Vagus nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, and its efficacy and safety have been confirmed after over two decades of clinical practices.However, reassuring predictors to evaluate whether patients with drug-resistant epilepsy could gain benefit from vagus nerve stimulation has not been established, because the underlying mechanism remain poorly understood.Previous studies revealed that presumable patient-related predictors included age, epileptic seizure type, epilepsy etiology, epilepsy syndrome, cognitive and behavioral responsiveness, scalp electroencephalographic related signals and heart rate variability related signals.However, most of the predictors still remain controversial due to the factors such as the heterogeneity of different research design.This article aims at analyzing and concluding the information from relevant literatures, and summing up the predictors of efficacy before vagus nerve stimulation in refractory epilepsy to highlight the future work.

Objective:To explore the SPECT detection method of quality control in detection of main performance index. Methods: according to the 2007 edition of SPECT performance measurementof the NEMA (the United States Electrical Manufacturers Association) standard, and the corresponding model of intrinsic spatial resolution, intrinsic spatial non-linearity, intrinsic non-uniformity, characteristic count rate, system planar sensitivity, system spatial resolution, fault spatial resolution and other indicators. Results: after quality control testing, have deviation more index hospitals SPECT results. Conclusion: the hospital should detect quality control as far as possible in nuclear medicine and nuclear medicine imaging equipment, ensure the normal operation of equipment, and improve the quality of image.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment for benign tumor of external auditory canal by carbon dioxide laser under microscope. METHOD: Ten cases of benign tumor of external auditory canal were treated by carbon dioxide laser under microscope. The curative effects and complications were observed. RESULT: Ten cases of benign tumor of external auditory canal were satisfied after operation without any complications. There were no recurrences during 3 months to 2 years of follow up. CONCLUSION The operation for benign tumor of external auditory canal by carbon dioxide laser under microscope was easy, safe and effective.
Ear Canal ; pathology ; Ear Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Lasers, Gas ; Microscopy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasms

Objective To assess set-up errors measured with kilovoltage cone-beam CT (KV-CBCT), and the impact of online corrections on margins required to account for set-up variability during IMRT for patients with prostate cancer. Methods Seven patients with prostate cancer undergoing IMRT were enrolled onto the study. The KV-CBCT scans were acquired at least twice weekly. After initial set-up using the skin marks, a CBCT scan was acquired and registered with the planning CT to determine the setup errors using an auto grey-scale registration software. Corrections would be made by moving the table if the setup errors were considered clinically significant ( i. e. , ＞ 2 mm). A second CBCT scan was acquired immediately after the corrections to evaluate the residual error. PTV margins were derived to account for the measured set-up errors and residual errors determined for this group of patients. Results 197 KV-CBCT images in total were acquired. The random and systematic positioning errors and calculated PTV margins without correction in mm were:a) Lateral 3. 1,2. 1,9. 3;b) Longitudinal 1.5, 1.8, 5. 1 ;c) Vertical 4. 2,3.7, 13.0. The random and systematic positioning errors and calculated PTV margin with correction in mm were:a) Lateral 1.1,0. 9, 3.4;b) Longitudinal 0. 7, 1.1, 2. 5;c) Vertical 1.1, 1.3, 3.7. Conclusions With the guidance of online KV-CBCT, set-up errors could be reduced significantly for patients with prostate cancer receiving IMRT. The margin required after online CBCT correction for the patients enrolled in the study would be appoximatively 3-4 mm.

