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Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jun 2024Cervical cancer (CC) is a potentially lethal disorder that can have serious consequences for a woman's health. Because early symptoms are typically only present in the... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Cervical cancer (CC) is a potentially lethal disorder that can have serious consequences for a woman's health. Because early symptoms are typically only present in the middle to late stages of the disease, clinical diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown to have unique benefits in terms of alleviating cancer clinical symptoms, lowering the risk of recurrence after surgery, and reducing toxic side effects and medication resistance after radiation therapy. It has also been shown to improve the quality of life for patients. Because of its improved anti-tumor effectiveness and biosafety, it could be considered an alternative therapy option. This study examines how TCM causes apoptosis in CC cells via signal transduction, including the active components and medicinal tonics. It also intends to provide a reliable clinical basis and protocol selection for the TCM therapy of CC.
METHODS
The following search terms were employed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, and other scientific databases to retrieve pertinent literature on "cervical cancer," "apoptosis," "signaling pathway," "traditional Chinese medicine," "herbal monomers," "herbal components," "herbal extracts," and "herbal formulas."
RESULTS
It has been demonstrated that herbal medicines can induce apoptosis in cells of the cervix, a type of cancer, by influencing the signaling pathways involved.
CONCLUSION
A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and 148 papers from the period between January 2017 and December 2023 were identified as eligible for inclusion. After a meticulous process of screening, elimination and summary, generalization, and analysis, it was found that TCM can regulate multiple intracellular signaling pathways and related molecular targets, such as STAT3, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, NF-κB, p53, HIF-1α, Fas/FasL and so forth. This regulatory capacity was observed to induce apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. The study of the mechanism of TCM against cervical cancer and the screening of new drug targets is of great significance for future research in this field. The results of this study will provide ideas and references for the future development of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.
PubMed: 38936644
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118491 -
International Journal of Radiation... Jun 2024Pencil-beam scanning proton therapy has been considered as a potential modality for the 3D form of spatially-fractionated-radiation-therapy called lattice therapy....
PURPOSE
Pencil-beam scanning proton therapy has been considered as a potential modality for the 3D form of spatially-fractionated-radiation-therapy called lattice therapy. However, few practical solutions have been introduced in the clinic. Existing limitations include degradation in plan quality and robustness when using single-field versus multifield lattice plans, respectively. We propose a practical and robust proton lattice (RPL) planning method using multifield and evaluate its dosimetric characteristics compared to clinically acceptable photon lattice plans.
METHODS
Seven cases previously treated with photon lattice therapy were used to evaluate a novel RPL planning technique using two-orthogonal beams: a primary beam (PB) and a robust complementary beam (RCB) that deliver 67% and 33%, respectively, of the prescribed dose to vertices inside the gross-target-volume (GTV). Only RCB is robustly optimized for setup and range uncertainties. The number and volume of vertices, peak-to-valley dose ratios (PVDRs), and volume of low dose to GTV of proton and photon plans were compared. The RPL technique was then used in treatment of two patients and their dosimetric parameters are reported.
RESULTS
The RPL strategy was able to achieve the clinical planning goals. Compared to previously-treated photon plans, the average number of vertices increased by 30%, average vertex volume by 49% (18.2±25.9cc vs. 12.2±14.5cc, P=0.21), and higher PVDR (10.5±4.8 vs. 2.5±0.9, P<0.005) was achieved. In addition, RPL plans show more conformal dose with less low-dose to GTV (V30%: 60.9±7.2% vs. 81.6±13.9% and V10%: 88.3±4.5% vs. 98.6±3.6% [P<0.01]). The RPL plan for two treated patients showed PVDRs of 4.61 and 14.85 with vertices-to-GTV ratios of 1.52% and 1.30%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
A novel RPL planning strategy using a pair of orthogonal beams was developed and successfully translated to the clinic. The proposed method can generate better quality plans, a higher number of vertices, and higher PVDRs than currently used photon lattice plans.
PubMed: 38936634
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.06.009 -
World Neurosurgery Jun 2024Gender inequality has been a long-standing issue throughout history, with limited progress despite the rise of women in the workforce. Historically, women were deemed...
