Objective To define the prognostic factors and local failure in late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy(LCAHR) for esophageal carcinoma.Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 201 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated by LCAHR during the period between August 1994 to January 2000.The radiotherapeutic portals were set and based on CT scan and esophagograms. All patients received a mean dose of 41.4 Gy /23 F/4～5 WK. With conventional fractionation regimen during the first two thirds of the course,and followed by LCAHR with reduced fields, at dose of 27 Gy/18 d,1.5 Gy per fraction,twice daily. The total dose varied up to 67～70 Gy/40～43 F/40～49 d. Results The 1 ,3 and 5 year actuarial survivals were 72.5% ,35.6% and 31.1%. The 1 ,3 and 5 year local control rates were 82.2%, 71.3% and 71.3%,respectively. Of the 95 patients who died, 34(35.8%) did so from local failure , 32(33.7%) from distant metastasis(33.7 %), 13(3.7%) from lymphatic metastasis, 4(4.2%) frome both local and distant metastasis and 12(12.7%) from complications.Conclusions It is showed that significant improvement in local control and survival are observed after LCAHR for esophageal carcinoma in comparison to conventional fractionated regimen. The prevention and management of distant metastasis and lymphatic spread have become the major problems in the future.

Objective To apply DR to the diagnosis of lumbar instability.Methods Totally 198 patients suspected with lumbar instability underwent routine lateral side DR radiograph and examination of flexion-extension position to analyze the forward and backward displacements of the lumbar.Results Totally 35 patients with lumbar instability were determined based on the method proposed by White and Panjabi.Conclusion Film of flexion-extension position gains advantages over films of lateral position and oblique position in lumbar instability and malfunction, and thus helps for clinical diagnosis and efficacy observation.

Objective To study the clinical results and prognostic factors of late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy (LCAHR) in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma in the elderly. Methods 105 over 60 year-old patients with esophageal carcinoma who received radical LCAHR, were retrospectively analysed. Radical tumoricidal dose of 67.9～72.0?Gy was delivered in 39～43 fractions over 42～53 days. Results The 5-year local control rate was 63.7%. The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival rate were 22.6% and 34.4%. Acute esophagitis and bronchitis were the most common but acceptable radioreactions Grade 1～2. No significant differences were found either in the clinical response or complication, between the 60～69 year and 70～80 year groups. By multivariate analysis, T stage and KPS score were two independent prognostic factors. Of 67 death cases, 31 died of local relapse, 23 of distant metastases, 8 of both and 5 of other causes. Conclusions LCAHR toxicity ,being tolerable for the older esophageal carcinoma patients,may improve their survival and quality of life.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the result of late course accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy (LCAHFR) of upper and middle thoracic segment esophageal T2N0M0 carcinoma.

METHODSFifty-three patients with squamous cell esophageal T2N0M0 carcinoma in the upper and middle segment were treated by LCAHFR from August 1994 to January 2000. The design of the radiation fields were based on CT and barium examination. All patients were treated with the conventional fractionated radiotherapy during the first two-thirds of the treatment to a dose about 41.4 Gy/23 F/4 to 5 weeks. This was followed by accelerated hyper-fractionated irradiation using reduced fields, twice daily at 1.5 Gy per fraction to a dose about 27 Gy/18 d. Thus, the total dose was 67-70 Gy/40-43 F/40-49 d.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 89.9%, 66.8% and 51.2%, respectively. The 1-, 2- and 5-year local control rates were 92.1%, 87.1% and 87.1%. Of the 17 patients who died, 5 died of local failure (29.4%), 9 (52.9%) of distant metastasis, 5 (29.4%) of lymph metastasis and 1 (5.9%) of bleeding from the esophagus. The Cox multivariate model showed that the site of lesion was the only prognostic factor, with upper better than the middle segment.

