Intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is very complex. The quality of plan is often closely linked to the experience of the treatment planner. In this study, 10 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients at different stages were enrolled. Based on the scripting of Pinnacle 9. 2 treatment planning system, the computer program was used to set the basic parameters and objective parameters of the plans. At last, the nasopharyngeal carcinoma intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans were completed automatically. Then, the automatical and manual intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans were statistically compared and clinically evaluated. The results showed that there were no significant differences between those two kinds of plans with respect to the dosimetry parameters of most targets and organs at risk. The automatical nasopharyngeal carcinoma intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans can meet the requirements of clinical radiotherapy, significantly reduce planning time, and avoid the influence of human factors such as lack of experience to the quality of plan.
Carcinoma ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

BACKGROUND:Low-temperature rapid prototyping technology is a new kind of rapid prototyping technology, and it is rapidly used in the preparation of bone tissue engineering scaffolds because it can make scaffold forming control able and can keep the biological activity of the materials, also can easily realize the scaffold with porous of three-dimensional structure and other advantages.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the preparation process of polyethylene glycol-modified polylactic acid-glycolic acid/nano-hydroxyapatite (PLGA-PEG/n-HA) using the low-temperature rapid prototyping, and to test its performance.
METHODS:PLGA-PEG/n-HA and PLGA/n-HA were prepared by low-temperature rapid prototyping equipment. Under an electron microscopy, we observed ultra-structure of the scaffolds. Immersion (ethanol) method was used to test the porosity, and electronic testing machine was used to determine the material mechanical properties. Then these two kinds of scaffolds with rat osteoblasts were cultured in vitro, the cel adhesion rate was detected by precipitation method after 12 hours, and cel counting kit-8 method was used to determine the cel proliferation at culture days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Both of the two scaffolds had ideal aperture range and high porosity. But the aperture range of PLGA-PEG/n-HA scaffolds had large fluctuations, and the average aperture was smal er than that of PLGA/n-HA. Some pores were closed up. The cel adhesion rate and the cel growth curve of PLGA-PEG/n-HA was better than that of PLGA/n-HA (P<0.05), but the mechanical properties were less than PLGA/n-HA (P<0.05). The results showed the PLGA-PEG/n-HA scaffolds had good cel compatibility.

Objective To analyse the rate of coincidence to suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) patient between positive exercise treadmill testing (TET) and coronary angiography (CAG) test.Method Two hundred and sixty-eight chest pain patients positive in TET were performed CAG test,coronary stenosis exceed 50% was diagnosed CAD. Results One hundred and seventy-six patients (65.67%) was diagnosed by CAG, 105 male and 71 female in them. Ninety-two (34.33%) patients was negative in CAG test. The false positive rate of TET between post-menopause patients (30.12%, 25/83 ) andmale patients (28.08%, 41/146) was no significant difference(P > 0.05 ); the difference of false positive rate between pro-menopause patients (66.67%, 26/39) and male patients (28.08% ,41/146) was statistical significance (P < 0.01 ). Conclusions The positive rate of CAG can be greatly improved by screening the chest pain patients though TET before CAG, if the positive in TET performed CAG only. TET false positive rate of pro-menopause female is significantly higher than post-menopause female or male.

Objective To assess the changes of right atrial size and mechanical function after radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using real-time threedimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE), and to study the correlation between the changes of left atrial(LA)and right atrial(RA) volume and function. Methods Thirty-five patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were undergone radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) successfully. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE),tissue Doppler imaging(TDI) and RT-3DE were performed before, 1 month and 3 months after procedure respectively. Late systolic volume and area of RA and LA,ejection fraction(EF) of RA and LA,late diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve inflow, tricuspid valve inflow and late diastolic peak velocity of mitral annulus and tricuspid annulus were recorded. Results The 3DE images of all patients were satisfied.LA max area and 3DE LA max volume were significantly reduced at 1 months and 3 months after procedure compared with basic stage [ ( 18.8 ± 6.3) cm2 vs (21.5 ± 6.2) cm2 , (38.8 ± 17.0) ml vs (46.1 ± 20.0) ml,P ＜ 0.05]. 3DE LA EF also declined markedly at 1 month after RFCA, and restored at 3 months later compared with baseline [(41.1 ± 13.7) % vs (51.7 ± 15.9) %, (41.1 ± 13.7) % vs (45.6 ± 18.3) %, P ＜0.05]. The size and mechanical function of the right atrial after procedure were no obvious changes. There were no evidently correlation between the changes of LA and RA volume and function. Conclusions RT3DE can provide a precise method to quantify the value of atrial volume and function. The LA size and volume are significantly reduced after RFCA in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, however, the RA size and function are no obvious changes.

