Adaptive radiotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer: a retrospective audit of two bladder filling protocols.

Background: Radical radiotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is challenging due to large variations in bladder shape, size and volume during treatment, with drinking protocols often employed to mitigate geometric uncertainties. Utilising adaptive radiotherapy together with CBCT imaging to select a treatment plan that best fits the bladder target and reduce normal tissue irradiation is an attractive option to compensate for anatomical changes. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare a bladder empty (BE) protocol to a bladder filling (BF) protocol with regards to variations in target volumes, plan of the day (PoD) selection and plan dosimetry throughout treatment.

Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Isolated from Food-Producing Animals in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing has become an important global problem for the public health sector. This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profile among living food-producing animals in Tamaulipas, Mexico. A total of 200 fecal samples were collected from bovines, pigs, chickens and sheep.

Single-cell profiling of Arabidopsis leaves to Pseudomonas syringae infection.

Plant response to pathogen infection varies within a leaf, yet this heterogeneity is not well resolved. We expose Arabidopsis to Pseudomonas syringae or mock treatment and profile >11,000 individual cells using single-cell RNA sequencing. Integrative analysis of cell populations from both treatments identifies distinct pathogen-responsive cell clusters exhibiting transcriptional responses ranging from immunity to susceptibility.

Dermatomyositis autoantigen CHD4 forms immune stimulatory complexes with endogenous DNA.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy belonging to the spectrum of autoimmune connective tissue diseases. DM patients present with antinuclear antibodies against Mi-2, also known as Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4). CHD4 is upregulated in DM skin biopsies and could potentially affect DM pathophysiology as it binds endogenous DNA with a high affinity (KD = 0.

Microstructural and Mechanical Characterization of Al Nanocomposites Using GCNs as a Reinforcement Fabricated by Induction Sintering.

High-energy ball milling is a process suitable for producing composite powders whose achieved microstructure can be controlled by the processing parameters. Through this technique, it is possible to obtain a homogeneous distribution of reinforced material into a ductile metal matrix. In this work, some Al/CGNs nanocomposites were fabricated through a high-energy ball mill to disperse nanostructured graphite reinforcements produced in situ in the Al matrix.

Characterization of B cells in lupus erythematosus skin biopsies in the context of different immune cell infiltration patterns.

Cutaneous lesions in lupus erythematosus (LE) subtypes are heterogenous. In line with the heterogeneity of the clinical presentation, the underlying lesional inflammation in LE skin samples is defined by different immune cell infiltrates. Pathophysiologically, lesional inflammation is driven by autoreactive cytotoxic T cells, targeting keratinocytes; plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), producing large amounts of interferon (IFN); and B cells, whose function in cutaneous LE is still unclear.

Sorption of Bisphenol A as Model for Sorption Ability of Organoclays.

The arrangement of bisphenol A molecules into organoclays and their interactions with the intercalated surfactant were studied. The organoclays were prepared via solid-state intercalation of four cationic surfactants, such as dodecyltrimethyl-, tetradecyltrimethyl-, hexadecyltrimethyl-, and didodecyldimethyl-ammonium, as bromide salts, at different loading levels into the interlayers of two natural clays. The natural clays, the prepared organoclays, and the spent organoclays were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.

Improving Postpartum Care: Identifying Opportunities to Reduce Postpartum Emergency Room Visits Among Publicly-Insured Women of Color.

Background/objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the postpartum experiences of publicly-insured women of color, and identify how postpartum care can be improved to reduce hospital emergency department usage after delivery.

Methods: We conducted four focus groups with 18 publicly-insured women who primarily self-identified as Black and/or Latina and gave birth between June 1, 2019 and May 1, 2020. We used inductive qualitative analysis to identify prominent themes from focus group discussions.

Data Merging of AE Sensors with Different Frequency Resolution for the Detection and Identification of Damage in Oxide-Based Ceramic Matrix Composites.

In this paper, acoustic emission data fusion based on multiple measurements is presented for damage detection and identification in oxide-based ceramic matrix composites. Multi-AE (acoustic emission) sensor fusion is considered with the aim of a better identification of damage mechanisms. In this context, tensile tests were conducted on ceramic matrix composites, fabricated with 3M™ Nextel™ 610 fibers and aluminosilicate matrix, with two kinds of AE sensors.

Therapy of Myeloid Leukemia using Novel Bispecific Fusion Proteins Targeting CD45 and Y-DOTA.

Pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) has been investigated as a multi-step approach to decrease relapse and toxicity for high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Relevant factors including endogenous biotin and immunogenicity, however, have limited the use of PRIT with an anti-CD45 antibody streptavidin conjugate and radiolabeled DOTA-biotin. To overcome these limitations we designed anti-murine and anti-human CD45 bispecific antibody constructs using 30F11 and BC8 antibodies, respectively, combined with an anti-yttrium (Y)-DOTA single-chain variable fragment (C825) to capture a radiolabeled ligand.

The other side of the corona: nanoparticles inhibit the protease taspase1 in a size-dependent manner.

When nanoparticles enter a physiological environment, they rapidly adsorb biomolecules, in particular cellular proteins. This biological coating, the so-called nanoparticle protein corona, undoubtedly affects the biological identity and potential cytotoxicity of the nanomaterial. To elucidate a possible impact on the adsorbed biomolecules, we focused on an important group of players in cellular homeostasis, namely proteolytic enzymes.

Selective Janus Kinase 1 Inhibition Is a Promising Therapeutic Approach for Lupus Erythematosus Skin Lesions.

Background: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an interferon (IFN) -driven autoimmune skin disease characterized by an extensive cytotoxic lesional inflammation with activation of different innate immune pathways. Aim of our study was to investigate the specific role of Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) activation in this disease and the potential benefit of selective JAK1 inhibitors as targeted therapy in a preclinical CLE model.

Methods: Lesional skin of patients with different CLE subtypes and healthy controls ( = 31) were investigated on JAK1 activation and expression of IFN-associated mediators via immunohistochemistry and gene expression analyses.

Di--acetato-bis{[3-benzyl-1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]silver(I)}.

The title compound, [Ag(CHO)(CHN)] (), was readily synthesized by treatment of 3-benzyl-1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride with silver acetate. The solution structure of the complex was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy, while the solid-state structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group , with a silver-to-carbene bond length (Ag-C) of 2.

Risk stratification personalised model for prediction of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: The development of prognostic factors of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) continues to maintain its priority and relevance in cardiology. The development of a method of personalised prognosis based on multifactorial analysis of the risk factors associated with life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances is considered a key research and clinical task.

Aim: To design a prognostic and mathematical model to define personalised risk for life-threatening VTA in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis of ZrO.

Synthesis of tetragonal ZrO by both conventional sol-gel and ultrasound-assisted sol-gel methods and using a non-ionic surfactant Tween-20, was performed. A porous microstructure composed of nanometric particles was observed. Tetragonal ZrO was obtained using a low heat treatment temperature of powders, 500°C by both methods.

Tumor DNA Index and α-Fetoprotein Level Define Outcome following Liver Transplantation for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the Milan criteria are expected to have inferior outcome after liver transplantation (LT) and are therefore currently not considered for LT in many countries. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors for overall survival following LT for HCC that may support the Milan criteria in the selection of appropriate transplant candidates.

Methods: Clinicopathological data on 364 patients with HCC who underwent LT between 1989 and 2010 were retrospectively evaluated.

The role of atopy in corneal graft survival in keratoconus.

Purpose: To compare the prevalence of endothelial rejection episodes and the probability of graft survival after initial and repeat penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in patients with keratoconus with and without atopy.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients receiving PK for keratoconus at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas from 1988 to 2009. Inclusion criteria involved those with both an International Classification of Diseases-9 code for keratoconus and a Current Procedural Terminology code for PK based on a computer database search.

Selective and pan-blockade agents in the anti-angiogenic treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a literature summary.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern in the modern world. Several sight-threatening ocular conditions are included in the array of health problems associated with this disease. Understandably, 2 of the more sight-threatening problems, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), have received a great deal of attention in recent years.

Confluent laser photocoagulation for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To describe the efficacy, outcomes, and complications of confluent laser technique in a cohort of premature infants with threshold retinopathy of prematurity. Laser photocoagulation has a good treatment outcome in the management of retinopathy of prematurity; however, the number and density of laser spots remains debatable. Laser treatment can be done in a scattered pattern, a near-confluent pattern, or a confluent treatment pattern.

Intravitreal injection of pegaptanib sodium for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Background: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal pegaptanib (IVP) with panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) in the treatment of active proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: A prospective, randomised, controlled, open-label, exploratory study. Twenty subjects with active PDR were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive treatment in one eye either with IVP (0.

Pegaptanib sodium for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

Diabetes mellitus is a growing health concern world-wide. Patients with this disease present with a variety of health conditions, including a number of sight-threatening ocular pathologies. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macula edema (DME) are common diseases that cause substantial vision impairment in diabetic patients.

Olfactory sensitivity of subjects working in odorous environments.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether people with a professional interest in odors also exhibit higher olfactory sensitivity. To this end, we investigated 58 subjects (age 33.6 +/- 11.