Automatic skin flash optimization in breast and chestwall VMAT with static angle modulated ports: Effect of HU and flash margin size on plan quality and robustness.

Skin flash is typically added to breast and chestwall plans to ensure robust target coverage in the presence of respiratory motion, anatomic changes, and small setup uncertainties. Adding skin flash in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans is an iterative and manual process. RapidArc dynamic (RAD) is a new solution that integrates a dynamic collimator and static-gantry angle modulated ports directly into arc delivery.

Dysregulation of the molecular clock by blood-borne factors in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Background: Circadian disruptions are increasingly recognized in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and may influence disease onset and progression. This study examines how AD pathology affects blood-borne factors that regulate circadian rhythms.

Methods: Eighty-five participants from the Sino Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Decline were enrolled: 35 amyloid-beta negative normal controls (Aβ- NCs), 23 amyloid-beta positive normal controls (Aβ+ NCs), 15 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and 12 with Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD).

Tetraphenylethylene-indole as a novel fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive detection of human serum albumin (HSA) in biological matrices and monitoring of HSA purity and degradation.

Human serum albumin (HSA) levels in serum and urine is a crucial biomarker for diagnosing liver and kidney diseases. HSA is used to treat various disorders in clinical practice and as an excipient in the production of vaccine or protein drug, ensuring its purity essential for patient safety. However, selective and sensitive detection of HSA remains challenging due to its structural similarity with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the inherent complexity of biological matrices.

Association of white matter hyperintensities with cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.

Background: The relationship between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and the core features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains controversial. Further, due to the prevalence of co-pathologies, the precise role of WMH in cognition and neurodegeneration also remains uncertain.

Methods: Herein, we analyzed 1803 participants with available WMH volume data, extracted from the ADNI database, including 756 cognitively normal controls, 783 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 264 patients with dementia.

A prediction model of dementia conversion for mild cognitive impairment by combining plasma pTau181 and structural imaging features.

Aims: The early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are no longer insurmountable. Therefore, identifying at-risk individuals is of great importance for precise treatment. We developed a model to predict cognitive deterioration in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Enhancement of non-covalent interaction between soy protein isolate and quercetin by sodium alginate.

Effects of sodium alginate (SA) on the non-covalent interaction between soybean protein isolate (SPI) and quercetin (Que) were investigated by multispectral technology, molecular docking and dynamics simulation technology. Structural alterations of the binary complexes were observed after SA addition, characterized by a red shift of maximum fluorescence emission wavelength. The introduction of 0.

Particle arc therapy: Status and potential.

There is a rising interest in developing and utilizing arc delivery techniques with charged particle beams, e.g., proton, carbon or other ions, for clinical implementation.

Liquid Glycan Array.

The M13 phage platform is a stable and monodisperse nanoscale carrier, which can be modified with different molecules by chemical conjugation strategies. Here, we describe M13 phage acylated on pVIII protein with a dibenzocyclooctyne reacting with azido glycan to yield 30-1500 copy numbers of glycan per phage and monitored by MALDI-TOF spectrometry to generate multivalent glycoconjugates that contain desired densities of glycans. We prepared the liquid glycan arrays (LiGA) such that both the structure and density of glycans were encoded in the DNA of the bacteriophage.

ACR benchmark testing of a novel high-speed ring-gantry linac kV-CBCT system.

A new generation cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system with new hardware design and advanced image reconstruction algorithms is available for radiation treatment simulation or adaptive radiotherapy (HyperSight CBCT imaging solution, Varian Medical Systems-a Siemens Healthineers company). This study assesses the CBCT image quality metrics using the criteria routinely used for diagnostic CT scanner accreditation as a first step towards the future use of HyperSight CBCT images for treatment planning and target/organ delineations. Image performance was evaluated using American College of Radiology (ACR) Program accreditation phantom tests for diagnostic computed tomography systems (CTs) and compared HyperSight images with a standard treatment planning diagnostic CT scanner (Siemens SOMATOM Edge) and with existing CBCT systems (Varian TrueBeam version 2.

Breast Reconstruction Complications After Postmastectomy Proton Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Our purpose was to report complications requiring surgical intervention among patients treated with postmastectomy proton radiation therapy (PMPRT) for breast cancer in the setting of breast reconstruction (BR).

Methods And Materials: Patients enrolled on a prospective proton registry who underwent BR with immediate autologous flap, tissue expander (TE), or implant in place during PMPRT (50/50.4 Gy +/- chest wall boost) were eligible.

Five-Year Outcomes of a Phase 1/2 Trial of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Using Proton Therapy for Women With Stage 0-IIA Breast Cancer.

Purpose: We report the results of a phase 1/2 trial of external beam partial breast radiation using proton therapy.

Methods And Materials: Eligible patients included stage 0-IIA breast cancer pTis-T2, N0, and size ≤3 cm. Proton beam radiation was used to deliver 3.

Characterization of Cherenkov imaging parameters and positional constraints on an O-ring linear accelerator.

