Inhibition of tyrosine kinase Fgr prevents radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF).

Cellular senescence is involved in the development of pulmonary fibrosis as well as in lung tissue repair and regeneration. Therefore, a strategy of removal of senescent cells by senolytic drugs may not produce the desired therapeutic result. Previously we reported that tyrosine kinase Fgr is upregulated in ionizing irradiation-induced senescent cells.

Development of a MicroRNA Signature Predictive of Recurrence and Survival in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Optimal patient selection for radiotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unestablished. Molecular profiling may select patients at high risk for locoregional recurrence (LRR) who would benefit from radiation.

Methods: We included resectable pancreatic cancer (R-PDAC) patients, divided into training and validation cohorts, treated among three institutions with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, and borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (BR/LA-PDAC) patients treated with chemotherapy with or without radiation at the primary study institution.

C-Choline PET Guided Salvage Radiation Therapy for Isolated Pelvic and Paraortic Nodal Recurrence of Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy: Rationale and Early Genitourinary or Gastrointestinal Toxicities.

Purpose: To assess gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) adverse events (AEs) of C-choline-positron emission tomography (CholPET) guided lymph node (LN) radiation therapy (RT) in patients who experience biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy.

Methods And Materials: From 2013 to 2016, 107 patients experienced biochemical failure of prostate cancer, had CholPET-detected pelvic and/or paraortic LN recurrence, and were referred for RT. Patients received androgen suppression and CholPET guided LN RT (median dose, 45 Gy) with a simultaneous integrated boost to CholPET-avid sites (median dose, 56.

A Comparison of Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality of Life During Proton Versus Photon Chemoradiation Therapy for Esophageal Cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Esophagus (FACT-E) questionnaire changes during proton (PRT) or photon (XRT) chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods And Materials: We reviewed patients enrolled in a prospective registry who received preoperative or definitive CRT for EC. Patients completed the FACT-E before CRT and during the last week of CRT.

Increased utilization of external beam radiotherapy relative to cystectomy for localized, muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a SEER analysis.

Objective: To assess recent utilization patterns of radiotherapy (RT) relative to cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and evaluate survival trends over time in patients receiving RT.

Materials And Methods: The surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program (SEER) was used to identify patients diagnosed between 1992 and 2013 with localized MIBC. Patients with a prior history of non-bladder malignancy, who received no treatment, or did not have available treatment information, were excluded.

Multicenter Evaluation of the Tolerability of Combined Treatment With PD-1 and CTLA-4 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Palliative Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: To analyze immune-related adverse events (ir-AEs) in patients treated with radiation and immune checkpoint blockade.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively reviewed records from patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal cell cancer who received at least 1 cycle of a CTLA-4 or PD-1 inhibitor and radiation. Immune-related adverse events, defined using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.

A systematic evaluation of abscopal responses following radiotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ipilimumab.

Case reports and preclinical data suggest radiotherapy and immunotherapy may synergize to generate "abscopal" responses outside the radiation field. This phenomenon remains relatively unexplored, prompting our systematic evaluation of metastatic melanoma patients treated with the CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab and palliative radiation therapy. We evaluated 47 consecutive metastatic melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab and 65 courses of radiation.

Lack of reduction in racial disparities in cancer-specific mortality over a 20-year period.

Background: To the authors' knowledge, it remains unknown whether race-based differences in cancer outcomes have changed with time. In the current study, the authors assessed whether racial disparities in cancer-specific mortality have improved over the last 20 years.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program was used to identify 2,713,474 patients diagnosed between 1988 and 2007 with either lung, breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer (the leading 3 causes of cancer-related mortality among each sex).

Marital status and survival in patients with cancer.

Purpose: To examine the impact of marital status on stage at diagnosis, use of definitive therapy, and cancer-specific mortality among each of the 10 leading causes of cancer-related death in the United States.

Methods: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program to identify 1,260,898 patients diagnosed in 2004 through 2008 with lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, prostate, liver/intrahepatic bile duct, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, head/neck, ovarian, or esophageal cancer. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression to analyze the 734,889 patients who had clinical and follow-up information available.

Point-of-care glucose analysis in neonates using modified quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase.

Background: Asymptomatic hypoglycemia in neonates may contribute to neurologic deficits during development. Whole-blood glucose sensors are often imprecise and inaccurate at the low glucose concentrations found in neonates.

