Aviation Contrail Cirrus and Radiative Forcing Over Europe During 6 Months of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 72% reduction of air traffic over Europe in March-August 2020 compared to 2019. Modeled contrail cover declined similarly, and computed mean instantaneous radiative contrail forcing dropped regionally by up to 0.7 W m-2. Here, model predictions of cirrus optical thickness and the top-of-atmosphere outgoing longwave and reflected shortwave irradiances are tested by comparison to Meteosat-SEVIRI-derived data. The agreement between observations and modeled data is slightly better when modeled contrail cirrus contributions are included. The spatial distributions and diurnal cycles of the differences in these data between 2019 and 2020 are partially caused by differences in atmospheric and surface conditions, particularly for solar radiation in the spring of 2020. Aviation signals become discernible in the observed differences of these data between 2019 and 2020 when subtracting numerical weather prediction model results that approximate the atmosphere and surface conditions without contrails.

Prognostic impact of gross tumor volume during radical radiochemotherapy of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer-results from the NCT03055715 multicenter cohort study of the Young DEGRO Trial Group

BACKGROUND

In radical radiochemotherapy (RCT) of inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) typical prognostic factors include T- and N-stage, while there are still conflicting data on the prognostic relevance of gross tumor volume (GTV) and particularly its changes during RCT. The NCT03055715 study of the Young DEGRO working group of the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) evaluated the prognostic impact of GTV and its changes during RCT.

METHODS

A total of 21 university centers for radiation oncology from five different European countries (Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, and Austria) participated in the study which evaluated n = 347 patients with confirmed (biopsy) inoperable NSCLC in UICC stage III A/B who received radical curative-intent RCT between 2010 and 2013. Patient and disease data were collected anonymously via electronic case report forms and entered into the multi-institutional RadPlanBio platform for central data analysis. GTV before RCT (initial planning CT, GTV1) and at 40-50 Gy (re-planning CT for radiation boost, GTV2) was delineated. Absolute GTV before/during RCT and relative GTV changes were correlated with overall survival as the primary endpoint. Hazard ratios (HR) of survival analysis were estimated by means of adjusted Cox regression models.

RESULTS

GTV1 was found to have a mean of 154.4 ml (95%CI: 1.5-877) and GTV2 of 106.2 ml (95% CI: 0.5-589.5), resulting in an estimated reduction of 48.2 ml (p < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was 18.8 months with a median of 22.1, 20.9, and 12.6 months for patients with high, intermediate, and low GTV before RT. Considering all patients, in one survival model of overall mortality, GTV2 (2.75 (1.12-6.75, p = 0.03) was found to be a stronger survival predictor than GTV1 (1.34 (0.9-2, p > 0.05). In patients with available data on both GTV1 and GTV2, absolute GTV1 before RT was not significantly associated with survival (HR 0-69, 0.32-1.49, p > 0.05) but GTV2 significantly predicted OS in a model adjusted for age, T stage, and chemotherapy, with an HR of 3.7 (1.01-13.53, p = 0.04) per 300 ml. The absolute decrease from GTV1 to GTV2 was correlated to survival, where every decrease by 50 ml reduced the HR by 0.8 (CI 0.64-0.99, p = 0.04). There was no evidence for a survival effect of the relative change between GTV1 and GTV2.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that independently of T stage, the re-planning GTV during RCT is a significant and superior survival predictor compared to baseline GTV before RT. Patients with a high absolute (rather than relative) change in GTV during RT show a superior survival outcome after RCT.

DEGRO practical guideline for partial-breast irradiation

Purpose

This consensus statement from the Breast Cancer Working Group of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) aims to define practical guidelines for accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods

Recent recommendations for relevant aspects of APBI were summarized and a panel of experts reviewed all the relevant literature. Panel members of the DEGRO experts participated in a series of conferences, supplemented their clinical experience, performed a literature review, and formulated recommendations for implementing APBI in clinical routine, focusing on patient selection, target definition, and treatment technique.

Results

Appropriate patient selection, target definition for different APBI techniques, and basic rules for appropriate APBI techniques for clinical routine outside of clinical trials are described. Detailed recommendations for APBI in daily practice, including dose constraints, are given.

Conclusion

Guidelines are mandatory to assure optimal results of APBI using different techniques.

