Objective To study the protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) on apoptosis in skin flap after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Methods Total 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:a HRS treated group and two physiological saline treated groups (controls 1,2).The rats were anesthetized and an extended abdominal skin flap (6 cm × 9 cm) was elevated in each animal.Ischemia was induced by clamping the left right pedicle for 3 h,then HRS was administered intraperitoneally 10 min before reperfusion,and physiological saline was injected in control groups 1 and 2.In the control group 2,the flaps were elevated without occluding the artery and vein.Five days postoperation,apoptosis,TNF-α level in flap were measured with ELISA,NF-κB in nucleus was determined by Westernblot.Results Apoptotic rate represented (39.72±8.09) ％in HRS group and (69.43±13.27) ％ in control group 1,respectively.Treatment with HRS resulted in a marked reduction in apoptotic rate.TNF-α level was (516.408±38.674) pg/ml in the control group 1,a significant reduced TNF-α was measured in HRS group,accounting for (269.136 ±24.530) pg/ml.Moreover,NF-κB activation was significantly down-regulated by HRS.In control group 2,no significant apoptosis was observed because of non-blood occlusion,and there was no marked elevation of TNF-α and NF-κB.Conclusions HRS can protect skin from ischemia/reperfusion injury,attenuate apoptosis in flaps,which may be associated with the inhibition of TNF-α and NF-kb elevation.

Objective To investigate the correlation between setup error and couch position error in radiotherapy.Methods A total of 25 patients with thoracic and abdominal tumors who recently finished image-guided radiotherapy were randomly selected.The data on couch position during treatment were obtained through the record validation system, and then the couch position error was calculated.The Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between setup error and couch position error during treatment.Results In the ≥5 setup errors among the 25 patients, the correlation coefficient between random setup error and random couch position error was 0.83(P=0.00), and the correlation coefficient between systematic setup error and systematic couch position error was 0.36(P=0.11).Conclusions In radiotherapy, the random setup error is highly correlated with the random couch position error, while a moderate or low correlation exists between the systematic setup error and the systematic couch position error.

Objective:To evaluate the application of visual feedback coaching method, which is embedded in an optical surface monitoring system, in deep inspiration breath holding during the radiotherapy in left breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:Thirty patients with left breast cancer, who were scheduled to receive the whole breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, met the requirements of deep inspiration breath holding after respiratory coaching with the visual feedback coaching module in the optical surface monitoring system. Active breathing control equipment was used to control breath-holding state and CT simulation was performed. During treatment, optical surface monitoring system was used to guide radiotherapy. All patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group A ( n=15), visual feedback respiratory training method was utilized and not employed in group B ( n=15). In group A, the visual feedback coaching bar of the optical surface monitoring system was implemented, while audio interactive method was employed to guide patients to hold their breath. Real-time data of optical body surface monitoring were used to compare the interfraction reproducibility and intrafraction stability of breath holding fraction between two groups. Besides, the number of breath holding and treatment time per fraction were also compared. GraphPad prism 6.0 software was used for data processing and mapping, and SPSS 21.0 software was used for analyzing mean value and normality testing. Results:Compared with the control group, the reproducibility in the experiment group was reduced from 1.5 mm to 0.7 mm, the stability was reduced from 1.1 mm to 0.8 mm, the mean number of breath holding required per fraction was decreased from 4.6 to 2.4, the mean beam-on time per fraction from 336 s to 235 s, and the treatment time per fraction was shortened from 847 s to 602 s (all P<0.05), respectively. Conclusions:The application of visual feedback coaching method can improve the reproducibility and stability of breath holding during radiotherapy for left breast cancer, and it can also effectively reduce the number of breath holding and shorten the treatment time per fraction.

Objective To evaluate the effect of setup errors upon the target area and the organs at risk (OAR) during radiotherapy for prostate cancer.Methods Twelve prostate cancer patients receiving treatment in the recent 1 year were randomly recruited in this study.The position of each patient was verified by using cone beam CT (CBCT) for 6-10 times during the treatment.In treatment planning system (TPS),the isocenter position was moved along the setup errors with averaging error value (Plan_A) and each CBCT value (Plan_F).The dose distribution was recalculated without changing the beam setting,weight factors and monitor units (MUs).The dose difference was statistically compared between the simulation and original plans (Plan_O).Results For clinical target volume (CTV) D95,there was a significant difference between Plan_A and Plan_O (P =0.008),whereas no significant difference was observed between Plan_F and Plan_O.There were significant differences between Plan_F and Plan_O,Plan_A and Plan_O (P=0.004,and 0.041) for the planned target volume (PTV) D95.For OAR,rectal V60,Dmax,left femoral V20,Dmax and right femoral Dmax significantly differed between Plan_F and Plan_O (P=0.026,0.015,0.041,0.049,0.003).However,only left femoral Dmax significantly differed between Plan_A and Plan_O (P=0.045).The movement in the superior-inferior (SI) direction was significantly correlated with the changes in the rectal V40,V50 and V60 and PTV D95 (r=-0.785,-0.887,-0.833,0.682).The movement in the anterior-posterior (AP) direction was significantly associated with the variations in the bladder V20,V30,V40,V50 and V60(r=-0.945,-0.823,-0.853,-0.818,-0.774).The evaluation indexes of all normal tissues in the re-plan could meet the clinical requirements.However,the volume of target prescription volume had different levels of deficit,and the deficit of Plan_F was greater than that of Plan_A.Conclusions The simulation results of averaging into the TPS underestimates the effect of daily setup errors on the dose distribution.The effect of setup errors on the dose distribution in target area is greater than that of normal tissues.Y-direction errors are more likely to cause the variations of the rectal and PTV dose,and the errors in the z-direction are inclined to cause the changes in the bladder dose.

