Objective:To compare the dosimetric differences between the VenusX accelerator with an orthogonal dual-layer multi-leaf collimator (MLC) and the Varian′s CLINAC IX and EDGE accelerators with a single-layer MLC for hippocampus protection in the whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT).Methods:Forty patients with multiple brain metastases admitted to the Radiotherapy Department of the Shanghai General Hospital from June 2021 to February 2023 were selected in this study. Three whole-brain treatment plans were designed based on the above three accelerators for each patient. Under the same prescription dose, radiation field, and plan constraints, the three plans were compared in terms of the dosimetric differences in target volumes, hippocampi, and adjacent organs at risk (OARs), as well as the execution efficiency.Results:For the planning target volume (PTV), there were statistically significant differences in approximate maximum dose ( D2) between the VenusX and IX plans ( t = 4.94, P < 0.05), in approximate minimum dose ( D98) between the VenusX and EDGE plans ( t = 5.98, P < 0.05), in the target conformity indices (CIs) between VenusX plan and EDGE plans, and between the VenusX and IX plans ( t = -6.84, -14.30; P < 0.05), and dose homogeneity indices (HIs) between the VenusX and IX plans ( t = 3.48, P < 0.05). For OARs, the maximum doses ( Dmax) and average doses ( Dmean) to bilateral hippocampi of the VenusX plan were lower than those of the EDGE and IX plans ( t = 8.59-17.11, P < 0.05); the maximum doses ( Dmax) to bilateral lenses, bilateral optic nerves, and optic chiasma of the VenusX plan were lower than those of the other two plans ( t = 2.10-20.80, P < 0.05); and the differences between the maximum doses ( Dmax) to the brain stem of the VenusX and EDGE plans were statistically significant ( t = 3.86, P < 0.05). In terms of plan execution efficiency, the number of machine jumps (MU) and the treatment time of the VenusX plan were higher than those of the EDGE and IX plans, with statistically significant differences ( t = -56.48, -56.90, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The doses to target volumes of the three treatment plans all meet the prescription requirements, and the VenusX plan outperforms the EDGE and IX plans in the protection of OARs. Despite the reduced execution efficiency, the VenusX plan shortens the actual treatment time by improving the dosage rate, thus meeting the clinical requirements.

Objective To compare the effects of different respiratory signal acquisition methods on the delineation of moving tumor targets. Methods A cube phantom containing a sphere was placed on a motion platform to simulate respiratory movement by setting motion period, frequency, and direction. Respiratory signal was acquired by real-time position management (RPM) method and GE method independently. Target delineation was conducted using the maximum intensity projection (MIP) sequence. The difference between the reconstructed volume and the theoretical moving volume was compared under the two respiratory signal acquisition methods for cube and sphere targets. Results Under the same respiratory signal acquisition method, the same respiratory amplitude, and different respiratory frequencies, reconstructed volume changes were relatively small. For the sphere target, the deviation between the reconstructed volume and the theoretical moving volume was −1.5% to 5.7% with the RPM method and −1.3% to −13.8% with the GE method (both P < 0.05). For the cube target, the deviation between the reconstructed volume and the theoretical moving volume was 0.2% to 0.9% with the RPM method and −2.6% to 0.9% with the GE method, with no statistical significance. Conclusion For small-volume sphere targets, the target volumes obtained from MIP images by the two respiratory signal acquisition methods are both smaller than the actual moving volume. For large-volume cube targets, there is no significant difference between the reconstructed and theoretical results with any respiratory signal acquisition method. The RPM method produces smaller deviation and better image quality when reconstructing small-volume targets.

Objective: To study clinical characteristics and treatment after colonscopic perforation, and to determine risk factors for postoperative complications. Methods: Cases diagnosed as colonoscopic perforation within 7 days after colonoscopy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2010 and January 2017 were reviewed. Data regarding demography (age, sex), clinical information (comorbidities, medication history of glucocorticoid, length of hospital stay), colonoscopy (whether endoscopic therapy or anesthesia was performed, intestinal cleanliness), perforation (region, diagnosing time) and operation (laparotomy or laparoscopic operation, procedure, post-operational complications) were collected. Single factor analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were employed to determine the risk factors of postoperative complications. Results: A total of 14 colonoscopic perforation cases were identified and included in this study, and the overall perforation rate was 0.03%. Most perforations occurred in rectum (2 cases) and sigmoid colon (8 cases). Twelve perforation patients received operational treatment, of who 6 developed postoperative complications, including 3 cases of incision infection, 2 cases of peritoneal infection, 1 case of catheter-related infection and 1 case of pulmonary embolism. Spearman correlation analysis showed that preoperative medication of glucocorticoid and non-rectosigmoid perforation were positively related to postoperative complications (both correlation coefficients were 0.707, P=0.01), while perforation diagnosed immediately and satisfying intestinal cleanliness were negatively related to it (both correlation coefficients were -0.667, P<0.05). Conclusion Perforations are rare but severe complications of colonoscopy, and surgical interventions are necessary in most cases. Postoperative complications were significantly related to perforation sites, preoperative medication of glucocorticoid, perforation diagnosis time and intestinal cleanliness.

