Serum HGF is elevated in obese individuals. This study examined the contribution of excess adipose tissue to increased circulating HGF levels in obesity. Serum HGF was measured by ELISA before and after weight loss due to bariatric surgery or a 24-h fast. At 6.1 ± 0.1 mo following surgery, BMI (50.6 ± 1.6 vs. 35.1 ± 1.3 kg/m2; P < 0.0001) and serum HGF were significantly decreased (1,164 ± 116 vs. 529 ± 39 pg/ml, P < 0.001). A 24-h fast did not change serum HGF, but serum leptin was significantly reduced (67.7 ± 7.1 vs. 50.3 ± 8.3 ng/ml, P = 0.02). HGF secretion in vitro from adipocytes of obese (BMI 40.3 ± 2.8 kg/m2) subjects was significantly greater (80.9 ± 10.4 vs. 21.5 ± 4.0 pg/105 cells, P = 0.008) than release from adipocytes of lean (BMI 23.3 ± 1.4 kg/m2) subjects. HGF mRNA levels determined by real-time RT-PCR were not different in adipocytes from lean (BMI 24.0 ± 0.8 kg/m2) and obese (45.7 ± 3.0 kg/m2) subjects, but serum HGF was significantly elevated in the obese individuals studied (787 ± 61 vs. 489 ± 49 pg/ml, P = 0.001). TNF-α (24 h treatment) significantly increased HGF release from subcutaneous adipocytes 23.6 ± 8.3% over control ( P = 0.02). These data suggest that elevated serum HGF in obesity is in part attributable to excess adipose tissue and that this effect can be reversed by reducing adipose tissue mass through weight loss. Increased HGF secretion from adipocytes of obese subjects may be due to posttranscriptional events possibly related to adipocyte size and stimulation by elevated TNF-α in the adipose tissue of obese individuals.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make a case study of a large academic library's web site redesign, undertaken during the 2003‐2004 academic year.Design/methodology/approachDuring the redesign process, numerous methods of eliciting user feedback were used; this included an online survey, focus groups with each of the Libraries' primary user populations, parallel design process to generate the first round of prototypes, low‐fidelity prototyping, card sorting, high‐fidelity prototyping, and three rounds of usability testing. The results of each type of feedback session were analyzed carefully in order to determine the most important areas for improvement and to provide valuable information regarding how users used the web site.FindingsThe design teams spent nine months developing a web site that was grounded in user‐centered design methodologies and employed appropriate usability standards. Feedback from users was sought at every step in the process and in very different ways. From each interaction with users, the design teams learned something valuable. By working through the design process with user needs at the fore, staff are confident that the resulting interfaces are functional, well‐planned, and most importantly, usable.Originality/valueThe paper provides a case study of UW Libraries' web site redesign process.

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