Prior Knowledge-Guided U-Net for Automatic Clinical Target Volume Segmentation in Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy of Breast Cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to design and evaluate a prior-knowledge-guided U-Net (PK-UNet) for automatic clinical target volume (CTV) segmentation in postmastectomy radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: A total of 102 computed tomography (CT) scans from breast cancer patients who underwent postmastectomy were retrospectively collected. Of these, 80 scans were used for training with 5-fold cross-validation, and 22 scans for independent testing.

The safety and efficacy of volumetric modulated Arc therapy combined with computer tomography-guided adaptive brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer: a single institution experience.

Background: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a novel form of IMRT, which can deliver more accurate dose distribution and shorten treatment time. Compared to MRI-guided adaptive brachytherapy, which is recommended as gold standard imaging for cervical cancer contours, CT-guided adaptive brachytherapy (CTGAB) is more available, more widespread, and more affordable in many centers. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the efficacy and the safety of VMAT combined with CTGAB for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Clinical association between plan complexity and the local-recurrence-free-survival of non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical impact of plan complexity on the local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Methods: Data from 123 treatment plans for 113 NSCLC patients were analyzed. Plan-averaged beam modulation (PM), plan beam irregularity (PI), monitor unit/Gy (MU/Gy) and spherical disproportion (SD) were calculated.

Corrigendum: Altered expression of inflammation-associated molecules in striatum: an implication for sensitivity to heavy ion radiations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.

Boron-Containing MOF Nanoparticles with Stable Metabolism in U87-MG Cells Combining Microdosimetry To Evaluate Relative Biological Effectiveness of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

Accurate prediction of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is challenging. The therapy is different from other radiotherapy; the dynamic distribution of boron-containing compounds in tumor cells affects the therapeutic outcome considerably and hampers accurate measurement of the neutron-absorbed dose. Herein, we used boron-containing metal-organic framework nanoparticles (BMOFs) with high boron content to target U87-MG cells and maintain the concentration of the B isotope in cells.

Altered expression of inflammation-associated molecules in striatum: an implication for sensitivity to heavy ion radiations.

Background And Objective: Heavy ion radiation is one of the major hazards astronauts face during space expeditions, adversely affecting the central nervous system. Radiation causes severe damage to sensitive brain regions, especially the striatum, resulting in cognitive impairment and other physiological issues in astronauts. However, the intensity of brain damage and associated underlying molecular pathological mechanisms mediated by heavy ion radiation are still unknown.

Automatic segmentation of colon, small intestine, and duodenum based on scale attention network.

Purpose: Automatic segmentation of colon, small intestine, and duodenum is a challenging task because of the great variability in the scale of the target organs. Multi-scale features are the key to alleviating this problem. Previous works focused on extracting discriminative multi-scale features through a hierarchical structure.

Auxiliary Structures-Assisted Radiotherapy Improvement for Advanced Left Breast Cancer.

Background: To improve the quality of plan for the radiation treatment of advanced left breast cancer by introducing the auxiliary structures (ASs) which are used to spare the regions with no intact delineated structures adjacent to the target volume.

Methods: CT data from 20 patients with left-sided advanced breast cancer were selected. An AS designated as A1 was created to spare the regions of the aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena ava, and contralateral tissue of the upper chest and neck, and another, designated as A2, was created in the regions of the cardia and fundus of the stomach, left liver lobe, and splenic flexure of the colon.

A slice classification model-facilitated 3D encoder-decoder network for segmenting organs at risk in head and neck cancer.

For deep learning networks used to segment organs at risk (OARs) in head and neck (H&N) cancers, the class-imbalance problem between small volume OARs and whole computed tomography (CT) images results in delineation with serious false-positives on irrelevant slices and unnecessary time-consuming calculations. To alleviate this problem, a slice classification model-facilitated 3D encoder-decoder network was developed and validated. In the developed two-step segmentation model, a slice classification model was firstly utilized to classify CT slices into six categories in the craniocaudal direction.

Dosimetry, efficacy, and safety of three-dimensional printing noncoplanar template-assisted and CT-guided I seed implantation for recurrent retroperitoneal lymphatic metastasis after external beam radiotherapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the dosimetry, efficacy, and safety of radioactive I seed implantation (RISI) assisted by three-dimensional printing noncoplanar template (3D-PNCT) and CT for recurrent retroperitoneal lymphatic metastasis (RRLM) after previous external beam radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: From June 2016 to August 2018, 32 patients with RRLM successfully underwent 3D-PNCT-assisted and CT-guided RISI. The dosimetry, pain relief rate, performance improvement rate, overall response rate, disease control rate, local control time (LCT), overall survival (OS), and safety profiles were evaluated.

Efficacy and safety of CT-guided I seed implantation as a salvage treatment for locally recurrent head and neck soft tissue sarcoma after surgery and external beam radiotherapy: A 12-year study at a single institution.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided radioactive I seed implantation as a salvage treatment for locally recurrent head and neck soft tissue sarcoma (HNSTS) after surgery and external beam radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: From December 2006 to February 2018, 25 patients with locally recurrent HNSTS after surgery and external beam radiotherapy were enrolled. All the patients successfully underwent CT-guided I seed implantation.

[Advances in microfluidic chip-based extracellular vesicle separation].

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are hemispherical vesicles that have a lipid bilayer. Studies have shown that EVs have important biological functions. The amount, types, and compositional changes of proteins, lipids and ribonucleic acids are closely related to diseases.

Au Nanoparticles Attenuate RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis by Suppressing Pre-Osteoclast Fusion.

Osteoclasts are multinucleated terminal cells that originate from a hematopoietic monocyte/macrophage lineage. Excessive osteoclast formation in vivo can lead to bone metabolic diseases such as postmenopausal osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lytic bone metastases of cancer cells. Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are inorganic nanoparticles with outstanding biocompatibility.

Nanoparticles with High-Surface Negative-Charge Density Disturb the Metabolism of Low-Density Lipoprotein in Cells.

Endocytosis is an important pathway to regulate the metabolism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in cells. At the same time, engineering nanoparticles (ENPs) enter the cell through endocytosis in biomedical applications. Therefore, a crucial question is whether the nanoparticles involved in endocytosis could impact the natural metabolism of LDL in cells.

Lipid- and gut microbiota-modulating effects of graphene oxide nanoparticles in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice.

Graphene oxide (GO) suspensions can act as a good dispersant and drug delivery system for effective dispersion and drug sustained release. In this study, we investigated the impact of GO on blood/liver lipids and gut microbiota structure in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Oral administration of GO for 28 days remarkably decreased the lipid levels in blood and liver GO did not decrease the total number of gut bacteria but increased the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria such as clusters IV and spp.

Three-dimensional angiography fused with CT/MRI for multimodal imaging of nanoparticles based on BaYbF:Lu,Gd .

Designing nanosized multi-modality contrast agents for high-resolution imaging is challenging since most agents are only useful for single-mode imaging. In this work, we successfully synthesized biocompatible polyethylene glycol (PEG-) and l-glutamine (GLN-) modified Ba4Yb3F17:Lu3+,Gd3+ nanoparticles (LNPs@PEG@GLN) that can be employed as a multi-modality contrast agent. Fluorescence dye-modified LNPs@PEG@GLN nanoparticles can be used for computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorescence imaging (FI).

Oral administration of rutile and anatase TiO nanoparticles shifts mouse gut microbiota structure.

The widespread application of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as additives in foods such as gum, candy and puddings has dramatically increased the human ingestion and accumulation of these nanomaterials. Although the toxicity of TiO2 NPs has been extensively studied, their impact on gut microbiota in vivo still needs further research. In this study, TiO2 NPs with two main crystalline phases anatase and rutile were orally administrated to mice for 28 days.

Effects of Fullerenol Nanoparticles on Rat Oocyte Meiosis Resumption.

The excellent biocompatibility and biological effects of fullerenol and its derivatives make their biomedical application promising. The potential effects of fullerenol in mammals have been extensively studied, but little is known about its effects on female reproduction. Using canonical oocyte-granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) in vitro maturation culture model, we investigated the effect of fullerenol on the first oocyte meiotic resumption.

The antihyperlipidemic effects of fullerenol nanoparticles via adjusting the gut microbiota in vivo.

Background: Nanoparticles (NPs) administered orally will meet the gut microbiota, but their impacts on microbiota homeostasis and the consequent physiological relevance remain largely unknown. Here, we describe the modulatory effects and the consequent pharmacological outputs of two orally administered fullerenols NPs (Fol1 C(OH)(O) and Fol113 C(OH)(O)) on gut microbiota.

Results: Administration of Fol1 and Fol113 NPs for 4 weeks largely shifted the overall structure of gut microbiota in mice.

Mono-fullerenols modulating cell stiffness by perturbing actin bundling.

Understanding what modulates the cell stiffness is important given its potential application as a diagnostic and medical target. Here, we investigated why and how mono-fullerenols affect the cell stiffness. We confirmed the fullerenol-modulation of cell stiffness using atomic force microscopy (AFM) with sphere tips and ascertained that the particles reduce the cell polarity.

Carbon Ion Irradiated Neural Injury Induced the Peripheral Immune Effects in Vitro or in Vivo.

Carbon ion radiation is a promising treatment for brain cancer; however, the immune system involved long-term systemic effects evoke a concern of complementary and alternative therapies in clinical treatment. To clarify radiotherapy caused fundamental changes in peripheral immune system, examinations were performed based on established models in vitro and in vivo. We found that brain-localized carbon ion radiation of neural cells induced complex changes in the peripheral blood, thymus, and spleen at one, two, and three months after its application.

Neuroprotective role of BNIP3 under oxidative stress through autophagy in neuroblastoma cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced due to oxidative stress which has wide range of affiliation with different diseases including cancer, heart failure, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic diseases. This study shows the involvement of BNIP3 in the amplification of metabolic pathways related to cellular quality control and cellular self defence mechanism in the form of autophagy. We used conventional methods to induce autophagy by treating the cells with H2O2.

Effect and mechanism of Mitomycin C combined with recombinant adeno-associated virus type II against glioma.

The effect of chemotherapy drug Mitomycin C (MMC) in combination with recombinant adeno-associated virus II (rAAV2) in cancer therapy was investigated, and the mechanism of MMC affecting rAAV2's bioactivity was also studied. The combination effect was evaluated by the level of GFP and TNF expression in a human glioma cell line, and the mechanism of MMC effects on rAAV mediated gene expression was investigated by AAV transduction related signal molecules. C57 and BALB/c nude mice were injected with rAAV-EGFP or rAAV-TNF alone, or mixed with MMC, to evaluate the effect of MMC on AAV-mediated gene expression and tumor suppression.