Objective To define individualized internal target volume (ITV) for hepatocellular car-cinoma using four-dimensional (4D) CT, and to compare the differences in target volume definition and dose distribution among 3D, 4D and respiratory-gated plans. Methods 4DCT scanning was obtained for 12 pa-tients with hepatoceUular. Gross tumor volume (GTV), clnical target volume (CTV) and normal tissues were contoured on all 10 respiratory phases of 4DCT images. The 3D, 4D and gated treatment plans were prepared for each patient using three different planning target volumes (PTVs): 1) PTV3D was derived from a single CTV plus conventional margins;2) PTV4D was derived from ITV4D, which encompassed all 10 CTVs plus setup margins (SMs);3) PTV_(Gating) was derived from ITV_(Gating), which encompassed 3 CTVs within ga-ting-window at end-expiration plus SMs. The PTV volume and dose distribution were compared among differ-ent plans. Results The PTV3D was the largest in all 12 patients, but still missed partial target volume in 5 patients when comparing with PTV4D. Both the 4D plans and the gated plans spared more normal tissues than the 3D plans, especially the hver. Without increasing normal tissue dose, the 4D plans allowed for increas-ing the calculated dose from (50.8±2.0) Gy (3D plans) to (54.7±3.3) Gy, and the gated plans could further increase the dose to (58.0±3.9) Gy. Conclusions The 4DCT-based plans can ensure optimal tar-get coverage with less irradiation of normal tissues and allow dose escalation when compared with 3D plans.Respiratory gated radiotherapy can further reduce the target volumes to spare more surrounding tissues, espe-cially for patients with large extent of respiratory mobility.

Objective To compare the effects of electroacupuncture at points Shangjuxu(ST37), Zusanli(ST36), Xiajuxu(ST39) and Yanglingquan(GB34) on colonic expressions of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor a7 mRNA (nAchRa7mRNA) in ulcerative colitis rats and investigate if large intestine lower He-Sea point Shangjuxu has relative specificity to fu organ diseases. Method Seventy healthy SD rats were randomized into blank, model, Shangjuxu, Zusanli, Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin groups, 10 rats, half male and half female, each. A rat model of ulcerative colitis was made by induction of 2-4-6 three nitrobenzene sulfonic acid/ethanol solution enema in every group except the blank group. After successful model making and ten days of treatment, rat colonic mucosal ulcers and inflammation were observed macroscopically, colonic IL-1bcontent was measured by ELISA and the expression of nAchRa7mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Result Compared with the model group, colonic lesions were reduced in varying degrees, colonic IL-1b content was significantly lower and the expression of nAchRa7mRNA was higher in every acupoint group (P<0.05, P<0.01);the colonic ulcer score was lower in the Shangjuxu and Zusanli groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the Shangjuxu group, colonic expression of nAchRa7mRNA was lower in the other four acupoint groups (P<0.01); colonic mucosal ulcers and inflammatory lesions were more severe and the colonic ulcer score and the IL-1bcontent were higher in the Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion The mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment for ulcerative colitis may be that it regulates abnormal immunologic function by modulating IL-1b and nAchRa7mRNA and reduces mucosal lesions. The overall therapeutic effect of Shangjuxu is better than those of Zusanli, Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin, indicating that Shangjuxu has relative specificity to fu organ large intestine.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli Infections ; epidemiology ; Germany ; epidemiology ; Humans

Objective To provide the effective prevention method of falls in order to decrease the incidences of falls among the elderly inpatients. Methods The elderly inpatients were divided into the high risk group, the moderate risk group and the low risk group according to the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (Chinese Version) and performed different preventive measures. Results The incidences of falls decreased from 0.045% to 0.015% after performing classification care plan over 1 year. Conclusions The classification care plan was effective and practicable on reducing the incidence of falls.

OBJECTIVETo survey the incidence of acute febrile reaction in elderly patients receiving intravenous zoledronic acid for osteoporosis and identify the related factors.

METHODSThirty-eight elderly patients with osteoporosis were hospitalized and treated with intravenous infusion of 5 mg zoledronic acid in 2010. The incidence of acute fever reaction was observed in these patients , and the time of fever onset, duration, average maximum temperature, and antipyretic drug used were recorded. The patients with and without acute febrile reaction were compared for age, duration of osteoporosis, sex ratio, use of parathyroid hormone before zoledronic acid treatment, β-fragment of collagen breakdown, calcitonin, osteocalcin, serum calcium, and use of anti-osteoporosis drugs before the treatment.

RESULTSAcute fever reaction occurred in 12 (31.6%) of the patients. Two of the patients had fever on the day of zoledronic acid treatment, and the other patients developed fever after the first day of treatment, with a mean duration of 1 day and a maximum temperature of (38.5∓0.84) degrees celsius;. The fever was treated with a mean of 3.55∓1.21 pseudoephedrine tablets. The patients with fever showed significantly higher parathyroid hormone levels before treatment than those without fever (P<0.05); osteocalcin, calcitonin, β-fragment of collagen breakdown, or serum calcium showed no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONAcute febrile reaction, often moderate and transient, is common in elderly patients receiving intravenous zoledronic acid for osteoporosis, and its occurrence is possibly associated with parathyroid hormone levels before the treatment.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Diphosphonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Fever ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Incidence ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for slimming.

