348 research outputs found
Writing Artists’ Lives Across Nations and Cultures: Biography, Biofiction and Transnationality
No full textAs an introduction to the volume, this chapter explores recent developments relating to the study and practice of biography across nations and cultures, discussing key issues in the humanities that have significant implications for writing the lives of writers, musicians and visual artists. These include the resurgence in scholarly interest in artists’ biographies; the rise of biofiction and the ways in which this mode of writing is distinguished from biography; the death and return of the Author; and the prominence that transnationality has assumed in studies of life writing, challenging the traditional framework of the nation-state. It also outlines the aims and scope of the volume, and concludes with a one-paragraph summary of each of its chapters in turn
Understanding cancer cachexia: adipose tissue under the loupe
No full textPatiënten met pancreaskanker lijden vaak aan cachexie, een syndroom gekarakteriseerd door onvrijwillig gewichtsverlies, toe te rekenen aan een reductie in skeletspier- en vetweefselmassa. Wij hypothetiseerden dat verbruining van wit vetweefsel (WAT), waarbij WAT eigenschappen van bruin vetweefsel (BAT) overneemt, en verhoogde lipolyse optreden in cachectische patiënten met pancreaskanker omwille van hun betrokkenheid in energie regulatie. Immunohistochemie toonde een positieve UCP1 (marker voor BAT) kleuring in vetweefselcoupes van pancreaspatiënten aan, maar deze varieerde tussen de patiënten en was heterogeen verdeeld in het WAT. In vitro experimenten onthulde dat geconditioneerd medium (CM) afkomstig van humane pancreas kanker cellijnen in staat is om UCP1 expressie in muis 3T3-L1 adipocyten te verhogen. Echter, incubatie met CM had geen effect op de afgifte van glycerol in de adipocyten. Deze data ondersteunen het idee dat WAT verbruining in patiënten met pancreaskanker optreedt. Verbruining was echter niet beperkt tot deze subpopulatie, aangezien WAT afkomstig van andere soorten niet-cachectische patiënten ook een positieve kleuring vertoonde. Bovendien onthulde deze studie dat pancreas tumorcellen in staat zijn om UCP1 mRNA expressie in 3T3-L1 adipocyten te verhogen, terwijl de lipolyse levels onveranderd bleven. In het algemeen is de herhaling van experimenten en navolgend onderzoek vereist om een beter inzicht te krijgen in het belang van veranderingen in vetweefsel biologie in de ontwikkeling van kanker cachexie
'Don't tell anyone':K. Schippers' reflections as novelist on life writing and transnationality
No full textNeural control of lipid metabolism and inflammation : implications for atherosclerosis
No full textThe brain is increasingly recognized as the regulator of body homeostasis and as possible treatment target for cardiovascular disease. This thesis further reveals the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the control of lipid metabolism and inflammation, and identified pathological consequences of disturbed regulation. Part I focuses on regulation of lipid metabolism by the ANS, with special attention for brown adipose tissue (BAT) as an emerging pharmacological target for therapy. We describe novel targets that modulate BAT, both directly (e.g. CB1R) and via the brain (e.g. MC4R, GLP-1R) to show that BAT activation improves dyslipidemia, glucose tolerance and T2D and even atherosclerosis. In addition, we identified the biological clock as an important regulator of BAT function and showed the consequences of disturbed circadian rhythmicity for lipid metabolism. Part II of this thesis describes studies on the regulation of inflammation by the ANS, with focus on the anti-inflammatory reflex. During this reflex, binding of acetylcholine to _7nAChR and subsequent intracellular signaling results in transcriptional repression of pro-inflammatory genes. We investigated the effects of hematopoietic _7nAChR deficiency and the consequences of selective parasympathetic and sympathetic denervation of the spleen for this reflex, and for inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque development.Autonomic nervous system, lipid metabolism, brown adipose tissue, inflammation, atherosclerosisUBL - phd migration 201
The relationship between tumor metabolic activity and body composition changes in patients with cancer
No full textAbstract
Background: To support tumor metabolism, gluconeogenesis is upregulated in
normal cells to increase glucose supply. Gluconeogenesis uses non-carbohydrate
substrates, such as glucogenic amino acids and glycerol, that can be secured through
increased proteolysis and lipolysis. This increased catabolism may contribute to the
loss of both muscle and adipose tissue, which are prevalent features of patients with
cancer.
