The study reports from an on-going study of tenants' view on energy retrofit. The first results, which are based on 27 qualitative interviews show a generally positive attitude to energy saving and ...environmental protection. However, many tenants are not familiar with the link between energy use and energy retrofit, and the idea of energy saving might oppose to the actual willingness to contribute. One important lesson from these preliminary results is that the project owners have overlooked the importance of informing the tenants about the energy retrofit and what measures that are implemented. This leaves the tenants to their own interpretation of the matter and in some examples a negative image is created. In order to transition from the idea of personal benefit from energy retrofit to a larger responsibility and willingness to participate to society at large, we suggest that tenants are invited to discuss energy retrofit and that they are properly informed about implemented energy saving measures.
Residential movement and displacement as an effect of renovation has earned attention and also affected renovation practices in Sweden. While statistical studies have linked deep renovation to ...residential movement and displacement, there are no recent studies that investigate why people move or remain in housing areas that are renovated, and if and how the relocation is determined by the renovation. A pilot study was initiated as a means to develop a methodology to study residential movement in connection to renovation. In this paper, methodological considerations are discussed based on 31 interviews (face-to-face and telephone) with movers related to 34 municipally owned rented housing areas about to undergo renovation, as well results from a questionnaire sent to two finalised renovation projects (N=113). So far, the pilot study indicate that few relocations can be linked to the up-coming or finalised renovation in the studies cases. The questionnaire that was sent out to remaining tenants had a low response rate of 29%, and the efficiency of using questionnaires is discussed.
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) causes 25% of neonatal deaths worldwide. Rocha-Ferreira et al. demonstrate that a diabetes drug protects the neonatal brain in a model of acute HIE, and confirm ...that the required receptor is found in human perinatal brain tissue. Synergistic combination with clinical hypothermia enhances therapy, supporting potential translation.
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy remains a global health burden. Despite medical advances and treatment with therapeutic hypothermia, over 50% of cooled infants are not protected and still develop lifelong neurodisabilities, including cerebral palsy. Furthermore, hypothermia is not used in preterm cases or low resource settings. Alternatives or adjunct therapies are urgently needed. Exendin-4 is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus that has also demonstrated neuroprotective properties, and is currently being tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Therefore, we hypothesized a neuroprotective effect for exendin-4 in neonatal neurodisorders, particularly in the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Initially, we confirmed that the glucagon like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) was expressed in the human neonatal brain and in murine neurons at postnatal Day 7 (human equivalent late preterm) and postnatal Day 10 (term). Using a well characterized mouse model of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury, we investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of exendin-4 in both postnatal Day 7 and 10 mice. An optimal exendin-4 treatment dosing regimen was identified, where four high doses (0.5 µg/g) starting at 0 h, then at 12 h, 24 h and 36 h after postnatal Day 7 hypoxic-ischaemic insult resulted in significant brain neuroprotection. Furthermore, neuroprotection was sustained even when treatment using exendin-4 was delayed by 2 h post hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury. This protective effect was observed in various histopathological markers: tissue infarction, cell death, astrogliosis, microglial and endothelial activation. Blood glucose levels were not altered by high dose exendin-4 administration when compared to controls. Exendin-4 administration did not result in adverse organ histopathology (haematoxylin and eosin) or inflammation (CD68). Despite initial reduced weight gain, animals restored weight gain following end of treatment. Overall high dose exendin-4 administration was well tolerated. To mimic the clinical scenario, postnatal Day 10 mice underwent exendin-4 and therapeutic hypothermia treatment, either alone or in combination, and brain tissue loss was assessed after 1 week. Exendin-4 treatment resulted in significant neuroprotection alone, and enhanced the cerebroprotective effect of therapeutic hypothermia. In summary, the safety and tolerance of high dose exendin-4 administrations, combined with its neuroprotective effect alone or in conjunction with clinically relevant hypothermia make the repurposing of exendin-4 for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy particularly promising.
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