Objective To explore the application of CT value in calculating the proton incident energy in proton treatment planning system. Methods Bethe-Block formula and the formula for calculating the proton range were analyzed to study the correlation of the range of proton beam ( 70-250 MeV ) between a variety of radiation equivalent material and water. Procedure of Monte Carlo SRIM2008 was used to verify the possibility of a constant proportional coefficient of range ( Ci ). The proportional coefficient ( Ci ) of range in radiation-equivalent material and the CT value were fitted by using Origin 8.0 software to study the functional relation of CT value and Ci. The actual range of proton was equivalent to a range of water and incident proton energy could be calculated. Results There was a constant range of Ci of proton beam (70-250 MeV) between a variety of radiation equivalent material and water. There was a functional relation between CT value and Ci ( r = 0.999). The actual range of proton in radiation equivalent material can be equivalent to a range of the water. Conclusions CT values and a range of proportional coefficient ( Ci ),and the actual required range of the tumor could be used to accurately calculate the water equivalent range,and the incident proton energy to the position of Bragg peak. A new exploration for using CT technology in proton treatment planning system could be obtained.

Objective To investigate the relationship of age,gender,carotid artery atherosclerosis with carotid artery tortuosity.Methods The data of patients with carotid computed tomography angiography (CTA)at Beijing Hospital from January 2014 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.A total of 100 patients aged ≥50 years with normal carotid arteries and 100 patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery diseases were selected with age-and gender-stratified and random sampling method.Three-dimensional images of bilateral carotid arteries were reconstructed by using Mimics software.The common carotid artery(CCA)tortuosity index,extracranial internal carotid artery(EICA) tortuosity index,and the CCA-ICA bifurcation angle were measured.Association of laterality,age and gender with carotid artery tortuosity was analyzed and the differences in parameter values of carotid artery tortuosity were compared between normal carotid artery subjects and patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery.Results In normal carotid artery group,the EICA tortuosity index and ICA angle were larger in left-side than in right side(P＜0.001),and CCA tortuosity index was less in left side than in right side(all P＜0.001).The bilateral EICA and CCA tortuosity index were positively correlated with age(the left ICA:rs=0.284,P =0.004;the right ICA:rs =0.308,P =0.002;the left CCA..rs=0.371,P＜0.001;the right CCA:rs=0.243,P=0.015).The EICA and CCA were more tortuous in women than in men[the left EICA:1.180(0.200)vs.1.105(0.140),Z=-2.996,P=0.003;the right EICA:1.150(0.128)vs.1.105(0.123),Z=-2.189,P=0.029;the left CCA:1.060(0.073)vs.1.045(0.060),Z=-2.145,P=0.032;the right CCA:1.145(0.158)vs.1.080(0.083),Z=2.324,P=0.020].The ICA angle was not related with advanced age or gender(P＞0.05).Manne-Whitney tests showed no statistically significant differences in EICA tortuosity,ICA angle or CCA tortuosity between patients with versus without atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis(P ＞0.05).Conclusions The tortuosity in both EICA and CCA increases with age,and the EICA and CCA are more tortuous in female.There is no significant correlation between carotid artery tortuosity and atherosclerotic carotid artery disease.

Objective: To observe the safety and long-term efficacy of carotid artery stenting(CAS)in octogenarians with carotid stenosis. Methods: Clinical data of patients aged 80 years or older undergoing CAS for carotid stenosis in our hospital between July 2008 and October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.The perioperative treatment outcomes and mid- and long-term follow-up results were analyzed. Results: A consecutive series of 61 patients(a median age of 81 years, 54 males)were enrolled.Of 61 patients, 23(37.7%)patients had symptomatic carotid artery stenosis.Sixty patients underwent unilateral CAS, one patient underwent bilateral CAS, and 26(42.6%)underwent other cerebrovascular interventional therapy during the same period.The technical success rate was 100.0%.During the perioperative period, the incidence of stroke was 6.6%(4/61), and no patient died.Eight(13.1%)patients had contrast-induced nephropathy, 4(6.6%)patients suffered from cardiac dysfunction, and 30(49.2%)patients had hypotension requiring vasopressor support postoperatively, and all of them recovered well when discharged from hospital.All patients were followed up for a median of 42 months(range 2-108 months, with an interquartile interval of 44 months). The incidence of stroke and death was 8.2%(5/61)within 30 days to 1 year after surgery.The median stroke-free survival was 72 months in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis, and was 93 months in asymptomatic patients, with the statistically significant difference between the two groups(χ²=4.258, P=0.039). Conclusions Carotid artery stent implantation in octogenarians with carotid stenosis has a favorable safety and feasibility when performed in experienced centers, and the outcome of a mid- and long-term follow-up is good.

