Mirror lightweight for a spaceborne remote sensing instrument

The paper aims at obtaining the optimum lightweight configuration for a primary mirror (M1) with honeycomb patterns for a space satellite. The finite element analysis and Zernike polynomial fitting based on the Taguchi Method are applied to the whole optimization process. Geometrical control factors and levels were selected to minimize the ratio of various mass reduction ratios (MRRs) to the product of the corresponding maximum mirror structural deflection and optical surface peak-to-valley wavefront aberrations under launch accelerations. The optimum lightweight M1 with a MRR of 0.5 and a mass of 9.72 kg is attained and a mirror blank based on this design was manufactured. The performance of the optimum lightweight mirror is simulated and the simulation results satisfy the requirements of space specifications

Association of Chinese Herbal Medicine use with the depression risk among the long-term breast cancer survivors: A longitudinal follow-up study

Background Breast cancer patients are at elevated risk of depression during treatment, thus provoking the chance of poor clinical outcomes. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate whether integrating Chinese herbal medicines citation(CHM) into conventional cancer therapy could decrease the risk of depression in the long-term breast cancer survivors. Methods A cohort of patients aged 20–70 years and with newly diagnosed breast cancer during 2000–2008 was identified from a nationwide claims database. In this study, we focused solely on survivors of breast cancer at least1 year after diagnosis. After one-to-one matching for age, sex, and baseline comorbidities, breast cancer patients who received (n = 1,450) and did not receive (n = 1,450) CHM treatment were enrolled. The incidence rate and hazard ratio citation(HR) for depression between the two groups was estimated at the end of 2012. A Cox proportional hazard model was constructed to examine the impact of the CHM use on the risk of depression. Results During the study period, the incidence rate of depression was significantly lower in the treated cohort than in the untreated cohort [8.57 compared with 11.01 per 1,000 person-years citation(PYs)], and the adjusted HR remained significant at 0.74 (95% CI 0.58–0.94) in a Cox proportional hazards regression model. The corresponding risk further decreasing to 43% among those using CHM for more than 1 year. Conclusion Finding from this investigation indicated that the lower risk of depression observed in breast cancer patients treated with CHM, suggesting that CHM treatment should be considered for disease management toward breast cancer. Yet, the optimal administered dose should be determined in further clinical trials

IRAK2, an IL1R/TLR Immune Mediator, Enhances Radiosensitivity via Modulating Caspase 8/3-Mediated Apoptosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Predicting and overcoming radioresistance are crucial in radiation oncology, including in managing oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). First, we used RNA-sequence to compare expression profiles of parent OML1 and radioresistant OML1-R OSCC cells in order to select candidate genes responsible for radiation sensitivity. We identified IRAK2, a key immune mediator of the IL-1R/TLR signaling, as a potential target in investigating radiosensitivity. In four OSCC cell lines, we observed that intrinsically low IRAK2 expression demonstrated a radioresistant phenotype (i.e., OML1-R and SCC4), and vice versa (i.e., OML1 and SCC25). Next, we overexpressed IRAK2 in low IRAK2-expression OSCC cells and knocked it down in high IRAK2-expression cells to examine changes of irradiation response. After ionizing radiation (IR) exposure, IRAK2 overexpression enhanced the radiosensitivity of radioresistant cells and synergistically suppressed OSCC cell growth both in vitro and in vivo, and vice versa. We found that IRAK2 overexpression restored and enhanced radiosensitivity by enhancing IR-induced cell killing via caspase-8/3-dependent apoptosis. OSCC patients with high IRAK2 expression had better post-irradiation local control than those with low expression (i.e., 87.4% vs. 60.0% at five years, P = 0.055), showing that IRAK2 expression was associated with post-radiation recurrence. Multivariate analysis confirmed high IRAK2 expression as an independent predictor for local control (HR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.016 – 0.760; P = 0.025). In conclusion, IRAK2 enhances radiosensitivity, via modulating caspase 8/3-medicated apoptosis, potentially playing double roles as a predictive biomarker and a novel therapeutic target in OSCC

Brazilein from Caesalpinia sappan

Brazilein, a natural, biologically active compound from Caesalpinia sappan L., has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and to inhibit the growth of several cancer cells. This study verifies the antioxidant and antitumor characteristics of brazilein in skin cancer cells and is the first time to elucidate the inhibition mechanism of adipocyte differentiation, cestocidal activities against Hymenolepis nana, and reduction of spontaneous movement in Anisakis simplex. Brazilein exhibits an antioxidant capacity as well as the ability to scavenge DPPH• and ABTS•+ free radicals and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Brazilein inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and suppressed the induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), the master regulator of adipogenesis, suggesting that brazilein presents the antiobesity effects. The toxic effects of brazilein were evaluated in terms of cell viability, induction of apoptosis, and the activity of caspase-3 in BCC cells. The inhibition of the growth of skin cancer cells (A431, BCC, and SCC25) by brazilein is greater than that of human skin malignant melanoma (A375) cells, mouse leukemic monocyte macrophage (RAW 264.7 cells), and noncancerous cells (HaCaT and BNLCL2 cells). The anthelmintic activities of brazilein against Hymenolepis nana are better than those of Anisakis simplex

