Based on the comprehensive studies in the past years, the authors reviewed important findings on biology, especially the resting habits, of the four major species of sandflies transmitting visceral leishmaniasis. The effective ways for sandfly control were also discussed.

ObjectiveTo describe the morphological variation of pointed teeth of buccal armature of Sergentomyia nankingensis in a supplementary study. Methods The morphology of Sergentomyia nankingensis was observed and the specimens included S nankingensis captured from the field as well as the female ones bred in the laboratary and their offspring of first generation. Results The buccal armature of females and males, consists of about 10-19 and 8-15 pointed teeth and the pigmented plate is polymorphous. In the nature,the number of pointed teeth of buccal armature of Sergentomyia is unstable,varying in more than 10 teeth in the same species sometimes. Conclusion Identification of species needs large amount of specimens for comparative observation. Sergentomyia sandfly should be raised separately and individually for morphological observation of its newly emerged offspring, especially when the sandfly specimens and data collected in the field were not sufficient.

To study the pathogenesis of hearing loss in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). To report one case with CML whose first sign was sudden unilateral hearing loss. Sudden hearing loss in CML was presented with dramatic high white blood cell count in peripheral blood. Some cases of sudden hearing loss in CML may be improved or even cured by leukapheresis and intrathecal chemotherapy. The proposed pathogenesis for deafness in leukemia is due to hyperleukocytosis, hyperviscosity syndrome, leukemic infiltration and the inner ear hemorrhage. In treatment, clinicians should quickly reduce the number of white blood cells to lighten the tumor burden. Intrathecal injection of MTX and plasmapheresis is commonly used.
Ear, Inner ; pathology ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; etiology ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral ; etiology ; Hemorrhage ; pathology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; complications ; Leukocyte Count

Objective To study the difgerence between the IAEA code of practice TRS-Z77 and TRS-398 in the determination of the absorbed dose to water for high-energy photon beams using several cylindrical chambers. Methods For 6 different types of cylindrical chambers,the calibration factors ND,W,Q0 in terms of absorbed dose to water were calculated from the air exposure calibration factors N,,and were compared with the ND,W,Q0 measured in European standard laboratory. Accurate measurements were performed in Varian 6 MV photon beam using 6 cylindrical chambers according to TRS-277 and TRS-398.The beam quality correction factors kQ.Q0 as well as the water absorbed doses were compared.Results For the set of chambers,the difference between ND,W,Q0 computed from Nx and ND.-.Q0 obtained in European standard laboratory was 0.13％ ～ 1.30％.The difference of beam quality correction factors for TRS-277 and TRS-398 was 0.09％ ～0.45％.The distinction of the water absorbed doses obtained according to the two different protocols was 0.27％ ～ 1.40％,and was primarily due to their different calibration factors.Conclusions The discrepancy in absorbed doses determined according to two protocols using different cylindrical chambers is clinically acceptable.However,TRS-398 allows a more convenient localization of chambers,provides a more simple formulation,and offers the reduced uncertainty in the dosimetry of radiotherapy beams.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of change in the hormone receptor (HR) status on the long-term outcomes of breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Methods:There were 215 patients for the HR status of their lesions before and after NAC.After surgery,59 cases were confirmed to have achieved complete remission of pathology,The expression of hormo ne receptors was not consistent in 63 patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.63 patients were divided into two groups,Group A:39 patients received standard endocrine therapy for 5 years after surgery and chemotherapy;Group B:24 patients were not treated with standard endocrine therapy after surgery and chemotherapy.Conclusions:The 3-year DFS rates were 77.4％ and 54.2％ in Group A and Group B patients,respectively,There was not statistical significancebetween the two groups.The 5-year overall survival rate for Group A patients was higher than that of Group B patients(74.3％ vs 45.8％,P=0.028),The difference was statistically significant.Conclusions:This study revealed that breast cancer patients with HR altered after NAC still benefit from standard endocrine therapy.

Objective To study corrective method for displacement in the procedure of electronic portal imaging device (EPID)-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy dose valuation by studying the relative mechanical displacement of different vendor EPID (aS1000,Varian; aS500,Varian; iViewGT,Elekta).Methods A 5 cm × 5 cm field was set up to acquire portal images for three kinds of EPID,then a in house software was used to analysis the portal images.The relative displacement was acquired via analyzing a series of comparation between center positions of gantry angle ranging from 0° to 360° and gantry angle at 0°.Results In the lateral direction,the maximum relative displacement of EPID with aS1000,S500 and iViewGT were (-0.23 ±0.17) mm,(2.94±0.17) mm and (0.35 ±0.09) mm,respectively.In the longitude direction,the displacements were (-4.16 ± 0.20) mm,(-4.15 ± 0.25) mm and (-1.66 ±0.11) mm,respectively.As to longitude direction,the displacements could be well fitted with the usage of quadruplicate empiric function.Conclusions There is a significant difference at the aspect of relative displacement between different vendors EPID at different gantry angles.And the displacement in the longitude direction is obviously larger than in the lateral direction.The relative displacement should be corrected when applying EPID to the intensity-modulated radiotherapy dose verification at different gantry angles.