Subjects And Methods: In this study, a glucose sensor using a mutated glucose dehydrogenase that does not cross-react significantly with maltose was evaluated at three pediatric centers.

The effect of Gal expression on pig cells on the human T-cell xenoresponse.

Background:   Lack of Gal expression on pig cells is associated with a reduced primate humoral immune response as well as a reduction in cytokine production by human cells in vitro. We investigated whether lack of Gal expression is associated with reduced human T-cell response in vitro.

Methods:   Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from healthy humans and naïve baboons.

Genetically-modified pig mesenchymal stromal cells: xenoantigenicity and effect on human T-cell xenoresponses.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are being investigated as immunomodulatory therapy in the field of transplantation, particularly islet transplantation. While MSC can regenerate across species barriers, the immunoregulatory influence of genetically modified pig MSC (pMSC) on the human and non-human primate T-cell responses has not been studied.

Methods: Mesenchymal stromal cells from wild-type (WT), α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene knockout (GTKO) and GTKO pigs transgenic for the human complement-regulatory protein CD46 (GTKO/CD46) were isolated and tested for differentiation.

Comparison of PFA-100 and bleeding time testing in pediatric patients with suspected hemorrhagic problems.

Background: The bleeding time test is difficult to perform, standardize, and interpret in children. In this study the authors evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of the bleeding time test and the PFA-100 in a series of children referred for possible bleeding problems.

Patients And Methods: Between February 2000 and August 2001 patients aged more than 6 months and less than 18 years of age who were referred to the authors' institution for a hemostatic evaluation were included in the study if residual blood was available for testing on the PFA-100 instrument.

Whole blood international normalization ratio measurements in children using near-patient monitors.

Purpose: To report a comparison of international normalization ratio (INR) measurements on four near-patient (point-of-care or bedside) whole blood INR monitors in children.

Patients And Methods: The INR results from 19 ambulatory pediatric subjects (30 hospital visits) receiving warfarin sodium were analyzed on four near-patient monitors and compared with plasma INR measurements on the laboratory CA-1000 Analyze. The instruments evaluated were CoaguChek, Hemochron Jr.

Accurate direct spectrophotometric bilirubin measurement combined with blood gas analysis.

Background: A new total bilirubin (B(T)) method, based on multiple wavelength absorbance measurements, and an algorithm to calculate concentration, were evaluated for accuracy in specimens containing variable amounts of unconjugated bilirubin (B(U)), conjugated bilirubin (B(C)) and delta (protein-bound) bilirubin (B(D)).

Methods: Quantitation of B(U), B(C), and B(T) (with calculation of B(D)) using a Vitros 250 analyzer served as the comparison method.

Results: Analysis of neonatal specimens using a preliminary algorithm yielded good overall agreement with the Vitros B(T) method, but there was considerable variation in the agreement for individual specimens.

HPLC detection of fetal blood in meconium: improved sensitivity compared with qualitative methods.

We describe an HPLC-based method for the detection and quantification of fetal hemoglobin in stools of newborns. The new procedure is an alternative to the classic qualitative test for adult hemoglobin in meconium based on the differential stability of hemoglobin species in dilute base (Apt test). The HPLC method, based on a commercial device for hemoglobin characterization (Bio-Rad Variant), readily separates fetal and adult hemoglobin from non-hemoglobin components of meconium.

Extraction of glyceric and glycolic acids from urine with tetrahydrofuran: utility in detection of primary hyperoxaluria.

Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is an autosomal recessive metabolic abnormality characterized by excessive oxalate excretion leading to nephrocalcinosis and progressive renal dysfunction. Type I primary hyperoxaluria (PH I) results from a deficiency of alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase, whereas type II disease has been traced to a deficiency of D-glycerate dehydrogenase. The two syndromes are often distinguished on the basis of organic acids that are coexcreted with oxalate: glycolate and L-glycerate in type I and type II disease, respectively.

Accreditation surveys. Coping with the worst-case scenario.

Survey scheduled? Feeling out of control? An administrator from a small Texas hospital shares her worst-case experience-five surveys in 3 months.

Measurement of plasma ibuprofen by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the determination of plasma ibuprofen was developed. Plasma samples from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients receiving high-dose ibuprofen therapy were analyzed by GC-MS and the result compared to analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (reference method). Analysis of ibuprofen was sensitive to at least 5 mg/L, and the method was linear to 200 mg/L.