Using Deauville Scoring to Guide Consolidative Radiotherapy in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Background: The most common aggressive lymphoma in adults is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Consolidative radiotherapy (RT) is often administered to DLBCL patients but guidelines remain unclear, which could lead to unnecessary RT. We aimed to evaluate the value of end-of-treatment PET-CT scans, interpreted using the Deauville score (DV), to guide the utilization of consolidative RT, which may help spare low-risk DLBCL patients from unnecessary RT.

Oncologic outcomes after MRI-assisted image-guided brachytherapy with hybrid interstitial and intra-cavitary applicators under moderate sedation for locally advanced cervix cancer.

Purpose: To report outcomes of using image-guided hybrid intra-cavitary/interstitial applicators under moderate sedation for locally advanced cervical cancer patients in our institution.

Material And Methods: A total of 69 fractions of brachytherapy with hybrid applicators were performed in 33 patients from January 2017 to April 2021. All patients underwent MRI pelvis 1 week pre-brachytherapy to determine suitability for interstitial brachytherapy and pre-plan needle placement.

The Role of Preoperative Chronic Statin Therapy in Heart Transplant Receipts-A Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study.

Background: Statin therapy has been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. The objective of our retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative chronic administration of statins to postoperative 2-month heart transplantation complications.

Methods: A total number of 38 heart transplantation recipients from the Cardiovascular and Transplant Emergency Institute of Târgu Mureș between May 2014 and January 2021 were included in our study.

Elevated Levels of Neutrophil-to Monocyte Ratio Are Associated with the Initiation of Paroxysmal Documented Atrial Fibrillation in the First Two Months after Heart Transplantation: A Uni-Institutional Retrospective Study.

Background: Heart transplantation represents the treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF) being symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. We investigated the role of NMR (neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), NPR (neutrophil-to-platelet ratio), NWR (neutrophil-to-white cells ratio), MLR (monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), MWR (neutrophil-to-white cells ratio), and LWR (lymphocyte-to-white cells ratio) at the same cut-off values previously studied, to predict complications after heart transplant within 2 months after surgery.

Methods: From May 2014 to January 2021, was included 38 patients in our study from the Cardiovascular and Transplant Emergency Institute of Târgu Mureș.

Assessment of the oxygen reactivity in a gas storage facility by multiphase reactive transport modeling of field data for air injection into a sandstone reservoir in the Paris Basin, France.

The first objective of this study is to present unique field data on a three-year pilot test during which air containing 8 mol% O(g) was injected as a cushion gas into a natural gas reservoir, a carbonate-cemented sandstone aquifer located in the Paris Basin (France). 10-year system survey showed that: the oxygen was fully depleted several months after injection completion, meanwhile CO(g) was detected around 2-6 mol%; the pH decreased from 8 to 6, while reducing conditions shifted to mildly oxidizing ones with increasing concentration of sulfates in equilibrium with gypsum. 3 years after injection completion, the pH gradually returned to its near initial state and sulfates were reduced by 2 to 3 times.

Quality of life, quality of business, and destinations of recent graduates: fields of study matter.

One of the main challenges facing non-metropolitan regions is the attraction and retention of highly-educated young people. A loss of the brightest can lead to reduced business creation, innovation, growth and community well-being in such regions. We use rich longitudinal microdata from New Zealand to analyse the determinants and geography of the choice of destination of recent university and polytechnic graduates 2 years and 4 years after graduation.

Fascin-1 and its role as a serological marker in prostate cancer: a prospective case-control study.

Aim: This study aims to investigate any modification of serological FSCN1 in prostate cancer patients compared with patients without neoplasia.

Material & Methods: Clinical data and blood specimens from patients with and without prostate cancer were obtained. A quantitative sandwich ELISA method was used to determine serological values of FSCN1.

Pyridine-containing octadentate ligand NE3TA-PY for formation of neutral complex with Lu(III) and Y(III) for radiopharmaceutical applications: Synthesis, DFT calculation, radiolabeling, and in vitro complex stability.

