Postoperative radiotherapy is a major treatment for patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma. However, the irregular resection cavity poses a technical difficulty for this treatment, causing uneven dose distribution to target volumes. In this study, we evaluated the dose distribution to target volumes and normal tissues in postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after placing a water-filled balloon into the resection cavity. Three postoperative patients with advanced maxillary sinus carcinoma were selected in this trial. Water-filled balloons and supporting dental stents were fabricated according to the size of the maxillary resection cavity. Simulation CT scans were performed with or without water-filled balloons, IMRT treatment plans were established, and dose distribution to target volumes and organs at risk were evaluated. Compared to those in the treatment plan without balloons, the dose (D98) delivered to 98% of the gross tumor volume (GTV) increased by 2.1 Gy (P = 0.009), homogeneity index (HI) improved by 2.3% (P = 0.001), and target volume conformity index (TCI) of 68 Gy increased by 18.5% (P = 0.011) in the plan with balloons. Dosimetry endpoints of normal tissues around target regions in both plans were not significantly different (P > 0.05) except for the optic chiasm. In the plan without balloons, 68 Gy high-dose regions did not entirely cover target volumes in the ethmoid sinus, posteromedial wall of the maxillary sinus, or surgical margin of the hard palate. In contrast, 68 Gy high-dose regions entirely covered the GTV in the plan with balloons. These results suggest that placing a water-filled balloon in the resection cavity for postoperative IMRT of maxillary sinus carcinoma can reduce low-dose regions and markedly and simultaneously increase dose homogeneity and conformity of target volumes.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo analyze the feasibility of reverse island flaps pedicled with cutaneous nerve nutrient vessels in repairing the defect on distal parts of extremities.

METHODSThirty patients with tissue defect in distal extremities, complicated by exposed vessels, nerve, tendons, and/or bones ,were repaired with island flaps pedicled with neurocutaneous nutrient vessel. Among them, five cases were grafted with flaps with external forearm cutaneous nerve vessels, eleven cases were grafted with flap containing sural neural nutrient vessels in its pedicle,and 14 cases with saphenous nerve nutrient vessels in the pedicles.

RESULTSThe flaps of 28 cases survived with perfect appearance and function. In one case partial necrosis occurred because of compression on the pedicle, but the patient healed after dressing, and another case with necrosis of the edge of the flap due to infection, but also healed after skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONThe reverse island flaps pedicled with cutaneous nerve nutrient vessels which are constant in anatomy, with reliable blood supply, can be recommended because its simple operative technique, non-injurious to main blood vessels and muscles, the repair of distal defects of the extremities.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Extremities ; injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; innervation ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to investigate the osteogenic potential and possibility of combination application of mimetic osteoinductive periosteum with tissue-engineered bone.

METHODSThe three-dimensional construction of tissue-engineered bone was made by implantation of adipose derived stromal cells (ADSCs) into rhBMP-2 mediated bio-derived carrier, and mimetic periosteum was constructed by loading ADSCs into Cs-Col-beta3-TCP with rhBMP-2. 10 mm defects of right radiuses were established in adult New Zealand rabbits, group A was transplanted by tissue-engineered bone with mimetic periosteum, group B was implanted by tissue-engineered bone, and group C was implanted by mimetic periosteum, group D was transplanted by bio-derived compound bone as blank scaffold. X-ray, histology, immunohistochemistry stain, dural energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations were performed at different periods.

RESULTSGroup A played a predominant role in process of new tissue regeneration and mature bone reconstitution, defect completely healed at 12 weeks. Group B showed primary repair, group C also existed in modeling stage. While, group D displayed retard regeneration with poor osteogenic capacity. DEXA result showed that group A had statistical significance over control group according to data of BMC and BMD ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEnhanced osteogenic potential can be obtained by using tissue-engineered bone with mimetic osteoinductive periosteum. Defect can be healed with concord pattern of osteoinductive and osteopromotive and osteoconductive effects.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Male ; Periosteum ; Rabbits ; Radius ; pathology ; surgery ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

Objective To establish a TaqMan-based multiplex real-time PCR assay for detection of influenza viruses A and B, and the constructed method was primarily applied to clinical samples test.Methods The specific primers and probes were designed in the conserved region of the M and HA gene of influenza viruses A and B, respectively. The reaction conditions were optimized and the sensitivity, specificity and the stab ility of the assay were evaluated. The clinical specimens collected from the patients were detected by this assay. Results For specific detecting the influenza A and B viruses,the detection limits of the assay were 0.1TCID50and 0.01 TCID50. The viral RNA was directly detected from the clinical specimens by this assay. Only three hours were needed for viral RNA extraction and real-time PCR amplification.Conclusion This assay is a rapid, sensitive and specific one for simultaneous detection of influenza viruses A and B.

