Objective To investigate the reproducibility and consistency in contouring parotid gland volume based on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma during radiotherapy.Methods Twenty-seven patients with nasopharyngeal cancer in Shandong Cancer Hospital from December 2012 to May 2013 were randomly enrolled and underwent intensified CT and MR imaging before radiotherapy.The parotid gland were contoured with unified standard on both CT and T1-MR images by 11 radiotherapists.Specifically,one radiotherapist sketched the parotid gland on CT and MR images for ten times as intra-group comparison,the other ten were asked to sketch the parotid gland on CT and MR images only once as inter-group comparison.The intra-and inter-group's variations of parotid gland volumes were analysed.Results The average volumes of intra-group on CT and MR images were (33.8 ±9.4) cm3(L),(33.2±7.6) cm3(R) and (24.4 ±7.6) cm3(L),(22.5 ±7.4) cm3(R).As well,for inter-group the average volumes were (34.6 ± 12.1) cm3 (L),(34.3 ± 9.0) cm3 (R) and (24.6 ± 7.6) cm3 (L),(23.2 ± 8.1) cm3(R),respectively.The volume variable ratios on CT images were (6.8 ± 1.5)％ (L),(6.3 ± 1.5) ％ (R) for intra-group and (18.0 ± 4.8) ％ (L),(17.4 ± 4.6) ％ (R) for inter-group.Similarly,the intra-and inter-group ratios for contouring on MR images reached (2.3 ±0.4)％ (L),(2.1 ±0.7)％ (R) and (4.7 ±0.7)％ (L),(5.0±0.6)％ (R),respectively.Conclusion Parotid gland contouring based on MR images has a better reproducibility and consistency than that based on CT images.It is beneficial to get a more objective and true indicator to estimate the radiation injury of parotid gland.

Objective To investigate a feasibility of treatment planning in thoracic esophageal carcinoma with 3-deoxy-3-fluorothymidine (FLT) PET-CT and to compare with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT based on dosimetric analysis.MethodsTwenty-two patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma detected by FLT and FDG PET-CT were enrolled.The gross tumor volumes ( GTV ),clinical target volume(CTV) and planning target volume ( PTV ) were delineated using treatment planning system of Philips Pinnacle3 based on the optimal threshold of FLT and FDG PET-CT respectively,and to make two groups simulation treatment planning.The parameters of dose-volume histograms in two groups planning were compared in the similar direction and ensuring prescribed dose line surround 95% target volume.Results The values of GTV,CTV and PTV in FLT PET-CT planning were less than those of FDG,that dose received by spinal cord in two planning were not significantly yet ( t = - 1.60,- 1.55,all P ＞ 0.05 ).While,the values in mean lung dose,V5,V10,V30,V40 and V50 of bilateral lung,mean heart dose,and V30 of heart in FLT PET-CT planning were significant lower than those of FDG( t = -5.442 - -2.637,all P ＜0.05).Conclusions Compared with FDG,FLT PET-CT based treatment planning brings potential benefits for lungs and heart.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the association between T393C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of GNAS1 gene and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) in Chinese Han patients.

METHODSNinety patients with non-valvular AF and 90 healthy subjects were examined for T393C SNP of GNAS1 gene using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The allele genotypes and the distribution of allele frequencies were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The relationship between allele frequency distribution characteristics and the heart rate variability (HRV) were also studied for analysis of the association between T393C SNP of GNAS1 gene and the autonomic nervous activation in non-valvular AF.

RESULTSThe two groups showed a significant difference in the frequencies of genotypes of T393C SNP of GNAS1 gene and allele frequencies (P<0.01). CC genotype and T393C allele frequency were significantly increased in the case group. pNN50, LF, or LF/HF showed no significant difference between different genotypes (P<0.05).

CONCLUTIONSThe T393C SNP of GNAS1 gene is closely associated with non-valvular AF in Chinese Han patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Atrial Fibrillation ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Chromogranins ; Female ; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma （GR）-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced inflammation in human colon epithelial adenocarcinoma cells （Caco2） based on inhibition of ferroptosis by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） pathway. MethodCaco2 cells were divided into a normal group， a model group （LPS， 200 μg·L^-1）， low-， medium-， and high-dose GR-containing serum groups （5%， 10%， 20%）， and a ferroptosis inhibitor group （3-amino-4-cyclohexylamino-benzoic acid ethyl ester， Fer-1， 10 μmol·L^-1）. The cells in the normal group were cultured normally， while those in other groups underwent the induction of an inflammation model. The cells in the low-， medium-， and high-dose GR-containing serum groups were treated with 5%， 10%， and 20% GR-containing serum for 24 hours， respectively， and the cells in the ferroptosis inhibitor group were treated with Fer-1 for 24 hours. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe mitochondrial morphology in each group. Flow cytometry was used to detect intracellular Fe²⁺ levels. Microplate assays were performed to measure superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity， malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） levels. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， IL-10， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） levels. Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1， ferritin heavy chain 1 （FTH1）， and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GSH-Px4） proteins. Small interfering RNA （siRNA） was used to investigate the role of Nrf2 in ferroptosis regulation. The cells after interference were divided into a negative control （NC） group， a Si-Nrf2 group， a GR-containing serum （20%） + Si-Nrf2 group， and a GR-containing serum （20%） + NC group. Microplate assays were performed to measure MDA， SOD， and GSH-Px levels， and Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1， FTH1， and GSH-Px4 proteins. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed mitochondrial contraction， increased mitochondrial membrane thickness， and smaller mitochondrial morphology， increased Fe²⁺ content （P<0.01）， blunted SOD activity （P<0.01）， decreased GSH-Px expression （P<0.01）， increased MDA content （P<0.01）， reduced expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 （P<0.05）， reduced FTH1 expression （P<0.01）， and down-regulated GSH-Px4 expression （P<0.01）. In the GR-containing serum groups， the medium- and high-dose groups showed a significant decrease in Fe²⁺ content （P<0.01）， potentiated SOD and GSH-Px activities （P<0.01）， and decreased MDA levels （P<0.01）. The high-dose group showed a significant increase in Nrf2 expression （P<0.05）， and the medium-dose group showed increased expression of HO-1 and GSH-Px4 proteins （P<0.05）. The expression levels of FTH1 significantly increased in the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （P<0.01）. The study on mechanism revealed that compared with the NC group， the cells transfected with Nrf2 siRNA showed increased MDA content （P<0.01）， blunted SOD activity （P<0.01）， decreased GSH-Px activity （P<0.01）， decreased expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 （P<0.01）， and reduced levels of FTH1 and GSH-Px4 proteins （P<0.01）. Compared with the Si-Nrf2 group， the cells treated with GR-containing serum showed a decrease in MDA content （P<0.01）， an increase in SOD activity （P<0.01）， an increase in GSH-Px activity （P<0.01）， increased expression of Nrf2 and FTH1 proteins （P<0.05）， and higher expression levels of HO-1 and GSH-Px4 proteins （P<0.01）. ConclusionGR-containing serum can reduce the inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress levels in LPS-induced Caco2 cells. Its mechanism is related to the promotion of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway expression， alleviating intracellular lipid peroxidation and inhibiting ferroptosis.