Background: One remaining grey zone in locoregional breast irradiation is whether to irradiate internal mammary lymph nodes (IMN) in the lack of gross involvement as well as optimum dosimetric recommendations for IMN irradiation. Our study aimed to assess whether IMNs are incidentally irradiated during locoregional breast irradiation, and whether this non-intended irradiation could contribute to lower IMN recurrence risk.Method: This retrospective study was conducted on 137 adult female patients treated at Alexandria Main University Hospital who had pathologically proven breast cancer. Patients should have undergone surgery and were proven to be: T3 (tumor > 5 cm), had positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs; ≥ 1 ALN involvement) or had positive surgical margins, from January 1st, 2015, to December 31st, 2017. IMNs were delineated, and the IMN mean dose was recalculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 25 and data was considered statistically significant at a P-value of ≤ 0.05.Results: Only the IMN mean dose percent, at a cutoff dose of 28.5% mean dose percent, was associated with significant reduction in the risk of IMN recurrence (P = 0.05). Other factors including tumor site, size, grade, or nodal status were not associated with higher risk of recurrence.Conclusion: Although the indication of IMN irradiation is still debatable, our results suggest that a minimum prescribed dose percent of 28.5% is needed to reduce the risk of IMN recurrence in patients with no IMN gross involvement. Yet, studies with larger sample size are needed to better characterize optimum IMN dosimetric criteria.

In last two-decade preparation of materials by microwave irradiation became subject of interest among scientists and engineers. This method offers several advantages in comparison to conventional method including saving in time and energy. In addition, microwave irradiation is very selective in heating and consequently is very efficient in material processing relative to conventional heating. In the present study the CU2(OH)3NO3, gerhardtit, which is a precursor for the preparation of multicomponet oxide with spinel structure was prepared by microwave irradiation from mixture of aluminum nitrate and copper oxide. The effect of irradiation time and the mole ratio of substrates in the preparation of gerhardtit have been investigated. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results compared to the data obtained for the same material, prepared by conventional heating.

Introduction: Although dental caries is a preventable disease, it is still common and remains a public health problem. One of the potentially effective preventive measures is the use of lasers. The purpose of this study was to review the studies about use of laser irradiation on the inhibition of carious lesions and the effectiveness of different commercial laser type (Nd: YAG, CO2, and Argon).Method: A literature search included journal databases, existing systematic reviews, and studies identified by content experts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were assessed for quality.Results: Some studies have demonstrated the potential preventive effect of laser irradiation on sound enamel; the effect of irradiation on white spot lesions is still unclear. The effects of irradiating demineralized enamel surfaces coupled with the use of topical fluoride application is also still unclear and further research needs to be conducted in this area. Laser irradiation alone can significantly enhance acid resistance of sound enamel surfaces and prevent caries progression.Conclusion: Combined use of topical fluoride application and laser irradiation on sound enamel surfaces has provided the best protection against caries initiation and progression. Laser irradiation was of limited value in managing incipient carious lesions. Argon laser use may be easier clinically due to its large and visible beam diameter, which allows for irradiation of the whole surface of the tooth instead of the overlapping and time consuming pattern of the CO2 laser.

Genetic diversity in strawberry is low due to its asexual propagation. One method of increasing genetic diversity, as an important tool in plant breeding, is the use of gamma rays to induce mutation. In order to determine the appropriate dosage of gamma irradiation for genetic diversity creation by mutation in strawberry, Kurdistan cultivar, and to study the influence of various doses of gamma ray (zero (control), 15, 30, 60 and 90 gray) on different traits of strawbery, this research was conducted in Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, in 2012-2013. Results showed that irradiated plants had a lower rates in comparison to the control plants for most of the studied characteristics, except for number of leaves, fruit sugar and anthocyanin. Leaf area, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit fresh and dried weight, and fruit volume, shape, and juice decreased with an increase in the gamma irradiation dosage. Moreover, multifoliate and dwarfism were increased in the irradiated plants. The appropriate dosage of gamma irradiation for mutation induction in strawberry, Kurdistan cultivar, for threshold 50% plants mortality (LD50) treated by gamma ray, was approximately 65-70 gray. Therefore, gamma ray intensity in the recommended limit could be used for the highest genetic diversity creation with the lowest plant mortality in strawberry breeding programs such as in fruit quality improvement.