[Objective] To study the correlation between kidney cell DNA degradation and postmortem interval within the span of 6-48 hour after the subject rats′ death.[Methods] To select 18 healthy mature female SD rats and equally divide them into 6 groups.To execute the rats with cervical spine articulation and put the rats under the incubator temperature of 25.1℃ (the average temperature of the 5 previous Decembers in Guangzhou prefecture).Sample kidney tissue from the rat separately 0 hour,6 hours,12 hours,24 hours,36 hours,48 hours,and 60 hours after the rats′ execution to prepare monoplast suspension,which is committed to comet assay.The comet images were captured by fluorescence CCD.Kinetic Comet 4.0 software was used to analyze images.Relevant data were collected by kinetic Comet 4.0 software and were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis test.[Results] Within the postmortem interval of 6-48 h,the number of SD rat kidney cell DNA fragments increased as the postmortem interval lengthens.So did the comet tail length.The Oliver tail moment and tail DNA of comet also showed sign of increase in positive proportion to the postmortem interval (their values corresponding to 60-hour-postmortem-interval were not obtainable.Kruskal-Wallis test indicated:the discrepancies of TL among the 6 groups were all significant (P ＜ 0.01).The difference of TM between 6 h group and 12 h group was not significant (P ＞ 0.05).The difference of TM between 24 h and 36 h was significant (P ＜ 0.05).The difference of TDNA among 6 h,12 h,and 36 h groups were not significant (P ＞ 0.05).The difference of TDNA between 36 h and 48 h was significant (P ＜ 0.05).[Conclusion] Degradation of nuclear DNA of the rat kidney cells increases as the postmortem interval lengthens and comet assay may provide important empirical evidence for determining the postmortem interval.

AIM To explore the radioprotective function of Xihuang Capsules (Bovis Calculus artijactus,Moschus,Olibanum,Myrrha) in patients with acute radiation-induced oral mucositis and its mechanisms.METHODS Eighty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergone radiotherapy were randomized into two groups:treatment group (radiation plus Xihuang Capsules) and control group (radiation alone).The comparison of two groups in the onset and the tolerated dose of mucositis was made according to the acute radiation injury classification standard.The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in saliva were detected by ELISA.RESULTS After the treatment with Xihuang Capsules,the onset of oral mucositis delayed significantly and the tolerated dose elevated markedly comparing with the control group (t =2.180,12.930,P ＜ 0.05).The morbidity rate of Ⅲ-N-degree of oral mucositis in the treatment group was lower than that of the control group at the dosage of 40 Gy and 70 Gy,respectively (Z =3.661,4.270,P ＜0.01).Furthermore,there was no difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the pre-treatment in the two groups (t =1.010,1.469,P ＞ 0.05).With the increase in radiant dose,the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the two groups both elevated dramatically,and peaked at the dose of 40 Gy,but both levels in the treatment group were lower than those of the control group (t =8.305,6.069,P ＜ 0.05).When DT =70 Gy,the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were lower than pre-radiation,and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the treatment group were lower than those in the radiation alone group (t =3.835,2.488,P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION Xihuang Capsules can delay and reduce acute radiation-induced oral mucositis and improve radiation tolerated dose,so it may involve the release of TNF-oα and IL-6 in saliva.

Objective To investigate effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats.Methods A total of 60 rats were randomly divided into normal group (n =10),the model of SAP group (n =10),the transplantation of the MSC group (n =20),the combination of the MSC and the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) group (n =20).The conversion rate of MSC was detected by using immunofluorescence methods,and the level of amylase in serum was assayed by using biochemical methods.Simultaneously,the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum was determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The conversion rates of the MSC increased,and consequently,the levels of amylases and interleukin-6 in serum were reduced (P ＜ 0.05).When a small amount of the G-CSF was added to MSC,the therapeutic effects of the two different kinds of cells were synergistically strengthened.In the contrary,when a large number of the G-CSF was added to MSC,the antagonism resulted between these two different kinds of cells gives rise to harmful effects on SAP.Conclusions The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have therapeutic effects on SAP.When the number of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells increases,the protective effects are enhanced.

Objective To develop an accurate 2D dose reconstruction model using electronic portal imaging device (EPID).2D dosimetric verifications of volumetric intensity-modulated arc therapy (VIMAT)were done using the model.And the results were compared to other dosimeters.Methods The EPID-based dose reconstruction model was using convolve,deconvolve and correction function.The dose profiles which were obtained by the ion chamber were used to determine the model parameters.A total of 12 VIMAT plans for the treatment of anatomical sites of various complexities were chosen.The results obtained from EPID were compared to other dosimeters and treatment planning system (TPS).The ion chamber was used to measure the central point absolute doses.Other dosimeters were used to measure the plane dose distributions.All dosimeters measured the dose at 10 cm depth.The results were analyzed using γevaluation method.Results Regarding absolute central point doses,the ion chamber results were within 1.5％ of the EPID results.For the comparison to Seven29 and Matrixx,the average γ pass rates with 2％and 2 mm criteria were 98.9％ and 99.8％ respectively.For the dose distributions measured by EPID and calculated by TPS,the γ pass rates with 3％ and 3 mm criteria were 99.9％.Conclusions The presented results which were obtained from the comparison of measured and calculated doses show the reliability of our EPID-based dose reconstruction model.With the model,EPID can be a reliable and fast tool for IMRT plan dosimetric verification.The model expanded to the 3D dosimetric verification in the uniform phantom will be considered as the next work.