Objective To evaluate the possible roles of IL-18 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods Serum IL-18 level was measured using ELISA, and serum HBV DNA content was detected by FQ-PCR. Results There was significant difference in serum IL-18 level between the fulminant hepatitis patients and chronic hepatitis patients or normal controls (P

Objective To compare the homogeneity and conformity of dose distribution in the target and the dose to the organs at risk among 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and simplified intensity modulated radiation therapy (sIMRT), and then to evaluate the clinical value of sIMRT for cervical cancer. Methods Ten patients with cervical canc-er receiving radical radiotherapy and brachytherapy were enrolled. Before radiotherapy, CT was performed and target volumes were delineated. The clinical target volume (CTV) included supravaginal portion, cervi-cal stump, paracervical tissue, common iliac lymph nodes, internal and external iliac lymph nodes, obtura-tor lymph nodes, sacral lymph nodes, and the surrounding tissues. If the vagina was involved, the target vol-ume included the whole vagina. Margins between planning target volume (PTV) and CTV were 10 mm in the anterior direction, and 5 mm in other directions. The prescribed dose was 95% PTV receiving 45 Gy in 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy. The dose volume histogram, conformity index, homogeneity index and treatment time per faction were compared. Results Among the three radiotherapy techniques, 3DCRT had the best homo-geneity of dose distribution, while there was no significant difference between IMRT and slMRT. According to the conformity of dose distribution, sIMRT was better than 3DCRT, but worse than IMRT. Comparing the bladder sparing, IMRT was the best followed by sIMRT. The volume of the small intestine receiving high dose was increased significantly with slMRT when compared with IMRT. And the treatment time per faction was4, 10 and 18 minutes for3 DCRT, sIMRT and IMRT, respectively. Conclusions sIMRT could re-duce the work intensity of the staff, shorten the treatment time per fraction, and simplify the authenticate procedure, which is cost-effective and suitable in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes and the prognostic factors for advanced squamous cervical cancer after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).Methods Totally 172 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage Ⅱ b-Ⅳ who were treated in Cancer Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2007 and December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were received external radiotherapy,high-dose rate brachytherapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy concurrently.Results The median follow-up period was 54.5 months.The 2-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) were separately 81.5％ and 68.8％.The 2-year and 5-year progress-free survival (PFS) were separately 69.2％ and 63.1％.Using univariate analysis followed with multivariate analysis,the results showed that these clinicopathological factors including stage (Ⅲ and above versus Ⅱ b; P =0.021,HR =1.95 ; P =0.020,HR =1.86),maximum diameter of local tumor size (＞4 versus ≤4 cm; P =0.009,HR =2.55 ; P =0.033,HR =1.94),squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) level before treatment (＞3 versus ≤3 μg/L; P =0.010,HR =2.47; P =0.013,HR =2.09) and retroperitoneal lymph node status on imaging (para-aortic lymph node positive versus negative,P =0.009,HR =3.00,P=0.010,HR =2.74; pelvic lymph node positive only versus negative,P =0.044,HR =1.98,P =0.033,HR =1.92) had the significant effect on OS and PFS.Patients with no above adverse prognostic factor were assigned to Group A (n =18),those with one factor were assigned to Group B (n =43),and those with no less than two factors were assigned to Group C (n =1 11).Among three groups,the 2-year OS were separately 94.1％,97.7％ and 73.1％,the 5-year OS were separately 81.4％,90.1％ and 58.6％,the 2-year PFS were separately 88.2％,90.4％ and 57.9％,the 5-year PFS were 82.4％,87.9％ and 50.0％.The results showed that group C was significant difference from Group A or B in OS and PFS (all P ＜ 0.05),while Group A had no significant difference from Group B in OS and PFS (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Stage Ⅲ or above,maximum diameter of local tumor size ＞ 4 cm,SCC level ＞ 3 μg/L before treatment and positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes on imaging are four independent adverse factors for prognosis of squamous cervical cancer of advanced stage after CCRT.The treatment of patients with no less than two adverse factors should be considered to be improved.

Objective To analyze the outcomes of preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy plus sur-gery in patients with stage ⅠB2 and ⅡA bulky cervical cancer. Methods From January 2001 to January 2007, 77 patients with stage ⅠB2 and ⅡA bulky cervical cancer were included. The diameter of primary tumor was greater than 4 cm. Preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy with the total dose of 20-30 Gy (0.5 cm below the vaginal mucosa) was delivered by 2-3 fractions, one fraction per week. After an interval of 10-14 days, the efficacies of radiotherapy were evaluated and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphade-nectomy was performed. Then the treatment complications, clinicopathological characteristics, survival and recurrence were analyzed. Results The tumor shrinkage was observed in all the patients after intracavitary brachytherapy. The CR, PR and SD were 5% (4/77), 36% (28/77) and 58% (45/77), respectively. Radical hysterectomy was successfully performed in all patients. The complications of the combined therapy were mild and only 5 patients had grade Ⅱ or less hematological or gastrointestinal toxicities. The 5-year o-verall survival rate and pelvic recurrence rate were 83% and 12%, respectively. Conclusions Preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy of 20-30 Gy plus surgery is effective in the treatment of stage ⅠB2 and ⅡA bulky cervical cancer without increasing the treatment complications.

