Objective To investigate the gamma (γ) passing rates for volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) dosimetric verification with different techniques.Methods A total of 12 VMAT plans for the treatment of different anatomical sites in cancer patients were chosen.The Octavius 4D system was used to measure the dose distributions in two different settings:the gantry was rotating (three-dimensional (3D) and 2D γ-analysis) and the gantry was fixed at 0°(2D γ-analysis).The γ passing rates were analyzed with 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria, using the paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test.The 2D γ passing rates for different irradiation methods were calculated.Results For the 3D and 2D dose distributions obtained at a rotating gantry angle as well as the 2D dose distribution obtained at zero gantry angle, the average γ passing rates were 96.03%, 96.98%, and 98.90% for 3%/3 mm (P=0.227, P=0.000, P=0.003);82.08%, 84.04%, and 90.90% for 2%/2 mm (P=0.379, P=0.000, P=0.000).For the 2D dose distributions obtained with different irradiation methods, the average γ passing rate was 98.99% for 3%/3 mm and 93.68% for 2%/2 mm.Conclusions The VMAT dosimetric verification based on a 3D volumetric dosimeter at a rotating gantry position can be clinically useful for delivery quality assurance (QA), and can achieve the most reliable dose calculation for VMAT, which has more referential values.

Objective To explore the changes of serum C-reactive protein(CRP)and pneumonia severity index(PSI)of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP)and further assess the effect of CRP on the severity and prognosis of CAP.Methods One hundred and six cases of patients with CAP hospitalized from January 2009 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were classified according to different assessment criteria and age(≥65 years old)and serum CRP was detected in all patients.Results CRP was correlated positively with PSI(r =0.453,P ＜ 0.001).CRP and PSI had no correlation in elderly hospitalized patients with CAP,but CRP([81.70 ± 75.63]mg/L)correlated positively with PSI(78.30 ± 42.63)in non-elderly patients(r =0.489,P ＜ 0.001).There was significant difference on PSI(89.24 ± 36.44 vs 53.59 ± 35.41),CRP ([106.93 ±74.76]mg/L vs[31.34 ±33.68]mg/L)between PSI severity group and PSI non-severity group (t =-4.289,-5.934,respectively,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Both CRP and PSI can be used to evaluate the severity of community-acquired pneumonia,and CRP can be used as a supplement to PSI scoring system,especially in the assessment of non-elderly patients.

Translational medicine is a more effective and efficient way to improve the investment return on bioscience and provide equitable access to high—quality healthcare.Recognizing the need for a new impetus to spur clinical and translational research,the National Institutes of Health established the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program.

Objective To evaluate the effects of respiratory on dose distributions in threedimensional conformal radiotherapy (3 DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods The dose distributions were measured with a PTW 2D-ARRAY seven29 placed on a home-made moving platform to simulate the respirator.Dosimetric comparisions for 3DCRT and IMRT plans were performed by means of Gamma analysis with 3％ and 3 mm,respectively.Dose distribution measured for static treatment plans.Results The respiratory could reduce the target does and conformal index.The r pass rate (3％3 mm in 3 DCRT was greater than it in IMRT ((53.58 ± 0.74) ％,(30.71 ± 1.00) ％,t =57.91,P ＜ 0.01).The failed points were mainly near the field edge,but located in the whole target volumes for IMRT plans.Conclusions It is undesirable to use IMRT techniques for tumors with large motion amplitude.3DCRT can give a reliable dose distribution by reasonably selecting the PTV margin.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of detector array in Monaco modeling for MLC parameters adjustment.Methods One parameter was fixed, and then the other parameter was changed.The γ pass rates of the test beams, namely 3ABUT, 7SegA, and FOUR L, were assessed to determine the values of leaf transmission and leaf offset.A total of 12 tumor cases from different anatomical sites were randomly selected.Two-dimensional dose verification (rack angle zero) of Step& Shot and dMLC plans as well as three-dimensional dose validation of VMAT plan were performed using Octavius 4D system.The γ pass rates were analyzed at a standard of 3%/3 mm.Meanwhile, the point dose verification for these three plans was analyzed to obtain the dose deviations.Results The values of leaf transmission and leaf offset were 0.0105 and-0.08 mm, respectively.The average γ pass rates (%) of Step& Shot, dMLC, and VMAT plans were 88.59±2.94, 87.81±3.28, and 87.45±2.24 before adjustment and 98.45±1.23, 98.9±1.01, and 96.03±1.66 after adjustment.In addition, the average dose deviations (%) according to the point dose verification were 0.85±0.75, 0.95±0.39, and 0.98±0.40 before adjustment and 0.97±0.57, 1.08±0.76, and 0.86±0.45 after adjustment.Conclusions Octavius detector 729 ionization chamber array is a feasible and reliable device in Monaco modeling for MLC parameters adjustment.

