Quality assurance in a phase III, multicenter, randomized trial of POstmastectomy radioThErapy in Node posiTive breast cancer with or without Internal mAmmary nodaL irradiation (POTENTIAL): a planning benchmark case.

Purpose: To report the planning benchmark case results of the POTENTIAL trial-a multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial-to evaluate the value of internal mammary nodal (IMN) irradiation for patients with high-risk breast cancer.

Methods: All participating institutions were provided the outlines of one benchmark case, and they generated radiation therapy plans per protocol. The plans were evaluated by a quality assurance team, after which the institutions resubmitted their revised plans.

Variability of Target Volumes and Organs at Risk Delineation in Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy: Quality Assurance Results of the Pretrial Benchmark Case for the POTENTIAL Trial.

Purpose: To estimate the variations in clinical target volumes (CTVs) and organs at risk delineation within the quality assurance (QA) program of the POTENTIAL trial, which is a multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial evaluating postmastectomy radiation therapy (RT), with or without internal mammary nodal irradiation, for patients with high-risk breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: The simulating computed tomography scan data set of a benchmark case was sent to the participating centers, and the delineation of CTVs and organs at risk was required to be completed by the investigators following protocol guidelines. All submitted contours were reviewed and compared with the reference contours created by the QA team, using quantitative geometric analysis regarding volume and the Jaccard Index (JCI), Dice similarity coefficient, Geographic Miss Index, Discordance Index, and mean distance to agreement.

Anti-PD-L1 Antibody Enhances T Cell Immune Responses and Reduces Resistance of Breast Cancer Cells to Radiotherapy.

Immune escape is a frequent occurrence, which limits the duration of antitumor immune responses to radiotherapy. Here, we aimed to ascertain the roles and underlying mechanisms of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in tolerance of breast cancer (BC) to radiotherapy. We first quantified microRNA-21 (miR-21) and PD-L1 expression in BC tissues and cells, followed by identification of the interactions between miR-21, PD-L1, and programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4).

Effects of microRNA-217 on proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of hepatocytes in rat models of CCL4-induced liver injury by targeting NAT2.

Liver injury is an important cause of serious liver disease. This study aims to explore the effects of miR-217 targeting NAT2 on hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy following carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced liver injury. Rat models of CCL4-induced liver injury were established.

Stomach wall structure and vessels imaging by acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy.

Aim: To image stomach wall blood vessels and tissue, layer-by-layer.

Methods: We built up the acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy (AR-PAM) system for imaging layered tissues, such as the stomach wall. A tunable dye laser system was coupled to a fiber bundle.

MicroRNA-183 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Down-Regulating MTA1.

Backgrounds/aims: MicroRNAs (miRs) often contribute to the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via regulation of mRNAs that are involved in lung homeostasis. We conducted a study aimed at exploring the roles of miR-183 in the proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and migration of human NSCLC cells via targeting MTA1.

Methods: NSCLC and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 194 patients with NSCLC.

NDRG2 suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal cancer cells through regulating the AKT/XIAP signaling pathway.

N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) has recently revealed as a candidate tumor suppressor gene. To inhibit tumor growth and decrease morbidity of esophageal cancer (EC), this study aims to test the hypothesis that the upregulation of NDRG2 may suppress proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EC cells by regulating the AKT/XIAP signaling pathway. Immunohistochemistry was conducted for the identification of NDRG2, protein kinase B (p-AKT), X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in EC tissues.

Esophageal/gastric cancer screening in high-risk populations in Henan Province, China.

Objective: To summarize the endoscopic screening findings in high-risk population of esophageal and gastric carcinoma and analyze influential factors related to screening.

Methods: In seven selected cities and counties with high incidences of esophageal carcinoma, people at age of 40-69 were set as the target population. Those with gastroscopy contradictions were excluded, and all who were voluntary and willing to comply with the medical requirements were subjected to endoscopic screening and histological examination for esophageal, gastric cardia and gastric carcinoma in accordance with national technical manual for early detection and treatment of cancer.

[Study on microwave digestion of coal for the determination of multi-element by ICP-OES and ICP-MS].

Effects of temperature and four acids (HNO3, HNO3/H2O2, HNO3/HF and HNO3/HF+H3BO3) on the coal decomposition by microwave digestion and the multi-element analysis were studied. SARM20 was used as a coal standard reference material. The contents of 10 mineral elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na, S, Si, Sr and Ti) in the coal SARM20 were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).

Glucocorticoid receptors in the basolateral nucleus of amygdala are required for postreactivation reconsolidation of auditory fear memory.

It is well known that initial consolidation requires de novo gene transcription and protein synthesis in order for memory to become stable. The consolidated memory again becomes labile and temporarily sensitive to disruption when retrieved, requiring a reconsolidation process to become permanent. Although it is well established that glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA) are required for consolidation of fear memory, little is known about their role in reconsolidation of fear memory.