Objective To evaluate target-volume coverage and organ at risk (OAR) protection achieved with conventional radiotherapy (CRT), three dimensional eonformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) , and intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) through dosimetric comparison in patients with cervical cancer after hysterectomy. Methods The planning CT scans of 10 patients treated with pelvic radiation after hysterectomy for cervical cancer were used to generate CRT,3DCRT and IMRT plans for this study. Clinical target volume(CTV) was contoured on the individual axial CT slices of every patient. The CTV was then uniformly expanded by 1.0 cm to create the planning target volume (PTV). The small bowel, rectum, bladder, bone marrow, ovaries, and femoral heads were outlined for the organ at risk (OAR) evaluation. The CRT ,3DCRT and IMRT plans were generated using commercial planning software. CRT plan was prescribed to deliver 45 Gy to the reference point,while IMRT and 3DCRT plans were 45 Gy to 95% of the FFV. Isodose line and dose volume histograms(DVH) were used to evaluate the dose distribution in CTV and OAR. Results For 10 patients, the average volume of CTV receiving the prescribed dose of CRT was significantly lower than 3DCRT( Q = 8.27,P ＜ 0.01 ) and IMRT( Q = 8.37, P ＜ 0.01 ), respectively. Comparing with the CRT plan,the 3DCRT and IMRT plans notably reduced the volume of bowel at 30 and 45 Gy levels. The IMRT plan significantly spared rectum and bladder at 30 and 45 Gy levels comparing with the CRT ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and 3DCRT( P ＜ 0.05 ) plans,while the 3DCRT plan significantly spared rectum and bladder at 45 Gy level comparing with the CRT( P ＜0.01 ) plans. For 4 patients with ovarian transposition, the average doses of ovary over 3 Gy were 2 patients with the 3DCRT and IMRT plans, and 2 with all three plans. Conclusions IMRT and 3DCRT are superior to CRT in improving dose coverage of target volume and sparing of OAR ,while IMRT being the best. The superiority of IMRT and 3DCRT is obvious in sparing bone marrow at high dose levels. IMRT,3DCRT and CRT could not spare the transposed ovary effectively.

Objective To evaluate the condition of oxidative stress and immunosuppression in early stage of severe sepsis,and investigate the correlation between them. Methods A prospective random control study in-cluded patients group(n=51)and control group(n=31). The concentration of serum superoxide dismutase was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),CD4+CD25+Treg% was measured by flow cytometry , respectively. The difference between two groups was compared and the correlation between parameters in patients group was evaluated. Results The concentration of serum SOD was lower than control group (P < 0.01). CD4+CD25+Treg% significantly high,compared to the control group(P < 0.01). There was no strong correlation be-tween parameters in patients group. Conclusion Oxidative stress and immunosuppression are exist in the early stage of severe sepsis.

Objective To investigate the survival and recurrence data after treatment in neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix(NECUC)with stageⅠb-Ⅱa, and to analyse its prognostic factors. Methods Thirty-two cases of primary NECUC in early-stage disease treated from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2013 at Cancer Hospital,Peking Union Medical College,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were reviewed, and their data of clinicopathologic characteristics were collected and analysed. The median age was 37 years (range, 23-57 years). The distribution by International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) clinical stage:19 cases stageⅠb1, 10 cases stageⅠb2, 1 case stageⅡa1, 2 cases stageⅡa2. Pathologic types: 22 cases of small cell carcinoma, 1 case of atypical carcinoid, 9 cases of mixed carcinoma. The diameter of cervical tumor:12 cases≥4 cm, 20 cases<4 cm. All patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic ± para-aortic lymphadenectomy, and 15 cases of them were preserved unilateral or bilateral ovaries. Pathologic examination showed that 25 cases with cervical deep stromal invasion thickness ≥1/2, 21 cases with lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), and 18 cases with pelvic and (or) para-aortic lymph nodes involvement. Ten cases were performed neoadjuvant chemotherapy (range,1-3 cycles), all patients received postoperative chemotherapy (range,3-6 cycles), and 15 patients were treated with radiotherapy after surgery. The follow-up data were updated on Jul. 2014. The median follow-up time was 18 months (range, 7-71 months). A retrospective analysis was conducted to analyse the survival and recurrence data,and to explore the prognostic factors of NECUC. Results Thirteen patients died during the follow-up period. The cumulative progression-free survival (PFS) of 2 and 5 years were respectively 54.2%and 38.1%, and the estimated median PFS was 29 months. The cumulative overall survival (OS) of 2 and 5 years were respectively 56.1%and 44.9%, and the estimated median OS was 31 months. Fourteen cases had recurrence, and the median recurrence time was 9 months (range, 3-30 months). Recurrent or metastatic sites:2 cases in pelvis, 4 cases in liver, 3 cases in lung, 3 cases in adrenal glands, 3 cases in bones, 2 cases in brain, 1 case in pancreas, 1 case in lymph nodes of para-aorta and neck, and 3 cases had metastasis in two or more organs. Thirteen cases with recurrence died of disease, and another one is alive with disease. The univariate analysis showed that lesion size of the cervix and FIGO stage were significant prognostic factors (P<0.01), while age, tumor components, deep invasion in cervical stromal, LVSI, pelvic and (or) para-aortic lymph nodes involvement, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy and preserving ovaries were not significantly associated with prognosis(all P>0.05). Conclusion The prognosis of NECUC in early-stage is poor and the lesion size of the cervix and FIGO stage are prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of domestically manufactured digital colposcope system (SLC-2000) in the detection of early cervical lesions.

