Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy with Pencil Beam Scanning for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Toxicity Profiles, Survival Outcomes, and Prognostic Indicators.

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicities and survival outcomes associated with carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) using pencil beam scanning (PBS) technique and to assess the prognostic factors for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a local effect model (LEM)-based biological dose calculation.

Methods And Materials: This analysis included patients with stage III NSCLC (n = 181) who received CIRT between December 2016 and June 2023. CIRT was administered at a relative biological effectiveness-weighted dose of 77 Gy (range, 69-83.

Multi-omics analysis provides new insights into the changes of important nutrients and fructose metabolism in loquat bud sport mutant.

Bud sport is a common and stable somatic variation in perennial fruit trees, and often leads to significant modification of fruit traits and affects the breeding value. To investigate the impact of bud sport on the main metabolites in the fruit of white-fleshed loquat, we conducted a multi-omics analysis of loquat fruits at different developmental stages of a white-fleshed bud sport mutant of Dongting loquat (TBW) and its wild type (TBY). The findings from the detection of main fruit quality indices and metabolites suggested that bud sport resulted in a reduction in the accumulation of carotenoids, fructose, titratable acid and terpenoids at the mature stage of TBW, while leading to the accumulation of flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids and lipids.

Up modulation of dose-averaged linear energy transfer by simultaneous integrated boost in carbon-ion radiotherapy for pancreatic carcinoma.

Background: Local recurrence in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) after carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) may partly attribute to low dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET), despite high CIRT dose.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the approaches to up-modulate the CIRT LET and to evaluate the corresponding oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) reduction.

Methods: 10 LAPCs that had been irradiated by CIRT with 67.

Genome-Wide Detection of Quantitative Trait Loci and Prediction of Candidate Genes for Seed Sugar Composition in Early Mature Soybean.

Seed sugar composition, mainly including fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose, is an important indicator of soybean [ (L.) Merr.] seed quality.

Mefunidone ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway and enhancing Nrf2 pathway.

Background And Objective: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening disease which has high mortality and lacks effective pharmacological treatments. Excessive inflammation and oxidative stress are the key pathogenesis of ALI. Mefunidone (MFD), a novel small molecule compound, displayed anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress effects on streptozocin (STZ) and db/db mice in our previous studies.

Preliminary Safety and Efficacy of Proton Plus Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the tolerance and effect of proton plus carbon-ion radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer using the pencil beam scanning technique.

Materials And Methods: From March 2017 to April 2020, 25 patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer treated with combined proton and carbon-ion radiotherapy were analyzed. The primary lesions and involved lymph nodes were irradiated using 2-4 portals.

Indications of IMRT, PRT and CIRT for HCC from comparisons of dosimetry and normal tissue complication possibility.

Purpose: To identify the indications for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) irradiated by intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT), proton radiotherapy (PRT) or carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) by comparing of dosimetric parameters and incidences of classic radiation-induced liver disease (RILD).

Methods: In all, 40 HCCs were divided into group A (tumors located > 1 cm away from gastrointestinal [GI] tract), and group B (tumors located < 1 cm away from GI tract). The prescribed curative doses were 60 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) in 10 fractions for group A, and 67.

Definitive carbon ion radiotherapy for tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma: a preliminary report.

Background: Tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma (TACC) is a rare tumour. About one-third of patients miss their chance of surgery or complete resection as it is mostly detected in the advanced stage; hence, photon radiotherapy (RT) is used. However, the outcomes of photon RT remain unsatisfactory.

Conversion and validation of rectal constraints for prostate carcinoma receiving hypofractionated carbon-ion radiotherapy with a local effect model.

Background: The study objective was to establish the local effect model (LEM) rectum constraints for 12-, 8-, and 4-fraction carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in patients with localized prostate carcinoma (PCA) using microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM)-defined and LEM-defined constraints for 16-fraction CIRT.

Methods: We analyzed 40 patients with PCA who received 16- or 12-fraction CIRT at our center. Linear-quadratic (LQ) and RBE-conversion models were employed to convert the constraints into various fractionations and biophysical models.

cGAS knockdown promotes microglial M2 polarization to alleviate neuroinflammation by inhibiting cGAS-STING signaling pathway in cerebral ischemic stroke.

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in promoting the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke (IS). Microglia is the major immunocompetent cells involved in different neuropathologies. The activation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and its downstream signaling protein-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of neuropathophysiology.

Comparison of seed fatty and amino acids in edamame dried using two oven-drying methods and mature soybeans.

Background: Edamame is a vegetable soybean (Glycine max) rich in protein with well-balanced amino acid profiles, including all the essential amino acids. It is also relatively high in oil consisting of five fatty acids. In this study, fatty and amino acid contents in oven-dried edamame and mature seeds in 54 genotypes were analyzed to help edamame breeding and relevant research.