Objective To investigate the distribution of pelvic recurrence in rectal cancer after radical resection and analyze the outcome and prognostic factors of pelvic recurrent rectal cancer treated with radiotherapy. Methods Ninety-three patients with pelvic recurrent rectal cancer who received radiotherapy from August 2000 to August 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 21 patients received pelvic radiation alone;56 received pelvic radiation plus chemotherapy and 16 received pelvic radiation plus surgery and/or chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was delivered with 60Coγor 6/15 MV X ray to a median dose of 59. 4Gy (range,20-74 Gy). Conventional fractionation was used in 90 patients. Chemotherapy was given to 68patients with a median number of 3 cycles ( range, 1 - 8 cycles). Concurrent chemo-radiation with 5-FU based regimen was given to 42 patients. After radiotherapy, 16 patients underwent surgical resection, with 7R0 resection and 9 palliative resection. Results The entire cohort included 132 recurrent sites. The most common recurrent sites were peri-rectal region ( 31.8% ), pre-sacral region ( 30. 3% ) and internal iliac nodal region (20. 2% ). The follow-up rate was 92% for the entire cohort, 39 and 4 patients had minimum follow-up time of 2 and 5 years respectively. Overall clinical response ( complete and partial symptomatic relief) was achieved in 83% of the patients after radiation therapy. The 2-and 5-year local progression-free survival rates were 49% and 22% respectively, and the 2-and 5-year overall survival rates were 46% and 14% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that treatment modality was the independent prognostic factor for local progression-free survival. Patients treated with radiation plus surgery and/or chemotherapy had better local progression-free survival than those treated with radiation plus chemotherapy or radiation alone.Recurrent tumors larger than 5 cm in diameter, disease-free interval less than 2 years and distant metastasis after radiotherapy were independent unfavorable prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusions Perirectal region, pre-sacral region and internal iliac nodal region were the most common pelvic recurrent sites in rectal cancer. Radiotherapy is an effective palliative approach for patients with pelvic recurrent rectal cancer.Radiotherapy plus surgery and/or chemotherapy was associated with better local progression-free survival,and recurrent tumors lager than 5 cm in diameter, disease-free interval less than 2 years and distant metastasis after radiotherapy were unfavorable prognostic factors for overall survival of pelvic recurrent rectal caner.

Objective For Genistein has been reported to inhibit many tumors ,we investigate the role of autophagy in the proliferation inhibition to Hela cells by Genistein and the machanism of autophagy plays in this process.Methods Human cervical cancer Hela cells were divided into control group,Genistein group and 3-MA+Genistein group,the control group were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS),Genistein group were cultured in various concentrations Genistein(25,50,100μmol/L),3-MA+Genistein group were treated with 5mmol/L 3-MA for 1h before cultured in 100μmol/L Genistein.The proliferation inhibitory rate of Hela cells was detected by MTT method.The ultrastructure changes of Hela cells was observed under transmission electronic microscope(TEM).The levels of autophagy-associated protein P62 and Beclin-1 were detected by Western blotting analysis.The expressions of autophagy-associated proteins LC3A/B in Hela cells were determined by fluorescent staining to analyse the autophagy induced by Genistein in Hela cells.Results Compared with control group ,the proliferation inhibitory rate of Hela cells was 20.9%±1.3%,33.5%±1.6% and 46.5%±3.2% when cultured in 25,50,100μmol/L Genistein(P<0.01).After treated with various concentrations Genistein for 48h, we observed a dose-dependent increase in the expression of Beclin-1 and decrease of P62.Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed the fluorescent density of LC3A/B expression in Hela cells treated with 100μmol/L Genistein increased significantly as compared with control group.TEM showed there are many vacuoles and double-membrane autophagosomes which involved cytoplasmic components in Hela cells treated with 100μmol/L Genistein.The proliferation inhibitory rate of Hela cells of Genistein group is decreased as compared with those in 3-MA+Genistein group[(46.5±3.2)% vs (58.2±2.2)%,P<0.01].Conclusion Genistein could inhibit Hela cells proliferation and induce autophagy.

Objective To explore the effects of pretreatment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by ultrasound-exposed microbubbles (UM) on both homing to ischemic myocardium and cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods Rats of AMI model established by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery were divided into four groups randomized:phospho-buffered saline (PBS) group,stem cells treatment (SCT) group,ultrasound and stem cells treatment (USCT) group,and UM stem cells treatment (UMSCT) group,and each group was injected with PBS,stem cells,US-pretreated stem cells and UM-pretreated stem cells through the caudal veins after AMI respectively.Homing of BMSCs to the ischemic myocardium was examined by confocal microscopy at 48 h after implantation,and cardiac function was examined by ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) after 4 weeks.Masson staining was used to examine the changes of local ischemic cardiac tissues,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the density of local neo-capillaries (CD31).Results 1) The numbers of CM-Dil-positive cells counted under confocal microscopy in the ischemic myocardial tissues of each groups 48 hours after implantation were not the same:there was no significant difference of the numbers of positive cells between USCT group (19.67 ±2.08) and SCT group (18.67 ± 2.08).However,the number of positive cells in the UMSCT group (39.33 ±3.06) was larger than that in USCT group and SCT group (P ＜0.05).2) UCG examinations showed that there was no significant difference of left ventricular systole function between the USCT group [LVEF (44.92 ± 2.77)％,LVFS (22.83 ± 1.79)％] and SCT group [LVEF (42.28 ± 2.82)％,LVFS (21.52 ±1.88) ％,P ＞0.05],but both were better than that in PBS group [LVEF (20.52 ± 1.88)％,LVFS (9.55 ±0.85) ％,P ＜0.05].The left ventricular systolic function in UMSCT group [LVEF (61.85 ± 3.15)％,LVFS (32.74± 2.45)％] was significantly higher than that in USCT group and SCT group (P ＜0.05),while which was still significantly lower than that in pseudo-surgery group [LVEF (75.88± 4.52)％,LVFS (42.76 ± 2.88)％,P ＜0.05].3) Pathological examinations showed the percentages of AMI areas in the USCT group (35.9 ± 1.1％) were not different compared with that in SCT group [(36.5 ± 1.3)％,P ＞0.05],while both were significantly smaller than that in PBS group [(45.2± 1.4)％,P ＜0.05].The percentages of AMI areas in the UMSCT group [(25.8 ± 1.0)％] were significantly smaller than that in USCT group and SCT group (P ＜0.05).The density of neo-capillaries (25.9 ± 1.3) in USCT groups had no difference compared with that in SCT group (25.2 ± 1.3),while both were significantly higher than that in PBS group (17.6 ± 1.1,P ＜0.05);the density of neo-capillaries (33.2 ± 1.6) was significantly higher in UMSCT group than that in both USCT group and SCT group (P ＜0.05),which were examined by immunohistochemistry.Conclusions Homing to ischemic myocardium of BMSCs transplanted intravenously could be promoted by UM pretreatment,which stimulates development of capillaries,reduces AMI areas,and improves the cardiac function after AMI.

Objective The frequency and the anatomic distribution of involved regional nodes in recurrent and locally advanced breast cancer were analyzed, in order to evaluate the rational of conventional regional node radiation technique and provide evidence for target definition of breast cancer . Methods Patients with recurrent or locally advanced breast cancer who were treated in our hospital from August 2003 to December 2009 were included in this study. 111 patients had contrast enhanced chest CT images of the whole regional nodes before treatment. The regional nodes were categorized into 8 anatomical substructures including medial and lateral supraclavicular nodes ( SC-M, SC-L), axilla nodes ( ALN )- Ⅰ , Ⅱ , Ⅲ,infraclavicular nodes (IFN), Rotter's nodes (RN) and internal mammary nodes (IMN). The frequency of involvement and anatomical distribution of the involved nodes on CT images were analyzed. Results A total of 111 patients were enrolled this study and 199 anatomical substructures with involved nodes were identified. The frequency of involvement were :SC-M 33, SC-L 21, ALN- Ⅰ 30, ALN-Ⅱ 25, ALN-Ⅲ + IFN 35, RN 27, IMN 28. Supraclavicular region and axilla were the most frequently involved area (72. 3% ).The average depth of the SC-M and SC-L nodes was 33.48 mm ± 10. 57 mm and 45.62 mm ±20. 45 mm,and 51.5% and 71.4% of the SC-M and SC-L nodes were located more than 3 cm deep from the skin. The axilla nodes were located cranial and caudal to the axillary vein in 5 and 20 locally advanced breast cancer patients and in 64 and 28 patients who received prior axillary dissection. The majority of involved IMN was located within the first 3 intercostal spaces (26/28). The average distance between the center of involved IMN and chest skin was 24. 23 mm ± 10. 28 mm. The average distance between the center of involved IMN and midline of the body was 29. 38 mm ±6. 7 mm. The center of involved IMN was 6.19 mm ±5.73 mm lateral and 5.73 mm ± 4. 56 mm posterior to the internal mammary vessels. Conclusions Conventional field design is unlikely to provide sufficient dose to the entire risk region because of individual differences.Individualized treatment planning based on CT would become feasible with increasing knowledge of natural risk of nodal involvement.

