Objective To explore the correction of beam trajectories in the presence of fringe fields in magnetic resonance imaging-guided proton therapy and dose changes in the body before and after correction.Methods The open-source treatment planning software matRad was used to design plans for brain tumor,liver tumor,and prostate cancer cases,and simulation studies were conducted in the Monte Carlo simulation toolkit TOPAS to calculate proton dose distribution.A proton beam trajectory correction model suitable for three-dimensional magnetic fields was established,and a beam trajectory correction algorithm was developed.The deflection of the proton Bragg peak in the presence of fringe fields was analyzed.Furthermore,3 treatment plans were simulated and dose correction was carried out when the fringe field existed.Gamma analysis method is used to evaluate the correction effect;and the dose changes in the target area and organs-at-risk after correction were quantitatively analyzed.Results The perturbation of the magnetic field would cause lateral deflection of the proton beam trajectory,and the presence of fringe fields would significantly increase this effect,which increased with the increasing of beam energy.When the fringe field existed,the treatment plans for brain tumor,liver tumor,and prostate cancer were corrected.Under the 3%/3 mm criterion,the gamma passing rates for target area were 94.844%,92.054%,and 97.863%,respectively,and after correction,the total dose in the body was increased by 2.8%,2.5%,and 1.5%,respectively.The increased dose was mainly contributed by incident protons.Conclusion In magnetic resonance imaging-guided proton therapy,the effects of fringe fields should be considered.The increase in incident proton beam energy after correction will lead to an increase in the total dose in the body.Since the beam trajectory still has curvature,the dose changes differently in different organs-at-risk.

AIM To optimize the processing technology of red Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and evaluate its blood tonifying activity.METHODS On the basis of a single factor experiment,with steaming temperature,steaming time,drying temperature,and drying time as influencing factors,the total contents of notoginsenoside R1,ginsenoside Rg1,Rb1,Rk3,Rh4,and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 as evaluation indicators,Box-Behnken response surface method ology was used to optimize the processing technology.Upon the anemic mouse models jointly induced by 1-acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine(APH)and cyclophosphamide(CTX),the investigation of the blood tonifying activity of red Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma was carried out in contrast to that of the steamed Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.RESULTS The optimal conditions,contributing saponin content of 8.326%and RSD of 0.087%,were determined as follows:steaming temperature of 130℃,steaming time of 4 hours,drying temperature of 60℃,and drying time of 48 h.The pharmacological activity revealed that the different processing techniques were responsible for the different blood enriching activity of notoginseng,with red Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma displaying a better efficacy than that of steamed Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.CONCLUSION This stable and feasible method can be used to control the production of red Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 613 cases of neonatal asphyxia treated in 20 cooperative hospitals in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture from January to December 2019 as the asphyxia group, and 988 randomly selected non-asphyxia neonates born and admitted to the neonatology department of these hospitals during the same period as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for neonatal asphyxia. R software (4.2.2) was used to establish a nomogram model. Receiver operator characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, respectively. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that minority (Tujia), male sex, premature birth, congenital malformations, abnormal fetal position, intrauterine distress, maternal occupation as a farmer, education level below high school, fewer than 9 prenatal check-ups, threatened abortion, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal amniotic fluid, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, emergency caesarean section, and assisted delivery were independent risk factors for neonatal asphyxia (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia based on these risk factors was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.723-0.772). The calibration curve indicated high accuracy of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. The decision curve analysis showed that the model could provide a higher net benefit for neonates at risk of asphyxia. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are multifactorial, and the nomogram model based on these factors has good value in predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, which can help clinicians identify neonates at high risk of asphyxia early, and reduce the incidence of neonatal asphyxia.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Cesarean Section ; Risk Factors ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/etiology*

Objective: To explore the relationship of physical activity and sedentary leisure time with muscle mass, strength, and quality in Chinese adults. Methods: Based on the second resurvey of China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) in 2013-2014, logistic regression models were used to analyze the correlation of physical activity and sedentary leisure time with low muscle mass, grip strength, and muscle quality. Results: A total of 24 245 participants were included in the analysis. The average daily physical activity level was (18.3±13.8) MET-h/d, and the sedentary leisure time was (4.4±1.9) hours. We took the lowest physical activity quartile as the reference and found that the participants' physical activity was negatively correlated to low muscle mass, strength, and quality. The ORs (95%CIs) of low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), low total skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI), low grip strength and low arm muscle quality (AMQ) were 0.68 (0.60-0.77), 0.66 (0.58-0.75), 0.82 (0.72-0.94) and 0.84 (0.74-0.95), respectively. The subtypes of physical activity, including those related to work, transportation, housework, and leisure, also showed negative correlations with low muscle mass, strength, and quality to varying degrees. Compared with participants with the shortest sedentary leisure time, those who had the longest were more likely to have low TSMI (OR=1.13, 95%CI: 0.99-1.30). Conclusions: Physical activity was negatively correlated with a lower risk of low muscle mass and strength, while longer sedentary leisure time positively correlated with low muscle mass.
Adult ; China ; Exercise ; Humans ; Leisure Activities ; Muscles ; Sedentary Behavior

