Does extending the body contour into air enhance surface dose calculation accuracy?

Purpose: In radiotherapy treatment planning systems, modelling of superficial dose may be aided by a body contour that is, by default, placed at the outermost air-tissue interface. Here we investigate the accuracy of superficial dose calculated using either the default body contour (DBC) or an extended body contour (EBC) compared to radiochromic film measurements made on a slab phantom and an anthropomorphic phantom.

Methods: Depth dose curves in the superficial region of the slab phantom were measured using stacked radiochromic films and irradiated using static beams delivered from varying incident angles.

PD-L1 testing patterns in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) in the U.S.

Background: Pembrolizumab with/without platinum + 5-FU is approved for the first-line (1L) treatment of R/M HNSCC, and its monotherapy use requires PD-L1 Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥ 1. We aimed to understand PD-L1 testing patterns and associations with patient characteristics and treatment choice in R/M HNSCC.

Methods: Adults with R/M HNSCC initiating 1L systemic therapy were included from a U.

Altered Nigral Amide Proton Transfer Imaging Signal Concordant With Motor Asymmetry in Parkinson's Disease: A Multipool CEST MRI Study.

Asymmetry is a natural characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD), which can be used to distinguish PD from atypical parkinsonism. Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) has demonstrated value in reflecting the subtle changes related to neuron loss and abnormal protein accumulation in PD but has not been used to investigate asymmetry in PD. This study aimed to examine asymmetrical changes in the mesencephalic nucleus of PD patients with motor asymmetry using four-pool CEST analysis and to explore the relationship between imaging asymmetry and motor asymmetry.

Cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics and volume changes are related with sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence-pulsatile tinnitus with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Purpose: To evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics and volume changes of pulsatile tinnitus (PT) patients induced by sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence (SSWD) with intracranial hypertension.

Methods: Thirty-five SSWD-PT patients coexisted with intracranial hypertension and 35, age-, gender-, and handedness-matched healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled and performed MRI. Clinical data were collected.

Identification of the Core Nutrition Impact Symptoms Cluster in Patients with Lung Cancer During Chemotherapy: A Symptom Network Analysis.

Objectives: Lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are present in multiple Nutrition Impact Symptoms (NIS). There have been no studies utilizing symptom networks to identify core NIS in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, it is necessary to identify core symptoms for effective and precise symptom management. We aimed to construct a symptom network of NIS in lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and explore the core Nutrition Impact Symptoms cluster.

Shikonin inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis to attenuate renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury is characterized by high morbidity and mortality, with renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury as a critical inducer. Shikonin is the major bioactive compound extracted from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and possesses diverse pharmacological properties. This study was designed to investigate the biological functions of shikonin in renal I/R injury.

Electrically-switched differential microscopy based on computing liquid-crystal platforms.

Detection of transparent phase specimens especially biological cells with desired contrasts is of great importance in visual display and medical diagnosis. Due to the pure-phase nature, conventional detection approaches may damage samples or require complex operations. Computing liquid crystal (LC) is a thin and flat optical element with excellent capability in optical field modulation, which gives a feasible way to this issue from the perspective of analog optical computing.

Alterations of gut microbiota and metabolome are associated with primary nephrotic syndrome in children.

Background: Primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) is a common glomerular disease in children. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota acts as a cause of Treg abnormalities. However, the intestinal metabolic impact of PNS with children remains poorly understood.

The association of objective daytime sleepiness with impaired glucose metabolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a multi-omics study.

Study Objectives: To examine the joint effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and objective excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) on glucose metabolism and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: We included 127 patients with OSA. The multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were used to assess objective and subjective EDS, respectively.

Comparative analysis of fetal dose sparing between a C-arm linac and an O-ring linac in a SIB-VMAT sarcoma treatment for a pregnant patient: A technical note and case report.

Purpose: To compare the effect of two linacs designs on fetal dose sparing on a pregnant patient, including estimation of the fetal dose, and the effect of a lead apron.

Methods: A patient with a high-grade sarcoma located in the right knee/lower thigh was prescribed 51 Gy (1.7 Gy/Fx) with a simultaneous-integrated-boost (SIB) of 60 Gy to a smaller volume, starting in the 26th gestational week.

Temporal dynamics of immune cell patterns in bladder cancer patients receiving Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy.

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is capable of enhancing the infiltration of immune cells into the tumour. However the temporal dynamics of immune cell patterns in patients receiving BCG instillation remains unclear.

Methods: Ninety-six patients who underwent intravesical BCG therapy, comprising 46 responders and 50 non-responders, were retrospectively enroled to explore the evolving immune landscape.

VFDB 2025: an integrated resource for exploring anti-virulence compounds.

With the escalating crisis of bacterial multidrug resistance, anti-virulence therapeutic strategies have emerged as a highly promising alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments. Anti-virulence compounds are specifically designed to target virulence factors (VFs), disarming pathogens without affecting bacterial growth and thus reduce the selective pressure for resistance development. However, due to the complexity of bacterial pathogenesis, no anti-virulence small molecules have been approved for clinical use thus far, despite the documentation of hundreds of potential candidates.

CRISPR Screening and Comparative LC-MS Analysis Identify Genes Mediating Efficacy of Delamanid and Pretomanid against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB), the leading cause of death from bacterial infections worldwide, results from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The antitubercular agents delamanid (DLM) and pretomanid (PMD) are nitroimidazole prodrugs that require activation by an enzyme intrinsic to Mtb; however, the mechanism(s) of action and the associated metabolic pathways are largely unclear. Profiling of the chemical-genetic interactions of PMD and DLM in Mtb using combined CRISPR screening reveals that the mutation of rv2073c increases susceptibility of Mtb to these nitroimidazole drugs both in vitro and in infected mice, whereas mutation of rv0078 increases drug resistance.

Active Magnesium Boride/Alginate Hydrogels Rejuvenate Senescent Cells.

The clearance of senescent cells may be detrimental to low cell density diseases, such as intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), and rejuvenating these cells presents a formidable obstacle. In this study, we investigate a mild-alkalization strategy employing magnesium boride-alginate (MB-ALG) hydrogels to rejuvenate senescent cells associated with age-related diseases. MB-ALG hydrogels proficiently ensnare senescent cells owing to their surface roughness.

Generation of two hiPSC lines carrying compound heterozygous RDH12 mutations in a LCA patient.

Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a complex inherited retinal dystrophy characterized by severe vision loss and even blindness early in life, caused by more than 38 genes. Variations in RDH12 were found to be responsible for LCA. We successfully generated two induced pluripotent stem cell lines from a patient diagnosed with LCA carrying the RDH12 compound heterozygous mutations c.

The prevalence of neck pain among online learning students: An observational study.

Neck pain is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders affecting the general population. During the 2019 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, students have increasingly resorted to online learning, requiring prolonged use of electronic devices. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors influencing neck pain during online learning.