Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; complications ; Venous Thrombosis ; complications

Objective To evaluate the clinical feasibility of quality assurance of intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) through a series of clinical case studies. Methods Helios inverse planning system was used to provide optimized IMRT treatment plans for brain tumor, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, spinal metastatic tumor and prostatic cancer. To verify the conformation between the fluence map of each beam predicted by the planning system and that actually delivered, a piece of film under a homogeneous polystyrene phantom was irradiated vertically with each of the beams to record the deposited dose. This measured fluence map was compared with that predicted by the planning. The dose distribution was recorded by irradiating the film in an anthropomorphic phantom using patients' treatment plan, then compared with that predicted by the planning. An ionization chamber in a water phantom was used to measure the central point dose and another eccentric point dose. Results The fluence map measured by the film was well consistent with that predicted by the planning. The error between the measured dose and predicted dose in the central point was less than 3%, whereas the error of the dose in another eccentric point varied greatly. The isodose distribution (on axial plane) measured by the film was consisent with the predicted one. Conclusions The procedures for quality assurance of IMRT are feasible in our experience.

Objective To analyze the prognostic factors of patients with leukemia treated with single fraction total body irradiation (SFTBI) followed by hernatopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).Methods From January 2001 to September 2008, 102 patients received HSCT. The differences of the survival rate, relapse rate and incidence of interstitial pneumonia (IP) between groups regarding different genders, ages, pathological types, transplantation methods and TBI parameters were compared and the factors related with the survival rate, relapse rate and incidence of IP were analyzed. Results The followup time ranged from 15 to 1482 days (median, 406 days). The follow-up rate was 95.1%. 86 and 55patients were followed up more than one year and three years. The 1-and 3-year survival rates were 59.0%and 44.0%. In univariate analysis, the 3-year survival rate was signifcantly different between the groups with and without relapse before transplantation (20% vs. 55%, χ2 = 6.33, P = 0. 012), allogeneictranplantation versus autologous tranplantation (39% vs. 68%, χ2 = 8.06, P = 0.005), grade 3 or more acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and grade 0 -2 aGVHD (0% vs. 54%, χ2 = 7.52, P = 0.006),with and without relapse after transplantation (19% vs. 58%, χ2 = 10.13, P =0.001), with and without IP (23% vs. 58%, χ2 =8.35, P=0.004). Multivariate analysis showed that grade 3 or more aGVHD was the only statistically significant prognostic factors (χ2 = 12. 74 ,P =0. 000). The l-and 3-year relapse rateswere 30. 0% and 50. 0%. The incidence of relapse was obviously higher in the group with relapse before transplantation than that without (47% vs. 16%, χ2 =7. 32, P=0. 007). Multivariate analysis showed thatrelapse before transplantation was a significant factor predicting relapse after transplantation (χ2 = 9. 39,P =0. 020). The cumulative incidence of IP was 35.0%. The incidence of IP was different between groups with dose homogeneity > 3% and ≤ 3% (27% vs. 4%, χ2 = 5. 21, P = 0. 023), with and without acute parotitis (34% vs. 3%, χ2 = 14. 15, P= 0.000), allogeneic transplantation group and autologous transplantation group (31% vs. 8%, χ2= 7.70, P= 0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that transplantation methods, acute parotitis and dose homogeneity were statistically significant factors in predictingIP (χ2 = 10. 08 , 10. 08 and 7.69 , P = 0. 002 , 0. 002 and 0. 010 , respectively) . Conclusions Patients who develop grade 3 or higher aGVHD have poor prognosis. Dose homogeneity influences the incidence of IP. Patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation are apt to have IP. Acute parotitis is related with IP and might be a predictor.