Objective To explore the effects of ultrasound-exposed microbubbles (UM) on the expression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and the mechanisms involved.Methods Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from bone marrow taken from male Sprague-Dawley rats.They were divided into a control group,an ultrasound (US) group,an ultrasound-exposed microbubbles (UM) group,a UM plus catalase (UMC) group,a UM plus AMD3100 (UMA) group,and a UM plus anti-CXCR4 antibody (UMCX) group.The control group was not given any treatment.The US group was treated with 1 MHz ultrasound at 1 Watt per square centimetre for 30 seconds.The UM group was treated with ultrasound plus microbubbles.The UMC group was treated with catalase,microbubbles and ultrasound.The UMA group was treated with AMD3100,microbubbles and ultrasound.The UMCX group was treated with anti-CXCR4 antibody,microbubbles and ultrasound.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting were performed to determine the levels of CXCR4 mRNA transcription and the expression of BMSCs in the control,US,UM and UMC groups.Immediately,5 minutes and 15 minutes after the intervention,fluorescence intensities were observed in the cells labeled with Fluo-4/AM of the control group,US group and UM group under a fluorescence microscope.Migration assays were conducted to determine the chemotactic ability of the BMSCs with respect to stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) in all six groups.Results No significant differences were found in the levels of CXCR4 mRNA transcription and protein expression between the US and control groups(P＞0.05),but the levels in those groups and the UMC group were lower than those observed in the UM group.Fluorescence intensity in the cells of the US group was not significantly different from that in the control group (P＞0.05),but those levels were both significantly lower than that in the UM group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the number of cells migrating to the SDF-1α between the US (22.4±2.2) and control group (20.5±2.3).However,the number of cells migrating to SDF-1α in the UM group (53.1±3.8) was significantly larger than that in the US group,the control group,the UMC group (35.2+3.1),the UMA group (32.5±2.8) and the UMCX group (30.7+2.9) (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion UM can increase mRNA transcription and the expression of CXCR4 protein in BMSCs,and promote BMSCs migration to SDF-lα.This may in part be mediated by an increase in calcium influx.

Objective To study the characteristics of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in patients less than 50 years-old of premature stable coronary heart disease(PSCHD)complicated with nonalcoholic fatty liver(NAFL).Methods One hundred and six patients with documented PSCHD were recruited into this study and their clinical data,including biochemical parameters,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP),white blood cell(WBC)count,ete.,were analyzed based on whether they had NAFL by B-type ultrasound scanning and their homeostasis model assessment ratio(Homa-IR)by the criteria for metabolic syndrome formulated by the International Diabetes Federation.Results Thirty-two (30.1percent)of 106 patients of PSCHD complicated with NAFL,and 74(69.9 percent)without NAFL. As compared to patients without NAFL,patients with NAFL had higher fasting blood glucose(FBS),serum level of insulin(INS),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),serum activity of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),hsCRP,WBC count,body mass index(BMI),Homa-IR,and higher proportion of those with abnormal blood glucose,hypertension.metabolic syndrome(MS)and carotid atherosclerosis (CA)(P＜0.05),respectively.Bi-variate correlation analysis revealed that hsCRP positively correlated to BMI,TG,ALT and Homa IR(r=0.420,P=0.000;r=0.200,P=0.040;r=0.218,P=0.048:and r=0.546,P=0.000,respectively)and inversely correlated with serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)(r=-0.220,P=0.023).WBC count positively correlated with FBS(r=0.211,P=0.030).BMI,hsCRP,ALT,and proportions of hypertension,diabetes,MS,NAFL and CA in patients with Homa-IR above median were significantly higher than those in patients with that below median ( P＜0.05,respectively).Conclusions More risk faetors for chronic inflammatory reaction,cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance were clustered more obviously in patients of PSCHD complicated with NAFL.