Results The extent of incidental lymph node irradiation and the fractionation scheme have a direct impact on BED and TCP. The estimated mean TCP in the axillary nodes ranged from 1.5 ± 6.4% to 57.5 ± 22.9%, depending on the patient’s anatomy and the fractionation scheme. Hypofractionation led to a significant reduction of mean TCP of lymph node metastases for all schedules. Conclusion Our data indicate that hypofractionation might affect the effectiveness of incidental radiotherapy in the axilla. This is particularly relevant for patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes who receive SLNB only.Described here is a new, more efficient method for defining major histocompatibility complex-Y (MHC-Y) genotypes in chickens. The MHC-Y region is genetically independent from the classical MHC (MHC-B) region. MHC-Y is highly polymorphic and potentially important in the genetics of disease resistance. MHC-Y haplotypes contain variable numbers of specialized MHC class I-like genes, along with members of four additional gene families. Previously, MHC-Y haplotypes were defined by patterns of restriction fragments (RF) generated in labor-intensive procedures that were difficult to use to define MHC-Y genotypes for large numbers of samples. The method reported here is much simpler. MHC-Y genotypes are distinguished via patterns of PCR products generated from heritable short tandem repeat (STR) regions found immediately upstream of the MHC class I-like genes located throughout MHC-Y haplotypes. To validate the method, fully pedigreed families were analyzed for STR-defined haplotypes in light of haplotypes defined previously by RF patterns. STR-defined MHC-Y patterns segregate in fully pedigreed families as expected and correspond with haplotypes assigned by RF patterns. The patterns provided in STR chromatograms generated by capillary electrophoresis are distinct for different haplotypes and can be scored easily. Investigations into the influence of MHC-Y genetics on immune responses can now realistically be conducted with large sample sets.Pyrogen content is a key quality feature that must be checked in all injectable products, including vaccines. Four tests are currently available in the European Pharmacopoeia to monitor pyrogen/endotoxin presence 1) the Rabbit Pyrogen Test (RPT), 2) the Bacterial Endotoxin Test, 3) the Recombinant Factor C test and the Monocyte Activation Test (MAT). Here, we explored the possibility to replace RPT with the MAT in the quality control of a vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The testing was carried out using cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells as cellular source. IL-6 release was selected as readout for the detection of both endotoxin and non-endotoxin contaminants. MAT applicability for pyrogen testing of the TBEV vaccine was assessed through preparatory tests and resulted in the set-up of a very sensitive assay (limit of detection, LOD = 0.04 EU/ml; Sensitivity = 0.1 EU/ml). Both quantitative Method A and semi-quantitative Method B were used for data analysis. Our studies revealed that for vaccine without intrinsic pyrogenicity, as that against TBEV, sensitivity (the lowest endotoxin value of the standard curve) should be used instead of LOD in order to define a stable maximum valid dilution of the product. In conclusion, we describe the challenges of MAT implementation for anti-TBEV vaccine following the current MAT chapter 2.6.30 and propose a re-evaluation of the validity criteria of the Methods A and B, in order to set a semi-quantitative or limit test suitable for those products for which a reference lot comparison analysis is not applicable or favorable.Objective To examine the clinical and functional characteristics associated with contralateral spatial neglect in right compared with left subacute stroke, and to investigate the correlations between neglect severity and stroke severity, functional ability and outcome. Methods Cross-sectional study comparing neurological impairment and disability. The same data-set was used in part 2 of this study. Results Contralateral neglect was present in 79.7% of right stroke and 68.3% of left stroke rehabilitants, and was, on average, equally mild. Left stroke rehabilitants with neglect had higher stroke severity, cognitive and total disability and dependence level and more impaired sphincter control than right stroke rehabilitants with neglect, while the occurrence of depression, motor and sensory impairment was similar. selleck chemicals Rehabilitants with neglect, irrespective of stroke side, had higher stroke severity, cognitive, motor and total disability and dependence level than rehabilitants without neglect. Conclusion In left and right stroke rehabilitants with equally mild neglect, those with left stroke had higher stroke severity, cognitive and total disability and dependence level. Neglect severity correlated with right or left stroke severity and functional ability, moderate to severe neglect correlated significantly more with functioning. Neglect severity was independently associated with functional outcome in right stroke.Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of cancer in Swedish men and women. The incidence of SCC is increasing rapidly. Primary treatment is complete surgical excision with sufficient margins to avoid recurrence and metastasis. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the clinicopathological factors associated with incomplete excision of SCCs. Clinicopathological data and surgical outcome was obtained for 691 SCCs excised during a 2-year period (2014 to 2015) in Gothenberg, Sweden. Overall, 81 SCCs (11.7%) were incompletely excised. Incomplete excisions were associated with physician specialty and experience, tumour localization in the head and neck region, larger tumour diameter, and lower grade of tumour differentiation. However, multiple regression analysis revealed that large tumour size and excisions carried out by general practitioners were the only factors that significantly negatively affected rates of incomplete excision. These results should be taken into consideration when excising SCCs, in order to avoid multiple excisions.