Objective To compare the dosimetric differences of the targets and the OARs in rectal cancer patients between Auto-planning and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT),and explore the advantages of Auto-planning (AP).Methods A total of 10 postoperative radiotherapy rectal cancer patients were selected,whose CT images were used to create AP plan and IMRT plan respectively using Pinnacle3 9.i0 treatment planning system.Through comparing the dose-volume histograms of the two plan types,the differences of the homogeneity index,conformity index and the doses to organs at risk (OARs) were analyzed.Results The AP plans were significantly better (t=-1.36,-3.03,0.37,P＜0.05) in terms of higher D Dmin and lower Dmax.But the differences in D2,Dg5,D98 were insignificant (P＞ 0.05).In the AP plan,the HI values of the target area were significantly reduced,and the CI values were significantly increased (t =1.24,0.10,P＜ 0.05).Significant superior results were found in V40,V50 of bladder,V30,V45,V50 of small intestine,V30,V40 of left and right femoral head (t=-3.21-1.02,P＜ 0.05).AP plans achieved insignificantly lower V30,V45 in bladder,V4o in small intestine and V45 in left and right femoral head than IMRT plan (P＞0.05).Conclusions Compare with IMRT plans,the AP plans for rectal cancer can achieve better homogeneity index,effectively reduce the maximum dose,increase the minimum dose,reduce hot and cold volumes in the target area.Meanwhile,AP plans can also protect the normal tissues better by reducing the dose to the OARs.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of septonasal bidirectional mucoperiosteal flap in the treatment of refractory choanal atresia in adults. METHOD: Analysis of 9 cases for choanal atresia was conducted. Two cases were of congenital origin and 7 cases of acquired origin, which was a complication of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The patients received transnasal endoscopic surgery using the septonasal bidirectional mucoperiosteal flap, without positioning the postoperative expansion tube. After the operation, the changes of symptoms were observed and the recurrent rate of restenosis or atresia was investigated in the follow-up time. RESULT: The symptoms of nasal obstruction and mouth breathing improved significantly in the 9 patients. At an average follow-up time of 19.3 months, the new forming posterior nare remained patent. The mucoperiosteal flap had no shift or necrosis. No restenosis or atresia happened. Nasal adhesion occurred in two patients. Granulation tissue hyperplasia was found in 1 patient, who underwent endoscopic revision without recurrence. CONCLUSION The application of mucoperiosteal flap in transnasal endoscopic surgery for the choanal atresia can reduce the incidence of restenosis or atresia. Postoperative expansion tube is not mandatory.
Adult ; Carcinoma ; Choanal Atresia ; etiology ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; etiology ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Necrosis ; Postoperative Period ; Radiation Injuries ; complications ; Recurrence ; Surgical Flaps ; transplantation

Background: At the therapeutic doses, diclofenac sodium (DFS) has few toxic side effects on mammals. On the other hand, DFS exhibits potent toxicity against birds and the mechanisms remain ambiguous. Objectives: This paper was designed to probe the toxicity of DFS exposure on the hepatic proteome of broiler chickens. Methods: Twenty 30-day-old broiler chickens were randomized evenly into two groups (n = 10).DFS was administered orally at 10 mg/kg body weight in group A, while the chickens in group B were perfused with saline as a control. Histopathological observations, serum biochemical examinations, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the liver injury induced by DFS. Proteomics analysis of the liver samples was conducted using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology. Results: Ultimately, 201 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained, of which 47 were up regulated, and 154 were down regulated. The Gene Ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were conducted to screen target DEPs associated with DFS hepatotoxicity. The regulatory relationships between DEPs and signaling pathways were embodied via a protein-protein interaction network. The results showed that the DEPs enriched in multiple pathways, which might be related to the hepatotoxicity of DFS, were “protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum,” “retinol metabolism,” and “glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism.” Conclusions The hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens might be achieved by inducing the apoptosis of hepatocytes and affecting the metabolism of retinol and purine. The present study could provide molecular insights into the hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens.

This article highlighted the invaluable expertise of Academician TONG Xiaolin in managing severe cases of COVID-19， thereby providing ideas for the treatment of severe and critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection by integrating traditional Chinese and western medicine. It is believed that COVID-19 belongs to the “cold dampness epidemic” in traditional Chinese medicine， which is caused by pathogenic qi of cold and dampness. The course of the disease can be divided into four stages： constraint， block， collapse， and deficiency， and the severe cases are mainly in the block and collapse stages. The pathogenesis at the block stage is described as epidemic toxins blocking the lung， which should be treated by diffusing the lung and unblocking the bowels， resolving phlegm and unblocking collaterals. The primary formula used is Zilong Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction （子龙宣白承气汤） with modifications based on individual condition. The pathogenesis at the collapse stage is described as internal block and external collapse， which should be treated by restoring yang to save from collapse， boosting qi to relieve collapse， diffusing the lung and unblocking the bowels， resolving phlegm and unblocking collaterals， usually with the formula Poge Zilong Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction （破格子龙宣白承气汤） with modifications.

Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis shows a high degree of consistency with the law of transmission among wei （卫）-qi-ying （营）-blood， in terms of the onset of the season， contagiousness， symptoms， pathogenesis， as well as characteristics of the transmission. It is proposed to use epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis as an example to explore the underlying disease of wei-qi-ying-blood syndrome differentiation system. Epidemic meningitis invades the brain from the upper respiratory tract along the nervous system， and its overall pathogenesis follows from entering the lung system （prodromal period） to entering the blood （bacteremia period， sepsis period） and then entering the brain （shock period）. According to the four-dimensional qualitative principle of epidemic pathogen tropism， it corresponds to disease of both wei and qi syndrome， then blazing of both qi and ying syndrome， and then heat blocking pericardium， exuberant heat stirring wind， and internal block and external collapse syndrome. This article explored the laws of transmission among wei-qi-ying-blood and its underlying diseases described in On Warm Heat （《温热论》）， and revealed the original appearance of the disease model under the laws of transmission among wei-qi-ying-blood to guide the clinical practice.

Objective To compare the dosimetric characteristics of non-coplanar and coplanar field technology in static intensity-modulated radiotherapy of gastric cancer patients, so as to provide a reference for clinical radiotherapy plan selection. Methods Thirty-six patients with gastric cancer were selected to receive intensity-modulated radiotherapy in Huanggang Central Hospital, which was designed plan A and B. Group A used 7-field coplanar technology, while Group B used 7-field non-coplanar technology. We compared the differences of the optimized monitor unit, the dosimetry of organs at risk and target areas between group A and group B. Results Both group A and B could meet the requirements of doctors. The homogeneity index (0.14 ± 0.02), the conformity index (0.98 ± 0.01), D_min (4315.21 ± 16.74) cGy、D_mean (4679.28 ± 28.39) cGy and D_max(4952.30 ± 33.26) cGy of target areas in group B were better than those of group A. Moreover, the monitor unit of group B was much lower than that of group A, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The D_max, D_mean, V₁₅, V₂₀ and V₃₀ of the left and right kidneys in group B were lower than those of group A. The D_max (3408.57 ± 46.03) cGy, D_mean (1250.32 ± 14.27) cGy and V₂₀ (44.91% ± 6.67%) of spinal cord and the D_max (3408.57 ± 46.03) cGy, D_mean (1720.55 ± 17.42) cGy, V₂₀ (25.31% ± 7.78%) and V₃₀ (18.52% ± 1.56%) of small intestine were also lower than those of group A. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The non-coplanar field radiation plan has more advantages in terms of target dose distribution and protection of organs so that it can be more considerably used in the process of planning and design.

China ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Influenza, Human ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis are major pathological manifestations observed in left ventricular remodeling induced by angiotensin II (AngII). Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been reported to ameliorate cardiac dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis in myocardial infarction (MI) through mechano-transduction and its downstream pathways. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether LIPUS could exert a protective effect by ameliorating AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis and if so, to further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: We used AngII to mimic animal and cell culture models of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. LIPUS irradiation was applied in vivo for 20 min every 2 d from one week before mini-pump implantation to four weeks after mini-pump implantation, and in vitro for 20 min on each of two occasions 6 h apart. Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis levels were then evaluated by echocardiographic, histopathological, and molecular biological methods. RESULTS: Our results showed that LIPUS could ameliorate left ventricular remodeling in vivo and cardiac fibrosis in vitro by reducing AngII-induced release of inflammatory cytokines, but the protective effects on cardiac hypertrophy were limited in vitro. Given that LIPUS increased the expression of caveolin-1 in response to mechanical stimulation, we inhibited caveolin-1 activity with pyrazolopyrimidine 2 (pp2) in vivo and in vitro. LIPUS-induced downregulation of inflammation was reversed and the anti-fibrotic effects of LIPUS were absent. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that LIPUS could ameliorate AngII-induced cardiac fibrosis by alleviating inflammation via a caveolin-1-dependent pathway, providing new insights for the development of novel therapeutic apparatus in clinical practice.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China. The integration of Chinese and Western medicine is an important feature of Chinese COVID-19 prevention and treatment. According to a series of evidence-based studies, TCM can reduce the infection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in high-risk groups. For patients with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19, TCM can relieve the related signs and symptoms, shorten the period of nucleic-acid negative conversion, and reduce conversion rate to the severe form of the disease. For COVID-19 patients with severe and critical illnesses, TCM can improve inflammatory indicators and blood oxygen saturation, shorten the hospital stay, and reduce the mortality rate. During recovery, TCM can improve patients' symptoms, promote organ function recovery, boost the quality of patients' life, and reduce the nucleic-acid repositive conversion rate. A series of mechanism research studies revealed that capability of TCM to treat COVID-19 through antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, and protection of organ function via a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway approach.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Epidemics

Interleukin (IL)-17A, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is a fundamental function in the onset and advancement of multiple immune diseases. To uncover the primary compounds with IL-17A inhibitory activity, a large-scale screening of the library of traditional Chinese medicine constituents and microbial secondary metabolites was conducted using splenic cells from IL-17A-GFP reporter mice cultured under Th17-priming conditions. Our results indicated that some aureane-type sesquiterpene tetraketides isolated from a wetland mud-derived fungus, Myrothecium gramineum, showed remarkable IL-17A inhibitory activity. Nine new aureane-type sesquiterpene tetraketides, myrogramins A-I ( 1, 4- 11), and two known ones ( 2 and 3) were isolated and identified from the strain. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 10, and 11 exhibited significant IL-17A inhibitory activity. Among them, compound 3, with a high fermentation yield dose-dependently inhibited the generation of IL-17A and suppressed glycolysis in splenic cells under Th17-priming conditions. Strikingly, compound 3 suppressed immunopathology in both IL-17A-mediated animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and pulmonary hypertension. Our results revealed that aureane-type sesquiterpene tetraketides are a novel class of immunomodulators with IL-17A inhibitory activity, and hold great promise applications in treating IL-17A-mediated immune diseases.