CONCLUSIONLate course accelerated hyper fractionated radiotherapy is one of the best radiation treatment regimen for early esophageal carcinoma in the upper and middle thoracic segment.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; radiotherapy ; Dose Fractionation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of two concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens between paclitaxel plus fluorouracil( TF) and cisplatin plus fluorouracil ( PF) in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal squamous carcinoma. Methods 103 patients with locally advanced esophagus carcinoma were treated in Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from December 2014 to February 2016, and randomly assigned to either study group ( TF ) or control group ( PF ) according to random number table, of which 52 patients in the TF group while 51 patients in the PF group. The primary outcome was overall survival(OS), and secondary outcomes include progression-free survival(PFS), local progression-free survival( LPFS) and side effects. Results The 1-year OS for TF group was 76. 9％ versus 74. 5％ for PF group( P>0. 05 ) , and the 2-year OS for TF group was 59. 6％ versus 56. 9％ for PF group ( P >0. 05). The 1-year LPFS for TF group and PF group were 71. 2％ and 66. 7％ respectively(P>0. 05), and the 2-year LPFS for TF group and PF group were 61. 5％ and 58. 8％ respectively(P>0. 05). The 1-year PFS for TF group was 63. 5％ versus 62. 7％ for PF group ( P>0. 05 ) , and the 2-year PFS for TF group was 51. 9％ versus 39. 2％ for PF group ( P>0. 05 ) . The incidence rate of serious ( grade 3- 4 ) leukopenia for TF group was 36. 5％ versus 17. 6％ for PF group(χ2 =4. 642, P<0. 05). The incidence rate of serious (grade 3-4) acute radiation pneumonitis was 15. 4％ in the TF group, higher than that in the PF group with the rate of 3. 9％(χ2 =3. 859, P<0. 05), while the incidence rate of severe nausea and vomiting for PF group was 17. 6％ versus 1. 9％ for TF group(χ2 =7. 262, P <0. 05). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Conclusions Patients who were treated with two concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens showed no difference in OS, PFS and LPFS. The regimen on the basis of Paclitaxel has higher risk of adverse effects incidence rates of hematological toxicity and acute radiation pneumonitis, while digestive system toxicity must be concerned when concurrent chemoradiotherapy is performed on the basis of cisplatin plus fluorouracil.

Objective: To investigate the effects of maternal exposure to ambient fine particles (PM_2.5) in Fuzhou during pregnancy on immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA) in neonatal rats and the possible mechanisms. Methods: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups (ten in each): filtered air (FA) plus normal saline (NS), airborne PM_2.5 plus NS (PM_2.5-NS), FA plus OVA (FA-OVA) and PM_2.5 plus OVA (PM_2.5-OVA) groups. Pregnant dams in the PM_2.5 exposure groups were placed in a PM_2.5 exposure chamber in which the PM_2.5 concentration was equal to the ambient air from the beginning of gestation till delivery, whereas the other dams inhaling air without particulate matters were put into a clean chamber. OVA sensitization was conducted through intraperitoneal injection of OVA at 50 μg per dam at 4 and 9 days of gestation, followed by inhalation of atomized 1% OVA for 30 min at 18, 19 and 20 days of gestation. Dams without OVA sensitization were given NS in the same way. Levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in neonatal rats' plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay just after birth. Protein levels of transcription factors GATA-3 and T-bet in lung were analyzed by Western-blotting. Changes in microRNA(miR)-146a and miR-146b in spleen were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Histological changes in lung were observed under light microscope. One-way analysis of variance and LSD test were used as statistical methods. Results: (1) IL-4 level in plasma was significantly increased in PM_2.5-NS [(18.56±7.04) ng/L], FA-OVA [(34.04±7.06) ng/L] and PM_2.5-OVA groups [(45.67±8.18) ng/L] as compared with that in FA-NS group [(10.51±2.88) ng/L], and the level of IL-4 in PM_2.5-OVA group was higher than that in PM_2.5-NS and FA-OVA groups (F=54.667, P<0.001). Significantly increased IL-5 level in plasma was found in FA-OVA and PM_2.5-OVA groups as compared with that in FA-NS group (F=6.253, P=0.023). Among the four groups, FA-OVA group showed significantly increased IFN-γ level in plasma (F=28.604, P<0.001). (2) GATA-3 level in lung tissues was significantly increased in PM_2.5-NS (31.09±3.54), FA-OVA (35.24±5.00) and PM_2.5-OVA groups (47.81±3.63) as compared with that in FA-NS group (24.19±3.12), and higher in PM_2.5-OVA group than in PM_2.5-NS and FA-OVA groups (F=96.581, P<0.001). T-bet level was significantly lower in FA-OVA and PM_2.5-OVA groups than in FA-NS group. Moreover, PM_2.5-OVA group showed decreased T-bet level as compared with that in PM_2.5-NS and FA-OVA groups (F=30.852, P<0.001). (3) Expression of miR-146a in spleen was significantly enhanced in PM_2.5-NS (1.72±0.27), FA-OVA (1.56±0.37) and PM_2.5-OVA groups (3.06±0.52) than in FA-NS group (1.05±0.25). Moreover, PM_2.5-OVA group showed enhanced expression of miR-146a as compared with that in PM_2.5-NS and FA-OVA groups (F=42.276, P<0.001). Changes in the expressions of miR-146b were similar to those in miR-146a (F=28.776, P<0.001). (4) Stenosis or disappearance of alveolar spaces, accompanied with infiltration of inflammatory cells in interstitial substance and congestion in alveolar septum, was seen in FA-OVA and PM_2.5-OVA groups and conditions in the latter group were more severe. Conclusions Intrauterine exposure to ambient PM_2.5 negatively affects fetal lung development and immunological function in rats, especially when the dams are sensitized with OVA during pregnancy.