E-cigarette constituents propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin decrease glucose uptake and its metabolism in airway epithelial cells in vitro

Electronic nicotine delivery systems, or e-cigarettes, utilize a liquid solution that normally contains propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) to generate vapor and act as a carrier for nicotine and flavorings. Evidence indicated these "carriers" reduced growth and survival of epithelial cells including those of the airway. We hypothesized that 3% PG or PG mixed with VG (3% PG/VG, 55:45) inhibited glucose uptake in human airway epithelial cells as a first step to reducing airway cell survival. Exposure of H441 or human bronchiolar epithelial cells (HBECs) to PG and PG/VG (30-60 min) inhibited glucose uptake and mitochondrial ATP synthesis. PG/VG inhibited glycolysis. PG/VG and mannitol reduced cell volume and height of air-liquid interface cultures. Mannitol, but not PG/VG, increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. PG/VG reduced transepithelial electrical resistance, which was associated with increased transepithelial solute permeability. PG/VG decreased fluorescence recovery after photobleaching of green fluorescent protein-linked glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT10, indicating that glucose transport function was compromised. Puffing PG/VG vapor onto the apical surface of primary HBECs for 10 min to mimic the effect of e-cigarette smoking also reduced glucose transport. In conclusion, short-term exposure to PG/VG, key components of e-cigarettes, decreased glucose transport and metabolism in airway cells. We propose that this was a result of PG/VG reduced cell volume and membrane fluidity, with further consequences on epithelial barrier function. Taking these results together, we suggest these factors contribute to reduced defensive properties of the epithelium. We propose that repeated/chronic exposure to these agents are likely to contribute to airway damage in e-cigarette users.

Oral Health Inequalities in 0-17-year-old Children Referred for Dental Extractions Under General Anaesthesia in Wolverhampton, 2013-2017

OBJECTIVE

Describe the inequalities in oral health in children treated in a hospital located in a deprived urban area in the UK.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Case-note review of 1911 0-17-year-olds who underwent dental extractions under a general anaesthetic (DGA).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Associations between Age, Ethnicity, Year-of-Treatment and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) with the number of teeth extracted. Analysis used multilevel modelling assuming a Poisson distribution.

RESULTS

Mean number of teeth extracted was higher in the youngest children treated aged 0-5 years (relative risk coefficient, (RR=exp(β)=1.39; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.56) compared to those aged 6-17 years and in 'Other Whites' (predominantly immigrants from Eastern Europe) (RR=exp(β)=1.34; 95% CI 1.25 to 1.43), 'South Asians' (RR=exp(β)=1.15; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.23) but fewer in the 'Black' ethnic group (RR=exp(β)=0.85; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.95). DGA increased during the study with more teeth extracted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (RR=exp(β)=1.12, 95% CI 1.22, 1.25) and with a negative gradient in the rate of DGA's (per decile) in children from the most deprived to most affluent locations (RR=exp(β)=0.98; 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant oral health inequalities exist in children from a deprived urban area in the UK. A preventive approach to children's oral health is needed to reduce such inequalities, including public health and healthcare agencies to informing parents of children whose first language is not English about dental caries.

Therapeutic Vulnerabilities of Transcription Factors in AML

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by impaired myeloid lineage differentiation, uncontrolled proliferation, and inhibition of proapoptotic pathways. In spite of a relatively homogeneous clinical disease presentation, risk of long-term survival in AML varies from 20% to 80% depending on molecular disease characteristics. In recognition of the molecular heterogeneity of AML, the European Leukemia Net (ELN) and WHO classification systems now incorporate cytogenetics and increasing numbers of gene mutations into AML prognostication. Several of the genomic AML subsets are characterized by unique transcription factor alterations that are highlighted in this review. There are many mechanisms of transcriptional deregulation in leukemia. We broadly classify transcription factors based on mechanisms of transcriptional deregulation including direct involvement of transcription factors in recurrent translocations, loss-of-function mutations, and intracellular relocalization. Transcription factors, due to their pleiotropic effects, have been attractive but elusive targets. Indirect targeting approaches include inhibition of upstream kinases such as TAK1 for suppression of NFκB signaling and downstream effectors such as FGF signaling in HOXA-upregulated leukemia. Other strategies include targeting scaffolding proteins like BrD4 in the case of MYC or coactivators such as menin to suppress HOX expression; disrupting critical protein interactions in the case of β-catenin:TCF/LEF, and preventing transcription factor binding to DNA as in the case of PU.1 or FOXM1. We comprehensively describe the mechanism of deregulation of transcription factors in genomic subsets of AML, consequent pathway addictions, and potential therapeutic strategies.

