Introduction: Although obesity is associated with adverse cancer outcomes in general, most retrospective clinical studies suggest a beneficial effect of obesity in NSCLC.Methods: Hypothesizing that this "obesity paradox" arises partly from the limitations of using body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity, we quantified adiposity using preoperative computed tomography images. This allowed the specific determination of central obesity as abdominal visceral fat area normalized to total fat area (visceral fat index [VFI]). In addition, owing to the previously reported salutary effect of metformin on high-BMI patients with lung cancer, metformin users were excluded. We then explored associations between visceral obesity and outcomes after surgical resection of stage I and II NSCLC. We also explored potential immunologic underpinnings of such association using complimentary analyses of tumor gene expression data from NSCLC tumors and the tumor transcriptome and immune microenvironment in an immunocompetent model of lung cancer with diet-induced obesity.Results: We found that in 513 patients with stage I and II NSCLC undergoing lobectomy, a high VFI is associated with decreased recurrence-free and overall survival. VFI was also inversely related to an inflammatory transcriptomic signature in NSCLC tumors, consistent with observations made in immunocompetent murine models wherein diet-induced obesity promoted cancer progression while exacerbating elements of immune suppression in the tumor niche.Conclusions: In all, this study uses multiple lines of evidence to reveal the adverse effects of visceral obesity in patients with NSCLC, which align with those found in animal models. Thus, the obesity paradox may, at least in part, be secondary to the use of BMI as a measure of obesity and the confounding effects of metformin use.

The growth/differentiation factor-15, GDF-15, has been found to be secreted by Schwann cells in the lesioned peripheral nervous system. To investigate whether GDF-15 plays a role in peripheral nerve regeneration, we substituted exogenous GDF-15 into 10-mm sciatic nerve gaps in adult rats and compared functional and morphological regeneration to a vehicle control group. Over a period of 11 weeks, multiple functional assessments, including evaluation of pinch reflexes, the Static Sciatic Index and of electrophysiological parameters, were performed. Regenerated nerves were then morphometrically analyzed for the number and quality of regenerated myelinated axons. Substitution of GDF-15 significantly accelerated sensory recovery while the effects on motor recovery were less strong. Although the number of regenerated myelinated axons was significantly reduced after GDF-15 treatment, the regenerated axons displayed advanced maturation corroborating the results of the functional assessments. Our results suggest that GDF-15 is involved in the complex orchestration of peripheral nerve regeneration after lesion.

Airglow variability is a topic that has been studied for decades but an understanding of the role of the dynamical influence underlying this variability has only been achieved recently. The UARS dynamics instruments, HRDI (High Resolution Doppler Imager) and WINDII (WIND Imaging Interferometer) have been instrumental in providing this understanding, because they measure both winds and emission rates, and so are able to determine the coupling between the two. But ground-based observations are also an essential ingredient to this understanding, which has grown through intercomparisons between dataset and models through workshops such as DYSMER. This presentation begins by describing the influence of the diurnal tide on oxygen and hydroxyl airglow emission rates, including the seasonal variation. This is followed by a description of two planetary scale disturbance phenomena, the springtime transition, and a stratospheric warming. Auroral influences are also considered. While these investigations cover a wide range of mechanisms there is an underlying thread which is that it is these large scale dynamical processes that are responsible for determining the distribution of the airglow patterns detected, and thus the distribution of concentration of atomic oxygen.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects 48% of the adult population and is the leading cause of death in the United States. Vascular stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, and decreased skeletal muscle health are each independently associated with increased CVD risk. This study sought to test the hypothesis that indices of vascular health are associated with skeletal muscle function in the general population. Methods 22 (16 women and 6 men) apparently healthy adults participated in this study. Dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry was performed to obtain body composition and skeletal muscle mass. Carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVCF), augmentation index normalized for heart rate (AI@75bpm), and flow mediated dilation normalized for shear rate (FMD/Shear) were assessed to evaluate arterial stiffness and endothelial function. Handgrip strength was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer and skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity (Kox cap) was assessed using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to evaluate indices of skeletal muscle health and function, respectively. Results Kox cap was inversely correlated with both carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity PWVCF (r= −0.515; p= 0.014) and AI@75BPM (r= −0.453; p= 0.034). In addition, a trend in the relationship between FMD/Shear and Kox cap (r= 0.326; p= 0.139) was observed. Compared with women, men had significantly higher PWVCF (p= 0.008), handgrip strength (p< 0.001), and skeletal muscle mass (p= 0.006); however, muscle function was similar (p= 0.209) between sexes. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that improved muscle function can favorably impact vascular health. Additionally, skeletal muscle strength and size were significantly different between sexes; however, muscle function was similar. These data highlight the importance of assessing all three indices of muscle health. Future studies are warranted to investigate if increases in vascular endothelial function will improve skeletal muscle function and contribute to prevention of CVD. Support or Funding Information This project was supported in part by The Augusta University Medical Scholars Program (AB) and NIH R01DK117365 (RAH and XW).