Radiation Technology Research Articles

Current understanding of modulated electro-hyperthermia in cancer treatment

Traditional hyperthermia involves increasing the temperature at the tumor site to above 39 ℃, inducing death in cancer cells. Although hyperthermia is an effective cancer treatment, its clinical application has decreased due to potential complications, including damage to surrounding normal tissue. In recent years, modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) has emerged as an effective and safe treatment modality. mEHT selectively heats tumor cells to 42–43 °C, while reducing the average temperature in the treatment area, including the surrounding normal tissue, compared to conventional methods. Additionally, mEHT may be used in combination with systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy in tumor treatment, providing a synergistic effect to increase efficacy. As chemotherapy and radiation therapy technologies advance, the application of combined mEHT may improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we review and discuss reports on the clinical outcomes of mEHT combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, which are established anticancer treatments.

Effect of γ-irradiation and antimicrobial agent on properties of poly(L-lactide) active films

Data on irradiation of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) based active packaging is still limited. Therefore, effect of γ-irradiation on neat PLLA and active packaging with oligohexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (OHMG·HCl) has been studied. Combined use of irradiation and active packaging technology is promising approach to maintain food safety and prolong shelf life. It has been found that regardless of the OHMG·HCl content PLLA undergoes chain scission during irradiation and this process becomes less pronounced at doses higher than 50 kGy. Slight racemization of PLLA during exposure has been observed using polarimetry and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Mechanical properties of films have been examined. Biocide addition led to a 30% decrease in films elongation at break. Irradiation either caused elongation decrease. Dose of 50 kGy and higher made PLLA active films brittle. Multiple melting behavior of irradiated PLLA has been analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. Fraction of crystals with higher melting temperature rose with dose. Possible reason for this phenomenon is formation of α′ form with less ordered chain packaging that recrystallizes during heating. The biocide addition has not affected this process. Furthermore, in vitro antimicrobial test has shown efficacy of films with 2 wt.% of OHMG·HCl against gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria and fungi.

Growth of VO2-ZnS thin film cavity for adaptive thermal emission

Low-weight, passive, thermal-adaptive radiation technologies are needed to maintain an operable temperature for spacecraft while they experience various energy fluxes. In this study, we used a thin film coating with the Fabry–Pérot (FP) effect to enhance emissivity contrast (Δε) between VO2 phase-change states. This coating utilizes a hybrid material architecture that combines VO2 with a mid- and long-wave infrared transparent chalcogenide, zinc sulfide (ZnS), as a cavity spacer layer. We simulated the design parameter space to obtain a theoretical maximum Δε of 0.63 and grew prototype devices. Using x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we determined that an intermediate buffer layer of TiO2 is necessary to execute the crystalline growth of monoclinic VO2 on ZnS. Through temperature-dependent FTIR measurements, our fabricated devices demonstrated FP-cavity enhanced adaptive thermal emittance.

Spinal metastases and metastatic spinal cord compression: interpretation for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2023 guideline

Spine is a common site of metastasis in patients with malignant tumors, and tumor metastasis to the spine can lead to pain, pathological fractures, and nerve compression. In order to optimize the diagnosis and management of patients with spinal metastases and metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK proposed the first diagnostic and treatment guidelines for patients with MSCC (or at risk of MSCC) in 2008. In recent years, with the rapid advancement of spinal surgery and radiotherapy technology, the standardized process of MSCC diagnosis and treatment urgently needs to be updated. In 2023, NICE launched new guidelines for spinal metastases and MSCC. Based on a thorough study of the guidelines, this article discusses and interprets pain management, corticosteroid treatment, application of bisphosphonates and denosumab, tools for assessing spinal stability and prognosis, radiation therapy, surgical timing and approach, etc., providing reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment in China.

Ways to improve the results of conservative therapy of malignant tumors of the head and neck organs. Part I. The current state of the issue (review)

The review analyzes the results of conservative therapy of patients with the head and neck cancer. Despite the use of modern radiation and drug technologies, the results of treatment of locally advanced forms of head and neck cancers and relapses are not satisfactory. The most effective is the simultaneous use of modified radiation and chemotherapy regimens. However, the implementation of the treatment plan with this method is limited to the development of pronounced early and late toxic effects on normal tissues and organs. The radiosensitizing effect of targeted therapy was also analyzed.

