text:
Close Chapter 1 sections
1.0 About us
1.1 Key business segments
1.2 Global reach
1.3 Performance highlights 2018
2.1 CEO Statement
3.0 Our business
3.1 Car-as-a-Service
3.2 CarNext.com
3.3 Our organisation
3.4 LeasePlan Bank
4.1 The Car-as-a-Service market
4.2 The CarNext.com landscape
5.1 Our strategy
6.1 Our people priorities
6.2 Diversity and inclusion
6.3 Highlight
7.1 Our sustainability strategy
7.2 Materiality
7.3 CSR governance
7.4 Supply chain and clients
7.5 Highlights
Financial and business reviews
8.1 Financial performance 2018
9.1 Lines of defence
9.2 Risk appetite
9.4 Privacy and compliance
Close Chapter 10 sections
10.0 Introduction
10.1 Tex Gunning
10.2 Yolanda Paulissen
10.3 Franca Vossen
10.4 Jos Streppel
10.5 Steven van Schilfgaarde
10.6 Manjit Dale
10.7 Allegra Cristina Carla van Hövell-Patrizi
10.8 Herta von Stiegel
10.9 Eric-Jan Boudewijn Vink
10.10 Ada van der Veer – Vergeer
10.11 Stefan Orlowski
Chairman of the Supervisory Board statement
11.1 Chairman of the Supervisory Board statement
Report from the Supervisory Board
12.2 Assuring Supervision quality
12.3 Supervisory activities
12.4 Supervision: topics discussed
12.5 Composition and reporting by committees
14.1 Shareholders
14.2 Governance structure
14.3 Statement of the Managing Board
14.4 Background and explanation
15.0 Financial statements
15.1 Glossary
15.1 Other information
LeasePlan Annual Report 2018
Financial and business review
Download Chapter 12
This report contains an overview of the activities of the Supervisory Board and its committees in 2018. A description of the composition and operation of the Supervisory Board is set out in this report and in the chapter on governance.
Profile and composition of the Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board of LeasePlan has been composed to warrant proper execution of the function of the Board and its committees. Its size and composition are attuned to the nature and characteristics of the business as well as the required expertise and background of each member.
In 2018, the Supervisory Board consisted of Mr J.B.M. Streppel (Chairman), Mr S. van Schilfgaarde, Mr M. Dale, Mr S. Orlowski (until 21 March) and Mr E.J.B. Vink, Ms H. von Stiegel and Ms A.P.M. van der Veer – Vergeer (until 22 October). On 21 March 2018, Mrs. A. van Hövell-Patrizi was appointed to replace Mr. S Orlowski, who stepped down the same day.
All members of the Supervisory Board perform their duties independently and critically. In the event of a conflict of interest with regard to a particular topic, the Supervisory Board member in question may not participate in discussions or decision-making on that topic. Five members are independent (two of which were appointed following the specific right of recommendation by the Works Councils) and two are associated with the consortium of shareholders.
The members of the Supervisory Board have a diverse and balanced mix of knowledge, skills, and expertise, in line with the required profiles.
The Supervisory Board aims to ensure that its members represent a good balance in terms of diversity (including nationality, gender, and area of expertise) to warrant proper supervision of the overall management of the Group by the Managing Board.
Responsibilities of the Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board supervises the policies of the Managing Board and the general conduct of affairs of LeasePlan and its Group companies.
In its role, it acts as an advisory partner to the Managing Board in determining the company's strategic direction.
Regular topics for discussion and, where necessary, approval, are the annual and quarterly financial statements, operating and financial performance, organisation and people, strategy, funding, potential acquisitions and major investments, objectives, business plans, budgets, IT infrastructure, risk management, risk appetite, governance, internal controls, and any other organisational developments of the business.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is in close contact with the Chairman of the Managing Board. There are close relations with the Works Councils, not only safeguarded by the two Supervisory Board members who were appointed following the specific right of recommendation of the Works Councils, but also through direct and regular contacts from the Chairman of the Supervisory Board with the Works Councils. The Chairman of the Managing Board and the Company Secretary ensure that the members of the Supervisory Board receive timely and clear information on all relevant matters. LeasePlan's internal Control functions have direct access to the Chairmen of the relevant committee or Supervisory Board, as applicable.
Certain resolutions of the Managing Board, specified in the Articles of Association of LeasePlan and in the Managing Board regulations, are subject to approval by the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board may discuss and, where necessary, approve certain decisions by way of written resolutions outside of the scheduled meetings.
Terms of appointment of members of the Supervisory Board
Members of the Supervisory Board are appointed for a maximum term of four years and may be reappointed following the expiry of the first term.
01. Assuring supervision quality
The members of the Supervisory Board take part in the Lifelong Learning (LLL) programme during the year. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board decides on the contents of the Supervisory Board's LLL, with the aim of maintaining and, where necessary, improving the expertise of the Supervisory Board members at the standards that are generally imposed.
The learning programme covers relevant developments in the company and corporate governance as well as specific topics relating to the financial sector, integrity, risk management, financial reporting and audits.
Assessment of the Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board carries out an annual assessment of its own performance, its composition and effectiveness, as well as the effectiveness of the LLL programme. Every three years, the self-assessment is performed with the assistance of independent supervision by a professional party selected by the Supervisory Board. In this triennial assessment, focus lies on the evaluation of the performance of individual Supervisory Board members, the culture within the Supervisory Board and the relationship between the Supervisory Board and the Managing Board. The Supervisory Board also performs an assessment of the Managing Board and its individual members, including its LLL programme. The Supervisory Board carried out its self-assessment on 20 March 2018.
The Supervisory Board is of the opinion that it meets the required profile in terms of suitability, expertise and diversity, and also complies with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code in this respect. The Supervisory Board Chairman prioritised bilateral contacts with the other Supervisory Board members to make sure everybody had the required information and knowledge, and there have been regular discussions with the Managing Board, the consortium of (indirect) shareholders and the Works Councils.
02. Supervisory activities
Meetings of the Supervisory Board and attendance
Since February 2018, the Supervisory Board held 12 meetings.
6 February 2018 4 May 2018 11 September 2018
9 February 2018 20 July 2018 2 October 2018
20 March 2018 13 June 2018 12 November 2018
24 April 2018 3 August 2018 21 November 2018
Number of meetings
Audit committee 9
Remuneration and nomination committee 5
Remuneration committee 1
Selection and appointment committee 1
Risk committee 4
Supervisory board 12
Jos Streppel 100%
Steven Van Schilfgaarde 91.67%
Manjit Dale 83.33%
Eric-Jan Vink 100%
Herta Von Stiegel 100%
Allegra Patrizi 100% as of appointment on 21 March 2018
Ada Van Der Veer 91.67% untill resignation on 22 October 2018
Stefan Orlowski 33% untill resignation on 21 March 2018
Meetings held by the Supervisory Board in 2018
Senior management was frequently invited to make presentations on a range of topics to the Supervisory Board and its committees. Members of the Supervisory Board, the Managing Board and senior management also held relevant discussions throughout the year that were not part of the formally scheduled meetings and calls.
The combination of regular meetings / conference calls and the various informal consultations ensured that the Supervisory Board was well informed about the running of the business. The Supervisory Board additionally held several discussions among its members without members of the Managing Board being present.
03. Supervision: topics discussed
The recurring items on the quarterly agenda include the financial and commercial results, market developments, developments related to funding and liquidity (including quarterly approval of the funding framework), performance of the group companies, and risk management with a specific focus on the performance against the approved risk appetite, asset risk management, and credit risk management including approval of credit exposures above EUR 100 million.
Management of the company
The Supervisory Board is satisfied by the company's overall performance, by the successful embedding of the 'Power of One LeasePlan' initiative in the year, and which has now largely been delivered. It is also satisfied by the progress made with the implementation of the Digital LeasePlan strategy, which began last year. Digital LeasePlan represents the next stage in the company's transformation and will enable the business to deliver on its 'any car, anytime, anywhere' aspiration.
Financial reporting is discussed regularly at meetings and calls of the Supervisory Board. All interim financial statement reports and related review reports of the external auditor were discussed in the presence of the external auditor. Also the financial reporting control framework, any deficiencies and improvement actions were discussed. The Supervisory Board approved the financial statements for 2018 on 13 March 2019. KPMG acted as external auditor for the 2018 financial year. For each reappointment of the external auditor the Audit Committee will make a recommendation for the year under review in their March meeting, which will then be decided upon during the General Meeting of Shareholders.
The Legal Function, reporting directly to the CEO, has continued to evolve rapidly to keep pace with the changing needs of the business by becoming a strategic partner and business enabler. Legal is working to ensure its team members have the necessary skills to manage the transition from being the sole source of legal services to one in which they are managing an ecosystem of legal service providers. These services will be underpinned by innovative technology processes and solutions.
Recent developments in the global legal function include:
The launch and ongoing development of several legal tech solutions, such as a global litigation tracking tool, new global online corporate housekeeping tool, e-signing capabilities, smart contracting and a global One Legal sharepoint communication platform
New team dedicated to digital, technology and intellectual property providing focused support on all technology and intellectual property initiatives and supporting a digital customer journey across the LeasePlan group
Cross jurisdictional (EU) harmonisation of contract terms for international product offering
Appointment of a dedicated competition law expert acting as LeasePlan's global competition lead, further enhancing LeasePlan's competition compliance framework and awareness
Updating various policies and charters, including the Legal Charter, the Dawn Raid Policy and the Global Signing Authority Policy
Appointment of an employment law specialist supporting HR in its global and central initiatives and developments
Supporting the 'Power of One' Legal 2.0; and ongoing dialogue across Group Legal and the local legal teams
As LeasePlan complies with the Banking Code, thorough attention is paid to discussions with the DNB and its requirements. The SREP letter and outcome are discussed, also by representatives of the Supervisory Board directly with DNB.
In 2018 the Risk Organisation continued its transition from a decentralised to a centralised organisation by implementing a new Risk Charter. Most notable changes included in the Risk Charter are in the risk governance (at Group level as well as at entity level), changes in the structure and set up of the risk committees, and the formal introduction of LeasePlan's Risk Management Cycle and Risk Decision Framework. In addition, a new policy framework was developed and implemented. An integrated in control framework project was started to align and optimise the various control frameworks. The information security strategy was revised which also resulted in a new target operating model. And as part of its business as usual tasks the Risk Organisation concentrated on ensuring the company's timely readiness for upcoming regulatory changes and contributed to many business and digital initiatives.
Privacy & compliance
The Privacy & Compliance function began working as a single global team in 2018 and its primary focus was on GDPR readiness. In addition, it addressed other key risk areas including fraud, money laundering/terrorist financing/sanctions and insurance compliance (IDD) and continued to strengthen its overall effectiveness. Measures taken included; implementing a new Anti-bribery and anti-corruption policy with new KPIs/KRIs and monitoring plan; conducting a Global Integrity Survey; updating a Compliance Risk Assessment; appointing a DPO to the Group Privacy Office and an anti-money laundering officer; and updating several policies and governance-related documents, including the Privacy & Compliance charter/framework, the Code of Conduct, the whistleblowing policy and multiple polices for privacy requirements.
04. Composition and reporting by committees
In order to enhance the efficiency of its work, the Supervisory Board has in Q4 of 2018 split the Remuneration and Nomination Committee into two, resulting in a total of four committees instead of three: the Audit Committee; the Risk Committee; the Nomination Committee and the Selection and Appointment Committee.
Each committee prepares the Supervisory Board's decision-making in its designated area of interest. The Supervisory Board remains fully responsible, however, for the decisions prepared by these committees.
Each Supervisory Board member is entitled to attend the committee meetings, and receives the minutes of each committee meeting and, if so desired, all documentation. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board regularly attends the Audit Committee meetings as a guest.
The Audit Committee (AC) met nine times during the year. In addition to re-occurring items, such as the yearly assessment of internal audit function, the LeasePlan Group control measures, and the financials, the AC discussed the impact of the new (upcoming) legislation, such as IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16. The external auditor attended all meetings of the AC.
Risk Committee
There were four Risk Committee meetings in 2018. A cycle of risk-related matters is addressed with a frequency of four times during the year (and more often if so desired), with specific items to be tabled upon request, such as IT security, resourcing and Pillar III.
Remuneration and Nomination Committee
The Remuneration and Nomination Committee was divided into two committees in 2018: Selection and Appointment Committee and the Remuneration Committee. The final Remuneration and Nomination Committee meeting took place in Q3 2018. The Remuneration Committee and the Selection and Appointment Committee had their first meetings in Q4 2018.
For more information on remuneration matters please refer to the Remuneration .
Annual report and financial statements for 2018
In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Articles of Association of LeasePlan, the Supervisory Board has reviewed the annual report and the financial statements for 2018.
The Supervisory Board discussed these documents with the Managing Board and KPMG, the external auditor, and took note of the external auditor's report that it issued on the financial statements of 2018, as included as from page 90 of this report.
The Supervisory Board proposes that the shareholders adopt the financial statements and the proposed profit appropriation contained therein, and recommends the endorsement of the Managing Board's conduct and the supervision thereof as provided by the members of the Supervisory Board.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
The Supervisory Board
Jos Streppel (Chairman)
Steven van Schilfgaarde (Vice-Chairman)
Manjit Dale
Allegra van Hövell-Patrizi
Herta von Stiegel
Eric-Jan Vink
End of Chapter 12
View chapter 13
View sections: 12.0 Introduction


MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine said he would like to do one more 'Big Four' show with METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX, before SLAYER retires after one last tour.
Yesterday, SLAYER have announced that they will be doing one last tour before retiring. SLAYER have announced that one of the Big Four will join them on the North American leg of their final tour. ANTHRAX will be special guests, along with LAMB OF GOD, BEHEMOTH and TESTAMENT. Dates are yet to be announced.


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first-name: Courtney
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title: Courtney Floyd — Work in Fireside
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Courtney Floyd spent the first twenty-four years of her life living on the borders of the underworld, where she learned to write in between tarantula turf wars and apocalyptic dust storms. She now lives in Oregon with her husband, her hellhound, and an ancient cat whose skeleton she plans to articulate when it passes on to that great big paper bag in the sky.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Jennifer (Jenni) Greenspan became Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in July 2019.
She was ordained by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in May 2019. She has served as Rabbinic Intern at Adat Ari El in North Hollywood and at Congregation Beth Am in San Diego. A California native, she received her Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
She has spent many summers and weekends at Camp Ramah in Ojai engaging children, teens, and adults in Jewish learning. She has also spent six years on the planning committee for Ruach Nashim, a retreat for Jewish women to experience Shabbat, learning, and relaxation.
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Computer forensics or digital forensics is a term in computer science to acquire authorized proof present in digital media or computers storage. With digital forensic investigation, the investigator can discover what happened to the digital media akin to emails, hard disk, logs, computer system, and the network itself. In lots of case, forensic investigation can produce how the crime may happened and how we will defend ourselves in opposition to it subsequent time.
1. The unique evidence should not be altered in in any case, and to do conduct the process, forensic investigator should make a bit-stream image. Bit-stream image is a little by little copy of the unique storage medium and actual copy of the original media. The difference between a bit-stream image and regular copy of the unique storage is bit-stream image is the slack space within the storage. You'll not discover any slack area information on a copy media.
2. All forensic processes should follow the legal laws in corresponding country where the crimes happened. Each country has totally different divorce law suit in IT field. Some take IT guidelines very significantly, for example: United Kingdom, Australia.
Forensic investigators would usually trying at the timeline of how the crimes happened in well timed manner. With that, we are able to produce the crime scene about how, when, what and why crimes could happened. In a giant company, it is suggested to create a Digital Forensic Group or First Responder Workforce, so that the company could still protect the evidence until the forensic investigator come to the crime scene.
First Response guidelines are: 1. Under no circumstances ought to anybody, excluding Forensic Analyst, to make any makes an attempt to get well data from any computer system or system that holds digital information. 2. Any try and retrieve the info by individual stated in number 1, needs to be averted because it could compromise the integrity of the evidence, wherein grew to become inadmissible in authorized court.
Based on that rules, it has already defined the important roles of having a First Responder Crew in a company. The unqualified person can solely secure the perimeter so that nobody can contact the crime scene till Forensic Analyst has come (This may be completed by taking photograph of the crime scene. They'll additionally make notes concerning the scene and who were present at that time.
Steps have to be taken when a digital crimes occurred in knowledgeable method: 1. Secure the crime scene till the forensic analyst arrive.
3. Forensic Analyst make take an image of the crime scene in case of if there isn't any any photographs has been taken.
4. If the computer remains to be powered on, do not turned off the computer. As a substitute, used a forensic tools similar to Helix to get some information that may only be found when the computer is still powered on, equivalent to knowledge on RAM, and registries. Such tools has it's special function as to not write something back to the system so the integrity stay intake.
6. All of the evidences should be documented, through which chain of custody is used. Chain of Custody hold information on the proof, corresponding to: who has the proof for the last time.
7. Securing the evidence should be accompanied by legal officer akin to police as a formality.
8. Back within the lab, Forensic Analyst take the proof to create bit-stream image, as authentic proof should not be used. Normally, Forensic Analyst will create 2-5 bit-stream image in case 1 image is corrupted. In fact Chain of Custody nonetheless used on this situation to keep data of the evidence.
9. Hash of the unique evidence and bit-stream image is created. This acts as a proof that original evidence and the bit-stream image is the precise copy. So any alteration on the bit image will end in completely different hash, which makes the evidences found turn into inadmissible in court.
10. Forensic Analyst starts to find evidence within the bit-stream image by carefully trying at the corresponding location relies on what sort of crime has happened. For instance: Temporary Internet Files, Slack House, Deleted File, Steganography files.


