The three dimensional dose/volume/outcome data for lung are reviewed in detail. The rate of symptomatic pneumonitis is related to many dosimetric parameters, and there are no evident threshold “tolerance dose/volume” levels. There are strong volume and fractionation effects.

Objective Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory protein with a critical role in leukocyte migration. Although OPN has been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanism of OPN in the induction of 2 key chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP‐1β), in RA. Methods Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to determine chemokine expression. Leukocyte migration in the presence of OPN was measured by chemotaxis assay. Signaling and molecular events were analyzed by immunoblotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results The effect of OPN on inflammatory cell migration was mediated through its unique property of inducing the expression of MCP‐1 and MIP‐1β in CD14+ monocytes. The concentration of OPN was significantly elevated in RA patients and appeared to correlate with the serum levels of inflammation markers and increased expression of MCP‐1 or MIP‐1β in monocytes in RA patients. Endogenous production of OPN in RA synovial fluid was attributable to increased production of MCP‐1 or MIP‐1β, and this effect could be blocked by an anti‐OPN antibody. Furthermore, the structural motif responsible for this property resided within residues 50–83 of human OPN, sparing the known RGD or SVVYGLR sequences. It was evident that the effect of OPN on chemokine expression was mediated through both the NF‐κB and MAPK pathways, involving the activation of IKKβ, p38, and JNK. Conclusion These results support a unique role of OPN in leukocyte migration, in the context of perpetuation of rheumatoid synovitis through the induction of MCP‐1 and MIP‐1β.

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The model proposed by Cohen and collaborators is used to describe the process of diffusion through polymeric membranes subjected to externally applied extensions. This continuum mechanics approach is compared with a model developed via a mesoscopic theory. Experimental data on a variety of polymer/solvent systems are successfully described by the model. It was found that the flux‐versus‐time curves for deformations up to 80% elongation could be reduced to a master curve. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006

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