Objective The purpose of this study was to develop RT-PCR assay for Rapidly detect and distinguish between Norovirus genogroup Ⅰ and genogroup Ⅱ with a pair of primers.Methods A pairs of primers specific to capsid prote in ORF2 gene of G Ⅰ and G Ⅱ Norovirus were dsigned according to the published complete genome sequence,with which the RNA of Norovirus was extracted and RT-PCR amplification.The sensitivity,specificity of the RT-PCR assay was estimated and apply it to the detection of Norovirus in clinical specimens.Results The results showed that the assay possessed high specificity for Norovirus detection and without any evident cross-reaction with other viruses,including rotavirus,enteric adenovirus and hepatitis A virus.The detection limit of RT-PCR assay for Norovirus G Ⅰ and G Ⅱ were up to 100 pg/ml and 10 pg/ml respectively.Conclusion The RT-PCR assay provide rapid and sensitive detection of Norovirus G Ⅰ and G Ⅱ and should prove to be useful for Norovirus diagnosis in the outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis.

Background:Pioglitazone may be beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis.However,based on the effectiveness and safety considerations,it has not been widely used.To fully evaluate the strength of evidence supporting psoriasis treatment with pioglitazone,we conducted a meta-analysis of existing published studies.Methods:PubMed,Ovid,Cochrane Library,Google Scholar,and Web of Science databases were systematically searched before February 2019.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pioglitazone administration compared with placebo,administered to patients with psoriasis for at least 10 weeks,and published in English were included.Quality of the included RCTs was identified by the modified Jadad scale.The quality of evidence for each outcome was evaluated using the GRADEpro Guideline Development Tool online software.Primary outcomes were proportion of patents showing psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score improvement (＞75％) and the mean percent change in PASI score from baseline to the end of treatment.Dichotomous data were analyzed using odds ratios (ORs) corresponding to the 95％ confidence interval (CI),whereas continuous variables,expressed as mean and standard deviation,were analyzed using the mean differences (MD) with the 95％ CI.Results:Six RCTs were analyzed.Meta-analysis showed that pioglitazone reduced the PASI scores in patients with psoriasis compared with the control group when administered at 30 mg per day (P ＜ 0.001,MD =-3.82,95％ CI =-5.70,-1.93) and at 15 mg per day (P =0.04,MD =-3.53,95％ CI =-6.86,-0.20).The PASI-75 of the pioglitazone group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 30 mg per day (P ＜ 0.001,OR =8.30,95％ CI =3.99,17.27) and at 15 mg per day (P =0.03,OR =2.96,95％ CI =1.08,8.06).No statistically significant differences in total adverse events were observed between the groups.There were no significant differences in common adverse reactions such as weight gain and elevated liver enzymes between the two pioglitazone groups.Conclusions:Use of pioglitazone in the current treatment of psoriasis is beneficial.The therapeutic effect of the daily 30 mg dose may be greater than that of the 15 mg dose per day with no significant change in the frequency of adverse reactions.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with (N2) mediastinal lymph node metastasis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 325 patients with N2 NSCLC treated surgically between 1961 and 1995 were analysed.

RESULTSThe over-all 5-year survival rate was 19.6%. Survival was higher in patients with radical resection than with palliative resection, with squamous-cell carcinoma than with adenocarcinoma, with sleeve lobectomy and pneumonectomy than with regular lobectomy, with 1 to 3 mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes than those over 4, and with adjuvant therapy (chiefly postoperative radiotherapy) than without. All these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no 5-year survivor in patients with T3 or T4 tumor, nor in those with distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that surgery is the best choice for N2 NSCLC patients with T1 or T2 tumor, with non-adenocarcinoma, and with metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes less than 4 in number. Surgery is probably not a good choice in those with T3 tumor varieties. At operation, radical resection of the tumor and systematic removal of all hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes are essential for disease staging and survival improvement. Adjuvant therapy may improve long-term survival and is especially indicated in patients with residual tumor and/or metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes over 3 in number.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of clinical and pathological-morphological parameters on the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSUnivariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to study the influence of clinical and pathological-morphological factors on the prognosis in 226 colorectal carcinoma cases.