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease characterized by lipid accumulation in the vascular wall and influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. To understand the mechanisms of molecular regulation related to atherosclerosis better, a protein interaction network was constructed in the present study. Genes were collected in nucleotide database and interactions were downloaded from Biomolecular Object Network Database (BOND). The interactional data were imported into the software Cytoscape to construct the interaction network, and then the degree characteristics of the network were analyzed for Hub proteins. Statistical significance pathways and diseases were figured out by inputting Hub proteins to KOBAS2. 0. The complete pathway network related to atherosclerosis was constructed. The results identified a series of key genes related to atherosclerosis, which would be the potential promising drug targets for effective prevention.
Atherosclerosis ; genetics ; Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; methods ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Software

In recent years (2007 to 2011),although the overall number of rabies cases in China has decreased,there is evidence of emerging or re-emerging cases in regions without previous rabies cases or with low incidence of rabies.To investigate the origin and the factors affecting the spread of rabies in China,specimens were collected from 2007 to 2011 from provinces with emerging and re-emerging cases and tested for the presence of the rabies virus.Positive specimens were combined with sequences from GenBank to perform comparisons of homology and functional sites,and to carry out phylogenetic analyses.Out of these regions,five provinces had 9positive specimens from canine and cattle,and 34 canine or human specimens were obtained from previously high-incidence provinces.Complete sequences of G gene were obtained for these samples.Homology of the sequences of these 43 specimens was 87％-100％ at the nucleotide level and 93.7％ -100％ at the amino acid level.These G gene sequences were combined with reference sequence from GenBank and used to construct a phylogenetic tree.The results showed that 43 specimens were all assigned to China clade I and clade Ⅱ,with all specimens from emerging and re-emerging areas placed within clade I.Specimens isolated from Shanxi and Inner Mongolia in 2011 were distinct from previously-isolated local strains and had closer homology to strains from Hebei,Beijing and Tianjin whereas new isolates from Shanghai were tightly clustered with strains isolated in the 1990s.Finally,Shaanxi isolates were clustered with strains from adjacent Sichuan.Our results suggest that the rabies cases in emerging and re-emerging areas in China in the last 5 years are a consequence of the epidemic spreading from of neighboring provinces and regions experiencing a serious epidemic of rabies.

To explore the spatial distribution mechanism of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), PhyML v3.0 was used to build phylogenetic tree using JEV sequences in the dataset. PAUP v4.0 and Migrapyhla softz ware were then used to analyze the migration events. The results showed that a total of 95 migration events were observed during the dispersal of JEV throughout Asia. Further analysis revealed that Thailand, and several Chinese provinces (including Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan and Yunnan), were the main migration sources of JEV. JEV spread from these migration sources as follows: from Thailand to Australia, Cambodia, Tibet and India; from Shanghai to eastern coastal Asian regions and Yunnan; from Shandong to Korea, Zhejiang, Hubei, Shanxi and Liaoning; from Sichuan mainly to inland regions of China, as well as Vietnam and Japan; and from Yunnan to Zhejiang. This study indicated that frequent migration events occurred during the dispersal of JEV in the Asia and Pacific regions, and that Thailand, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan and Yunnan were the sources of JEV dispersal.
Asia ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Phylogeny

Objective To explore the impacts of different nutrition support methods on short-term outcome in critically ill adult patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 1503 critically ill adult patients who needed nutrition support in an mixed intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care university hospital from January 1994 to December 2009. The complication of nutrition support, length of stay (LOS) in ICU, morbidity of infection and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and mortality among different nutrition support methods were compared. Results The Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) scores of the enrolled patients were no less than 3. LOS in early enteral nutrition (EN) patients were significantly shorter than those in not-early EN patients (P ＜ 0. 001) and parenteral nutrition (PN) patients (both P ＜ 0. 001). Infection rate (P ＜ 0. 001),morbidity of MODS (P ＜ 0. 001) and mortality (P ＜ 0. 001) were significantly lower than those in not-early EN and PN patients. LOS of patients receiving PN rich in glutamine (Gln) was significantly shorter than that in conventional formula (P = 0. 0000). Morbidity of infection (P= 0. 0252) and MODS (P = 0. 0030), mortality (P =0. 0305) were significantly lower than that of conventional patients. LOS of patients receiving intensive insulin therapy (IIT) was significantly shorter than that of controlled group (P = 0. 0000). Morbidity of infection (P =0. 0001) and MODS (P = 0. 0237) and mortality (P =0. 0427) were significandy lower than those of controlled group. Conclusions Nutritional risk is prevalent among critically ill adult patients. Early EN, PN of rich in Gln,and receiving IIT can shorten LOS, decrease morbidity of infection and MODS, and improve prognosis among these patients.

Objective To discuss the relationship of congenital choledochus cyst(CCC)with occurrence of pancreatitis in adults and methods of surgical treatment.Methods The clinical data of 17 adult patients with congenital choledochus cyst who underwent surgical treatment from 1997-2005 were analyzed retrospectively.Results Clinical diagnosis was made mainly by B-ultrasound,MRCP,intraoperative cholangiography,ERCP and CT scans.Among 17 cases,10 cases were congenital choledochus cyst typeⅠ,4 cases type Ⅱ,1 case type Ⅲ,1 case type Ⅳ and 1 case type Ⅴ;and associated with cholelithiasis in 14 cases(bile pigment stone in 11cases,cholesterol calculus 3cases),chronic cholecytitis 5 cases,polypoid lesions of gallbladder 1 case,anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction(APBJ)10 cases,and pancreatitis 10 cases.Resection of extrahepatic cyst with Roux-y hepaticojejunostimy was performed in 15 cases,preserving pylorus pancreatoduodinectomy in 1 case,and cholecystectomy and T tube drainage in 1 case.Excellent and good results were achieved on follow-up in 14 out of the 17 CCC cases undergoing surgical treatment,while pancreatitis occurred in 2 cases and unexpected death in 1 case.Conclusions Pancreatitis is apt to occurr in CCC with APBJ and bile pigment stone in choledochus.The incidence of pancreatitis in CCC and APBJ(P-B)can be decreased by resection of extrahepatic cyst and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostimy and cholecystectomy.