Reappraisal of the role of radiation therapy in lymphoma treatment.

Radiation therapy (RT) for lymphomas has improved dramatically with modern imaging and treatment techniques, encompassing only the necessary volume with minimal doses to normal structures. Prescribed radiation doses are reduced, and fractionation schedules are under revision. With effective systemic treatment only initial macroscopic disease is irradiated. With no or less effective systemic treatment, possible microscopic disease is also included. Risks of long-term side effects of RT have diminished dramatically and should be weighed against risks from more systemic treatment or increased risk of relapse. Lymphoma patients are often elderly, they tolerate modern limited RT very well. Lymphomas refractory to systemic treatments often remain radioresponsive, and brief, mild RT may offer effective palliation. New roles for RT are emerging with immune therapies. RT for "bridging," keeping the lymphoma under control while waiting for immune therapy, is well established. Enhancement of the immune response to lymphomas, so-called "priming," is being intensively researched.

Fate of Cryptosporidium and Giardia through conventional and compact drinking water treatment plants.

Over the past three decades, a notable rise in the occurrence of enteric protozoan pathogens, especially Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., in drinking water sources has been observed. This rise could be attributed not only to an actual increase in water contamination but also to improvements in detection methods. These waterborne pathogens have played a pivotal role in disease outbreaks and the overall escalation of disease rates in both developed and developing nations worldwide. Consequently, the control of waterborne diseases has become a vital component of public health policies and a primary objective of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Limited studies applied real-time PCR (qPCR) and/or immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for monitoring Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., particularly in developing countries like Egypt. Water samples from two conventional drinking water treatment plants and two compact units (CUs) were analyzed using both IFA and qPCR methods to detect Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Using qPCR and IFA, the conventional DWTPs showed complete removal of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, whereas Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs achieved only partial removal. Specifically, Cryptosporidium gene copies removal rates were 33.33% and 60% for Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs, respectively. Niklah CU also removed 50% of Giardia gene copies, but no Giardia gene copies were removed by Mansheyat Alqanater CU. Using IFA, both Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs showed a similar removal rate of 50% for Giardia cysts. Additionally, Niklah CU achieved a 50% removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts, whereas Mansheyat Alqanater CU did not show any removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Conventional DWTPs were more effective than CUs in removing enteric protozoa. The contamination of drinking water by enteric pathogenic protozoa remains a significant issue globally, leading to increased disease rates. Infectious disease surveillance in drinking water is an important epidemiological tool to monitor the health of a population.

Modern trends in radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a dynamically developing field of cancer treatment. Advances in radiotherapy are significantly related to new knowledge in radiobiology, the introduction of new systems in radiodiagnostics and radiation therapy planning. The technical development of irradiation systems over the last 10 years has greatly improved the quality of radiation therapy. The constant aim of modern radiation therapy is to minimize the toxicity of radiotherapy while maintaining the therapeutic effect. With the development of radiotherapy, however, the issue of so-called financial toxicity of various radiation techniques and disproportionate increase in treatment spending, regardless of cost-effectiveness.

In vitro assays and techniques utilized in anticancer drug discovery.

Development of a cancer is a multistep process and six major hallmarks of cancer that are known to control malignant transformation have been described. Anticancer drug development is a tedious process, requiring a number of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. In vitro assays provide an initial platform for cancer drug discovery approaches. A wide range of in vitro assays/techniques have been developed to evaluate each hallmark feature of cancer and selection of a particular in vitro assay or technique mainly depends on the specific research question (s) to be examined. In the present review, we have described some commonly utilized in vitro assays and techniques used to examine cell viability/proliferation, apoptosis, cellular senescence, invasion and migration, oxidative stress and antioxidant effects, gene and protein expression, angiogenesis and genomic alterations in cancer drug discovery. Additionally, uses of modern techniques such as high throughput screening, high content screening and reporter gene assays in cancer drug discovery have also been described.

Advances and challenges in conventional and modern techniques for halal food authentication: A review.

Food is one of the most necessary needs since human civilization. For Muslims, it is mandatory to consume halal food. From a halal authentication perspective, adulteration of food products is an emerging challenge worldwide. The demand for halal food consumption has resulted in an ever-increasing need for halal product validity. In the market, there are several food products in which actual ingredients and their source are not mentioned on the label and cannot be observed by the naked eye. Commonly nonhalal items include pig derivatives like lard, pork, and gelatin derivatives, dead meats, alcohol, blood, and prohibited animals. Purposely, various conventional and modern methods offer precise approaches to ensure the halalness and wholesomeness of food products. Conventional methods are physiochemical (dielectric) and electrophoresis. At the same time, modern techniques include high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), electronic nose (E-Nose), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This review intends to give an extensive and updated overview of conventional and modern analytical methods for ensuring food halal authenticity.

Mastering the Art of Dermatosurgery: Aesthetic Alchemy in Medical Excellence.