METHODSDuring a follow-up study of patients in Xiangyuan county, Shanxi, a high risk area for cervical cancer, a digital colposcope and an optical colposcope were randomly used for diagnosis, with pathology as the gold standard.

RESULTSIn 163 cervical biopsy specimens, 103 were diagnosed as chronic inflammation by histologic examination. Among 60 specimens which gave abnormal pathology, there were papilloma 1, cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) I 37, CIN II 18 and CIN III 4. In 33 endocervical curettage specimens, 3 were pathologically positive. Comparing the digital and optical colposcope in diagnosing the positive lesions of > or = CIN I, the sensitivity of the former and latter were 83.3% and 95.0%, the difference without being statistically significant (P = 0.075). The specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy of these two instruments were 61.2%, 21.4%, 55.6% and 41.3%, 69.3% 48.5%, with significant difference (P = 0.000, P = 0.035, and P = 0.000). In diagnosing > or = CIN II cervical lesions, these three results of the two instruments did not show any significant difference either. The negative predictive value of the digital and optical colposcope were 86.3% and 88.0%, also showing no significant difference (P = 0.075).

CONCLUSIONThe specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy of the digital colposcope in diagnosing cervical lesions > or = CIN I are all superior to those of the traditional optical colposcope, even though the sensitivity of the latter is higher. There is no difference between the two instruments in diagnosing lesions > or = CIN II. Not only is domestic digital colposcope (SLC-2000) effective, but feasible and practical in the diagnosis, research and follow-up of cervical lesions.

Colposcopes ; Female ; Humans ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Diseases ; diagnosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Uterine Cervicitis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To verify a rare allele of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and analyze its inheritance and 3D molecular structure. METHODS: PCR-sequence-based typing, PCR-single strand oligonucleotide polymorphism and single allele-specific sequencing were carried out to characterize the rare HLA-C allele and its transmission in the family. Its protein structure was modeled by using SWISS-MODEL, Phyre2 and FATCAT software. RESULTS: Analysis indicated that the rare allele (HLA-C*08:84) has transmitted from the proband's mother and has differed from HLA-C*08:01 by a single base (g.512G>C), resulting in substitution of an amino acid (p.Trp147Ser). Modeling of the 3D structure of the encoded protein indicated that the amino acid residue variation is located at the alpha 2 helix, which participates the formation of pocket F. Modeling of the structures of C*08:84, C*08:01, C*08:02, C*08:03 and C*08:22 has suggested significant variation in the peptide binding regions of the backbone, with root mean square errors being 1.70 nm, 1.79 nm, 0.71 nm and 1.70 nm, respectively. CONCLUSION A rare HLA-C*08:84 allele has been identified, and its clinical significance has been analyzed.
Alleles ; Base Sequence ; HLA-B Antigens/genetics* ; HLA-C Antigens/genetics* ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To explore the effects and postoperative prognostic factors in cervical cancer patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgery and post-operative adjuvant therapy. Methods A total of 177 patients with cervical cancer at International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stageⅠb2, Ⅱa2 who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgery with and without adjuvant therapy in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses of 5-year overall survival (OS) rate and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate were performed. Results Of 177 patients, 133 (75.1%) had stageⅠb2 and 44 (24.9%) hadⅡa2 cancers. After NACT,overall response rate was 63.3% (112/177) including 12 cases of complete response (CR), 100 of partial response (PR) and no progressive disease (PD) case. At a median follow-up of 59.2 months, the 5-year DFS rate was 73.6% and the 5-year OS rate was 86.8%. Univariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis, deep stromal invasion and tumor size after NACT significantly affected 5-year DFS rate (P<0.05). Lymph node metastasis, deep stromal invasion and tumor size after NACT significantly affected 5-year OS rate (P<0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that, stromal invasion (outer 1/3 or outer 1/2) was independent risk factor of 5-year DFS rate (P<0.05), and 5-year OS rate was significantly affected by tumor size >3 cm after NACT (P<0.05). Conclusions The effect of NACT in Ⅰb2, Ⅱa2 squamous carcinoma of the uterined cervix is confirmed. The independent risk factor for 5-year DFS rate in patients received NACT and hysterectomy is deep stromal invasion of the cervix. The presence of tumor size>3 cm after NACT adversely affect 5-year OS rate.