones digital strategy robots hacking
me Episode 66 - The Internet of Monkeys (IoM) Amazon Prime Day and monkey selfies By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 14 Jul 2017 09:39:31 GMT We return like a nerdy phoenix for episode 66, where Henry Burrell leads David Price and Dominic Preston down the tech rabbit hole to discuss the week's news. Amazon Prime Day came and went, but what does it really mean for consumers and the media? Did you buy anything? Did you need it? The team then discuss the odd ongoing story of the man who lost copyright of an image of a monkey to... the monkey that allegedly took it. PETA got involved. It's weird. It's good to be back. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article pod podcast funny humour humor tech technology amazon monkeys
me Episode 69 - The Internet of internal memos (IoIM) Google sexism row and iPhone 8 leaks By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:35:44 GMT Join Miriam Harris, David Price and Henry Burrell as they dissect the weird internal memo row at Google. Was a male engineer genuinely trying to help Google and make a point about the company being too Left, or is he just an arsehole? Then we describe the iPhone 8 dummy we received this week (take a look at it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRNIwh61j_E ) and the revelations that came from the Homepod firmware leak. We also debate the usefulness of an LTE Apple Watch and try to make puns work. Magic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article podcast technology tech apple watch iphone 8 pod smartphone
me Episode 70 - The Internet of tricky surnames (IoTS) Uber's new CEO and new phone chat By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Sep 2017 09:17:10 GMT Scott Carey necessarily tries to get his pronunciation game on fleek to deliver the latest Uber news - there's a new CEO in town, and it isn't a woman. Should it have been? He tells Henry Burrell what's next for the company. Then roles are reversed as Henry updates Scott on the Galaxy Note 8, LG V30 and September 12's very own iPhone 8 - will it be called that? Will anyone spend £1,000 on it? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article pod podcast tech technology iphone 8 iphone apple uber samsung note 8 galaxy note 8
me Episode 71: The Internet of iPhone X (IoiX) Plus Apple Watch 3 and Apple TV announcements By play.acast.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Sep 2017 15:41:20 GMT This week it is all about Apple as the company announces its eagerly awaited iPhone X and iPhone 8/8 Plus smartphones, a new Apple watch (yawn) and Apple TV news. Macworld UK editor Karen Haslam is our host this week, as she chats to a distinctly unconvinced Dominic Preston about the latest iPhone, followed by David Price on the Apple Watch Series 3, which he likes but not as much as its predecessor. Then everyone piles in together to discuss the quite-good iPhone 8, the quite-late Apple TV 4K, and all the rest of the evening's festivities. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 79 - The Internet of New Year (IoNY) Meltdown & Spectre, iPhone batteries, iMac Pro and the VFX Bafta noms By play.acast.com Published On :: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT 2018 lands with a distinct thud as Charlotte Jee tackles Meltdown and Spectre, David Price wrestles with Apple's batteries and its new iMac Pro, before Miriam Harris works through the Bafta nominations for visual effects. Henry Burrell leads us down the rabbit hole. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 83 - The Internet of White Rings (IoWR) HomePod, Kingdom Come: Deliverance and no spoiler Black Panther chat By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT Scott Carey assembles half the Tech Advisor squad to chat about the HomePod's great audio and then all the things that make it a tabloid headline. Jim Martin lets us know if Apple ruined his oak and/or pine.Lewis Painter chats us through Kingdom Come: Deliverance and all the wacky things you can do in its slow paced but huge world. Dom Preston then lets us know - without spoilers - just how good Black Panther is, Marvel's latest marvel (hopefully). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 84 - The Internet of Porn (IoP) Nectome, Galaxy S9 and UK porn age checks By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Mar 2018 16:28:45 GMT The gang returns with an eclectic mix of tech chat. Can Nectome really download your thoughts - while killing you - to preserve your memories forever in the cloud? We didn't make this up.Then we discuss the brand new Samsung Galaxy S9, phone cameras and crap AR before discussing how the UK should go about contracting a company to age check porn site users. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 90 - The Internet of Meaty Topics (IoMT) Digital afterlife, net neutrality and GDPR emails By play.acast.com Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2018 10:43:08 GMT Oh boy what a meaty session we have for you as Christina Mercer, Somrata Sarkar, David Price and Henry Burrell tackle three whopics (whopping topics) head on.Somrata takes us into the sometimes scary thoughts of our own digital afterlives. Should we be worried that we'll end up as misrepresentative chat bots one day? Who will have the authority to police the companies that harvest our data?Then Christina explains the knife edge America is on when it comes to net neutrality. Despite recent hope, there's still a chance the web across the pond will be ruthlessly metered and segmented.Finally David asks us if we've checked our unused email accounts recently, as there might be a lot of desperate noodle companies in there begging you to stay on their mailing lists. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 98 - The Internet of Banning Idiots (IoBI) Infowars, new phone hype and the Millennium Dome By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 10 Aug 2018 14:46:19 GMT This week on the UK Tech Weekly Podcast our host Scott Carey talks to Macworld editor David Price about the ever-controversial Alex Jones and why the big tech companies are finally stepping up their efforts to ban him from their platforms. Editors note: we recorded this on Thursday before Twitter finally started to take some measures against Jones, without outright banning him.Next our resident phone nerd and consumer tech editor at Tech Advisor Henry Burrell talks about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the latest iPhone X rumours and how Apple and Google are trying to make you use your phone less.Lastly Techworld editor Charlotte Jee takes us on a trip down memory lane to talk about the utopian vision of the Millennium Experience, how it reflected the values of a New Labour government and its legacy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 100 - The Internet of Interval Timers (IoIT) Bumper 100 topic special! By play.acast.com Published On :: Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:36:45 GMT Here it is folks, the insane 100th episode we have been planned for weeks (ahem). What better way to spend just over 50 minutes than with 100 tech topics covering over two years, one taken from each of the last 99 episodes of the pod plus the bonus round at the end.Henry Burrell leads Tamlin Magee, Charlotte Jee, Scott Carey, Karen Khan and Christina Mercer down the tech rabbit hole in a game show-style quick fire test of our tech brains. In this game, everyone is a winner. Naw.Thanks a lot for listening - here's to the next 100. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me Episode 108 - The Internet of Silicon Valley Meal Drinks (IoSVMD) Soylent tasting, Black Friday and Bitcoin slump By play.acast.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Nov 2018 12:25:28 GMT David Price is in the host's chair this week, as the team talk about the latest hot tech topics. Tamlin Magee has got the drinks in - futuristic meal-replacement drinks called Soylent, which he forces everyone to try and which are apparently not people. Then Dominic Preston talks us through the positive and extremely negative sides of Amazon's Black Friday activities, before Sean Bradley attempts to explain why Bitcoin is tanking and what the future holds for crypto currencies. Cheers! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
me WITHDRAWN: Structural and mechanistic studies of hydroperoxide conversions catalyzed by a CYP74 clan epoxy alcohol synthase from amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae) [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2014-03-04T09:59:12-08:00 This manuscript has been withdrawn by the Author. Full Article
me WITHDRAWN: The Fundamental And Pathological Importance Of Oxysterol Binding Protein And Its Related Proteins [Thematic Reviews] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2018-10-15T08:42:37-07:00 This article has been withdrawn by the authors as part of this review overlapped with the contents of Pietrangelo A and Ridgway ND. 2018. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 75; 3079-98. Full Article
me Fatty acid oxidation and photoreceptor metabolic needs [Thematic Reviews] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-02-24T12:30:36-08:00 Photoreceptors have high energy-demands and a high density of mitochondria that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) of fuel substrates. Although glucose is the major fuel for central nervous system (CNS) brain neurons, in photoreceptors (also CNS), most glucose is not metabolized through OXPHOS but is instead metabolized into lactate by aerobic glycolysis. The major fuel sources for photoreceptor mitochondria remained unclear for almost six decades. Similar to other tissues (like heart and skeletal muscle) with high metabolic rates, photoreceptors were recently found to metabolize fatty acids (palmitate) through OXPHOS. Disruption of lipid entry into photoreceptors leads to extracellular lipid accumulation, suppressed glucose transporter expression, and a duel lipid/glucose fuel shortage. Modulation of lipid metabolism helps restore photoreceptor function. However, further elucidation of the types of lipids used as retinal energy sources, the metabolic interaction with other fuel pathways, as well as the crosstalk among retinal cells to provide energy to photoreceptors is not yet known. In this review, we will focus on the current understanding of photoreceptor energy demand and sources, and potential future investigations of photoreceptor metabolism. Full Article
me Metabolic phospholipid labeling of intact bacteria enables a fluorescence assay that detects compromised outer membranes [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-03-10T09:30:25-07:00 Gram-negative bacteria possess an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) composed primarily of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the outer leaflet and phospholipids (PLs) on the inner leaflet. Loss of this asymmetry due to mutations in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis or transport pathways causes externalization of PLs to the outer leaflet of the OM and leads to OM permeability defects. Here, we employed metabolic labeling to detect a compromised OM in intact bacteria. Phosphatidylcholine synthase (Pcs) expression in Escherichia coli allowed for incorporation of exogenous propargylcholine (PCho) into phosphatidyl(propargyl)choline (PPC) and for incorporation of exogenous 1-azidoethyl-choline (AECho) into phosphatidyl(azidoethyl)choline (AEPC) as confirmed by LC-MS analyses. A fluorescent copper-free click reagent poorly labeled AEPC in intact wild-type cells, but readily labeled AEPC from lysed cells. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses confirmed the absence of significant AEPC labeling from intact wild-type E. coli strains, and revealed significant AEPC labeling in an E. coli LPS transport mutant (lptD4213) and an LPS biosynthesis mutant (E. coli lpxC101). Our results suggest that metabolic PL labeling with AECho is a promising tool to detect a compromised bacterial OM, reveal aberrant PL externalization, and identify or characterize novel cell-active inhibitors of LPS biosynthesis or transport. Full Article
me Serum non-esterified fatty acids have utility as dietary biomarkers of fat intake from fish, fish oil and dairy in women [Methods] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-03-31T09:30:24-07:00 Nutritional studies rely on various biological specimens for fatty acid (FA) determination, yet it is unclear how levels of serum non-esterified FA (NEFAs) correlate with other circulating lipid pools. Here, we used a high throughput method (< 4 min/sample) based on multisegment injection-non-aqueous-capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (MSI-NACE-MS) to investigate whether specific serum NEFAs have utility as biomarkers of dietary fat intake in women. We first identified circulating NEFAs correlated with long-term/habitual food intake among pregnant women with contrasting dietary patterns (n=50). Acute changes in serum NEFA trajectories were also studied in non-pregnant women (n=18) following high-dose (5 g/day) fish oil (FO) supplementation or isoenergetic sunflower oil placebo over 56 days. In the cross-sectional study, serum omega-3 (-3) FA correlated with self-reported total -3 daily intake, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as its NEFA (r=0.46; p=0.001), whereas pentadecanoic acid was associated with full-fat dairy intake (r=0.43; p=0.002), outcomes consistent with results from total FA serum hydrolysates. In the intervention cohort, serum -3 NEFAs increased 2.5-fold from baseline within 28 days following FO supplementation, and this increase was most pronounced for EPA (p=0.0004). Unlike for docosahexaenoic acid, circulating EPA as its NEFA also strongly correlated to EPA concentrations measured from erythrocyte phospholipid hydrolysates (r=0.66; p=4.6 x 10-10), and was better suited to detect dietary non-adherence. We conclude that MSI-NACE-MS offers a rapid method to quantify serum NEFAs and objectively monitor dietary fat intake in women that is complementary to diet records or food frequency questionnaires. Full Article
me The fatty acids from LPL-mediated processing of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are taken up rapidly by cardiomyocytes [Images in Lipid Research] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-02T09:30:25-07:00 Full Article
me Skin barrier lipid enzyme activity in Netherton patients is associated with protease activity and ceramide abnormalities [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-07T14:33:32-07:00 Individuals with Netherton syndrome (NTS) have increased serine protease activity, which strongly impacts the barrier function of the skin epidermis and leads to skin inflammation. Here, we investigated how serine protease activity in NTS correlates with changes in the stratum corneum ceramides, which are crucial components of the skin barrier. We examined two key enzymes involved in epidermal ceramide biosynthesis, glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and acid-sphingomyelinase (ASM). We compared in situ expression levels and activities of GBA and ASM between NTS patients and controls and correlated the expression and activities with i) stratum corneum ceramide profiles, ii) in situ serine protease activity, and iii) clinical presentation of patients. Using activity-based probe labeling, we visualized and localized active, epidermal GBA, and a newly developed in situ zymography method enabled us to visualize and localize active ASM. Reduction in active GBA in NTS patients coincided with increased ASM activity, particularly in areas with increased serine protease activity. NTS patients with scaly erythroderma exhibited more pronounced anomalies in GBA and ASM activities than patients with ichthyosis linearis circumflexa. They also displayed a stronger increase in stratum corneum ceramides processed via ASM. We conclude that changes in the localization of active GBA and ASM correlate with i) altered stratum corneum ceramide composition in NTS patients, ii) local serine protease activity, and iii) the clinical manifestation of NTS. Full Article
me Dietary plant stanol ester supplementation reduces peripheral symptoms in a mouse model of Niemann-Pick type C1 disease. [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-14T06:30:26-07:00 Niemann–Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease is a rare genetic condition in which the function of the lysosomal cholesterol transporter NPC1 protein is impaired. Consequently, sphingolipids and cholesterol accumulate in lysosomes of all tissues, triggering a cascade of pathological events that culminate in severe systemic and neurological symptoms. Lysosomal cholesterol accumulation is also a key-factor in the development of atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In these two metabolic diseases, the administration of plant stanol esters has been shown to ameliorate cellular cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. Given the overlap of pathological mechanisms among atherosclerosis, NASH and NPC1 disease, we sought to investigate whether dietary supplementation with plant stanol esters improves the peripheral features of NPC1 disease. To this end, we used an NPC1 murine model featuring an Npc1 null allele (Npc1nih), creating a dysfunctional NPC1 protein. Npc1nih mice were fed a two or six percent plant stanol esters–enriched diet over the course of 5 weeks. During this period, hepatic and blood lipid and inflammatory profiles were assessed. Npc1nih mice fed the plant stanol–enriched diet exhibited lower hepatic cholesterol accumulation, damage and inflammation than regular chow–fed Npc1nih mice. Moreover, plant stanol consumption shifted circulating T-cells and monocytes in particular towards an anti-inflammatory profile. Overall, these effects were stronger following dietary supplementation with 6% stanols, suggesting a dose-dependent effect. The findings of our study highlight the potential use of plant stanols as an affordable complementary means to ameliorate disorders in hepatic and blood lipid metabolism and reduce inflammation in NPC1 disease. Full Article
me Dispersed lipid droplets: an intermediate site for lipid transport and metabolism in primary human adipocytes. [Images in Lipid Research] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-15T13:30:25-07:00 Full Article
me Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 hijacks the host plasma membrane to form the virus envelope [Images in Lipid Research] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-15T13:30:25-07:00 Full Article
me A Direct Fluorometric Activity Assay for Lipid Kinases and Phosphatases [Methods] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-27T13:30:26-07:00 Lipid kinases and phosphatases play key roles in cell signaling and regulation, and are implicated in many human diseases, and are hence thus attractive targets for drug development. Currently, no direct in vitro activity assay is available for these important enzymes, which hampers mechanistic studies as well as high-throughput screening of small molecule modulators. Here we report a highly sensitive and quantitative assay employing a ratiometric fluorescence sensor that directly and specifically monitors the real-time concentration change of a single lipid species. Due Because of to its modular design, the assay system can be applied to a wide variety of lipid kinases and phosphatases, including Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). When applied to PI3K, the assay provided the newdetailed mechanistic information about the product inhibition and substrate acyl acyl-chain selectivity of PI3K and allowed enabled rapid evaluation of its small molecule inhibitors. We also used this assay to quantitatively determine the substrate specificity of PTEN, providing new insight into its physiological functionThe assay also quantitatively determined the substrate specificity of PTEN, thereby providing new insight into its physiological function. In summary, we have developed a fluorescence-based real-time assay for PI3K and PTEN that we anticipate could be adapted to measure the activities of other lipid kinases and phosphatases with high sensitivity and accuracy. Full Article
me A simple method for sphingolipid analysis of tissues embedded in optimal cutting temperature compound [Methods] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-27T14:30:22-07:00 Mass spectrometry (MS) assisted lipidomic tissue analysis is a valuable tool to assess sphingolipid metabolism dysfunction in disease. These analyses can reveal potential pharmacological targets or direct mechanistic studies to better understand the molecular underpinnings and influence of sphingolipid metabolism alterations on disease etiology. But procuring sufficient human tissues for adequately powered studies can be challenging. Therefore, biorepositories, which hold large collections of cryopreserved human tissues, are an ideal retrospective source of specimens. However, this resource has been vastly underutilized by lipid biologists, as the components of optimal cutting temperature compound (OCT) used in cryopreservation are incompatible with MS analyses. Here, we report results indicating that OCT also interferes with protein quantification assays, and that the presence of OCT impacts the quantification of extracted sphingolipids by LC–ESI–MS/MS. We developed and validated a simple and inexpensive method that removes OCT from OCT-embedded tissues. Our results indicate that removal of OCT from cryopreserved tissues does not significantly affect the accuracy of sphingolipid measurements with LC–ESI–MS/MS. We used the validated method to analyze sphingolipid alterations in tumors compared with normal adjacent uninvolved lung tissues from individuals with lung cancer, and to determine the long-term stability of sphingolipids in OCT-cryopreserved normal lung tissues. We show that lung cancer tumors have significantly altered sphingolipid profiles and that sphingolipids are stable for up to 16 years in OCT-cryopreserved normal lung tissues. This validated sphingolipidomic OCT-removal protocol should be a valuable addition to the lipid biologist’s toolbox. Full Article
me Phosphatidylinositol Metabolism, Phospholipases, Lipidomics, and Cancer:In Memoriam of Michael J. O. Wakelam (1955-2020) [Tribute] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-28T14:30:27-07:00 Full Article
me Metabolic regulation of the lysosomal cofactor bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate in mice [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-29T07:33:43-07:00 Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), also known as lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA), is a phospholipid that promotes lipid sorting in late endosomes/lysosomes by activating lipid hydrolases and lipid transfer proteins. Changes in the cellular BMP content therefore reflect an altered metabolic activity of the endo-lysosomal system. Surprisingly, little is known about the physiological regulation of BMP. In this study, we investigated the effects of nutritional and metabolic factors on BMP profiles of whole tissues and parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. Tissue samples were obtained from fed, fasted, two-hours refed, and insulin-treated mice, as well as from mice housed at 5°C, 22°C, or 30°C. These tissues exhibited distinct BMP profiles, which were regulated by the nutritional state in a tissue-specific manner. Insulin treatment was not sufficient to mimic refeeding-induced changes in tissue BMP levels indicating that BMP metabolism is regulated by other hormonal or nutritional factors. Tissue fractionation experiments revealed that fasting drastically elevates BMP levels in hepatocytes and pancreatic cells. Furthermore, we observed that the BMP content in brown adipose tissue strongly depends on housing temperatures. In conclusion, our observations suggest that BMP concentrations adapt to the metabolic state in a tissue-and cell type-specific manner in mice. Drastic changes observed in hepatocytes, pancreatic cells, and brown adipocytes suggest that BMP possesses a role in the functional adaption to nutrient starvation and ambient temperature. Full Article
me Sphingolipids distribution at mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) upon induction of apoptosis. [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-29T08:36:37-07:00 The levels and composition of sphingolipids and related metabolites are altered in aging and common disorders such as diabetes and cancers, as well as in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. Changes in sphingolipids have been implicated as being an essential step in mitochondria-driven cell death. However, little is known about the precise sphingolipid composition and modulation in mitochondria or related organelles. Here, we used LC–MS/MS to analyze the presence of key components of the ceramide metabolic pathway in vivo and in vitro in purified endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), and mitochondria. Specifically, we analyzed the sphingolipids in the three pathways that generate ceramide: sphinganine in the de novo ceramide pathway, sphingomyelin in the breakdown pathway, and sphingosine in the salvage pathway. We observed sphingolipid profiles in mouse liver, mouse brain, and a human glioma cell line (U251). We analyzed the quantitative and qualitative changes of these sphingolipids during staurosporine (STS)-induced apoptosis in U251 cells. Ceramide, especially C16-ceramide, levels increased during early apoptosis possibly through a conversion from mitochondrial sphinganine and sphingomyelin, but sphingosine and lactosyl- and glucosyl-ceramide levels were unaffected. We also found that ceramide generation is enhanced in mitochondria when sphingomyelin levels are decreased in the MAM. This decrease was associated with an increase in acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity in MAM. We conclude that meaningful sphingolipid modifications occur in MAM, the mitochondria, and ER during the early phases of apoptosis. Full Article
me Mass spectrometry imaging and LC-MS reveal decreased cerebellar phosphoinositides in Niemann-Pick type C1-null mice [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-05T13:30:26-07:00 Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a lipid storage disorder in which cholesterol and glycosphingolipids accumulate in late endosomal/lysosomal compartments because of mutations in the NPC1 gene. A hallmark of NPC1 is progressive neurodegeneration of the cerebellum as well as visceral organ damage; however, the mechanisms driving this disease pathology are not fully understood. Phosphoinositides are phospholipids that play distinct roles in signal transduction and vesicle trafficking. Here, we utilized consensus spectra analysis of MS imaging datasets and orthogonal LC–MS analyses to evaluate the spatial distribution of phosphoinositides and quantify them in cerebellar tissue from Npc1-null mice. Our results suggest significant depletion of multiple phosphoinositide species, including phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol monophosphate (PIP), and bisphosphate (PIP2), in the cerebellum of the Npc1-null mice in both whole-tissue lysates and myelin-enriched fractions. Additionally, we observed altered levels of the regulatory enzyme phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase type 2 α (PI4K2A) in Npc1-null mice. In contrast, the levels of related kinases, phosphatases, and transfer proteins were unaltered in the Npc1-null mouse model as observed by Western blot analysis. Our discovery of phosphoinositide lipid biomarkers for NPC1 opens new perspectives on the pathophysiology underlying this fatal neurodegenerative disease. Full Article
me Lipid sensing tips the balance for a key cholesterol synthesis enzyme [Images in Lipid Research] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-05T06:33:39-07:00 Full Article
me 2-Chlorofatty acids are biomarkers of sepsis mortality and mediators of barrier dysfunction in rats [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-06T11:30:34-07:00 Sepsis is defined as the systemic, dysregulated host immune response to an infection that leads to injury to host organ systems, and, often, death. Complex interactions between pathogens and their hosts elicit microcirculatory dysfunction. Neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) is critical for combating pathogens, but MPO-derived hypochlorous acid (HOCl) can react with host molecular species as well. Plasmalogens are targeted by HOCl, leading to the production of 2-chlorofatty acids (2-CLFAs). 2-CLFAs are associated with human sepsis mortality, decrease in vitroendothelial barrier function, and activate human neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Here, we sought to examine 2-CLFAs in an in vivorat sepsis model. Intraperitoneal cecal slurry sepsis with clinically relevant rescue therapies led to ~73% mortality and evidence of microcirculatory dysfunction. Plasma concentrations of 2-CLFAs assessed 8h after sepsis induction were lower in rats that survived sepsis than in non-survivors. 2-CLFA levels were elevated in kidney, liver, spleen, lung, colon and ileum in septic animals. In vivo, exogenous 2-CLFA treatments increased kidney permeability, and in in vitroexperiments 2-CLFA also increased epithelial surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and decreased epithelial barrier function. Collectively, these studies support a role of free 2-CLFAs as biomarkers of sepsis mortality, potentially mediated, in part, by 2-CLFA-elicited endothelial and epithelial barrier dysfunction. Full Article
me Russia’s Uncertain Regime Transformation By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Mar 2020 15:47:58 +0000 11 March 2020 Professor Nikolai Petrov Senior Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House Google Scholar Dr Ben Noble Lecturer in Russian Politics, University College London; Senior Research Fellow, HSE, Moscow Despite the drama, Vladimir Putin’s announcement endorsing a constitutional change allowing him to remain president from 2024 does surprisingly little to change the status quo. 2020-03-11-Putin-Constitution.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses lawmakers debating on the second reading of the constitutional reform bill during a session of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament March 10, 2020. Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images. With Putin’s current term as head of state due to run out in 2024, the question everybody has been asking is what he will do to remain in power. The Russian president’s recent speech, made in person in the State Duma during the second reading of his own constitutional reform bill, has been interpreted by many as a clear answer. Summaries such as “Putin forever” and “perpetual Putin” abound. But the reality is not so clear.Putin has not committed to standing for re-election in 2024, never mind staying in power until 2036, when two additional six-year terms from 2024 would run out. What he has done is provide the constitutional grounds to retain power as president. It creates a highly credible option without committing him to it.And the uncertainty matters. Because as long as members of the elite are unsure whether Putin will take up the option to remain president, they are kept in check.Broader constitutional reformWith the flurry of interest around Putin’s announcement, we should not lose sight of his moves to further strengthen the presidency. As part of the broader constitutional reform package, Russia’s existing “super-presidency” will gain additional powers, such as the authority to fire