Potential similarities in gut microbiota composition between autism spectrum disorder and neurotypical siblings: Insights from a comprehensive meta-analysis.

Background: Previous studies have explored the differences in gut microbiota (GM) between individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypical controls. However, factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure influence GM, leading to significant variability, even among neurotypical individuals. Comparing the GM of ASD individuals with neurotypical siblings, who share similar genes and living conditions, may offer better insights into the GM mechanisms associated with ASD.

Triangle-toothed gear occlude-guided universal nanotechnology constructs 3D symmetric DNA polyhedra with high assembly efficiency for precision cancer therapy.

Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat malignant tumors. However, conventional chemotherapeutic drugs often cannot distinguish between tumor and healthy cells, resulting in adverse effects and reduced therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, zigzag-shaped gear-occlude-guided cymbal-closing (ZGC) DNA nanotechnology was developed based on the mirror-symmetry principle to efficiently construct symmetric DNA polyhedra.

Exosome proteomics study of the effects of traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes on human bronchial epithelial cells.

Electronic cigarette (e-Cig) has been promoted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarette (t-Cig) recently. However, there are limited scientific data on the potential health effects of e-Cig use. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicities of e-Cig and t-Cig condensate solutions (e-CigCS and t-CigCS) on human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cells) in vitro, and employed the exosome proteomic technique to systematically assess the effects of e-CigCS and t-CigCS on 16HBE cells.

Radiation Oncology: Future Vision for Quality Assurance and Data Management in Clinical Trials and Translational Science.

The future of radiation oncology is exceptionally strong as we are increasingly involved in nearly all oncology disease sites due to extraordinary advances in radiation oncology treatment management platforms and improvements in treatment execution. Due to our technology and consistent accuracy, compressed radiation oncology treatment strategies are becoming more commonplace secondary to our ability to successfully treat tumor targets with increased normal tissue avoidance. In many disease sites including the central nervous system, pulmonary parenchyma, liver, and other areas, our service is redefining the standards of care.

A study of skin marker alignment using different diamond-shaped light fields for prone breast external-beam radiation therapy.

For breast cancer patients treated in the prone position with tangential fields, a diamond-shaped light field (DSLF) can be used to align with corresponding skin markers for image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). This study evaluates and compares the benefits of different DSLF setups. Seventy-one patients who underwent daily tangential kilovoltage (kV) IGRT were categorized retrospectively into four groups: (1) DSLF field size (FS) = 10 × 10 cm , gantry angle = 90° (right breast)/270° (left breast), with the same isocenter as treatment tangential beams; (2) same as group 1, except DSLF FS = 4 × 4 cm ; (3) DSLF FS = 4 × 4-6 × 8 cm , gantry angle = tangential treatment beam, off-isocenter so that the DSLF was at the approximate breast center; and (4) No-DSLF.

Hairpin-inserted cross-shaped DNA nanoprobe for ultrasensitive microRNA detection based on built-in target analogue cycle amplification.

It remains technically challenging to develop a sensitive assay system to isothermally amplify the signal for miRNA detection because of its low abundance in tested sample, sequence similarities and existence in complex biological environments. In this study, using miRNA-21 as target model, a hairpin-inserted cross-shaped DNA nanoprobe (CP) with four functional arms is constructed for the ultrasensitive detection of miRNA via one-step built-in target analogue (BTA) cycle-mediated signal amplification. BTA is pre-locked in one arm of CP probe and inactive.

Knowledge-based planning in robotic intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery treatments.

Purpose: To develop a knowledge-based planning (KBP) model that predicts dosimetric indices and facilitates planning in CyberKnife intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT).

Methods: Forty CyberKnife SRS/SRT plans were retrospectively used to build a linear KBP model which correlated the equivalent radius of the PTV (r ) and the equivalent radius of volume that receives a set of prescription dose (r , where V  = V , V … V ). To evaluate the model's predictability, a fourfold cross-validation was performed for dosimetric indices such as gradient measure (GM) and brain V .

Paradoxical Mitophagy Regulation by PINK1 and TUFm.

Aberrant mitophagy has been implicated in a broad spectrum of disorders. PINK1, Parkin, and ubiquitin have pivotal roles in priming mitophagy. However, the entire regulatory landscape and the precise control mechanisms of mitophagy remain to be elucidated.

