Objective To compare volumetric‐modulated arc therapy(VMAT) with intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for brain metastases with regard to the dosimetric character .Methods Sixty patients who were diagnosed with brain me‐tastases were included in this study .The target area received two dose levels using late addition amount technique ,WBRT (30 Gy/10 F) with following addition (20 Gy/10 F) to 59 Gy .For a fair comparison ,VMAT and IMRT treatment plans were respectively designed for every patient with the same dosimetric constraints .Dosimetric comparisons between VMAT and IMRT plans were ana‐lyzed to evaluate :target coverage and homogeneity ,conformity of PTV ;sparing of OARs ;monitor units (MUs) .Results Two treatment plans all reached the treatment need .When compared with IMRT ,there was no significant difference in Dmean of eyeball , len ,optic never ,visual chiasma ,parotid ,brain stem ,and external auditory canal of VMAT (P>0 .05) .The Dmax of eyeball ,len ,pa‐rotid ,and external auditory canal of VMAT were lower than that in IMRT group (P<0 .05) .The VMAT group has the less MUs (P=0 .017) and less treatment time .Conclusion VMAT can reach the big‐dose radiotherapy need on brain metastases clinically . There are no significant diffference between VMAT and IMRT on Dmax ,Dmean ,CI ,and HI .The Dmax of eyeball ,len ,parotid ,and external auditory canal of VMAT were lower than that in IMRT group .The VMAT can reduce the radiotherapy time .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the brain pathological changes following exdogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) intraventricular transplantation in neonatal rats with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), and to explore the feasibility of NSCs transplantation for the treatment of PVL in premature infants.

METHODSNSCs were prepared from E14 embryonic rat brain. Two-day-old neonatal rats were randomly divided into six groups: PVL, PVL+culture medium, PVL+NSCs, sham operation, sham operation+culture medium, and sham operation+NSCs (18-21 rats each group). Intraventricular transplantation of exdogenous NSCs was performed 72 hrs after PVL induction or sham operation. The cerebral pathological evaluation was undertaken by light microscopy 7, 14 and 21 days after transplantation.

RESULTSThe pathological changes in the cerebral white matter were gradually improved with the prolonged time after transplantation. After 21 days of transplantation, 50% of the cerebral white matter showed mild pathological changes and 50% of that showed severe pathological changes, with neuronal pathological scores of 1.28+/-0.86, in the untreated PVL group. In the PVL+NSCs group, 30% of normal white matter, 40% of mild and 30% of severe pathological changes in the white matter were observed, with neuronal pathological scores of 0.32+/-0.16, 21 days after transplantation. There were very significant differences in both of pathological changes in the cerebral white matter and neuronal pathological scores between the PVL and PVL+NSCs groups (x2=10.7, P<0.01; F=29.664, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIntraventricular transplantation of exdogenous NSCs can apparently improve cerebral white matter damage. It is suggested that intraventricular transplantation of NSCs is of a great potential feasibility for the treatment of PVL in premature infants.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; pathology ; therapy ; Neurons ; cytology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo establish a reliable neonatal rat model of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) which is expected to be similar to PVL of human preterm infants pathologically, and to explore the concomitant eye lesions in the PVL model.

METHODSTwo-old-day neonatal rats were randomly divided into a PVL group and a sham-operated group (n=19 each). The PVL model was established by the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries, followed by a 30-min exposure to 8% oxygen. The cerebral infarction area was assessed with TTC staining 1 day after operation. Cerebral pathology was examined under a light micsrocope 2 and 21 days after operation. The examinations of eyes under a slip lamp and the pathology of eyeballs under a light microscope were performed 21 days after operation.

RESULTSThe TTC staining cerebral slices showed there were extensive white areas of infarction in the brain of the PVL group, with an infarction area of 53.45 +/- 33.90 mm3 and a percentage of infarction of (24.98 +/- 15.44)% . Significant cystic necrosis and apoptosis around the periventricular and subcortical white matter and mild damage in cortical neurons were observed in the PVL group 2 days after operation. The more obvious cystic necrosis around the periventricular area was found in the PVL group 21 days after operation. There were no pathological changes in the brain of the sham-operated group. All of rats in the PVL group had bilateral cataracts, however, no pathological changes were observed in their postbulbar tissues. The sham-operated group did not show eye abnormal.

CONCLUSIONSThe PVL animal model that was similar to PVL of human preterm infants pathologically was successfully established by the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries, followed by 30-min hypoxia exposure, with a positive effect and a good repeatability. Cataract can also be induced by the method.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; pathology ; Cataract ; etiology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; complications ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of early application of high-volume hemofiltration treatment (HVHF) on the levels of lactic acid, pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma, as well as APACHE II score in patients suffering from severe sepsis.

METHODSThirty patients meeting the diagnosis of severe sepsis were enrolled in the trial within 24 hours of insults. The level of lactic acid, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRP in plasma were measured before HVHF and at 24, 48 or 72 h following HVHF treatment.

RESULTThe plasma levels of lactic acid and IL-6 decreased significantly at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h after HVHF (P <0.05), while, IL-10 did not differ significantly following HVHF (P>0.05), when compared with that before HVHF.

CONCLUSIONThe early application of HVHF could clear the plasma lactic acid and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improve the tissue oxygenation in severe sepsis.