Neutrophil elastase and endogenous inhibitors in Behçet's disease saliva

Behçet's disease (BD) is a vasculitis of unknown aetiology typified by chronic recurrent oral ulcers and systemic inflammatory manifestations. Neutrophils, and specifically their protease neutrophil elastase (NE), have been implicated in its pathology. Although NE is an effective anti-microbial, excessive NE can damage host tissue. Recurrent oral ulceration is a primary BD symptom, therefore we hypothesized that excessive neutrophil infiltration evidenced by increased NE and a reduction in specific endogenous inhibitors, secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and alpha1-anti-trypsin (α1AT) contributes to BD mucosal instability. NE, SLPI and α1AT were quantified in saliva from BD patients with active oral ulcers (BDa) and quiet without ulcers (BDq), recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RASa; RASq) and healthy controls (HC). Although BDq saliva had marginally higher median NE levels (1112 ng/ml) compared to both RASq (1043 ng/ml) and HC (999 ng/ml), SLPI was significantly reduced in BDq (P < 0·01). Despite decreased SLPI protein, mRNA expression was significantly increased in BDq buccal epithelial swabs compared to RASq and HC (P < 0·05, P < 0·001). NE remained enzymatically active, although α1AT levels were at least eight times higher than SLPI in all groups, suggesting that α1AT does not have a primary role in counteracting NE in saliva. Furthermore, NE levels in BDa patients medicated with both azathioprine (AZA) and colchicine (COLC) were significantly lower than those on COLC (P = 0·0008) or neither (P = 0·02), indicating that combining AZA + COLC may help to regulate excessive NE during ulceration. This study showed that enzymatically active NE coupled with reduced SLPI in BD saliva may contribute to recurrent oral ulcerations.

Quantum Backaction on kg-Scale Mirrors: Observation of Radiation Pressure Noise in the Advanced Virgo Detector

The quantum radiation pressure and the quantum shot noise in laser-interferometric gravitational wave detectors constitute a macroscopic manifestation of the Heisenberg inequality. If quantum shot noise can be easily observed, the observation of quantum radiation pressure noise has been elusive, so far, due to the technical noise competing with quantum effects. Here, we discuss the evidence of quantum radiation pressure noise in the Advanced Virgo gravitational wave detector. In our experiment, we inject squeezed vacuum states of light into the interferometer in order to manipulate the quantum backaction on the 42 kg mirrors and observe the corresponding quantum noise driven displacement at frequencies between 30 and 70 Hz. The experimental data, obtained in various interferometer configurations, is tested against the Advanced Virgo detector quantum noise model which confirmed the measured magnitude of quantum radiation pressure noise.

GW190521: A Binary Black Hole Merger with a Total Mass of 150 M_{⊙}

On May 21, 2019 at 03:02:29 UTC Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo observed a short duration gravitational-wave signal, GW190521, with a three-detector network signal-to-noise ratio of 14.7, and an estimated false-alarm rate of 1 in 4900 yr using a search sensitive to generic transients. If GW190521 is from a quasicircular binary inspiral, then the detected signal is consistent with the merger of two black holes with masses of 85_{-14}^{+21}  M_{⊙} and 66_{-18}^{+17}  M_{⊙} (90% credible intervals). We infer that the primary black hole mass lies within the gap produced by (pulsational) pair-instability supernova processes, with only a 0.32% probability of being below 65  M_{⊙}. We calculate the mass of the remnant to be 142_{-16}^{+28}  M_{⊙}, which can be considered an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH). The luminosity distance of the source is 5.3_{-2.6}^{+2.4}  Gpc, corresponding to a redshift of 0.82_{-0.34}^{+0.28}. The inferred rate of mergers similar to GW190521 is 0.13_{-0.11}^{+0.30}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}.

A multi-institutional comparison of mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine vs high-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia

Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) has a poor prognosis and is best treated with salvage chemotherapy as a bridge to allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT). However, the optimal salvage therapy remains unknown. Here we compared two salvage regimens; mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC) and mitoxantrone and high-dose Ara-C (Ara-C couplets). We analyzed 155 patients treated at three academic institutions between 1998 and 2017; 87 patients received MEC and 68 received Ara-C couplets. The primary endpoint was overall response (OR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of hospitalization, hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities, and success in proceeding to alloSCT. Baseline characteristics of the cohorts were well matched, though patients receiving Ara-C couplets had more co-morbidities (48.5% vs 33%; P = .07). OR was achieved in 43.7% of MEC and 54.4% of Ara-C couplets patients (P = .10). Ara-C couplets patients also trended towards a longer OS and PFS, more frequently proceeded to alloSCT (31% vs 54.4%; P = .003), and experienced less febrile neutropenia (94% vs 72%; P < .001) and grade 3/4 gastrointestinal toxicities (17.2% vs 2.94%; P = .005). No significant differences in other toxicities or median duration of hospitalization were noted. This is the first multi-institutional study directly comparing these regimens in a racially diverse population of R/R AML patients. Although these regimens have equivalent efficacy in terms of achieving OR, Ara-C couplets use is associated with significant reductions in toxicities, suggesting it should be used more frequently in these patients.