Objective:To analyze the time needed for active breathing coordinator (ABC) coaching in tumor patients, and to explore the influencing factors of coaching time.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 93 patients who received ABC treatment led by the same staff at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from September 2019 to April 2021. The effects of education level, body mass index (BMI), age, gender and disease type on the couching time were analyzed. The coaching time was expressed as Mean ± SD. Independent sample t-test or rank sum test was used for comparison between different groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Statistical significance was observed in the effect of education level, BMI and age on coaching time. The coaching time in the higher education group was (9.74±3.80) min, significantly shorter than the (13.79±6.03) min ( P=0.001) of the primary education group and the (13.03±5.14) min ( P=0.021) of the middle education group. The couching time in the BMI<24 kg/m 2 group was (10.27±3.98) min, significantly shorter compared with (12.74±5.60) min ( P<0.001) in the BMI≥24 kg/m 2 group. The coaching time in the ≥60 years old group was (14.12±5.06) min, significantly longer than the (9.86±3.76) min ( P=0.002) of the ≤40 years old group and the (11.30±5.10) min ( P=0.021) of the 40-60 years old group. No significant differences were noted in the effect of gender, disease type and tumor staging on the coaching time. The coaching time in males and females was (13.54±5.89) and (10.94±4.61) min, respectively ( P=0.071). The coaching time of patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, mediastinal lymphoma and pancreatic cancer was (10.75±4.72), (15.30±5.57), (11.69±4.96), (9.86±3.61) and (12.15±0.07) min, respectively ( P=0.071). The coaching time of stageⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ patients was (10.35±4.37), (11.88±5.30), (9.52±2.51) and (14.32±5.27) min ( P=0.060). Conclusions:Patients with higher education level and BMI<24 kg/m 2 require less ABC coaching time. Patients aged≥60 years require longer coaching time. Gender, disease type and clinical stage exert no significant effect on the duration of coaching.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the setup error in radiotherapy of somal tumors and body metastases using the ExacTrac X-ray portal image,and to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 6D setup error correction in body radiotherapy.Methods The translational and rotational setup errors were calculated by registering the bony structures on the ExacTrac X-setup images to that of the digitally reconstructed setup images,and the corresponding residual errors were calculated together.Results The translational and rotational setup errors in the x (left-right),y (superior-inferior),z (anterior-posterior) and Rx (sagittal),Ry (transverse),Rz (coronal) directions were(2.27±2.02) mm,(4.49±2.52) mm,(2.27± 1.37) mm and (1.02 ± 0.73) °,(0.67 ± 0.68) °,(0.76 ± 0.84) °,respectively.The residual translational and rotational setup errors in the x(r),y(r),z(r) and Rx(r),Ry(r),Rz(r) directions were(0.27±0.48)mm,(0.37±0.45)mm,(0.22±0.30)mm and (0.17±0.33)°,(0.14±0.34)°,(0.16± 0.28) ° respectively.Conclusions Besides the translational setup errors,a certain amount of rotational setup errors exist in radiotherapy of somal tumors and body metastases.By using the 6D setup error correction of the ExacTrac system,a translational less than 0.4 mm and rotational setup errors less than 0.2° could be achieved.

Objective To analyze the correlation between treatment time and radiotherapy plan of deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique for the whole breast irradiation (WBI) in the left breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery,verify the inter-fractional reproducibility of radiotherapy,observe the heart location and dosimetric changes and calculate the effect of DIBH upon the WBI setup error after the surgery.Methods We prospectively enrolled 15 patients with left breast cancer undergoing WBI after breast-conserving surgery,who met the requirement of D1BH.Treatment time was recorded,its correlation with the number of field and monitor unit was analyzed.Inter-fractional setup errors and PTV delineation were calculated using cone beam CT (CBCT).The accuracy of the position and dose of the heart during radiotherapy was verified by the imaging fusion of CBCT and CT images.The variables among groups were analyzed by non-parametric Firedman test.Results The average treatment time of DIBH radiotherapy was 4.6 minutes.The treatment time was correlated with the maximal and total number of sub-fields and total monitor units.During DIBH treatment,the mean cardiac displacement volume was 19.1 cm3(3.8％).The mean cardiac dose difference between CBCT and planning CT was 5.1 cGy,and there was no significant difference in the heart V5-V30.The mean inter-fractional system setup error (∑) and random setup error (σ) in the left-right (x),superior-inferior (y) and anterior-posterior (z) direction were ∑x 1.9 mm,∑y 2.1 mm,∑z 2.0 mm,σx 1.3 mm,σy 1.3 mm,σz 1.4 mm,respectively.The corresponding minimal margins for setup error were 5.7 mm,6.2 mm and 6.0 mm,respectively.Conclusion DIBH for WBI after breast-conserving surgery does not significantly prolong the treatment time.Treatment time is related to treatment plan.DIBH yields high inter-fractional reproducibility and protects the heart.