METHODSEighty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 40 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture, electroacupuncture and auricular acupoint taping and pressing, with Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc. selected for body acupuncture, and auricular acupoints Shenmen, Neifenmi (endocrine), Pi (spleen) etc. selected for ear acupoint taping and pressing. And the medication group were treated with oral administration of Sibutramine. Body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio were determined before and after treatment to evaluate therapeutic effect of slimming.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 87.5% in the acupuncture group was similar to 82.5% in the medication group (P > 0.05). After treatment, body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio significantly decreased in the two groups, but the improvement of waist circumferences and waist-hip ratio in the acupuncture group was better than that in the medication group (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect in slimming and it can effectively improve body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio in the patient of simple obesity.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; therapy ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rat cardiac fibroblasts exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment and explore the possible pathways that mediate ROS production.

METHODSIn vitro cultured fetal rat cardiac fibroblasts treated with apocynin (APO, 100 micromol/L), Ang II (10(-7) mol/L), or APO+Ang II (10(-7) mol/L Ang II was added 1 h after 100 micromol/L APO), and the ROS levels and p22phox expression in the cells were detected using fluorescent microscope and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control cells, Ang II treatment of the cardiac fibroblasts resulted in significantly increased ROS production, the effect of which was inhibited by the application of APO. p22phox expression was hardly detected by immunohistochemistry in the control cells, but over-expressed in AngII-treated cells. APO substantially decreased the over-expression of p22phox induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONAng II increases ROS production in fetal rat cardiac fibroblasts probably by inducing p22phox over-expression.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; cytology ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo construct an eukaryotic expression vector for miRNA-1-2 that can be expressed in rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes.

METHODSThe precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) DNA template for miRNA-1-2 was designed and generated by PCR amplification. The DNA template was inserted into the hairpin RNA expression vector pSilence-4.1-neo and identified by DNA sequencing analysis. The recombinant plasmid DNA was then transfected into H9C2 cells via Lipofectamine, and the green fluorescence protein expression vector pEGFP-N3 served as the transfection marker. Twenty-four hours after transfection, the total cellular RNA was extracted using TRIzol reagent, and thermoscript reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR was performed to determine miRNA-1-2 precursor expression.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONDNA sequencing indicated that the miR-1-2 expression plasmid was correctly constructed. The precursor miRNA-1-2 was successfully expressed in the H9C2 cells, and the expression of Hand2 protein could be efficiently inhibited by miRNA-1.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the application of the spiral computerized tomography (CT) image three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technique associated with the conventional radiography in the diagnosis and treatment of severe talar neck fracture.

METHODSUsing the multi-slice spiral CT image 3D reconstruction technique, we analysed 11 cases of talar neck fracture. The fractures were reduced and fixed through a minimal incision and internal fixation with titanium cannulated lag screws.

RESULTSIn the 11 cases, the results of CT image 3D reconstruction were in concordance with plain radiograph in 6 case of Hawkins type II. And the remaining 5 cases of Hawkins types III and IV could not be classified exactly only by radiographs, one of whom was misdiagnosed. After using the CT image 3D reconstruction, the 5 cases were classified exactly before osteosynthesis. The classifications of these 11 cases were confirmed finally by surgical findings. The duration of operation were 45-140 min, averaging 81 min (including the duration of C-arm fluoroscopy). X-ray exposure time was 6-58 seconds, averaging 22 seconds. The blood loss was less than 100 ml. The fracture union was achieved in 3 months. No nonunion, talus avascular necrosis or joint surface collapse occurred. Postoperative follow-up was from 1 to 25 months. According to Hawkins score, excellent result was found in 6 type II cases and 1 type III case; good result in 1 type III case with both medial and lateral malleolar fracture, 1 type III with medial malleolus fractures and 1 open type III; fair result in 1 open type IV with lateral malleolus fracture.

CONCLUSIONSBy using the multi-slice spiral CT image 3D reconstruction associated with radiography to diagnose and treat severe talar neck fractures, the accuracy of diagnosis can be improved obviously. Based on this technique, more consummate operational plan can be designed and performed so as to achieve a better therapeutic effect.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Talus ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUNDPelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder with symptoms including nystagmus, impaired motor development, ataxia, and progressive spasticity. The proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) gene is the only pathogenic gene of PMD. Duplication of the PLP1 gene is the most frequent gene defect, accounting for 50%-70% of PMD cases, whereas point mutations in the coding sequence or the splice sites account for 10%-25% of PMD cases. This study aimed to identify PLP1 mutations in nine unrelated Chinese patients (P1-9) with PMD, and 14 subjects from the family of patient 2 were also described.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Gene dosage was determined using the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). All 7 exons and exon-intron boundaries of the PLP1 gene were amplified and analyzed using direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf these nine patients, there were four transitional, four classical, and one connatal PMD according to their clinical and radiological presentations. PLP1 duplications were identified in patients 1-7 with PMD. Their mothers were PLP1 duplications carriers as well. Both duplication carriers and normal genotypes of PLP1 were identified in the family members of patient 2. A c.517C > T (p. P173S) hemizygous missense mutation in exon 4 was found in patient 8 with PMD, and his mother was shown to be a heterozygote of this mutation.

CONCLUSIONSWe identified seven genomic duplications and one missense mutation (p. P173S) of the PLP1 gene in eight Chinese patients with PMD. This is the report about PLP1 mutations in PMD patients from the mainland of China.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Duplication ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Myelin Proteolipid Protein ; genetics ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA