Local Currency Systems in Community Development or too Much Mngwotngwotiki is Bad for You

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Local Currencies in Community Development or Too Much Mngwotngwotiki Is Bad For You

This useful resource guide for trainers and community activists discusses alternative currencies as part of creating alternative economic systems at the local level. The guide includes a case study of HOURS in Ithaca, New York and a discussion of the scripts and LETS alternative currency systems and their usefulness to community-development. The Tangu people of New Guinea have a word for what occurs between people when they temporarily suspend their sense of obligation to one another. It is mngwotngwotiki (pronounced nig-what-gwoh-teekee). This study of local currency systems counters too much mngwotngwotiki by offering a concrete way to develop a sense of care and mutual obligation that forms the cornerstone of healthy communities. In Local Currencies in Community Development, Savdie and Cohen-Mitchell have made an important contribution to the literature on local currency systems by clearly situating their study within the context of community development. An overview and history of alternative currency systems by clearly situating their study within the context of community development. An overview and history of alternative currency systems, along with an engaging case study of HOURS in Ithaca, New York and a look at related critical issues such as gender, poverty and ideological diversity make this book a valuable resource for practitioners and educators committed to community development from the ground up

Using prognosis to guide inclusion criteria, define standardised endpoints and stratify follow-up in active surveillance for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To test whether using disease prognosis can inform a rational approach to active surveillance (AS) for early prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We previously developed the Cambridge Prognostics Groups (CPG) classification, a five-tiered model that uses prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Grade Group and Stage to predict cancer survival outcomes. We applied the CPG model to a UK and a Swedish prostate cancer cohort to test differences in prostate cancer mortality (PCM) in men managed conservatively or by upfront treatment in CPG2 and 3 (which subdivides the intermediate-risk classification) vs CPG1 (low-risk). We then applied the CPG model to a contemporary UK AS cohort, which was optimally characterised at baseline for disease burden, to identify predictors of true prognostic progression. Results were re-tested in an external AS cohort from Spain. RESULTS: In a UK cohort (n = 3659) the 10-year PCM was 2.3% in CPG1, 1.5%/3.5% in treated/untreated CPG2, and 1.9%/8.6% in treated/untreated CPG3. In the Swedish cohort (n = 27 942) the10-year PCM was 1.0% in CPG1, 2.2%/2.7% in treated/untreated CPG2, and 6.1%/12.5% in treated/untreated CPG3. We then tested using progression to CPG3 as a hard endpoint in a modern AS cohort (n = 133). During follow-up (median 3.5 years) only 6% (eight of 133) progressed to CPG3. Predictors of progression were a PSA density ≥0.15 ng/mL/mL and CPG2 at diagnosis. Progression occurred in 1%, 8% and 21% of men with neither factor, only one, or both, respectively. In an independent Spanish AS cohort (n = 143) the corresponding rates were 3%, 10% and 14%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Using disease prognosis allows a rational approach to inclusion criteria, discontinuation triggers and risk-stratified management in AS

A Retrospective Cohort Study on Obesity and Hypertension Risk among Korean Adults

A retrospective cohort of adult Korean males and females was conducted to evaluate the influence of obesity on the development of hypertension and to determine the level of the body mass index at which the risk of hypertension significantly increases. The subjects of this study were 1,467 men and 944 women aged 20 to 75 yr who were normotensive at the time of their initial examinations from 1990 to 1991, who had a follow-up examination at least 1 yr after their initial examinations, or whose blood pressure status could be confirmed by reviewing their medical records until June 2000. During an average follow-up period of 6.2 yr, 234 new cases of hypertension were identified. An analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model showed that the risk of developing hypertension increased with increasing age, body mass index, and amount of daily alcohol consumption in men; and with increasing age and body mass index in women. Comparing men and women whose body mass indices were smaller than 23 kg/m2, the relative risks of hypertension were 2.56 times greater in men and 3.17 times greater in women, whose body mass indices were greater than 27 kg/m2. Our study confirmed that obesity is a strong risk factor for hypertension among Korean adults. In addition, high alcohol consumption may be a significant risk factor for men

Passive Exposure to Pollutants from a New Generation of Cigarettes in Real Life Scenarios

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT), as popular nicotine delivery systems (NDS), has increased among adult demographics. This study aims to assess the effects on indoor air quality of traditional tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and new smoking alternatives, to determine the differences between their potential impacts on human health. Measurements of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10), black carbon, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were performed in two real life scenarios, in the home and in the car. The results indicated that the particle emissions from the different NDS devices were significantly different. In the home and car, the use of TCs resulted in higher PM10 and ultrafine particle concentrations than when e-cigarettes were smoked, while the lowest concentrations were associated with HNBT. As black carbon and CO are released by combustion processes, the concentrations of these two pollutants were significantly lower for e-cigarettes and HNBT because no combustion occurs when they are smoked. CO2 showed no increase directly associated with the NDS but a trend linked to a higher respiration rate connected with smoking. The results showed that although the levels of pollutants emitted by e-cigarettes and HNBT are substantially lower compared to those from TCs, the new smoking devices are still a source of indoor air pollutants

Characterization of the cellular and molecular determinants for the internalization of the high affinity neurotensin receptor

Neurotensin is a thirteen amino acid peptide that is found both in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the CNS, it controls the synthesis and release of dopamine, modulates anterior pituitary hormone secretion, and provides non-opioid-receptor-dependent analgesia. In the gut, it modulates gastric acid secretion, pancreatic secretion, and colonic motility. In the immune system, it modulates IL-1 and mast cell secretion and stimulates macrophage phagocytosis. Neurotensin also acts as a growth factor for normal and cancer cells. Neurotensin mediates its effects through three neurotensin receptors: NTR1, NTR2, and NTR3. NTR1 and NTR2 belong to the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, while NTR3 is a single transmembrane receptor identical to sortilin. NTR1 has the highest affinity for neurotensin (Kd of 0.1--0.3 nM). Internalization of GPCRs, including NTR1 and NTR2, was shown to play an important role in initiating signaling activity as well as in desensitizing and resensitizing the receptors.In this study, the internalization of the NTR1 was investigated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.