Objective To evaluate the peripheral dose (PD) from megavoltage cone-beam CT (MVCBCT) imaging for head-and-neck region image-guided radiation therapy,to determine the correlation of PD with monitor unit (MU),and to investigate the impact of imaging field size on the PD.Methods Measurements of PD from MVCBCT were made with a 0.65 cm3 ionization chamber placed in a specially designed phantom at various depths and distances from the field edges.The PD at reference point inside the phantom was measured with the same ionization chamber to investigate the linearity between MU used for MVCBCT and the PD.The homogeneity of PD in the axial plane of the phantom were measured.Results PD from MVCBCT increased with increasing number of MU used for imaging and with increasing the field size.The measured PD in the phantom decreased exponentially as distance from the field edges increased.PD also decreased as the depth from the phantom surface increased.There was a strong linear relationship between PD and MUs used for MVCBCT.The PD was heterogeneous,with higher dose at the anterior than the posterior.Conclusions The PD from MVCBCT depend much on the MVCBCT delivery MU and the scan field size.In clinic,using the smallest number of MU allowable and reducing MVCBCT scanning field size without compromising acquired image quality is an effective method of reducing the PD.

Objective To compare the whole-body equivalent doses from volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and static intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for patients with cervical cancer.Methods Nine patients with cervical cancer admitted to our hospital in 2014 were included in this study.Both VMAT and IMRT were planned for each patient.Each patient's personal dose equivalent (Hp (10)) was measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters placed at the xiphoid process and glabella during IMRT and VMAT.The whole-body equivalent doses were estimated based on the results measured at the xiphoid process and compared between the VMAT and IMRT techniques.The paired t test was used for difference analysis.Results The Hp (10) values measured at the xiphoid process and glabella of every patient were lower for VMAT than for IMRT.At a prescribed dose of 50 Gy,if the mean Hp (10) values measured at the xiphoid process were considered to represent the whole-body equivalent doses,the whole-body equivalent doses for VMAT and IMRT were 364 mSv and 538 mSv,respectively.Conclusions VMAT results in a lower whole-body equivalent dose to patients compared with IMRT.The decreased whole-body equivalent dose delivered by VMAT may reduce the likelihood of a radiation-induced secondary malignancy.

OBJECTIVETo prepare stable chicken red blood cells for the calibration of flow cytometry.

METHODSThe traditional isolation method of chicken red blood cells was modified by incorporating gelatin technique, Ca2+-free HBSS treatment and low-speed centrifugation. The effect of fluorescence staining of the cells was improved by the addition of TritonX-100 to enhance the membrane permeability and Rnase enzymes to disintegrate RNA tiles. The modified method was compared with the traditional method for viability of the freshly isolated cells and the DNA content coefficient of variation (CV) of the fixed cells.

RESULTSChicken red blood cells obtained by the modified method showed a significantly higher viability than those obtained by the traditional method [(98.5∓3.5)% vs (93.5∓2.7)%, P<0.05]. After glutaraldehyde fixation, the isolated cells with the modified method were stable during the 90-day preservation with a significantly lower CV than the cells obtained by the traditional method [(6.0∓0.3)% to 6.2∓0.4% vs (8.6∓0.5)% to (13.1∓1.4)%, P<0.01].

CONCLUSIONThe chicken red blood cells isolated using the modified method can be applicable for calibration of flow cytometry.

Animals ; Calibration ; Chickens ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; instrumentation ; methods

There is high demand for a sensitive method for miRNA detection in clinical diagnosis. In this work, we developed a method for miRNA detection based on the surface plasmon-enhanced energy transfer ( SPEET ) between gold nanoparticles ( AuNPs ) and silver nanoclusters ( AgNCs ) , coupled with DNA polymerase and nicking enzyme-assisted isothermal amplification for target recycling. Two DNA probes ( Probe a and Probe b) were assembled onto the surface of AuNPs to form Probe b-Probe a-AuNP conjugates. Probe a consisted three domains:the complementary sequence of miRNA, the specific site of the nicking enzyme, and the self-assembly sequence for AgNCs. The 3′ end of Probe a was modified with thiol as a binding site for AuNPs. The SPEET of AgNCs and AuNPs was inhibited when miRNA was added to produce the dumbbell shaped template by polymerase. The template could promote synthesis of AgNCs, resulting in replacement and subsequently recycling of the target molecule for signal amplification. In comparison with the traditional method of miRNA detection with commercial RT-PCR kits, this method avoided the process of reverse transcription and was easy to perform. In addition, this method with a detection limit of 2. 5×10-11 mol/L was cost-effective, label-free, and highly selective for detecting miRNA, and could be applied to the analysis of miRNA in biological samples.