Complex dynamics and control of a novel physical model using nonlocal fractional differential operator with singular kernel

Fractional calculus (FC) is widely used in many interdisciplinary branches of science due to its effectiveness in describing and investigating complicated phenomena. In this work, nonlinear dynamics for a new physical model using nonlocal fractional differential operator with singular kernel is introduced. New Routh-Hurwitz stability conditions are derived for the fractional case as the order lies in [0,2). The new and basic Routh-Hurwitz conditions are applied to the commensurate case. The local stability of the incommensurate orders is also discussed. A sufficient condition is used to prove that the solution of the proposed system exists and is unique in a specific region. Conditions for the approximating periodic solution in this model via Hopf bifurcation theory are discussed. Chaotic dynamics are found in the commensurate system for a wide range of fractional orders. The Lyapunov exponents and Lyapunov spectrum of the model are provided. Suppressing chaos in this system is also achieved via two different methods.

Natural convection flow of a second grade fluid in an infinite vertical cylinder

In current study natural convection flow of second grade fluid in an oscillating infinite vertical cylinder is investigated. The dimensionless governing equations for temperature and velocity are obtained by introducing the non-dimensional variables. Exact solutions for temperature and velocity field are computed by means of integral transformation. Solutions for cosine and sine oscillations of velocity field are introduced in the form of transient and post-transient arrangements. A special case for Newtonian fluid is obtained from general results and transients solutions are computed in terms of tables. In the end, the impact of dimensionless numbers (Grashof and Prandtl numbers) at different values of time is presented in graphical form and found that velocity for Newtonian fluid has greater values than the second grade fluid. Furthermore, there are some comparisons of calculated solutions with existing solutions in literature.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 45 countries for 2012-2017: Device-associated module

BACKGROUND

We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2012 to December 2017 in 523 intensive care units (ICUs) in 45 countries from Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific.

METHODS

During the 6-year study period, prospective data from 532,483 ICU patients hospitalized in 242 hospitals, for an aggregate of 2,197,304 patient days, were collected through the INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied.

RESULTS

Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled central line-associated bloodstream infection rate was higher (5.05 vs 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days); the ventilator-associated pneumonia rate was also higher (14.1 vs 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days,), as well as the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.1 vs 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days). From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance, such as of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to piperacillin-tazobactam (33.0% vs 18.3%), were also higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a significant trend toward the reduction in INICC ICUs, DA-HAI rates are still much higher compared with CDC-NHSN's ICUs representing the developed world. It is INICC's main goal to provide basic and cost-effective resources, through the INICC Surveillance Online System to tackle the burden of DA-HAIs effectively.

Supplemental chromium-loaded chitosan nanoparticles affect growth, serum metabolites and intestinal histology in broilers

The goal of the present research was to evaluate the effects of chromium-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Cr-CNPs) on production performance, viscera development, serum metabolites and intestinal histology in broilers. Two hundred (200) day-old broilers were randomly divided into five groups with five replicates (n = 8). Birds in the first group served as control and were fed a corn soybean-based diet, while the remaining four supplemented groups were offered 200, 400, 800, and 1200 μg Cr-CNPs/kg of feed, respectively, for 35 days. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained unaffected with Cr-CNP supplementation. No changes were observed in the relative weights of viscera. The relative length of the small intestine was decreased in birds supplemented with 200 and 800 μg Cr-CNPs/kg compared with the 1200 μg Cr-CNP-supplemented group and control. Serum metabolites remained unaffected with Cr-CNP supplementation except for serum HDL, which was increased. Cr-CNPs decreased the retention of chromium in the bone at higher concentrations. Jejunal villus height, villus surface area, and villus height to crypt depth ratio were increased in the 800 μg Cr-CNP-supplemented group. In conclusion, Cr-CNPs did not affect growth performance, viscera development, and most of the serum metabolites, but enhanced jejunal morphological attributes at 800 μg Cr-CNPs/kg of feed. Keywords: blood biochemistry, health, nano-biotechnology, prebiotics, poultry, trace mineral

