The impact of the titanium cranial hardware in proton single-field uniform dose plans.

Background: Neurosurgical cranial titanium mesh and screws are commonly encountered in postoperative radiation therapy. However, only a limited number of reports are available in the context of proton therapy, resulting in a lack of consensus among the proton centers regarding the protocol for handling the hardware.

Purpose: This study is to examine the impact of the hardware in proton plans.

Lower extremity and trunk sagittal plane coordination strategies and kinetic distribution during landing in males and females.

Force attenuation during landing requires coordinated motion of the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk, and strategies may differ between sexes. Sagittal plane coordination of the ankle/knee, knee/hip, and knee/trunk, and lower extremity and trunk kinematics and kinetics was compared throughout landing between 28 males and 28 females. Coordination was assessed with a modified vector coding technique and binning analysis.

Improved outcomes after radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, and platelet count as key factors in disease progression.

Background: Several studies have suggested that antiplatelet (AP) or anticoagulant (AC) therapy may improve outcome in men with prostate cancer. We evaluated the effects of AP/AC therapy and tested the hypothesis that platelet count may also be associated with outcomes.

Methods: A total of 482 patients received primary radiotherapy (median dose 72 Gy) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer; 49% received androgen deprivation therapy.

Phase II trial of hippocampal-sparing whole brain irradiation with simultaneous integrated boost for metastatic cancer.

Background: Advanced radiotherapeutic treatment techniques limit the cognitive morbidity associated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastasis through avoidance of hippocampal structures. However, achieving durable intracranial control remains challenging.

Methods: We conducted a single-institution single-arm phase II trial of hippocampal-sparing whole brain irradiation with simultaneous integrated boost (HSIB-WBRT) to metastatic deposits in adult patients with brain metastasis.

Decrease of Protease-Resistant PrP Level in ScN2a Cells by Polyornithine and Polyhistidine.

Based on previous studies reporting the anti-prion activity of poly--lysine and poly--arginine, we investigated cationic poly--ornithine (PLO), poly--histidine (PLH), anionic poly--glutamic acid (PLE) and uncharged poly--threonine (PLT) in cultured cells chronically infected by prions to determine their anti-prion efficacy. While PLE and PLT did not alter the level of PrP, PLO and PLH exhibited potent PrP inhibition in ScN2a cells. These results suggest that the anti-prion activity of poly-basic amino acids is correlated with the cationicity of their functional groups.

Hip and Knee Kinetics During a Back Squat and Deadlift.

Choe, KH, Coburn, JW, Costa, PB, and Pamukoff, DN. Hip and knee kinetics during a back-squat and deadlift. J Strength Cond Res 35(5): 1364-1371, 2021-The back-squat and deadlift are performed to improve hip and knee extensor function.

Application of Centrifugal Partition Chromatography for Bioactivity-Guided Purification of Antioxidant-Response-Element-Inducing Constituents from Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba.

Activity-guided separation of antioxidant response element (ARE)-inducing constituents from the rhizomes of Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba was performed by the combination of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) and an ARE luciferase reporter assay. From 3 g of the active -hexane fraction, one polyacetylene, (6,12)-tetradeca-6,12-dien-8,10-diyne-1,3-diyl diacetate (47.3 mg), and two sesquiterpenes, atractylenolide I (40.

Bilateral Alterations in Running Mechanics and Quadriceps Function Following Unilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), individuals have quadriceps muscle impairments that influence gait mechanics and may contribute to an elevated risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To compare running mechanics and quadriceps function between individuals who have undergone ACLR and those in a control group, and to evaluate the association between quadriceps function and running mechanics.

Methods: In this controlled, cross-sectional laboratory study, 38 individuals who previously underwent primary unilateral ACLR (mean ± SD time since reconstruction, 48.

Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on Sagittal Plane Running Mechanics in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Objective: To examine the effect of whole-body vibration (WBV) on running biomechanics in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Design: Single-blind randomized crossover trial.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Review on a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali): Its Traditional Uses, Chemistry, Evidence-Based Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Eurycoma longifolia Jack (known as tongkat ali), a popular traditional herbal medicine, is a flowering plant of the family Simaroubaceae, native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and also Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. E. longifolia, is one of the well-known folk medicines for aphrodisiac effects as well as intermittent fever (malaria) in Asia.

Pre-treatment factors associated with detecting additional brain metastases at stereotactic radiosurgery.

The number of brain metastases identified on diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key factor in consideration of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). However, additional lesions are often detected on high-resolution SRS-planning MRI. We investigated pre-treatment clinical characteristics that are associated with finding additional metastases at SRS.

An integrative somatic mutation analysis to identify pathways linked with survival outcomes across 19 cancer types.