Hopefully by now, you know that we're in the six week consultation period in which we can explore some of the details that will be included in the final application.
Previously, the profit-motivated Cleve Hill Solar Park (CHSP) developers mentioned that they wanted to include a storage facility, but were only able to provide a simplistic diagram and a brief paragraph – basically they had no idea what they were going to do.
They may or may not include this – they still haven't decided and are keeping their options open.
They still haven't decided yet whether it is batteries or something else.
Their 'candidate design' is a mega-mega battery. If you thought that Tesla's Australian project was big, wait until you see the one that CHSP are proposing – it's three times as big!
The battery storage will have an import/export facility – presumably the developers will be looking to use the storage to provide smoothing facility to the National Grid when the sun isn't shining.
They haven't decided when they're building the energy storage facility – it could be in a phase two within phase one, a phase two after phase one, or a phase two with multiple phases within it. Confused yet?
They're overclaiming the potential benefits from storage to the UK. The quoted report is about three types of innovative smart energy not just storage. To put a figure of £8 billion in their report is surely rather misleading?
Do not underestimate this part of the project – they're keeping the focus on the solar component because the public's perception of solar is good (based on the typical small solar parks that have become common-place). This part of the project is hugely industrial, massive in scale, requires lots of concrete, will need huge levels of security protection, is full of chemicals and rare-earth minerals, will need to be kept cool, and will need constant maintenance and upgrades.
Phasing of the Battery energy storage system (BESS) is due to capturing income streams gradually and connecting them all will take time.
It could be due to need to raise sufficient funds – something this big doesn't come cheap. But could also be because the technology is moving so quickly that any investment could quickly become overtaken by cheaper alternatives.
Everything about this points more clearly to the need for a former industrial site to be used for this solar farm/battery storage facility. If it needs concrete , and it does it makes a very strong case to use the Isle of Grain and Kingsnorth former power station locations. Both are large areas of contaminated land, unfit for wildlife development or housing. Both have heavy vehicle access, there is already cabling in place for 'export' of power within uk and to Europe. Can we know 'why not'? These seem to be sites looking for a suitable re-use, and there are others in uk.
The bottom line is that the location on Gaveney Marshes of any industrial development of this order is wholly inappropriate.


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Albert Roßhaupter (8 April 1878 – 14 December 1949) was a Bavarian politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and editor of several newspapers.

Biography
Roßhaupter was born in Pillnach as son of a small-scale farmer and basket maker. After visiting the elementary school in Munich, he passed a professional lacquer training. In 1897 he joined the MSPD, and worked at the central train garages of Munich from 1899 to 1908. After 1900 he was additional district manager of the free-unionized and social democratic Bavarian train garages and factory workers' association (Bayerischer Eisenbahnwerkstätten und Betriebsarbeiterverband), respectively district manager of the Southern German railway and postal workers' union (Süddeutscher Eisenbahn- und Postpersonalverbund). Thenceforward 1907 until 1933, he was member of the Bavarian parliament. In 1909 he became manager and full-time secretary of the Southern German railway and postal workers' union, and was also editor of the union's organ "Süddeutsche Eisenbahn- und Postpersonal-Zeitung" in Nuremberg until 1912. After 1913 he had several jobs in Augsburg, where he was member of the SPD executive committee of Augsburg until 1914, also community mandatory of the city and editor of the "Schwäbische Volkszeitung" (literally: Swabian people's newspaper) until 1920. After his military service during World War I, he was member of the Bavarian SPD commission. As a member of the provisorily parliament he became minister for military affairs (war minister) under Kurt Eisner on 8 November and held the office until 21 February 1919. From 1920 to 1933 he worked as editor of the "Bayerisches Wochenblatt" (literally: Bavarian weekly paper), organ of the agriculture and forestry worker's union in Augsburg and Olching. As the parliamentary leader of the SPD in the Bavarian parliament, he affirmed the disapproval to the Enabling Act of 1933 of the Nazi party (NSDAP) on 29 April 1933. Due to this he was imprisoned in Fürstenfeldbruck and in the Dachau concentration camp from 1933 to 1934, and a few times afterwards, at last again in Dachau in 1944. After World War II he was a leading member of the SPD-KPD workgroup in Munich, and became the first Bavarian Minister of Labor and Social Care on 28 May 1945. During this period, he was also deputy of Minister-President Wilhelm Hoegner from 28 September 1945 to 21 December 1946, deputy president of the preparing constitutional commission from 8 March to 24 June 1946 and member of the constitutional convention (Ger: verfassunggebende Landesversammlung) from 30 June to 26 October 1946. On 20 September 1947 Heinrich Krehle followed on the ministry post. From 1948 to 1949 Roßhaupter was member of the Parlamentarischer Rat in Bonn. He died in Nannhofen.<ref
name="HdBG">Roßhaupter, Albert, House of the Bavarian history (HdBG).</ref> The Albert-Rosshaupter-Straße in Munich is named in honor of him.

Bibliography
 Klaus Warnecke: Albert Rosshaupter: Ein Leben für Freiheit und soziale Gerechtigkeit, Sendling-West-Verlag, Munich

References and notes

External links

 Photos: 1, 2

Bavarian Ministers of War
Politicians from Bavaria
Weimar Republic politicians
Social Democratic Party of Germany politicians
Dachau concentration camp survivors
1878 births
1949 deaths
Members of the Bavarian Chamber of Deputies
People from Straubing-Bogen
Ministers of the Bavaria State Government

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Tag: journalism
Photos of iconic artifacts at the Newseum in Washington D.C.
Over the Christmas break, I got the chance to check out the Newseum in Washington D.C. Two very powerful exhibits are remnants from of the Berlin Wall and the damaged antennae that sat atop one of the World Trade Center towers. The two extraordinary artifacts represent two of the most powerful, life-changing news events of the three decades.
The Newseum is a necessary stop for anyone interested in journalism or working as a journalist. There is much more to the museum than just these few snapshots, but I hope they spur on inspiration to check it out for yourself next time you're in Washington D.C.
For me, seeing the World Trade Center antennae was very emotional, as I had stood on the roof of one of the "Twin Towers" many years ago and I watched both towers burn when I was living in New York City. On the wall behind the antennae the front page of newspaper from all over the country and around the world. It definitely brought back memories of that fateful day. When I see others viewing these sorts of exhibits or memorials, I always think to myself if they can really understand the impact of the tragedy simply by viewing photos? I doubt they can, but I'm glad there is something left to observe and reflect on.
Newseum entrance
Iconic west side of Berlin Wall at Newseum in Washington DC
No graffiti on East side of Berlin Wall at Newseum in Washington D.C.
World Trade Center damaged antennae at Newseum in Washington D.C.
An accomplished tech house and house music DJ with a music industry and DJ culture career spanning over 30+ years, Tony Zeoli brings a unique blend of accessible underground dance music to a global audience through his Netmix Global House Sessions Podcast broadcast over Netmix.com, iTunes and MixCloud. Originally from Boston, Tony is a former Billboard Dance Chart Reporter who held residencies at The Loft, Roxy, Europa, Venus De Milo, M80, Cat Club, and other notable venues. Tony Z is also known as an influencer, innovator, and entrepreneur. He was a founding member of X-Mix, Inc DJ Remix and Management company, he inspired DJ and remix culture globally and subsequently went on to launch Netmix in 1995 – being the first to bring mix shows to the Internet.
neweum
A budding sports journalist…Billy Zeoli
My girlfriend, Missy, and I drove down to Holly Springs, North Carolina today to see my niece, Alexa, and nephew, Billy, who was home for the weekend from Methodist, where he is studying sports journalism. We got to talking about his coursework and he told me that one of his upcoming projects required setting up a blog. He was thinking about grabbing a free account at Blogspot, but I let him know that I could set him up with his own domain and a WordPress blog on my hosting account at MediaTemple. After I got home tonight from watching the Pats put the Jets away today, I purchased his domain, got him set up with a hosting account on my server, and installed WordPress. I gave him some basic instruction over the phone to get him started, and now he's raring to go at https://www.billyzeoli.com. You can also follow him @zeoli100 on Twitter.
Good luck, Billy! Can't wait to see what you do with it!
zeoli


Why Does Everyone In The US Military Hate 'The Hurt Locker'?
It seems to me that that in military circles, The Hurt Locker was the most hated film in recent years. I confess I really don't understand why. I mean, you all seem to love Top Gun.
"White Donkey," a 284-page graphic novel that chronicles one Marine's journey to Iraq and back, has taken the Marine Corps and military communities by storm. The work was widely anticipated, due largely to the celebrity of its author, former Marine infantryman Maximilian Uriarte, and is currently sixth on Amazon's best books list after its first day for sale on the site.


