Appropriate reduction of the fragmentation level of subfield sequences to improve the accuracy of field delivery in IMRT for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: Due to the influence of gravity, inertia and friction, there will be deviation between the position of multileaf collimator (MLC) in the delivered field and the initial intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plan. This study explores the effects of the fragmentation level of subfield sequences on this deviation and seeks ways to improve the accuracy of field delivery in IMRT for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: 30 patients with NPC were selected, and two groups (groups A and B) of IMRT plans were made in Pinnacle planning system.

Effect of prone and supine treatment positions for postoperative treatment of rectal cancer on target dose coverage and small bowel sparing using intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Background: To evaluate the influence of patient positioning on target dose coverage and dose distribution to the small bowel in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for rectal cancer patients.

Methods: Twenty-four consecutive rectal cancer patients undergoing postoperative radiation were selected and set up in either a prone or supine position. All patients received computed tomography (CT) scans before and during treatment (1-4 weeks).

Comparing hypofractionated to conventional fractionated radiotherapy in postmastectomy breast cancer: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and toxicity of hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventional fractionated radiotherapy in postmastectomy breast cancer using meta-analysis.

Methods: The PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Wan Fang and CNKI databases were searched to identify controlled clinical trials comparing hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventional fractionated radiotherapy in postmastectomy breast cancer. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint, and disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), acute skin toxicity, acute lung toxicity, late skin toxicity, lymphedema,, shoulder restriction, and late cardiac related toxicity were the secondary endpoints.

A meta-analysis of the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma.

Objective: The benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) and gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is unclear, with conflicting results from nonrandomized studies. We reported a meta-analysis to determine the impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on survival.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases were searched to identify clinical trials of postoperative ART versus no radiotherapy for EHCC and GBC.

Differences in lower cranial nerve complications predicted by the NTCP model between RTOG and reduced-volume IMRT planning in radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the differences in lower cranial nerve (LCN) complications predicted by the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model between Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and reduced-volume intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) planning for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) radiotherapy.

Methods: A total of fifty patients with NPC were divided into two groups according to T-stages of T1-2 and T3-4, and the LCNs of each patient were contoured on CT simulation images. The targets were contoured based on the RTOG 0225 clinical trial and a working committee for clinical stage NPC in China in 2010.

The Effect of Carbogen Breathing on F-FDG Uptake in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

It has been reported that F-FDG uptake is higher in hypoxic cancer cells than in well-oxygenated cells. We demonstrated that F-FDG uptake in lung cancer would be affected by high concentration oxygen breathing. .

Fractionated illumination improves the treatment outcomes of photodynamic therapy for high grade cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely used in dermatology to treat different skin diseases. Here, we aim to compare the efficacy of single versus multiple fraction light illumination PDT for high grade lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). In particular, 60 patients (104 CL lesions) were randomly divided into two groups; 30 patients (46 CL lesions) in group I were treated with methylaminolevulinate (MAL)-based PDT in three sessions, with a light dose of 90 J/cm delivered in a single fraction in each session.

Identification of miR-210 and combination biomarkers as useful agents in early screening non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Recently, extensive researches have explored the potential biomarker roles of microRNA-210 (miR-210) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Inconsistent results, however, have prevented its widespread use in diagnosis. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the biomarker roles of miR-210 in NSCLC through a comprehensive meta-analysis and an integrative bioinformatics analysis.

Endothelial cell malignancies in infants, children and adolescents: Treatment results of three Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe (CWS) trials and one registry.

Background: Endothelial cell malignancies are extremely rare in childhood. New identification of genetic abnormalities (WWTR1:CAMTA1 translocation) helps to recognize potential therapeutic targets. Little is known about treatment and outcome of these patients.

Association of nasopharyngeal cancer risk with genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzyme genes GSTM1, GSTT1 and CYP1A1 (rs4646903 variant), in tobacco addicted patients of Pashtun ethnicity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan.

Associations of GSTM1, GSTT1 and CYP1A1 gene variants with risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer were evaluated in this case-control study, in which 130 cases along with 151 population-based healthy controls of Pashtun ethnicity from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan were recruited. Socio-demographic data were obtained and blood samples were collected with informed consent for analysis. Specific RT-PCR and conventional PCR methods were used to detect CYP1A1 and GSTs, respectively, and results analyzed through SPSS version 20.

The impact of local control in the treatment of children with advanced infantile and adult-type fibrosarcoma: Experience of the cooperative weichteilsarkom studiengruppe (CWS).

Background And Objectives: This study aims at examining the potential survival benefits of primary versus secondary surgery of children diagnosed with advanced infantile (iFS) and adult-type fibrosarcoma (aFS).

Methods: Treatment and outcome of 89 children with FS treated within prospective Cooperative Studiengruppe (CWS) trials (1981-2016) were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Localized disease (LD) was diagnosed in 87 patients: 64/66 patients with iFS (≤2 years) and 23 with aFS (>2 ≤ 18 years).

Effect of variation in miRNA-binding site (rs8176318) of the BRCA1 gene in breast cancer patients.

Background/aim: A variation in the 3 prime untranslated regions (3′-UTRs) affects the binding of microRNA (miRNA) to the breast cancer (BC) susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) gene, and thus regulate its expression. In this study, the consequences of a variation in the miRNA-binding site (rs8176318G>T) in the 3′-UTRs of BRCA1 and its association with the risk of BC were investigated.

