TRASYS: Checkout of accuracy of direct irradiation calculations for discs, trapezoids, cones, and circular paraboloids

Results of the direct irradiation link of the TRASYS program are evaluated. Several surface configurations were investigated. The accuracy of the results was examined for simple cases where the answers were analytically known. By varying an accuracy factor in the program, the amount of computer time needed to achieve different degress of accuracy was determined

Which criteria should be used for starting pharmacologic therapy for management of gestational diabetes in pregnancy? Evidence from randomized controlled trials

Introduction: There is inconclusive evidence to support any specific criteria for starting pharmacologic therapy after diet in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We aimed to analyze the most used criteria for starting pharmacologic treatment for patients with GDM. Material and methods: Electronic databases were searched from their inception to September 2017. We included all the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GDM managed initially by diet and exercise reporting criteria for starting pharmacologic therapy. RCTs in women with pregestational diabetes were excluded. Data regarding glucose values used for starting pharmacologic therapy were extracted and carefully reviewed. Results: We included 15 RCTs (4307 women) in the meta-analysis. For fasting glucose target, 8/14 (57%) used a value lower or equal to 90 mg/dL and the remainder used values 50% of the values higher than the target values and another one (7%) used >30%. Conclusion: The majority of RCTs (87%) used very tight criteria of either 1 or 2 values over the target values in the 1 or 2-week period for starting pharmacologic treatment for patients with GDM; more than 50% used 2 values. Key Message Pharmacologic therapy should be considered in women with gestational diabetes when, despite an adequate diet and exercise, 1 or 2 blood glucose values are over the target values of 90mg/dL fasting or 120mg/dL 2-hour postprandial over 1 or 2 weeks

Hypoxic regulation of RIOK3 is a major mechanism for cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Hypoxia is a common feature of locally advanced breast cancers that is associated with increased metastasis and poorer survival. Stabilisation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) in tumours causes transcriptional changes in numerous genes that function at distinct stages of the metastatic cascade. We demonstrate that expression of RIOK3 (RIght Open reading frame kinase 3) was increased during hypoxic exposure in an HIF1α-dependent manner. RIOK3 was localised to distinct cytoplasmic aggregates in normoxic cells and underwent redistribution to the leading edge of the cell in hypoxia with a corresponding change in the organisation of the actin cytoskeleton. Depletion of RIOK3 expression caused MDA-MB-231 to become elongated and this morphological change was due to a loss of protraction at the trailing edge of the cell. This phenotypic change resulted in reduced cell migration in two-dimensional cultures and inhibition of cell invasion through three-dimensional extracellular matrix. Proteomic analysis identified interactions of RIOK3 with actin and several actin-binding factors including tropomyosins (TPM3 and TPM4) and tropomodulin 3. Depletion of RIOK3 in cells resulted in fewer and less organised actin filaments. Analysis of these filaments showed reduced association of TPM3, particularly during hypoxia, suggesting that RIOK3 regulates actin filament specialisation. RIOK3 depletion reduced the dissemination of MDA-MB-231 cells in both a zebrafish model of systemic metastasis and a mouse model of pulmonary metastasis. These findings demonstrate that RIOK3 is necessary for maintaining actin cytoskeletal organisation required for migration and invasion, biological processes that are necessary for hypoxia-driven metastasis

Bioinformatics and molecular modeling in glycobiology

The field of glycobiology is concerned with the study of the structure, properties, and biological functions of the family of biomolecules called carbohydrates. Bioinformatics for glycobiology is a particularly challenging field, because carbohydrates exhibit a high structural diversity and their chains are often branched. Significant improvements in experimental analytical methods over recent years have led to a tremendous increase in the amount of carbohydrate structure data generated. Consequently, the availability of databases and tools to store, retrieve and analyze these data in an efficient way is of fundamental importance to progress in glycobiology. In this review, the various graphical representations and sequence formats of carbohydrates are introduced, and an overview of newly developed databases, the latest developments in sequence alignment and data mining, and tools to support experimental glycan analysis are presented. Finally, the field of structural glycoinformatics and molecular modeling of carbohydrates, glycoproteins, and protein–carbohydrate interaction are reviewed

Mortality related to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in a modernizing population

Excessive adiposity is associated with elevated rates of middle-aged mortality, particularly that related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). One purpose of this study was to determine whether the population of American Samoa demonstrated the expected elevation of mortality rates related to these two causes. Accordingly for all American Samoan death records (N = 1588) during the period 1962-74, both crude and age-standardized rates were calculated and interpopulation comparisons of DM and CVD were made. The second purpose of this research was to determine if elevated CVD mortality was associated with the islands' recent trend toward modernization. For this purpose 902 deaths of persons aged 30 or more were analyzed to determine change in CVD mortality over time and differences by degree of participation in modern life. The CVD-related mortality rate for Samoa was 82.1 per 100,000, compared to 368.6 reported for the United States in 1962. After age standardization the Samoan rate increased to 242.5, still below that of the United States. The Samoan DM-related mortality rate was 13.9 per 100,000, compared to a United States rate of 15.9 in 1959. After age adjustment, the respective rates were 32.2 and 13.4 (1957-59), the Samoan rate being more than double that the United States. Female CVD mortality in Samoa increased from 196.2 in the period 1963-66 to 363.0 in 1971-74, while male rates remained essentially unchanged (417.3 and 429.0 respectively). CVD mortality among males living in more modernized areas of the islands was 46.5% higher than that for male residents of more traditional areas (343.5 and 234.5 respectively); among females, however, the rate was highest for those living in traditional areas (398.7). CVD mortality for males classified to the 'sedentary' occupational category was 50% greater than that for males in the 'active'.