Objective To study the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the expression of ?-catenin in the cultured colorectal cancer cell lines. Methods HCT116 and W480 cells were treated with CAPE at serial concentrations of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/L. ?-catenin protein expression was assayed by Western blot analysis. ?-catenin localization was detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Results CAPE treatment was associated with decreased total ?-catenin protein expression. The expression of ?-catenin at the cell nucleus and cytoplasm was downregulated, but at the cell-cell linked site the ?-catenin protein expression was upregulated. Conclusion CAPE can downregulate the expression of ?-catenin and inhibit the translocation of ?-catenin to nucleus, which may play an important role in the anticancer activity of CAPE.

Objective To investigate does intracellular protein degradation pathway play an important role in decrease of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).MethodsTo establish a primary HUVECs culture methods,the HUVECs were incubated with concentration gradient group of TNF-α(0.01,0.1,1 and 10 ng/mL) in different time periods (24,48 and 72 h).The HUVECs were pretreated with NH4Cl or treated with caspase inhibitor or MG-132 1.5 h prior to incubation for an additional 24 h with TNF-α.The expression of eNOS was detected via Western blot assay.Results Treatment of the HUVECs with TNF-α(0.01-10 ng/mL) led to a dose-dependent reduction of eNOS expression.And treatment with TNF-α(1 ng/mL) reduced the eNOS expression in a time-depended manner.Compared with the TNF-α group,the protein expression level of eNOS was obviously increased in the co-working group of MG-123 and TNF-α.Conclusions TNF-α induces degradation of eNOS through a ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Stroke is one of the major diseases leading to human death and disability,and prevention and treatment of stroke have become difficult medical problems.A large number of studies have shown that estrogen has significant neuroprotective effect against stroke,but its clinical application has encountered many obstacles.Long-term use of estrogen,especially the activation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) will increase the risk of reproductive system tumors.Recent studies abroad and our previous research have found that activation of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) can significantly alleviate cerebral ischemic injury.In addition,activation of ERβ can also improve the learning and memory abilities of ovariectomized rats.At the same time,ERβ selective agonists lack the ability to stimulate the proliferation of breast or endometrial tissue as compared with estrogen or ERa agonists,so activation of ERβ is expected to be a more safe and effective method for the prevention and treatment of stroke in menopause women.In this paper,we briefly reviewed the neuroprotective effects associated with ERβ signaling pathway in order to provide new ideas and molecular targets for the clinical transformation of estrogen in prevention and treatment against stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate image quality of female pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans reconstructed with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique combined with low tube-voltage and to explore the feasibility of its clinical application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-four patients were divided into two groups. The study group used 100 kVp, and images were reconstructed with 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% ASIR. The control group used 120 kVp, and images were reconstructed with 30% ASIR. The noise index was 15 for the study group and 11 for the control group. The CT values and noise levels of different tissues were measured. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was calculated. A subjective evaluation was carried out by two experienced radiologists. The CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) was recorded. RESULTS: A 44.7% reduction in CTDIvol was observed in the study group (8.18 +/- 3.58 mGy) compared with that in the control group (14.78 +/- 6.15 mGy). No significant differences were observed in the tissue noise levels and CNR values between the 70% ASIR group and the control group (p = 0.068-1.000). The subjective scores indicated that visibility of small structures, diagnostic confidence, and the overall image quality score in the 70% ASIR group was the best, and were similar to those in the control group (1.87 vs. 1.79, 1.26 vs. 1.28, and 4.53 vs. 4.57; p = 0.122-0.585). No significant difference in diagnostic accuracy was detected between the study group and the control group (42/47 vs. 43/47, p = 1.000). CONCLUSION: Low tube-voltage combined with automatic tube current modulation and 70% ASIR allowed the low CT radiation dose to be reduced by 44.7% without losing image quality on female pelvic scan.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female/diagnosis/*radiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis/*radiography ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the early X-ray and CT findings of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSChest radiography and CT were performed in 28 patients with SARS within one to three days after onset of the disease. CT examinations included conventional spiral CT and high-resolution CT (HRCT). The radiographic and CT findings of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSAbnormal CT findings were noted in all the patients, but abnormal chest radiographic findings in 17 cases (60.7%, 17/28). CT showed single small focal patchy opacities in 23 patients (82.1%, 23/28), including oval ground-glass opacities in 20 patients, lobular distribution ground-glass opacities in 2 and small patchy consolidation in one. Multi-focal ground-glass opacities were found in 2 patients and extensive opacities in three. In the 28 patients, a total of 31 lesions were found in the upper (7, 22.6%), middle (3, 9.7%), and lower lobes (21, 67.7%). The diameter of the lesions ranged from 20 to 35 mm.

CONCLUSIONThe dominant feature of early SARS patients is focal patchy opacity in the lung, and oval small ground-glass opacities are the common morphological findings on CT.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed