Objective To evaluate the peripheral dose (PD) from megavoltage cone-beam CT (MVCBCT) imaging for head-and-neck region image-guided radiation therapy,to determine the correlation of PD with monitor unit (MU),and to investigate the impact of imaging field size on the PD.Methods Measurements of PD from MVCBCT were made with a 0.65 cm3 ionization chamber placed in a specially designed phantom at various depths and distances from the field edges.The PD at reference point inside the phantom was measured with the same ionization chamber to investigate the linearity between MU used for MVCBCT and the PD.The homogeneity of PD in the axial plane of the phantom were measured.Results PD from MVCBCT increased with increasing number of MU used for imaging and with increasing the field size.The measured PD in the phantom decreased exponentially as distance from the field edges increased.PD also decreased as the depth from the phantom surface increased.There was a strong linear relationship between PD and MUs used for MVCBCT.The PD was heterogeneous,with higher dose at the anterior than the posterior.Conclusions The PD from MVCBCT depend much on the MVCBCT delivery MU and the scan field size.In clinic,using the smallest number of MU allowable and reducing MVCBCT scanning field size without compromising acquired image quality is an effective method of reducing the PD.

Objective: To observe the effect of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) plus tuina on the neck for stiff neck. Methods: A total of 60 patients with stiff neck who met the screening criteria were selected and randomly divided into two groups, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received tuina on the neck, 30 min every time, once a day, while patients in the observation group practiced Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) plus the same tuina therapy as the control group, and Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) was conducted for more than 30 min every time, once a day. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were observed before treatment, and after 1 time, 3 times and 5 times of treatment to evaluate the degree of neck pain. Results: During the treatment, each group had 2 dropouts. After treatment, the total effective rate was 92.9％ in the observation group versus 82.1％ in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). The VAS scores in the observation group at the three time points were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) plus tuina on the neck can effectively relieve neck pain and improve cervical range of motion in patients with stiff neck, and can achieve a better effect than tuina alone.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a common metabolic neuropsychiatric syndrome in the development of end-stage liver disease. Since the concept of intestinal-liver-brain axis was proposed, the relationship between the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy and the gut microbiota has been a hot research topic. In recent years, studies have confirmed that gut microbiota is involved in and affects various pathological processes of hepatic encephalopathy. This article combines the latest research progress at home and abroad to elaborate on the research status of regulating gut microbiota and thus interfering with the pathological process of hepatic encephalopathy, hoping to provide new ideas and methods for the intervention of hepatic encephalopathy based on the regulation of gut microbiota.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious chronic disease with high incidence, poor prognosis, and a variety of complications. Indoxyl-sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (PCS) are two typical gut-derived uremic toxins, which are produced by the co-metabolism of intestinal microbes and the host. With the progression of CKD, gut-derived uremic toxins such as IS and PCS accumulate in patients with CKD and thereafter accelerate the progression of CKD. Gut microbiota is closely related with CKD, and targeting gut microbiota to regulate gut-derived uremic toxins synthesis and metabolic pathways may be a promising strategy to delay the progression of CKD. In this paper, the relationship between gut microbiota, gut-derived uremic toxins, and CKD was analyzed, and the strategy to delay the progression of CKD by targeting gut microbiota and uremic toxins metabolism pathway was proposed.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance.of thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods One hundred and two SLE patients with thrombocytopenia who were admitted to Peking University People's Hospital were involved in the study.SLE patients without thrombocytopenia were controls.Clinical and laboratory characteristics were analyzed.T-test and Chi-square test were used for inter-group comparison.Results Patients with thrombocytopenia had more organ damage than those without,although the disease activities (SLEDAI) were not different between these two groups.Bone marrow characteristics were analyzed and 16 patients were amegakaryocytic.However,there were no differences observed between patients with amegakaryocytosis and normal megakaryocytes in organ damage,disease activity and response to therapy.Conclusion Lupus patients with thrombocytopenia usually have more organ damage.About 32％ of those patients are amegakaryocytosis.

Objective To investigate the influence of electrocardiogram(ECG)-controlled dose modulation on exposure dosage and image quality of cardiac CT imaging in a cardiac phantom with simulated fluctuant heart rate.Methods The basal heart rate of the cardiac pulsating phantom was set as 60 bpm.the experimental situations were divided as 6 groups according to different heart rates.The cardiac imaging was performed on the cardiac phantom when the ECG-controlled dose modulation was firstly turned off.The exposure dosage of each scan sequence was documented.The standard deviation of the CT values of the phantom was measured on the central slice after coronal reformation of the raw data.The quality of 2D and 3D images were scored.Thell cardiac imaging was performed when ECG modulation was on and set as four groups according to different modulation parameters.All the data were documented as before.The results from the five groups with and without ECG modulation current were analyzed bv F test and comparative rank sum test using the statistical software SPSS 10.0.Results Statistical analysis showed no significant difference(P＞0.05)between the SNR of images(SD value was 27.78 and 26.30)from the groups that full mA output at wide reconstruction phase(69%～99%)when the heart rate was fluctuant(≥7.5 bpm).There was also no significant difference(P＞0.05)between the quality of the 2D and 3D images.But there was a significant difference(P＜0.01)between the SNR of images(SD value was 26.78 and 29.90)that full mA was only used at 85%reconstruction phase when the heart rate Was fluctuant(≥7.5 bpm).The exposure dosage was remarkably reduced when the ECG modulated current was on than when it Was off under fluctuant heart rate.Furthermore.there were significant difierence(P＜0.01)among the difierent ECG modulated current parameter groups.The exposure dosage can be reduced by 44.7%under the situation that the heart rate was fluctuant.Whell the fluctuation of the heart rate was≤12.5 bpm,there wag no obvious relationship between the fluctuation of the heart rate and the exposure dosage (the variation was from 0.1 to 1.1 mSv),but if the heart rate fluctuation was＞12.5 bpm,the exposure dosage would increase obviously (from 0.6 to 1.7 mSv).Conclusion For cardiac imaging with 16-slice row CT,the application of ECG modulated current can effectively reduce the exposure dosage without compromising the image quality even if heart rate was fluctuant.

Objective To observe the changes of respiratory and hemodynamic functions in children with different age undergoing laparoscopic Nissen's fundoplication(LNF). Methods Thirty-three children with LNF were divided into three groups according to the age: group Ⅰ,1 to 12 months,n=13;group Ⅱ,1 to 3 years old,n=10;and group Ⅲ,4 to 7 years,n=10.Heart rate(HR),mean arterial pressure,Ppeak,compliance of the respiratory system(CRS) and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure(PETCO2) were recorded 5 min before pneumoperitoneum(T0),10 min(T1),60 min(T2) after pneumoperitoneum and 10 min after deflation(T3),and parameters of blood gas analysis such as PaCO2 were measured at the same time. Results Compared with those at T0,HR,Ppeak,PETCO2 and the difference between PaCO2 and PETCO2(Pa-ETCO2)were significantly increased at T1 and T2,while CRS was significantly decreased.The most significant changes were found in group Ⅰ. Conclusion The changes of respiratory and hemodynamic functions are observed in children undergoing LNF,and anesthesia management should be enhanced for those within 1 to 12 months old who experience the most significant changes.

Objective To study the HLA match rate of 222 living-related donors for kidney transplantation, and to give suggestions for clinical selection of suitable donors and recipients. Methods We analyzed the HLA match rate of 222 kidney transplantations from living relative donors from April 2006 to December 2008. There were 168 male recipients and 54 female recipients. The ages of 222 recipients ranged from 10 to 58. There were 133 male donors and 89 female donors. The ages of 222 recipients ranged from 21 to 64.Results The HLA-A, B, DR, DR, antigens of 87 kidney transplantations from living parental donors were half-matched, of which 14 were higher than half-matched. The HLA-A, B, DR, DQ antigens of 7 kidney transplantations from living children donors were half-matched, including 2 cases higher than half-matched.Among 56 kidney transplantations from living sibling donors, 12 cases were totally mated, 34 cases were half-matched, and the rest were less than half-matched or mismatched. Among 72 kidney transplantations from other living relative donors, 20 cases were higher than half-matched and 5 cases were completely mismatched. More than 4 HLA antigens in 6 cases were matched, but not half-matched. Three HLA antigens or less were matched in 41 cases. Conclusion The HLA match rates from living parental, children, or sibling donors were higher than other relative donors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation of Cha Gan Beng Ga on the activity of biomarker PGC-1α in vivo and in vitro, and lay the foundation for studying the efficacy result of Cha Gan Beng Ga on xenograft tumor model and extracting active constituents.

METHOD(1) The coarse powder of Cha Gan Beng Ga was extracted with 70% ethanol solution through heating and refluxing, and finally was used to freeze dry powder. (2) 50 mg x kg(-1) of freeze-dried power was orally administrated to KM and C57BL/6J mice once daily, lasting for 5 consecutive days; different concentrations of extracted materials was given to non-small cell lung cells A549. (3) The expression level of PGC-1α mRNA was quantitatively determined in lung tissue of mice and non-small cell lung cells A549.

RESULTThe expression levels of PGC-1α in lung tissue of different mice strains had an increasing tendency. Furthermore, the expression levels of PGC-1α in non-small cell lung cells A549 also had an increasing tendency, showing dose and time-dependent relationships.

CONCLUSIONMongolian Medicine Cha Gan Beng Ga could induce the over-expression of PGC-1α mRNA in lung tissue of mice and in non-small cell lung cells A549. The present results will lay foundation for studying the efficacy result of antitumor and active constitutes in future.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

Aged ; Ear Neoplasms ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Papilloma ; pathology