Differentiating impacts of non‐pharmaceutical interventions on non‐coronavirus disease‐2019 respiratory viral infections: Hospital‐based retrospective observational study in Taiwan

Background Physical distancing and facemask use are worldwide recognized as effective non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Since January 2020, Taiwan has introduced both NPIs but their effectiveness on non-COVID-19 respiratory viruses (NCRVs) remain underexplored. Methods This retrospective observational study examined electronic records at a tertiary hospital in northern Taiwan from pre-COVID (January–December 2019) to post-COVID period (January–May 2020). Patients with respiratory syndromes were tested for both enveloped (eg, influenza virus and seasonal coronavirus) and non-enveloped RVs (eg, enterovirus and rhinovirus) using multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Monthly positivity rates of NCRVs among adult and pediatric patients were analyzed with comparison between pre- and post-COVID periods. Results A total of 9693 patients underwent 12 127 multiplex RT-PCR tests. The average positivity rate of NCRVs reduced by 11.2% (25.6% to 14.4%) after nationwide PHIs. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the most commonly identified enveloped and non-enveloped viruses were influenza virus and enterovirus/rhinovirus, respectively. Observed reduction in NCRV incidence was predominantly contributed by enveloped NCRVs including influenza viruses. We did not observe epidemiological impacts of NPIs on non-enveloped viruses but an increasing trend in enterovirus/rhinovirus test positivity rate among pediatric patients. Our data were validated using Taiwan's national notification database. Conclusions Our frontline investigation suggests that the current NPIs in Taiwan might not effectively control the transmission of non-enveloped respiratory viruses, despite their protective effects against influenza and seasonal coronavirus. Health authorities may consider using hydrogen peroxide or chloride-based disinfectants as additional preventative strategies against non-enveloped respiratory viruses in the post-COVID-19 era

Comparison of coplanar and noncoplanar intensity-modulated radiation therapy and helical tomotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To compare the differences in dose-volume data among coplanar intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), noncoplanar IMRT, and helical tomotherapy (HT) among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine patients with unresectable HCC and PVT underwent step and shoot coplanar IMRT with intent to deliver 46 - 54 Gy to the tumor and portal vein. The volume of liver received 30Gy was set to keep less than 30% of whole normal liver (V30 < 30%). The mean dose to at least one side of kidney was kept below 23 Gy, and 50 Gy as for stomach. The maximum dose was kept below 47 Gy for spinal cord. Several parameters including mean hepatic dose, percent volume of normal liver with radiation dose at X Gy (Vx), uniformity index, conformal index, and doses to organs at risk were evaluated from the dose-volume histogram.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HT provided better uniformity for the planning-target volume dose coverage than both IMRT techniques. The noncoplanar IMRT technique reduces the V10 to normal liver with a statistically significant level as compared to HT. The constraints for the liver in the V30 for coplanar IMRT vs. noncoplanar IMRT vs. HT could be reconsidered as 21% vs. 17% vs. 17%, respectively. When delivering 50 Gy and 60-66 Gy to the tumor bed, the constraints of mean dose to the normal liver could be less than 20 Gy and 25 Gy, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Noncoplanar IMRT and HT are potential techniques of radiation therapy for HCC patients with PVT. Constraints for the liver in IMRT and HT could be stricter than for 3DCRT.</p

Effect of ramucirumab on ALBI grade in patients with advanced HCC: Results from REACH and REACH-2

Background & Aims: The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade/score is derived from a validated nomogram to objectively assess prognosis and liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this post hoc analysis, we assessed prognosis in terms of survival by baseline ALBI grade and monitored liver function during treatment with ramucirumab or placebo using the ALBI score in patients with advanced HCC. Methods: Patients with advanced HCC, Child-Pugh class A with prior sorafenib treatment were randomised in REACH trials to receive ramucirumab 8 mg/kg or placebo every 2weeks. Datawere analysed by trial and as a meta-analysis of individual patientlevel data (pooled population) from REACH (alpha-fetoprotein>− 400 ng/ml) and REACH-2. Patients from REACHwith Child-Pugh class Bwere analysed as a separate cohort. The ALBI grades and scoreswere calculated at baseline and before each treatment cycle. Results: Baseline characteristics by ALBI grade were balanced between treatment arms among patients in the pooled population (ALBI-1, n = 231; ALBI-2, n = 296; ALBI-3, n = 7). Baseline ALBI grade was prognostic for overall survival (OS; ALBI grade 2 vs. 1; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.38 [1.13-1.69]), after adjusting for other significant prognostic factors. Mean ALBI scores remained stable in both treatment arms compared with baseline and were unaffected by baseline ALBI grade, macrovascular invasion, tumour response, geographical region, or prior locoregional therapy. Baseline ALBI grades 2 and 3 were associated with increased incidence of liver-specific adverse events and discontinuation rates in both treatments. Ramucirumab improved OS in patients with baseline ALBI grade 1 (HR 0.605 [0.445-0.824]) and ALBI grade 2 (HR 0.814 [0.630-1.051]. Conclusions: Compared with placebo, ramucirumab did not negatively impact liver function and improved survival irrespective of baseline ALBI grade