Objective To investigate the correction of manual monitor unit calculation for asymmetric fields using the Varian enhanced dynamic wedge.Methods Monitor unit (MU) was calculated when the field sizes ranged from 6 cm × 6 cm to 20 cm × 20 cm at a depth of 5 cm using Varian Eclipse and both 6 MV and 10 MV X-rays data from Varian Clinac 23EX for all seven available EDW angles,including 10°15°,20°,25°,30°,45°and 60° The field size was kept fixed,and the distance between geometry center of field and isocenter was increased in increments of 1 cm,ranging from -9 cm to 4 cm.When the field size was the same,the correction factor was defined as the ratio of MU calculated for asymmetric field to monitor unit calculated for symmetric field.To ensure the correction factors obtained above could be used in routine manual calculation for EDW fields,measurements were made at a depth of 5 cm for 30°and 45°EDW with field size of 10 cm × 10 cm using 6 MV X-rays.Results The correction factor was independent of field dimensions,so the average value was adopted to make practical calculation.Without correction,the maximum error was 18% for 30°,and 30% for 45.After the results of monitor unit calculation were corrected,the largest error was - 1.8% and - 1.7% for 30° and 45°EDW,respectively.The magnitude of errors was within the clinical tolerance limits.Conclusions For asymmetric EDW fields,there is very large difference between the prescribed dose by manual calculation using EDW factors measured for symmetric fields and that delivered during treatment in order to obtain correct dose to reference point.The errors are decreased to be acceptable after correction.The method of correction is simple and independent of machine specific beam parameters.

The paper described the rationality of traditional and modern application of prepared decoction pieces of herbal medicine on basis of application, statistics and comparison analysis of three forms of drugs of traditional Chinese herbal pieces prepared for decoction, prepared decoction pieces in small packing and granules; and illustrated different opinions correlative to the three forms of drugs; put forward the counter-measures and proposals for the problems facing the traditional Chinese herbal pieces for decoction; the paper stated clearly that the traditional Chinese herbal pieces for decoction should not be replaced, instead, the viewpoint and the reasons on its application must be holding on; and the trend of development and expectations of the Chinese herbal pieces for decoction were predicted as well.
Dosage Forms ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bushen Qiangji Granule (BQG) in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with Shen-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome.

METHODSA randomized controlled and single-blinded prospective clinical trial was carried out on 68 patients, who were randomly assigned into the BQG group treated with BQG alone and the combined treated (CT) group treated with BQG and sulfasalazine, six-month medication was successively applied to both groups. The therapeutic effects were evaluated before treatment and at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month of the treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 81.82% in the BQG group and 86.82% in the CT group after 6 months of treatment, showing no significant difference between the two groups, but that after 1 months of treatment in the BQG group was lower than that in the combined group (15.15% vs. 27.59%, P < 0.01). Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath AS function index (BASFI), and clinical symptoms such as ache and morning stiffness, as well as indexes of Schober test, activity of thoracic cage, finger-ground distance, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and Creactive protein (CRP) in both groups were improved remarkably. BQG showed a time-dependant' effect, the therapeutic effect intensified as the time went by (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, the effect initiating time was earlier in the CT group than that in the BQG group.

CONCLUSIONBQG has satisfactory efficacy, good safety and compliance, and is convenient for administering, therefore, it has broad applying prospect with high exploiting value.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Safety ; Single-Blind Method ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a natural epidemic zoonotic pathogen. However, no reports have been published regarding the isolation, identification and full-length genome of EMCV from a local aardvark population. In present study, an EMCV isolate HNXX13 was isolated from aardvarks named Huainan-pig in Henan Province. The systematic identification, full-length genome sequencing and molecular characteristic analysis of the isolate HNXX13 were conducted. The result showed that the isolate was spherical with a diameter of 24-30 nm, neither heat- nor acid-resistant, sensitive to trypsin, insensitive to chloroform, not protected by bivalent cationic, and the specific fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of BHK-21 cells infected with the isolate by using indirect fluorescence assay. The full-length genome of EMCV HNXX13 generated a 7 725bp sequence (GenBank: F771002), with 81.0%-99.9% nucleotide identity to reference strains from different animals, and 99.5% with a Chinese reference strain isolated earlier from a commercial pig herd. The phylogenetic tree based on the full-length genome and ORF sequences identified that all EMCV strains were divided into three groups G1, G2 and G3, and strain HNXX13 belonging to the G1 group with other Chinese reference strains. The result also identified that this EMCV infection could cause severe clinical signs in a local aardvark population, and enriches the molecular epidemiological data of EMCV in China. Regional differences exist in EMCV genome and transmission is limited within a certain area. However, the cross-infection and transmission of EMCV between aardvark and mice appears most likely. Mutations have occurred in some amino acids of EMCV strain HNXX13 during the transmission in local aardvark herd and these mutations might make the virus easier to infect the aardvark.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; Cardiovirus Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; China ; Encephalomyocarditis virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genome, Viral ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Xenarthra ; virology