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Successful 13th edition of inJazz with international highlights
On 27 and 28 June, inJazz served as the official prelude to North Sea Round Town and two weeks of jazz in Rotterdam. During the conference, (inter)national jazz professionals enjoyed high profile panels and presentations. The winner of the Buma Boy Edgar Prize 2019 was announced at the end of the conference: saxophonist and composer Jasper Blom. On both nights, a selection of (inter)national artists – both promising new bands as well as more seasoned groups – performed live in several venues.
International conference with a focus on islands
International musicians, bookers, labels and media started networking during the 'sold out' Matchmaking Sessions. They shared tips & tricks as well as updates on recent developments in the jazz scene during the panels and presentations. The varied conference programme of inJazz at LantarenVenster focused on islands and what makes them so special to players originating there. From Iceland to the Baleares and from Cape Verde to Cyprus. In the panel 'No scene is an island' beautiful stories and insights in living and working in an isolated music scene were shared. Also popular during the conference was the 'Elevator Jazz Pitch'. With short presentations, musicians tried to win the inJazz inCentive worth €1,000, a collaboration with Berthold Records. The winner is Gabriele di Franco, an Italian musician living in Belgium. This year's conference was visited by 500 professionals from The Netherlands and abroad.
Adventurous festival with over 40 live-acts
On Thursday night 27 and Friday night 28 June, over 40 (inter)national acts conquered many hearts. Every year, even more locals know the way to the inJazz venues such as LantarenVenster and Kantine Walhalla as well as the new venues Room Mate Bruno and Foodhallen Rotterdam. The musicians performed for a mixed audience of local music enthusiasts and international jazz professionals. From stimulating and energetic improvisations to calm, sometimes even hypotising tunes by among others Teus Nobel | Liberty Group, Myrthe van de Weetering, LoLanders (GB/NL), Scott McLemore 4tet (IS), Agnes Gosling 4tet, ODELION ORCHESTRA en Daahoud Salim Quintet.
The Buma Boy Edgar Prize goes to Jasper Blom
The Buma Boy Edgar Prize, the most prestigious award for jazz and improvised music in the Netherlands, has been awarded to saxophonist and composer Jasper Blom. The news was announced at the inJazz conference at LantarenVenster. Jasper Blom (Geldrop, 1965) is regarded as one of the most pivotal tenor and soprano saxophonists in the Dutch jazz scene and is renowned for his compositional synthesis of jazz, pop, classical and improvised music. Excerpt from the jury report: "He never does anything for the sake of effect and has been ploughing his own furrow with unwavering integrity in various movements within the jazz idiom for thirty years. His tone is never harsh, but always brims with suspense and excitement, like a warm whirlwind stirring up things that the listener cannot predict." As part of the award, the winner is invited to curate a concert evening at the BIMHUIS, during which he or she is presented with the award, which consists of a cash prize of €12,500 and a bronze sculpture by Jan Wolkers. Jasper Blom's concert evening takes place on 4 December 2019.
Announcement 12 Points Festival and Sound Out
During the conference a number of important announcements were planned. In the morning, the Improvised Music Company, the Dublin based curators and producers of the award-winning 12 Points Festival, announced during the inJazz conference the 12 acts selected to perform at the 2019 edition of 12 Points. The festival will take place 25-28 September at BIMHUIS in Amsterdam. Selected are: Kasia Pietrzko Trio, Xavi Torres, Family Band, Robocobra Quartet, Katu Kaiku, Sketchbook Quartet, Filippo Vignato Trio, Trio Heinz Herbert, IKARAI, JUNO, No Tongues en The Brums. In collaboration with Dutch Performing Arts, BIMHUIS will also curate an exciting satellite programme during the festival named 'ORANGE LINE'. Six promising and mainly young Dutch musicians whose international career is about to take off will be presented. Later during the inJazz conference, Sound Out announced the participating musicians for 2019-2020. Sound Out is a professional development and mentoring platform for creative musicians working in jazz and improvised music. Selected are: Aviva Endean (clarinet), Benedikt Wieland (bass & electronics), Inge Thomson (vocals & accordeon), Joanna Duda (piano & electronics), Lucia Cadotsch (vocals), Morris Kliphuis (horn), Ramon Landolt (keyboards) and Resina, alias Karolina Rec (vocals & cello).
inJazz 2020
The organization of inJazz is already looking forward to 2020. The event will again serve as the prelude to two weeks of jazz in Rotterdam. The 14th edition takes place on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June 2020. This biggest Dutch network- and showcase-event consists of a conference for international jazz professionals and a festival for music enthusiasts.


Public record shows Mississippi's three historically black universities in recent years have failed to spend all the funds awarded to them through the Ayers desegregation settlement. The College Board said its intent is that unused funds will carry over for future expenditures subject to legislative appropriation.
Per the settlement agreement, Ayers funds are set to be reduced in fiscal year 2013, which begins in July 2012. As a result funding for some university programs may require restructuring.


text:
The Seattle Star
Seattle's journal of culture and politics.
Seattle Star Publisher Outed as African American
by I.M. Fletcher
Don't be fooled by the hat. Joe Iano's photograph proves it.
In possibly the most shocking news of the day, an investigative report reveals that the publisher of The Seattle Star is actually an African American male.
Omar Willey emerged from his dark, secluded hideout yesterday just long enough for photographer Joe Iano to capture him on camera and after years of speculation it can finally be confirmed that Mr. Willey is in fact a brown person.
Investigative reporter for The Seattle Medium K'meah D'feyoeran L'shaunra T'messwit had long had her suspicions, dating back to an article she first read in The Tablet magazine almost fifteen years ago. In that article Mr. Willey had made a passing reference to being arrested by University of Washington campus security while not on their campus.
"That should have been a dead giveaway," said Ms. T'messwit. "Everyone knows that only black people get accosted by campus security. That Mr. Willey was pulled off the bus and spent a night in jail for nothing is pretty convincing evidence. Dunno why no one picked up on that."
Part of the problem is that the article in question has long since disappeared, along with the newspaper that published it. Skeptics believed that this was a front, some smoke and mirrors to conceal the writer's true identity, and they pointed to his other works of the time: writings on jazz for Earshot and 5/4, pieces on Kurtis Mantronik and new jack swing, interviews with filmmakers Charles Burnett and Cauleen Smith, and various poems published in small journals up and down Cascadia. It is well-known that blacks do not listen to jazz and certainly don't have any interest in experimental cinema. For awhile, the skeptical view prevailed.
"I was one of those skeptics myself," admitted DJ Riz Rollins, who worked with Mr. Willey for three years at KCMU radio. "I mean, damn, if you'd'a heard his late night show. That fool would string together Sun Ra, Van Der Graaf Generator, World Saxophone Quartet, Najma, and The Walkabouts in the same set. Even I ain't that brave."
Asked if he'd met Mr. Willey at a staff meeting, Rollins replied, "I was too busy with the chow. Only reason to go to those things."
After years having passed of Mr. Willey's identity being a cold case, a chance meeting between K'meah D'feyoeran L'shaunra T'messwit and someone named "Yo Joe" led her to reopen the files.
"Yeah, I hadn't even thought about it in years," confessed Ms. T'messwit I mean, I've never heard another black person even mention his name since the early 00s. I mean, don't no black person I know read that shit at Seattle Star about theater and science and whatever it is. I figured it was a wash. Then 'Yo Joe' came along and hipped me to this secret document."
Without divulging the contents of the document exactly, Ms. T'messwit said that it cracked the case wide open. "I had to confirm it on Facebook, you know, to see if it was true, and it was. Turns out his family has been in Washington State since the 1800s. He's even directly related to the first black mayor in Washington State, Willie Craven."
So far, Mr. Willey has not responded to requests for confirmation. Ms. T'messwit says it's only a matter of time.
"I did get him to speak for about thirty seconds," she said. "but he wouldn't admit anything. He just said 'Ask Tyrone or Val. They are the ones who define blackness in Seattle.' I have no idea what he was talking about, but he sure had a damn fine voice."
The rest of the mystery may take awhile to sort out. Meanwhile, we have this photo, and the assurance of K'meah D'feyoeran L'shaunra T'messwit that this revelation will change everything, but it won't mean that blacks will have to start reading the Star.
"Hell no," she said, "No one wants to read that white boy shit."
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Related Conditions (39)
The good news about "bad foods"
Some foods get a bad rap for no good reason. Take chocolate, beef, and cheese, for example – we call them naughty nibbles and blame them for our high cholesterol, heart problems, and widening waistlines. But are they really so bad for us?
Toronto-based dietitian Zannat Reza gives the lowdown on 5 so-called bad foods that are actually good for you.
Public enemy number one among the health-conscious may not be as harmful as we think, Reza says.
While chocolate's high in fat, calories, and sugar, she says, it also contains cancer- and heart disease-fighting antioxidants such as flavanol. Some researchers also speculate chocolate is a mood booster: it contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which the body uses to produce serotonin, the feel-good hormone. One study even showed that an ounce of dark chocolate a day helped reduce blood pressure by 2–3 mmHg.1
dark chocolate: it's purer, less fatty, and most nutritious – melt it over strawberries, bananas, and other fruits
Avoid:
white chocolate or supermarket checkout chocolate bars filled with marshmallows, nougat, and other fatty fillers
According to Reza, it's time to get cracking. Eggs may be high in cholesterol, but they usually don't negatively affect the blood cholesterol levels of most people. People with heart problems or high cholesterol levels should talk to their doctor about how much they can consume.
Eggs are also low in fat and packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and protein.
boiled or poached eggs, which are low in calories
eggs served with whole-grain toast, fruit, or vegetables
fried eggs served with bacon, sausage, ham, and home fries
"Some people are concerned about the saturated fat levels in cheese, but on the whole, cheese is very nutritious," Reza says.
Cheese is high in calcium, protein, vitamin A, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and more, she says, and its bone-strengthening qualities help prevent osteoporosis.
hard cheeses such as cheddar and mozzarella – "they're flavourful, so you don't need a lot to enjoy it," Reza says
cheese with crackers or with fruit such as grapes, apples, berries
processed cheese slices
low-fat and non-fat cheeses – they're less flavourful and we tend to eat more of them
Many people have a beef with its high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol, but beef also contains 14 essential nutrients, especially iron, vitamin B12, and zinc, Reza says.
"Beef is important for brain development and for thinking clearly and functioning properly," she says.
lean cuts of beef with a minimal outer layer of fat
lean ground beef
grass-fed beef – it's lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, and higher in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids
fatty T-bone and prime rib cuts
steaks slathered in butter and cream sauces
Go nutty over nuts! They may be high in fat, Reza says, but it's monounsaturated fat – the cholesterol-lowering kind found in olive and canola oil. They also contain vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, which fight heart disease and high cholesterol.
"Eaten in moderation – a handful a day – nuts are very good for you," Reza says.
a handful of unsalted, dry roasted, or unprocessed nuts for a snack
nuts sprinkled on your salad, cereal, or yogurt
natural brands of peanut butter without sugar, salt, or other additives
high-fat foods such as ice cream or brownies with added nuts
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2020. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Keeping-Fit
Diseases of the circulatory system
An arrhythmia occurs when the heart's regular rhythm changes, such as speeding up or slowing down, or when it beats irregularly. In North America, about 5 million people get arrhythmias, most over the age of 50. Some also have heart disease, but many don't. In the vast majority of cases, the arrhythmia by itself isn't life-threatening, but it may predispose someone to a number of problems, such as a stroke. There are many different types of arrhythmias and their significance and consequences are varied. The normal beating of the heart is controlled by electrical signals sent from a particular segment of heart muscle tissue called the sinus node. This natural pacemaker is located near the top of the right atrium. The heart is divided into four chambers: two atria on top, and two ventricles underneath. The job of the atria is to fill the ventricles with blood, which then do the heavy work of pumping it through the rest of the body. In a normal heartbeat, an electrical pulse travels down the muscle tissue, activating the ventricles a split second after the atria. In arrhythmias, there's a problem with this signal. There are many different kinds of arrhythmias, but those that affect the ventricles are generally more serious than arrhythmias of the atria. Arrhythmias are can be caused by either slow heartbeats (bradycardia) or fast heartbeats (tachycardia). A slow heart rate may occur due to: Sick sinus syndrome: This occurs when the heart's natural pacemaker breaks down, causing slower transmission of the electrical signals that contract the heart. It occurs more frequently in the elderly and may worsen with certain medications (e.g., beta blockers) that also slow down the heart rate. Heart block: This occurs when the electrical signal sent from the upper heart chambers (atria) to the lower heart chambers (ventricles) is interrupted. Without this signal transmission, the heart cannot contract efficiently to pump blood out into the body. A fast heart rate can be the result of: atrial fibrillation (AF): This involves disordered signals that are fired off in rapid succession, causing fibrillation, which is an uncoordinated quivering of the muscle wall of the atria. This has often been described as looking like a "bag of worms." The atria stop pumping blood effectively, yet enough blood still reaches the ventricles to allow the heart to function. AF is potentially dangerous, however, because blood can pool in the atrium and lead to clot formation. If one of these clots travels to the brain, it causes a stroke. AF is the most common form of harmful arrhythmia, affecting almost 1% of the population. It is more common in seniors, affecting about 5% of people over age 69. One study showed that 1 in 4 people over the age of 40 will develop AF. ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF): This is the most dangerous form of arrhythmia. The ventricles twitch but don't pump blood. If the twitching does not stop on its own or by a shock from a defibrillator, it is always fatal.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease, refers to the narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the heart due to a build-up of a sticky substance called plaque. The heart muscle does not get enough oxygen when heart arteries are narrowed. If the heart is starved of oxygen, chest pain (angina) occurs. A piece of the plaque may break off and cause the body to form a clot on the damaged artery, cutting off oxygen to the heart and leading to a heart attack. A heart attack is medically referred to as a myocardial infarction (MI) and is one of the leading killer of both men and women. Many of these deaths can be prevented because some risk factors for CAD are controllable. These controllable risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes. There are other controllable risk factors related to lifestyle, such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, reducing alcohol consumption, and being physically active. Although medical treatments for heart disease have come a long way, controlling risk factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from CAD.
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited (genetic) disease in which excess mucus clogs the lungs, prevents food from being digested, and damages the reproductive system. It is the most common life-threatening genetically inherited disease affecting children and young adults. The incidence of CF occurs in about 1 in 3,600 live births in Canada. In CF, an abnormal protein called CFTR is produced. This protein changes the way chloride (a component of salt, which is also called sodium chloride) moves in and out of cells. This affects the balance between salt and water in the body, making the mucus that lines the lungs, pancreas, and other organs thicker and stickier. CF affects all the body's exocrine glands. These glands create and secrete chemicals necessary for proper functioning of the body. The pancreas, for example, is an exocrine gland that provides digestive enzymes for the stomach. The sweat glands provide liquid to cool the skin. In CF, some glands produce abnormal substances. The sweat glands, for example, release high levels of salt. Other glands, like the pancreas, become plugged with mucus. Because of the many organs affected and thanks to newborn genetic screening, CF is usually diagnosed early in childhood, with over half of children being diagnosed before the age of 1.Thanks to good research, more and better medications, and early diagnosis, people with CF are living longer, fuller lives.
