Impact of Manual Contour Editing on Plan Quality for Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: Online adaptive radiation therapy (oART) has high resource costs especially for head and neck (H&N) cancer, which requires recontouring complex targets and numerous organs-at-risk (OARs). Adaptive radiation therapy systems provide autocontours to help. We aimed to explore the optimal level of editing automatic contours to maintain plan quality in a cone beam computed tomography-based oART system for H&N cancer.

In Silico Analysis of Adjuvant Head and Neck Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Recently developed online adaptive radiation therapy (OnART) systems enable frequent treatment plan adaptation, but data supporting a dosimetric benefit in postoperative head and neck radiation therapy (RT) are sparse. We performed an in silico dosimetric study to assess the potential benefits of a single versus weekly OnART in the treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the adjuvant setting.

Methods And Materials: Twelve patients receiving conventionally fractionated RT over 6 weeks and 12 patients receiving hypofractionated RT over 3 weeks on a clinical trial were analyzed.

Treatment of Oligometastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: An ASTRO/ESTRO Clinical Practice Guideline.

Purpose: This joint guideline by American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) was initiated to review evidence and provide recommendations regarding the use of local therapy in the management of extracranial oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Local therapy is defined as the comprehensive treatment of all known cancer-primary tumor, regional nodal metastases, and metastases-with definitive intent.

Methods: ASTRO and ESTRO convened a task force to address 5 key questions focused on the use of local (radiation, surgery, other ablative methods) and systemic therapy in the management of oligometastatic NSCLC.

Aspirin use is associated with improvement in distant metastases outcome in patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: Aspirin (ASA) use has been correlated with improved outcomes in high-risk patients at risk for distant metastases. Breast cancer (BC) patients with residual disease, particularly nodal disease (ypN +) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), are high-risk patients portending worse outcomes. We hypothesized that ASA use can reduce distant metastases and improve outcomes in these patients.

Effect of Rare-Earth Ions on the Optical and PL Properties of Novel Borosilicate Glass Developed from Agricultural Waste.

There is considerable attention devoted to the use of agricultural waste as a raw material substitute for commercial silica in the development of borosilicate glasses doped with rare earth oxides. Here, we present a novel structure for borosilicate glasses made from rice husk ash with a 25% molar ratio of extracted SiO and doped with neodymium (GRN) or dysprosium (GRD). Adding rare earth oxides to borosilicate glasses by the melt quenching method enhanced optical transmission due to the presence of their tetrahedral geometries.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiation (SAbR) for Oligometastatic RCC.

A significant proportion of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients present with oligometastatic disease. Retrospective and limited prospective data suggests that a subgroup of patients with oligometastatic mRCC benefits from aggressive local therapy. With the emerging data of high local control efficacy with low toxicity of stereotactic ablative radiation (SAbR) for both CNS and extra-cranial mRCC, SAbR may play a critical role in the multi-modality management of mRCC patients with oligometastatic disease.

Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of a Newly Designed Nutraceutical Self-Nanoemulsifying Self-Nanosuspension for Protection and Treatment of Cisplatin Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats.

The incorporation of cisplatin (CP) as a cytotoxic antineoplastic agent in most chemotherapeutic protocols is a challenge due to its toxic effect on testicular tissues. Natural compounds present a promising trend in research, so a new nutraceutical formulation (NCF) was designed to diminish CP spermatotoxicity. A combination of three nutraceutical materials, 250 mg powder (SP), 25 mg L.

Incorporating Routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Planning for the Delivery of High-dose-rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer: An Evaluation of Clinical Feasibility and Dosimetric Outcomes.

Introduction To evaluate the implementation and dosimetric outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) planning for improved target and normal tissue definition for the treatment of prostate cancer with high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRBT). Methods From August 2015 to October 2017, 137 unique patients with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer underwent a total of 174 outpatient brachytherapy procedures using MRI-based treatment planning. Patients receiving brachytherapy as monotherapy underwent two separate procedures while those receiving brachytherapy as a boost after external beam radiation therapy underwent a single procedure.

GammaKnife versus VMAT radiosurgery plan quality for many brain metastases.

The purpose of this work was to compare dose distributions between two radiosurgery modalities, single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and GammaKnife Perfexion (GK), in the treatment of a large number (≥7) of brain metastases. Twelve patients with 103 brain metastases were analyzed. The median number of targets per patient was 8 (range: 7-14).

Acute toxicity of craniospinal irradiation with volumetric-modulated arc therapy in children with solid tumors.

Background: Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) is an important part of curative radiation therapy (RT) for many types of pediatric brain or solid tumors. After conventional CSI, long term survivors may experience sequelae due to unintended dose to normal tissue. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) CSI reduces off-target doses at the cost of greater complexity and error risk, and we describe our initial experience in a group of pediatric patients with solid tumors presenting with disseminated or recurrent disease.

A Case of Streptococcus anginosus Brain Abscess Caused by Contiguous Spread from Sinusitis in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Brain abscesses are infections of the brain parenchyma that can arise from either contiguous spread from local infection or by hematogenous spread from a distant site. Streptococcus anginosus of the Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) is a commensal microbe of the mucosae of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. We present a case of mono-microbial brain abscess caused by contiguous spread from relatively asymptomatic sinusitis that initially presented as a subdural hemorrhage on computed tomography.

Radiotherapy after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell rescue: Quality assessment of Head Start III.

