Comprehensive commissioning of a cone beam CT imaging ring for treatment of HDR GYN patients.

Purpose: A new mobile cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging ring (IRm, Elekta, v2.10.6, Veenendaal, Netherlands) has recently been proposed for brachytherapy to improve procedure efficiency.

Evaluation of a Balloon Implant for Simultaneous Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia and High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy of Brain Tumor Resection Cavities.

Previous work has reported the design of a novel thermobrachytherapy (TBT) balloon implant to deliver magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) hyperthermia and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy after brain tumor resection, thereby their synergistic effect. This paper presents an evaluation of the robustness of the balloon device, compatibility of its heat and radiation delivery components, as well as thermal and radiation dosimetry of the TBT balloon. TBT balloon devices with 1 and 3 cm diameter were evaluated when placed in an external magnetic field with a maximal strength of 8.

Feasibility of removable balloon implant for simultaneous magnetic nanoparticle heating and HDR brachytherapy of brain tumor resection cavities.

Aim: Hyperthermia (HT) has been shown to improve clinical response to radiation therapy (RT) for cancer. Synergism is dramatically enhanced if HT and RT are combined simultaneously, but appropriate technology to apply treatments together does not exist. This study investigates the feasibility of delivering HT with RT to a 5-10mm annular rim of at-risk tissue around a tumor resection cavity using a temporary thermobrachytherapy (TBT) balloon implant.

Chemokine C-C motif receptor 5 and C-C motif ligand 5 promote cancer cell migration under hypoxia.

The chemokine CC motif receptor 5 (CCR5) and its ligands have been reported to be associated with cancer progression and metastasis. Although recent researches have demonstrated a fundamental role of hypoxia in cancer, the effect of hypoxia on the expression and function of CCR5 and its ligands in cancer cells is unknown. Here, we investigated the status of CCR5 and its ligands in cancer cells under hypoxic conditions.

Phenotypic pattern-based assay for dynamically monitoring host cellular responses to Salmonella infections.

The interaction between mammalian host cells and bacteria is a dynamic process, and the underlying pathologic mechanisms are poorly characterized. Limited information describing the host-bacterial interaction is based mainly on studies using label-based endpoint assays that detect changes in cell behavior at a given time point, yielding incomplete information. In this paper, a novel, label-free, real-time cell-detection system based on electronic impedance sensor technology was adapted to dynamically monitor the entire process of intestinal epithelial cells response to Salmonella infection.

Kinetic cellular phenotypic profiling: prediction, identification, and analysis of bioactive natural products.

Natural products have always been a major source of therapeutic agents; however, the development of traditional herbal products has been currently hampered by the lack of analytic methods suitable for both high-throughput screening and evaluating the mechanism of action. Cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and toxicity are well-orchestrated in real time. Monitoring these events and their perturbation by natural products can provide high-rich information about cell physiological relevancies being involved.

Chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 6 contributes to cell migration during hypoxia.

The chemokine and chemokine receptor families have important roles in tumorigenesis. Although CXCR4 and CCR7 have been reported to be associated with cancer metastasis, the role of other chemokine receptors in cancer is poorly understood. We explored the status of CXCR6 in hypoxia-induced cell migration.

Evaluation of an automated seed loader for seed calibration in prostate brachytherapy.

Automated seed loaders for permanent prostate implants are now commercially available. Besides improved radiation safety, these systems offer seed assay capability and ease of needle loading, making preplanned as well as intra-operative implant procedures more time-efficient. The Isoloader (Mentor Corp.