Dosimetric risk factors for radiation esophagitis in patients with breast cancer following regional nodal radiation.

BACKGROUND: Radiation esophagitis (RE) is one of the most common clinical symptoms of regi-onal lymph node radiotherapy for breast cancer. However, there are fewer studies focusing on RE caused by hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT). AIM: To analyze the clinical and dosimetric factors that contribute to the development of RE in patients with breast cancer treated with HFRT of regional lymph nodes. METHODS: Between January and December 2022, we retrospectively analysed 64 patients with breast cancer who met our inclusion criteria underwent regional nodal intensity-modulated radiotherapy at a radiotherapy dose of 43.5 Gy/15F. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients in this study, 24 (37.5%) did not develop RE, 29 (45.3%) developed grade 1 RE (G1RE), 11 (17.2%) developed grade 2 RE (G2RE), and none developed grade 3 RE or higher. Our univariable logistic regression analysis found G2RE to be significantly correlated with the maximum dose, mean dose, relative volume 20-40, and absolute volume (AV) 20-40. Our stepwise linear regression analyses found AV30 and AV35 to be significantly associated with G2RE (P < 0.001). The optimal threshold for AV30 was 2.39 mL [area under the curve (AUC): 0.996; sensitivity: 90.9%; specificity: 91.1%]. The optimal threshold for AV35 was 0.71 mL (AUC: 0.932; sensitivity: 90.9%; specificity: 83.9%). CONCLUSION: AV30 and AV35 were significantly associated with G2RE. The thresholds for AV30 and AV35 should be limited to 2.39 mL and 0.71 mL, respectively.

Assembly and Characterization of the Mitochondrial Genome of Fallopia aubertii (L. Henry) Holub.

BACKGROUND: Fallopia aubertii (L. Henry) Holub is a perennial semi-shrub with both ornamental and medicinal value. The mitochondrial genomes of plants contain valuable genetic traits that can be utilized for the exploitation of genetic resources. The parsing of F. aubertii mitochondrial genome can provide insight into the role of mitochondria in plant growth and development, metabolism regulation, evolution, and response to environmental stress. METHODS: In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of F. aubertii using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform and Nanopore platform. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial genome of F. aubertii, which involved examining various aspects such as gene composition, repetitive sequences, RNA editing sites, phylogeny, and organelle genome homology. To achieve this, we employed several bioinformatics methods including sequence alignment analysis, repetitive sequence analysis, phylogeny analysis, and more. RESULTS: The mitochondrial genome of F. aubertii has 64 genes, including 34 protein-coding genes (PCGs), three rRNAs, and 27 tRNAs. There were 77 short tandem repeat sequences detected in the mitochondrial genome, five tandem repeat sequences identified by Tandem Repeats Finder (TRF), and 50 scattered repeat sequences observed, including 22 forward repeat sequences and 28 palindrome repeat sequences. A total of 367 RNA coding sites were predicted in PCGs, with the highest number (33) found within ccmB. Ka/Ks values estimated for mitochondrial genes of F. aubertii and three closely related species representing Caryophyllales were less than 1 for most of the genes. The maximum likelihood evolutionary tree showed that F. aubertii and Nepenthes ×ventrata are most closely related. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we obtained basic information on the mitochondrial genome of F. aubertii and this study investigated repeat sequences and homologous segments, predicted RNA editing sites, and utilized the Ka/Ks ratio to estimate the selection pressure on mitochondrial genes of F. aubertii. We also discussed the systematic evolutionary position of F. aubertii based on mitochondrial genome sequences. Our study revealed variations in the sequence and structure of mitochondrial genomes in Caryophyllales. These findings are of great significance for identifying and improving valuable plant traits and serve as a reference for future molecular studies of F. aubertii.

Biotreatment of restaurant wastewater with an oily high concentration by newly isolated bacteria from oily sludge.

High concentration restaurant oily wastewater from restaurants and food processing industries discharged into water environment usually results in environment pollution and inhibits the activity of microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment systems. In this study, 75 strains from oily sludge were isolated with oil degradation activity for edible oil-contained wastewater. Eight isolates were able to grow well in liquid cultures with edible oil as the sole carbon source and discovered with high efficient oil-degrading ability. Seven out of eight isolates were identified as Acinetobacter and one isolate as Kluyvera cryocrescens, based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Three highly efficient oil degrading bacteria (Acinetobacter dijkshoorniae LYC46-2, Kluyvera cryocrescens LYC50-1a and Acinetobacter pittii LYC73-4b) were selected and their degradation characteristic were examined, the results showed that the three isolates were effective under pH range from 7.0 to 10.0, and temperature from 25 to 35 °C. For degradation of 2-4% (v/v) of vegetable oil, > 85% degradation percentage were obtained within 30 h. Degradation of the higher concentration oil (6-8%, v/v) result in 50-70% degradation percentage within 72 h, and the degradation percentage for the isolated strains were decreased about 50% for the degradation of 10% oil (< 45%) compared to 2% oil. Different type of oils were also tested, > 90% of degradation percentage were obtained by the three isolates, implied that these strains are capable of removing various oils efficiently. These results suggested that Acinetobacter dijkshoorniae LYC46-2, Kluyvera cryocrescens LYC50-1a and Acinetobacter pittii LYC73-4b are potential species could be efficiently used for high concentration restaurant oily wastewater treatment and might be applicable to a wastewater treatment system for the removal of oil.

[Pharmacological researches of curcumin solid dispersions in treatment of cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anticancer effect of curcumin Solid Dispersions (SDs). METHODS: Curcumin SDs were prepared by patent technology. The anticancer effect of curcumin SDs were investigated by vivo and vitro tests of SCG-7901, BEL-7402, S-180 and Ehrlich ascites tumor models. RESULTS: The results showed that Curcumin SDs had markedly anticancer effect and could improve the anticancer effect of cisplatin. CONCLUSION: Curcumin SDs could be developed into one kind of adjuvant drug for anticancer, as it has markedly anticancer effect, and could improve the anticancer effects of cisplatin.