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Domestic violence experiences of Asian Indian marriage migrants are unique due to an interplay of distinct aspects of their life contexts in the United States, such as immigration status, language barriers, and social support. What gaps exist in state-level policies to address the needs and concerns of abused Asian Indian marriage migrants? This research examines the question with interviews of 11 nonprofit sector professionals working closely with Asian Indian women across five states – California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina. The findings indicate that five critical areas of policy interventions profoundly impact the experiences of abused Asian Indian marriage migrants as they begin their journey to live independently of the abuser. Examining the strengths and weaknesses of these policies highlights that future holistic interventions should be strengthened to support the creation of a safe and protective environment for abused Asian Indian marriage migrants to navigate their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to examine the mechanism of the adipose tissue inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in endotoxemia. Male Sprague-dawley rats were injected with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to increase the iNOS messenger RNA and protein levels of the white and brown adipose tissues. Results suggest that LPS treatment has significantly increased iNOS activity and expression in both the white and brow adipose tissues.

Using interviews of 26 nonprofit domestic violence advocates, this article analyzes how South Asian-focused nonprofit organizations in the United States address the domestic violence-related intersectional needs of Asian Indian marriage migrants and the challenges they encounter in doing so. Our research indicates that these organizations offer services addressing a combination of structural and cultural needs that emerge from their clients' social locations, but these organizations also encounter challenges in providing services targeting the specific subgroups of Asian Indian marriage migrants. To meet the intersectional needs of clients, there should be greater coalition-building within and between Asian Indian-focused and mainstream organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is believed that the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is implicated in the metabolic perturbations associated with both sepsis and obesity (metabolic endotoxemia). Here we examined the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in skeletal muscle insulin resistance using LPS challenge in rats and mice as in vivo models of endotoxemia. Methodology/Principal Findings: Pharmacological (aminoguanidine) and genetic strategies (iNOS-/- mice) were used to counter iNOS induction in vivo. In vitro studies using peroxynitrite (ONOO-) or inhibitors of the iNOS pathway, 1400 W and EGCG were conducted in L6 myocytes to determine the mechanism by which iNOS mediates LPS-dependent insulin resistance. In vivo, both pharmacological and genetic invalidation of iNOS prevented LPS-induced muscle insulin resistance. Inhibition of iNOS also prevented insulin resistance in myocytes exposed to cytokine/LPS while exposure of myocytes to ONOO- fully reproduced the inhibitory effect of cytokine/LPS on both insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and PI3K activity. Importantly, LPS treatment in vivo and iNOS induction and ONOO2 treatment in vitro promoted tyrosine nitration of IRS-1 and reduced insulin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation. Conclusions/Significance: Our work demonstrates that iNOS-mediated tyrosine nitration of IRS-1 is a key mechanism of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in endotoxemia, and presents nitrosative modification of insulin signaling proteins as a novel therapeutic target for combating muscle insulin resistance in inflammatory settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is an attempt to investigate gender differences on need for power and values and also examines the relationship between need for power and values. Five hundred college going students (250 males and 250 females) comprised the sample of this study. The Thematic Apperception Test and Study Of Values were used to assess need for power and values among students. The comparison of means reveals significant gender differences on need for power, male students have significantly scored higher on need for power than females. The pattern of values also differs significantly for male and female students, male students emphasize more on theoretical and political values whereas female students give more priority to social and religious values. The correlational analysis reveals insignificant relationship between need for power and values for male students, however significant positive relationship between need for power and economic values and negative relationship with political values has been obtained for female students, which implies that women high in need for power are more practical in nature and less interested in political power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using blood spots collected by finger sticks and dried on filter paper for measuring Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) by a new method to assess long term glycemic control. Blood spots offer advantages of short collection time, low invasiveness, reduction of sample volume, ability to obtain repeated measures and ease of sample storage. Methods: Forty subjects contributed a blood spot sample from a finger stick and a blood sample through venipuncture. The blood spots obtained from finger sticks on a filter paper were air-dried for 4 hours at room temperature after collection. Using an automated dried blood spot (DBS) puncher, 6.0 mm blood disks were obtained for testing and rehydrated in assay buffer. All samples were tested in parallel. Samples were evaluated for the presence of HbA1C using conventional commercial kits based on an immuno-turbidimetric assay in whole blood modified for use in dried blood spots. Results: A positive correlation (R²= 0.93) was found in HbA1c levels from the blood spot and whole blood samples. The HbA1c levels obtained from blood spots (5.41 ± 1.06%; Assay range 3.36%- 12.02%) were similar to those derived from whole blood samples (5.44 ± 1.68%; Assay range 4.92%-12.29%). The extracted samples showed good stability for 8 days when stored at 4°C. The between assay CV ranged between 5.25%- 14.79% and the within run variation was between 4.28%- 10.33%. Conclusion: We conclude that in our assay, HbA1c levels obtained from blood spot samples correlate well with values obtained from standard whole blood assays. The design of the assay and nature of the samples also make this method suitable for screening programs that consist of self-sampling for better management of chronic glycemia and its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with conditions of inflammation, insulin resistance and obesity are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Components of cardio-metabolic and metabolic syndrome have been reported to correlate with increased levels of insulin and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein. Evaluation of fasting blood insulin, C-reactive protein and triglycerides in dried blood spot may help patients and their physicians plan an intervention program against related risk factors. Patients and Methods: Fifty individuals with ages ranging from 10 to 68 years responded to an advertisement asking for volunteers for a study to evaluate the metabolic syndrome wellness program. Only overweight individuals were asked to reply. After giving informed consent and having the protocol of the study explained, volunteers submitted a finger stick blood sample that was tested for fasting blood insulin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and triglycerides. The premise of the study was to use the fasting blood insulin as a measure of an individual's insulin resistance. Results: Nineteen individuals with clinical manifestations of metabolic syndrome had fasting blood insulin levels less than 8 and were considered to have normal insulin resistance. The majority of these individuals had significant weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds before entering the wellness program. Significant findings from this study were elevations of the hs-CRP. This was also true for the individuals who had apparently regained normal insulin sensitivity by exercise and weight loss. A relationship was also noted between lower hs CRP and eating four helpings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Conclusions: One might hypothesize that glycated proteins from previously elevated insulin levels resulted in a continuing inflammation or immune problem. If possible we will try to determine if glyconutrients might tend to normalize the hs-C-reactive protein. The next phase of this study will be to correlate the volunteers' new information about the factors causing insulin resistance and their ability to change nutrition and lifestyle to reverse the increased health risks of metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High levels of insulin and lipids following a meal are recognized risk factors for atherosclerosis. Monitoring such risk factors in the general population is hampered by the inconvenience of venipuncture blood collection, particularly for both premeal and postmeal analyses. This study examined insulin and triglyceride levels in dried blood spots (DBSs) collected after different breakfast meal challenges to assess the potential of this method for risk assessment., Methods: Glucose levels were measured using a glucose meter, and insulin and triglycerides were determined in DBS samples collected from 19 healthy volunteers before and at four time points up to 2.5 h after consuming each of five typical breakfast meals varying in nutritional composition., Results: At 2 h, glucose was within normal postprandial values (<140 mg/dl) for all meals; significantly lower glucose was seen after meal 2 (the lowest carbohydrate content) compared to the other meals. Insulin returned to normal fasting levels (<15 microIU/ml) in significantly more subjects (90%) after meal 2 and significantly fewer subjects (31%) after meal 4 (highest carbohydrate content) than the other meals. Triglycerides were elevated to a similar extent in all subjects, with no significant differences between meals; levels were still rising at 2.5 h., Conclusions: Subjects were able to collect blood spots with minimum disruption to their normal daily activities. Relative ease of collection, analyte stability in dried blood, and the close correlation with serum levels that we have previously demonstrated makes DBS a convenient and simple tool for assessing the individual impact of different diets on postprandial dysmetabolism., ((c) 2010 Diabetes Technology Society.)