Objective To determine the efficacy ofantiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on prevention of epilepsy after craniocerebral injury. Methods Related articles searched from the databases such as PubMed, Ovid, Springer, VP and CNKI were collected and strictly evaluated; 21 articles were finally selected. Whether pretreatment with AEDs played its role in epilepsy appeared in the early/late stages was discussed with Meta-analysis; the influences of different craniocerebral injury types (resulting from trauma or surgery) on the efficacy of anti-epilepsy prophylaxis, and the mortality rate of the patients performed pretreatment were analyzed with Meta-analysis. Results Pretreatment withAEDs could significantly improve the results (OR=0.66, Z=4.31, P=0.000); pretreatment with AEDs obviously decreased the rate of epilepsy appeared in the early stage (OR=0.48, Z=3.980, P=0.000), but did not statistically decrease the rate of epilepsy appeared in the late stage (OR=1.05, Z=0.310, P=0.760);pretreatment with diphenylhydantoin (OR=0.53) was more effective on epilepsy appeared in the early stage than pretreatment with carbamazepine (OR=0.40). Pretreatment with AEDs was all-effective considering different craniocerebral injury types resulting from trauma (OR=0.48) and surgery (OR=0.69). No significant differences were noted on the mortality rate of patients performed pretreatment and without pretreatment (OR=0.82, Z=0.920, P=0.360). Conclusion The inception rate of epilepsy can be decreased remarkably after anti-epilepsy prophylaxis with AEDs in patients after craniocerebral injury,and diphenylhydantoin has a better effect for epilepsy appeared in the early stage. No reasonable differences between various kinds of AEDs on epilepsy appeared in the late stage are noted. Pretreatment with AEDs enjoys a good result in both post-traumatic brain injury and craniotomy. Pretreatment can not affect the mortality rate of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo comprehend the anatomic characteristics and correlations between the accessory nerve and the phrenic nerve in the adult corpses.

METHODSThe bilateral accessory nerves, phrenic nerves, and their branches of 20 adult corpses (38 sides) were underwent exposure. The morphologic data of the accessory nerves and the phrenic nerves above clavicle were measured. In addition, the minimal and maximal distances from several points on the accessory nerve to the full length of the phrenic nerve above clavicle were measured. Then, the number of motor nerve fibers on different locations of the nerves utilizing the method of immunohistochemistry were counted and compared.

RESULTThe accessory nerves after sending out the sternocleido-mastoid muscular branches were similar in the morphologic data with the phrenic nerves. Meanwhile, the accessory nerve had a coiled appearance within this geometrical area. The possibly minimal distance between the accessory nerve and phrenic nerve was (3.19 ± 1.23) cm, and the possibly maximal distance between the starting point of accessory nerve and the end of the phrenic nerve above clavicle was (8.71 ± 0.75) cm.

CONCLUSIONSThe accessory nerve and the phrenic nerve are similar in the anatomic evidences and the number of motor nerve fibers. And the length of accessory nerve is sufficiently long to connect with phrenic nerve as needed. It is possible to suture them without strain directly.

Accessory Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Transfer ; Phrenic Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the impact of adopting different dose grid resolution during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning on COMPASS pass rate.Methods A total of 10 patients with cervical cancer were enrolled.Four types of VMAT plans (plan1,plan2,plan3,plan4) were designed for each patient,with dose grid resolution of 0.2 cm × 0.2 cm × 0.2 cm,0.3 cm × 0.3 cm ×0.3 cm,0.4 cm ×0.4 cm ×0.4 cm and 0.5 cm ×0.5 cm ×0.5 cm,respectively.The plans were exported to Linac and conducted,then measured by COMPASS.The discrepancies were analyzed,which were obtained by comparing reconstructed dose from COMPASS and dose from TPS optimization.Results For tumor volume,the mean value of Dmean and D95 were ＜ 0.5％ and ＜ 1.3％ respectively,and the standard deviation were both ＜ 1.0％.For organs at risk (OAR),the max discrepancies were Dmean of femur with-6.7％,-7.0％,-8.0％,-5.8％,and V35 of rectum with 4.9％,-6.3％,-6.1％,-5.7％ in four types of VMAT plans.The γ (3％,3 am) rate of tumor volume was ＞95％ with standard deviation ＜ 2.5％,with no statistically significant difference among the four types of plans (P ＞0.05).The γ (3％,3 mm) rate of OARs were ＞ 98％ except femur (＞ 95％),and the standard deviations were within 1.9％-6.1％,with no statistical significance (P ＞0.05).The average γ rate of tumor volume and OARs were ＜ 0.4 except femur (＞ 0.4),with no statistically significant difference among four types of VMAT plans (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions COMPASS pass rate was not influenced by the dose grid resolution between 0.2 ～ 0.5 cm for VMAT plan.