Objective: To explore the safety and short-term efficacy of sole angioplasty with tiny balloon for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) patients with complex lesions refractory. Methods: Consecutive 11 patients with complex ICAS lesions treated by sole angioplasty with tiny balloon (diameter≤2 mm) from September 2016 to November 2017 at Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients′ demographics, lesions characteristics, procedures, complications, and clinical and imaging follow-up data were collected. There were 6 male and 5 female patients with mean age of 63.6 years (range: 45 to 77 years). Clinical manifestations were transient ischemia attack (TIA) in 4 cases, progressive ischemic stroke in 3 cases, recurrent stroke in 3 cases, and 1 case for preparation of scheduled radical resection of colon cancer. ICAS locations were middle cerebral artery M1 segment in 5 cases, M2 segment in 1 case, anterior cerebral artery A1 segment in 2 cases, and intracranial vertebral artery in 3 cases. Mean degree of ICAS stenosis was 92%. Lesion morphology was type A in 3 cases, B in 4 cases and C in 4 cases by Mori classification. Forward flow by modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) was grade 1 to 2a in 8 cases, 2b in 3 cases. Collateral compensation grading was grade 2 in 5 cases, grade 3 in 6 cases. Results: Technique success rate was 10/11, peri-procedural complication rate was 1/11. Post-procedural forward flow in all cases had been enhanced and 10 cases obtained mTICI 2b to 3. Ten patients got favorable outcomes (modified Rankin score 0 to 2) at discharge. With a mean clinical follow-up time of 5.4 months, 1 patient was found to have TIA recurrence. With a mean clinical follow-up time of 7.4 months, 1 patient was found to have TIA recurrence. Eight in 11 cases obtained imaging follow-up during 3 months, and none restenosis was found. Conclusion For symptomatic ICAS complex lesions, sole angioplasty with tiny balloon demonstrates relatively high safety with satisfactory short-term clinical and imaging results.

Currently, the definition, classification and Chinese nomenclature of intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are controversial. Whether ICC belongs to liver cancer or carcinoma of bile duct is debatable, and the two terms"intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma"and"cholangiocellular carcinoma"are simultaneously used without distinction, bringing great confusions to clinical practice. Based on authoritative literatures at home and abroad, the authors give suggestions on the definition, classification and Chinese nomenclature of ICC, as well as the classification of carcinoma of bile duct, which recommend that the Chinese translation of "cholangiocarcinoma" should be "epithelial carcinoma of bile duct (cholangiocellular carcinoma)", the mass-forming type ICC should be classified as primary liver cancer, naming as"intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma"and the periductal-infiltrating type and intraductal-growing type ICCs still be classified as carcinoma of bile duct, naming as"perihilar cholangiocarcinoma". The authors recommend to classify carcinoma of bile duct into: perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective:To analyze the inflammatory mechanism and potential intervention drugs related to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibitory mutations in order to provide reference for the treatment of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:The data of lung adenocarcinoma with ACE2 mutations were screened from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database. The data were analyzed by R program language edgeR package and cluster Profiler package, gene ontology (GO)functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Using String online analysis website for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, screening out the core genes, and finally using the Epigenomic Precision Medicine Prediction Platform (EpiMed) for multi-group association analysis of key genes, and drug candidates prediction.Results:A total of 1 005 differential genes were obtained, of which 91 were up-regulated and 914 down-regulated. A total of 71 GO were enriched, including 45 items related to biological processes, 16 items related to cell components, and 10 items related to molecular function. A total of 13 KEGG pathways were enriched, mainly in inflammatory pathways, various viral infectious diseases, transcriptional regulation, drug metabolism and protein digestion and absorption pathways. The differentially expressed genes were introduced into String online analysis website for PPI network analysis, a total of 252 proteins were obtained, and 10 core genes were H2A clustered histone 16(HIST1H2AL), H3 clustered histone 2 (HIST1H3B), H3 clustered histone 7 (HIST1H3F), H3 clustered histone 11 (HIST1H3I), H3 clustered histone 3 (HIST1H3C), H2B clustered histone 3 (HIST1H2BB), H2B clustered histone 6 (HIST1H2BI), H4 clustered histone 2 (HIST1H4B), H1-4 linker histone (HIST1H1E), H2A clustered histone 4 (HIST1H2AB). Interferon-α, resveratrol, celecoxib, heartleaf houttuynia herb, weeping forsythia capsule, dexamethasone, Chinese pulsatilla root, tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, liquorice root and famciclovir might be drugs for the treatment of ACE2 mutation-related inflammation.Conclusions:Inflammation associated with ACE2 inhibitory mutations is similar to the pathogenesis of COVID-19, which could lead to disease by promoting the activation of inflammatory pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), the Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Celecoxib, interferon and resveratrol may have the potential therapeutic effects on COVID-19.