Systemic serum amyloid A as a biomarker for exposure to zinc and/or copper-containing metal fumes

Zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes increase systemic C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of the biomarkers serum amyloid A (SAA) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in this regard. Fifteen male subjects were exposed under controlled conditions to welding fumes containing either zinc, or copper, or copper and zinc for 6 h. Plasma samples were collected before, 6 and 24 h after start of exposure and biomarkers therein were measured by electrochemiluminescent assay. For each exposure, systemic concentrations of systemic SAA, but not VCAM-1, increased significantly at 24 h after exposure start compared with baseline ("copper only": P=0.0005, "zinc only": P=0.027, "copper and zinc": P=0.001). SAA showed a wider range of concentrations than did CRP and its levels increased up to 19-fold after welding fume exposure. The recognition of copper as a potential harmful component in welding fumes, also independent from zinc, deserves further consideration. SAA might represent a new sensitive biomarker for potential subclinical sterile inflammation after inhalation of copper- and/or zinc-containing welding fumes. As elevations of CRP and SAA protein have both been linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, these findings might particularly be important for long-term welders.

[Description of a Multidimensional Health Program for Informal Caregivers]

The aim of this study is to describe the concept of a prevention program for informal caregivers and its fit into stress theory and quality criteria. The program combines a 4-day group intervention outside the home with individual professional care in familiar domestic surroundings (family health care for persons with high burden, home training for specific care aspects). The program applies strategies focusing on problems and emotions. The program can be financed by social security funds. The 4-day respite service closes a gap in health services for informal caregivers.

Inducible T-cell receptor expression in precursor T cells for leukemia control

Co-transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells with those engineered to express leukemia-reactive T-cell receptors (TCRs) and differentiated ex vivo into precursor T cells (preTs) may reduce the risk of leukemia relapse. As expression of potentially self-(leukemia-) reactive TCRs will lead to negative selection or provoke autoimmunity upon thymic maturation, we investigated a novel concept whereby TCR expression set under the control of an inducible promoter would allow timely controlled TCR expression. After in vivo maturation and gene induction, preTs developed potent anti-leukemia effects. Engineered preTs provided protection even after repeated leukemia challenges by giving rise to effector and central memory cells. Importantly, adoptive transfer of TCR-transduced allogeneic preTs mediated anti-leukemia effect without evoking graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Earlier transgene induction forced CD8(+) T-cell development was required to obtain a mature T-cell subset of targeted specificity, allowed engineered T cells to efficiently pass positive selection and abrogated the endogenous T-cell repertoire. Later induction favored CD4 differentiation and failed to produce a leukemia-reactive population emphasizing the dominant role of positive selection. Taken together, we provide new functional insights for the employment of TCR-engineered precursor cells as a controllable immunotherapeutic modality with significant anti-leukemia activity.

Reaktionen von cis-Crotonsäurederivaten mit Cyclopentadien in heterogener Phase/ Reaction between cis-Crotonic Acid Derivatives and Cyclopentadiene in the Heterogeneous Phase

Diels-Alder reactions between cyclopenta-diene and cis-crotonic acid derivatives were examined in the absorbed phase on various surfaces. The results indicate considerable differences under these conditions in the relative yields of exo and endo isomers. On silica gel, montigel, and aluminium oxide the reactions give mainly endo isomers.

Photoinduzierte Dechlorierungsreaktion an Dichlorbenzolen, Anilinen und Phenolen in Gegenwart von Protonendonatoren/ Photoinduced Dechlorination Reaction of Dichlorobenzenes, Chloroanilins and Chlorophenols in the Presence of Protondonors

Photokinetic experiments show that the dechlorination reaction of dichlorobenzenes, chloroanilins, and chlorophenols is dependent on nature of solvent, but undependent on oxygen. Quantum yields determined in n-hexane indicate that there is a strong deviation within the ortho, meta, and para products.

The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in the Light-Induced Deformation of DNA

Dimerizations and reactions with water of pyrimidine bases are the primary steps held respon­sible for the deformation of DNA at short wavelengths in vitro and in vivo experiments. However the influence of oxygen in combination with water on the UV deformation at wavelengths rep­resentative for troposphere is evident from the observed data and both together are needed to change the DNA structure. The only plausible explanation for the effect of oxygen is the forma­tion of reactive oxygen species during the UV irradiation of DNA. In the present work the deformation of DNA by different oxygen species like singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxideanion (O2 -), hydroxyradical (·OH), ozone (O3) and hydrogenperoxide (H2O2) is excluded with the help of chemical-trapping experiments. The photo-induced transformation proceeds via excited states of DNA. which react with groundstate oxygen to afford peroxide.

