SPARC: a matricellular regulator of tumorigenesis

Although many clinical studies have found a correlation of SPARC expression with malignant progression and patient survival, the mechanisms for SPARC function in tumorigenesis and metastasis remain elusive. The activity of SPARC is context- and cell-type-dependent, which is highlighted by the fact that SPARC has shown seemingly contradictory effects on tumor progression in both clinical correlative studies and in animal models. The capacity of SPARC to dictate tumorigenic phenotype has been attributed to its effects on the bioavailability and signaling of integrins and growth factors/chemokines. These molecular pathways contribute to many physiological events affecting malignant progression, including extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, immune modulation and metastasis. Given that SPARC is credited with such varied activities, this review presents a comprehensive account of the divergent effects of SPARC in human cancers and mouse models, as well as a description of the potential mechanisms by which SPARC mediates these effects. We aim to provide insight into how a matricellular protein such as SPARC might generate paradoxical, yet relevant, tumor outcomes in order to unify an apparently incongruent collection of scientific literature

Overview of T and D-T results in JET with ITER-like wall

In 2021 JET exploited its unique capabilities to operate with T and D–T fuel with an ITER-like Be/W wall (JET-ILW). This second major JET D–T campaign (DTE2), after DTE1 in 1997, represented the culmination of a series of JET enhancements—new fusion diagnostics, new T injection capabilities, refurbishment of the T plant, increased auxiliary heating, in-vessel calibration of 14 MeV neutron yield monitors—as well as significant advances in plasma theory and modelling in the fusion community. DTE2 was complemented by a sequence of isotope physics campaigns encompassing operation in pure tritium at high T-NBI power. Carefully conducted for safe operation with tritium, the new T and D–T experiments used 1 kg of T (vs 100 g in DTE1), yielding the most fusion reactor relevant D–T plasmas to date and expanding our understanding of isotopes and D–T mixture physics. Furthermore, since the JET T and DTE2 campaigns occurred almost 25 years after the last major D–T tokamak experiment, it was also a strategic goal of the European fusion programme to refresh operational experience of a nuclear tokamak to prepare staff for ITER operation. The key physics results of the JET T and DTE2 experiments, carried out within the EUROfusion JET1 work package, are reported in this paper. Progress in the technological exploitation of JET D–T operations, development and validation of nuclear codes, neutronic tools and techniques for ITER operations carried out by EUROfusion (started within the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and continuing under the Horizon Europe FP) are reported in (Litaudon et al Nucl. Fusion accepted), while JET experience on T and D–T operations is presented in (King et al Nucl. Fusion submitted)

Variation in Measurement Results Using Bioimpedance Spectroscopy to Determine Extracellular Fluid of Upper Extremity

Background: The L-Dex U400 is a recently developed measurement device to aid in the clinical assessment of unilateral lymphedema. Until now, little is known about variation in measurement results of the L-Dex U400. The aim of this study was to determine variation in measurement results in determining extracellular fluid of the arm with the L-Dex U400 under different measurement conditions on 2 days and to determine the reliability of these measurements in healthy subjects. Methods and Results: Thirty participants were included. Participants were measured on 2 days, 2 weeks apart. Each day they were measured six times, 1st basic measurement, 2nd after a 10-minute rest period, 3rd second observer, 4th after drinking 200 mL of coffee and rest for 30 minutes on the examination couch, 5th after 30 minutes of cycling on an exercise bike at 50 W and 50-60 rounds per minute, and 6th after a 10-minute rest period. The variance due to participants was 68% of the total variance and 32% was error variance. Lin's concordance coefficient (CCC), a reliability measure, ranged from 0.935 (first day, 1st and 2nd measurement of observer 1) to 0.517 (first and second day after a 10-minute rest period after cycling). In two CCCs, the lower limits of the 95% confidence interval were higher than 0.750. Repeatability coefficient was smallest for the basic observations on day 2 (4.6) and largest after cycling (8.0). Conclusions: Clinical decision-making based on L-Dex U400 measurements should be regarded with caution because of moderate reliability