High-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy boost post-external beam radiotherapy using rotterdam’s applicator in a case of recurrent carcinoma nasopharynx

Long-term local control is possible in a highly radio-responsive tumor-like carcinoma of the nasopharynx, even in the recurrent setting. High-dose-rate brachytherapy boost with its steep dose fall-off helps achieve salvage by providing optimal dose coverage to the tumor volume which is in close anatomic proximity to critical structures at the base of the skull. Here, we report the case of a 58-year-old lady, an old case of carcinoma nasopharynx presented with recurrence of symptoms in the form of nasal blockade along with a right pre-auricular swelling. Further evaluation showed an fluorodeoxyglucose-avid nasopharyngeal mass, a biopsy from which was positive for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). She first received re-radiation with external beam radiotherapy using 6 MV photons to the face and neck along with concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin followed by brachytherapy boost with Rotterdam’s Brachytherapy Applicator @5 Gray×2# 1 week apart. Brachytherapy is a feasible tool that allows dose escalation to achieve long-term tumor control in locally advanced NPCs

A preliminary investigation on long-term consistency of MPC as a quick daily QA application

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish Machine performance check (MPC) application as a comprehensive daily QA program in a clinical setting for a True Beam 2.0 system and investigate the first ten months (195 days) daily QA data generated by the MPC.Methods: An automated daily quality assurance (QA) application named machine performance check (MPC) was recently launched by Varian Medical Systems with their TrueBeam 2.0 linear accelerator (linac) system. MPC performs all the essential machine tests such as Beam Constancy Check, and Geometry Check with the use of an IsoCal phantom. There is no systematic published study on long-term consistency and validation of MPC in a clinical set-up for its acceptance as an alternative QA application. In the present study, we collected data with the MPC for over ten months (195 days) on a TrueBeam 2.0 system. The data was analysed for reproducibility and also compared with the data collected with other statndard QA devices at the time of commissioning of the TrueBeam system for validation.Results: The results showed that the reproducibility of MPC was at least an order of magnitude less than the tolerance values for the respective parameters and also the average measured values for all QA parameters studied. The MPC measured isocenter accuracy, and output values were close to the Winston-Lutz test (within 0.1 mm) and the ion-chamber measurements (within 0.1%), respectively.Conclusion: With our long term result, it is evident that the MPC could be an alternative daily QA tool. A comprehensive and long-term validation of the MPC measured values with the other standard QA methods over the ten month period will be needed before accepting MPC as a reliable QA tool

PhytoAFP: In Silico Approaches for Designing Plant-Derived Antifungal Peptides

Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are serious problems caused by fungi in humans and plant species. They are a severe threat to food security worldwide. In our current work, we have developed a support vector machine (SVM)-based model that attempts to design and predict therapeutic plant-derived antifungal peptides (PhytoAFP). The residue composition analysis shows the preference of C, G, K, R, and S amino acids. Position preference analysis shows that residues G, K, R, and A dominate the N-terminal. Similarly, residues N, S, C, and G prefer the C-terminal. Motif analysis reveals the presence of motifs like NYVF, NYVFP, YVFP, NYVFPA, and VFPA. We have developed two models using various input functions such as mono-, di-, and tripeptide composition, as well as binary, hybrid, and physiochemical properties, based on methods that are applied to the main data set. The TPC-based monopeptide composition model achieved more accuracy, 94.4%, with a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.89. Correspondingly, the second-best model based on dipeptides achieved an accuracy of 94.28% under the MCC 0.89 of the training dataset

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Interfraction dose variations in organs at risk during CT-based high-dose-rate brachytherapy in locally advanced carcinoma cervix: An early experience of a tertiary care Center

Purpose: Dose received by organs at risk (OAR) in high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) for locally advanced cervical cancer impacts the late toxicity profile of the treatment. In the present study, we analyzed the inter-fraction variations of the minimum dose received by the most irradiated 2cc volumes (D2cc) of the OARs in ICBT. Methods and Materials: This prospective study included 40 patients with cervical cancer stage FIGO IIB-IVA treated with HDR ICBT and concomitant chemoradiotherapy with Computerized tomography (CT)- based three-dimensional planning. In addition, for 20 (of the 40) patients, the first fraction plan was superimposed on the second fraction images for studying its dosimteric impact on the OAR. The D2ccdata for the OAR was statistically analyzed for interfraction variations with Chi-square test or Fisher exact test as applicable. Paired t-test was used to compare the difference in means for the D2ccvalues between the three fractions. Results: The interfraction variations of the D2ccvalues of the OAR were statistically insignificant having P = 0.41, 0.8, and 0.20 for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively. Further, in 6 out of 20 cases, wherein first fraction plan was superimposed on second fraction images, the OAR doses exceeded the prescribed tolerance limits. Conclusion: We did not find variations in the OAR doses when each fraction was planned and treated individually. However, we found that if a single plan is used to treat subsequent fractions, OAR doses may exceed tolerance in about 30% of the cases. We believe that a larger sample size with improved compliance of bladder and bowel protocols would be needed to arrive at definitive conclusions

FBX aqueous chemical dosimeter for measurement of virtual

wedge profile

A case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the scalp treated with surface mould brachytherapy

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally aggressive soft tissue tumor with a high propensity of local recurrence after surgery. Radiotherapy as an adjuvant therapy has been shown to reduce recurrent rates of this disease. Surface mould brachytherapy is an effective and safe modality for the delivery of radiotherapy in soft tissue tumors, though its utilization and popularity have decreased in recent years. Here, we presented a case of a recurrent DFSP of the scalp who was treated with surgery followed by adjuvant surface mould brachytherapy to avoid dose inhomogeneity likely to occur in this anatomic region with external beam radiotherapy in the absence of intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The treatment was delivered successfully with minimal adverse reactions, and the patient is disease-free at 18 months post-treatment with no treatment toxicity

Chemical constituents from rhizomes of <i>Cautleya spicata</i> (Sm.) Baker (Zingiberaceae)

<p>The chemical investigation of ethanolic extract from rhizomes of <i>Cautleya spicata</i> (Sm.) Baker (Zingiberaceae) has resulted in the isolation of eight compounds which were characterised as β-sitosterol (<b>1</b>), β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside (<b>2</b>), bergapten (<b>3</b>), zerumin A (<b>4</b>), (E)-labda-8(17),12-diene-15,16-dial (<b>5</b>), kaempferol (<b>6</b>), quercetin (<b>7</b>) and astragalin (<b>8</b>). All compounds were identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods. This paper describes the first phytochemical work on <i>C. spicata</i>.</p