Study of sample preparation influence on bacterial lipids profile in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Lipids are one of the cell components therefore it is important to be able to accurately assess them. One of the analytical techniques used to study lipid profiles is matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). The present study attempted to select optimal conditions for sample preparation and MALDI MS analysis of bacterial lipidome in both positive and negative ion modes using different extraction protocols-Folch, Matyash, and Bligh & Dyer, solvents used to apply samples, and matrices such as 9-aminoacridine (9-AA), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP). The obtained results allowed concluding that DHB or CHCA matrices are suitable for lipid analysis in the positive mode, and in the negative mode THAP or 9-AA. The most appropriate protocol for extracting lipids from bacterial cells was the Bligh & Dyer method in both ionization modes. The use of the solvent TA30, which was a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water, provided on the spectra a significant number of signals from lipids in all groups analyzed, such as fatty acyls, glycerolipids, and glycerophospholipids.

A New Approach to Imaging and Rapid Microbiome Identification for Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy.

(1) Background: Little is known about the impact of urinary microflora, in particular, its effects on side effects after radiotherapy. The use of mass spectrometry identification method (MALDI) may bring a new look at the issue of the composition and significance of the urinary microbiome. This study aimed to use the mass spectrometry identification method (MALDI) to identify the microbiome of urine samples collected from 50 irradiated prostate cancer patients. (2) Methods: Blood and urine samples were collected before gold marker implantation, at the start and last day of radiotherapy, 1, 4 months after. Patients do not always collect the urine from the midstream; therefore, samples were collected from the first void and midstream in 12 patients for MALDI analysis; in the remaining 38 patients-from the midstream void for MALDI and biochemical analysis. (3) Results: Microorganisms were present in 140/181 urine samples. We found 33 different species 3G(-) and 30G(+). The most frequently isolated strains were: Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Micrococcus luteus. When comparing the type of urine samples, bacteria were more common in samples from the first-void urine than from the midstream one. The absence of bacteria was found in 12.2% of samples from the first-void urine and in 24.7% from the midstream. There was no difference in the total incidence of species between streams (p = 0.85). Before fiducial implantation, the total number of detected bacterial species was significantly higher in comparison to the end of radiotherapy (p = 0.038), indicating that the administered therapy resulted in depleting the local microbiome. One month after radiotherapy, an increase in the number of isolated bacteria was observed. The number of bacterial species in urine did not correlate with blood parameters. The presence of leukocytes (p = 0.013) and proteins (p = 0.004) in urine was related to a greater variety of bacteria found in urine specimens. (4) Conclusions: We obtained a similar spectrum of bacteria from the initial and middle urine streams. We also showed that there is a change in bacteria species affected by the treatment of prostate cancer patients, with both antibiotics before gold fiducial implantation and radiotherapy.

Noninvasive celiac plexus radiosurgery in palliative treatment for patients with symptomatic pancreatic cancer.

Advanced pancreatic cancer is commonly associated with significant visceral pain, radiating in a belt-like distribution to the upper abdomen, referring to the lower back, and significantly affecting patients' quality of life (QoL). The pain is often poorly controlled by pharmacotherapy, or the doses necessary to control the pain produce substantial adverse effects. Other available pain management options include invasive celiac plexus block or neurolysis, palliative radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy, all with limited efficacy. In this case report, we present the first non-invasive celiac plexus radiosurgery performed in Europe in a patient with pancreatic cancer, demonstrating that significant pain relief can be achieved through a non-invasive procedure performed within 2 outpatient visits.

[Evaluation of GoldAnchorTM fiducial marker migration during the planning of radiation treatment for patients with prostate cancer]. / Ocena migracji znaczników sródtkankowych GoldAnchorTM w czasie planowania leczenia promieniami chorych na raka gruczolu krokowego.

INTRODUCTION: The use of fiducial markers in patients undergoing teleradiotherapy increases the precision of treatment under the condition that the marker does not displace itself during this treatment. In order to determine the accuracy of the verification method used to establish patient position, it is necessary to establish the possible marker migration range during planning and treatment with radiation therapy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An analysis of the migration of GoldAnchorTM fiducial markers implanted in the prostate conducted on a group of 29 patients treated with image-guided radiation therapy at the Radiotherapy Department of the Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology in Gliwice. The migration value was determined based on a comparison of the marker's location with the use of spiral computer tomography and cone-beam computer tomography done on the treatment device. RESULTS: The average values of the given fiducial marker's migration in the superior-inferior (SI), left-right (LR) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions were: 0.07 cm (SD=0.1 cm); 0.06 cm (SD=0.07 cm) and 0.11 cm (SD=0.11 cm), respectively. The average value of the displacement vector computed according to the Pythagorean theorem and using the Euclidean norm was 0.17 cm with SD= 0.13 cm. CONCLUSION: The analysis indicates that migration of markers implanted in the prostate occurs during radiation treatment planning but probably it is not clinically relevant. Because a correlation was determined between the migration value and the time of carrying out the CT as well as the time that had passed from the implantation to the CBCT examination, it is reasonable to start radiation therapy promptly and to control the marker's location during radiation therapy.