Objective: To explore the relationship of sleep duration and insomnia with muscle mass, strength, and quality in Chinese adults. Methods: Based on the second resurvey of China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) in 2013-2014, logistic regression models were used to analyze the correlation of sleep duration, insomnia, and its duration with low muscle mass, handgrip strength, and muscle quality. Results: The average sleep duration of the study population was (7.4±1.5) hours. Morbidities of short sleep duration (<6 hours), long sleep duration (≥9 hours), and insomnia were 9.3%,17.4%,and 29.9%,respectively. Compared with those who slept for 7- hours, those who slept for ≥9 hours were more likely to have low muscle mass, low handgrip strength,and low arm muscle quality (AMQ), and the OR (95%CI) of low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), low total skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI), low grip strength and low AMQ were 1.32 (1.18-1.48),1.26 (1.13-1.41), 1.33 (1.18-1.49) and 1.16 (1.03-1.30), respectively. Compared with participants without insomnia, insomnia patients were more likely to have low muscle mass,and the longer the duration of insomnia,the higher the risk (P for trend <0.001). Participants who reported <6 hours sleep duration and insomnia had a higher proportion of low ASMI and low TSMI,compared with those who slept for 7- hours and without insomnia, the OR (95%CI) were 1.26 (1.08-1.47) and 1.25 (1.07-1.46), respectively. Conclusions: Participants who reported ≥9 hours sleep duration were more likely to have low muscle mass,low handgrip strength,and low AMQ. Participants with insomnia had lower muscle mass, and the longer the duration of insomnia, the higher the proportion of low ASMI and low TSMI.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Muscles ; Sleep/physiology* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology*

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) involving larynx and trachea. Methods: A total of 1 436 cases of thyroid malignant tumors were admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from 2004 to 2019, including 110 cases of PTC involving larynx and trachea, and of which 105 cases with complete follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 42 males and 63 females, with a male/female ratio of 1∶1.5, aged from 28 to 81 years. All lesions involved trachea, including 11 cases involving both trachea and larynx. Of those 83 cases underwent laryngeal and airway wall tumor excision, and 22 cases underwent radical tumor excision plus laryngeal and trachea repair. Extubation rate was analyzed and the postoperative survival curve of patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Among 105 cases, 16 cases underwent tracheotomy and 12 cases were successfully extubated. The overall 3- 5- and 10-year survival rates were 100.0%, 86.4% and 72.5%, and the disease-free survival rates were 93.1%, 81.6% and 57.7%, respectively. There was significant difference in survival curve between the two groups (χ²=4.21, P=0.040). The 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 94.6% and 77.3% in laryngeal and tracheal tumor exclusion group, and 85.7% and 51.4% in the radical tumor resection group. There was no significant difference in the survival curves between the two groups (χ²=3.50, P=0.061). Conclusion: PTC patients with laryngeal and tracheal involvement can achieve long survival and good quality of life through reasonable surgical treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Larynx/surgery* ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology* ; Trachea/surgery*

BACKGROUND: Previously, we developed a novel Coronary Artery Tree description and Lesion EvaluaTion (CatLet©) angiographic scoring system, which was capable of accounting for the variability in the coronary anatomy and assisting in the risk-stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our preliminary study revealed that the CatLet score better predicted clinical outcomes for AMI patients than the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score. However, the reproducibility of the CatLet score in both inter- and intra-observer remains to be evaluated. METHODS: A total of 30 consecutive AMI patients, admitted in September of 2015, were independently assessed by two experienced interventional cardiologists to evaluate the inter-observer reproducibility of the CatLet score. Another set of 49 consecutive AMI patients, admitted between September and October in 2014, were assessed by one of the two interventional cardiologists on two occasions 3 months apart to evaluate the intra-observer reproducibility of the CatLet score. The weighted kappa was used to express the degree of agreement. RESULTS: The weighted kappa values (95% confidence interval) for the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the CatLet Score were 0.82 (0.59-1.00, Z = 7.23, P < 0.001) and 0.86 (0.54-1.00, Z = 5.20, P < 0.001), respectively, according to the tertile analysis (≤14, 15-22, >22). Regarding the adverse characteristics pertinent to lesions and dominance parameters, the kappa values for the inter-observer variability were 0.80 (0.56-1.00, Z = 6.47, P < 0.001) for total number of lesions, 0.57 (0.28-0.85, Z = 3.03, P < 0.001) for bifurcation, 0.69 (0.43-0.96, Z = 5.06, P < 0.001) for heavy calcification, 1.00 (0.72-1.00, Z = 6.93, P < 0.001) for tortuosity, 0.54 (0.26-0.82, Z = 3.78, P < 0.001) for thrombus, 0.69 (0.48-0.91, Z = 6.29, P < 0.001) for right coronary artery dominance, 0.69 (0.41-0.96, Z = 4.91, P < 0.001) for left anterior descending artery length, and 0.22 (0.06-0.51, Z = 1.56, P = 0.06) for diagonal size. Equivalent values for the intra-observer variability were moderate to almost perfect (range 0.54-1.00). CONCLUSIONS The reproducibility of the CatLet angiographic scoring system for evaluation of the coronary angiograms ranged from substantial to excellent. The high reproducibility of the CatLet angiographic scoring system will boost its clinical application to patients with AMI.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnostic imaging* ; Observer Variation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Treatment Outcome ; Trees