Objective To establish an animal model suitable for neurosurgeons for the comprehensive training of microvascular anastomosis using rat abdominal aorta and common iliac artery. Methods Twelve adult SD rats were selected,they were generally anesthetized and laparotomized.The abdominal aortas and bilateral common iliac arteries were exposed and fully separated.The lengths and diameters of abdominal aortas and common iliac arteries of each segment were measured.The end-to-end anastomosis were performed choosing the main trunk of the abdominal aorta without a branching artery and longer segment.The unilateral common iliac artery and the sacral median artery were used for end-to-side anastomosis.The bilateral common iliac arteries were used for end-to-side and side-to-side anastomosis.The micro Doppler ultrasound probe was used to detect the blood flow patency of each anastomotic stoma. Results Anatomical separation of the abdominal aortas and the common iliac arteries was successfully performed in 12 SD rats.Each rat could provide 4 vascular anastomosis exercises.The length of abdomen aorta trunk was 15.6 ± 2.5 mm and the diameter was 1.6 ±0.2 mm between the lower left renal artery and right iliolumbar artery.The side-to-side anastomosis was performed.The mean diameter of the median sacral arteries was 0.80 ±0.08 mm.After the fish mouth-like cutting,the end-to-side anastomosis of the right common iliac arteries were conducted.The lenth of left common iliac artery was 9.0 ± 1.5 mm,the diameter was 1.0 ± 0.1 mm,and was cut off at its origin and then the end-to-side anastomosis of the right common iliac arteries were conducted.After end-to-side anastomosis of bilateral common iliac arteries,its distal segment was arranged in parallel with a length of 5.1 ± 0.3 mm,and then the side-to-side anastomosis could be conducted. Conclusions The rat abdominal aorta and iliac artery model can be comprehensively used to simulate the commonly used neurosurgery bypass graft.It is suitable for neurosurgeons with a certain microsurgical basis to conduct a preliminary vascular anastomosis training.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of endovascular reconstruction for ruptured and unruptured vertebral artery fusiform aneurysms (VAFAs).Methods The clinical,imaging and follow-up data of 26 consecutive patients with VAFA treated with endovascular reconstruction at the Department of Neurosurgery,Beijing Hospital between October 2009 and September 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.Results (1) Twenty-six patients had 26 VAFAs.Their age ranged from 38 to 69 years old.Nine patients had ruptured aneurysms and 17 had unruptured aneurysms.The diameter of the aneurysms ranged from 5 to 12 mm.The success rate of reconstruction technology was 100％.(2)In 9 patients of the rupture group,8 were embolized by stent-assisted coils,1 was treated with stent-assisted coil embolization alone.Five patients were treated with multiple-stent reconstruction and 4 were treated with stent reconstruction alone.Of the 17 patients in the unrupture group,13 were treated with stent-assisted embolization and 4 were treated with stent implantation alone;7 were treated with multiple-stent reconstruction,and 10 were treated with stent reconstruction alone.No perioperative complications occurred.(3) The patients were followed up for 8.0-97.5 months with a median time of 39.5 months.No new cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage occurred.The patients with good prognosis (the modified Rankin scale scale 0-2) was 100％.Twenty-two patients were followed up for 3.5 to 34.0 months with a median time of 10.3 months.Fourteen patients (63.6％) were cured,4 (18.2％) were stable or improved,and 4 (18.2％) had recurrence;Five of 8 patients were cured in the rupture group;9 of 14 were cured in the unrupture group.There were 2 cases of relapse in each of the two groups.Conclusions Endovascular reconstruction for ruptured and unruptured VAFAs is clinically feasible and the safety is higher.The efficacy of mid-term and long-term follow-up is better.The recurrence rate of ruptured VAFAs has an increasing trend,and close follow-up is required after procedure.