Targeted radionuclide therapy is a developing therapeutic modality for cancer and employs a cytotoxic radionuclide bound to a chelating agent and a bioactive molecule with high binding affinity for a specific biomarker in tumors. An optimal chelator is one of the critical components to control therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of targeted radionuclide therapy. We designed a new octadentate ligand NE3TA-PY (7-[2-[(carboxymethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]ethyl]-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetic acid) for β-particle-emitting Lu and Y with targeted radionuclide therapy applications.

The gender wage gap among medical specialists: a quantitative analysis of the hourly pay of publicly employed senior doctors in New Zealand.

Objectives: To estimate the gender gap in hourly wages earned by medical specialists in their main jobs after controlling for age, number of hours worked and medical specialty.

Design: Observational using governmental administrative and survey data.

Setting: New Zealand public employed medical workforce.

New Bifunctional Chelator 3p--NEPA for Potential Applications in Lu(III) and Y(III) Radionuclide Therapy and Imaging.

We have developed structurally unique bifunctional chelators in the NETA, NE3TA, and DEPA series for potential radiopharmaceutical applications. As part of our continued research efforts to generate efficient bifunctional chelators for targeted radionuclide therapy and imaging of various diseases, we designed a scorpion-like chelator that is proposed to completely saturate the coordination spheres of Y(III) and Lu(III). We herein report the synthesis and evaluation of a new chelator (3p--NEPA) with 10 donor groups for complexation with β-emitting radionuclides Y(III), Y(III), and Lu(III).

Projecting the effect of climate change on residential property damages caused by extreme weather events.

New Zealand's public insurer for natural hazards, the Earthquake Commission (EQC), provides residential insurance for some weather-related damage. Climate change and the expected increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather-related events are likely to translate into higher damages and thus an additional financial liability for the EQC. We project future insured damages from extreme precipitation events associated with future projected climatic change.

Minimizing transmission of COVID-19 while delivering optimal cancer care in a National Cancer Centre.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted current models of healthcare and adaptations will likely continue. With the gradual easing of lockdown measures worldwide, cancer centres must be prepared to implement novel means to prevent repeated waves of infection. There are two limitations unique to oncology - a higher susceptibility of patients to COVID-19 and the multidisciplinary approach required of cancer management.

Shared functional neural substrates in Parkinson's disease and drug-induced parkinsonism: association with dopaminergic depletion.

While drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) is mainly caused by blockage of the dopaminergic pathway, multiple neurotransmitter systems besides the dopaminergic system are involved in Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, alterations found in both DIP and PD might be manifestations of dopaminergic dysfunction. To prove this hypothesis, we aimed to define the areas commonly involved in DIP and PD and determine whether the overlapping areas were associated with the dopaminergic system.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for early stage lung cancer-historical developments and future strategies.

The application of radiosurgery dose escalation extra-cranially in a moving target, surrounded by critical normal tissue, presents unique dosimetric and clinical challenges. Building on a strong foundation of robust technological advancements and well-planned clinical studies, lung stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has firmly established its place in the management of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, favourable outcomes and long-term survival still evade a substantial proportion of patients, especially for central and larger peripheral lung tumours.

Overexpression of the carbohydrate binding module from Solanum lycopersicum expansin 1 (Sl-EXP1) modifies tomato fruit firmness and Botrytis cinerea susceptibility.

Firmness, one of the major determinants of postharvest quality and shelf life of fruits is determined by the mechanical resistance imposed by the plant cell wall. Expansins (EXP) are involved in the non-hydrolytic metabolic disassembly of plant cell walls, particularly in processes where relaxation of the wall is necessary, such as fruit development and ripening. As many carbohydrate-associated proteins, expansins have a putative catalytic domain and a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM).

Analysis of the carbohydrate-binding-module from Fragaria x ananassa α-L-arabinofuranosidase 1.

