Spatial fractionation of the dose in proton therapy: Proton minibeam radiation therapy

In radiation therapy, a renewed interest is emerging for the study of spatially fractionated irradiation. In this article, a few applications using spatial fractionation of the dose will be discussed with a focus on proton minibeam radiation therapy. Examples of calculated dose (1D profiles and 2D dose distributions) and biological evidence obtained so far will be presented for various spatially fractionated techniques GRID, micro- and minibeam radiation therapy. Recent results demonstrating that proton minibeam radiation therapy leads to an increase in normal tissues sparing will be discussed, which opens the door to a dose escalation in the tumour and a possibly efficient treatment of very radioresistant tumours.     

Comparison of high-dose and low-dose corticosteroid therapy for refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is generally a self-limiting disease, but it may become refractory. It is thought that refractory MPP is linked to the excessive immunologic responses of the host. Consequently, the use of adjunctive systemic corticosteroids may have beneficial effects. In this study, we compared the effects of high- and low-dose corticosteroid therapy in a pediatric population with refractory MPP.

Marked increase of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titer during treatment with high-dose prednisolone in a case of polymyositis

A 70-year-old Japanese woman with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was diagnosed with polymyositis and treated with high-dose prednisolone (PSL). The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level increased from 78 to 345 U/l 1 week after initiating treatment, although the polymyositis settled promptly. Furthermore, the serum HCV RNA level increased markedly from 110 to 850 kIU/ml 3 weeks after starting treatment. Previously, the patient had suffered an occlusion of the left branch of the retinal vein secondary to hyperviscosity syndrome resulting from Sjögrens syndrome and low-dose PSL treatment had been commenced. The serum HCV RNA and transaminase levels had not increased during this low-dose PSL treatment. Although intensive immunosuppression is necessary as an initial treatment of several collagen diseases including polymyositis, high-dose PSL therapy may markedly augment the serum HCV RNA level and therefore careful observation is necessary in HCV-infected patients.     

Afferentation of the lateral nidopallium: A tracing study of a brain area involved in sexual imprinting in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The lateral forebrain of zebra finches that comprises parts of the lateral nidopallium and parts of the lateral mesopallium is supposed to be involved in the storage and processing of visual information acquired by an early learning process called sexual imprinting. This information is later used to select an appropriate sexual partner for courtship behavior. Being involved in such a complicated behavioral task, the lateral nidopallium should be an integrative area receiving input from many other regions of the brain. Our experiments indeed show that the lateral nidopallium receives input from a variety of telencephalic regions including the primary and secondary areas of both visual pathways, the globus pallidus, the caudolateral nidopallium functionally comparable to the prefrontal cortex, the caudomedial nidopallium involved in song perception and storage of song-related memories, and some parts of the arcopallium. There are also a number of thalamic, mesencephalic, and brainstem efferents including the catecholaminergic locus coeruleus and the unspecific activating reticular formation. The spatial distribution of afferents suggests a compartmentalization of the lateral nidopallium into several subdivisions. Based on its connections, the lateral nidopallium should be considered as an area of higher order processing of visual information coming from the tectofugal and the thalamofugal visual pathways. Other sensory modalities and also motivational factors from a variety of brain areas are also integrated here. These findings support the idea of an involvement of the lateral nidopallium in imprinting and the control of courtship behavior.     

Suppressive effect of IgG1 antibody on the complement activation of IgG2 antibody of the guinea pig

The effect of interposition of non-hemolytic antibody on the hemolytic activity of the complement-nxing antibody was examined. When mixtures of the hemolytic IgG2 and non-hemolylic IgG1 classes of guinea pig antibody to TNP 3, the total amount being kept constant, were reacted with TNP-SRBC, the average number of complement-induced lesions per cell (Z) varied as a function of (proportion to IgG2)ⁿ. The experimental values for the exponent n fell in a range between 3 and 4. Comparison of the hemolylic activity of IgG2 in the mixture with IgGl (Z_i) with that of the same amount of IgG2 without IgGl (Z₀) gave a relationship: Z_i = Z₀ × (proportion of IgG2)^{n ? m}, where m was obtained from the dose-response curve. Z₀ vs (concentration of IgG2)^m. Since values for m obtained under the conditions used (1?2) were always smaller than those for n, the activity of IgG2 was apparently suppressed by the presence of IgG 1. From the C1-transfer experiments, the C1-binding step was shown to be affected. Results were tested by a simple hypothesis and the mechanism for the suppressive effect of IgG1 antibody was analysed.     

Leukotriene receptor antagonist attenuated airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a double-stranded RNA-induced asthma exacerbation model

Background

Viral infections are the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation, but the key molecules involved in this process have not been fully identified. Although cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) have been postulated as the key mediators, their precise roles remain largely unclear. To investigate the roles of cysLTs in virus-induced asthma exacerbation, we developed a murine model using a viral double-stranded RNA analog, polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), and analyzed the effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) administration.

Luminescence characteristics for identifying irradiated black soybeans

Abstract

Purpose: Considering the commercial use of food irradiation and the prevalence of international trade of irradiated food and agricultural commodities, black soybeans originating from China or Korea were irradiated at 0–5 kGy. Photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) were investigated for their ability to identify characteristics that would distinguish irradiated from non-irradiated samples.

Materials and methods: Dried black soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were irradiated using a Co-60 gamma irradiator or an electron-beam accelerator and then analysed by PSL and TL.

Results: PSL photon counts were higher in irradiated samples than in non-irradiated ones and increased with applied doses, making it possible to distinguish irradiated from non-irradiated samples. The TL analysis revealed glow curves (TL₁) with low intensity for non-irradiated samples but a higher intensity (~200°C) for irradiated samples, showing increased intensities with radiation dose. The minerals were re-irradiated at 1 kGy and the second TL glow curve (TL₂) was measured. Based on the calculated TL ratios (TL₁/TL₂) and the shape of TL₁ glow curves, the irradiated samples could be distinguished from non-irradiated ones.

Conclusions: PSL and TL are effective screening and reference methods for distinguishing gamma ray or electron beam irradiated black soybeans from non-irradiated black soybeans.     

Clinicopathological features of splenic tumours of lymphoid tissue

Background

To study the effects of splenectomy on treatment and diagnosis of tumours of lymphoid tissue of the spleen.