Low psychosocial burden in patients with paraganglioma syndrome: results from the Head and Neck Paraganglioma Registry in a single center.

Objective: Autosomal dominant variants in the succinate dehydrogenase gene (SDHx) are responsible for ∼50% of the development of hereditary paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas (PPGLs). Limited research has been conducted on the psychosocial impact of possessing a hereditary tumor syndrome. In this study, the psychological impact of harboring a genetic variant associated with familial paraganglioma syndrome was assessed.

Precision in Motion Management: Long-Term Local Control and Prognostic Insights in SBRT for Oligometastatic Lung and Liver Metastases.

: Inadequate dosing and respiratory motion contribute to local recurrence for oligometastatic disease (OMD). While short-term LC rates are well-documented, data on long-term LC remain limited. This study investigated long-term LC after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), using respiratory motion management techniques.

Alterations in resting-state EEG functional connectivity in patients with major depressive disorder receiving electroconvulsive therapy: A systematic review.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly efficacious for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), but its mechanisms still require clarification. Even though depression is associated with alterations in functional connectivity (FC), EEG studies investigating effects of ECT on FC have not been systematically reviewed. Understanding these effects may help to identify the role of functional brain circuits in depression and its remission.

Exploring the Metabolic Impact of FLASH Radiotherapy.

FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH RT) is an innovative modality in cancer treatment that delivers ultrahigh dose rates (UHDRs), distinguishing it from conventional radiotherapy (CRT). FLASH RT has demonstrated the potential to enhance the therapeutic window by reducing radiation-induced damage to normal tissues while maintaining tumor control, a phenomenon termed the FLASH effect. Despite promising outcomes, the precise mechanisms underlying the FLASH effect remain elusive and are a focal point of current research.

Computer-aided design and fabrication of statistically shaped nasal prostheses: A feasibility study.

Statement Of Problem: A nasal prosthesis may compensate for a partial or complete defect of the nose associated with trauma or amputation. However, the design and production is time-consuming, expensive, and expertize-dependent. Computer-generated prosthesis models and 3D printing can optimize the process.

Comparable Performance Between Automatic and Manual Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Gross Tumor Volume Delineations Validated With Pathology.

Purpose: Deep learning is a promising approach to increase reproducibility and time-efficiency of gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation in head and neck cancer, but model evaluation primarily relies on manual GTV delineations as reference annotation, which are subjective and tend to overestimate tumor volume. This study aimed to validate a deep learning model for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal GTV segmentation with pathology and to compare its performance with clinicians' manual delineations.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective data set of 193 patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer was used to train a deep learning model with clinical GTV delineations as reference.

Clinical Introduction of Stem Cell Sparing Radiotherapy to Reduce the Risk of Xerostomia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Background/objectives: Studies have shown that dose to the parotid gland stem cell rich (SCR) regions should be reduced to lower the risk of xerostomia after radiotherapy (RT). This study aimed to assess whether stem cell sparing (SCS)-RT can be adopted in routine clinical practice.

Methods: Multiple planning studies were performed to compare SCS-RT with standard (ST)-RT using 30 head and neck cancer patients.

The potential of experience sampling methods in palliative care.

Background: Experience sampling methods typically involve multiple self-report assessments per day over consecutive days. Unlike traditional patient-reported outcome measures or interviews, such methods offer the possibility to capture the temporal fluctuations of experiences in daily environments, making them valuable for studying the daily lives of people with advanced illness. Yet, their use in palliative care research is limited.

Revisiting hydrogen peroxide as radiosensitizer for solid tumor cells.

Background And Purpose: Tumor hypoxia is the principal cause of clinical radioresistance. Despite its established role as radiosensitizer, hydrogen peroxide (HO) encounters clinical limitations due to stability and toxicity concerns. Recent advancements in drug delivery combine HO with sodium hyaluronate (SH), enabling intratumoral administration of HO.

Exploring Potential Orbital Metastatic Pathways in Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma: A Case Report.

The following case potentially provides insight into the mechanisms of lymphogenic metastasis in sinonasal cancer. A 63-year-old patient who presented with progressive diplopia and left-sided periocular pain was diagnosed with a cT4bN0M0 mucosal melanoma of the ethmoid sinus. She underwent a combined endonasal and transcranial tumor resection, and an orbital exenteration.

The Application of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing in Oncology: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Time-driven activity-based costing (TD-ABC) holds promise to control costs and enhance value in oncology, but the current landscape of its applications remains uncharted. This study aimed to: (1) document the applications of TD-ABC in oncology and unveil its strengths and limitations, (2) assess the extent to which studies adhere to Kaplan and Porter's method, and (3) appraise study quality.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Insight into the influence of Re and Cl on Ag catalysts in ethylene epoxidation.

Commercial ethylene epoxidation catalysts consist of α-alumina supported Ag particles and usually contain a mixture of promoters. High selectivity catalysts typically include a small amount of rhenium species. We studied a series of Ag catalysts promoted with Re loadings up to 4 at% (Re/(Re + Ag)), which is intentionally higher than in optimized commercial catalysts to facilitate characterization and to amplify the influence on catalysis.

Automatic segmentation for magnetic resonance imaging guided individual elective lymph node irradiation in head and neck cancer patients.

Background And Purpose: In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, the radiation dose to nearby organs at risk can be reduced by restricting elective neck irradiation from lymph node levels to individual lymph nodes. However, manual delineation of every individual lymph node is time-consuming and error prone. Therefore, automatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) segmentation of individual lymph nodes was developed and tested using a convolutional neural network (CNN).

Uncovering the Daily Experiences of People Living With Advanced Cancer Using an Experience Sampling Method Questionnaire: Development, Content Validation, and Optimization Study.

Background: The experience sampling method (ESM), a self-report method that typically uses multiple assessments per day, can provide detailed knowledge of the daily experiences of people with cancer, potentially informing oncological care. The use of the ESM among people with advanced cancer is limited, and no validated ESM questionnaires have been developed specifically for oncology.

Objective: This study aims to develop, content validate, and optimize the digital Experience Sampling Method for People Living With Advanced Cancer (ESM-AC) questionnaire, covering multidimensional domains and contextual factors.

Molecular insights into the structure and function of the Staphylococcus aureus fatty acid kinase.

Gram-positive bacteria utilize a Fatty Acid Kinase (FAK) complex to harvest fatty acids from the environment. This complex consists of the fatty acid kinase, FakA, and an acyl carrier protein, FakB, and is known to impact virulence and disease outcomes. Despite some recent studies, there remain many outstanding questions as to the enzymatic mechanism and structure of FAK.

Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Netherlands: A Population-Based Study of 568 Cases Diagnosed in 2008-2021.

Background: Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma is known for its rarity and poor prognosis. This study aims to investigate the trends in the incidence of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma in the Netherlands and to analyze patient characteristics and treatment practices in order to assess their relation with patient outcomes.

Methods: In this prospectively designed population-based cohort study, all patients diagnosed with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma between 2008 and 2021 in the Netherlands were included.

Prognostic value of pretreatment radiological MRI variables and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI on radiotherapy treatment outcome in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors.

Background: This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of radiological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI for local control (LC), disease control (DC), and overall survival (OS) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer patients after radiotherapy.

Methods: 320 patients treated with radiotherapy were retrospectively included. Pretreatment MRIs were evaluated for the following anatomical tumor characteristics: cartilage invasion, extralaryngeal spread, and involvement of the anterior commissure, pre-epiglottic space, and paralaryngeal space.

Individualized 3D-printed applicators for magnetic resonance imaging-guided brachytherapy in nasal vestibule cancer.

Background And Purpose: Brachytherapy is treatment of choice for early stage nasal vestibule cancer. Over the years improvements were achieved by means of image guided target definition, interstitial implant techniques and also individual mold techniques. The aim of this study was to improve the technique of the implant so that the need for interstitial catheters can be limited by making use of patient individualized 3D-printed applicators.

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold in Left-Sided Breast Radiotherapy: A Balance Between Side Effects and Costs.

Background: Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is an effective technique for reducing heart exposure during radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer. Despite its benefits, cost considerations and its impact on workflow remain significant barriers to widespread adoption.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of DIBH and compare its operational, financial, and clinical outcomes with free breathing (FB) in breast cancer treatment.

YjbH contributes to skin pathology and immune response through Agr-mediated α-toxin regulation.

is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) with Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA) strains being a major contributor in both community and hospital settings. relies on metabolic diversity and a large repertoire of virulence factors to cause disease. This includes α-hemolysin (Hla), an integral player in tissue damage found in various models, including SSTIs.

Credentialing of stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy programs for quality and safety: The Novalis Certified Program.

The expectation of quality and safety is a fundamental tenet in all areas of healthcare, and a cornerstone of best practice is a process of continuous learning and continuous improvement. Independent audits and peer review of radiotherapy programs are an important mechanism for identifying process or technology gaps, for highlighting areas for improvement, and for incorporating within continuous improvement processes. In the field of radiotherapy, independent certification programs exist within various national and/or professional spheres, yet few focus specifically on specialty procedures such as radiosurgery or brachytherapy, despite several recommendations for such programs.

Head and Neck Paraganglioma (HNPGL) Registry: A study protocol for prospective data collection in patients with Head and Neck Paragangliomas.

Introduction: There is a lack of comprehensive and uniform data on head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs), and research is challenging due to its rarity and the involvement of multiple medical specialties. To improve current research data collection, we initiated the Head and Neck Paraganglioma Registry (HNPGL Registry). The aim of the HNPGL Registry is to a) collect extensive data on all HNPGL patients through a predefined protocol, b) give insight in the long term outcomes using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), c) create uniformity in the diagnostic and clinical management of these conditions, and thereby d) help provide content for future (randomized) research.

Quantifying societal burden of radiation-induced small bowel toxicity in patients with rectal cancer.

Introduction: Advancements in rectal cancer (RC) treatment not only led to an increase in lives saved but also improved quality of life (QoL). Notwithstanding these benefits, RC treatment comes at the price of gastrointestinal morbidity in many patients. Health economic modelling poses an opportunity to explore the societal burden of such side-effects.