Motivation: Identification of altered pathways that are clinically relevant across human cancers is a key challenge in cancer genomics. Precise identification and understanding of these altered pathways may provide novel insights into patient stratification, therapeutic strategies and the development of new drugs. However, a challenge remains in accurately identifying pathways altered by somatic mutations across human cancers, due to the diverse mutation spectrum.

Role for a Zinc Finger Protein (Zfp111) in Transformation of 208F Rat Fibroblasts by Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus Envelope Protein.

Unlabelled: The native envelope gene (env) of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) also acts as an oncogene. To investigate the mechanism of transformation, we performed yeast 2-hybrid screening for cellular proteins that interact with Env. Among several candidates, we identified mouse or rat zinc finger protein 111 (zfp111).

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Extract on CYP-Mediated Drug Metabolism.

Eurycoma longifolia (Simaroubaceae) is a popular folk medicine that has traditionally been used in Southeast Asia as an antimalarial, aphrodisiac, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial and in antipyretic remedies. This study evaluates the effects of Eurycoma longifolia extract on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme-mediated drug metabolism to predict the potential for herb-drug interactions. Methanolic extract of E.

Atypical Meningiomas: Recurrence, Reoperation, and Radiotherapy.

Introduction: Atypical meningiomas (World Health Organization [WHO] grade II) represent a therapeutic challenge given their high recurrence rate and greater mortality compared with WHO grade I meningiomas. Traditionally, treatment has entailed attempts at gross total resection with radiation therapy reserved for residual disease or recurrences.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our patient database of atypical meningioma (AM) patients over the past 10 years to assess surgical and radiotherapeutic treatments administered, treatment-related complications, radiographic-clinical progression after treatment, and mortality.

Interactions between herbs and antidiabetics: an overview of the mechanisms, evidence, importance, and management.

Complementary and alternative therapies are quickly gaining importance because they are perceived to be free of side effects due to their natural origin. However, herbal remedies are complex mixtures of bioactive entities, which may interact with prescription drugs through pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic mechanisms and sometimes result in life-threatening consequences. In particular, diabetes patients are often treated with multiple medications due to different comorbidities, and such patients use antidiabetic medications for their entire lives; thus, it is important to make the public aware of herb interactions with antidiabetic drugs.

Proton T2 measurement and quantification of lactate in brain tumors by MRS at 3 Tesla in vivo.

Purpose: To evaluate the T2 relaxation time of lactate (Lac) in brain tumors and the correlation of the T2 and concentration with tumor grades.

Methods: Eight pairs of the subecho time sets of point-resolved spectroscopy were selected between 58 and 268 ms, with numerical and phantom analyses, for Lac T2 measurement. In vivo spectra were acquired from 24 subjects with gliomas (13 low grade and 11 high grade) and analyzed with LCModel using numerically-calculated basis spectra.

A retrospective analysis of tumor volumetric responses to five-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy for paragangliomas of the head and neck (glomus tumors).

Background: Skull base paragangliomas (SBP) are locally expansile tumors that can be treated with stereotactic radiotherapy with favorable results. This report describes the results of 31 patients with SBP treated with CyberKnife radiotherapy delivering a total dose of 25 Gray in five fractions.

Methods: All patients treated with five-fraction CyberKnife radiotherapy at a single institution were identified between 2007 and 2013.

Aspirin improves outcome in high risk prostate cancer patients treated with radiation therapy.

Purpose: High-risk prostate cancer (PC) has poor outcomes due to therapeutic resistance to conventional treatments, which include prostatectomy, radiation, and hormone therapy. Previous studies suggest that anticoagulant (AC) use may improve treatment outcomes in PC patients. We hypothesized that AC therapy confers a freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) and overall survival (OS) benefit when administered with radiotherapy in patients with high-risk PC.

Molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets in glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain malignancy. The current standard of therapy consists of surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide. Despite steady advances in all therapeutic modalities, clinical improvements have been slow and the prognosis remains poor.

ATM kinase inhibition preferentially sensitizes p53-mutant glioma to ionizing radiation.

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal form of brain cancer with a median survival of only 12 to 15 months. Current standard treatment consists of surgery followed by chemoradiation. The poor survival of patients with GBM is due to aggressive tumor invasiveness, an inability to remove all tumor tissue, and an innate tumor chemo- and radioresistance.

Opportunities and challenges in the era of molecularly targeted agents and radiation therapy.

The first annual workshop for preclinical and clinical development of radiosensitizers took place at the National Cancer Institute on August 8-9, 2012. Radiotherapy is one of the most commonly applied and effective oncologic treatments for solid tumors. It is well recognized that improved clinical efficacy of radiotherapy would make a substantive impact in clinical practice and patient outcomes.