Evaluating dosimetric constraints for carbon ion radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Objective: To identify a safe carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) regimen for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

Methods: We generated treatment plans for 13 consecutive, unselected patients who were treated for LAPC with CIRT at our center using three dose and fractionation schedules: 4.6 GyRBE × 12, 4.

Analysis and comparison of seed protein, oil, and sugars in edamame dried using two oven-drying methods and mature soybeans.

Background: Edamame, a vegetable soybean (Glycine max) grown mainly in Asia, has high nutritional and market value and is a relatively new crop to North America. By 2 years of field trials, we evaluated the seed composition traits in 54 genotypes to analyze the differences and relationship between edamame seeds dried by two oven-drying methods and mature soybeans.

Results: The genotypic differences were significant for all the traits investigated.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Plus Etoposide/Cisplatin for Patients With Limited Advanced Unresectable Thymic Epithelial Tumors: A Prospective Phase 2 Study.

Purpose: This prospective phase 2 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intensity modulated radiation therapy plus etoposide/cisplatin (EP) for patients with unresectable thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).

Methods And Materials: Patients with limited advanced unresectable TETs whose lesions could be encompassed within radiation fields were enrolled in this study. Two cycles of EP (75 mg/m etoposide and 25 mg/m cisplatin on days 1-3 and days 29-31) were administered concurrently with radiation therapy, followed by 2 cycles after radiation therapy.

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy alone for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: 10-year survival outcomes.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We conducted a phase II study to explore the effect of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-DCRT) alone for patients with locally advanced esophageal SCC. This study aimed to analyze the long-term survival outcomes.

Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Host-Plant Resistance to Soybean Aphid.

Soybean aphid [ Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae)] is the most damaging insect pest of soybean [ (L.) Merr.] in the Upper Midwest of the United States and is primarily controlled by insecticides.

Genome-wide Scan for Seed Composition Provides Insights into Soybean Quality Improvement and the Impacts of Domestication and Breeding.

The complex genetic architecture of quality traits has hindered efforts to modify seed nutrients in soybean. Genome-wide association studies were conducted for seed composition, including protein, oil, fatty acids, and amino acids, using 313 diverse soybean germplasm accessions genotyped with a high-density SNP array. A total of 87 chromosomal regions were identified to be associated with seed composition, explaining 8%-89% of genetic variances.

The development and use of a molecular model for soybean maturity groups.

Background: Achieving appropriate maturity in a target environment is essential to maximizing crop yield potential. In soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Long-term results of paclitaxel plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for loco-regional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and late toxicities of paclitaxel (PTX) plus cisplatin (DDP) with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cancer.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2011, 76 patients were enrolled in a phase II study on the treatment of loco-regionally advanced esophageal cancer with radiotherapy (68.4 Gy/44 fractions or 61.

Soybean Salt Tolerance 1 (GmST1) Reduces ROS Production, Enhances ABA Sensitivity, and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abiotic stresses, including high soil salinity, significantly reduce crop production worldwide. Salt tolerance in plants is a complex trait and is regulated by multiple mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms and dissecting the components on their regulatory pathways will provide new insights, leading to novel strategies for the improvement of salt tolerance in agricultural and economic crops of importance.

The Effect of X-Ray and Heavy Ions Radiations on Chemotherapy Refractory Tumor Cells.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to link both numeric and structural chromosomal aberrations to the effectiveness of radiotherapy in chemotherapy refractory tumor cells.

Materials And Methods: Neuroblastoma (LAN-1) and 79HF6 glioblastoma cells derived from patients and their chemoresistant sublines were artificially cultured as neurospheres and irradiated by X-rays and heavy ions sources. All the cell lines were irradiated by Carbon-SIS with LET of 100 keV/μm.

The predictive role of ADC values in prostate cancer patients treated with carbon-ion radiotherapy: initial clinical experience at Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC).

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the predictive role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in evaluating for therapeutic changes from carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in prostate cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients with prostate cancer treated with CIRT were enrolled in this retrospective study. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at 3-T was performed before and after CIRT.

Genome-wide association study, genomic prediction and marker-assisted selection for seed weight in soybean (Glycine max).

Twenty-two loci for soybean SW and candidate genes conditioning seed development were identified; and prediction accuracies of GS and MAS were estimated through cross-validation and validation with unrelated populations. Soybean (Glycine max) is a major crop for plant protein and oil production, and seed weight (SW) is important for yield and quality in food/vegetable uses of soybean. However, our knowledge of genes controlling SW remains limited.

Radiosensitization of metformin in pancreatic cancer cells via abrogating the G2 checkpoint and inhibiting DNA damage repair.

Recent evidences have demonstrated the potential of metformin as a novel agent for cancer prevention and treatment. Here, we investigated its ability of radiosensitization and the underlying mechanisms in human pancreatic cancer cells. In this study, we found that metformin at 5 mM concentration enhanced the radiosensitivity of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells, with sensitization enhancement ratios of 1.