Aim: To assess whether tumor metabolic activity at diagnosis is associated with body
composition changes in patients with cancer during cancer treatment.
Methods: Data from the ACRIN 6668 multi-center clinical trial were used. Patients
with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included and submitted to concurrent
chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed
tomography (CT) scans were performed at diagnosis and after treatment. Tumor
metabolic activity at baseline was calculated as the maximum and peak standardized
uptake value of the lung (SUVmax and SUVpeak), total metabolic tumor volume
(MTV), and total glycolytic activity of all lesions (TGA). Using an automated deep
learning algorithm, skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous
adipose tissue (SAT) areas were assessed based on CT scans at the L3 vertebra level.
Results: After excluding patients due to missing data, 136 patients were included in
our analysis. Baseline MTV and TGA were associated with higher increases in SAT index
per 100 days in univariable and multivariable analysis. SUVmax was associated with
decreases in skeletal muscle radiation attenuation (SMRA) per 100 days (T2 vs. T1
adjusted B=-4.396, 95% confidence interval (CI): -8.282, -0.509), and SUVpeak was
associated with decreases in SMRA and increases in VAT radiation attenuation per 100
days (T2 vs. T1 adjusted B=-4.181, 95% CI: -8.045, -0.317; and 2.429, 95% CI: 0.611, 4.247,
respectively).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that tumor metabolic activity might be related to
changes in body composition, although consistency was not found across analyses.
Future research should address the limitations of the present work to assess if tumor
metabolic activity at baseline can be confirmed as a predictor of body composition
changes in patients with NSCLC during CRTResumo
Enquadramento: Para sustentar o metabolismo do tumor, a gliconeogénese está
aumentada em células normais para aumentar a oferta de glicose. A gliconeogénese
utiliza substratos não-glucídicos, como aminoácidos glicogénicos e glicerol, que
podem ser assegurados através do aumento da proteólise e da lipólise. Este aumento
do catabolismo pode contribuir para a diminuição do tecido muscular e adiposo
característica de doentes com cancro.
Objetivo: Avaliar se a atividade metabólica tumoral está associada a alterações da
composição corporal de doentes com cancro durante o tratamento oncológico.
Métodos: Foram utilizados dados do ensaio clínico multicêntrico ACRIN 6668. Foram
incluídos doentes com cancro do pulmão de não pequenas células (NSCLC)
submetidos a quimioradioterapia concomitante (CRT). Foram realizadas tomografias
por emissão de positrões (PET)/tomografia computadorizada (CT) antes e depois do
tratamento. A atividade metabólica tumoral antes do tratamento foi calculada como
Standardized Uptake Value máximo e pico (SUVmax e SUVpeak), volume metabólico
tumoral total (MTV) e atividade glicolítica total de todas as lesões (TGA). Utilizando um
algoritmo automatizado de Deep Learning para coloração, as áreas de músculo
esquelético, tecido adiposo visceral (VAT) e tecido adiposo subcutâneo (SAT) foram
medidas com base nas imagens de CT ao nível da vértebra L3.
Resultados: Após exclusão de doentes por dados em falta, 136 doentes foram
incluídos na análise. MTV e TGA antes do tratamento foram associados a maiores
aumentos de índice de SAT por 100 dias, em análises univariáveis e multivariáveis. O
SUVmax foi associado a diminuição da atenuação da radiação do músculo esquelético
(SMRA) por 100 dias (T2 vs. T1 B ajustado=-4,396, intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%: -
8,282, -0,509), e o SUVpeak foi associado a diminuições da SMRA e aumentos da
atenuação da radiação do VAT por 100 dias (T2 vs. T1 B ajustado=-4,181, IC 95%: -8,045,
-0,317; e 2,429, IC 95%: 0,611, 4,247, respetivamente).
