Cancer-Related Cachexia: The Vicious Circle between Inflammatory Cytokines,Skeletal Muscle,Lipid Metabolism and the Possible Role of Physical Training

Cachexia is a multifactorial and multi-organ syndrome that is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in late-stage chronic diseases. The main clinical features of cancer-related cachexia are chronic inflammation, wasting of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, insulin resistance, anorexia, and impaired myogenesis. A multimodal treatment has been suggested to approach the multifactorial genesis of cachexia. In this context, physical exercise has been found to have a general effect on maintaining homeostasis in a healthy life, involving multiple organs and their metabolism. The purpose of this review is to present the evidence for the relationship between inflammatory cytokines, skeletal muscle, and fat metabolism and the potential role of exercise training in breaking the vicious circle of this impaired tissue cross-talk. Due to the wide-ranging effects of exercise training, from the body to the behavior and cognition of the individual, it seems to be able to improve the quality of life in this syndrome. Therefore, studying the molecular effects of physical exercise could provide important information about the interactions between organs and the systemic mediators involved in the overall homeostasis of the body.     

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in an Egyptian male sample

The distributions of plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as plasma lipoprotein abnormalities were studied in 50 Egyptian males aged 20–69 years. Total cholesterol increased gradually with advancing age up to the seventh decade. In contrast, triglycerides peaked in the fifth decade, then declined. Type IV lipoprotein pattern was the most common abnormality (12%). Type II was less common (2.0%). Types I, III and V were not encountered. The mean plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels were not markedly different from similar studies done on non-Arab populations. The high incidence of hyperlipidemia among this group is worth noting, especially in the search for the coronary-prone, since all of the type IV group had normal total cholesterol levels.     

A faulty node detection scheme for wireless sensor networks that use data aggregation for transport

This paper presents a faulty node detection approach for wireless sensor networks that aggregate measurement data on their way toward the sink (base station). The approach is based on the idea of commanding sensor nodes on the aggregation paths to temporarily stop including their readings in the received aggregated readings from their upstream neighbors. The scheme is dependent on the ability of the sink to detect faulty nodes through changes in the received aggregated readings at the sink using a Markov Chain Controller (MCC). The algorithm that is run in the sink uses the MCC to assign a state to each sensor node based on transitions that are triggered by receiving aggregated path readings, and accordingly deduces the nodes that may be faulty. The experimental results show at least 98% detection rate at the cost of reasonable detection delays and generated wireless network traffic. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The significance of anti-fluorite Cs2NbI6 via its structural,electronic, magnetic,optical and thermoelectric properties

The structural, electronic, magnetic, optical and thermoelectric properties of anti-fluorite Cs₂NbI₆ were investigated using full potential augmented plane wave method of density functional theory. Structurally, Cs₂NbI₆ was found to be cubic in ground state from values of tolerance factor (1.04) and formation energy (−22.3 eV). While, it's ferromagnetic nature was predicted from volume optimization process. In spin down channel, the compound was explored as indirect band gap (E_g(Γ-X) = 1.97 eV) semiconductor, while it changes to metallic in upper spin channel. Nb-d and I-p states were exposed as the main cause of spin dependent electronic nature (half-metallicity). The origin of magnetism in Cs₂NbI₆ was explained on basis of crystal field theory. The calculated magnetic moment (1.001 μ_B) was found in reasonable agreement with experimental value. The optimum absorption and optical conductivity spectra in semiconductor state explored Cs₂NbI₆ as suitable for optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, the transport properties were calculated using BoltzTrap code. The nature of carriers was predicted as n type from negative values of Seebeck coefficients. Where, the figure of merit (ZT) was found to increase up to 0.85 at 900 K. The present work not only explores Cs₂NbI₆ as potential optoelectronic and thermoelectric material, but can also inspire more experimental research on this important compound.     

Chinese herb nephropathy is not a (dex)fenfluramine nephropathy but a serotonin nephropathy

We detail the case history of a patient with Stage I seminoma, who developed an elevated level of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) while on follow-up. It transpired that the patient had injected himself with hCG several days before. This type of abuse has been documented, but this is the first reported case of it interfering with the follow-up of a patient with a germ cell tumour.     

The Performance of Porous Electric Heaters

The performance of a proposed porous electric heater is investigated. The porous heater exchanges heat with the working fluid through its large volumetric surface area. As a result, it produces lower surface temperature as compared with the conventional heater for the same imposed heating power. Two mathematical models are presented to describe the thermal behavior of both heaters and the predictions of both models are compared at different operating conditions.     

A History of Molecular Level Analysis of Natural Organic Matter by FTICR Mass Spectrometry and The Paradigm Shift in Organic Geochemistry

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex mixture of biogenic molecules resulting from the deposition and transformation of plant and animal matter. It has long been recognized that NOM plays an important role in many geological, geochemical, and environmental processes. Of particular concern is the fate of NOM in response to a warming climate in environments that have historically sequestered carbon (e.g., peatlands and swamps) but may transition to net carbon emitters. In this review, we will highlight developments in the application of high-field Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) in identifying the individual components of complex NOM mixtures, focusing primarily on the fraction that is dissolved in natural waters (dissolved organic matter or DOM). We will first provide some historical perspective on developments in FTICR technology that made molecular-level characterizations of DOM possible. A variety of applications of the technique will then be described, followed by our view of the future of high-field FTICR MS in carbon cycling research, including a particularly exciting metabolomic approach.