Expanded HILUS Trial: A Pooled Analysis of Risk Factors for Toxicity From Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Central and Ultracentral Lung Tumors.

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy for tumors near the central airways implies high-grade toxic effects, as concluded from the HILUS trial. However, the small sample size and relatively few events limited the statistical power of the study. We therefore pooled data from the prospective HILUS trial with retrospective data from patients in the Nordic countries treated outside the prospective study to evaluate toxicity and risk factors for high-grade toxic effects.

Investigating survival, quality of life and cognition in PROton versus photon therapy for mutated diffuse grade 2 and 3 GLIOmas (PRO-GLIO): a randomised controlled trial in Norway and Sweden.

Introduction: The use of proton therapy increases globally despite a lack of randomised controlled trials demonstrating its efficacy and safety. Proton therapy enables sparing of non-neoplastic tissue from radiation. This is principally beneficial and holds promise of reduced long-term side effects.

Atezolizumab and stereotactic body radiotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: safety, clinical activity and ctDNA responses-the ComIT-1 trial.

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors has transformed the treatment landscape of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. However, challenges remain to increase the fraction of patients achieving durable clinical responses to these drugs and to help monitor the treatment effect. In this phase II trial, we investigated the toxicity, systemic responses and circulating tumour DNA responses in patients (n = 21) with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with atezolizumab and stereotactic body radiotherapy in the second or later line.

Effect of lower-leg trauma and knee arthroscopy on procoagulant phospholipid-dependent activity.

Background: Lower-leg injury and knee arthroscopy are both associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The mechanism of VTE in both situations is unknown, including the role of procoagulant microparticles. This may provide useful information for individualizing thromboprophylactic treatment in both patient groups.

Plasma procoagulant phospholipid clotting time and venous thromboembolism risk.

Background: Negatively charged procoagulant phospholipids, phosphatidylserine (PS) in particular, are vital to coagulation and expressed on the surface membrane of extracellular vesicles. No previous study has investigated the association between plasma procoagulant phospholipid clotting time (PPL) and future risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Objectives: To investigate the association between plasma PPL and the risk of incident VTE in a nested case-control study.

Rosuvastatin treatment decreases plasma procoagulant phospholipid activity after a VTE: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent cardiovascular disease with severe complications, including recurrence and death. There is a great need for alternative prophylactic treatment options as anticoagulation is accompanied by increased bleeding risk. Statins are reported to reduce the risk of incident and recurrent VTE, but the mechanisms are elusive.

Improved adaptive radiotherapy to adjust for anatomical alterations during curative treatment for locally advanced lung cancer.

Anatomical changes during chemoradiation for lung cancer may decrease dose to the target or increase dose to organs at risk. To assess our ability to identify clinically significant anatomical alterations, we followed 67 lung cancer patients by daily cone-beam CT scans to ensure correct patient positioning and observe anatomical alterations. We also re-calculated the original dose distribution on a planned control CT scan obtained halfway during the treatment course to identify anatomical changes that potentially affected doses to the target or organs at risk.

Lung Function After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Changes and Predictive Markers.

Introduction: The present study explores changes in pulmonary function, symptoms and radiological signs of pneumonitis after curatively intended stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Methods: All inoperable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) from 2014-2017 were included in this single-centre study. They were followed regularly for 12 months after treatment.

A modified clot-based assay to measure negatively charged procoagulant phospholipids.

Growing evidence supports a role for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in haemostasis and thrombosis due to exposure of negatively charged procoagulant phospholipids (PPL). Current commercial PPL-dependent clotting assays use chemically phospholipid depleted plasma to measure PPL activity. The purpose of our study was to modify the PPL assay by substituting the chemically phospholipid depleted plasma with PPL depleted plasma obtained by ultracentrifugation This in order to get readily access to a sensitive and reliable assay to measure PPL activity in human plasma and cell supernatants.

The HILUS-Trial-a Prospective Nordic Multicenter Phase 2 Study of Ultracentral Lung Tumors Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Introduction: Stereotactic body radiation therapy of thoracic tumors close to the central airways implies risk of severe toxicity. We report a prospective multicenter phase 2 trial for tumors located less than or equal to 1 cm from the proximal bronchial tree with primary end point of local control and secondary end point of toxicity.

Methods: Stereotactic body radiation therapy with 7 Gy × 8 was prescribed to the 67% isodose encompassing the planning target volume.

Intrafractional motion in stereotactic body radiotherapy of spinal metastases utilizing cone beam computed tomography image guidance.

Background And Purpose: Spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) requires a high degree of accuracy due to steep dose gradients close to the spinal cord. This study aimed to (1) evaluate intrafractional motion in spine SBRT utilizing flattening filter free (FFF) beam delivery and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image guidance and (2) evaluate if adding another CBCT acquisition and corrections prior to treatment improves the overall position accuracy.

Materials And Methods: Intrafractional motion was retrospectively analyzed for 78 fractions in 54 patients.

Impact of preanalytical conditions on plasma concentration and size distribution of extracellular vesicles using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis.

Optimal pre-analytical handling is essential for valid measurements of plasma concentration and size distribution of extracellular vesicles (EVs). We investigated the impact of plasma preparation, various anticoagulants (Citrate, EDTA, CTAD, Heparin), and fasting status on concentration and size distribution of EVs measured by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Blood was drawn from 10 healthy volunteers to investigate the impact of plasma preparation and anticoagulants, and from 40 individuals from a population-based study to investigate the impact of postprandial lipidemia.

Readiness and motivation for change among young women with broadly defined eating disorders.

Readiness and motivation for change were examined in 32 women with broadly defined eating disorders who took part in a 10-week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based group intervention. Readiness for change and eating disorder psychopathology were assessed before and after the intervention. The results revealed significant negative associations between degree of eating disorder symptoms and degree of readiness for change before the intervention started.

Early versus delayed initiation of pharmacotherapy in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease and pathologically is characterised by a progressive loss of dopaminergic cells of the nigrostriatal pathway. Clinically, PD is mainly defined by the presence of the motor symptoms of bradykinesia, rigidity, rest tremor and postural instability, but non-motor symptoms such as depression, dementia and autonomic disturbances are recognised as integral parts of the disease. Although pharmacotherapy for PD was introduced almost 50 years ago, and has improved significantly over the intervening period, the timing of initiation of treatment in newly diagnosed PD remains controversial.

Dosimetric impact of a frame-based strategy in stereotactic radiotherapy of lung tumors.

Introduction: Technological innovations have taken stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) from frame-based strategies to image-guided strategies. In this study, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images acquired prior to SBRT of patients with lung tumors was used to study the dosimetric impact of a pure frame-based strategy.

Material And Methods: Thirty patients with inoperable lung tumors were retrospectively analyzed.

A fecal test for assessing phosphorus overfeeding on dairy farms: evaluation using extensive farm data.

Managing P on dairy farms requires the assessment and monitoring of P status of the animals so that potential overfeeding may be minimized. Numerous published studies have demonstrated that for lactating dairy cows, increasing P concentrations in diets led to greater P excretion in feces. More recent work reported that inorganic P (P(i)) in 0.

A novel test for measuring and managing potential phosphorus loss from dairy cattle feces.

Pollution of waters resulting from phosphorus (P) runoff from agricultural land receiving long-term manure application is one of the most serious threats to water quality in many regions of the world. Of various approaches to alleviate the problem, reducing P surplus on animal farms through optimizing P intake and minimizing P excretion in manure offers a great opportunity. Here, we present a fecal P test method that has the potential to identify over-feeding of P in dairy cattle.

Vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in 15 horses.

We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 15 foals and adult horses in which vancomycin was used, alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside, to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections. Signalment, presenting complaint, history (including history of treatment for the current complaint), results of bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, treatment, and outcome were reviewed. The average vancomycin dosage was 7.

An assessment of ammonia emissions from dairy facilities in Pennsylvania.

A survey of 715 Holstein dairy farms in Pennsylvania was used to construct demographics for the average Holstein dairy farm. The average Holstein dairy farm was composed of 69 lactating cows; 11 nonlactating, pregnant cows; 44 heifers; and 18 calves. Milk production averaged 27.

Manure sampling for nutrient analysis: variability and sampling efficacy.

Reliable estimation of nutrient concentrations is required to manage animal manure for protecting waters while sustaining crop production. This study was conducted to investigate sample variability and reliable nutrient analysis for several manure types and handling systems. Serial samples were collected from dairy, swine, and broiler poultry operations while manure was being loaded onto hauler tanks or spreaders for field application.

A survey of dairy farming in Pennsylvania: nutrient management practices and implications.

A survey was conducted to collect information on nutrient management practices on dairy farms in south-central Pennsylvania. Of the 994 responding farms, the average farm consisted of 64 lactating cows, 10 dry cows, 41 heifers, and 17 calves with 69.7 ha of tillable land.

Clinical outcome after successful coronary angioplasty: impact of intracoronary stent implantation.

The clinical outcome after successful conventional coronary balloon angioplasty is compared with that of stent implantation after 30 days and 12 months. The study took place at the Divisions of Cardiology and Thoracic Radiology, Norrland University Hospital, Umeå, a referral centre for northern Sweden. The first 100 consecutive patients with stable or unstable angina undergoing successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 1994 and the first 100 consecutive patients undergoing successful coronary stent implantation in 1995 were included.

A compartmental model depicting short-term kinetic changes in selenium metabolism in ewes fed hay containing normal or inadequate levels of selenium.

Changes in Se metabolism were studied in ewes fed hay containing normal or inadequate levels of Se. After intravenous injection of 75Se-sodium selenite, blood, feces and urine were collected at different times, and the concentrations of labeled and unlabeled Se were determined. Ewes were killed 1, 5, 9 or 14 d after tracer injection, and tissues were obtained for determination of radioactivity and Se concentration.