Conclusão: Os nossos resultados sugerem que a atividade metabólica tumoral pode
estar relacionada com a alterações de composição corporal, ainda que com falta de
consistência entre análises. Investigação futura deve considerar as limitações do
presente trabalho para avaliar se a atividade metabólica tumoral no diagnóstico pode
ser um preditor de alterações de composição corporal de doentes com NSCLC
durante a CRT
Coherent Stylization for Stereoscopic Augmented Reality
No full textIn this paper, a method is proposed for stylizing stereoscopic augmented reality, while attempting to retain temporal and visual coherence. By tracking an AR marker and estimating a disparity map from stereo images, world positions of anchor points are tracked across frames and images, in order to move them with the scene. Additionally, the density of anchor points in the image is adjusted each frame to prevent areas from being over- or underpopulated with anchor points. The method is applied to a simple mosaic style and both quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate improved coherence when compared to a baseline. Besides that, the algorithm runs at near-interactive frame rates.CSE3000 Research ProjectComputer Science and Engineerin
The Role of Microbial Amino Acid Metabolism in Host Metabolism
No full textDisruptions in gut microbiota composition and function are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The functional output of the gut microbiota, including short-chain fatty acids and amino acids, are thought to be important modulators underlying the development of these disorders. Gut bacteria can alter the bioavailability of amino acids by utilization of several amino acids originating from both alimentary and endogenous proteins. In turn, gut bacteria also provide amino acids to the host. This could have significant implications in the context of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, conditions associated with elevated systemic concentrations of certain amino acids, in particular the aromatic and branched-chain amino acids. Moreover, several amino acids released by gut bacteria can serve as precursors for the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, which also play a role in the development of obesity. In this review, we aim to compile the available evidence on the contribution of microbial amino acids to host amino acid homeostasis, and to assess the role of the gut microbiota as a determinant of amino acid and short-chain fatty acid perturbations in human obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus
The Design and Implementation of a Domain-Specific Language for the Description of Medical Devices
No full textLeQuest develops interactive e-training modules to improve the competence regarding medical technology of medical professionals. The medical technology is analysed by LeQuest to develop training modules, but the analysis process and writing associated information can be performed more efficiently. This would reduce the required time and resources which could be invested in additional trainings and quality improvements. In the end, this will lead to an improvement regarding the patient's safety in health institutions. This work empirically evaluated the Spoofax Workbench by conducting an industrial case-study which consists of the design, implementation and evaluation of a domain-specific language (DSL). The LeQuest DSL is used as a tool for transforming the current analysis process into a more formalized process which does allow for objective observations, measurements and quantifiable information. Although the LeQuest DSL is not integrated in the current work-flow yet, the evaluation has shown that it is expected that the overall quality and efficiency of the analysis process will increase after the introduction of the DSL
‘Something Out of the Way’: Edmund Gosse’s Biography of Henrik Ibsen
No full textIn 1907, Edmund Gosse published two biographies, Father and Son: A Study of Two Temperaments and Henrik Ibsen. In her chapter on Edmund Gosse’s biography of Henrik Ibsen, Suze van der Poll examines how far we can say that Gosse’s Father and Son functions as a source of inspiration for Henrik Ibsen. Looking more closely at the structural principles of the work and Gosse’s presentation of temperament and his use of narrative techniques, she demonstrates that the English biographer’s portrait not only shapes Ibsen as a canonical European author and citizen of the world, but at the same time reflects Gosse’s own development, as both human being and literary critic
Endoscopic treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders : basic and clinical studies on the effect of the Duodenal-Jejunal bypass liner
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