Objective To observe serum and callus leptin expression in rats model with fracture and traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 72 male SD rats were randomized equally into 4 groups: control, SCI group, fracture group, and fracture/SCI group. Rats were sacrificed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after fracture/SCI. Serum leptin was detected by radioimmunoassayat 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, and callus formation was measured radiologically at 14, 21 and 28 days. Callus leptin was analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Results Serum leptin in the fracture group, SCI group and combined fracture/SCI group were all higher than in control group at the 1, 7, 14 and 21 day time-point (P < 0.05). Serum leptin in the combined fracture/SCI group was significantly higher than the fracture group at 7, 14 and 21 days (P < 0.05), and higher than SCI groups at 14 and 21 days after operation (P < 0.05). The percentage of leptin-positive cells in the fracture/SCI callus, and callus volume was significantly higher than the fracture-only group (P < 0.001). Conclusions Leptin expression increases in the recovery process after SCI, and the recovery of fracture becomes sooner.

Objective To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of Periostin (POSTN) in craniopharyngi?oma. Methods Forty-two patients with pathologically diagnosed adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma involving the floor of 3rd ventricle were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between expression of POSTN and outcome was studied. Results POSTN was expressed in stroma of craniopharyngioma tissues. The expression of POSTN was not associated with the postoperative recurrence (Z=-0.236,P=0.813) while was associated with the degree of the adhesion between tumor and floor of 3rd ventricle (r=0.685, P<0.001), postoperative Hypothalamic Status Scale (r=0.569, P<0.001) and Body Mass Index (r=0.594, P<0.001). Conclusions POSTN may predict the degree of the adhesion between craniopharyngioma and 3rd ventricle floor. The high expression of POSTN may indicate the worse hypothalamus function.

Objective To evaluate the dosimetric effect of three-dimensional(3D)printed headrests made of different materials in radiotherapy for head and neck tumor,and to evaluate whether the existence of customized 3D-printed headrest can be neglected during planning phase by comparing differences in target area doses,homogeneity index(HI),conformity index(CI),monitor units(MU),and organ-at-risk(OAR)dose.Methods Ten patients with head and neck tumors,including 5 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 5 with other head and neck tumors,were enrolled.The headrest contours were outlined using Monaco treatment planning system,and with the same calculation parameters,treatment plans were generated for scenarios without a headrest,with a standard headrest,and with 3D-printed headrests made of 10%filled polylactic acid and thermoplastic polyurethane.The target area doses,OAR dose,MU,and other results were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis.Results No significant differences were observed among the 4 groups(ignoring headrest,standard headrest,3D-printed headrests with 10%filled polylactic acid and thermoplastic polyurethane)in parameters such as D95,D5,Dmean,HI,CI,MU,and OAR dose(the maximum dose to the spinal cord)(P>0.05).Considering the presence of the headrest,significant differences were found in CI for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and other head and neck tumors(P<0.05).Conclusion During the planning phase,the existence of customized 3D-printed headrest can be ignored,but it should be noted that the presence of a headrest may reduce the MU in radiotherapy plans.When considering the headrest,the average CI of patients with other head and neck tumors is significantly higher than that with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.