Dry mouth is usually a temporary condition caused when the salivary glands don't produce enough saliva. It's a common side effect of many prescription medications and a symptom of certain diseases. Though it can occur at any age, it is more common in older people, affecting 30% of those 65 and older. Dry mouth isn't life-threatening, but it can be extremely bothersome and can have negative effects on dental health. The medical term for dry mouth is xerostomia.
An embolus is a particle that moves about in our blood vessels, either in the veins or arteries. Most emboli are composed of clotted blood cells. A blood clot is called a thrombus and a moving blood clot is called a thromboembolus. As an embolus moves through the body's blood vessels, it's likely to come to a passage it can't fit through. It lodges there, backing up blood behind it. The cells that normally get their blood supply via this passage are starved of oxygen (ischemia) and die. This condition is called an embolism. Types of embolism There are several types of embolism: pulmonary embolism: An embolus, usually formed in the leg (sometimes known as a deep vein thrombosis or DVT), lodges in one of the arteries of the lungs. Many emboli are broken down by the body and go away by themselves; however, serious pulmonary embolism may cause death. brain embolism: If a blood clot travels to the brain, this causes an ischemic stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack). retinal embolism: Small clots that wouldn't block a major artery can block the smaller blood vessels feeding the retina at the back of the eye. The result is usually sudden blindness in one eye. septic embolism: This occurs when particles created by infection in the body reach the bloodstream and block blood vessels. amniotic embolism: Not all emboli are made of clotted blood. In pregnancy, the womb is filled with amniotic fluid, which protects the fetus. Amniotic fluid can embolize and reach the mother's lungs, causing pulmonary amniotic embolism. air embolism: Scuba divers who rise to the surface too rapidly can generate air embolism, bubbles in the blood that can block arterial blood flow. fat embolism: If fat or bone marrow particles are introduced into the blood circulation, they may block blood vessels the way a blood clot or air bubble can.
October 04, 2015 Diseases of the circulatory system
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the lining of the heart valves that is most often caused by infection. Most people who develop this condition already have heart problems and are over 50 years old, but it can occur at any age, including in children. While not very common, this can be a very serious disease. Men are twice as likely to be affected as women. There are two types of endocarditis: infective and non-infective. With prompt treatment, the majority of people with infective endocarditis will survive. Non-infective endocarditis is more difficult to treat.
October 04, 2015 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
Hypoglycemia occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too low. Normally, your body keeps your blood glucose within a concentration range of 4.0 mmol/L to 8.0 mmol/L (about 70 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL). In order to do this, the body has mechanisms that involve the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas, as well as several other hormones. When blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas responds by releasing insulin to encourage the movement of glucose from the bloodstream to the cells. Insulin lowers the amount of glucose in your blood by signalling the cells in the body to use the glucose as fuel. Your body uses glucose as its main fuel. The brain requires a constant supply of blood glucose and will signal the adrenal glands to release two hormones called adrenaline and cortisol whenever blood glucose levels are low. The adrenaline and cortisol then signal the liver to convert the carbohydrates it stores (from the foods we eat) into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. The pancreas is also involved in raising blood glucose levels if they fall too low. When blood sugar is low, the pancreas releases the hormone glucagon, which increases blood sugar by signalling the liver to convert stored carbohydrates into glucose and to create new glucose molecules from other substances (such as amino acids) in the liver. If these mechanisms don't work properly, the blood glucose remains too low and the brain won't be able to function normally.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common condition that affects one of the heart's valves. It occurs in about 1 out of every 50 people and is seen twice as often in women than in men. This condition can be undetected for years and doesn't usually cause serious heart problems. Most people with MVP require no treatment.
Obesity is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in North America. In recent years, the number of overweight people in industrialized countries has increased significantly, so much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called obesity an epidemic. In the United States, 69% of the adult population are overweight or obese. In Canada, the self-reported data shows that 40% of men and 27% of women are overweight, and 20% of men and 17% of women are obese. People who are obese are at a much higher risk for serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, gallbladder disease, and different cancers than people who have a healthy weight.
Raynaud's disease occurs when the small arteries (arterioles) that serve the fingers, toes, ears, or nose go into spasm. When arterioles go into spasm, they cut off blood supply and cause digits (fingers and toes) or the tips of the ears or nose to turn white or blue and lose feeling. Sometimes this can happen as part of a pattern seen with other diseases, in which case it is called Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's. When this happens alone, without signs of any other underlying disease, it is called Raynaud's disease or primary Raynaud's. People with Raynaud's phenomenon tend to get it either in both hands or in both feet. Raynaud's disease tends to appear in all of the hands and feet. About 3 out of 4 sufferers of primary Raynaud's disease are women aged between 15 and 40.
September 03, 2017 Diseases of the circulatory system
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can happen after a person becomes infected with the Streptococcus bacteria. Rheumatic fever was once a common cause of heart problems in childhood. It remains a serious childhood health problem in many developing countries. In North America, it's become much less common due to improved hygiene and routine use of antibiotics for infections. When it does strike, however, it can still have serious consequences for heart health. Rheumatic fever is most frequent in children aged 5 to 15 years old, but can also affect adults and children younger than 5 years of age. However, there are no reliable figures on adults.
March 12, 2014 Diseases of the circulatory system
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of a vein due to a blood clot. The term comes from a combination of thrombus, meaning blood clot, and phlebitis, meaning inflammation or infection of a vein. When blood clots form, they release a number of toxic chemicals that cause inflammation of the vein. Thrombophlebitis is classified as either superficial or deep. Deep thrombophlebitis is often called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This condition is less common but more worrisome than superficial thrombophlebitis. Superficial thrombophlebitis is commonly seen in varicose veins and after insertion of intravenous (IV) tubes in the veins of the arms. Most cases of superficial thrombophlebitis resolve without any medical treatment.
The thyroid is a gland located in your neck, just beneath the Adam's apple. It releases hormones – thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) – that increase the body's metabolic rate. A metabolic rate is the rate of chemical processes occurring within the body that are necessary to maintain life. In metabolism, some substances are broken down to provide energy for vital processes while other substances are made. The thyroid gland is self-regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), made by the pituitary gland (sometimes called the master gland) in the brain. TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (T4 and T3). When thyroid hormone levels in the body are high, TSH production will "switch off," stopping the thyroid from making more T4 and T3. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive, making an excessive amount of thyroid hormones. It is much less common than hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and has a variety of causes. Hyperthyroidism is 5 to 10 times more likely to occur in women than men. Risk factors for developing hyperthyroidism include having another autoimmune disease (e.g., type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia), a family history, eating large amounts of iodine, being a woman, and previous goiter.
January 11, 2016 Diseases of the circulatory system
Angina (also called angina pectoris) is chest pain that appears when the muscle cells of the heart don't get enough blood to properly carry out their pumping function. The lack of blood supply is most likely to cause pain during physical activity, when the heart pumps fastest and needs the most oxygen. Stopping the activity normally relieves the pain. This may help to distinguish angina from other types of chest pain.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance your body needs to rebuild its cells and to make certain hormones. It's carried throughout your body in your bloodstream. Your body only requires a small amount of cholesterol. When there's too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, you have high cholesterol. This is a very common condition. Cholesterol levels generally rise with age. Unfortunately, high cholesterol can significantly increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Most of your body's cholesterol (about 80%) is made in your liver. The rest comes from your diet. Dietary cholesterol is found in foods from animal sources, such as eggs, meats, and dairy products. There are two important types of cholesterol you should know about: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol Most of the LDL, or "bad," cholesterol circulates in the blood and remains unused. Normally, the liver removes this "extra" cholesterol, but many people have more LDL cholesterol than the liver can handle. LDL cholesterol promotes buildup of harmful plaque (fatty deposits) in the walls of the arteries. The term high cholesterol refers to having high levels of LDL cholesterol. HDL gets its "good" name by picking up LDL cholesterol from the arteries and tissues and carrying it back to the liver, where it can be broken down.
Two-thirds of the human body is made up of water. That means that if a person weighs about 70 kilograms (154 pounds), their body contains about 47 litres of water. Almost 70% of this water is inside the body's cells, 20% is in the space surrounding cells, and slightly less than 10% is in the bloodstream. The water in the human body is essential to keeping it healthy. When the amount of water you intake matches the water you excrete, the body's water supply will be balanced. If you are healthy and do not sweat excessively, you should consume at least 2 to 3 litres of fluid a day (about 8 glasses of water) to maintain your water balance and protect against complications, like the development of kidney stones. Dehydration results when there is a deficiency in the body's water supply. If the brain and kidneys are functioning properly, the body will be able to manage minor changes in water intake. It's usually possible to drink enough water to make up for a regular day's water loss. However, it may be difficult to drink enough water if you are vomiting, have severe diarrhea, are exposed to excessive heat, or have a fever. Dehydration is common among seniors, infants, and children. Seniors sense thirst more slowly so they may not recognize that they are becoming dehydrated and in turn may not drink enough fluids. Infants and young children lose proportionately more fluid from diarrhea or vomiting than older children and adults. Some dehydration is relatively mild; however, severe loss of the body's supply of fluids can be potentially life-threatening. When the body's supply of fluids falls below a certain amount, a condition called hypovolemic shock may result.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially lifethreatening complication that may occur in people who have diabetes, most often in those who have type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. It involves the buildup of toxic substances called ketones that make the blood too acidic. High ketone levels can be readily managed, but if they aren't detected and treated in time, a person can eventually slip into a fatal coma. DKA often leads to people being newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It can also occur in people already diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who have missed an insulin dose, have an infection, or have suffered a traumatic event or injury. Although much less common, DKA can occasionally occur in people with type 2 diabetes under extreme physiologic stress.