Palindromic probe-mediated strand displacement amplification for highly sensitive and selective microRNA imaging.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a variety of biological processes, and the accurate detection of miRNAs is of great importance for early diagnosis of various cancers. Herein, we have developed a highly sensitive method for the intracellular imaging of miRNAs based on a palindromic probe-induced strand displacement amplification (pSDA). The sensing element is a partly complementary hybrid consisting of two DNA components: one fluorescent dye-labeled signaling probe containing a palindromic sequence and loop-based target recognition site and one quencher moiety-attached locking probe.

Dosimetric and planning efficiency comparison for lung SBRT: CyberKnife vs VMAT vs knowledge-based VMAT.

This is the first study that compared treatment plan quality and planning efficiency for lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using CyberKnife (CK) Multiplan vs Varian Eclipse treatment planning systems, including volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and knowledge-based VMAT (KBP-VMAT). Thirteen lung SBRT patients treated with 50 to 55 Gy in 3 or 5 fractions were retrospectively included in this study. CK plans created with Multiplan V.

RU486 Metabolite Inhibits CCN1/Cyr61 Secretion by MDA-MB-231-Endothelial Adhesion.

Successful adhesion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to microvascular endothelium of distant metastatic tissue is the key starting step of metastatic cascade that could be effectively chemoprevented as we demonstrated previously. Here, we hypothesize that the hetero-adhesion may produce secretory biomarkers that may be important for both premetastatic diagnosis and chemoprevention. We show that co-incubation of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA-MB-231 with human pulmonary microvascular endothelial monolayers (HPMEC) secretes Cyr61 (CCN1), primarily from MDA-MB-231.

A 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Phantom for External Beam Radiation Therapy of Prostate Cancer.

This paper presents the design evolution, fabrication, and testing of a novel patient and organ-specific, 3D printed phantom for external beam radiation therapy of prostate cancer. In contrast to those found in current practice, this phantom can be used to plan and validate treatment tailored to an individual patient. It contains a model of the prostate gland with a dominant intraprostatic lesion, seminal vesicles, urethra, ejaculatory duct, neurovascular bundles, rectal wall, and penile bulb generated from a series of combined T2-weighted/dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images.

S-Nitrosocaptopril prevents cancer metastasis in vivo by creating the hostile bloodstream microenvironment against circulating tumor cells.

A perfect microenvironment facilitates the activated circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to spark the adhesion-invasion-extravasation metastatic cascade in their premetastatic niche. Platelet-CTC interaction contributes to the progression of tumor malignancy by protecting CTCs from shear stress and immunological assault, aiding CTCs entrapment in the capillary bed, enabling CTCs to successfully exit the bloodstream and enter the tissue, inducing epithelial-mesenchymal-like transition (EMT), and assisting in the establishment of metastatic foci. To prevent the cascade from sparking, we show that, the multifunctional S-nitrosocaptopril (CapNO) acts on both CTCs and platelets to interrupt platelet/CTCs interplay and adhesion to endothelium, thus inhibiting CTC-based pulmonary metastasis in vivo.

Dosimetric comparison of deep-inspiration breath-hold and free-breathing treatment delivery techniques for left-sided breast cancer using 3D surface tracking.

Introduction: While radiation therapy has been shown to increase local control and overall survival for breast cancer, late cardiac toxicity remains a concern. Morbidity and mortality have been shown to increase proportionally to the mean heart dose. Deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) can reduce heart dose compared to free-breathing (FB) by increasing the heart-to-chest wall distance, especially in left-sided breast cancer.

Twin target self-amplification-based DNA machine for highly sensitive detection of cancer-related gene.

The sensitive detection of cancer-related genes is of great significance for early diagnosis and treatment of human cancers, and previous isothermal amplification sensing systems were often based on the reuse of target DNA, the amplification of enzymatic products and the accumulation of reporting probes. However, no reporting probes are able to be transformed into target species and in turn initiate the signal of other probes. Herein we reported a simple, isothermal and highly sensitive homogeneous assay system for tumor suppressor p53 gene detection based on a new autonomous DNA machine, where the signaling probe, molecular beacon (MB), was able to execute the function similar to target DNA besides providing the common signal.