APACHE ; Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; methods ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sepsis ; blood ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

AIM:To investigate the effect of irbesartan on the fatty liver of db/db mice and whether autophagy is involved in the process.METHODS:Male db/db mice(n=24)were randomly divided into model group and irbesar-tan group,and 12 db/m mice with similar age and weight were selected as normal control group.After 16 weeks of inter-vention respectively,the fatty liver-related parameters including body weight, liver index, blood lipid, liver function and pathological changes in the liver were observed.The protein levels of p-PI3K,p-Akt,and p-mTOR,as well as Atg-7,bec-lin-1 and LC3B in the liver tissues were detected by Western blot,and the autophagosomes in the liver were observed under electron microscope.RESULTS:Compared with the model group,the body weight,liver index,blood lipids,alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were decreased in irbesartan group(P<0.05).Moreover,the pathological changes in the liver were significantly ameliorated in irbesartan group than that of model group.Importantly, the protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were decreased with irbesartan administration,while the expression of Atg-7,beclin-1 and LC3B-Ⅱwas increased(P<0.05),which resulted in a distinct increase in autophagosomes.CONCLUSION:Irbesartan alleviates he-patic steatosis in db/db mice by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and upregulating the protein expression of Atg-7,beclin-1 and LC3B-Ⅱ,thereby inducing autophagy in hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of congenital heart disease (COHD) among 4 to 17 years old children in Haidong area of Qinghai province.

METHODSAll 97 718 children were surveyed with the following 3 steps: prescreening, countershock and confirmation with color Doppler. The distribution patterns were analyzed by national groups, ages and genders respectively.

RESULTSThere were 496 COHD cases detected. The total incidence was 5.076 per thousand (496/97 718). The incidences of male and female were 5.046 per thousand (256/50 730) and 5.108 per thousand (240/46 988) (chi(2) = 0.018, P > 0.05). There was a significant difference between Pingan county and the others (chi(2) = 10.62, P < 0.01). The highest incidence was in Ledu (5.46 per thousand), the incidences of Huzhu and Pingan county were 5.45 per thousand and 3.64 per thousand respectively. There was no significant difference among different national groups (chi(2) = 0.33, P > 0.05). Among 496 COHD cases, the ratio of atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were 37.30%, 35.69% and 22.18% respectively.

CONCLUSIONTotal incidence of COHD was 5.076 per thousand in Haidong area of Qinghai province. The incidence was not different in both genders and national groups. The constitution of COHD in different counties were different.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo understand the HA1 genetic variation characterization of influenza virus subtype H3N2 circulated from 2001 to 2006 in Liaoning local area.

METHODSViral RNA was extracted and transcribed into cDNA by reverse transcriptase and amplified by PCR. The product of PCR was purified by QIAgen purification kits,and sequenced by ABI 3100avant. The sequence data were analyzed phylogenetically by Sequence software with epidemic records. Finally, the phylogenetic trees were drawn according to deduced amino acid sequences of influenza virus H3N2 from 2000 to 2006 in the NCBI database.

RESULTSThe seven HA1domain sequences of H3N2 influenza viruses circulated from 2001 to 2006 in Liaoning local area had been analyzed. Compared with WHO 2004-2006 H3N2 vaccine A/California/7/2004, 12 bases had changed, 4 positions had amino acid substitution in 62 * > E, 182 T > 1,224 S > A,225 C > Y. 224 and 225 are RBS (Receptor binding site). The homology is lower than 98%. Phylogenetic tree showed Liaoning H3N2 2006 strains and Zhejiang 2005 strains were similar to WHO Northern hemisphere winter 2006-2007 Vaccine A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus and grouped together to form an independent cluster even though several bases were still different.

CONCLUSIONThe HA1 domain of HA gene of influenza viruses (H3N2) isolated from 2001-2006 in Liaoning local area showed base mutation, amino acid sequence difference compared to A/California/7/2004 (2005-2006 vaccine), suggesting it might be the main cause leading to the spread of influenza. The sequence analysis showed Liaoning 2006 H3N2 strains were similar to those from Southern area which suggested that further surveullance should be conducted to monitor the virus mutation in circulation.

Cell Line ; China ; epidemiology ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Population Surveillance ; Protein Structure, Tertiary

VisualiZation detection methods are used for determination of the concentration of unknown target by comparing the color change in the intensity or type of reaction solution by naked eye.VisualiZation detection method has some advantages such as simple and rapid operation, low detection cost, fast reaction speed, and detecting target concentration by means of naked eye.Gold nanomaterials are widely used in the construction of visual biosensors due to its unique optical properties.For example, when changing the distance or morphology of the particles, the plasmon resonance absorption peak of local surface will change accordingly.Herein, we reviewed the application of gold nanomaterials in visualiZation biosensors for the detection of target molecules, summed up the main problems of AuNP colormertic methods in the determination of actual samples, and provided an outlook of the future of gold nanoparticles-based biosensor in application development.

Objective To study antioxidant role and mechanism of Rg1 in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).Methods One hundred and twenty healthy male rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group, sham operation group, model group, different concentration (30,60,90 mg/kg) of Rg1 treatment group.MCAO SD rats model was established by suture－occluded method;the Rg1 treatment groups were given Rg1 i.p. in advance, after 24 hours of reperfusion, neurobehavioral scores of all groups were examined by Longa’s standard;The expression of Nrf2 and HO－1 were analyzed by western blot;The content of SOD and MDA was detected by kit.Results The score of model group rats are significantly higher than control group,compared with the model group, the score of different concentration of Rg1 treatment group was decreased (P＜0.05) . The Nrf2 and HO－1 expression in model group was mildly higher than the control or sham group (P＜0.05) . Both of them in every Rg1 treatment group was higher than model group. Compared with control or sham group, SOD content was observably depressed but MDA content was dramatically increased in model group,interestingly,SOD content was enhanced, MDA content was attenuated in different concentration of Rg1 treatment group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Rg1 increases Nrf2 and HO－1 protein expression and SOD content, reduces MDA content,improves neurofunctional performance of rats after MCAO,and alleviates cerebral cerebral IRI.