Gender inequality has been a long-standing issue throughout history, with limited progress despite the rise of women in the workforce. Historically, women were deemed inferior to men, including within the medical profession, due to perceived bodily differences. This perception was reinforced in religious texts, depicting women as bearing the burden of the first woman's transgressions. Such attitudes also influenced the treatment of women's health, with menstruation viewed as a natural source of suffering. Nevertheless, a thorough examination of medical history unveils a deep-rooted bias against women.This antiquated and discriminatory notion lacks any foundation in scientific truth. Indeed, an examination of the contributions made by female physicians reveals that they deliver equivalent levels of care, attentiveness, preventive measures, and therapeutic efficacy as their male counterparts . The narratives of female trailblazers in the medical field, like Alice Rosenstein, the first female neurosurgeon in Germany, provide compelling evidence of this phenomenon. This paper delves into her professional journey and the significant influence she has had on the field of neurosurgery.
PubMed: 38936611
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.06.110 -
Environment International Jun 2024
PubMed: 38936068
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108807 -
Advanced Healthcare Materials Jun 2024Tumor vaccines stand at the vanguard of tumor immunotherapy, demonstrating significant potential and promise in recent years. While tumor vaccines have achieved... (Review)
Review
Tumor vaccines stand at the vanguard of tumor immunotherapy, demonstrating significant potential and promise in recent years. While tumor vaccines have achieved breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, they still encounter numerous challenges, including improving the immunogenicity of vaccines and expanding the scope of vaccine application. As natural immune activators, bacterial components offer inherent advantages in tumor vaccines. Bacterial membrane components, with their safer profile, easy extraction, purification, and engineering, along with their diverse array of immune components, activate the immune system and improve tumor vaccine efficacy. This review systematically summarizes the mechanism of action and therapeutic effects of bacterial membrane and its derivatives (including bacterial membrane vesicles and hybrid membrane biomaterials) in tumor vaccines. Subsequently, we delve into the preparation and advantages of tumor vaccines based on bacterial membranes and hybrid membrane biomaterials. Following this, the immune effects of tumor vaccines based on bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are elucidated, and their mechanisms are explained. Moreover, their advantages in tumor combination therapy are analyzed. Lastly, the challenges and trends in this field are discussed. Our comprehensive analysis aims to offer a more informed reference and scientific foundation for the design and implementation of bacterial membrane-based tumor vaccines. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PubMed: 38935934
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202401615 -
Plant Biology (Stuttgart, Germany) Jun 2024The flower perianth has various, non-mutually exclusive functions, such as visual signalling to pollinators and protecting the reproductive organs from the elements and...
The flower perianth has various, non-mutually exclusive functions, such as visual signalling to pollinators and protecting the reproductive organs from the elements and from florivores, but how different perianth structures and their different sides play a role in these functions is unclear. Intriguingly, in many species there is a clear colour difference between the different sides of the perianth, with colour patterns or pigmentation present on only one side. Any adaptive benefit from such colour asymmetry is unclear, as is how the asymmetry evolved. In this viewpoint paper, we address the phenomenon of flowers with differently coloured inner and outer perianth sides, focusing on petals of erect flowers. Guided by existing literature and our own observations, we delineate three non-mutually exclusive evolutionary hypotheses that may explain the factors underlying differently coloured perianth sides. The pollen-protection hypothesis predicts that the outer side of petals contributes to protect pollen against UV radiation, especially during the bud stage. The herbivore-avoidance hypothesis predicts that the outer side of petals reduces the flower's visibility to herbivores. The signalling-to-pollinators hypothesis predicts that flower colours evolve to increase conspicuousness to pollinators. The pollen-protection hypothesis, the herbivore-avoidance hypothesis, and the signalling-to-pollinators hypothesis generate largely but not entirely overlapping predictions about the colour of the inner and outer side of the petals. Field and laboratory research is necessary to disentangle the main drivers and adaptive significance of inner-outer petal side colour asymmetry.
PubMed: 38935692
DOI: 10.1111/plb.13680 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Jun 2024Battery materials with different phases often play a pivotal role in determining their performance. For instance, the disordered phase of spinel LiMnNiO (LNMO) is more...