Objective:To compare the influence of single and staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on long-term prognosis in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease.Methods:Using prospective research methods, 1 832 patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease from January to December 2013 in Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were selected. According to the time of PCI, the patients were divided into single PCI group (1 218 cases) and staged PCI group (614 cases). The patients were followed up for 2 years, the primary endpoint was major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), including target vessel-related myocardial infarction (TV-MI), target vessel-related revascularization (TVR), cardiogenic death and stroke, and the secondary endpoint was stent thrombosis. The propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the discrepancies between 2 groups, and the baseline and follow-up data were compared. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn to evaluate the survival rates events; multifactor Cox proportional risk regression was used to analyze whether staged PCI was an independent risk factor for the endpoint events.Results:The in-hospital stay, duration of procedure and synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score in single PCI group were significantly lower than those in staged PCI group: (5.54±3.09) d vs. (9.50±4.06) d, (43.12±28.55) min vs. (79.54±44.35) min, (14.04±7.63) scores vs. (18.51±7.79) scores, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there were no statistical difference in complete revascularization rate and SYNTAX score after PCI between 2 groups ( P>0.05). Based on 2-year follow-up, the incidences of TV-MI and stent thrombosis in staged PCI group were significantly higher than those in single PCI group: 2.1% (13/614) vs. 0.5% (6/1 218) and 2.0% (12/614) vs. 0.4% (5/1 218), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival curves analysis results showed that the event-free survival rates of TV-MI and stent thrombosis in single PCI group were better than those in staged PCI group (99.5% vs. 97.9% and 99.6% vs. 98.0%, P<0.01). Multifactor Cox proportional risk regression analysis results showed that staged PCI was an independent risk factor for stent thrombosis ( HR = 3.91, 95% CI 1.25 to 12.18, P = 0.019). After PSM, the incidences of TV-MI and stent thrombosis in staged PCI group were significantly higher than those in single PCI group: 2.1% (13/614) vs. 0.7% (4/614) and 2.0% (12/614) vs. 0.5% (3/614), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis results showed that the event-free survival rates of TV-MI and stent thrombosis in single PCI group were significantly higher than those in staged PCI group: (99.3% vs. 97.9% and 99.5% vs. 98.0%, P<0.05); multifactor Cox proportional risk regression analysis results showed that staged PCI was not an independent risk factor of stent thrombosis ( HR = 2.29, 95% CI 0.58 to 9.00, P = 0.234). Both before and after PSM, there were no evidences for interaction between the type of angina pectoris and staged PCI ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Although a seemingly increase exists in the incidence of TV-MI and stent thrombosis in the staged PCI group, staged PCI is an independent risk factor neither for MACCE and its components, nor for stent thrombosis. In addition single PCI reduces the in-hospital days and duration of PCI procedure, which may be a relatively reasonable approach to clinical practice.

Betacoronavirus ; Communicable Disease Control ; organization & administration ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Disaster Planning ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Nuclear Medicine ; organization & administration ; Pandemics ; prevention & control ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Singapore

During the pathogensis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), activated RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) combines similar proliferative features as tumor and inflammatory features as osteoarthritis, which eventually leads to joint erosion. Therefore, it is imperative to research and develop new compounds, which can effectively inhibit abnormal activation of RA-FLSs and retard RA progression. Neohesperidin (Neo) is a major active component of flavonoid compounds with anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant properties. In this study, the anti-inflammation, anti-migration, anti-invasion, anti-oxidant and apoptosis-induced effects of Neo on RA-FLSs were explored to investigate the underlying mechanism. The results suggested that Neo decreased the levels of interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13 in FLSs. Moreover, Neo blocked the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, treatment with Neo induced the apoptosis of FLSs, and inhibited the migration of FLSs. It was also found that Neo reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by TNF-α. Taken together, our results highlighted that Neo may act as a potential and promising therapeutic drug for the management of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Hesperidin/analogs & derivatives* ; Humans ; Synoviocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics*