Mammalian PIEZO channels rectify anionic currents.

Under physiological conditions, mammalian PIEZO channels (PIEZO1 and PIEZO2) elicit transient currents mostly carried by monovalent and divalent cations. PIEZO1 is also known to permeate chloride ions, with a Cl/Na permeability ratio of about 0.2.

Large-pore connexin hemichannels function like molecule transporters independent of ion conduction.

Connexin hemichannels were identified as the first members of the eukaryotic large-pore channel family that mediate permeation of both atomic ions and small molecules between the intracellular and extracellular environments. The conventional view is that their pore is a large passive conduit through which both ions and molecules diffuse in a similar manner. In stark contrast to this notion, we demonstrate that the permeation of ions and of molecules in connexin hemichannels can be uncoupled and differentially regulated.

An Analysis of Cancer Center-Provided Rideshare Utilization for Radiation Therapy.

Objectives: The potential of rideshare services to facilitate timely radiation therapy (RT), especially for resource-limited patients, is understudied.

Methods: Patients (n = 63) who received 73 courses of RT (1,513 fractions) and utilized free hospital-provided rideshare service (537 rides) were included in this retrospective study. A multidimensional analysis was conducted including a comparison of demographic, disease characteristics, and treatment completion data; a revenue analysis to evaluate the financial impact of rideshare services; and a geospatial analysis to evaluate community-level characteristics of patients.

Design, characterization and structure-function analysis of novel antimicrobial peptides based on the N-terminal CATH-2 fragment.

The emergence of multidrug resistance coupled with shrinking antibiotic pipelines has increased the demand of antimicrobials with novel mechanisms of action. Therefore, researchers across the globe are striving to develop new antimicrobial substances to alleviate the pressure on conventional antibiotic therapies. Host-Defence Peptides (HDPs) and their derivatives are emerging as effective therapeutic agents against microbial resistance.

α-Helix in Cystathionine β-Synthase Enzyme Acts as an Electron Reservoir.

The modulation of electron density at the Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) catalytic center, because of charge transfer across the α-helix/PLP interface, is the determining factor for the enzymatic activities in the human Cystathionine β-Synthase (hCBS) enzyme. Applying density functional theory calculations, in conjunction with the real space density analysis, we investigated the charge density delocalization across the entire heme-α-helix-PLP electron communication channels. The electron delocalization due to hydrogen bonds at the heme/α-helix and α-helix/PLP interfaces are found to be extended over a very long range, as a result of redistribution of electron densities of the cofactors.

Proton Beam Therapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Tumors: An Analysis of Dosimetric and Clinical Outcomes.

Objective: Locally advanced tumors of the head and neck region often lie in close proximity to critical organs at risk (OARs). Providing effective treatment coverage to these malignancies while minimizing radiation dose to surrounding OARs is advantageous. Our aim is to compare dosimetric data of OARs from proton beam therapy (PBT) plans to volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans, and to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients treated with PBT.

Multidisciplinary, articular surface-preserving treatment strategy for locally aggressive epithelioid hemangioma of the acetabulum employing serial bland transarterial embolization.

Epithelioid hemangioma is a rare, histologically benign but locally aggressive primary vascular neoplasm that can rarely arise in bone. Mainstay treatment is surgical resection or curettage with bone grafting. We report a novel multidisciplinary, joint-sparing treatment approach for an epithelioid hemangioma of bone arising in the acetabulum causing severe thinning of the subchondral bone plate.

Thyroid-optimized and thyroid-sparing radiotherapy in oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma: A dosimetric study.

Background: Radiation-induced hypothyroidism is a common toxicity of head and neck radiation. Our re-planning study aimed to reduce thyroid dose while maintaining target coverage with IMRT.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with oral-cavity (n = 5) and oropharyngeal cancer (n = 5).

Understanding the role of R266K mutation in cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) enzyme: an study.

Human cystathionine β-synthase (hCBS) is a Heme-containing, unique pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme. CBS catalyzes the bio-chemical condensation reactions in the transsulfuration pathway. The role of Heme in the catalytic activities of the hCBS enzyme is still unknown, even though various experimental studies indicated its participation in the bi-directional electronic communication with the PLP center.

Proton Beam Therapy in the Treatment of Periorbital Malignancies.

Purpose: Periorbital tumor location presents a significant challenge with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or intensity modulated radiation therapy due to high tumor dose needed in the setting of close proximity to orbital structures with lower tolerance. Proton beam therapy (PBT) is felt to be an effective modality in such cases due to its sharp dose gradient.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed our institutional PBT registry and identified 17 patients with tumor epicenters within 2 cm of the eye and optic apparatus treated with passive scatter PBT with comparison volumetric arc therapy plans available.

