Objective To compare the accuracy and feasibility among CT, MR, and CT-MR image fusion technology in the delineation of gross target volume (GTV) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Thirty-six consecutive patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent NPC were enrolled. Each pa-tient underwent both CT and MR scanning in the same treatment position. Several lead marks were made at the exactly same locations of the body surface before CT and MR scanning. The two sets of images were then transferred to the Tomcon workstation for image fusion. CT-MR image registration was performed using Land-Mark methods. GTV of each patient was contoured on CT (GTV_(CT)), MR (GTV_(MR)) and CT-MR (GTV_(CT-MR)) images. Results The mean GTV_(CT), GTV_(MR) and GTV_(CT-MR) were 27.60 cm~3, 30.99 cm~3 and 31.71 cm~3, respectively (F = 7.48, P = 0.001). Significant difference was found between GTV_(CT) and GTV_(MR) (q =2.54,P=0.016), GTV_(CT) and GTV_(CT-MR) (q =3.10,P =0.004), but not GTV_(MR) and GTV_(CT-MR) (q = 1.31 ,P = 0. 199). Significant difference among GTV_(CT), GTV_(MR) and GTV_(CT-MR) was found in patients with skull base invasion (35.65, 42.70 and 44.22 cm~3 ; F = 14. 13, P = 0. 000), but not in those without skull base invasion (20.79 cm~3, 20.46 cm~3 and 21.18 cm~3 ; F = 0.18, P = 0.832). Significant difference between GTV_(CT) and GTV_(CT-MR) was found in patients with T_3 and T_4 tumor (t = -2.17,P =0. 036), but not in those with T_1 and T_2 (t = -0.66 ,P = 0.514). Conclusions CT-MR image fusion is helpful in GTV de-lineation for NPC, particularly for patients with skull base invasion.

Objective To evaluate the short-term effect of drug-coated balloon (DCB) with paclitaxel in treating in-stent restenosis (ISR) of femoral popliteal artery.Methods A total of 18 patients with femoral popliteal artery ISR,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from June 2016 to December 2016 to receive paclitaxel DCB treatment,were enrolled in this study.The patients included 15 males and 3 females,with a mean age of (72.7±9.8) years old.According to Fontaine classification,grade Ⅱ B was seen in 9 patients,grade Ⅲ in 8 patients,and grade Ⅳ in one patient.Preoperative CT angiography showed that ISR could be confirmed in 3 patients and complete occlusion of the stent in 15 patients.After the diseased artery was re-opened,pre-dilatation with common balloon was conducted,which was followed by dilatation with paclitaxel DCB;remedial stent implantation was carried out when the restrictive dissection was observed or if the residual stenosis was beyond 50％.Angiography was performed immediately after the procedure to check the vascular patency.On the third day afterthe treatment,the ankle-brachial index (ABI) of diseased lower extremity was determined to assess the improvement of ischemia.Three month after the treatment,the patients were followed up to detemine the incidence of restenosis,the clinically-driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate,and the occurrence of serious clinical events within 3 months.Results Successful re-opening of the diseased artery was achieved in all 18 patients,the technical success rate was 100％.At 3 months after the treatment,the restenosis rate and TLR rate were 10％ (1/10) and 6.67％ (1/15) respectively.No procedure-related complications occurred in all patients.Conclusion For the treatment of femoral popliteal artery ISR,the use of paclitaxel DCB is safe and effective.

Objective:To compare the similarities and differences of clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative and HIV-positive patients with talaromycosis marneffei (TSM).Methods:The clinical data of 175 inpatients diagnosed with TSM in First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from May 2012 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group according to the results of HIV confirmation test. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examination indicators (white blood cell count, hemoglobin, albumin, CD4 + T lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP)) between the two groups were compared. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 175 TSM patients, 85 were HIV-positive and 90 were HIV-negative patients. The main clinical manifestations of fever and lymphadenopathy in the HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group were 71 (83.53%) cases and 73 (81.11%) cases, 50 (58.82%) cases and 47 (52.22%) cases, respectively, and there were both no statistical differences ( χ2=0.175 and 0.771, respectively, both P>0.05), while respiratory symptoms, weight loss and subcutaneous masses were 62 (72.94%) cases and 81 (90.00%) cases, 73 (85.88%) cases and 56 (62.22%) cases, one (1.18%) case and 16 (17.78%) cases, respectively, the differences were all statistically significant ( χ2=8.514, 12.630 and 13.737, respectively, all P<0.01). Hemoglobin in HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group were 90.50 (77.00, 113.95) g/L and 88.65 (72.85, 99.93) g/L, respectively. The difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.023, P=0.043). The ratios of albumin<30 g/L, CRP>10 mg/L in the two groups were 69.41%(59/85) and 60.00%(54/90), 94.37%(67/71) and 94.19%(81/86), respectively, and the differences were both not statistically significant ( χ2=1.693 and 0, respectively, both P>0.05). The ratios of cases with white blood cell counts >10×10 9/L and CD4 + T lymphocyte count<50/μL in the positive and negative groups were 3.53%(3/85) and 81.11%(73/90), 80.77%(63/78) and 1.75%(1/57), respectively, the differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=107.095 and 82.467, respectively, both P<0.01). Conclusions:In TSM patients, HIV-negative with subcutaneous masses, and increased white blood cell counts are common. Decreased body weight and CD4 + T lymphocyte count<50/μL in HIV-positive patients are more common than HIV-negative patients.