Background: The use of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell rescue (AuHCR) in Head Start III is a potentially curative approach for the management of young children with central nervous system neoplasms. We report the potential influence of quality and timing of radiation therapy on the survival of patients treated on the study.

Procedure: Between 2003 and 2009, 220 children with newly diagnosed central nervous system neoplasms were enrolled on the study.

Re-irradiation of Recurrent Pineal Germ Cell Tumors with Radiosurgery: Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature.

Primary intracranial germ cell tumors are rare, representing less than 5% of all central nervous system tumors. Overall, the majority of germ cell tumors are germinomas and approximately one-third are non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT), which include teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor), choriocarcinoma, or mixed malignant germ cell tumor. Germ cell tumors may secrete detectable levels of proteins into the blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid, and these proteins can be used for diagnostic purposes or to monitor tumor recurrence.

Transcriptional regulation of NHE3 and SGLT1 by the circadian clock protein Per1 in proximal tubule cells.

We have previously demonstrated that the circadian clock protein period (Per)1 coordinately regulates multiple genes involved in Na(+) reabsorption in renal collecting duct cells. Consistent with these results, Per1 knockout mice exhibit dramatically lower blood pressure than wild-type mice. The proximal tubule is responsible for a majority of Na(+) reabsorption.

Tissue-specific and time-dependent regulation of the endothelin axis by the circadian clock protein Per1.

Aims: The present study is designed to consider a role for the circadian clock protein Per1 in the regulation of the endothelin axis in mouse kidney, lung, liver and heart. Renal endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a regulator of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and blood pressure (BP), via activation of both endothelin receptors, ETA and ETB. However, ET-1 mediates many complex events in other tissues.

A role for the circadian clock protein Per1 in the regulation of the NaCl co-transporter (NCC) and the with-no-lysine kinase (WNK) cascade in mouse distal convoluted tubule cells.

It has been well established that blood pressure and renal function undergo circadian fluctuations. We have demonstrated that the circadian protein Per1 regulates multiple genes involved in sodium transport in the collecting duct of the kidney. However, the role of Per1 in other parts of the nephron has not been investigated.

A role for the circadian clock protein Per1 in the regulation of aldosterone levels and renal Na+ retention.

The circadian clock plays an important role in the regulation of physiological processes, including renal function and blood pressure. We have previously shown that the circadian protein period (Per)1 regulates the expression of multiple Na(+) transport genes in the collecting duct, including the α-subunit of the renal epithelial Na(+) channel. Consistent with this finding, Per1 knockout mice exhibit dramatically lower blood pressure than wild-type mice.

Role of Per1 and the mineralocorticoid receptor in the coordinate regulation of αENaC in renal cortical collecting duct cells.

Renal function and blood pressure (BP) exhibit a circadian pattern of variation, but the molecular mechanism underlying this circadian regulation is not fully understood. We have previously shown that the circadian clock protein Per1 positively regulates the basal and aldosterone-mediated expression of the alpha subunit of the renal epithelial sodium channel (αENaC). The mechanism of this regulation has not been determined however.

Cognition-UPSA score relationships: a further analysis of Silverstein et al. (2010) data and some caveats.

Silverstein et al. (2010) reported correlations between scores on the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA) and scores on two cognitive test batteries (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and IntegNeuro) that were lower than those reported in past studies. The large sample size of that 4-site study (155 patients with schizophrenia) allowed for further analyses of the data to explore the reasons for the discrepancy.

Perceptual organization and visual search processes during target detection task performance in schizophrenia, as revealed by fMRI.

Background: Past studies of perceptual organization in schizophrenia have demonstrated impairments binding fragmented stimulus components into unified representations. ERP and fMRI data indicate that even under conditions of adequate behavioral task performance, significant and meaningful changes in cortical and subcortical activation are present. Here, we examined, using fMRI, activation differences on a visual task wherein feature grouping was a precursor to the formation of distinct groups in the service of target location and identification.

Increased fusiform area activation in schizophrenia during processing of spatial frequency-degraded faces, as revealed by fMRI.

Background: People with schizophrenia demonstrate perceptual organization impairments, and these are thought to contribute to their face processing difficulties.

Method: We examined the neural substrates of emotionally neutral face processing in schizophrenia by investigating neural activity under three stimulus conditions: faces characterized by the full spectrum of spatial frequencies, faces with low spatial frequency information removed [high spatial frequency (HSF) condition], and faces with high spatial frequency information removed [low spatial frequency (LSF) condition]. Face perception in the HSF condition is more reliant on local feature processing whereas perception in the LSF condition requires greater reliance on global form processing.

FMRI indices of auditory attention in schizophrenia.

The present study sought to identify abnormalities in activation in several brain regions in response to an auditory attention task in patients with schizophrenia. Ten patients and twenty healthy control participants were examined using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) measures acquired during an auditory attention task. Region of interest analyses of activation of targeted regions implicated in attention included: anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), and superior temporal gyrus (STG).

Alcohol or traditional methods versus natural drying for newborn's cord care.

This is a quasi-experimental study that aimed to compare the use of alcohol and traditional methods for newborn's cord care with a no-treatment approach, natural drying. The study also aimed to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of cord infection and time of cord separation. A convenient sample of 70 women with vaginal delivery, full-term and healthy babies was selected from postpartum departments of two university hospitals in Alexandria and Minia.