Objective:To explore the effect of standardized patients stimulation combined with microteaching method in clinical teaching practice of students majored in rehabilitation therapy. Methods:From March, 2017 to March, 2018, 47 students majored in rehabilitation therapy in our department were selected with convenience sampling. Then they were randomly divided into control group (n = 23) and experimental group (n = 24). The control group received routine teaching method, while the experimental group received standardized patients stimulation combined with microteaching method. Their theoretical achievement, practical skills achievement and feedback on teaching effect were compared after this course. Results:The theoretical scores and practical skills scores were higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.366, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the scores were higher in the experimental group than in the control group in the following aspects: the design capability of rehabilitation treatment program, the capability of selection of rehabilitation assessment tools, the communication and expression ability, learning enthusiasm and initiative, and the ability to relate theory to practice (t > 2.082, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Standardized patients simulation combined with microteaching method could improve the clinical practice effect of students majored in rehabilitation therapy.

Objectives: To investigate whether remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) applied to patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could affect circulating miR-208b level or not. Methods:Patients diagnosed with STEMI undergoing PCI from January 2016 to July 2017 were enrolled from the Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University.The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: (1) control group (n=25), PCI alone; (2) RIC group (n=50), PCI combined with RIC (three cycles of 5 min inflation and 5 min deflation of the right lower limb with blood pressure cuff performed before reperfusion). Serum miR-208b was measured before and immediately, at 24 h, and 48 h after PCI with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The expression of miR-208b was significantly higher immediately post PCI than that before operation in the control group (84.1±9.0 vs 77.8±9.4; P=0.032), while it was significantly lower immediately post PCI than that before operationin RIC group (71.0±9.3 vs 77.4±8.8; P=0.028).miR-208b level was similar before PCI between the control and RIC groups (P=0.874), which was significantly reduced immediately post PCI in RIC group as compared with the control group (P=0.021).The peak value of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) in the limb RIC group was significantly lower than that in the control group ([135.2±18.6] U/L vs [167.7±17.2] U/L; P=0.038).The area under the CK-MB curve of the RIC group was significantly smaller than that of the control group ([3 060.7±17.1] U/L vs [3 635.9±15.1] U/L); P=0.047]. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in RIC group was significantly higher than that in the control group ([57.8±7.8]% vs [51.9±7.9]%; P=0.003) post PCI. The expression level of serum miR-208b was positively correlated with CK-MB AUC in RIC group (r=0.498, P<0.001). Conclusions: RIC of the lower limb prior to PCI could reduce miR-208b level and improve cardiac functionin STEMI patients.

Objective:To explore the role of sympathetic adrenal medulla system,vascular endothelial function and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)in the pathogenesis of hypertension caused by obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods:A total of 42 OSAHS patients with hypertension (OSAHS + hypertension group)were selected,and they received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)treatment for six months.An-other 50 OSAHS patients without hypertension and no received CPAP treatment were regarded as pure OSAHS group.Levels of norepinephrine (NE),24h urine vanillyl mandalic acid (VMA),nitric oxide (NO),endothelin-1 (ET-1),angiotensin Ⅱ (AngII)and aldosterone before and after treatment were compared in OSAHS + hyperten-sion group,and they were compared with those of pure OSAHS group.Results:① Compared with pure OSAHS group and before treatment in OSAHS + hypertension group,there were significant rise in levels of NE [(3.0± 1.4)ng/ml vs.(4.1± 1.7)ng/ml,(3.7 ± 1.5)ng/ml],ET-1 [(56.7 ± 12.6)pg/ml vs.(66.3 ± 14.7)pg/ml, (63.2±13.8)pg/ml],AngⅡ [(38.2±6.7)pg/ml vs.(45.7±8.5)pg/ml,(42.1 ±7.6)pg/ml]and aldosterone [(148±12)ng/L vs.(162±16)ng/L,(154±15)ng/L],and significant reduction in NO level [(63.7±11.8)μmol/L vs.(56.2 ±8.4)μmol/L,(59.1 ±9.3)μmol/L]after treatment in OSAHS + hypertension group,P <0.05 or <0.01,but there was no significant difference in 24h urine VMA level,P >0.05 both;②Compared with before treatment,there were significant reductions in levels of NE,ET-1 and AngII after treatment in OSAHS +hypertension group (P <0.05 or <0.01),but there were no significant difference in levels of 24h urine VMA,NO and aldosterone,P >0.05 all.Conclusion:Sympathetic adrenal medulla system,renin-angiotensin-aldosterone sys-tem and vascular endothelial function may be involved in incidence of hypertension in OSAHS patients.