A Simulation Model for Determining Data Exchange Mode Analysis Network Influence

Emergence of large scale specialized networks with a large number of computers marked a new stage in network infrastructure development. Increase in bandwidth is followed by a commensurate increase in the amount of traffic sent over the Internet. Optimizing the use and allocation of bandwidth continues to be an ongoing problem. We present a simulation model to resolve the technological challenges of increasing the efficiency of data exchange in computer networks

Metabolomics: A Scoping Review of Its Role as a Tool for Disease Biomarker Discovery in Selected Non-Communicable Diseases

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2021-06-23, pub-electronic 2021-06-25Publication status: PublishedMetabolomics is a branch of ‘omics’ sciences that utilises a couple of analytical tools for the identification of small molecules (metabolites) in a given sample. The overarching goal of metabolomics is to assess these metabolites quantitatively and qualitatively for their diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic potentials. Its use in various aspects of life has been documented. We have also published, howbeit in animal models, a few papers where metabolomic approaches were used in the study of metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. As the goal of every research is to benefit humankind, the purpose of this review is to provide insights into the applicability of metabolomics in medicine vis-à-vis its role in biomarker discovery for disease diagnosis and management. Here, important biomarkers with proven diagnostic and therapeutic relevance in the management of disease conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), diabetic retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease, are noted. The paper also discusses a few reasons why most metabolomics-based laboratory discoveries are not readily translated to the clinic and how these could be addressed going forward

An Estimate of the Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is rated the second most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men globally. Reports show that African men suffer disproportionately from PCa compared to men from other parts of the world. It is still quite difficult to accurately describe the burden of PCa in Africa due to poor cancer registration systems.We systematically reviewed the literature on prostate cancer in Africa and provided a continentwide incidence rate of PCa based on available data in the regio

Characterisation of Drug-Resistant Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

Resistance acquisition to chemotherapy is a major cause of treatment failure in high-risk neuroblastoma. This report focused on the use of drug-adapted neuroblastoma cell lines as pre-clinical models of acquired drug resistance. Results indicated intact cell MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry (MS) fingerprinting to be a promising technique for the authentication of drug-adapted cancer cell lines that cannot be discriminated from their parental cell lines by standard methods like short tandem repeat analysis, but further optimisation is required. MS fingerprinting and the determination of platinum drug-resistance profiles in 10 single cell-derived clonal sub-lines of the docetaxel-adapted UKF-NB-3 sub-line UKF-NB-3rDOCE10 revealed a noticeable heterogeneity. Further studies need to be performed in other cell line models and including additional anti-cancer agents to learn more about the heterogeneity in drug-resistant cancer cell populations in comparison to the respective parental cancer cell populations. Newly synthesised platinum- and palladium-based compounds displayed encouraging anti-cancer efficacy in the neuroblastoma cell line UKF-NB-3 and its sub-lines adapted to cisplatin (UKF-NB-3rCDDP1000), carboplatin (UKF-NB-3rCARBO2000), or oxaliplatin (UKF-NB-3rOXALI2000) warranting further studies in additional cell lines and animal experiments. 1H-NMR-based metabonomics characterisation of UKF-NB-3, UKF-NB-3rCDDP1000, UKF-NB-3rCARBO2000, and UKF-NB-3rOXALI2000 revealed remarkable differences and did, thus, not suggest that a certain sub-population of pre-existing cancer cells was selected during UKF-NB-3 cell adaptation to these closely related platinum drugs. Further research will have to show the variability of the resistance formation process when the same cell line is adapted to the same drug in parallel independent experiments. In conclusion, the data presented here provide initial information for the further use of drug-adapted cancer cell lines

Metabolomics: A Scoping Review of Its Role as a Tool for Disease Biomarker Discovery in Selected Non-Communicable Diseases

Metabolomics is a branch of ‘omics’ sciences that utilises a couple of analytical tools for the identification of small molecules (metabolites) in a given sample. The overarching goal of metabolomics is to assess these metabolites quantitatively and qualitatively for their diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic potentials. Its use in various aspects of life has been documented. We have also published, howbeit in animal models, a few papers where metabolomic approaches were used in the study of metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. As the goal of every research is to benefit humankind, the purpose of this review is to provide insights into the applicability of metabolomics in medicine vis-à-vis its role in biomarker discovery for disease diagnosis and management. Here, important biomarkers with proven diagnostic and therapeutic relevance in the management of disease conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), diabetic retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease, are noted. The paper also discusses a few reasons why most metabolomics-based laboratory discoveries are not readily translated to the clinic and how these could be addressed going forward

Flow chart of search results.

<p>Flow chart of search results.</p

Study characteristics.

<p>Study characteristics.</p

Search terms for studies of prostate cancer in Africa.

<p>Search terms for studies of prostate cancer in Africa.</p

Pooled PCa incidence rates over study periods.

<p>Pooled PCa incidence rates over study periods.</p