Objective To observe the lung protection of Astragalus membranaceus against radiotherapy to intermediate-stage and terminal thoracic neoplasm, and its influence on TNF-α and ET expression.Methods The patients with intermediate-stage and terminal thoracic neoplasm under radiotherapy were divided into a treatment group and a control group.Patients in the treatment group took 10 ml of Asragalus membranaceus twice a day.for consecutive 6 months from the beginning of radio therapy.TNF-α and ET in the plasma were measured before and after the radiotherapy.The clinical symptom,iconographic changes and lung diffusion were observed from the 15th day of radiotherapy.Results The TNF-α and ET in plasma afterthe radiotherapy were(2.48±0.75)as/ml and(69.32±23.03)pg/ml for the treatment group,and(5.12±1.01)ns/ml and(97.87±37.83)pg/ml for the control group with the statistial difference(x2=7.49,6.57,P<0.001).The decrease of CO diffusion 5 and 10 months after the radiotherapy in the treatment group was statistically different compared with that in the control group(x2=3.98,3.78,P<0.05).There was a statistical difference of the incidence of acute radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis between these two groups(P<0.05).Conclusions Astragalus membranaceus could inhibit the excess expression of TNF-α and ET in plasma and reduce the deterioration of diffusion after radiotherapy,so that it can be used for intervention of lung injuries from radiotherapy.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for acute radiation esophagitis andpneumonitis after radiation therapy in esophageal cancer (EC) patients with diabetes or hypertension.Methods A total of 373 EC patients receiving three dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were included in this study.Among these patients,42 showed concurrent with diabetes and 99 with hypertension.Radiation esophagitis or pneumonitis in patients with or without diabetes,and with or without hypertension were monitored in the 1-year follow up,respectively.Results The prevalence of grade 1,2,3 and 4 radiation esophagitis in diabetes and non-diabetes patients was 40.5％,38.1％,14.3％,4.8％ and 66.2％,27.8％,2.7％,1.8％,respectively,while that of the grade 1,2 and 3 radiation pneumonitis in diabetes and non-diabetes patients was 31.0％,16.7％,9.5％ and 30.8％,15.7％,1.2％,respectively.The prevalence of grade 3 or above radiation esophagitis and pneumonitis in patients with diabetes and was significantly higher than those with non-diabetes (x2 =13.573,12.279,P ＜ 0.05).The prevalence of grade 1,2,3 and 4 radiation esophagitis in hypertension and non-hypertension patients was 49.5％,38.4％,8.1％,3.0％ and 68.2％,25.5％,2.6％,1.8％,respectively,while that of the grade 1,2 and 3 radiation pneumonitis in hypertension and non-hypertension patients were 30.3％,18.2％,5.1％ and 31.0％,15.0％,1.1％,respectively.The prevalence of grade 3 or above radiation esophagitis and pneumonitis in patients with hypertension was significantly higher than those with non-hypertension (x2 =5.695、5.422,P ＜ 0.05).Diabetes is an independent risk factor for grade 3 or above acute radiation esophagitis and pneumonitis.Conclusions Diabetes or hypertension might be risk factors for severe radiation esophagitis and pneumonitis in EC patients receiving radiation therapy.