Fetal QT Interval Estimation Using Sequential Hypothesis Testing.

: Recent studies utilizing fetal magnetocardiography have demonstrated the efficacy of corrected QT interval (QTc) measurement for in utero diagnosis and prognosis of long QT syndrome, a leading cause of sudden death in early life. The objective of the study was to formulate and test a novel statistical estimation method to detect the end of the fetal T-wave and thereby improve the accuracy of fetal QT interval measurement. : To detect the end of the T-wave, we apply a sequential composite hypothesis test to decide when the T-wave has returned to baseline.

Promising Compounds From Murraya exotica for Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention.

Most of the present anticancer drugs are highly cytotoxic and focus mainly on killing tumor cells rather than slowing the progress of cancer metastasis. Evidence has been reported that bridges the mechanisms of inflammation and tumor invasion. Therefore, we evaluated the potency in cancer metastasis chemoprevention of compounds and a coumarin extracted from Murraya exotica, which is known for its anti-inflammation bioactivity.

Focal Hepatic Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake Mimics Liver Metastasis Following External Beam Radiation for Gastroesophageal Cancers: A Case and Review of the Literature.

Patients with locally advanced gastroesophageal cancers frequently undergo concurrent chemotherapy and radiation (CRT). 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) in combination with computed tomography is used for disease staging and assessing response to therapy. (18)FDG-PET interpretation is subject to confounding influences including infectious/inflammatory conditions, serum glucose, and concurrent medications.

Radiation dermatitis caused by a bolus effect from an abdominal compression device.

American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 176 evaluated the dosimetric effects caused by couch tops and immobilization devices. The report analyzed the extensive physics-based literature on couch tops, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) frames, and body immobilization bags, while noting the scarcity of clinical reports of skin toxicity because of external devices. Here, we present a clinical case report of grade 1 abdominal skin toxicity owing to an abdominal compression device.

Pharmacoproteomic analysis reveals that metapristone (RU486 metabolite) intervenes E-cadherin and vimentin to realize cancer metastasis chemoprevention.

Metapristone is the most predominant biological active metabolite of mifepristone, and being developed as a novel cancer metastasis chemopreventive agent by us. Despite its prominent metastasis chemopreventive effect, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Our study, for the first time, demonstrated that metapristone had the ability to prevent breast cancer cells from migration, invasion, and interfere with their adhesion to endothelial cells.

Thirty-day rat toxicity study reveals reversible liver toxicity of mifepristone (RU486) and metapristone.

Objective: Mifepristone (RU486) is an oral first-line contraceptive used by hundreds of millions of women, and recently it was tested for anticancer activity in both genders worldwide. We are developing metapristone (the N-monodemethyl RU486) as a potential metastasis chemopreventive. The present acute and 30-d subacute toxicity study aimed at examining and compared in parallel the potential toxicity of the two drugs.

In vitro and in vivo efficacy and safety evaluation of metapristone and mifepristone as cancer metastatic chemopreventive agents.

Malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, has a high propensity for metastatic spread and is notoriously chemotherapy-resistant. Metapristone is the primary metabolite of mifepristone (RU486) and shows biological activities similar to RU486. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the efficacy of metapristone as a metastatic chemopreventive against melanoma B16F10 cells in vitro and in vivo, and evaluated the safety profile of both drugs in mice.

The dosimetric impact of image guided radiation therapy by intratumoral fiducial markers.

Purpose: Pancreatic fiducials have proven superior over other isocenter localization surrogates, including anatomical landmarks and intratumoral or adjacent stents. The more clinically relevant dosimetric impact of image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) using intratumoral fiducial markers versus bony anatomy has not yet been described and is therefore the focus of the current study.

Methods And Materials: Using daily orthogonal kV or cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and positional and dosimetric data were analyzed for 12 consecutive patients treated with fiducial based IGRT and volumetric modulated arc therapy to the intact pancreas.

Isolation and characterization of living circulating tumor cells in patients by immunomagnetic negative enrichment coupled with flow cytometry.

Background: This study was aimed at establishing a sensitive and specific isolation, characterization, and enumeration method for living circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Methods: Quantitative isolation and characterization of CTCs were performed through a combination of immunomagnetic negative enrichment and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Isolated CTCs were identified by immunofluorescence staining.