Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Hypopharynx ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue

Objective To study the influence of crosstalk phenomenon on the measurement of gross radioactivity in drinking water.Methods The gross activity in different standard materials with different thickness and area was measured using national standard method.Results There was no obvious change in crosstalk factor with the increase of 241Am powder amount in the measurement,whereas the larger amount of uranium used might lead to larger crosstalk factor.The different measurement channels resulted in different crosstalk factors.The influence of beta radioactivity on alpha radioactivity measurement was significant.On the contrary,the alpha-to-beta crosstalk factor was negligible.The area of sample plate imposed no significant influence on crosstalk factor.Conclusions The gross beta activity can be corrected to decrease the influence of alpha radioactivity using powder standard samples,when simultaneous alpha and beta counting mode is applied in measurement grass radioactivity in drinking water.

Objective To explore the feasibility and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy using a circular-stapled anastomosis with trans-oral anvil in treating esophageal carcinoma.Methods 30 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy from January 2011 to December 2011.Operations of all the cases comprised of both abdominal and thoracic procedures which were performed with Iaparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques respectively.The intrathoracic esophago-gastric anastomosis was created using a circular-stapled anastomosis with trans-oral anvil technique.Results There were 24 males and 6 female with median age of 62.5-year-old (from 47 to 82).The lesions located in middle and/or lower portion of the esophagus.25 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (n =25) and 5 patients with adenocarcinoma (n =5) underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.All the operations were successfully performed without intra-operative technical failures of the anastomosis or deaths.The mean operation time was 95 minutes in abdomen and 177 minutes in thorax.The mean blood loss was 310 ml.The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 10.6 from thorax and 4.9 from abdomen.Postoperalively,there were thoracic wound infections in 4 patients.One patient had a left diaphragmatic hernia and was successfully treated by re-operation 6 days after first operation.One patient had chylothorax and recovered without surgery.There was no anastomotic leak and the patients were able to have spoon meat at 5.6 postoperative days.Conclusion Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy can be accomplished smoothly with acceptable occurrence of complications.The circular-stapled anastomosis with the trans-oral anvil is an efficient,safe and reproducible technique for intrathoracic esophago-gastric anastomosis.

Objective To establish the paclitaxel-resistant gastric cancer cell(HGC-27/PTX) and to investigate the changes of characteristics before and after resistance,as well as the possible resistant mechanisms.Methods The paclitaxel-resistant gastric cancer cell HGC-27/PTX was established by increasing paclitaxel dose gradually and intermittently.The IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) and cell cycle were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry,respectively.The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and signaling pathways were analyzed using RNAseq.Results The establishment of HGC-27/PTX cells lasted 9 months,and the sensitivity of paclitaxel of HGC-27/PTX cells was significantly lower than parental cells (P<0.05).Compared to parental cells,the morphology of HGC-27/PTX cells was slightly different,and the proportion of S and G2/M phase was obviously increased (P<0.01).A total of 274 DEGs were identified between the resistant and parental cells with 130 genes up-regulated and 144 genes down-regulated.DEGs were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction(P<0.001) and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways (P<0.05),which could provide evidences for reversing paclitaxel resistance.Conclusions The paclitaxel-resistant gastric cancer cells HGC-27/PTX was established with stable culturein vitro,which provides an ideal model for future study on the mechanism of drug resistance.

Objective To design a test phantom for clinical routine quality control of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods The commonly used phantom such as Magphan SMR170 and Victoreen 76-903 were used for experiments with the same parameters,and the test data of all the modules were compared.The advantages and disadvantages of all the modules were analyzed,and an optimization scheme was proposed accordingly.Results The phantom could be applied to the detection of high-image-quality MRI machine,and solved the problems in positioning,size matching and etc.Conclusion The new phantom meets the demand of magnetic resonance imaging clinical routine testing,and provides a certain reference for phantom optimization design.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal stenting for patients with carotid artery stenosis.Methods Selective percutaneous transluminal stenting was performed for patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis(luminal narrowing ≥ 70%).Success rates and complications associated with the procedures were observed.During six months of follow-up,both recurrent symptom and restenosis rates were recorded.Results There were 17 bifurcating lesions among 27 stenoses in 26 patients,of whom 18 had concomitant coronary artery diseases.The acute procedural success rate was 96.3%(26/27),and the degree of stenosis was reduced from 88.6% ± 8.9%(range 70 - 100)to 0.4% ± 2.0%(range 0 - 10).Six patients developed severe bradycardia and hypotension,and 3 experienced transient loss of consciousness during balloon dilatation.During hospitalization,2 patients experienced loss of consciousness and convulsion,respectively,due to hyperperfusion,and both recovered 12 hours later.There were 2 minor stroke cases (7.4%)but no cases of major stroke or death.At the 6-month follow-up,there were no cases of TIA or new onset of stroke.There was no restenosis detected in 16 cases using angiography and in 10 cases using MRI in 6 to 16 months of follow-up. Conclusions Percutaneous transluminal stenting for patients with carotid artery stenosis has a high procedural success rate with few and acceptable complications.Few patients suffered from recurrent symptoms or showed restenosis in long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVENimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Recent clinical studies show that patients with malignant gliomas could benefit from nimotuzumab treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with malignant gliomas.

METHODSThe patients received 200 mg of nimotuzumab infusion intravenously over 60 minutes once weekly for the first eight weeks and then once every two weeks until unacceptable toxicity or tumor progression occurred. Individualized chemotherapy was administered based on O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression and previous chemotherapy responses in combined with nimotuzumab.

RESULTSFourteen patients received a total of 122 times of nimotuzumab ranging from 2 to 20 (median 7.5 times). Combined chemotherapy regimens included: continuous 21-day temozolomide (10 cases), standard 5-day temozolomide (2 cases), teniposide plus cisplatin (1 case), and teniposide plus nimustine (1 case). Partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) were found in 3 patients (21.4%)and 6 patients (42.9%), respectively. Disease control rate (PR + SD) was 64.3%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4 months (95%CI: 0.7 - 7.3) and PFS at 6 months was 30.6%. The most common toxicities include grade I-II neutropenia (2 cases), thrombocytopenia (2 cases), lymphopenia (1 case), nausea and vomitting (3 case) and asymptomatic transaminase increase (1 case). One patient developed grade IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. One patient developed nimotuzumab-related acneiform rash.

CONCLUSIONSNimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has moderate activity in patients with malignant gliomas and the toxicities are well tolerable, therefore, worth further investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Astrocytoma ; drug therapy ; Child ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Dacarbazine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; drug therapy ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Nimustine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Teniposide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo recognize the clinical features of the bronchiolitis obliterans.

METHODClinical manifestation, chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and pulmonary function of 4 cases with bronchiolitis obliterans were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTTwo cases were after Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), the other 2 were after severe pneumonia, including one suffered from adenovirus pneumonia. Cough, tachypnea and wheezing persisted in all the 4 patients. The symptoms lasted for at least 6 weeks, in one case for over one year. Crackles and wheezing were present in all the 4 cases. Hyperinflation was seen in chest radiographs in all cases. On pulmonary CT/high-resolution CT (HRCT), patchy opacity and bronchial wall thickening were seen in each patient. Areas of air trapping were seen in three cases. Bronchiectasis was seen in 2 cases, atelectasis and mosaic perfusion were seen respectively in one case. PO(2) was low in all the four cases. Wheezing was not responsive to beta(2) agonist and other bronchodilating therapy. Prednisone was used at a dose of 1 mg/(kg.d) in 3 cases. Two cases were followed up for 3 months. The clinical condition of one case was improved, whose wheezing and bronchiolar constriction disappeared, cough and dyspnea were also relieved. However, the condition of one patient was not improved, although the wheezing disappeared. The HRCT of these two cases showed no improvement.

CONCLUSIONClinical symptoms of BO were cough, tachypnea, and wheezing after acute lung injury. Crackles and wheezing were the most common signs in the BO. Chest radiographs showed hyperinflation. Pulmonary CT showed bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, atelectasis, and mosaic perfusion. Pulmonary function tests suggested obstruction of small airway.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia ; complications ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the characteristics and diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in patients with secondary malignant peripheral nerve lesions. Methods 18F-FDG PET/CT studies of 8 cases of secondary malignant peripheral nerve lesions confirmed by histopathology or follow-up were analyzed retrospectively. The maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) of infiltrating peripheral nerves and contralateral normal peripheral nerves was measured and compared with their morphological appearances on CT. Paired student t-test was performed by SPSS 10.0. Results Twelve secondary malignant peripheral nerve lesions with high 18F-FDG metabolism were found in 8 cases. On PET imaging,the lesions distributed along the neurovascular tissues or intervertebral foramina with appearances resembling those of fibre bundles,radices or nodes on PET but no density differences with the surrounding soft tissue or fat planes on CT. The SUVmax was 6.86 ± 3.87. The contralateral normal peripheral nerves showed no abnormal 18F-FDG uptake with a SUVmax of 1.10 ±0.46,which was significantly different from that of the secondary malignant peripheral nerve lesions (t = 9.231,P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusion 18 F-FDG PET/CT may be useful in locating the secondary malignant peripheral nerve lesions and in assessing its regional infiltration.

Aim To observe the effect of total flavonoid from Mori folium(TFMF) on renal interstitial fibrosis in type 1 diabetic mice and its possible mechanism.Methods Diabetic mice were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ) dissolved in 0.01 mol·L-1 citrate buffer(pH 4.5) at 150 mg·kg-1 body weight after 12 h of food deprivation.Forty model mice were divided randomly into four groups: model group, and low-(0.25 g·kg-1), moderate-(0.5 g·kg-1), high-dose groups(1 g·kg-1) fed with TFMF once daily.In addition, eight normal mice were used as normal group.After 12 weeks, the fasting blood glucose(FBG), serum creatinine(Cr), blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and microalbuminuria(mAlb) were measured.Masson staining, Sirius red staining and collagen type Ⅳ immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of collagen protein in the cortex, while laminin staining to assess the degree of glomerular and renal tubular basement membrane thickening.The protein expressions related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and PI3K/Akt/mTOR in the renal cortex of mice were detected by Western blot.Results The moderate and high dose of TFMF could significantly decrease the levels of FBG, Cr, BUN and mAlb in diabetic mice, meanwhile decreasing the expression of α-SMA protein by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which led to the amelioration of the pathological alterations of renal tissue.Conclusions The moderate and high dose of TFMF can reduce the level of renal interstitial fibrosis in type 1 diabetic mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.