top-tier judges and to block legislation when the legislature has overridden a presidential veto (in other words, a “super-veto”).The proposals also put the autonomy of local self-government at risk, with Moscow and regional executives gaining the constitutional power to hire and fire officials who are not even technically part of the state. And the president now has a formalised role as “general leader” of the government. Putin is creating the “Great Presidency”.However, the majority of constitutional changes do not relate to the presidency – they have different purposes. Firstly, to revitalise support for the regime which took a hit following unpopular pension reforms in 2018. Secondly, to distract or appease those worried by Putin remaining in a strengthened presidency. And perhaps most significantly, to boost turnout in the nationwide vote on reforms.This desire to re-energise popular support becomes apparent as the changes – some of which will have to be inserted rather awkwardly into the constitution’s structure – focus on three elements aimed squarely at improving the regime’s appeal: increased material support from the state for citizens, including indexing state pensions; an emphasis on “traditional values”, including a declaration that marriage can only be a union between a man and a woman; and increased Russian sovereignty, including a “nationalisation” of the elite, with a constitutional ban on top-level officials having bank accounts abroad. Constitutional reform is, moreover, the most visible part of a broader political transformation already underway, including a major propaganda drive. Putin has promised a significant increase in resources for its “maternity capital” programme, putting more money in the pockets of young Russian families.And he has instructed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s government to focus on delivering his “national projects” – goals aimed at improving Russians’ lives across a range of areas, from infrastructure to education and healthcare.Taking advantage of several imminent historical milestones is also on the cards. It has been reported Putin will sign the constitutional reform bill on March 18 – the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. And May 9 is the 75th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War (the Russian term for the Second World War), with foreign dignitaries invited to attend events in Moscow.Putin has also been filling the airwaves with a high-production-values series called “20 Questions for Vladimir Putin”, as well as holding public meetings with citizens in provinces such as Cherepovets and Ivanovo. There is a clear aim to demonstrate the president is not only still in control, but also concerned with the well-being of everyday Russians.With parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2021 the Kremlin knows that, to maintain its control of a super-majority of seats in the State Duma, its ratings-raising drive has to work – even if it does always have the option of using manifestly authoritarian methods for realising desired election results. A proposal to call early State Duma elections was made during the second reading of Putin’s reform bill, but was quickly withdrawn after Putin spoke out against the idea.Russia’s complex architecture of “power”Throughout this transformation, maintaining control of the elite – particularly of the siloviki – is key for Putin. A reshuffling and removal of senior officials in the Procuracy has seen Yury Chaika replaced as general prosecutor by Ivan Krasnov, previously a deputy chair of the Investigative Committee, which is widely seen as a rival structure in Russia’s complex architecture of “power” bodies.When considered alongside the constitutional changes giving the president broader powers in appointing regional prosecutors, this is textbook “divide and rule”. Power balancing is also on display with the Security Council, as the job description for Dmitry Medvedev’s new role as its deputy chair could provide fertile ground for clashes with the body’s secretary, Nikolai Patrushev.Pitting rival patronal networks against each other means Putin can keep rivals in check within the broader structure of the “Great Presidency”, while staying firmly in control himself.The prospect of Putin remaining president is unlikely to be popular. According to data from independent Russian polling agency the Levada Centre, only 27 per cent of Russians want Putin to stay in the post after 2024. This figure could, of course, change in either direction as the prospect becomes more real for Russians. But if Putin’s announcement galvanises mass opposition, the authorities may well use responses to the COVID-19 outbreak to keep protesters at bay – something already on display in Moscow.What this all means for Russia is that, despite the drama, considerable uncertainty remains following Putin’s announcement. What we can say for certain, however, is that it dashes hopes of serious political change any time soon. Full Article
me America's Coronavirus Response Is Shaped By Its Federal Structure By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 09:00:36 +0000 16 March 2020 Dr Leslie Vinjamuri Dean, Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs; Director, US and the Americas Programme @londonvinjamuri Google Scholar The apparent capacity of centralized state authority to respond effectively and rapidly is making headlines. In the United States, the opposite has been true. 2020-03-16-Coronavirus-America.jpg Harvard asked its students to move out of their dorms due to the coronavirus risk, with all classes moving online. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images. As coronavirus spreads across the globe, states grapple to find the ideal strategy for coping with the global pandemic. And, in China, Singapore, South Korea, the US, the UK, and Europe, divergent policies are a product of state capacity and legal authority, but they also reveal competing views about the optimal role of centralized state authority, federalism, and the private sector.Although it is too soon to know the longer-term effects, the apparent capacity of centralized state authority in China, South Korea and Singapore to respond effectively and rapidly is making headlines. In the United States, the opposite has been true. America’s response is being shaped by its federal structure, a dynamic private sector, and a culture of civic engagement. In the three weeks since the first US case of coronavirus was confirmed, state leaders, public health institutions, corporations, universities and churches have been at the vanguard of the nation’s effort to mitigate its spread.Images of safety workers in hazmat suits disinfecting offices of multinational corporations and university campuses populate American Facebook pages. The contrast to the White House effort to manage the message, downplay, then rapidly escalate its estimation of the crisis is stark.Bewildering responseFor European onlookers, the absence of a clear and focused response from the White House is bewildering. By the time President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, several state emergencies had already been called, universities had shifted to online learning, and churches had begun to close.By contrast, in Italy, France, Spain and Germany, the state has led national efforts to shutter borders and schools. In the UK, schools are largely remaining open as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declared a strategy defined by herd immunity, which hinges on exposing resilient populations to the virus.But America has never shared Europe’s conviction that the state must lead. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading national public health institute and a US federal agency, has attempted to set a benchmark for assessing the crisis and advising the nation. But in this instance, its response has been slowed due to faults in the initial tests it attempted to rollout. The Federal Reserve has moved early to cut interest rates and cut them again even further this week.But states were the real first movers in America’s response and have been using their authority to declare a state of emergency independent of the declaration of a national emergency. This has allowed states to mobilize critical resources, and to pressure cities into action. After several days delay and intense public pressure, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo forced New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to close the city’s schools.Declarations of state emergencies by individual states have given corporations, universities and churches the freedom and legitimacy to move rapidly, and ahead of the federal government, to halt the spread in their communities.Washington state was the first to declare a state of emergency. Amazon, one of the state’s leading employers, quickly announced a halt to all international travel and, alongside Microsoft, donated $1million to a rapid-response Seattle-based emergency funds. States have nudged their corporations to be first movers in the sector’s coronavirus response. But corporations have willingly taken up the challenge, often getting ahead of state as well as federal action.Google moved rapidly to announce a move allowing employees to work from home after California declared a state of emergency. Facebook soon followed with an even more stringent policy, insisting employees work from home. Both companies have also met with World Health Organization (WHO) officials to talk about responses, and provided early funding for WHO’s Solidarity Response Fund set up in partnership with the UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation.America’s leading research universities, uniquely positioned with in-house public health and legal expertise, have also been driving preventive efforts. Just days after Washington declared a state of emergency, the University of Washington became the first to announce an end to classroom teaching and move courses online. A similar pattern followed at Stanford, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia - each also following the declaration of a state of emergency.In addition, the decision by the Church of the Latter Day Saints to cancel its services worldwide followed Utah’s declaration of a state of emergency.The gaping hole in the US response has been the national government. President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency came late, and his decision to ban travel from Europe but - at least initially - exclude the UK, created uncertainty and concern that the White House response is as much driven by politics as evidence.This may soon change, as the House of Representatives has passed a COVID-19 response bill that the Senate will consider. These moves are vital to supporting state and private efforts to mobilize an effective response to a national and global crisis.Need for public oversightIn the absence of greater coordination and leadership from the centre, the US response will pale in comparison to China’s dramatic moves to halt the spread. The chaos across America’s airports shows the need for public oversight. As New York State Governor Cuomo pleaded for federal government support to build new hospitals, he said: ‘I can’t do it. You can’t leave it to the states.'When it comes to global pandemics, we may be discovering that authoritarian states can have a short-term advantage, but already Iran’s response demonstrates that this is not universally the case. Over time, the record across authoritarian states as they tackle the coronavirus will become more apparent, and it is likely to be mixed.Open societies remain essential. Prevention requires innovation, creativity, open sharing of information, and the ability to inspire and mobilize international cooperation. The state is certainly necessary, but it is not sufficient alone. Full Article
me Coronavirus: All Citizens Need an Income Support By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 10:50:49 +0000 16 March 2020 Jim O'Neill Chair, Chatham House We cannot expect policies such as the dramatic monetary steps announced by the Federal Reserve Board and others like it, to end this crisis. A People's Quantitative Easing (QE) could be the answer. 2020-03-16-coronavirus-delivery.jpg Delivery bike rider wearing a face mask as a precaution against coronavirus at Madrid Rio park. Photo by Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images. Linked to the call for a global response to the Covid-19 pandemic that I, Robin Niblett and Creon Butler have outlined, the case for a specific dramatic economic policy gesture from many policymakers in large economies is prescient.It may not be warranted from all G20 nations, although given the uncertainties, and the desire to show collective initiative, I think it should be G20 driven and inclusive.We need some sort of income support for all our citizens, whether employees or employers. Perhaps one might call it a truly People’s QE (quantitative easing).Against the background of the previous economic crisis from 2008, and the apparent difficulties that more traditional forms of economic stimulus have faced in trying to help their economies and their people - especially against a background of low wage growth, and both actual, and perception of rising inequality - other ideas have emerged.Central banks printing moneyBoth modern monetary theory (MMT) and universal basic income (UBI) essentially owe their roots to the judgement that conventional economic policies have not been helping.At the core of these views is the notion of giving money to people, especially lower income people, directly paid for by our central banks printing money. Until recently, I found myself having very little sympathy with these views but, as a result of COVID-19, I have changed my mind.This crisis is extraordinary in so far as it is both a colossal demand shock and an even bigger colossal supply shock. The crisis epicentre has shifted from China - and perhaps the rest of Asia - to Europe and the United States. We cannot expect policies, however unconventional by modern times, such as the dramatic monetary steps announced by the Federal Reserve Board and others like it, to put a floor under this crisis.We are consciously asking our people to stop going out, stop travelling, not go to their offices - in essence, curtailing all forms of normal economic life. The only ones not impacted are those who entirely work through cyberspace. But even they have to buy some forms of consumer goods such as food and, even if they order online, someone has to deliver it.As a result, markets are, correctly, worrying about a collapse of economic activity and, with it, a collapse of companies, not just their earnings. Expansion of central bank balance sheets is not going to do anything to help that, unless it is just banks we are again worried about saving.What is needed in current circumstances, are steps to make each of us believe with high confidence that, if we take the advice from our medical experts, especially if we self-isolate and deliberately restrict our personal incomes, then we will have this made good by our governments. In essence, we need smart, persuasive People’s QE.Having discussed the idea with a couple of economic experts, there are considerable difficulties with moving beyond the simple concept. In the US for example, I believe the Federal Reserve is legally constrained from pursuing a direct transfer of cash to individuals or companies, and this may be true elsewhere.But this is easily surmounted by fiscal authorities issuing a special bond, the proceeds of which could be transferred to individuals and business owners. And central banks could easily finance such bonds.It is also the case that such a step would encroach on the perception and actuality of central bank independence, but I would be among those that argue central banks can only operate this independence if done wisely. Others will argue that, in the spirit of the equality debate, any income support should be targeted towards those on very low incomes, while higher earners or large businesses, shouldn’t be given any, or very little.I can sympathise with such spirit, but this also ignores the centrality of this particular economic shock. All of our cafes and restaurants, and many of our airlines, and such are at genuine risk of not being able to survive, and these organisations are considerable employers of people on income.It is also the case that time is of the essence, and we need our policymakers to act as soon as possible, otherwise the transmission mechanisms, including those about the permanent operation of our post World War 2 form of life may be challenged.We need some kind of smart People’s QE now. Full Article
me The G20’s Pandemic Moment By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:57:35 +0000 24 March 2020 Jim O'Neill Chair, Chatham House The planned emergency meeting of the G20 leaders could be the beginning of smart, thoughtful, collective steps to get beyond this challenging moment in history. 2020-03-24-COVID-Vaccine A researcher works on a vaccine against coronavirus COVID-19 at the Copenhagen University research lab. Photo by THIBAULT SAVARY/AFP via Getty Images. Having chaired the independent (and global) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Review for David Cameron, I know a similar approach should have been taken quickly about COVID-19.Similar not in precise nature but - in so far as incorporating infectious disease modelling, and using economic analysis to try to contain and solve it - it should be applied in parallel.The AMR Review is well-known for highlighting the potential loss of life as well as the economic costs of an escalating growth of resistance to antimicrobials, and the inaction to prevent it.In particular we showed that, by 2050, there could be around 10 million people each year dying from AMR, and an accumulated $100trn economic cost to the world from 2015 to 2050.Horrendous outcomesWhat is less focused on, as we showed in our final report, is that to prevent these horrendous outcomes, a 'mere' $42bn would need to be invested globally. This would give an investment return of something like 2,000%.I shudder to think what policymakers could do if we don’t make these investments and we reach a situation - possibly accelerated itself by escalating the inappropriate use of antibiotics in this COVID-19 crisis - where we run out of useful antibiotics. It will be a much longer time period to find new vaccines to beat COVID-19.In addition to this crisis, requiring G20 policymakers to back up their generous words about combatting AMR would mean they need to spend around $10bn instigating the generally agreed Market Incentive Awards to promote serious efforts by pharmaceutical companies.In fact, given that the financial crisis we are also now in means companies are greatly dependent on our governments for their future survival, perhaps the pharma Industry will finally understand the real world concept of 'Pay or Play', where companies that don’t try to find new antibiotics are taxed to provide the pool of money for others that are bold enough to try. And realise there is a world coming of different risk-rewards for all, including them.When applied to the COVID-19 challenge, it is useful to look at the required investment in accelerating as much as possible the efforts to find useful vaccines to beat it, but also to immediately introduce the therapeutics and diagnostics in countries that are so poorly prepared.Those Asian countries affected early include a number that seem to have coped so far in keeping the crisis to a minimum because they had the appropriate therapeutics and diagnostics, despite not having vaccines. A sum of approximately $10 bn from the G20 would be sufficient to cover all these vital areas.Now consider the economics of social distancing. As soon as it became apparent that our policymakers were heeding the Chinese method of trying to suppress COVID-19, it was immediately obvious that our economies would - at least for a short period - sustain the collapse of GDP that China self-imposed in February. From industrial production and other regular monthly data, the Chinese economy has declined by around 20%.It is quite likely many other economies - probably each of the G7 countries - will experience something not too dissimilar in March. And, to stop our complex democracies from further immediate pressure including social disharmony, governments in many countries have needed to undertake dramatic unconventional steps.Here in the UK, our new chancellor effectively had three budgets within less than a fortnight. And outside of the £330bn loan policy he has announced, at least £50bn worth of economic stimulus has been announced.Many other G20 countries have undertaken their own versions of what I call 'People’s QE', many of them bigger packages - the US appears to be contemplating a stimulus as much as $2 trillion.But, for the sake of illustration, if the UK package were the price for three months social distancing and this was repeated across the G20, then the total cost for all G20 countries - adjusted for relative size - would be in the vicinity of $1trillion.If this isn’t accompanied by steps involving the best therapeutics and diagnostics, and we have to keep everyone isolated for one year, it would become at least $4trillion.This may be 'back of the envelope' calculations which ignores the almost inevitable challenges for social cohesion in so many nations. But the G20 must spend something around $10bn immediately to put in absolute best standards all over the world, and another $10 bn to kickstart the market for new antibiotics.This is a version of an article that first appeared in Project Syndicate. Full Article
me Let's Emerge From COVID-19 with Stronger Health Systems By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Mar 2020 09:33:28 +0000 26 March 2020 Robert Yates Director, Global Health Programme; Executive Director, Centre for Universal Health @yates_rob Heads of state should grasp the opportunity to become universal health heroes to strengthen global health security 2020-03-26-Health-Protest A "Big Insurance: Sick of It" rally in New York City. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images. As the COVID-19 pandemic presents the greatest threat to human health in over a century, people turn to their states to resolve the crisis and protect their health, their livelihoods and their future well-being.How leaders perform and respond to the pandemic is likely to define their premiership - and this therefore presents a tremendous opportunity to write themselves into the history books as a great leader, rescuing their people from a crisis. Just as Winston Churchill did in World War Two.Following Churchill’s advice to “never let a good crisis go to waste”, if leaders take decisive action now, they may emerge from the COVID-19 crisis as a national hero. What leaders must do quickly is to mitigate the crisis in a way which has a demonstrable impact on people’s lives.Given the massive shock caused by the pandemic to economies across the world, it is not surprising that heads of state and treasury ministers have implemented enormous economic stimulus packages to protect businesses and jobs – this was to be expected and has been welcome.National heroes can be madeBut, in essence, this remains primarily a health crisis. And one obvious area for leaders to act rapidly is strengthening their nation’s health system to stop the spread of the virus and successfully treat those who have fallen sick. It is perhaps here that leaders have the most to gain - or lose - and where national heroes can be made.This is particularly the case in countries with weak and inequitable health systems, where the poor and vulnerable often fail to access the services they need. One major practical action that leaders can implement immediately is to launch truly universal, publicly-financed health reforms to cover their entire population – not only for COVID-19 services but for all services.This would cost around 1-2% GDP in the short-term but is perfectly affordable in the current economic climate, given some of the massive fiscal stimuluses already being planned (for example, the UK is spending 15% GDP to tackle COVID-19).Within one to two years, this financing would enable governments to implement radical supply side reforms including scaling up health workforces, increasing the supply of essential medicines, diagnostics and vaccines and building new infrastructure. It would also enable them to remove health service user fees which currently exclude hundreds of millions of people worldwide from essential healthcare. Worldwide these policies have proven to be effective, efficient, equitable and extremely popular.And there is plenty of precedent for such a move. Universal health reform is exactly what political leaders did in the UK, France and Japan as post-conflict states emerging from World War Two. It is also the policy President Kagame launched in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda, as did Prime Minister Thaksin in Thailand after the Asian Financial Crisis in 2002, and the Chinese leadership did following the SARS crisis, also in 2003.In China’s case, reform involved re-socialising the health financing system using around 2% GDP in tax financing to increase health insurance coverage from a low level of one-third right up to 96% of the population.All these universal health coverage (UHC) reforms delivered massive health and economic benefits to the people - just what is needed now to tackle COVID-19 - and tremendous political benefits to the leaders that implemented them.When considering the current COVID-19 crisis, this strategy would be particularly relevant for countries underperforming on health coverage and whose health systems are more likely to be overwhelmed if flooded with a surge of patients, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia and most of sub-Saharan Africa, where many governments spend less than 1% of their GDP on health and most people have to buy services over the counter.But also the two OECD countries without a universal health system – the United States and Ireland – are seeing the threat of COVID-19 already fuelling the debate about the need to create national, publicly-financed health system. And the presidents of South Africa, Kenya and Indonesia have already committed their governments to eventually reach full population coverage anyway, and so may use this crisis to accelerate their own universal reforms. Although difficult to predict which leaders are likely to grasp the opportunity, if some of these countries now fast-track nationwide UHC, at least something good will be coming from the crisis, something which will benefit their people forever. And ensuring everyone accesses the services they need, including public health and preventive services, also provides the best protection against any future outbreaks becoming epidemics.Every night large audiences are tuning in to press briefings fronted by their heads of state hungry for the latest update on the crisis and to get reassurance that their government’s strategy will bring the salvation they desperately need. To truly improve health security for people across the world, becoming UHC heroes could be the best strategic decision political leaders ever make. Full Article
me Emerging Lessons From COVID-19 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Apr 2020 14:49:54 +0000 2 April 2020 Jim O'Neill Chair, Chatham House Exploring what lessons can be learned from the crisis to improve society and the functioning of our economic model going forward. 2020-04-02-COVID-Italy A man with a protective mask by the Coliseum in Rome during the height of Italy's COVID-19 epidemic. Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images. As tentative evidence emerges that Italy and Spain may have reached - or are close to - the peak of the curve, this could demonstrate that not only can Asian countries get to grips with COVID-19, but so can western democracies. And, if so, this offers a path for the rest of us.The last few weeks does demonstrate there is a role for governments to intervene in society, whether it be health, finance or any walk of life, as they have had to implement social distancing. Some have been forced, and the interventions are almost definitely only temporary, but perhaps some others may be less so.Governments of all kinds now realise there is a connection between our health system quality and our economic capability. On an index of global economic sustainability that I presided over creating when I was at Goldman Sachs, the top ten best performing countries on growth environment scores includes eight of the best performing ten countries - so far- in handling the crisis in terms of deaths relative to their population.Health system qualityThe top three on the index (last calculated in 2014) were Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea, all of which are exemplary to the rest of us on how to deal with this mess. This suggests that once we are through this crisis, a number of larger populated countries - and their international advisors such as the IMF - might treat the quality of countries' health systems just as importantly as many of the other more standard indicators in assessing ability to deal with shocks.Policymakers have also been given a rather stark warning about other looming health disasters, especially antimicrobial resistance, of which antibiotic resistance lies at the heart. An independent review I chaired recommended 29 interventions, requiring $42 bn worth of investment, essentially peanuts compared to the costs of no solution, and the current economic collapse from COVID-19. It would seem highly likely to me that policymakers are going to treat this more seriously now.As a clear consequence of the - hopefully, temporary - global economic collapse, our environment suddenly seems to be cleaner and fresher and, in this regard, we have bought some time in the battle against climate change. Surely governments are going to be able to have a bigger influence on fossil fuel extractors and intense users as we emerge from this crisis?For any industries requiring government support, the government can make it clear this is dependent on certain criteria. And surely the days of excessive use of share buy backs and extreme maximisation of profit at the expense of other goals, are over?It seems to me an era of 'optimisation' of a number of business goals is likely to be the mantra, including profits but other things too such as national equality especially as it relates to income. Here in the UK, the government has offered its strongest fiscal support to the lower end of the income earning range group and, in a single swoop, has presided over its most dramatic step towards narrowing income inequality for a long time.This comes on top of a period of strong initiatives to support higher levels of minimum earnings, meaning we will emerge later in 2020, into 2021, and beyond, with lower levels of income inequality.The geographic issue of rural versus urban is also key. COVID-19 has spread more easily in more tightly packed cities such as London, New York and many others. More geographically remote places, by definition, are better protected. Perhaps now there will be some more thought given by policymakers to the quality and purpose of life outside our big metropolitan areas.Lastly, will China emerge from this crisis by offering a mammoth genuine gesture to the rest of the world, and come up, with, unlike, in 2008, a fiscal stimulus to its own consumers, that is geared towards importing a lot of things from the rest of the world? Now that would be good way of bringing the world back together again.This is a version of an article originally published in The Article Full Article