Objective To compare the effects of biphasic square waveform (BSW) with low or high energy on external defibrillation.Method Adult swine model of closed chest ventricular fibrillation induced by electricity was established.Eighteen swine,weighing (30?3.3) kg were randomly divided into three groups:50-50-50 J group (n=6),30-50-75 J group (n=6),120-150-200 J (n=6).After three minutes of ventricular fibrillation without treatment,the pigs in the three groups were defibrillated accordance to the above sequences. Results 30 J BSW didn't succed to external defibrillate.The first defibrillation successful rate of 50 J and 120 J BSW was 5/6.The total defibrillation successful rate of every group was 100%.All pigs quickly had spontaneous circulation after defibrillation and survived more than 24 hours.ST-T change of low-energy was less than that of high-energy.After resuscitation,myocardial function decreased,but there had not significant differences between groups.Conclusions In the study,30J BSW could not reach successful defibrillation,and 50 J and 120 J BSW had similar defibrillation efficacy.The ideal energy of BSW external defibrillation was 50 J.

To explore a new method for identification of Mongolian patent medicine (MPM) by PCR amplification of specific alleles. Eight kinds of MPM were used to study the identification of "Digeda" raw materials. The total DNA of Lomatogonium rotatum and Corydalis bungeana samples were extracted through modified CTAB method, psbA-trnH sequence was amplified by PCR and sequenced directionally. Specific primer was designed. The DNA of 8 kinds of MPM also was extracted and purified by the commercial DNA purification kits. The rbcL and two pair of specific primers sequences were amplified. The specific amplified products were sequenced in forward directions. All specific sequences were aligned and were analyzed. The results indicated that L rotatum can be identified by specific primers from Digeda-4 Tang, Digeda-8 San, Digeda-4 San, and C. bungeana medicinal materials can be identified by specific primers from Li Dan Ba Wei San, Yi He Ha Ri-12 and A Ga Ri-35. PCR amplification of specific alleles can stably and accurately distinguish raw medicinal materials in MPM.
Alleles ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

To explore the growth and development and analyze the quality of the parthenocarpy fruit induced by exogenous hormones of Siraitia grosvenorii. the horizontal and vertical diameter, volume of the fruit were respectively measured by morphological and the content of endogenous hormones were determined by ELISA. The size and seed and content of mogrosides of mature fruit were determined. The results showed that the fruit of parthenocarpy was seedless and its growth and development is similar to the diploid fruit by hand pollination and triploid fruit by hand pollination or hormones. But the absolute value of horizontal and vertical diameter, volume of parthenocarpy fruit was less than those of fruit by hand pollination, while triploid was opposite. The content of IAA, ABA and ratio of ABA/GA was obviously wavy. At 0-30 d the content of IAA and ABA of parthenocarpy fruit first reduced then increased, content of IAA and GA parthenocarpy fruit was higher than that of fruit by hand pollination. Mogrosides of parthenocarpy fruit was close to pollination fruit. Hormones can induce S. grosvenorii parthenocarpy to get seedless fruit and the fruit shape and size and quality is close to normal diploid fruit by hand pollination and better than triploid fruit by hormone or hand pollination.
Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Diploidy ; Fruit ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the administration of far lateral craniocervical approach in the jugular foramen (JF) tumors.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed in 14 cases of JF tumors (9 neurilemmomas, 3 meningiomas, 1 glomus jugulare tumor, and 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma) surgically treated between January 2009 and January 2012, with focus on the surgical approach. Six patients (6/14) showed hydrocephalus. The tumor type was composed of 5 intracranial and intraforamen tumors with patent or occluded jugular bulb, 1 intracranial tumor with extension into the upper cervical canal, 4 extracranial and intra foramen tumors, 4 intra- and extracranial dumbbell-shaped communicating tumors involving the parapharyngeal space above C2 or extending caudally below C3. Far lateral postcondylar approach (FLPC) was carried out in 2 cases, far lateral tansjugular process approach (FLTJP) in 3 cases, combined FLPC + C1-2 semi-laminectomy approach in 1 case, combined FLTJP + trans-C1 transverse process approach in 7 cases, and combined FLTJP + neck approach with dissection of carotid sheath to the skull base in 1 case. Endovascular embolotherapy prior to surgical resection was performed in 1 glomus jugulare tumor.

RESULTSTotal tumor removal was achieved in 12 patients and subtotal removal in 2 patients, with no cerebrospinal fluid leakage or operative mortality. New cranial nerve paresis occurred after surgery in 1 case of facial nerve and 1 case of lower cranial nerve. Transient worsening of preoperative lower cranial nerve deficits was noted in 3 patients. Long-term follow-up study ranging from 5 to 32 months (average 13.7 months) showed 7 patients with lower cranial nerve deficits (6 preexisting and 1 new), with exception of one preoperative lower cranial nerve dysfunction due to the infiltration of an adenoid cystic carcinoma, experienced favorable improvement with recovery of adequate swallowing function, but voice disturbance remained in 4 cases. One patient with new facial nerve deficit presented with partial improvement and the hydrocephalus in 6 patients all spontaneously regressed. There was no tumor recurrence in patients receiving total removal and no tumor progression in patients undergoing subtotal removal.

CONCLUSIONSFLTJP is a basic approach for JF tumors. The combined cranial and cervical approach should be considered in those tumors extending into the upper cervical canal and parapharyngeal space. The associated hydrocephalus seldom requires additional surgical management.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomus Jugulare Tumor ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Base ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of CT perfusion (CTP) imaging for providing quantitative information about angiogenesis in patients with lung carcinoma and investigate the correlation of CTP enhancement parameters and histological microvessel density (MVD) with lymphatic involvement in peripheral lung carcinoma. MethodsFifty-three patients with pathology-proved peripheral lung carcinoma underwent CT perfusion scan before operation. The enhancement parameters of CTP were calculated based on the time-density curves (TDC) of fist pass phase. All cases were classified into two groups according to pathologic results: tumor with and without lymph node involvement. Two-sample t test was used for the statistics. The ROC curve was used to assess the efficiency of the enhancement parameters of CT perfusion and MVD for predicting lymphatic involvement.Results Tumors with lymph node involvement had significantly higher value of MVD than those without lymph node involvement (64.69±16.34 and 42.67± 16.78, respectively,t=4.84,P<0.01). Tumors with lymph node involvement had significantly higher value of CTP enhancement parameters (PH, M/A, PV) than those without lymph node involvement [PH= (41.79±15.50) and (29.99±10.91) HU,M/A =0.24±0.09 and 0.15±0.06, PV=(2.14±1.09) and (1.27±0.53) ml·min~(-1)·ml~(-1), t=3.21,3.95, 3.66, P<0.01, respectively]. The CTP enhancement parameters (PH, M/A, PV) of lung cancer correlated positively with the MVD, the highest correlation coefficient was between the PV and MVD (r=0.716, P<0.01). MVD and PV had higher values for predicting lymph node involvement in ROC curve analysis.The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for predicting lymph node involvement were 80.8%, 81.5% and 81.1% or 84.6% ,85.2% and 84.9% respectively if MVD>52/0.74 mm~2 or PV>1.52 ml·min~(-1)·ml~(-1). ConclusionThe CT perfusion PV and histological MVD have good correlation with lymph node involvement in peripheral lung carcinoma and are important predicting parameters before operation.

This paper focuses on the indications of acupoints presented in the verses of acupuncture and moxibustion. In order to redress the distorts and misunderstanding occurred during the process of the recording, impartment and re-creation of these verses, this paper proposes several ways for systematizing and studying the indications of acupoints presented in the verses of acupuncture and moxibustion, including: (1) the use of annotation of the verses; (2) comparison between literatures of same origin; (3) tracing the original literature; (4) comparison with acupoint literature; (5) application of digital literature system. This paper illustrates that multi-methods should be adopted in this research, and only by these, it is possible to better understand and inherit the legacy in verses on acupuncture and moxibustion.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion

The expression cDNA library of A. tabescens was constructed by SMART technique, which useλTriplEx2 as a vector. The titer and the percentage of the constructed library were about 1.0 × 106pfu/mland 98.3% respectively, and the titer and the capacity of the amplified library were about 3.1 × 108pfu/mland 4.2 × 1010. The library was used to provide expressed sequence tags (ESTs). 147 Expressed SequenceTaqs (ESTs) were gained from 176 clones, which were selected randomly and sequenced at the 5'end. Thesequences were submitted to the EMBL database. Blasting the sequences in the GenBank, 43 of them werefound that they have significant similarity with data in GenBank. EST AJ620046 was has significantsimilarity with the arabinosidase of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Using SMART-RACE a full-length cDNA ofAJ620046 was successfully obtained. In order to initially characterize the biochemical properties ofAJ620046, the ORF of AJ620046 named AF was cloned and expressed in Pichia Pastoris yeast.Recombinant pHIL-S1-AF constructed by inserting AF into pHIL-S1 was transformed into Pichia PastorisGS115. Preliminary experiments indicated that AJ620046 was expressed as a 32 kDa protein in recombinantyeast.