Objective To quantify the setup errors measured with kV cone-beam CT (CBCT) using breast board with or without a thermoplastic head mask in breast cancer patients who received whole breast and supraclavicular nodal region irradiation.Clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) in 3 directions were also calculated.Methods The study included thirty patient receiving both whole breast and supraclavicular nodal region irradiation on Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators (Elekta Oncology Systems,Crawley,UK) between June 2016 and January 2018.The setup error data were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients were immobilized in the supine position on a breast board system (Carbon fibre breast board,Civco,Iowa,USA) with both arms raised.Twenty of the patients added an extra thermoplastic head mask to immobilize the neck.A CBCT scan was taken before treatment at the first 3 to 5 fractions and then once every week.Registration with the planning CT was performed and adjusted to match the target volume of the supraclavicular nodal region and the cervical vertebra by experienced medical staff,the position of the arms and the breast were also considered.For all patients the couch shifts in left-right (x),superior-inferior (y),anterior-posterior (z) were recorded.Statistical analysis included two-tails significance tests (t-Student and Manne-Whitney test for means,x2 test for variances).Population of the two groups was compared in terms of distribution of the mean shift (systematic error) and their standard deviations (random error).Van Herk's setup margin defined as MPTV =2.5Σ + 0.7δ was calculated in patients with or without mask immobilization.Results Altogether,56 images and 109 images were acquired in breast board only group and head mask group,respectively.Shifts of the breast board only group and the head mask group in x,y,z were 0.212±0.174 cm vs.0.272±0.242 cm (P=0.070);0.364±0.246 cm vs.0.242±0.171 cm (P=0.001);0.423±0.302 cm vs.0.364±0.269 cm (P=0.204).Proportion of the shift less than 5 mm in the breast board only group and the head mask group were 91.07％ vs.85.32％ (P=0.294);67.86％ vs.89.91％ (P=0.001);67.86％ vs.74.31％ (P=0.381).The CTV to PTV margin in x,y,z were 0.645 cm,0.981 cm,1.317 cm in breast board only group and 0.873 cm,0.709 cm,0.961 cm in head mask group,respectively.Setup error in the x direction was significantly correlated with BMI (P=0.001).Conclusions For the alignment and immobilization of patients who received whole breast and supraclavicular nodal region irradiation,using a breast board in combination of a thermoplastic head mask may significantly help to reduce the shift variance in superior-inferior direction compared to using breast board only.The anterior-posterior error is relatively large,other immobilization device or patient alignment methods are needed to be further explored to improve the accuracy.

Objective To evaluate the effect of the tolerance table of different couch positions in the record and verify system (R&V system) upon the setup accuracy.Methods Clinical data of 715 patients (15 743 fractions of treatment) were extracted from the R&V system database and assigned into four categories including thorax and abdomen,head and neck,breast,and rectum based on the disease site and immobilization device.The first day couch position (FstD) and cumulative average couch position (CumA)were utilized as the references to analyze the couch setup of each faction of treatment,and to establish the tolerance tables of different sites.The sensitivity and specificity of two methods were evaluated by the actual clinical treatment record of the patients.Results For the FstD as the reference,the couch tolerance in the breast was significantly higher than those in other parts.When the CumA was used as the reference,the couch tolerance tended to be stable after a certain fractions of treatment,and the tolerance of all sites was less than that of the FstD.The tolerance tables significantly differed between these two methods (P=0.000).Both two methods possessed high specificity,whereas the CumA method yielded higher sensitivity than the FstD approach.Conclusion Setting a reasonable tolerance table of couch position can effectively improve the setup accuracy.

With aligned MR registration, the MR-Linac provides superior soft tissue resolution for prostate cancer. No fiducial markers or electromagnetic transponders insertion is needed to guarantee high-precision radiotherapy. The highly-recommended Adapt-To-Shape (ATS) workflow can resolve all the problems encountered during prostate cancer radiotherapy, including prostate volume changes and adjacent organs motion, both inter-fractionally and intra-fractionally. With all the above advantages, MR-Linac performs outstandingly than conventional linac in prostate cancer RT delivery, and probably helps us to reduce the CTV-PTV margin safely in the near future. Nevertheless, it is difficult to implement the ATS workflow in clinical practice. In this article, the standard ATS workflow for prostate cancer was summarized based on our own experience.