Analysis of body composition using bioimpedance (BIA) data

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of body composition in health and disease has been a continuing interest for clinicians, because components of the body often provide more useful information than the whole-body measurements of weight, height, and the derived parameter, body mass index. Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) is a widely used method to estimate body composition. The technology is relatively simple, quick, and noninvasive. The propose of this study was to determine the body composition changes of 11-days clinic-based weight management program.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: For a period of two years (2004-2005) we studied 519 overweight and obese women (BMI, X±SD, 32.94±6.51 kg/m2). The diagnostic protocol included anthropometric data, body composition analyse with Tanita ® leg-to-leg BIA system (model TBF - 300A), blood analysis, cardiological, dietological and physiotherapeutical specialist consult. All of patients keep to a low-calorie diet, intensive everyday exercise and physiotherapy procedures. The lectures course included of basis nutrition, healthy eating, long-term exercise program.RESULTS: Weight loss for the group was 2.57 kg. The fat-mass loss was 1.25 kg, free-fat mass was also decrease 1.31 kg. Reductions in circumferences of waist and hip for the group was 3.9 cm and 3.09 cm respectively. Basal metabolic rate was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Patients had improved some components (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting glucose, blood pressure).CONCLUSION: These results support the field use of BIA for estimating changes in fat mass as it is simple to use, requires minimal training and is used across a spectrum of ages, body weights, and disease states.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2008; 40(2): 187-191

The Role of the Coprecipitation Sequence of Salt Precursors on the Genesis of Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 Catalysts: Synthesis, Characterization and Activity for Low Temperature Shift Reaction

Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction were prepared using methods of direct and reverse coprecipitation. The catalysts obtained were characterized by DRX, TPR, XPS, N2O chemisorption, Hg-Porosimetry and BET surface area. It was observed that the precipitation sequence of the precursors led to significant differences in values of copper dispersion and consequently in the activity of the catalyst for the water-gas shift reaction

Structure zone investigation of multiple principle element alloy thin films as optimization for nanoindentation measurements

Multiple principal element alloys, also often referred to as compositionally complex alloys or high entropy alloys, present extreme challenges to characterize. They show a vast, multidimensional composition space that merits detailed investigation and optimization to identify compositions and to map the composition ranges where useful properties are maintained. Combinatorial thin film material libraries are a cost-effective and efficient way to create directly comparable, controlled composition variations. Characterizing them comes with its own challenges, including the need for high-speed, automated measurements of dozens to hundreds or more compositions to be screened. By selecting an appropriate thin film morphology through predictable control of critical deposition parameters, representative measured values can be obtained with less scatter, i.e., requiring fewer measurement repetitions for each particular composition. In the present study, equiatomic CoCrFeNi was grown by magnetron sputtering in different locations in the structure zone diagram applied to multinary element alloys, followed by microstructural and morphological characterizations. Increasing the energy input to the deposition process by increased temperature and adding high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) plasma generators led to denser, more homogeneous morphologies with smoother surfaces until recrystallization and grain boundary grooving began. Growth at 300 °C, even without the extra particle energy input of HiPIMS generators, led to consistently repeatable nanoindentation load–displacement curves and the resulting hardness and Young's modulus values

RIPK3 expression as a potential predictive and prognostic marker in metastatic colon cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the primary causes of cancer-related deaths and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment in these patients. Resistance to 5-FU represents a major obstacle; therefore, finding new predictive and prognostic markers is crucial for improvement of patient outcomes. Recently a new type of programmed cell death was discovered—necroptosis, which depends on receptor interacting protein 3 (RIPK3). Preclinical data showed that necroptotic cell death is an important effector mechanism of 5-FU-mediated anticancer activity. Purpose: To investigate the predictive and prognostic performance of RIPK3 expression in primary tumors. Methods: Colon cancer patients (n=74) with metastatic stage were included in this retrospective study and all were treated with first-line 5-FU based chemotherapy. Immunohistochemical staining was performed. Results: The progression free survival for the low expression group of RIPK3 was 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.4-6.8) vs 8.4 months (95% CI, 6.4-10.3) of the group with high expression (p=0.02). Moreover, patients with high expression of RIPK3 were associated with lower risk of disease progression HR 0.61 (95% CI, 0.38-0.97; p=0.044). Patients with high expression levels of RIPK3 also had significantly longer mean overall survival (OS) of 29.3 months (95% CI, 20.8-37.8) as compared with those with low expression: 18.5 months (95% CI, 15.06-21.9) (p= 0.036). In addition, univariate analysis showed that high level of RIPK3 expression was associated with a longer OS HR 0.59 (95% CI, 0.35-0.98; p=0.044). Conclusions: This study suggests that expression of RIPK3 in primary tumors of metastatic colon cancer patients should be further investigated for its potential as a promising predictive and prognostic marker