Gamma, electron beam and X-ray irradiation effects on polymers in an advanced bone cement mixer device

The medical device industry has been investigating ways to increase the use of alternatives to cobalt-60 gamma radiation and ethylene-oxide gas sterilization, such as electron beam (E-beam) and X-ray radiation, due to regulatory and market pressures. One impediment to switching to E-beam or X-ray technology for sterilization is the lack of data on the effects of these radiation sources on medical device polymers. To provide such data this work considers irradiation and testing of a common single-use medical bone cement mixing system, the Stryker Advanced Cement Mixer (ACM®), that is composed of seven polymer materials. The ACM® devices considered here were processed to sterilization-relevant doses (15, 25, 50, and 70 kGy) using three radiation technologies: gamma, E-beam, and X-ray. The system and its polymer components were tested for product functionality, as well as mechanical and visual properties to determine how exposure effects may be influenced by radiation technology and dose level. We found that although there were instances of statistically significant differences in effects between the gamma-irradiated products and those irradiated with E-beam and X-ray, those effects were negligible in terms of retained functionality of the product and retained mechanical properties of the polymer components. Overall, results of this study demonstrate that, for of the effects studied, E-beam and X-ray are viable alternatives to cobalt-60 gamma radiation for sterilization of the polymer-based device investigated.

Laser-Generated Au nanoparticles as lithophilic sites in self-supported film host for anode-free lithium metal battery

Anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs) are considered to have greater application potential than traditional LMBs because of their higher energy density and safety. Unfortunately, their poor cycling performances originated from the unsatisfactory reversibility of Li plating/stripping remains a big challenge. A rational designed host for lithium deposition is an effective solving strategy. Herein, pure Au nanoparticles (NPs) without any impurities are prepared by a liquid-phase laser irradiation technology to construct and develop a self-supported Au/reduced graphene oxide (Au/rGO) film as lithium deposition host for AFLMBs. The densely and uniformly distributed Au NPs provide abundant lithiophilic sites that significantly reduce the nucleation barrier of lithium. Attributed to the precise regulation of Au sites towards lithium nucleation/growth, dendrites-free anode and improved electrochemical performance are obtained by using the Au/rGO film host. It keeps stable for 30 min of lithiation at 6 mA cm−2 without dendrite formation. Additionally, the Li||Au/rGO half-cell shows an overpotential close to 0 mV and maintains a Coulombic efficiency exceeding 97 % after 500 cycles at 1 mA cm−2. Moreover, a symmetric Au/rGO-Li cell can operate for 700 h without short-circuit. When paired with LiFePO4 (LFP) to assemble a full battery, the Au/rGO-Li achieves 96 % capacity retention rate after 100 cycles. This work not only develops an efficient host for lithium, but also provides a unique strategy to the safety concerns associated with LMBs’ anodes.

Radiation Oncology Opinions and Practice on Cardiotoxicity in Lung Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study by the International Cardio-oncology Society

AimsSymptomatic radiation cardiotoxicity affects up to 30% patients with lung cancer and several heart substructure doses are associated with reduced overall survival. A greater focus on minimising cardiotoxicity is now possible due to advancements in radiotherapy technology and the new discipline of cardio-oncology, but uptake of emerging data has not been ascertained. A global cross-sectional analysis of Radiation Oncologists who treat lung cancer was therefore conducted by the International Cardio-Oncology Society in order to establish the impact of recently published literature and guidelines on practice. Materials and methodsA bespoke questionnaire was designed following an extensive review of the literature and from recurring relevant themes presented at Radiation Oncology and Cardio-Oncology research meetings. Six question domains were retained following consensus discussions among the investigators, comprising 55 multiple choice stems: guidelines, cardiovascular assessment, cardiology investigations, radiotherapy planning strategies, primary prevention prescribing and local cardio-oncology service access. An invitation was sent to all Radiation Oncologists registered with ICOS and to Radiation Oncology colleagues of the investigators. ResultsIn total 118 participants were recruited and 92% were consultant physicians. The ICOS 2021 expert consensus statement was rated as the most useful position paper, followed by the joint ESC–ESTRO 2022 guideline. The majority (80%) of participants indicated that a detailed cardiovascular history was advisable. Although 69% of respondents deemed the availability of cardiac substructure auto-segmentation to be very/quite important, it was implemented by only a few, with the most common being the left anterior descending coronary artery V15. A distinct cardio-oncology service was available to 39% participants, while the remainder utilised general cardiology services. ConclusionThe uptake of recent guidelines on cardiovascular optimisation is good, but access to cardiology investigations and consultations, and auto-segmentation, represent barriers to modifying radiotherapy practices in lung cancer to reduce the risk of radiation cardiotoxicity.

THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION FOR YTTERBIUM EFFECT ON RADIATION SHIELDING CHARACTERISTICS OF 50Bi2O3-15Li2O-15PbO-(20-X)B2O3-Yb2O3 BORATE GLASSES

As the nuclear industry has developed and radiation technologies have become more widely used, the dose of radiation from both synthetically produced sources and radioisotopes has increased, as has the number of people being irradiated. It is of the utmost importance to utilise appropriate shielding materials in order to reduce the negative effects of radiation sources. Doped glasses are among the most significant candidate materials in the field of radiation shielding. To this end, it was aimed to investigate the charged particle, gamma-ray and neutron shielding characteristics of ytterbium doped glasses with composition of 50Bi2O3-15Li2O-15PbO-(20-x)B2O3-Yb2O3 (where x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5). In this regard, the radiation shielding parameters were estimated by using Phy-X/PSD, PAGEX, ESTAR, and SRIM codes. Furthermore, the results were compared comprehensively and comparatively. Charged particle (alpha, proton and electron), gamma ray and neutron shielding efficiencies were found to be proportional to ytterbium content. The glasses with the increasing amount of ytterbium exhibited higher shielding performances. It can be said that all the studied glasses and particularly Yb2.5 sample could be used as shielding materials in many radiation related applications.

Room-temperature flexible phase change material with high emissivity and high enthalpy for building energy saving

Summer heatwave events become more and more frequent, building cooling load continues to rise, and the traditional cooling method using air conditioning consumes a lot of energy. New technologies and materials with high efficiency, energy saving and low cost are urgently needed to solve the problem of high energy consumption in buildings. In this paper, by combining phase change storage technology with passive cooling technology of sky radiation, a new type of high-emission flexible composite phase change material (CPCM) was prepared using polypropylene hollow fiber (PP hollow fiber), Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene (SEBS) and paraffin wax (PA). The prepared CPCM with excellent thermophysical properties, including a latent heat of 175.19 J/g, room temperature flexibility, the contact angle of the hydrophobic test of 129.15°, and the infrared emissivity of the atmospheric window of 0.942. The cooling experiment results show that the maximum temperature difference between CPCM and the environment is 2.6 °C lower than the ambient temperature. In addition, the simulation results show that the external surface temperature of the CPCM roof can be reduced by 23.15 K at the highest compared with a common roof, and the maximum energy saving can reach 13.24 W/m2. Compared with the high emissivity roof without CPCM, the external surface temperature is further reduced by 0.47K, the delay time is 50min, and the maximum energy saving can reach 0.76 W/m2. It's worth getting excited that CPCM can delay the opening time of air conditioning for 10 days. In addition, the application efficiency of cities in typical climate regions is simulated, and outstanding energy-saving efficiency is obtained, among which the maximum saving energy in Guangzhou is as high as 20.16 W/m2. The successful preparation of the novel CPCM material provides a new direction for the development of radiation-cooling technology.

The Latest Developments and Applications in Radiation Therapy Equipment and Technology

This paper reviews the latest technological developments in contemporary radiation therapy equipment and their significance in clinical applications. It begins with an introduction to the basic principles and historical evolution of radiation therapy, followed by a detailed analysis of common types of radiation therapy equipment, including linear accelerators, Gamma Knives, proton therapy equipment, and heavy ion therapy equipment. For each type, the paper conducts an in-depth comparative analysis of their technical characteristics, covering aspects such as performance, accuracy, therapeutic efficacy, safety, side effects, cost, and maintenance. The paper then explores the latest trends in radiation therapy technology development, such as image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and adaptive radiation therapy (ART), highlighting their clinical applications and potential through case studies. Finally, the paper looks forward to future development directions in radiation therapy technology, including the research and development of new equipment and technologies, trends in personalized treatment, and the prospects for artificial intelligence in radiation therapy. The aim of this paper is to provide comprehensive references and guidance for research and clinical practice in radiation therapy equipment.