The heart is one of the largest muscles in the body. The wall of the heart is the muscle that does the pumping, and it is called the myocardium. In a heart attack, this muscle tissue is denied oxygen-carrying blood due to a blocked artery. When the shortage of oxygen gets so bad that many cells die, it's called infarction. The medical name for a heart attack is an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Heart attack is directly responsible for about 10% of all deaths in Canada every year. This represents half of all deaths due to coronary artery disease. Although having a heart attack is very serious, the chances of survival are greatly increased if you are able to get to a hospital right away.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and people who have abnormally high pressure in their arteries are far more likely than others to die prematurely of heart disease. Your arteries carry the blood from your heart throughout your body. Blood pressure is the measure of how hard your blood is pushing against the inside of your arteries. Although a certain amount of pressure is needed to carry blood through your body, if that pressure is too great, you have high blood pressure, or hypertension. When blood pressure is measured, there are two numbers for each reading: for example, "120 over 80" is written as 120/80. This is because each heartbeat sends a pressure wave through the bloodstream. The higher number (systolic blood pressure) is the peak of the wave, when your heart contracts (the loud "thump" when you listen to your heartbeat). The lower number (diastolic blood pressure) is the lower "dip" or trough of the wave, when your heart relaxes. Blood pressure is always recorded as the systolic number over the diastolic number, and the numbers indicate pressure as measured in millimetres of mercury on the gauge (mm Hg). In general, someone has high blood pressure if several measurements of blood pressure at the doctor's office show readings of 140 systolic or 90 diastolic or higher. Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. In Canada, it has been estimated that 6 million adults have high blood pressure. Many are not aware of the problem. Approximately one-third of people with hypertension do not receive adequate treatment to control their blood pressure.
April 02, 2015 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
The thyroid is a gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple. It helps control the body's metabolic rate by producing the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). A metabolic rate is the rate of chemical processes occurring within the body that are necessary to maintain life. Hypothyroidism is the most common of the thyroid disorders. It occurs when the thyroid gland becomes underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormones. The metabolic rate falls and normal bodily functions slow down. Hypothyroidism occurs in 1.5% to 2% of women and in 0.2% of men, and it is more common with increasing age. Up to 10% of women over the age of 65 show some signs of hypothyroidism. Although less common, hypothyroidism does occur among the young. Neonatal hypothyroidism, called cretinism, is associated with mental retardation, jaundice (yellowing of skin), poor feeding, breathing difficulties, and growth problems. Childhood (juvenile) hypothyroidism is characterized by delayed growth and problems with mental development; however, with prompt treatment, problems can be minimized.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition involving clogging of the arteries around the body, most commonly in the legs. PAD occurs more frequently as people get older and often goes hand-in-hand with coronary artery disease (CAD). PAD does most of its damage before any symptoms are seen.
Phlebitis means inflammation of a vein. Superficial phlebitis (also called superficial thrombophlebitis), is a condition where the veins close to the surface of the body (superficial veins) become swollen, tender, and red and develop blood clots. When deeper veins (e.g., in a muscle) develop blood clots, it's called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain, as a result of either an ischemic stroke (a blood clot) or a hemorrhagic stroke (the rupture of a blood vessel and bleeding into or around the brain). The interruption of blood flow to the brain causes brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die. The effects of a stroke depend upon which part of the brain was injured and how much damage has occurred. About 80% of strokes are ischemic and 20% are hemorrhagic. Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and approximately 315,000 Canadians are living with the effects of a stroke. It is also the third leading cause of death in Canada. About 60% of people who have had a stroke are left with some form of disability such as paralysis, sensory loss, memory loss, language problems, and vision problems. Some people may also suffer from depression or other emotional conditions after a stroke. Risk factor modification, medications and, in some cases, surgery can help to minimize the risk of having a stroke.
Diabetes is a condition of elevated blood sugars in which the body does not make enough insulin and/or the insulin being made cannot be used properly by the body. The body's main fuel is a form of sugar called glucose, which comes from food (after it's been broken down). Glucose enters the blood and is used by cells for energy. To use glucose, the body needs a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Insulin is important because it allows glucose to leave the blood and enter the body's cells. Diabetes develops when your body can't make any or enough insulin, or when it can't properly use the insulin it makes. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes develops when your body makes little or no insulin. When this happens, glucose can't get into the cells for energy and remains in the blood, causing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. Most people develop type 1 diabetes before the age of 30, but it can also occur in older adults. In North America, 5% to 10% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. It occurs equally among women and men.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The body's main fuel is a form of sugar called glucose, which comes from food (after it has been broken down). Glucose enters the blood and is used by cells for energy. To use glucose, the body needs a hormone called insulin that's made by the pancreas. Insulin is important because it allows glucose to leave the blood and enter the body's cells. Diabetes develops when the body can't make any or enough insulin, and/or when it can't properly use the insulin it makes. For some people with diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin. In these cases, insulin is still produced, but the body does not respond to the effects of insulin as it should. This is called insulin resistance. Whether from not enough insulin or the inability to use insulin properly, the result is high levels of glucose in the blood, or hyperglycemia. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. About 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult onset diabetes. However, more and more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes due to the rise in obesity. Some people do not have diabetes but also do not handle glucose as well as normal. This is called impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Up to 40% of people with IGT will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.
Varicose veins are visible, protruding veins that appear just under the skin. The word "varicose" comes from the Latin root varix for "twisted." The veins may occur in clusters that look like spider webs. They may also be large, single veins that are easily visible. They're most often seen on people's legs, especially their calves, and are made up of stretched, expanded, or twisted veins. The blood flow in these veins has been slowed down or reversed. Between 10% and 20% of the population has some form of varicose veins. They appear between the ages of 30 and 70, and they usually get worse with age. Varicose veins occur 2 to 3 times more often in women than in men. It is estimated that 50% of people with varicose veins have a family history of the condition.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart isn't able to pump blood normally. As a result, there is not enough blood flow to provide the body's organs with oxygen and nutrients. The term "heart failure" does not mean that the heart stops beating completely, but that the heart is not working as efficiently. CHF affects over 6 million people in North America and is one of the most common causes of hospitalization for people over 65 years of age. Approximately half a million Canadians are living with congestive heart failure. Men are slightly more at risk than women. People of African descent are considerably more at risk than those of European descent and also have a higher risk of death. There are two basic problems in congestive heart failure: systolic dysfunction occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood to supply all the body's needs diastolic dysfunction occurs when the heart cannot accept all the blood being sent to it Many people have both systolic and diastolic heart failure.
An aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel wall, most commonly in an artery. Blood pressure tends to push the weakened section of an arterial wall outward, forming a balloon-like projection. This condition by itself isn't especially harmful, but the artery is prone to rupture. A ruptured aneurysm breaks the artery and allows uncontrolled bleeding to occur, which can be fatal. Aneurysms can form in different places. The most common type of aneurysm is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aorta is the body's largest artery, carrying blood from the heart to every organ except the lungs. It leaves the heart flowing upwards in the chest, makes a U-bend, and flows down the spine from the chest to the abdomen. Several branches leave the aorta in the abdomen, going to the kidneys, liver, and intestines. These branch points are prime sites for aneurysms. Other locations for aneurysms are: the bottom of the brain – the most common type of cerebral (brain) aneurysm is called a berry aneurysm the chest – a thoracic aortic aneurysm the most common type of thoracic aneurysm is the aneurysm of the ascending aorta (between the heart and the U-bend) Aneurysms tend to occur in older Caucasian men; women are less at risk. By age 80, over 5% of Caucasian men have developed an aneurysm. People of African descent rarely develop aneurysms. Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in 2% to 13% of men 65 and older and in approximately 6% of women 65 and older. These numbers gradually increase with age. They rarely occur in people under age 60. As many as 80% of people who experience a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm die from it before reaching the hospital.
Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin to meet their body's needs and/or their cells don't respond properly to insulin. Insulin is important because it moves glucose, a simple sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. It also has a number of other effects on metabolism. The food that people eat provides the body with glucose, which is used by the cells as a source of energy. If insulin isn't available or doesn't work correctly to move glucose from the blood into cells, glucose will stay in the blood. High blood glucose levels are toxic, and cells that don't get glucose are lacking the fuel they need to function properly. There are two main kinds of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. More than 90% of all people with diabetes have type 2. Overall, more than 3 million Canadians have diabetes, and the number is rapidly rising. Over a third of people with type 2 diabetes are unaware they have the disease and are not receiving the required treatment because, for many people, early symptoms are not noticeable without testing. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot make insulin. Everyone with type 1 diabetes requires insulin injections. Most people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during their childhood or adolescent years. Type 1 diabetes occurs most commonly in people of northern European ancestry. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not use insulin properly. It usually occurs in adults, although in some cases children may be affected. People with type 2 diabetes usually have a family history of this condition and 90% are overweight or obese. People with type 2 diabetes may eventually need insulin injections. This condition occurs most commonly in people of Indigenous and African descent, Hispanics, and Asians. Another less common form is gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Depending on risk factors, between 3% to 13% of Canadian women will develop gestational diabetes which can be harmful for the baby if not controlled. The problem usually clears up after delivery, but women who have had gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Prediabetes is a term used to describe blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Many people with prediabetes go on to develop diabetes.
Hemorrhoids, also called "piles," are swollen tissues that contain veins. They are located in the wall of the rectum and anus and may cause minor bleeding or develop small blood clots. Hemorrhoids occur when the tissues enlarge, weaken, and come free of their supporting structure. This results in a sac-like bulge that extends into the anal area. Hemorrhoids are unique to humans – no other animal develops them. They are very common – up to 86% of people will report they have had hemorrhoids at some time in their life, though people often use this as a catch-all label for any ano-rectal problem including itching. They can occur at any age but are more common between the ages of 45 and 65. Among younger people, they are most common in women who are pregnant. Although they can be embarrassing to talk about, anyone can get hemorrhoids, even healthy young people in good shape. They can be painful and annoying but aren't usually serious. Hemorrhoids differ depending on their location and the amount of pain, discomfort, or aggravation they cause. Internal hemorrhoids are located up inside the rectum. They rarely cause any pain, as this tissue doesn't have any sensory nerves. These hemorrhoids are graded for severity according to how far and how often they protrude into the anal passage or protrude out of the anus (prolapse): Grade I is small without protrusion. Painless, minor bleeding occurs from time to time after a bowel movement. A grade II hemorrhoid may protrude during a bowel movement but returns spontaneously to its place afterwards. In grade III, the hemorrhoid must be put back in place manually. A grade IV hemorrhoid has prolapsed – it protrudes constantly and will fall out again if pushed back into the rectum. There may or may not be bleeding. Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be painful. External hemorrhoids develop under the skin just inside the opening of the anus. The hemorrhoids may swell and the area around it may become firm and sore, turning blue or purple in colour when they get thrombosed. A thrombosed hemorrhoid is one that has formed a clot inside. This clot is not dangerous and will not spread through the body, but does cause pain and should be drained. External hemorrhoids may itch and can be very painful, especially during a bowel movement. They can also prolapse.
July 10, 2014 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
The thyroid is a small gland located below the Adam's apple in your neck. It releases hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which increase the amount of oxygen your body uses and stimulate your cells to produce new proteins. By controlling the release of these hormones, the thyroid determines the metabolic rate of most of your body's organs. The thyroid gland is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is made by the pituitary gland in the brain. Normally, when thyroid hormone levels in the body are high, they will "switch off" the production of TSH, which in turn stops the thyroid from making more T4 and T3. Problems occur when the thyroid gland becomes either underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism). Thyroid problems are more common in women than men. Cancer may also develop in the thyroid gland.
Bones need calcium and phosphorus to remain healthy and strong, but the body also needs vitamin D to be able to absorb these two minerals. Without this necessary vitamin, bones can become soft and flexible. This softening is called osteomalacia, or rickets when diagnosed in children. The condition is called osteomalacia when the bone softening occurs after the growth plates have closed. Rickets was a common childhood illness in North America until the 1940s, when it was discovered that vitamin D, readily available from sunlight (which produces vitamin D in the body) and vitamin D-enriched milk, prevented this condition. Although we haven't seen many cases of rickets in North America over the past 60 years, this condition is beginning to reappear, particularly among exclusively breast-fed babies. Rickets is still a major childhood problem in poorer, colder countries where babies are kept mainly inside the home and foods rich in vitamin D are not readily available. Osteomalacia is a disease of bone formation. It is important to differentiate it from osteoporosis, which is a disease of bone that is already formed.
Renovascular Disease
April 02, 2015 Diseases of the circulatory system
Renovascular disease is a progressive condition that causes narrowing or blockage of the renal arteries or veins. These are the blood vessels that take blood to and from the kidneys. It's the general term used for three disorders: renal artery occlusion, renal vein thrombosis, and renal atheroembolism. The term is most often used to describe diseases affecting the renal arteries since blockage of the renal vein is not very common. Renovascular disease usually affects the elderly. However, young women in their teens to late 30s are at risk of a certain type of renovascular disease called fibromuscular dysplasia, a disorder of the muscular lining of the renal arteries that can cause severe high blood pressure. Renal artery occlusion happens when one or both of the renal arteries are blocked. The arteries carry blood to the kidneys, where waste material is filtered out of the blood. Renal vein thrombosis occurs when the veins leaving the kidneys (the renal veins) become blocked. The renal veins carry the filtered blood away from the kidneys to the rest of the body. Renal atheroembolism results from a buildup of fatty material that blocks the renal arterioles (the smallest section of blood vessels leading to the capillaries). Cholesterol and lipids (fats) may also build up on the lining of the blood vessels, causing them to narrow.
March 05, 2017 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
Carcinoid syndrome is a pattern of symptoms that occurs in people who have carcinoid tumours. The symptoms are caused by hormones and chemicals produced by the carcinoid tumour and, in many cases, these symptoms are actually worse than the effects of the growth of the tumour itself. Carcinoid tumours were first identified in Europe in the mid-1800s as a specific, distinct type of growth. The name carcinoid was first used in 1907 to classify them as a type of tumour that fit midway between malignant (cancerous) tumours and ones that were benign (non-malignant). Carcinoid tumours can be widely distributed throughout the body, but are usually found in the digestive system (50% of cases) or lung (30% of cases). In children, carcinoid tumours are usually found in the appendix. Once the appendix is removed, the cancer is usually cured. Carcinoid tumours produce too much of certain chemicals and hormones and this can cause reactions in the body. One common chemical produced by carcinoid tumours is a hormone called serotonin. This hormone makes the blood vessels dilate (widen) and causes increased blood clotting, intestinal secretions, and motility (causing diarrhea). Carcinoid tumours are rare, with 1 to 2 cases in every 100,000 people. It makes up less than 1% of all cancers.
Hemochromatosis is primarily an inherited (genetic) condition that allows too much iron to be absorbed and stored throughout the body. It's one of the most common genetic disorders in Canada. 1 in 9 Canadians carries the defective gene for this condition, and 1 in 300 Canadians is affected with the condition. Men and women are equally affected, although signs appear later in women. Most people absorb only enough iron to meet their body's daily requirements, and the excess is excreted. In hemochromatosis, however, iron continues to be absorbed and stored in different organs and tissues long after the body's needs are met. The liver is the first organ to store excess iron, after which it accumulates in the heart, pituitary gland, and elsewhere in the body. Left untreated, the resulting damage to the liver, heart, and pancreas may eventually lead to death. In hemochromatosis, the total iron content in the body can reach as high as 50 g, compared with the normal levels of about 2.5 g in women and 3.5 g in men. It's been nicknamed "bronze diabetes" because it may be accompanied by diabetes mellitus and increased skin pigmentation (darkening of the skin). Because women lose iron in their menstrual flow, they tend to be protected from getting hemochromatosis as long as they are having menstrual cycles. Thus it affects men earlier than women, usually when men are between 40 and 60 years of age. Rare cases have occurred in children.
June 01, 2015 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not a disease in the usual sense; rather, it is a collection of symptoms that can affect a woman's reproductive health and heart health, and it can have other significant effects on health and lifestyle. It affects 5% to 10% of women in their reproductive years. Its risk factors are not well known, but heredity does play a role.
The heart is divided into four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles underneath. The role of the atria is to fill the ventricles with blood, which is then pumped to the lungs or to the rest of the body. The normal beating of the heart is controlled by electrical signals sent from a particular segment of heart tissue called the sinus node. The sinus node acts as the heart's natural pacemaker. It is found near the top of the right atrium. Normally, the sinus node sends an electrical pulse that travels down the muscle tissue to the atrioventricular (AV) node (acting like a "toll booth"), which determines how many impulses are allowed to then pass to the ventricles. An arrhythmia occurs when the heart's regular rhythm becomes irregular – it may speed up or slow down. Many arrhythmias exist, but those originating from the ventricles are generally more serious than from the atria. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one type of arrhythmia. Instead of the sinus node controlling the heart rate, different parts of the atria fire at the same time. This causes the atria to fibrillate, which is an uncoordinated quivering of the muscle. The atria pump blood less effectively but well enough to allow the ventricles to function. The irregular heartbeat is due to rapid beating of the atria (usually more than 350 beats per minute), and the irregular movement of the electrical signals through the AV node. Instead of every electrical signal being allowed through to the ventricles only certain electrical signals are allowed to pass. AF is potentially dangerous because blood can pool in the atrium, which increases the risk that a blood clot will form. If this clot travels to the brain, it will cause a stroke. AF is the most common form of all harmful arrhythmias, affecting approximately 350,000 Canadians. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. AF may be present in a number of different forms: paroxysmal AF: recurrent temporary condition that starts suddenly and then after a period of time (usually less than 7 days), the heart returns to a normal heartbeat without medical assistance persistent AF: the heart beats irregularly and requires medical assistance to return to a normal rhythm. This type of AF tends to last more than 7 days. permanent AF: the heart has an irregular rhythm that cannot return to normal with medication or other treatments All three situations carry equal risk of blood clot formation.
May 07, 2018 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for deep voices, muscle mass, and facial and body hair patterns found in males. As men get older, the level of testosterone in the body and production of sperm gradually becomes lower, and they experience physical and psychological symptoms as a result of these low levels. This is part of the natural aging process and it is estimated that testosterone decreases about 10% every decade after men reach the age of 30. Andropause is a condition that is associated with the decrease in the male hormone testosterone. It is unlike menopause in that the decrease in testosterone and the development of symptoms is more gradual than what occurs in women. Approximately 30% of men in their 50s will experience symptoms of andropause caused by low testosterone levels. A person experiencing andropause may have a number of symptoms related to the condition and could be at risk of other serious health conditions such as osteoporosis without proper treatment.
Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is a rare condition that affects the body's hormonal activity. It is estimated that Addison's disease affects 1 to 2 out of every 100,000 individuals. This disease is named after Dr. Thomas Addison, who discovered it in 1849. Addison's disease occurs when the body's adrenal glands are not able to make enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone. Each hormone works differently and plays important roles in the human body. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress. It also helps maintain blood pressure and blood sugar; slow the immune system's inflammatory response; and regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Aldosterone is involved in keeping adequate blood pressure and water and salt balance in the body.