Technical note: Optimizing spot-scanning proton arc therapy with a novel spot sparsity approach.

Background: One of the main challenges of utilizing spot-scanning proton arc therapy (SPArc) in routine clinics is treatment delivery efficiency. Spot reduction, which relies on spot sparsity optimization (SSO), is crucial for achieving high delivery efficiency in SPArc.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a novel SSO approach based on the alternating directions method of multipliers (ADMM) for SPArc to achieve high treatment delivery efficiency and maintain optimal dosimetric plan quality.

A novel fast robust optimization algorithm for intensity-modulated proton therapy with minimum monitor unit constraint.

Background: Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) optimizes spot intensities and position, providing better conformability. However, the successful application of IMPT is dependent upon addressing the challenges posed by range and setup uncertainties. In order to address the uncertainties in IMPT, robust optimization is essential.

Optimizing linear energy transfer distribution in intensity-modulated proton therapy using the alternating direction method of multipliers.

Purpose: This study develop a novel linear energy transfer (LET) optimization method for intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) with minimum monitor unit (MMU) constraint using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM).

Material And Methods: The novel LET optimization method (ADMM-LET) was proposed with (1) the dose objective and the LET objective as the optimization objective and (2) the non-convex MMU threshold as a constraint condition. ADMM was used to solve the optimization problem.

Single-cell landscape of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is a highly aggressive malignant soft tissue tumor with a poor prognosis; however, the identity and heterogeneity of tumor populations remain elusive. Here, eight major cell clusters were identified through the RNA sequencing of 79,569 individual cells of UPS. UPS originates from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and features undifferentiated subclusters.

The potential mechanism of Aidi injection against neuroblastoma-an investigation based on network pharmacology analysis.

Aidi injection, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been used on a broader scale in treating a variety of cancers. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential anti-tumor effects of Aidi injection in the treatment of neuroblastoma (NB) using network pharmacology (NP). To elucidate the anti-NB mechanism of Aidi injection, an NP-based approach and molecular docking validation were employed.

Feasibility study of multiple-energy Bragg peak proton FLASH on a superconducting gantry with large momentum acceptance.

Background: While the Bragg peak proton beam (BP) is capable of superior target conformity and organs-at-risk sparing than the transmission proton beam (TB), its efficacy in FLASH-RT is hindered by both a slow energy switching process and the beam current. A universal range shifter (URS) can pull back the high-energy proton beam while preserving the beam current. Meanwhile, a superconducting gantry with large momentum acceptance (LMA-SC gantry) enables fast energy switching.

Establishment of Biliary Atresia Prognostic Classification System via Survival-Based Forward Clustering - A New Biliary Atresia Classification.

Objectives: To develop a machine learning algorithm with prognosis data to identify different clinical phenotypes of biliary atresia (BA) and provide instructions for choosing treatment schemes.

Methods: Six hundred thirty-nine cases of type III BA were retrospectively collected from the Children's Hospital of Fudan University from Jan 1, 2017 to Dec 1, 2019 as a training dataset, and a survival-based forward clustering method, which can also be used to predict the subtype of a new patient was developed to identify BA subtypes.

Results: A total of 2 clusters were identified (cluster 1 = 324 and cluster 2 = 315), where cluster 2 had a lower 2 y native liver survival post-Kasai rate.

Deciphering pathological behavior of pediatric medullary thyroid cancer from single-cell perspective.

Background: Pediatric medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is one of the rare pediatric endocrine neoplasms. Derived from C cells of thyroid glands, MTC is more aggressive and more prompt to metastasis than other types of pediatric thyroid cancer. The mechanism remains unclear.

MiT family translocation renal cell carcinoma with retroperitoneal metastasis in childhood: a case report.

RCC accounts for only 0.1%-0.3% of all kidney tumors and 2%-6% of malignant kidney tumors in children.

A Novel Ultrahigh-Dose-Rate Proton Therapy Technology: Spot-Scanning Proton Arc Therapy + FLASH (SPLASH).

Purpose: To take full advantage of FLASH dose rate (40 Gy/s) and high-dose conformity, we introduce a novel optimization and delivery technique, the spot-scanning proton arc therapy (SPArc) + FLASH (SPLASH).

Methods And Materials: SPLASH framework was implemented in an open-source proton planning platform (MatRad, Department of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center). It optimizes with the clinical dose-volume constraint based on dose distribution and the dose-average dose rate by minimizing the monitor unit constraint on spot weight and accelerator beam current sequentially, enabling the first dynamic arc therapy with voxel-based FLASH dose rate.

An energy minimization strategy based on an improved nonlinear conjugate gradient method for accelerating the charged polymer dynamics simulation.

Using a hybrid simulation method that combines a non-linear conjugate gradient (NCG) method for solving large-scale unconstrained optimization problems with a Brownian dynamics (BD) model for polymer chains, we investigate the pre-equilibrium simulation of charged polymers in different dielectric systems from an energy minimization perspective. We propose an improved NCG coefficient (LPRPk) that satisfies a sufficient descent condition with a greater parameter under a strong Wolfe line search and converges globally for nonconvex minimization. Furthermore, preliminary numerical results show that the LPRPk coefficient is more efficient than many existing NCG coefficients for a large number of practical test problems from our model.

BACH1-induced ferroptosis drives lymphatic metastasis by repressing the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the fatal malignancies worldwide. It has an increased propensity to metastasize via lymphogenous routes in an early stage. The prognosis of patients with lymph node metastases (LNM) is often worse than that of patients without metastases.

Progress of oncolytic virotherapy for neuroblastoma.

As a neuroendocrine tumor derived from the neural crest, neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. The prognosis in patients with low- and intermediate-risk NB is favorable while that in high-risk patients is often detrimental. However, the management of the considerably large proportion of high-risk patients remains challenging in clinical practice.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal the fibrosis-related immune landscape of biliary atresia.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating inflammatory and fibrosing cholangiopathy of neonates with unknown aetiology. We aim to investigate the relationship between these two main characteristics.

Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics were performed on liver samples from a cohort of 14 objects (BA: n = 6; control: n = 8).

The Cellular and Molecular Landscape of Synchronous Pediatric Sialoblastoma and Hepatoblastoma.

Sialoblastoma (SBL) is an infrequent embryonal malignant tumor originating from the salivary gland, resembling primitive salivary gland anlage, whereas hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common pediatric liver malignancy. The simultaneous occurrence of both tumors is extremely rare. Here we reported a case of a 6-month-old infant diagnosed with synchronous SBL and HB.

Single-cell transcriptional profiling reveals heterogeneity and developmental trajectories of Ewing sarcoma.

Purpose: Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive malignant neoplasm composed of small round cells. The heterogeneity and developmental trajectories of EwS are uncertain.

Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on 4 EwS tumor tissue samples, and 3 transcriptional atlases were generated.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase has different efficacy on biliary atresia diagnosis in different hospital patient groups: an application of machine learning approach.

Objectives: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is the most widely used biomarker in the early diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA), but its diagnostic efficacy is questionable in different sub-populations. We aim to identify subgroups that are defined by specific variables with cut-offs and can significantly affect the diagnostic efficacy of GGT for detecting BA.

Methods: Clinical data from 1273 infants with neonatal obstructive jaundice (NOJ) diagnosed between January 2012 and December 2017 at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled, reviewed, and analyzed.

A Dynamic Thermal-Mechanical Coupling Numerical Model to Solve the Deformation and Thermal Diffusion of Plates.

Elastic materials include metal plates, rubber, foam, airbags and so on, which have a good buffer effect, toughness and strong recovery ability. In this paper, the deformation and thermal diffusion of 2D and 3D thin plates are studied. Two models are established for the deformation of 2D thin plates.

Diagnostic Value and Effectiveness of an Artificial Neural Network in Biliary Atresia.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating pediatric liver disease. Early diagnosis is important for timely intervention and better prognosis. Using clinical parameters for non-invasive and efficient BA diagnosis, we aimed to establish an artificial neural network (ANN).

Neuraxial adjuvants for prevention of perioperative shivering during cesarean section: A network meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines.

Background: Perioperative shivering is clinically common during cesarean sections under neuraxial anesthesia, and several neuraxial adjuvants are reported to have preventive effects on it. However, the results of current studies are controversial and the effects of these neuraxial adjuvants remain unclear.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of neuraxial adjuvants on perioperative shivering during cesarean sections, thus providing an optimal choice for clinical application.

Analyzing Electroencephalography (EEG) Waves Provides a Reliable Tool to Assess the Depth of Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND Studies have reported that BIS is unreliable in children because its algorithm provides misleading information about the actual depth of anesthesia. Raw EEG analysis provides direct neurophysiologic measurement of cerebral activity. The relationship between age and EEG has rarely been reported, thus the aim of the present study was to compare raw electroencephalography (EEG) among different age groups of surgical patients under general anesthesia with 1.

Retracted Article: Exosomal miR-25-3p derived from hypoxia tumor mediates IL-6 secretion and stimulates cell viability and migration in breast cancer.

Hypoxia is a major hallmark of solid tumors and is associated with malignant phenotypes. Exosomal miRNAs derived from hypoxia tumor cells are implicated in the modulation of cancer progression, whereas, the mechanisms underlying the association between hypoxia and exosomal miR-25-3p during breast cancer progression remain to be further clarified. The present study aimed to investigate the role of exosomal miR-25-3p in regulating breast cancer progression.

Serum ARCHITECT PIVKA-II reference interval in healthy Chinese adults: Sub-analysis from a prospective multicenter study.

Background: Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) has been widely used as a biomarker for liver cancer diagnosis in Japan for decades. However, the reference intervals for serum ARCHITECT PIVKA-II have not been established in the Chinese population. Thus, this study aimed to measure serum PIVKA-II levels in healthy Chinese subjects.

Environmental factors, seven GWAS-identified susceptibility loci, and risk of gastric cancer and its precursors in a Chinese population.

Gene-environment interactions may increase gastric cancer (GC) risk. Seven susceptibility loci identified by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) suggest that genetic factors play a role in gastric carcinogenesis. Meanwhile, Helicobacter pylori (H.