Prospects for observing and localizing gravitational-wave transients with Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA

We present our current best estimate of the plausible observing scenarios for the Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA gravitational-wave detectors over the next several years, with the intention of providing information to facilitate planning for multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves. We estimate the sensitivity of the network to transient gravitational-wave signals for the third (O3), fourth (O4) and fifth observing (O5) runs, including the planned upgrades of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. We study the capability of the network to determine the sky location of the source for gravitational-wave signals from the inspiral of binary systems of compact objects, that is binary neutron star, neutron star-black hole, and binary black hole systems. The ability to localize the sources is given as a sky-area probability, luminosity distance, and comoving volume. The median sky localization area (90% credible region) is expected to be a few hundreds of square degrees for all types of binary systems during O3 with the Advanced LIGO and Virgo (HLV) network. The median sky localization area will improve to a few tens of square degrees during O4 with the Advanced LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA (HLVK) network. During O3, the median localization volume (90% credible region) is expected to be on the order of 10 5 , 10 6 , 10 7 Mpc 3 for binary neutron star, neutron star-black hole, and binary black hole systems, respectively. The localization volume in O4 is expected to be about a factor two smaller than in O3. We predict a detection count of 1 - 1 + 12 ( 10 - 10 + 52 ) for binary neutron star mergers, of 0 - 0 + 19 ( 1 - 1 + 91 ) for neutron star-black hole mergers, and 17 - 11 + 22 ( 79 - 44 + 89 ) for binary black hole mergers in a one-calendar-year observing run of the HLV network during O3 (HLVK network during O4). We evaluate sensitivity and localization expectations for unmodeled signal searches, including the search for intermediate mass black hole binary mergers.

Increasing the Astrophysical Reach of the Advanced Virgo Detector via the Application of Squeezed Vacuum States of Light

Current interferometric gravitational-wave detectors are limited by quantum noise over a wide range of their measurement bandwidth. One method to overcome the quantum limit is the injection of squeezed vacuum states of light into the interferometer's dark port. Here, we report on the successful application of this quantum technology to improve the shot noise limited sensitivity of the Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave detector. A sensitivity enhancement of up to 3.2±0.1  dB beyond the shot noise limit is achieved. This nonclassical improvement corresponds to a 5%-8% increase of the binary neutron star horizon. The squeezing injection was fully automated and over the first 5 months of the third joint LIGO-Virgo observation run O3 squeezing was applied for more than 99% of the science time. During this period several gravitational-wave candidates have been recorded.

Palynological investigation of some selected species of family Fabaceae from Pakistan, using light and scanning electron microscopy techniques

Pollen morphology of 11 species of family Fabaceae that is, Trifolium alexandrinum, Trifolium resupinatum, Arachis hypogaea, Lathyrus aphaca, Medicago lupulina, Vicia sativa, Lathyrus odoratus, Pongamia pinnata, Melilotus indicus, Medicago polymorpha, Medicago sativa from Pakistan has been investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen were generally tricolporate, radially symmetrical, isopolar, elliptic in equatorial view and triangular in polar view under LM. Results showed that pollens were per-prolate (T. alexandrinum), prolate (T. resupinatum, V. sativa, L. odoratus, Melilotus indicus, M. polymorpha, M. sativa) and sub-prolate (A. hypogaea, L. aphaca, M. lupulina, P. pinnata). The larger polar/equatorial (P/E) ratio was found in T. alexandrinum (2.26 μm) and the smallest was found in M. lupulina (1.21 μm). The exine of T. resupinatum was 3.00 μm in thickness while others posses smaller exine thickness. The larger pore diameter was found in P. pinnata (16.01 μm) while others have smaller. The length of colpi was larger in Arachis hypogaea (32.24) while others posses smaller. Eight types of surface ornamentation (Psilate, faintly rugulate). Perforate and rugulate to verrucate have been observed under SEM. The pollens were europalynous type. Pollen morphology proved to be useful for the specific delimitation and serve as a tool for the identification and classification of taxa at specific and generic levels and can also be used as a key for the taxonomic features. Diversity in exine sculpture is helpful indicative characters for the isolation of closely related species. Hence, it is clear that both qualitative and quantitative characters of pollen can be useful for differentiating between taxa at specific level.

