Objective To explore the advantages and disadvantages between the RapidArc plans and fixed-field IMRT plan (IMRT).Methods Ten cases of cervical cancer,aged 55 (36-70),who were to receive post-operative radiotherapy were selected randomly.Single arc (Arc 1),two arcs (Arc 2),and three arc (Arc 3) RapidArc plans and fixed-field IMRT plan were designed respectively in the Eclipse 8.6 planning system.The designing,treatment time,target area,and dose distribution of organs at risk by these 4 planning techniques were compared.Results The values of average planned treatment time by the Arc 1,Arc 2,and Arc 3 ten cases was 98,155,185,and 46 min,respectively.The values of average treatment time in the Varian IX accelerator were 2.15,3.32,4.48,and 6.95 min,respectively.The average mean doses were (48.99±1.08),(49.40±0.51) ,(49.51±0.62) ,and (48.65±0.92) Gy,respectively.The values of homogeneity index (HI) of target were 1.11±0.07,1.07±0.02,1.06±0.02,and 1.12±0.05,respectively.The values of eonformal index (CI) of target were 0.73±0.13,0.87±0.06,0.87±0.06,and 0.79±0.06,respectively.The doses at rectum,bladder,and small intestine calculated by IMRT plan were the lowest,and the doses at the femoral neck calculated by these 4 plans were similar.Conclusions The RapidArc plan is superior in dose distribution at target,HI,CI,and treatment time to IMRT,but IMRT plan is superior to RapidArc in planned dose calculation time and protection of organs at risk.However,in general,the RapidArc plan is better in clinical application than IMRT plan.

Objective To examine the sensitivity of human colorectal carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil treatment by stable transfection of extrinsic Fas-associated death domain protein(FADD) gene，both in vitro and in vivo，so as to investigate the feasibility of combination therapy of FADD gene and 5-fluorouracil in human colorectal carcinoma.Methods①RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expressions of both mRNA and protein of FADD gene in SW480／FADD (stably transfected with FADD)，SW480／neo and SW480 cells.②After treatment with 5-fluorouracil as an apoptotic inducer，in vitro cell growth activities were investigated by MTT assay.Cell apoptosis and its rates were determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assay and flow cytometry of annexin V-FITC／PI staining.The expressions of caspase-8 and caspase-3 were examined by Western blotting.③To examine the inhibitory effect of FADD gene combined with 5-fluorouracil, tumor xenograft model was prepared for in vivo study.Results ① Compared with SW480 and SW480/neo cells, FADD mRNA and protein levels of SW480/FADD cells were higher (P<0.05). ② Inhibitory rate of SW480/FADD cells was remarkably higher than SW480 and SW480/neo cells (P＜0.05 ). ③ Forty-eight hours after treatment with 5-fluorouracil (10 mg/L), the apoptotic rate of SW480/FADD cells was (33.3 ± 4.5)%, which was higher than SW480 [(13. 9 ± 3. 2)%3 and SW480/neo [(14. 1 ± 3. 4)%], with significant difference (P< 0.05).④ Forty-eight hours after treatment with 5-fluorouracil (10 mg/L),procaspase-8 and procaspase-3 expressions of SW480 and SW480/neo cells were higher than SW480/FADD cells, whereas their cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3 expressions were lower than SW480/FADD cells (P＜0. 05).⑤ In in vivo study, SW480/FADD cells increased the efficacy of fluorouracil-induced inhibition of tumor growth in nude mice. ConclusionsStable overexpression of FADD increases sensitivity of the cells to 5-fluorouracil and combination of FADD with 5-fluorouracil will he a promising alternative in colorectal cancer treatment.

To enforce the application of medical techniques in the primary hospital so as to improve clinical quality and ensure clinical safety, we established the evaluation criteria for admittance of medical techniques class Ⅰ and the incentive system for new technique application. When both systems were applied, favorable results were obtained.

Objective To conduct the molecular epidemiologic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) in the intensive care units(ICUs) and general wards and to compare their clinical characteristics.Methods Ninety-six clinically isolated strains of S.aureus(43 strains from the emergency intensive care unit(EICU) and neurosurgical intensive care unit(NICU) and 53 strains from the general wards) collected from Sepetember 2015 to April 2016 were performed the bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility test.The molecular typing was performed by adopting staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing method.Results Among 96 strains of S.aureus,the detection rate of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA) was 40.6%(39/96),which among 43 strains in ICU was 62.8%(27/43) and which among 53 strains in the general words was 22.6%(12/53).The resistance rates of strains from ICUs to gentamicin,levofloxacin,clindamycin,fosfomycin and minocycline were 23.3%,48.8%,46.5%,32.6% and 32.5% respectively,while which from the general wards were 7.5%,24.5%,18.9%,2.1% and 0% respectively.The Spa typing results showed that the main types of ICUs were t002,t091 and t311.The major epidemic strain was t002(n=16,37.2%) and mainly isolated from EICUs(12 strains),26 spa types were identified among the general wards trains,mainly were t189,t377,t571,t034,t091,t127.Conclusion The detection rate of MRSA in ICUs is higher than that in the general wards,these strains have high resistant rate to routine antibacterial drugs.t002 is the major epidemic strain.The general wards have more spa types with higher genetic diversity.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of astaxanthin on renal fibrosis and apoptosis induced by partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats.

METHODSNinety-six male adult SD rats were randomized into 6 equal groups, namely the blank control group, sham-operated group, UUO group, and astaxanthin group at high, medium, and low doses. Left ureteral ligation was performed in UUO and astaxanthin groups, and two days before the operation, the rats in astaxanthin groups were lavaged with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg astaxanthin daily for 14 days, while the same volume of saline was given to rats in UUO group and sham-operated group. Renal pathological in the rats was observed with HE staining, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney were detected immunohistochemically; the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected using Bcl-2 and Bax detection kits.

RESULTSCompared to UUO group, high- and medium-dose astaxanthin groups showed obviously ameliorated renal pathologies and reduced expressions of TGF-β1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney with lessened renal cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONAstaxanthin can reduce UUO-induced renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis, demonstrating the renoprotective effect of astaxanthin against renal fibrosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ureteral Obstruction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Xanthophylls ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To explore the cerebral circulation characteristics of patients with persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) combined with cerebrovascular diseases and their clinical relevance.Methods Eight patients with PTA,admitted our hospital from March 2010 to March 2013 and conformed by DSA,MR radiography (MRA) or CT angiography (CTA),were chosen in our study; their cerebral circulation features and clinical manifestations were retrospectively analyzed.Results In these eight patients,two were combined with cerebral infarction,one with cerebral artery stenosis,two with cerebral infarction and cerebral artery stenosis,one with transient ischemic attack,and the left two with cerebral aneurysm.Four patients complained for paroxysmal dizziness (one of them with one-side weakness),two patients complained for numbness of a limb,One patient had headache and blepharoptosis and one patient had diplopia.Saltzman type Ⅰ was noted in six patients,type H in one and special type in one.The pathogenesis of cerebral infarction was related to PTA.Conclusion The clinical features of the patients with PTA often determine by merger cerebrovascular diseases; PTA can change the normal cerebral circulation; PTA detection can be helpful in the diagnosis of the pathogenesis of multiple cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of oral treatment with tetrandrine (TD) and N-acetylcys-teine (NAC) separately or jointly on silica-exposed rats.

METHODS40 sprague-Dawly (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal saline group, quartz group, TD treatment group (50 mg/kg), NAC treatment group (500 mg/kg) and combined treatment group (TD: 50 mg/kg + NAC: 500 mg/kg). Rats in normal saline group and other groups received intratracheal instillation of normal saline and quartz dust suspension respectively. Treatment groups were given TD, NAC separately or jointly via esophagus the next day after instillation, once a day and six times a week for 30 consecutive days. At the end of experiment, the pathological changes of lung tissues were evaluated by the methods of Foot, HE and Masson staining, the level of hydroxyproline (HYP), malondjalde-hyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lung tissues were measured by alkaline hydrolysis method, the barbituric acid method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the quartz group, lymph nodes/body coefficients in all treatment groups and lung/body coefficient in combined treatment group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Pathology results showed that the normal saline group demonstrated no obvious evidence of lung damage. The quartz group lungs silicotic lesions focused on II~III level, the TD treatment group was mainly with I level, the NAC treatment group was mainly with I~II level, and the combined treatment group only showed little silicotic nodule, no obvious fibrosis. HYP content in TD treatment group and combined treatment group were significantly lower than that in the quartz group (P < 0.05), while it showed no obvious change in NAC treatment group. MDA content in lung tissues of each treatment group (TD treatment group, NAC treatment group and combined treatment group) were 18.80 ± 2.94, 20.13 ± 4.01 and 17.05 ± 3.52 nmol/ml respectively, which lower than in the quartz group (23.99 ± 3.26 nmol/ml). The level of IL-6 in lung tissues of the quartz group were 89.57 ± 8.78 pg/ml. After TD and NAC monotherapy, the IL-6 content decreased to 79.22 ± 9.65 pg/ml and 81.63 ± 5.72 pg/ml, and it decreased more significantly after combined medication (74.37 ± 3.17 pg/ml). The level of TNF-α in the quartz group were 59.05 ± 4.48 pg/ml. After TD and NAC monotherapy, the TNF-α content decreased to 50.48 ± 2.76 pg/ml and 54.28 ± 4.30 pg/ml, and it decreased more significantly after combined medication (49.10 ± 4.98 pg/ml).

CONCLUSIONNAC and TD could reduce MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 levels in lung tissue, and alleviate SiO2-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Combined treatment with TD and NAC was more effective than TD or NAC treatment separately.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dust ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Quartz ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the impact of altering brain gray matter volume (GMV) on cognition and gait disorder in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).Methods:Thirty-six patients with aMCI, who admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from July 2018 to August 2020, were collected, and 33 normal controls (NC) matched with age, sex and education level were included in the same period. The neuropsychological assessment was done in all the subjects using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA), Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Chinese version (CAMCOG-C), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL). The timed up and go test (TUG), dual task of timed up and go test (D-TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used in the subjects for assessment. The parameters such as stride length, gait speed, gait frequency were collected by intelligent device for energy expenditure and activity. All the subjects received 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scan to obtain high-resolution T 1 structural images. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to compare the difference of GMV between aMCI patients and NC. Partial correlation analysis was performed among altering GMV in the regions of interest (ROI), cognitive score and gait parameters, respectively. Linear regression analysis was used between whole brain GMV and gait parameters. Results:The scores of MMSE, MoCA, CAMCOG-C and the subitems of CAMCOG-C in aMCI group were significantly lower than those in NC group ( P<0.05). In aMCI patients, both the test time of TUG and D-TUG increased, gait speed slowed down, stride length shortened, and stride frequency and BBS score decreased ( P<0.05).VBM analysis showed that the whole brain GMV in aMCI patients was obviously lower than that of NC. In the aMCI group, GMV in ROI1 (right hippocampus, right parahippocampal gyrus, right amygdala and right fusiform gyrus), ROI2 (right middle temporal gyrus), ROI3 (right angular gyrus), ROI4 (right occipital lobe), ROI5 (bilateral orbital frontal lobe), ROI6 (left middle frontal gyrus and rectus gyrus), ROI7 (left fusiform gyrus and left parahippocampal gyrus) was significantly decreased compared with the NC group [Gaussian random field (GRF) correction, two-tailed test, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). In the aMCI group, GMV in ROI1 was positively correlated with orientation ( r=0.437, P=0.012), memory ( r=0.360, P=0.043), execution ( r=0.414, P=0.019), and negatively correlated with ADL score ( r=-0.529, P=0.002). GMV in ROI2 was negatively correlated with ADL score ( r=-0.400, P=0.023). GMV in ROI4 and in ROI5 was positively correlated with the calculation ( r=0.370, P=0.037) and execution ( r=0.360, P=0.043), respectively. GMV in ROI6 was positively correlated with MMSE score ( r=0.357, P=0.045), CAMCOG-C total score ( r=0.503, P=0.003) and calculation ( r=0.395, P=0.025), and negatively correlated with ADL score ( r=-0.387, P=0.028). GMV in ROI5 was positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.391, P=0.027). In the aMCI group, CAMCOG-C total score was negatively correlated with D-TUG results ( r=-0.387, P=0.035), executive function was negatively correlated with TUG results ( r=-0.450, P=0.013) and D-TUG results ( r=-0.553, P=0.002), and positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.379, P=0.039). Attention was positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.590, P=0.001), and computing was positively correlated with gait speed ( r=0.371, P=0.044). The linear regression of whole brain GMV and gait parameters showed negative correlation between the GMV of left occipital lobe and TUG results in the aMCI group. The GMV of bilateral prefrontal cortex, right occipital lobe and surrounding cortex was positively correlated with gait speed (GRF correction, two-tailed test, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). Conclusions:Patients with aMCI presented with gray matter atrophy, cognition impairment, and gait disorders. The cognition impairment was closely related to the atrophy of medial temporal lobe. Gait disorders were not only associated with cognition impairment but also with gray matter volume in the prefrontal lobe, occipital lobe and its surrounding cortex, and anterior central gyrus.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism and the change of grey matter volume (GMV) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients with subcortical ischemic depression (SID).Methods:Eighty-seven CSVD patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled from July 2017 to November 2020 and divided into CSVD-SID group [Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score>10] and CSVD-non - depression group (CSVD-ND group, GDS score≤10) according to GDS. Both GMV and fALFF were calculated based on structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging data, and the interactions between SID diagnosis and BDNF gene on brain function and structure alteration were explored.Results:GMV was significantly increased in the posterior default network (pDMN; such as posterior cingulate gyrus/precuneus and middle temporal gyrus) in the CSVD-SID group compared with the CSVD-ND group. On GMV property, significant interactions between BDNF gene and SID were found in the cuneus ( F=25.50, P<0.001), precuneus lobe ( F=13.61, P<0.001) and cerebellum ( F=17.23, P<0.001). In the aspect of fALFF, the brain functional activity in the superior frontal gyrus was significantly increased in the CSVD-SID group compared with that in the CSVD-ND group (0.363±0.648 vs -0.427±0.514,cluster size=48 voxels, t=5.63, P<0.001). But there was no significant interaction between diagnosis and BDNF genotype on brain function. Conclusions:Both the GMV and fALFF were increased in CSVD-SID, mainly located in the pDMN and frontal lobe. Significant interaction was found between CSVD-SID and BDNF genotype on GMV.