A series of typical and atypical cases of Bazex syndrome: Identifying the red herring to avoid delaying cancer treatment.

Bazex syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic dermatosis that precedes diagnosis of cancer. Awareness of this syndrome is important, as it allows early detection of underlying malignancy and may prevent misdiagnosis and delays in cancer treatment.

Multidisciplinary approach for repeat musculoskeletal lesion biopsy after nondiagnostic initial sampling: A 10-year single-center experience.

Background And Objectives: Success rates for initial image-guided biopsy of musculoskeletal (MSK) lesions have been well documented; evidence regarding success rates for repeat biopsy following initially nondiagnostic (ND) image-guided biopsy of MSK lesions is more limited. This study evaluates the outcomes of repeat computerized tomography-guided MSK biopsies following ND biopsies using a multidisciplinary approach.

Materials And Methods: Electronic medical record search covering a 10-year period identified patients that received two or more biopsies for an MSK tumor or tumor-like process.

Reirradiation for Recurrent Scalp Angiosarcoma: Dosimetric Advantage of PBT over VMAT and EBT.

Purpose: Reirradiation in the scalp area can be challenging given the proximity to organs at risk (OARs), such as the eye and brain. Our aim is to evaluate the dosimetric differences of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and electron beam therapy (EBT) compared with 3-dimensional proton beam therapy (PBT).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated a patient with recurrent angiosarcoma of the left temporal scalp after prior surgical resections and radiation therapy to 60 Gy in 30 fractions who needed reirradiation.

Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Patterns of Failure for Olfactory Neuroblastoma: The Ohio State Experience.

 Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare head and neck cancer believed to be originated from neural crest cells of the olfactory membrane located in the roof of the nasal fossa. This study evaluates clinical outcomes and failure patterns in ONB patients of those patients treated with surgical resection at a high-volume tertiary cancer center.  Thirty-nine ONB patients who underwent surgical resection at our institution from 1996 to 2017 were retrospectively identified.

Erratum: Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Patterns of Failure for Olfactory Neuroblastoma: The Ohio State Experience.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1692479.].

Platinum-based regimens versus cetuximab in definitive chemoradiation for human papillomavirus-unrelated head and neck cancer.

For patients ineligible for cisplatin with definitive radiotherapy (CP-CRT) for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC), concurrent cetuximab (C225-RT) is a popular substitute. Carboplatin-based chemoradiation (CB-CRT) is another option; however, relative efficacies of CP-CRT, CB-CRT and C225-RT are unclear, particularly in the human papillomavirus (HPV)-unrelated population. We identified 316 patients with stage III-IVB cancers of the oropharynx (24.

Assessment of Food Safety Knowledge and Behaviors of Cancer Patients Receiving Treatment.

Cancer patients receiving treatment are at a higher risk for the acquisition of foodborne illness than the general population. Despite this, few studies have assessed the food safety behaviors, attitudes, risk perceptions, and food acquisition behaviors of this population. Further, no studies have, yet, quantified the food safety knowledge of these patients.

Emerging Opportunities for Digital PET/CT to Advance Locoregional Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer.

The purpose of this article is to present the recent imaging advancements enabled by digital photon counting positron emission tomography detector technology and discuss its potential applications in the clinical management of head and neck cancer (HNC) and nodal metastases. F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography is a clinically useful biomarker for the detection, targeted biopsy, treatment planning, and therapeutic response assessment of HNC. This article highlights the current state of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography imaging in HNC management as well as the emerging capabilities of the recently introduced digital photon counting positron emission tomography/computed tomography platform for more effective molecular and functional HNC imaging.

Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for locoregionally persistent or recurrent head and neck cancer.

Background: To report our institutional experience with intraoperative radiotherapy for persistent or recurrent head and neck cancer.

Methods: Sixty-one patients were treated with salvage surgery and intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Fifty-eight patients (95%) had previously received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) as a component of their definitive therapy.

Plasma-based biomaterials for the treatment of cutaneous radiation injury.

Cutaneous wounds caused by an exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation remain a therapeutic challenge. While new experimental strategies for treatment are being developed, there are currently no off-the-shelf therapies for the treatment of cutaneous radiation injury that have been proven to promote repair of the damaged tissues. Plasma-based biomaterials are biologically active biomaterials made from platelet enriched plasma, which can be made into both solid and semi-solid forms, are inexpensive, and are available as off-the-shelf, nonrefrigerated products.

An Evaluation of Factors Predicting Diet Quality among Cancer Patients.

A high diet quality is associated with a lower risk of cancer mortality. However, the predictive factors of diet quality among cancer patients are not well understood. This study determines the socio-demographic and disease-related factors that affect diet quality among cancer patients.