Search for Subsolar Mass Ultracompact Binaries in Advanced LIGO's Second Observing Run

We present a search for subsolar mass ultracompact objects in data obtained during Advanced LIGO's second observing run. In contrast to a previous search of Advanced LIGO data from the first observing run, this search includes the effects of component spin on the gravitational waveform. We identify no viable gravitational-wave candidates consistent with subsolar mass ultracompact binaries with at least one component between 0.2  M_{⊙}-1.0  M_{⊙}. We use the null result to constrain the binary merger rate of (0.2  M_{⊙}, 0.2  M_{⊙}) binaries to be less than 3.7×10^{5}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1} and the binary merger rate of (1.0  M_{⊙}, 1.0  M_{⊙}) binaries to be less than 5.2×10^{3}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}. Subsolar mass ultracompact objects are not expected to form via known stellar evolution channels, though it has been suggested that primordial density fluctuations or particle dark matter with cooling mechanisms and/or nuclear interactions could form black holes with subsolar masses. Assuming a particular primordial black hole (PBH) formation model, we constrain a population of merging 0.2  M_{⊙} black holes to account for less than 16% of the dark matter density and a population of merging 1.0  M_{⊙} black holes to account for less than 2% of the dark matter density. We discuss how constraints on the merger rate and dark matter fraction may be extended to arbitrary black hole population models that predict subsolar mass binaries.

Timely administration of antibiotics in febrile neutropenia per updated ASCO/IDSA guidelines

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Background: Current ASCO guidelines for management of febrile neutropenia (FN) recommend initial antibiotic administration within one hour of triage, and initial assessment within 15 minutes of triage for patients presenting with FN within 6 weeks of chemotherapy. The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UICC) implemented an early identification and management strategy in the ambulatory setting for FN in 2017, with success in increasing the percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics within 2 hours from 50% to 92% over a 6 months (05/2017-11/2017) period. Given updated joint ASCO/IDSA guidelines, we aimed to increase percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics within 1 hour from 56% to more than 90% over 16 months. Methods: A multidisciplinary team involving oncology, hematology (attendings and fellows), pharmacy, and nursing met quarterly to review FN cases including time to antibiotic administration and documentation of prompt assessment. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were completed, including development and deployment of an electronic medical record automated order set and targeted education for fellows and nurses. Results: Between 12/17 and 04/19, of 7 patients with FN, 100% (N = 7) received antibiotics in clinic. The percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics within 1 hour of triage post first and second interventions was as follows: 25% (N = 1), 100% (N = 4). 100% (N = 7) of FN patients had documentation of prompt assessment, but time from triage was not specified. Conclusions: We were successful in improving the percentage of FN patients receiving antibiotics from 56% to more than 90% over 16 months. We are targeting our next PDSA cycle to increase assessments within 15 minutes of triage. Additional future interventions include tailoring antibiotics based on FN with low or high risk of complication via focus group and root case analyses discussion with our attendings, fellows, and nurses, and collaborating with ED on a standard care pathway for FN management.

P11.55 Thymoquinone enhances the sensitivity of B16-F10 melanoma cell line to Gamma Knife radiosurgery

BACKGROUND

Melanoma patients with brain metastasis have poor prognosis. Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKR) is an effective treatment to control brain metastasis from melanoma. Thymoquinone (TQ) has gained attention as a potential therapeutic option due to its anti-tumor effects on various cancers. The aim of the study was to invetsigate the effect of GKR in B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro and in established intracerebral melanoma model in mice in vivo, and the sensitizing efficacy of TQ towards GKR.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Effects of GKR and combination treatment of GKR and TQ were studied on B16-F10 melanoma cells via analyzing cytotoxicty by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay; apoptosis induction by acridine orange staining and genotoxicity by comet assay. Expression of STAT3, p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and apoptotic pathway proteins was investigated by western blot analysis. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was performed to assess the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Also survival was evaluated in mice with brain tumor after GKR and its combination treatment with TQ.

RESULTS

The effects of GKR on cytotoxicity, apoptosis and genotxicity were significantly enhanced by TQ on B16-F10 melanoma cells. GKR induced apoptosis through inhibition of p-STAT3 expression, which subsequently regulated pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, survivin. Combination TQ with GKR irradiation enhanced the apoptotic effect of GKR irradiation. Furthermore, GKR decreased the levels of tumor-related inflammatory cytokines on B16-F10 melanoma cells. This effect was more pronounced when TQ was added to GKR irradiation. GKR with 15 Gy improved the survival of mice with intracerebral melanoma compared to untreated mice. Although, the additive effect of TQ in combination with GKR irradiation on B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro, TQ did not add any significant survival benefit to GKR treatment in mice with intracerebral melanoma.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that TQ would be a potential therapeutic and sensitizing agent in addition to GKR to enhance the anti-tumor effect of irradiation. Further studies are required to support our findings.