. With the introduction of Cherenkov imaging technology on the Halcyon O-ring linear accelerator platform, we seek to demonstrate the imaging feasibility and optimize camera placement..

Effect of polysaccharides on conformational changes and functional properties of protein-polyphenol binary complexes: A comparative study.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different polysaccharides on the binding behavior and functional properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI)-quercetin (Que) complex. The binding behavior was assessed using multi-spectral technique with the Stern-Volmer equation, which confirmed the presence of static fluorescence quenching in Que and SPI. The addition of sodium alginate (SA) resulted in a reduction of the binding affinity between SPI and Que, while dextran (DX) exhibited some promoting effect.

Glucose metabolism in posterior cingulate cortex has supplementary value to predict the progression of cognitively unimpaired to dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: an exploratory study of F-FDG-PET.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau are important biomarkers to predict the progression of cognitively unimpaired (CU) to dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to the diagnosis framework from the US National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA). However, it is clinically difficult to predict those subjects who were already with Aβ positive (A +) or tau positive (T +). As a typical characteristic of neurodegeneration in the diagnosis framework, the hypometabolism of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) has significant clinical value in the early prediction and prevention of AD.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging in Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning: A Review of PET Imaging Tracers and Methods to Incorporate PET/CT.

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has become a critical tool in clinical oncology with an expanding role in guiding radiation treatment planning. As its application and availability grows, it is increasingly important for practicing radiation oncologists to have a comprehensive understanding of how molecular imaging can be incorporated into radiation planning and recognize its potential limitations and pitfalls. The purpose of this article is to review the major approved positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals clinically being used today along with the methods used for their integration into radiation therapy including methods of image registration, target delineation, and emerging PET-guided protocols such as biologically-guided radiation therapy and PET-adaptive therapy.

Comparison of surface dose during whole breast radiation therapy on Halcyon and TrueBeam using Cherenkov imaging.

The emergence of the Halcyon linear accelerator has allowed for increased patient throughput and improved treatment times for common treatment sites in radiation oncology. However, it has been shown that this can lead to increased surface dose in sites like breast cancer compared with treatments on conventional machines with flattened radiation beams. Cherenkov imaging can be used to estimate surface dose by detection of Cherenkov photons emitted in proportion to energy deposition from high energy electrons in tissue.

MCP-1 levels in astrocyte-derived exosomes are changed in preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in older adults. There is accumulating evidence that inflammatory processes play a critical role in AD pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated whether inflammatory factors in plasma and astrocyte-derived exosomes (ADEs) from plasma are differentially expressed in the early stages of AD and their potential role in pathological processes in the AD continuum.

Progress in blood biomarkers of subjective cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that gradually impairs cognitive functions. Recently, there has been a conceptual shift toward AD to view the disease as a continuum. Since AD is currently incurable, effective intervention to delay or prevent pathological cognitive decline may best target the early stages of symptomatic disease, such as subjective cognitive decline (SCD), in which cognitive function remains relatively intact.

Associations Between Levels of Peripheral NCAPH2 Promoter Methylation and Different Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Several studies have examined NCAPH2 methylation in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but little is known of NCAPH2 methylation in subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

Objective: To examine whether methylation of peripheral NCAPH2 are differentially changed at various phases of AD, and whether it could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for SCD.

Methods: A total of 40 AD patients, 52 aMCI patients, 148 SCD patients, and 193 cognitively normal controls (NCs) were recruited in the current case-control study.

Association of plasma BDNF levels with different stages of Alzheimer's disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Growing evidence shows that the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is altered in the peripheral blood of participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is unclear, however, whether altered BDNF expression is also observed in the early stages of AD.

Methods: In the present study, 138 normal controls (NC), 57 participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and 37 participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and AD were included.

Cerebrospinal Fluid sTREM2 in Alzheimer's Disease Is Associated with Both Amyloid and Tau Pathologies but not with Cognitive Status.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) is considered a biomarker of microglial activation. The relationships between CSF sTREM2 levels and Alzheimer's disease (AD) CSF core biomarkers, cognitive status, and neurodegeneration remain unclear.

Objective: To assess the association between CSF sTREM2 levels and AD progression and other AD hallmarks.

Study on the binding behavior and functional properties of soybean protein isolate and β-carotene.

This study focused on the non-covalent interaction between soybean protein isolate (SPI) and β-carotene (BC). The conformational changes of SPI with β-carotene in varying proportions (BC/SPI: 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) were investigated by multi-spectroscopy and molecular docking. Results showed that the quenching mode is static quenching and binding affinity increased with temperature.

β-Amyloid promotes platelet activation and activated platelets act as bridge between risk factors and Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an evolving challenge that places an enormous burden on families and society. The presence of obvious brain β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition is a premise to diagnose AD, which induces the subsequent tau hyperphosphorylation and neurodegeneration. Platelets are the primary source of circulating amyloid precursor protein (APP).