Optimization of treatment workflow for 0.35T MR-Linac system.

Purpose: This study presents a novel and comprehensive framework for evaluating magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) workflow by integrating the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) approach with Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC). We assess the workflow for safety, quality, and economic implications, providing a holistic understanding of the MRgRT implementation. The aim is to offer valuable insights to healthcare practitioners and administrators, facilitating informed decision-making regarding the 0.

Commissioning and Assessment of Radiation Field and Dose Inhomogeneity for a Dual X-ray Tube Cabinet Irradiator: To Ensure Accurate Dosimetry in Radiation Biology Experiments.

Purpose: Standardization of x-ray cabinet irradiator dose, geometry, and calibration reporting is an ongoing process. Multi-tube designs have been introduced into the preclinical market and give a theoretical benefit but have not been widely assessed for use in preclinical irradiation conditions. The aim of this study was to report our experience commissioning a dual x-ray source cabinet irradiator (CIXD, Xstrahl Limited, United Kingdom) and assess the dose distribution for various experimental conditions.

Generation of tissues outside the field of view (FOV) of radiation therapy simulation imaging based on machine learning and patient body outline (PBO).

Background: It is not unusual to see some parts of tissues are excluded in the field of view of CT simulation images. A typical mitigation is to avoid beams entering the missing body parts at the cost of sub-optimal planning.

Methods: This study is to solve the problem by developing 3 methods, (1) deep learning (DL) mechanism for missing tissue generation, (2) using patient body outline (PBO) based on surface imaging, and (3) hybrid method combining DL and PBO.

Rectal deformation management with IGRT in prostate radiotherapy: Can it be managed with rigid alignment alone?

Purpose: It is challenging to achieve appropriate target coverage of the prostate with Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) while simultaneously constraining rectal doses within planned values when there is significant variability in rectal filling and shape. We investigated if rectum planning goals can be fulfilled using rigid CBCT-based on-board alignment to account for interfraction rectal deformations.

Methods: Delivered rectal doses corresponding to prostate alignment ("PR") and anterior rectum alignment ("AR") for 239 daily treatments from 13 patients are reported.

Shallow kinetics induced by a metronome (SKIM): A novel contactless respiratory motion management.

Objectives: As an alternative to conventional compression amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a contactless motion management strategy. By increasing the patient's breathing rate to induce shallow breathing with the aid of a metronome, our hypothesis is that the motion magnitude of the target may be minimized without physical contact or compression.

Methods: Fourteen lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) patients treated under fast shallow-breathing (FSB) were selected for inclusion in this retrospective study.

Silibinin induces oral cancer cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species generation by activating the JNK/c-Jun pathway.

Oral cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. Silibinin has been reported to exert therapeutic effects in various cancer models. However, its mechanism of action in oral cancer remains unclear.

A comprehensive quality assurance procedure for 4D CT commissioning and periodic QA.

Purpose: The 4D computed tomography (CT) simulation is an essential procedure for tumors exhibiting breathing-induced motion. However, to date there are no established guidelines to assess the characteristics of existing systems and to describe meaningful performance. We propose a commissioning quality assurance (QA) protocol consisting of measurements and acquisitions that assess the mechanical and computational operation for 4D CT with both phase and amplitude-based reconstructions, for regular and irregular respiratory patterns.

Development of a Real-Time Thermoplastic Mask Compression Force Monitoring System Using Capacitive Force Sensor.

Thermoplastic masks keep patients in an appropriate position to ensure accurate radiation delivery. For a thermoplastic mask to maintain clinical efficacy, the mask should wrap the patient's surface properly and provide uniform pressure to all areas. However, to our best knowledge, no explicit method for achieving such a goal currently exists.

20 (S)-ginsenoside Rh2 inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth by suppressing the Axl signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a high morbidity and mortality worldwide. 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) is a natural compound extracted from , which exhibits anticancer effects in many cancer types. In this study, we demonstrated the effect and underlying molecular mechanism of G-Rh2 in CRC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Protective Effect of GIP against Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Ferroptosis in Mouse Hippocampal HT-22 Cells through the MAPK Signaling Pathway.

The effect of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) on cells under oxidative stress induced by glutamate, a neurotransmitter, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were assessed in the present study. We found that in the pre-treatment of HT-22 cells with glutamate in a dose-dependent manner, intracellular ROS were excessively generated, and additional cell damage occurred in the form of lipid peroxidation. The neurotoxicity caused by excessive glutamate was found to be ferroptosis and not apoptosis.

[6]-Gingerol Suppresses Oral Cancer Cell Growth by Inducing the Activation of AMPK and Suppressing the AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Background/aim: [6]-Gingerol, a compound extracted from ginger, has been studied for its therapeutic potential in various types of cancers. However, its effects on oral cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms of [6]-gingerol in oral cancer cells.

JAZF1 heterozygous knockout mice show altered adipose development and metabolism.