Dermatosurgery, a specialized branch within dermatology, has traversed an extraordinary journey through time, shaped by ancient practices, technological leaps, and shifting societal perceptions. This review explores the evolution of dermatosurgery, highlighting its profound transformation from addressing solely medical concerns to seamlessly integrating aesthetics. From its roots in ancient civilizations, where cultural traditions laid the foundation for modern techniques, to the twentieth-century technological renaissance, marked by innovative tools and enhanced understanding of skin anatomy, dermatosurgery has emerged as a dynamic field. Societal notions of beauty and health have significantly influenced dermatosurgery, blurring the lines between medical necessity and elective aesthetic procedures. The delicate balance between satisfying aesthetic desires and upholding medical ethics is a central challenge that dermatosurgeons face today. Open dialogue between practitioners and patients as well as psychological support plays a pivotal role in navigating this terrain. The training and ethics associated with dermatosurgery have evolved to meet the increasing demand for specialized procedures. Maintaining a focus on patient safety and satisfaction remains paramount as commercial pressures and disparities in access to care loom. Upholding best practices and standards in the field is essential for ensuring consistent, high-quality care for all patients. Looking ahead, dermatosurgery stands on the brink of a transformative era, marked by non-invasive techniques, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and personalized medicine. The field's ability to harmonize medical science with aesthetic artistry is evident in various case studies, showcasing the intricate balance dermatosurgeons strike between addressing medical concerns and fulfilling aesthetic desires. As dermatosurgery continues to evolve, it promises to provide patients with even more precise, tailored treatments that enhance both their physical well-being and aesthetic satisfaction.

Understanding immune-modulatory efficacy in vitro.

Boosting or suppressing our immune system represents an attractive adjunct in the treatment of infections including SARS-CoV-2, cancer, AIDS, malnutrition, age related problems and some inflammatory disorders. Thus, there has been a growing interest in exploring and developing novel drugs, natural or synthetic, that can manipulate our defence mechanism. Many of such studies, reported till date, have been designed to explore effect of the therapeutic on function of macrophages, being a key component in innate immune system. Indeed, RAW264.7, J774A.1, THP-1 and U937 cell lines act as ideal model systems for preliminary investigation and selection of dose for in vivo studies. Several bioassays have been standardized so far where many techniques require high throughput instruments, cost effective reagents and technical assistance that may hinder many scholars to perform a method demanding compilation of available protocols. In this review, we have taken an attempt for the first time to congregate commonly used in vitro immune-modulating techniques explaining their principles. The study detected that among about 40 different assays and more than 150 sets of primers, the methods of cell proliferation by MTT, phagocytosis by neutral red, NO detection by Griess reaction and estimation of expression of TLRs, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß by PCR have been the most widely used to screen the therapeutics under investigation.

Extraction of Flavonoids From Natural Sources Using Modern Techniques.

Flavonoids are one of the main groups of polyphenols found in natural products. Traditional flavonoid extraction techniques are being replaced by advanced techniques to reduce energy and solvent consumption, increase efficiency and selectivity, to meet increased market demand and environmental regulations. Advanced technologies, such as microwaves, ultrasound, pressurized liquids, supercritical fluids, and electric fields, are alternatives currently being used. These modern techniques are generally faster, more environmentally friendly, and with higher automation levels compared to conventional extraction techniques. This review will discuss the different methods available for flavonoid extraction from natural sources and the main parameters involved (temperature, solvent, sample quantity, extraction time, among others). Recent trends and their industrial importance are also discussed in detail, providing insight into their potential. Thus, this paper seeks to review the innovations of compound extraction techniques, presenting in each of them their advantages and disadvantages, trying to offer a broader scope in the understanding of flavonoid extraction from different plant matrices.

Beard Hair Transplantation.

In the field of hair restoration, there has been a significant increase in demand with patients for facial hair transplantation procedures. Modern techniques in hair transplantation allow for facial hair transplantation and for the attainment of natural-appearing results. Facial hair transplantation is a subspecialty within hair restoration with many gratifying benefits for the patients as well as for the hair restoration surgeon. Adapting these advanced techniques into a hair restoration practice allows a surgeon to offer their patients these procedures and provides an expanded artistic element to a hair restoration surgeon's practice.

[Doses to organs at risk in conformational radiotherapy and stereotaxic irradiation: The heart]. / Doses aux organes à risque en radiothérapie conformationnelle et en radiothérapie en conditions stéréotaxiques : le cœur.

Radiation therapy of breast cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer and others thoracic irradiations induce an ionizing radiation dose to the heart. Irradiation of the heart, associated with patient cardiovascular risk and cancer treatment-induced cardiotoxicity, increase cardiovascular mortality. The long survival after breast or Hodgkin lymphoma irradiation requires watching carefully late treatment toxicity. The over-risk of cardiac events is related to the dose received by the heart and the irradiated cardiac volume. The limitation of cardiac irradiation should be a priority in the planning of thoracic irradiations. Practices have to be modified, using modern techniques to approach of the primary objective of radiotherapy which is to optimize the dose to the target volume, sparing healthy tissues, in this case the heart. We have reviewed the literature on cardiac toxicity induced by conformational tridimensional radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy or stereotactic body radiation therapy, in order to evaluate the possibilities to limit cardiotoxicity. Finally, we summarise the recommendations on dose constraints to the heart and coronary arteries.