Plasma cytokines in women with chronic fatigue syndrome

© 2009 Fletcher et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

A Differential Network Approach to Exploring Differences between Biological States: An Application to Prediabetes

Background: Variations in the pattern of molecular associations are observed during disease development. The comprehensive analysis of molecular association patterns and their changes in relation to different physiological conditions can yield insight into the biological basis of disease-specific phenotype variation. Methodology: Here, we introduce a formal statistical method for the differential analysis of molecular associations via network representation. We illustrate our approach with extensive data on lipoprotein subclasses measured by NMR spectroscopy in 4,406 individuals with normal fasting glucose, and 531 subjects with impaired fasting glucose (prediabetes). We estimate the pair-wise association between measures using shrinkage estimates of partial correlations and build the differential network based on this measure of association. We explore the topological properties of the inferred network to gain insight into important metabolic differences between individuals with normal fasting glucose and prediabetes. Conclusions/Significance: Differential networks provide new insights characterizing differences in biological states. Based on conventional statistical methods, few differences in concentration levels of lipoprotein subclasses were found between individuals with normal fasting glucose and individuals with prediabetes. By performing the differential analysis of networks, several characteristic changes in lipoprotein metabolism known to be related to diabetic dyslipidemias were identified. The results demonstrate the applicability of the new approach to identify key molecular changes inaccessible to standard approaches

Os leigos no processo sinodal da Diocese de Cabinda (2006-2018) : desafios teológicos e pastorais Student thesis

A teologia como saber sistemático da fé, continua a refletir e aprofundar os acontecimentos da comunidade crente. Deste modo, o estudo da sinodalidade será o foco do percurso. Na eclesiologia contemporânea mais recente, a sinodalidade é mais uma redescoberta da Igreja. Trata-se de uma caminhada comunitária e escuta a Palavra de Deus. Convida-nos a fazer o discernimento dos sinais dos tempos na comunidade e no mundo (GS 4). Motiva-nos para identificarmos os novos campos da missão. Escutarmos o que o “Espírito diz às Igrejas” (Ap 2,7). A sinodalidade é um processo, um estilo de comunhão. É missão (serviço) e unidade da Igreja de Deus. A sinodalidade demonstra o rosto de Igreja ao mundo, uma Igreja concreta na história humana, operando em nome de Jesus. Nela, participam os pastores, os fiéis, que procuram responder aos anseios e problemas, que afligem a humanidade através do diálogo, da escuta recíproca e da complementaridade. A sinodalidade tem como finalidade, gerar o ambiente de participação ativa, consciente e plena do povo de Deus. Reafirmamos que, Jesus Cristo fez de nós judeus e gregos, uma só família. Revelou o mistério da pessoa humana (GS 22). Pelo que, os leigos têm a missão secular para o bem da humanidade. Entretanto, são convidados a dar testemunho como “sal da terra e luz do mundo” (Mt 5,13). Por fim, a Diocese de Cabinda pode ganhar o novo ardor missionário através da liturgia, da cultura digital, da educação e da promoção dos direitos humanos.Theology as a systematic knowledge of the faith continues to reflect and deepen the events of the believing community. In this way, the study of synodality will be the focus of the course. In more recent contemporary ecclesiology, synodality is yet another rediscovery of the Church. It is a community journey and listening to the Word of God. He invites us to discern the signs of the times in the community and in the world (GS 4). It motivates us to identify new fields of mission. We listen to what the “Spirit says to the Churches” (Rev 2,7). Synodality is a process, a style of communion. It is mission (service) and unity of the Church of God. Synodality shows the face of the Church to the world, a Church concrete in human history, operating in the name of Jesus. Pastors and faithful participate in it, who seek to respond to the anxieties and problems that afflict humanity through dialogue, reciprocal listening, and complementarity. The purpose of synodality is to generate an environment for the active, conscious, and full participation of the People of God. We reaffirm that Jesus Christ made us Jews and Greeks one family. He revealed the mystery of the human person (GS 22). Therefore, the laity have a secular mission for the good of humanity. However, they are invited to bear witness as “the salt of the earth and the light of the world” (Mt 5:13). Finally, the Diocese of Cabinda can gain new missionary ardor through the liturgy, digital culture, education, and the promotion of human rights.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Neuro-endocrine and Immune Network Re-modeling in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Exploratory Analysis

This work investigates the significance of changes in association patterns linking indicators of neuroendocrine and immune activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Gene sets preferentially expressed in specific immune cell isolates were integrated with neuroendocrine data from a large population-based study. Co-expression patterns linking immune cell activity with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA), thyroidal (HPT) and gonadal (HPG) axis status were computed using mutual information criteria. Networks in control and CFS subjects were compared globally in terms of a weighted graph edit distance. Local re-modeling of node connectivity was quantified by node degree and eigenvector centrality measures. Results indicate statistically significant differences between CFS and control networks determined mainly by re-modeling around pituitary and thyroid nodes as well as an emergent immune sub-network. Findings align with known mechanisms of chronic inflammation and support possible immune-mediated loss of thyroid function in CFS exacerbated by blunted HPA axis responsiveness