Background: Juxtaposed with another zinc finger protein 1 (JAZF1) is associated with metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several studies showed that JAZF1 and body fat mass are closely related. We attempted to elucidate the JAZF1 functions on adipose development and related metabolism using in vitro and in vivo models.

Overexpression of cathepsin S exacerbates lupus pathogenesis through upregulation TLR7 and IFN-α in transgenic mice.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. Recent studies suggest relevance between cysteine protease cathepsin S (CTSS) expression and SLE. To investigate the mechanism of CTSS in SLE, CTSS-overexpressing transgenic (TG) mice were generated, and induced lupus-like symptoms.

Autoencoder-Inspired Convolutional Network-Based Super-Resolution Method in MRI.

Objective: To introduce an MRI in-plane resolution enhancement method that estimates High-Resolution (HR) MRIs from Low-Resolution (LR) MRIs.

Method & Materials: Previous CNN-based MRI super-resolution methods cause loss of input image information due to the pooling layer. An Autoencoder-inspired Convolutional Network-based Super-resolution (ACNS) method was developed with the deconvolution layer that extrapolates the missing spatial information by the convolutional neural network-based nonlinear mapping between LR and HR features of MRI.

Rhein Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Inhibiting the mTOR Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Rhein has demonstrated therapeutic effects in various cancer models. However, its effects and underlying mechanisms of action in CRC remain poorly understood.

Overexpression of hepatic serum amyloid A1 in mice increases IL-17-producing innate immune cells and decreases bone density.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase protein produced primarily in the liver that plays a key role in both the initiation and maintenance of inflammation. Rapidly secreted SAA induces neutrophilia at inflammatory sites, initiating inflammation and inducing the secretion of various cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17. IL-17 is expressed in several inflammatory cells, including innate immune cells such as γδT cells, ILC3 cells, and neutrophils.

Jazf1 acts as a regulator of insulin-producing β-cell differentiation in induced pluripotent stem cells and glucose homeostasis in mice.

Genetic susceptibility of type 2 diabetes and Juxtaposed with another zinc finger protein 1 (Jazf1) has been reported; however, the precise role of Jazf1 in metabolic processes remains elusive. In this study, using Jazf1-knockout (KO)-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), pancreatic beta cell line MIN6 cells, and Jazf-1 heterozygous KO (Jazf1 ) mice, the effect of Jazf1 on gradual differentiation was investigated. We checked the alterations of the genes related with β-cell specification, maturation, and insulin release against glucose treatment by the gain and loss of the Jazf1 gene in the MIN6 cells.

An efficient planning technique for low dose whole lung radiation therapy for covid-19 pandemic patients.

This study aimed to establish an efficient planning technique for low dose whole lung treatment that can be implemented rapidly and safely. The treatment technique developed here relied only on chest radiograph and a simple empirical monitor unit calculation formula. The 3D dose calculation in real patient anatomy, including both nonCOVID and COVID-19 patients, which took into account tissue heterogeneity showed that the dose delivered to lungs had reasonable uniformity even with this simple and quick setup.

Anti-inflammatory effects of a methanol extract of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. root bark on imiquimod-induced psoriasis.

Background: The root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. has been successfully used for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and pruritus. However, the anti-psoriatic effect of this plant has not until now been investigated.

Radiotherapy-Compatible Robotic System for Multi-Landmark Positioning in Head and Neck Cancer Treatments.

The spine flexibility creates one of the most significant challenges to proper positioning in radiation therapy of head and neck cancers. Even though existing immobilization techniques can reduce the positioning uncertainty, residual errors (2-3 mm along the cervical spine) cannot be mitigated by single translation-based approaches. Here, we introduce a fully radiotherapy-compatible electro-mechanical robotic system, capable of positioning a patient's head with submillimeter accuracy in clinically acceptable spatial constraints.

Modeling scattered radiation from multi-leaf collimators (MLCs) to improve calculation accuracy of in-air output ratio.

This study aims to model an extra-focal source for the scattered radiation from multi-leaf collimators (MLCs), namely an MLC scatter source, and to correct in-air output ratio (S) calculated using the conventional dual source model (DSM) to achieve better accuracy of point dose calculation. To develop the MLC scatter source, a 6 MV photon beam from a Varian Clinac® iX linear accelerator with millennium 120 MLCs was used. It was assumed that the position for the MLC scatter source was located at the center of the MLC, consisting of line-based and area-based sources to consider the characteristics of the scattered radiation from the MLCs empirically.

A retrospective 4D-MRI based on 2D diaphragm profiles for lung cancer patients.

Introduction: 4D-MRI, compared to 4D-CT, provides better soft-tissue contrast for target delineation. However, motion artefacts are often observed due to residual breathing variations. This study is to present a retrospective 4D-MRI reconstruction method based on 2D diaphragm profiles to improve the quality of 4D-MR images in the presence of significant breathing variations.