Nasal levels of soluble IL-33R ST2 and IL-16 in allergic rhinitis: inverse correlation trends with disease severity

BACKGROUND

Serum levels of IL-16, IL-33 and the decoy receptor of IL-33, soluble ST2, are elevated in allergic rhinitis. Recent studies show that IL-16, soluble ST2 or anti-IL-33 reduce type 2 cytokines (such as IL-5) and eosinophilia in murine models of allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis respectively.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we studied the release of IL-5, IL-16, IL-33 and soluble ST2 in allergic rhinitis patients after nasal allergen challenge and natural pollen exposure.

METHODS

The nasal lavages of 15 allergic and 14 non-allergic volunteers were collected during the pollen allergy season. In addition, six allergic volunteers underwent unilateral nasal allergen and control challenge out of season and nasal secretions and sera were collected. IL-5, IL-16, IL-33 and soluble ST2 in nasal secretions and sera were measured by electrochemiluminescent assay or ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS

Nasal IL-5, IL-16 and soluble ST2 levels were significantly increased in seasonally pollen exposed allergic volunteers compared to control subjects (P < 0.001, P = 0.018 and P = 0.002 respectively), whereas IL-33 remained undetectable. Nasal IL-16 showed a weak inverse correlation trend with nasal symptoms (r = -0.48, P = 0.07). Nasal soluble ST2 concentrations were inversely correlated with nasal symptoms (r = -0.61, P = 0.02) and positively correlated with IL-16 (r = 0.56, P = 0.03). Significant increases of nasal IL-5, IL-16 and ST2 but not IL-33 were observed after nasal allergen challenge. At 24 h after allergen challenge, local ST2 and IL-5 concentrations showed an inverse correlation trend (r = -0.83, P = 0.04). Serum levels of IL-5, IL-16 and soluble ST2 rose in at least five of six volunteers tested at 5 or 24 h post-challenge.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The observed upregulation of soluble ST2 and IL-16 after nasal allergen challenge and during peak pollination season suggests potential regulatory roles of these cytokines in the inflammatory reaction in allergic rhinitis.

Time-dependent changes in serum biomarker levels after blast traumatic brain injury

Neuronal and glial proteins detected in the peripheral circulating blood after injury can reflect the extent of the damage caused by blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI). The temporal pattern of their serum levels can further predict the severity and outcome of the injury. As part of characterizing a large-animal model of bTBI, we determined the changes in the serum levels of S100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), myelin basic protein (MBP), and neurofilament heavy chain (NF-H). Blood samples were obtained prior to injury and at 6, 24, 72 h, and 2 weeks post-injury from animals with different severities of bTBI; protein levels were determined using reverse phase protein microarray (RPPM) technology. Serum levels of S100B, MBP, and NF-H, but not NSE, showed a time-dependent increase following injury. The detected changes in S100B and MBP levels showed no correlation with the severity of the injury. However, serum NF-H levels increased in a unique, rapid manner, peaking at 6 h post-injury only in animals exposed to severe blast with poor clinical and pathological outcomes. We conclude that the sudden increase in serum NF-H levels following bTBI may be a useful indicator of injury severity. If additional studies verify our findings, the observed early peak of serum NF-H levels can be developed into a useful diagnostic tool for predicting the extent of damage following bTBI.

Health-related quality of life in elderly cancer patients, elderly non-cancer patients and an elderly general population

Health-related quality of life (QoL) is a major topic within the care for cancer patients (CP). Compared with the general population (GP), QoL of CP is worse in most dimensions; however, only few data comparing QoL of CP with that of other patients have been provided so far. We determined QoL with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire in hospitalized patients aged 60 years and older: 195 CP and 130 patients treated for other medical disorders (MP). In addition, data were compared with an age- and gender-stratified German GP. Explorative statistical analyses were performed. The CP aged >or=70 years compared with those aged 60-69 years had decreased QoL in two scales, physical and cognitive functioning, MP in four scales, physical and role functioning, fatigue and dyspnoea respectively. Compared with the GP, both CP and MP had worse QoL in almost all scales. The CP and MP differed in two of 15 scales only, with CP having lower scores in emotional functioning and more loss of appetite. In conclusion, reduced QoL in elderly CP compared with GP cannot solely be attributed to the diagnosis of cancer, but also to a medical disorder requiring inpatient hospital care.