Palliative Thoracic Radiotherapy in the Era of Modern Cancer Care for NSCLC.

Palliative thoracic radiotherapy provides rapid and effective symptom relief in approximately two-thirds of NSCLC patients treated. In patients with poor performance status, the degree of palliation appears unrelated to the radiation dose or fractionation schedule. Conversely, in patients with good performance status, higher radiation doses administered over longer periods have shown modest survival benefits. These findings stem from studies conducted before the advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in clinical practice. Currently, there are no large prospective studies specifically dedicated to palliative radiotherapy conducted in this new treatment era. Modern radiotherapy technologies are now widely available and are increasingly used for palliative purposes in selected patients, reflecting the expanded array of therapeutic options for disseminated NSCLC and improved prognosis. Some traditional tenets of palliative thoracic radiotherapy, such as the improvement of overall survival with a protracted radiation schedule and the use of simple, cost-effective radiation techniques for palliative purposes, may no longer hold true for patients receiving immunotherapy or targeted therapy. The application of IMRT or SBRT in the context of palliative radiotherapy for NSCLC is not yet sufficiently explored, and this is addressed in this review. Moreover, new risks associated with combining palliative radiotherapy with these systemic treatments are being explored and are discussed within the context of palliative care. The optimal timing, doses, fractionation schedules, and treatment volumes for radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy or targeted therapy are currently subjects of investigation. In emergencies, radiotherapy should be used as a life-saving measure without delay. However, for other indications of palliative thoracic radiotherapy, decisions regarding doses, timing relative to systemic treatments, and treatment volumes should be made in a multidisciplinary context, considering the patient's prognosis, anticipated outcomes, and access to potentially effective treatments. We still lack robust data from prospective studies on this matter. This review examines and discusses available evidence on the use of palliative thoracic radiotherapy within the framework of modern treatment strategies for NSCLC.

Global hotspots and research trends of radiation-induced skin injury: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2023.

Radiation therapy has become an important treatment for many malignant tumours after surgery and for palliative tumour care. Although modern radiotherapy technology is constantly improving, radiation damage to normal tissues is often difficult to avoid, and radiation-induced skin injury (RSI) is a common complication, manifested as skin erythema, peeling, ulceration, and even bone and deep organ damage, seriously affect the quality of life for patients. Basic research and clinical trials related to RSI have achieved certain results, while no researchers have conducted comprehensive bibliometric studies. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications on RSI published between 2004 and 2023 was conducted to identify current hotspots and future directions in this area of study. RSI-related publications published between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2023, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database for analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace analytics. A total of 1009 publications on RSI from 2004 to 2023 were included in the WoSCC database. The United States had the highest productivity with 299 papers, accounting for 29.63% of the total production, followed by China with 193 papers (19.13%) and Japan with 111 papers (11.00%). In terms of research institutions and journals, the University of Toronto and Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer published the highest number of papers. Professor Edward Chow published the most articles, while Professor Shuyu Zhang was the most cited. The top ten most-cited papers focused on the pathogenesis, prevention, and management of RSI. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and the top 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts suggest that current research focuses on the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment management of RSI. This study conducted a systematic bibliometric analysis of RSI publications from 2004 to 2023; identified the trends in RSI publications, major research countries, major research institutions, major research journals, major research authors, and major research keywords; and revealed the future development direction and research hotspots of this field. This study provides a valuable reference for future RSI research.

Documents to procure gamma irradiation chamber and license for operation in blood center

Abstract: Graft-versus-host disease is a critical posttransplant complication, particularly affecting individuals with compromised immune systems. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, neonates receiving intrauterine transfusions, and those recipients of blood from first-degree relatives are vulnerable to this condition. The significance of efficient lymphocyte inactivation has driven the widespread adoption of Gamma Irradiation Chambers (GICs) utilizing radiation sources such as Cesium-137 (Cs-137) or Cobalt-60 (Co-60). However, the effective operation of these chambers is contingent on navigating a complex regulatory landscape (Cs-137 or Co-60 is commonly used as the source of gamma rays. The usual dose is 25 Gray [Gy] to 35 Gy [1 Gy = 100 rads], this dosage inactivates 85%–95% of lymphocytes in the blood components without any adverse effect on other cellular components of the blood). GIC unit mainly houses either Co-60 or Cs-137as radiation sources (model no BI-2000, BI-5000 mfr. by Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology with typical radioactivity ranging from tens to hundreds of terabecquerel. These units are also used in research institutions, hospitals, blood center, etc. A review of legal, regulatory, and policy aspects of the operation of GIC in India regarding its issues, challenges, and opportunities. We aimed to prepare a standard guidance document for GIC for a smooth process of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) licensing and equipment purchasing. The present article was written based on the experience of applying for GIC with AERB and recurrent support extended to colleagues in the fraternity. The documents prepared for licensing and various procedural steps involved in the same are included. Many documents and many days are required from procurement to the receipt of the license for operation GIC. At the same time, with very few user institutes and less number of experienced people in the country, it becomes difficult to find a proper method to approach the national government body. If blood center/radiological safety officer are properly trained as per the guidelines available, this can reduce man-days and facilitate the earliest operations.

First clinical experience of total body irradiation using volumetric modulated arc therapy technique in Japan.

In recent years, advances in radiotherapy technology have led to the use of high-precision radiotherapy such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Total body irradiation using VMAT technique (VMAT-TBI) was performed for the first time in our hospital. A 56-year-old male patient diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was performed TBI as pretreatment for haploidentical-related peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation. The prescribed dose was 4 Gy for planning target volume in two fractions. The treatment plan was divided into two plans: upper body and lower body with three and two isocenters, respectively. The overall treatment time with VMAT-TBI was approximately 55 min, and it was not significantly longer than that of moving couch techniques. VMAT-TBI is a less burdensome and more accurate treatment for patients, and it may be a useful treatment for TBI.

Identification of damage states of load-bearing rocks using infrared radiation monitoring methods

The online identification of rock damage states is crucial for safety monitoring in geotechnical and mining engineering. By analyzing spatiotemporal evolution patterns of infrared radiation in various rock damage states, we established the first infrared temperature field dataset for rock damage state identification. We then constructed a deep convolutional neural network, RESD-CNN, and performed its training and optimization. Results showed that infrared radiation patterns of different rock samples exhibit similarities. RESD-CNN achieved outstanding performance in identifying rock damage states with metrics of ACC 99.04%, Precision 99.39%, Recall 99.52%, and F1-score 99.46% on the validation set. Generalization tests on datasets of different rock types revealed that RESD-CNN significantly outperformed traditional classification methods, demonstrating the feasibility of infrared radiation technology for intelligent coal rock damage identification. This research provides a crucial foundation for developing online identification and early warning systems for rock damage evolution in engineering.

Rare-earth nanocrystalline scintillators for biomedical application: A review

Rare-earth scintillating materials have been widely utilized in nuclear image technique, security screening and high energy physics research. Researchers have devoted extensive efforts to size design, surface modification, and drug assembly to transform them into prospective nanomaterials for diagnostics and cancer treatment. This review endeavors to summarize the advanced preparation technology and design concept of rare-earth nanocrystalline scintillators (RENSs), and offers fundamental guidance for the application of various materials in biomedical research. Specifically, it focuses on RENSs with excellent biocompatibility, outstanding stability, uniform size distribution, and strong drug loading capacity to meet subsequent practical applications. Additionally, this review reports on the application of RENSs in the biomedical field. Specifically, bioimaging and antitumor therapy are the most prevalently utilized and promising areas. X-ray excited optical imaging (XEOL) is combined with advanced imaging techniques (CT, MRI, etc.) to obtain comprehensive information about deep tissue. The combination of X-ray radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy technology can realize safe anti-tumor therapy under the condition of low-dose irradiation. Furthermore, this review also enumerates several recent highlight research strategies and the prospects of RENSs in the biomedical application in the future.

Effects of Gamma-Synthesized Chitosan on Morphological, Thermal, Mechanical, and Heavy-Metal Removal Properties in Natural Rubber Foam as Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Heavy Metal Sorbents

The properties of natural rubber foam (NRF) containing gamma-synthesized chitosan (CS) powder were investigated to address the growing demand for efficient methods to treat industrial wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The CS powder was prepared by irradiating chitin (CT) powder with varying doses of gamma rays (0–100 kGy), followed by deacetylation using 40% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 100 °C for 1 h. The resulting CS powders were then mixed with natural rubber latex (NRL) at different contents (0, 3, 6, and 9 parts per hundred parts of rubber by weight; phr) and processed using Dunlop techniques to prepare the foam samples. The experimental findings indicated that the degree of deacetylation (%DD) of the CS powder increased initially with gamma doses up to 60 kGy but then decreased at 80 and 100 kGy. In addition, when the CS powder was incorporated into the NRF samples, there were increases in total surface area, density, compression set, and hardness (shore OO), with increasing gamma doses and CS contents. Furthermore, the determination of heavy metal adsorption properties for Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd showed that the developed NRF sample exhibited high adsorption capacities. For instance, their removal efficiencies reached 94.9%, 82.5%, 91.4%, and 97.0%, respectively, in NRF containing 9 phr of 60 kGy CS. Notably, all adsorption measurements were determined using 3 cm × 3 cm × 2.5 cm specimens submerged in respective metal solutions, with an initial concentration of 25 mg/L. However, the removal capacity per unit mass of the sample (mg/g) showed less dependencies on CS contents, probably due to the higher density of CS/NRF composites in comparison to pristine NRF, resulting in a smaller volume of the former being submerged in the solution, subsequently suppressing the effects from CS in the adsorption. Lastly, tests on the reusability of the developed NRF indicated that the samples could be reused for up to three cycles, with the Cu removal capacity remaining relatively high (83%) in the sample containing 9 phr of 60 kGy CS. The overall outcomes implied that the developed NRF with the addition of gamma-synthesized CS not only offered effective and eco-friendly heavy metal adsorption capacity to improve public health safety and the environment from industrial wastewater but also promoted greener and safer procedures for the synthesis/modification of similar substances through radiation technologies.

Translational History and Hope of Immunotherapy of Canine Tumors.

Companion dogs have served an important role in cancer immunotherapy research. Sharing similar environments and diets with humans, dogs naturally develop many of the same cancers. These shared exposures, coupled with dogs' diverse genetic makeup, make them ideal subjects for studying cancer therapies. Tumors like osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma occur with greater frequency than their counterpart disease in humans. Canine brain tumors allow the study of therapy strategies with imaging, surgery, and radiotherapy equipment in veterinary patients with near-human geometry. Nonspecific immunostimulants, autologous and allogeneic vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and cellular therapies used in treating canine cancers have been tested in veterinary clinical trials. These treatments have not only improved outcomes for dogs but have also provided valuable insights for human cancer treatment. Advancements in radiation technology and the development of tools to characterize canine immune responses have further facilitated the ability to translate veterinary clinical trial results to human applications. Advancements in immunotherapy of canine tumors have directly supported translation to human clinical trials leading to approved therapies for patients with cancer around the world. The study of immunotherapy in dogs has been and will continue to be a promising avenue for advancing human cancer treatment.

Effects of electron beam irradiation on the postharvest quality characteristics of winter jujube (Zizyphus jujuba mill. cv. Dalidongzao)

Winter jujube was irradiated with 0.5 kGy electron beam (EB) and stored at 0 °C for 60 days. The quality of winter jujube was analyzed every 10 days to explore the effect of EB on antioxidant activity of winter jujube. Results indicated that 0.5 kGy EB reduced the decay rate of winter jujube (25.95% the 60th day), maintained the hardness and cell membrane integrity, delayed the changes of total soluble solids (TSS) and ascorbic acid (AA) contents, moreover maintained high contents of total phenols (TPC) and flavonoids. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased, and the free radical scavenging ability of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation radicals and the ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increased. Research demonstrated the potential of EB in the preservation of winter jujube and provided important information for the application of irradiation technology.