Objective To study retrospectively the outcome and failing factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) treated with late-course unconventional fractionation radiotherapy(LCUCFR). Methods From January 1996 to December 2000, 133 such patients were analyzed retrospectively. All had been confirmed by histopathology as poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, including 101 males and 32 females. All were treated by LCUCFR. The nasopharyngeal lesion radiation schedule was as follows; 1.An initial conventional fractionation 34.5Gy/18f for face and neck port, with 1.92Gy per daily fractionation;2.The above regimen was followed by 1.25-1.50Gy per fraction twice daily in 6-8 days for pre-auricular port;3.The above regiment was then followed by conventional boosting dose 1.90Gy and 1.30Gy(morning 1.90Gy and afternoon 1.30Gy) twice daily(with interval of 6-8 hours) in 6-8 days. The whole course was 5 fractions per week with the median of 78Gy over a median of 47days. The positive and negative lymph node in the neck were treated by conventional radiotherapy with a median of 67Gy and a dose of 50-55Gy in median interval of 43 days. Results The 5-year nasopharyngeal lesion and neck metastasis lymph node control rate was 92.9% and 96.4%, respectively. T1,T2,T3 and T4 stage local control rate was 100%,96.6%,96.6% and 78.4%,respectively. The overall 5-year survival and disease-free survival rate was 73.3% and 70.8%,respectively. The 5-year distant-free metastasis rate was 80.2%. Fourteen varietes were used to analyze the prognosis. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the distant metastasis, lower neck and superclavicle area as well as both neck lymph node metastases and local recurrence were prognostic factors for 5-year survival rate(Logrank test all P

Objective To investigate the effect of graded motor imagery ( GMI) therapy combined with rou-tine occupational therapy on the recovery of upper extremity function after stroke. Methods Thirty stroke survivors who met inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to a control group ( n=15) or a GMI group ( n=15) . The control group received routine medication, conventional physical therapy and routine occupational therapy ( one hour a day) , while the GMI group received 30 minutes of routine occupational therapy and 30 minutes of graded motor imagery therapy every day in addition to conventional medication and physical therapy. Before and after four weeks of treat-ment, the patients in both groups were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Upper Extremities ( FMA-UE) , the Box and Block Test ( BBT) and Brunnstrom arm and hand staging. Surface electromyography of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii was performed as the affected elbow flexed and stretched in maximum isometric contrac-tions, and the co-contraction ratios ( CRs) were calculated. Results After the treatment, the average FMA-UE score, Brunnstrom arm and hand stage, BBT and CR scores in both groups had improved significantly. The average improvement in the GMI group was significantly greater than in the control group. Conclusions Graded motor im-agery therapy can significantly promote motor recovery of the upper extremities of hemiplegic patients after a stroke.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of intracavernous sinus spring coil+Onyx gel embolization combined with proximal spring coil occlusion of the ophthalmic vein in cavernous sinus-dural arteriovenous fistula (CS-DAVF).Methods:Thirty-seven patients with CS-DAVF accepted intracavernous sinus spring coil+Onyx gel embolization combined with proximal spring coil occlusion of ophthalmic vein in Department of Radiology and Interventional Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected. The clinical data and therapeutic efficacy of these patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results:All 37 patients had different degrees of ocular symptoms at the time of treatment: 31 (83.8 %) had conjunctival congestion, 16 (43.2 %) had exophthalmos, and 14 (37.8 %) had obvious periorbital vascular murmur. Endovascular intervention was performed in all patients via venous routes, including inferior petrous sinus approach ( n=34), ophthalmic vein approach ( n=2), and facial vein approach ( n=1). Immediate postoperative DSA showed that 31 patients had complete occlusion of the fistula, and 6 patients had near-total occlusion (disappeared drainage of the thickened ophthalmic vein or obviously slowed down drainage). Thirty-five patients had ocular oedema of varied degrees and then gradually reduced (lasting for 1-2 weeks), and all the ocular congestion and vascular murmurs disappeared before discharging from the hospital. Four patients had postoperative palsy of the motor and abducens nerves, which improved significantly after 1-5 months; 1 patient had diplopia in combination with abducens nerve palsy; all symptoms alleviated after 2 months of nutritional nerve medication. Follow up in Outpatient Clinic or telephone was performed for (12.1±4.4) months, ranged for 6.5-21.3 months; symptoms of ocular congestion and edema disappeared in all patients at the last follow-up. Followed-up DSA at 6 months showed no recurrence of CS-DAVF. Conclusion:Intracavernous sinus spring coil+Onyx gel embolisation combined with proximal spring coil occlusion of the ophthalmic vein is safe and effective in CS-DAVF.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the activation of microglia cells in the Lto Lspinal cord in rats with neuropathic pain, so as to investigate whether EA could inhibit the activation of spinal microglial cells and regulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to achieve the analgesic effect.

METHODSForty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-model group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. The rats in the normal group received no treatment; the rats in sham-model group were treated with operation to exposure sciatic nerve for 2 to 3 min (no knot); the rats in the remaining groups were treated with model establishment of chronic constrictive injury (CCI). 7 days after model establishment, the rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34), 30 min per time, once a day for consecutive 7 days. Only immobilization was used in the remaining groups the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) of affected side feet were respectively measured before model establishment and 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 12 days and 14 days after model establishment; 14 days after model establishment, rats were sacrificed; the immunohistochemical method was used to measure the expression of Iba1 and BDNF in the sample of Lto Lspinal cord; real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression BDNF mRNA.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-model group, the pain threshold was decreased significantly in the model group (<0.05), leading to hyperpathia. After EA treatment, compared with the model group, the pain threshold was increased significantly in the EA group (<0.05). 14 days after operation, the microglia cells in the Lto Lspinal cord, expression of BDNF and level of mRNA in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group and sham-model group (all<0.01); those in the EA group were significantly lower than those in the model group (all<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe analgesic effect on neuropathic pain is likely to be achieved by EA through inhibiting the activation of spinal microglia cells and down-regulating the expression of BDNF.