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between carotid artery tortuosity and atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis. Methods: A total of 73 patients who underwent carotid computed tomography angiography with unilateral atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis at Department of Neurosurgery of Beijing Hospital from January 2011 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 51 males and 22 females ranging from 48 to 90 years old, the average age was (65.9±9.5) years. There were 38 patients with carotid stenosis in the left carotid artery and 35 in the right, the stenosis degree of carotid artery ranged from 30% to 90% with the median was 44.0% (25.5%). According to the degree of carotid artery stenosis, the patients were classified into mild stenosis group and moderate/severe stenosis group. There were 43 patients in the mild stenosis group with an average stenosis degree of (37.5±5.4)%, there were 30 patients in moderate/severe stenosis group with an average stenosis degree of (65.6±10.9)%. The carotid artery (CCA) tortuosity, extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) tortuosity and CCA-ICA bifurcation tortuosity were quantified by measuring the CCA tortuosity index, EICA tortuosity index and the internal carotid artery (ICA) angle, respectively. Comparison of diseased and normal carotid arteries was performed using t test or Wilcoxon signed-ranked test. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in CCA tortuosity index (Z=-0.584, P=0.559), ICA angle (t=0.278, P=0.781), and EICA tortuosity index (Z=-0.377, P=0.706) between diseased and normal carotid arteries in 73 patients. The diseased carotid arteries showed larger ICA angles (39.0° (19.0°) vs. 30.0° (15.0°)) (Z=-2.439, P=0.015) in the mild stenosis group, but smaller ICA angles ((31.5±11.7)° vs. (39.1±16.2)°) (t=-2.529, P=0.017) in the moderate/severe stenosis group, compared with the contralateral normal carotid arteries. There was no statistically significant difference in CCA (Z=-0.720, P=0.472; Z=-0.013, P=0.990) and EICA tortuosity index (Z=-0.349, P=0.727; Z=-0.114, P=0.909) between diseased and normal carotid arteries. Conclusions Compared with normal carotid arteries, carotid arteries with mild atherosclerotic stenosis demonstrate a more tortuous CCA-ICA bifurcation, while those with moderate/severe stenosis demonstrate a straighter CCA-ICA bifurcation. There is no correlation between CCA, EICA tortuosity and carotid artery stenosis.

Objective:To study the non-target metabolomics analysis and to analyze the metabolomic changesof cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with tuberculous meningitis.Methods:Case-control study. From July 2018 to July 2019, 20 cerebrospinal fluid specimens of diagnosed patients with tuberculous meningitis were collectedin the department of neurology from the first medical center of the PLA general hospital and the eighth medical center of the PLA general hospital and 20 CSF without tuberculous meningitis as the control. Among them, there were 12 males and 8 femalesin the tuberculous meningitis group, aged (37.9±16.1) years; there were 13 males and 7 femalesin the control group, aged (34.7±14.8) years. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) technology with three different mode, namely reverse phase chromatography positive ion mode, reverse phase chromatography negative ion mode and hydrophilic chromatography positive ion mode,to detectthe metabolic fingerprints of patients′CSF and analyzed by SIMCA software for orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The variable importance projection value of OPLS-DA model (threshold value>1) plus the P value of t-test (P<0.05) was applied to find the differential metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid of the two groups of patients.Results:Ten differential metabolites were found in CSF, including L-isoleucine, L-phenylalanine, L-kynurenine, L-methionine, L-tyrosine acid, dimethylglycine, L-alanine, L-threonine, L-histidine and L-lysine, and all of them were up-regulated in the tuberculous meningitis group.Conclusion:Changesof the amino acid metabolism found in the cerebrospinal fluid of tuberculous meningitis patients can provide basis for differential diagnosis and basic molecular research of tuberculous meningitis.