Materials And Methods: The selected variation (rs8176318G>T) was genotyped in BC patients (n = 300) and healthy controls (n = 300) using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (T-ARMS-PCR)].

A comparative study of machine learning classifiers for risk prediction of asthma disease.

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by wheezing, chest tightening and difficulty in breathing due to inflammation of lung airways. Early risk prediction of asthma is crucial for proper and effective management. This study presents the use of machine learning approach for risk prediction of asthma by evaluating Raman spectral variations between asthmatic as well as healthy sera samples.

Erupt of malaria, dengue and chikungunya in Pakistan: Recent insights about prevalence, diagnosis and treatment.

Malaria, dengue and chikungunya are the most rampant mosquito-borne infections predominantly in Pakistan. They pose a serious threat and cause a havoc for the victims owing to the life threatening signs and symptoms marked with elevated morbidity and mortality rate. It seems hard to discriminate due to common indications, consequently, deserves appropriate diagnosis prior elevated toll of death.

miR-27a-containing Exosomes Secreted by Irradiated Skin Keratinocytes Delayed the Migration of Unirradiated Skin Fibroblasts.

Radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE), e.g. the biological response occurring in unirradiated cells when their neighboring cells are irradiated, is the consequence of intercellular communication between irradiated and unirradiated cells and intracellular signal transduction of these two cell populations.

Circulating miR-21 as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background & Objective: The high-throughput analysis of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) is an active area of biomarker research. The oral cancer remains a common cancer among Pakistani males that continues to present at an advance stage, thus exhibiting poor survival. MiRNA 21 (miR-21) is the most consistently over-expressed miRNA in different types of tumor tissues.

Identification of microRNA-181 as a promising biomarker for predicting the poor survival in colorectal cancer.

Background: A series of studies have investigated the vital role of microRNA-181 (miR-181) in the initiation and development of colorectal cancer (CRC), and demonstrated that it might be associated with the prognosis of CRC. However, inconsistent findings have hindered its clinical application.

Methods: A comprehensive meta-analysis and an integrative bioinformatics analysis were carried out for concluding current available evidence, clarifying the preliminary prognostic value and unfolding the underlying biological function of miR-181 in CRC patients.

Epidemiological and clinical correlates of oral squamous cell carcinoma in patients from north-west Pakistan.

Objective: To investigate the association of oral squamous cell carcinoma with demographic variables and oral health indicators. .

Methods: The observational case-control study was conducted at the Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan, from November, 2015, to August, 2016.

Estimates of past and future time trends in age-specific breast cancer incidence among women in Karachi, Pakistan: 2004-2025.

Background: The current demographic trends indicate that breast cancer will pose an even greater public health concern in future for Pakistan. Details on the incidence, disease severity and mortality in respect of breast cancer are limited and without such data, therefore, future health policies or systems in respect of this disease cannot be strategically planned or implemented. The aim of this study was to examine past trends of age-specific breast cancer incidence rates (2004-2015), and to estimate the future volume of breast cancer cases in Karachi through the year 2025.

Optical screening of hepatitis-B infected blood sera using optical technique and neural network classifier.

In this study we demonstrate the analysis of biochemical changes in the human blood sera infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) using Raman spectroscopy. In total, 120 diseased blood samples and 170 healthy blood samples, collected from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) general hospital, were analyzed. Spectra from each sample of both groups were collected in the spectral range 400-1700 cm.

Identification of microRNA-92a and the related combination biomarkers as promising substrates in predicting risk, recurrence and poor survival of colorectal cancer.

: Previous studies demonstrated that microRNA-92a (miR-92a) may serve as a novel promising biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, a comprehensive analysis of the contribution of miR-92a in CRC is lacking. We aimed to systematically summarize the diagnostic and prognostic values of miR-92a in CRC.

Epithelioid sarcoma in children, adolescents, and young adults: Localized, primary metastatic and relapsed disease. Treatment results of five Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe (CWS) trials and one registry.

Background: Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) is a rare malignant soft-tissue tumor. Little is known about the optimal treatment of primary localized (LD), metastatic (MD), and relapsed disease (RD).

Methods: Characteristics, treatment, and outcome of 67 patients registered within the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe CWS-81, -86, -91, -96, -2002P trials and the registry SoTiSaR were analyzed (1981-2016).

Dose optimization strategy of sacrum limitation in cervical cancer intensity modulation radiation therapy planning.

The aim of this study was to investigate the dose optimization strategy for the sacrum to reduce the risk of pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF).Using a retrospective study design, we analyzed data from 28 patients with cervical cancer who underwent postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in our department from June 2017 to January 2018. Among these patients, 20 (71.

Primary tumor regression patterns in esophageal squamous cell cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy and implications for surveillance schemes.

The primary tumor regression patterns of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were investigated to determine an optimal surveillance scheme. The clinical data and radiology images of patients before CRT, at completion of CRT and every 1-3 months for the subsequent 12 months or until disease progression were retrospectively reviewed to define the patterns of primary tumor regression after CRT. Survival rates were analyzed statistically in order to determine an optimal surveillance scheme.