1.Efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab in treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Teng ZHANG ; Quan WANG ; Wengang LI ; Xuezhang DUAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):69-74
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab in the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) and related prognostic factors. MethodsA total of 42 patients with uHCC who underwent SBRT combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab in Department of Radiation Oncology, The Fifth Medical Centre of PLA General Hospital, from March to December 2022 were enrolled. The prescribed dose of planning target volume was 36 — 50 Gy in 5 — 6 fractions for continuous irradiation, followed by the regimen of sintilimab and bevacizumab. Each course of treatment was 3 weeks until the presence of tumor progression or serious adverse events. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS) rate and progression-free survival (PFS) rate, and the log-rank test was used for comparison between groups; the Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the influencing factors for prognosis. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 21.6 months, with an objective response rate of 69%, a disease control rate of 85.7%, a median PFS of 10.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.7 — 13.0), and a median OS of 23.3 months (95%CI: 14.7 — 31.8). Most adverse events were grade 1 — 2 events, and there were no fatal adverse events. At 6 — 8 weeks after treatment, the AFP response group had a significantly better OS than the non-AFP response group (not reached vs 11.8 months, P=0.007). The multivariate analysis showed that AFP response was associated with the good prognosis of patients (hazard ratio=0.31, 95%CI: 0.13 — 0.75, P=0.009). ConclusionFor patients with uHCC, SBRT combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab can improve survival with a manageable safety profile, and a >50% reduction in AFP at 6 — 8 weeks after treatment can be used as a potential prognostic indicator.
2.A mechanistic study of radiotherapy on intratumoral NK cell infiltration augmentation by regulating the EZH2/CXCL10 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Xiaofang ZHAO ; Quan WANG ; Jing SUN ; Aimin ZHANG ; Xiaoyun CHANG ; Wengang LI ; Xuezhang DUAN
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(9):835-844
Objective:To investigate the effect and associated mechanism of tumor tissue-infiltrating NK cells after receiving radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:A HCC tumor-bearing mouse model was constructed using human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SK-Hep-1) and divided into four groups: control, radiotherapy, NK cell clearance, and NK clearance combined with radiotherapy. Tumor growth condition was simultaneously recorded. The NK cell ratio in peripheral blood and the NK cell intratumoral infiltration condition were detected by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Lentiviral-constructed SK-Hep-1 cells was used to detect the effect of radiotherapy on the regulation of CXCL10 and NK cell chemotaxis following EZH2 overexpression. SK-Hep-1 cells were irradiated in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of EZH2 and CXCL10 mRNA and protein in the two groups of cell lines and mouse tumor tissues were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting (WB), and immunohistochemistry. The chemotaxis and blocking experiments were used to validate the chemotaxis effect of CXCL10 on NK cells. The independent sample t-test was used to compare the groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The HCC tumor-bearing mouse model experiment showed that HCC tumor growth was most remarkable in the NK clearance combined with the radiotherapy group compared to the radiotherapy group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the number of NK cells in the peripheral blood of nude mice in the radiotherapy group was significantly reduced, while the NK cell intratumoral infiltration was significantly increased ( P<0.05). Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry showed invitro and invivo expressional alterations. The average expression levels of EZH2 mRNA and protein in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tumor tissues were decreased in the radiotherapy group than the control group and mouse tumor tissues ( P<0.05), while the mRNA and protein expression levels of CXCL10 increased ( P<0.05). The cell supernatant following radiotherapy enhanced NK cell chemotaxis but inhibited CXCL10 neutralization. EZH2 overexpression validated that radiotherapy up-regulated CXCL10 mRNA and down-regulated protein expression levels in in vitro and in vivo experiments ( P<0.05). The chemotactic effect on NK cells was significantly weakened with EZH2 overexpression following radiotherapy. Conclusion:NK cells, as immune effector cells, are directly involved in radiotherapy- activated anti-HCC immunity. Importantly, radiotherapy inhibits EZH2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma, thereby upregulating CXCL10 expression and enhancing intratumoral NK cell invasion.
3.Development of a Core Competency Scale for Ophthalmic Specialist Nurses and its reliability and validity
Xuezhang ZHANG ; Xiangnan JI ; Yu ZHANG ; Ning LI ; Hongyan SONG ; Shuyan HE ; Rui JIN ; Dike ZHANG ; Dongli NIE ; Hongmei CHEN
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(14):1864-1870
Objective:To develop a Core Competency Scale for Ophthalmic Specialist Nurses and test its reliability and validity.Methods:This study was a questionnaire development study. This study transformed the core competency evaluation indicators for ophthalmic specialist nurses constructed through literature review, semi-structured interviews, expert consultations, and other methods to form the initial draft of the Core Competency Scale for Ophthalmic Specialist Nurses. From October 2022 to March 2023, a survey was conducted on 364 ophthalmic specialist nurses in China using purposive and snowball sampling. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and reliability testing were performed on the scale.Results:The final Core Competency Scale for Ophthalmic Specialist Nurses included six dimensions of ophthalmic specialized knowledge, ophthalmic specialized skills, essential nursing practice ability, communication and education ability, scientific research ability, and professional competence, totaling 30 items. Exploratory factor analysis extracted six common factors, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 73.077%. The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.955, the half reliability coefficient was 0.796, and the retest reliability coefficient was 0.973.Conclusions:The Core Competency Scale for Ophthalmic Specialist Nurses has good reliability and validity, which can be used to evaluate the core competency of ophthalmic specialist nurses.
4.Construction of the core competence evaluation index system for emergency medical dispatchers
Qiuxia ZHAO ; Xuezhang ZHANG ; Yanqiu HAO ; Yufang GAO ; Ziya XIAO
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(16):2143-2150
Objective:To construct an evaluation index system for the core competence of emergency medical dispatchers, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the training, assessment and ability evaluation of emergency medical dispatchers.Methods:In September 2022, a research group was established to compile the first draft of the evaluation index system for the core competencies of emergency medical dispatchers through literature review, semi-structured interviews and group discussions. From October to November 2022, a total of 27 experts in related fields from nine provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China were consulted by Delphi expert letters, items were screened and amended, and an evaluation index system for the core competence of emergency medical dispatchers was formed.Results:A total of two rounds of correspondence were conducted. The effective recovery rate of the questionnaire was 100%, and the authority coefficient of the experts was 0.856. Kendall's coordination coefficients were 0.402 and 0.414 ( P<0.01), respectively. Finally, a core competency evaluation index system for emergency medical dispatchers was constructed, which included seven primary indicators, 16 secondary indicators and 75 tertiary indicators. Conclusions:The core competence evaluation index system for emergency medical dispatchers is scientific, reliable and comprehensive, which can provide a theoretical basis for the training, assessment and ability evaluation of emergency medical dispatchers.
5.Research progress on the assessment method of carers′ fall concern for the elderly
Cui KONG ; Xuezhang ZHANG ; Yu ZHANG ; Chunxia LI ; Qiuxia ZHAO ; Xi CHEN ; Nana LUO ; Dandan SUN ; Fen WANG ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2023;39(28):2236-2241
This paper focused on the research progress of the assessment methods of carers′ fall concern for the elderly. The content of this review included the definition of carers′ fall concern, and the advantages and disadvantages of various assessment method of carers′ fall concern for the caregivers to the elderly, such as qualitative interviews, questionnaires, and scales. Through this review, the authors hoped to provide a reference for selecting or developing a localized carers′ fall concern assessment tool.
6.Efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy in treatment of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma
Xiaofang ZHAO ; Aimin ZHANG ; Wengang LI ; Jing SUN ; Xiaoyun CHANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Weiping HE ; Xuezhang DUAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2023;39(11):2657-2662
ObjectiveTo investigate the survival and adverse reactions of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). MethodsA total of 27 patients with unresectable solitary cholangiocarcinoma without metastasis who underwent SBRT in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from February 2012 to July 2020 were enrolled. The prescribed dose to planning target volume was 42-60 Gy in 5-8 fractions, with 5-11 Gy/fraction. Among these patients, five patients were also treated with chemotherapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month overall survival (OS) rates, progression-free survival (PFS) rates, and local control (LC) rates were used as the assessment indices for treatment outcome; Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.03 was used to evaluate adverse reactions; the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate OS, PFS, and LC rates. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 17 months. For all 27 patients, the 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month OS rates were 100%, 88%, 57.5%, and 47.9%, respectively; the 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month PFS rates were 74.1%, 58.6%, 47.9%, and 35.9%, respectively; the 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month LC rates were 96.3%, 91.9%, 84.8%, and 76.4%, respectively. No grade 3 or above toxic reactions were observed. Five patients were diagnosed with radiation-induced liver injury, but there was no death due to radiation-induced liver injury. ConclusionSBRT is safe and effective in the treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, with relatively high survival rate, PFS rate, and LC rate and low toxicity, and therefore, SBRT can be used as an alternative treatment method for patients with cholangiocarcinoma who are not candidates for surgery.
7.Novel variants in LAMA3 and COL7A1 and recurrent variant in KRT5 underlying epidermolysis bullosa in five Chinese families.
Rongrong WANG ; Liwei SUN ; Xiaerbati HABULIETI ; Jiawei LIU ; Kexin GUO ; Xueting YANG ; Donglai MA ; Xue ZHANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2022;16(5):808-814
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases characterized by trauma-induced mucocutaneous fragility and blister formation. Here, we investigated five Chinese families with EB, and eight variants including a novel nonsense variant (c.47G>A, p.W16*) in LAMA3, a known recurrent variant (c.74C>T, p.P25L) in KRT5, 2 novel (c.2531T>A, p.V844E; c.6811_6814del, p.R2271fs) and 4 known (c.6187C>T, p.R2063W; c.7097G>A, p.G2366D; c.8569G>T, p.E2857*; c.3625_3635del, p.S1209fs) variants in COL7A1 were detected. Notably, this study identified a nonsense variant in LAMA3 that causes EB within the Chinese population and revealed that this variant resulted in a reduction in LAMA3 mRNA and protein expression levels by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Our study expands the mutation spectra of Chinese patients with EB.
Humans
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Asian People/genetics*
;
China
;
Collagen Type VII/genetics*
;
Epidermolysis Bullosa/genetics*
;
Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica/genetics*
;
Keratin-5/genetics*
;
Mutation
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Pedigree
;
Laminin/genetics*
8.Analysis of factors influencing radiation-induced liver injury caused by stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma
Dan ZHANG ; Jing SUN ; Jia WANG ; Dong LI ; Junqiang DING ; Huijun XU ; Wengang LI ; Xuezhang DUAN
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2021;29(6):575-579
Objective:To analyze the factors influencing radiation-induced liver injury after receiving Cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:278 cases with primary hepatocellular carcinoma from July 2016 to April 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Stereotactic radiosurgery with a prescription dose of 48-55gy/5-8 times were given. Liver function, coagulation function, Child-Pugh score, and liver imaging changes were dynamically observed before and after treatment to evaluate the occurrence of radiation-induced liver injury. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing radiation-induced liver injury.Results:Among 278 cases, 3 cases of tumor progression were excluded, and a total of 275 cases were included for analysis. The overall survival rate after 8 months of treatment was 100%. Among them, 22 cases were diagnosed as radiation-induced liver injury, with an incidence rate of 8%, and all cases were recovered after symptomatic treatment. Multivariate analysis result suggested that the peripheral white blood cell count was factors influencing the occurrence of radiation-induced liver injury.Conclusion:Cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy has a low incidence of radiation-induced liver injury in patients with liver cancer, and it is a relatively safe treatment method. Patients with low peripheral white blood cell counts before treatment should be closely monitored for early detection and treatment.
9.Efficacy and safety of sequential lenvatinib therapy after stereotactic body radiotherapy in treatment of advanced primary liver cancer
Xiaoquan JI ; Aimin ZHANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Wengang LI ; Weiping HE ; Jing SUN ; Xuezhang DUAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2021;37(9):2120-2124.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of sequential lenvatinib therapy after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of advanced primary liver cancer. MethodsA total of 18 patients with advanced primary liver cancer who were admitted to The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from October 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled, among whom there were 4 patients with BCLC stage B liver cancer and 14 patients with BCLC stage C liver cancer. The prescribed dose of planning target volume was 48-55 Gy (median 50 Gy) in 6-9 fractions, and the median of single dose was 6 (5-9) Gy per fraction. Oral administration of lenvatinib was given since 1 week after SBRT was finished, with a median medication time of 9.5 (3.6-25.8) months. Follow-up was performed once a month for the first 3 months after treatment and once every 3 months after 3 months of treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS) rate, progression-free survival (PFS) rate, and local control (LC) rate, and the incidence rates of adverse reactions and complications were also observed. ResultsUp to the follow-up on November 30, 2020, a total of 8 patients died, among whom 3 died of liver failure, 3 died due to tumor progression, 1 died of perforation of gallbladder, and 1 died of gastrointestinal bleeding. At 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months of treatment, the OS rates were 100%, 94%, 83%, 72%, and 67%, respectively, the PFS rates were 100%, 67%, 50%, 22%, and 17%, respectively, and the LC rates were 100%, 94%, 94%, 94%, and 94%, respectively; the median OS time was >18 months, and the median PFS time was 9 months. Of all patients, 1 (6%) had a grade 3 adverse reaction during SBRT and 2 (11%) experienced a grade 3 adverse reaction during lenvatinib treatment, and no fatal adverse reaction was observed. ConclusionIt is preliminarily proved that sequential lenvatinib therapy after SBRT is an effective and safe treatment method for advanced primary liver cancer.
10.Construction of a core competency evaluation index system for ophthalmic specialist nurses
Dongli NIE ; Xuezhang ZHANG ; Xiangnan JI ; Beibei WANG ; Lili MA ; Zhimin HAO ; Dehua CHEN ; Yan QIAO ; Xunyan YIN ; Xiu LIU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2021;27(26):3515-3521
Objective:To construct a core competency evaluation index system for ophthalmic specialist nurses so as to provide theoretical reference for cultivation and evaluation of ophthalmic specialized nurses in China.Methods:A research group was set up in October 2020, and the core competency evaluation index system for ophthalmic specialist nurses was initially formed by means of literature review, semi-structured interview and group discussion. From December 2020 to January 2021, an online questionnaire was used to conduct Delphi letter consultation among 23 experts in related fields nationwide, and the items were screened and modified. The weight of indicators was determined by the proportional distribution method.Results:Two rounds of consultation were conducted. The positive coefficients of experts were respectively 91.30% and 100.00%, Kendall's concordance coefficients were respectively 0.172 and 0. 192 ( P<0.05) , and the expert authority coefficient was 0.90. Finally, an index system consisting of 5 first-level indicators, 12 second-level indicators and 58 third-level indicators was formed. Conclusions:The core competence evaluation index system of ophthalmic specialist nurses constructed in this study has a high degree of enthusiasm and authority of experts, which reflects the characteristics of the ophthalmic nursing specialty and provides theoretical reference for cultivation and ability evaluation of ophthalmic specialist nurses in China.

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