Objective To reinforce the awareness of colorectal endometriosis (EM) in colonoscopy examination.Methods Patients diagnosed as colorectal EM at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between February 2002 and February 2017 were enrolled in this study.The clinical characteristics and endoscopic features of EM lesions were summarized and compared between pathologically positive group and negative group.Results A total of 34 cases were included with average age of (38.3± 8.9) years old.All EM lesions located within rectum and sigmoid colon.The endoscopic lesions manifested as protrusion in 21 cases (61.8％) and protrusion-depression in 13 cases (38.2％),local stenosis in 8 cases (23.5％);erosive surface in 33 cases (97.1％) with local spontaneous hemorrhage in 4 cases (11.8％);nodal surface in 23 cases (67.6％),and lymphangiectasis base in 9 cases (26.4％).Endoscopic biopsy specimens were obtained in all cases with average 3 (2,4) pieces.Positive results were found only in 4 patients (11.8％) with 3 endometriosis and one (endometrial) adenosarcoma.Compared with negative group,spontaneous hemorrhage was more frequent in positive group (2/4 vs.2/30,P=0.013).Mean biopsy sample number was significantly larger in positive group (5 vs.3,P=0.004).Conclusions Colorectal endometriosis is mostly located within rectosigmoid region.Endoscopic features mainly include protrusion or protrusion-depression lesions with erosive and nodular surface,or local stenosis.Spontaneous hemorrhage under colonoscopy yields higher positive rate for biopsy,thus increasing biopsy sample numbers may improve pathology results.

Axonal transport of mitochondria is critical for neuronal survival and function. Automatically quantifying and analyzing mitochondrial movement in a large quantity remain challenging. Here, we report an efficient method for imaging and quantifying axonal mitochondrial transport using microfluidic-chamber-cultured neurons together with a newly developed analysis package named "MitoQuant". This tool-kit consists of an automated program for tracking mitochondrial movement inside live neuronal axons and a transient-velocity analysis program for analyzing dynamic movement patterns of mitochondria. Using this method, we examined axonal mitochondrial movement both in cultured mammalian neurons and in motor neuron axons of Drosophila in vivo. In 3 different paradigms (temperature changes, drug treatment and genetic manipulation) that affect mitochondria, we have shown that this new method is highly efficient and sensitive for detecting changes in mitochondrial movement. The method significantly enhanced our ability to quantitatively analyze axonal mitochondrial movement and allowed us to detect dynamic changes in axonal mitochondrial transport that were not detected by traditional kymographic analyses.
Animals ; Axonal Transport ; physiology ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster ; cytology ; metabolism ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Gene Expression ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Motor Neurons ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Movement ; Mutation ; Primary Cell Culture ; RNA-Binding Protein FUS ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Software

AL3810, a molecular dual inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), has earned the permission of phase II clinical trial for tumor treatment by China FDA. As a reversible ATP-competitive inhibitor, AL3810 targets ATP-binding site on intracellular region of VEGFR and FGFR, whereas, AL3810 lacking interplay with extracellular region of receptors rendered deficient blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB) recognition, poor brain penetration and unsatisfactory anti-glioma efficacy. Integrin

BACKGROUNDThe regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) is an efficient treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). This study aimed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of dose-adjusted CHOP alone or in combination with rituximab (R-CHOP) by examining the stem cell mobilization in NHL patients. Factors affecting the collection of CD34+ cells were also explored.

METHODSOur retrospective study included 39 patients eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation: 14 patients who expressed CD20 and were financially eligible received R-CHOP for autologous peripheral blood stem cell (APBSC) mobilization; the remaining 25 patients received CHOP.

RESULTSThe median CD34+ cell yield was 7.01×10(6) cells/kg body weight (range 1.49-28.39×10(6) cells/kg body weight), with only two patients failing to meet the target CD34+ cell harvest of ≥2.0×10(6) cells/kg body weight. The median number of apheresis procedures per patient was 1 (range 1-3). The APBSC mobilization yield of the CHOP group appeared to be higher than that of the R-CHOP group (P=0.005), whereas the success rate was similar between groups. R-CHOP elevated the complete response (CR) rate in B cell lymphoma patients as compared with CHOP (P=0.01). No significant differences in toxicity or engraftment were observed between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrated that dose-adjusted CHOP chemotherapy effectively mobilized APBSCs in NHL patients and that the addition of rituximab to dose-adjusted CHOP chemotherapy elevated the CR rate for patients with B-cell lymphoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Prednisolone ; Prednisone ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Vincristine