Sarcopenic obesity and diabetes are two increasing health problems worldwide, which both share many common risk factors, such as aging, and general obesity. The pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity includes aging, physical inactivity, malnutrition, low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal changes. Nevertheless, there are two major reasons to cause diabetes: impaired insulin secretion and impaired insulin action. Furthermore, the individual diagnosis of obesity and sarcopenia should be combined to adequately define sarcopenic obesity. Also, the diagnosis of diabetes includes fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (A1C), and random plasma glucose coupled with symptoms. Healthy diet and physical activity are beneficial to both sarcopenic obesity and diabetes, but there are only recommended drugs for diabetes. This review consolidates and discusses the latest research in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatments of diabetes and sarcopenic obesity.

The reaction conditions and scope of the photo-Nazarov reaction of aryl vinyl ketones were investigated. In contrast to the conventional acid-catalyzed methods, this photolytic electrocyclization proceeds in the neutral or basic conditions. Irradiating substrates bearing various aromatic rings, acid-sensitive groups, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, and unsaturated pyran with UV-light (254 nm) smoothly yielded hexahydrofluorenones and related structures. This photo-Nazarov reaction could also be applicable to the substrates carrying β-alkyl groups on the enone, which gave corresponding polycyclic rings containing quaternary centers. These photo-electrocyclized products may prove useful for synthesizing a variety of natural products and their derivatives. Further application of this mild photo-Nazarov reaction in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinol B was achieved.

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Y-shaped ZnO nanobelts are fabricated by a simple thermal evaporation method. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) investigation shows that these ZnO nanobelts are crystals with twinned planes {11–21}. Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction studies show that the two sides of twinned nanobelts are O-terminated towards the twinned boundary and Zn-terminated outwards. The two branches of twinned ZnO nanobelts grow along [11–26] from the trunk and then turn to the polarization direction [0001]. The featured Y-shape morphology and TEM characterizations indicate that the growth of these novel nanostructures is driven by an unusual twinned dislocation growth mechanism.

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