RESULTSUsing univariate analysis, data showed that the factors significantly related to disease prognosis would include: the depth of direct spread, vessel invasion, perineural invasion, tumor budding, peritumoral-lymphocytic infiltration, Crohn-like reaction, number of positive lymph nodes, distant metastasis, TNM stage and urine glucose. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that six factors were identified to be associated with higher relative-risk (RR), including: older age, advanced TNM stage, more severe budding, perineural invasion, less peritumoral-lymphocytic infiltration and urine glucose.

CONCLUSIONAge, TNM stage, tumor budding, perineural invasive, peritumoral-lymphocytic infiltration and urine glucose were independent predictors to the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Female ; Glycosuria ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of clinical and pathomorphological parameters on the prognosis of colon carcinoma and rectal carcinoma.

METHODSUnivariate and multivariate COX proportional hazard models were used to study the effects of the clinical and pathomorphological factors on the prognosis in 101 cases of colon carcinoma, 219 of rectal carcinoma and 137 of rectal carcinoma under curative resections.

RESULTBy using univariate analysis, we identified that lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were the common prognostic factors for both colon carcinoma and rectal carcinoma. Smoking, deep infiltration, chemotherapy and serum albumin concentration were the uncertain prognostic factors for colon carcinoma. Signet-ring cell carcinoma, larger tumor size (>6 cm), deep infiltration, lack of radical surgery, and advanced TNM stage were the exclusive adverse prognostic factors for rectal carcinoma. Further studies showed that the adverse prognostic factors for the rectal carcinoma under curative resection included deep infiltration, lymph node metastasis, vessel invasion, less of peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration, lack of Crohn's like reactivity, high level of tumor budding, advanced TNM stage and positive urine glucose. By using multivariate analysis based on a COX proportional hazard model, it was identified that smoking, lymph node metastasis and serum albumin concentration were independent prognostic factors for colon carcinoma; advanced TNM stage, distant metastasis and palliative surgery for rectal carcinoma; and vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis and urine glucose for rectal carcinoma under curative resections.

CONCLUSIONThe various clinical and pathomorphological parameters show different prognostic value for colon carcinoma, rectal carcinoma and rectal carcinoma under curative resections.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVEUp to now surgical treatment has been still the most effective treatment for esophageal cancer. However, postoperative lymph node recurrence is still a frequent event and affects long term survival considerably. The aim of this study is to compare the results of lymph node dissection via left vs. right thoracotomies and to verify whether there is any essential difference in lymphadenectomy between these two approaches.

METHODSFive hundred and fifty-nine cases with thoracic esophageal cancer were randomly selected from the database of esophageal cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital between May 2005 and January 2011, including 282 cases through left thoracotomy and 277 cases through right thoracotomy. This series consisted of 449 males and 110 females with a mean age of 58.8 years (age range: 36 - 78 years). The pathological types were mainly squamous cell carcinoma (548 cases) and other rare types (11 cases). The data were analyzed and compared using Chi-square test. The P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The actual 5-year survival rate was calculated based on the recent follow-up data of the patients who underwent surgery at least 5 years ago.

RESULTSThe average number of dissected lymph nodes was 23.4 via left versus 24.6 via right thoracotomies. The overall lymph node metastasis rate was 48.9% via left thoracotomy and 53.8% via right thoracotomy, and 34.8% vs. 50.5% in the chest (P < 0.001), 29.1% vs. 17.7% in the abdomen (P = 0.001). The pathologically confirmed lymph node metastasis rate was 45.9%, 44.0% and 34.9% in the upper, middle and lower segments of thoracic esophagus, respectively. The lymph node metastasis rates detected via left and right thoracotomy in the stage T1 cases were 14.7% (5/34) vs. 42.9% (12/28) (P < 0.001), and in the stage T2 cases were 35.4% (17/48) vs. 52.8% (28/53) (P = 0.007); in the station of para-thoracic esophagus were 9.6% vs. 13.4%, in the left upper mediastinum were 2.1% vs. 7.6%, and in the right upper mediastinum were 1.4% vs. 26.0%, respectively. The preliminary actual 5-year survival rate was 38.2% in the cases via left thoracotomy vs. 42.1% in those via right thoracotomy.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study demonstrate that lymph node dissection is more complete via right thoracotomy than via left thoracotomy, especially for the tracheoesophageal groove and para-recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes, which may eventually improve the survival of patients with esophageal cancer. Therefore, surgical treatment via right thoracotomy by Ivor-Lewis (two incisions) mode or Levis-Tanner (three incisions) mode with two-field or three-field complete lymph node dissection may become prevalent in the future.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate ; Thoracotomy ; methods