OBJECTIVETo select a proper Ganoderma luciderm strain for the fruiting body production.

METHODThe strains were cultivated on the agar media and in the liquid media, respectively. Then the strains were inoculated onto the solid medium made from agricultural products (such as wheat bran, corn powder, wood meal, etc.) and cultured for a certain period.

RESULTStrains, which were easier to produce polyporic tissues at the vegetative growth stage, would be more quickly to form fruiting body with high quality and yield of the spores.

CONCLUSIONAppearance of the polyporic tissues at the mycelium vegetative growth stage could be used as a marker for the strain selection for the G. luciderm substituted cultivation.

Bioreactors ; Culture Media ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; growth & development ; Ganoderma ; growth & development ; Mycelium ; growth & development ; Triticum ; Zea mays

AIM:To investigate the effects of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein-1(PDK1)on the biologi-cal characteristics of non-small-cell lung cancer cell line A549 and the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:The expres-sion levels of PDK1 in lung normal epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and different lung cancer cell lines H 460, SPCA1 and A549 were determined by Western blot and real-time PCR.Small interfering RNA was used to down-regulated PDK1 ex-pression in the A549 cells,and then cell viability and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry,respec-tively.The expression of cell cycle-and apoptosis-related molecules at protein level and the activation of Akt /FoxO1 path-way were measured by Western blot.Insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1,one of the most potent Akt activators)was used to evaluate the interaction between PDK 1 and Akt/FoxO1 pathway.RESULTS:Compared with lung normal epithelial cell line BEAS-2B,PDK1 expression in the lung cancer cell lines was obviously increased(P<0.05).Knockdown of PDK1 suppressed cell viability and cell cycle,but promoted the apoptosis of the A 549 cells.The results of Western blot showed that the protein levels of cyclin D1,CDK4,p-Rb,Bcl-2,p-Akt and cytoplasmic p-FoxO1 were significantly decreased after knockdown of PDK1,with increases in the protein levels of P27, cleaved caspase-3 and nuclear FoxO1.Pre-incubation with IGF-1 partly reversed the effect of PDK1 knockdown on Akt/FoxO1 pathway and increased the viability of A 549 cells. CONCLUSION:In human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells,knockdown of PDK1 suppresses cell viability and pro-motes cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of cell cycle-and apoptosis-related molecules via Akt/FoxO1 pathway, suggesting that PDK1 may be a potential target for diagnosis and theatment of lung cancer.

Objective To analyze the tendency of hospital based surveillance incidence rates of birth defects in Guangdong province to provide reference evidence for related intervention program. Methods Data from hospital based birth defects surveillance of Guangdong province during 1997-2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Results The overall surveillance rates of birth defects in Guangdong province showed an increasing trend form 98.9 per 10 000 birth in 1997 to 244.2 per 10 000 birth in 2007. Among the frequently seen birth defects, the rate of congenital heart diseases increased sharply, but the rates of congenital talipes equinovarus, polydactyly, cleft lip with/without cleft palate showed a slight increasing trend.It seemed that there was a significant difference between different maternal age interval and gender of the infants. Mother's illness, drug use, and exposure to environment harmful factors in early pregnancy stage, high maternal age, negative bearing history were the suspect risk factors for birth defects. Conclusion The increasing trend of surveillance rate of birth defects seemed to be comprehensively affected by the factors as: method being adopted, target and extension of birth defects surveillance, technology used for diagnosis, kinds of risk factor,and quality control on surveillance programs.