Battery materials with different phases often play a pivotal role in determining their performance. For instance, the disordered phase of spinel LiMnNiO (LNMO) is more appealing as high-voltage cathode due to its superior electrochemical performance compared to its ordered counterpart. Various methods have been developed to induce a phase transition from an ordered to a disordered structure. However, the resulting materials often suffer from capacity degradation due to the adverse influence of accompanying Mn ions. This study presents the utilization of local magnetic fields generated by a magnetic FeO shell to induce a disordered phase transition in LNMO at lower temperature, transitioning it from an order state without significantly increasing the Mn content. The pivotal role played by the local magnetic fields is evidenced through comparisons with samples with nonmagnetic AlO shell, samples subjected to sole heat treatment, and samples heat-treated within magnetic fields. The key finding is that magnetic fields can initiate a radical pair mechanism, enabling the induction of order-disorder phase transition even at lower temperatures. The disordered spinal LNMO with a magnetic FeO shell exhibits excellent cycling stability and kinetic properties in electrochemical characterization as a result. This innovation not only unravels the intricate interplay between the disordered phase and Mn content in the cathode spinel but also pioneers the use of magnetic field effects for manipulating material phases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PubMed: 38935407
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202405876 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2024Soil fluoride is a critical determinant of soil fertility, human health and crop productivity. Soil fluoride can be increased by climatic conditions, irrigation water...
Soil fluoride is a critical determinant of soil fertility, human health and crop productivity. Soil fluoride can be increased by climatic conditions, irrigation water and anthropogenic activity, and it is important to control fluoride by understanding the complex relationships between atmospheric conditions and water systems. In this research, a detailed focus is on the hydrological and meteorological aspects of soil fluorides in semi-saturated and saturated soils to discuss the impact of irrigation, capillary rise and the combination of rainfall and anthropogenic activities such as fertilizer application on the soils in the dry spell and monsoon seasons of 2021 and 2022. A Sentinel-1 data can be used to estimate fluoride levels to the above soil conditions. In an effort to estimate fluoride levels in different hydro-meteorological scenarios, we have put forward a hypothesis that focuses on understanding the potential connections between hydro-meteorological factors (precipitation, groundwater levels, and temperature) and the levels of fluoride. The findings indicate that the extensive use of groundwater for irrigation leads to a rise in fluoride levels, posing a significant threat to crop health over time. Furthermore, the combined effects of irrigation and upheaval leaching on fluoride levels have shown strong statistical conformity (R > 0.85) with the relevant field-measured fluoride data for the year 2022. Importantly, areas affected by are more sensitive to the sand and clay percentage in the soil because potential and dispersion behaviour enlarge the capillaries to decelerate the upward movement. A region-based discussion details the factors contributing to the increase of fluoride in soil helpful in taking remedial measures and mitigation plans.
Topics: Fluorides; Environmental Monitoring; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Microwaves; Remote Sensing Technology; Groundwater
PubMed: 38935154
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12806-9 -
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis Jun 2024Cell nucleus status decides the activities of corresponding cells, making its rapid and effective staining important for revealing the actual condition of biological...
Cell nucleus status decides the activities of corresponding cells, making its rapid and effective staining important for revealing the actual condition of biological environment in life science and related fields. In this study, fast staining of cell nucleus is realized by fluorescent carbon nanodots (CDs). The staining mechanism is due to the positively charged CD surface-induced cell membrane penetration, which facilitates the CD-nucleus binding via electrostatic attraction. The size of cell nucleus is easily measured with fluorescence imaging technique. In addition, the CD-based cell nucleus stain is applied for discriminating the normal and cancer cells by determining the cell-to-nucleus ratio with fluorescence images.
Topics: Carbon; Humans; Cell Nucleus; Staining and Labeling; Fluorescent Dyes; Quantum Dots; Nanoparticles; Fluorescence; Optical Imaging
PubMed: 38934693
DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.3503 -
China CDC Weekly Jun 2024Traditional methods for determining radiation dose in nuclear medicine include the Monte Carlo method, the discrete ordinate method, and the point kernel integration...
INTRODUCTION
Traditional methods for determining radiation dose in nuclear medicine include the Monte Carlo method, the discrete ordinate method, and the point kernel integration method. This study presents a new mathematical model for predicting the radiation dose rate in the vicinity of nuclear medicine patients.
METHODS
A new algorithm was created by combining the physical model of "cylinder superposition" of the human body with integral analysis to assess the radiation dose rate in the vicinity of nuclear medicine patients.
RESULTS
The model accurately predicted radiation dose rates within distances of 0.1-3.0 m, with a deviation of less than 11% compared to observed rates. The model demonstrated greater accuracy at shorter distances from the radiation source, with a deviation of only 1.55% from observed values at 0.1 m.
DISCUSSION
The model proposed in this study effectively represents the spatial and temporal distribution of the radiation field around nuclear medicine patients and demonstrates good agreement with actual measurements. This model has the potential to serve as a radiation dose rate alert system in hospital environments.
PubMed: 38933663
DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2024.108