α-L-arabinofuranosidases (EC 3.2.1.

Promising bifunctional chelators for copper 64-PET imaging: practical (64)Cu radiolabeling and high in vitro and in vivo complex stability.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using copper-64 is a sensitive and non-invasive imaging technique for diagnosis and staging of cancer. A bifunctional chelator that can present rapid radiolabeling kinetics and high complex stability with (64)Cu is a critical component for targeted PET imaging. Bifunctional chelates 3p-C-NE3TA, 3p-C-NOTA, and 3p-C-DE4TA were evaluated for complexation kinetics and stability with (64)Cu in vitro and in vivo.

Synthesis and comparative biological evaluation of bifunctional ligands for radiotherapy applications of (90)Y and (177)Lu.

Zevalin® is an antibody-drug conjugate radiolabeled with a cytotoxic radioisotope ((90)Y) that was approved for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A bifunctional ligand that displays favorable complexation kinetics and in vivo stability is required for effective RIT. New bifunctional ligands 3p-C-DE4TA and 3p-C-NE3TA for potential use in RIT were efficiently prepared by the synthetic route based on regiospecific ring opening of aziridinium ions with prealkylated triaza- or tetraaza-backboned macrocycles.

In the secretory endometria of women, luminal epithelia exhibit gene and protein expressions that differ from those of glandular epithelia.

Objective: To characterize the transcriptome of luminal epithelia (LE) of fertile secretory endometria and compare the results with those from glandular epithelia (GE).

Design: Endometrial samples were collected at 2 and 7 days after initial blood LH surge in separate menstrual cycles. LE were obtained with the use of laser microdissection.

Novel hexadentate and pentadentate chelators for ⁶⁴Cu-based targeted PET imaging.

A series of new hexadentate and pentadentate chelators were designed and synthesized as chelators of (64)Cu. The new pentadentate and hexadentate chelators contain different types of donor groups and are expected to form neutral complexes with Cu(II). The new chelators were evaluated for complex kinetics and stability with (64)Cu.

Gene expression confirms a potentially receptive endometrium identified by histology in fertile women.

Background: To use contemporary biochemical markers to characterize mRNA/gene expression in the potentially fertile secretory endometrium to confirm its identification based on histological characteristics in order to develop a clinically applicable test.

Methods: Nine, fertile, cycling Caucasian women were sampled from one IVF clinic. Endometrial samples were collected from them in two to four menstrual cycles at 2 and 7 days post first significant rise in blood LH.

Gene and protein expression signature of endometrial glandular and stromal compartments during the window of implantation.

Objective: To map the changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein abundance during the window of implantation in specifically endometrial stromal and glandular epithelial cells obtained using laser microdissection microscopy (LDM).

Design: Endometrial samples were collected from two menstrual cycles at 2 and 7 days after first significant rise in blood LH, and separate cell populations were obtained using LDM. A new generation linear polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified the mRNA, which were hybridized to both Affymetrix U133 Plus2 and Agilent 4x44K microarrays followed by gene set analysis.

Efficient synthesis of functionalized aziridinium salts.

Various aziridinium salts were efficiently prepared from bromination of a series of backbone substituted N,N-bisubstituted beta-amino alcohols and isolated via flash column chromatography. The effect of C-substitution, N-substitution, solvent, leaving group, and counteranions on formation of the isolable aziridinium salts was investigated.

Down syndrome in monochorionic twins.

Down syndrome in monochorionic twins has rarely been reported. We report such a case diagnosed prenatally. Maternal serum screening was performed at 15 weeks for a twin pregnancy which indicated a risk of greater than 1:50 for Down syndrome.

pH-dependent release property of alginate beads containing calcium carbonate particles.

Alginate bead containing calcium carbonate particle were prepared by dropping the suspension of alginate/calcium carbonate (4/1, w/w) into aqueous solution of CaCl(2) (0.1 M). The pH-dependent release property of the bead was observed for 12 h using blue dextran as a model drug.