Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the main causes leading to the failure of treatment of breast cancer and play important roles in the progression of breast cancer and drug resistance, which are closely related to the therapeutic resistance of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy.The metastatic potential and therapeutic resistance of CSCs are associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition and Hedgehog, Wnt, interleukin-6/signal transduction and tanscriptional activation factor 3, transforming growth factor-β and other signaling pathways.While some of the targeted drugs targeting these signaling pathways are undergoing clinical transformation, which is expected to provide new approach for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.

Objective:To standardize the naming of organ at risk (OAR) and target area during cervical cancer radiotherapy based on AAPM TG-263.Methods:After self-programming of Matlab software to implement the reading and resolution of radiotherapy structure files, the naming of each substructure was automatically output, recorded and restored. After naming all substructures, the structure names were classified by keywords. According to TG-263, a standard naming conversion table of OAR and target area was developed, and the classified structure names were standardized through procedures. Finally, the standardized named radiotherapy structure files were output and imported into the treatment planning system (TPS).Results:The radiation structure of 144 patients with cervical cancer was successfully transformed and displayed correctly in TPS. Before the transformation, the naming of OAR and target area lacked of uniform norms and standards, and the naming of the same structure significantly differed. After the transformation, 43 naming methods of OAR and 74 naming methods of the target area were unified into 20 and 8 naming methods, which were more convenient for staff understanding and communication.Conclusion:The standardization of cervical cancer radiotherapy structure naming can reduce the inconsistency of naming and provide reference for the standardized naming of pelvic tumors.

Objective To propose a new suggestion for the clinical downstaging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) without changing the current T,N,and M staging system.Methods We reviewed the records of 536 NPC patients treated in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from January 2002 to December 2006.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the disease-specific survival (DSS) rate,and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis.The Cox regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of each subset.ResultsAccording to the 7th edition of UICC/AJCC staging system,the 5-year DSS rates of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ patients (except T3N2M0) were all more than 85%(P>0.05),those of stage ⅣA and ⅣB patients were 71.8% and 46.2%,respectively (P=0.171),and that of stage ⅠVC patients was only 24.0%.In stage Ⅲ,the 5-year DSS rate of non-T3N2M0 patients (91.5%) was significantly higher than that of T3N2M0 patients (78.6%)(P=0.042),but there was no significant difference in DSS between T3N2M0 patients and stage ⅣA and ⅣB patients.Based on the above results,new stage Ⅰ included T1-3N0-1M0 and T1-2N2M0,new stage Ⅱ included T3N2M0,T4N0-2M0,and TxN3M0,and new stage Ⅲ included TxNxM1.The 5-year DSS rates of new stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ patients were 93.3%,72.7%,and 24.0%,respectively (P=0.000).Compared with new stage Ⅰ patients,new stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients had HRs of 4.01 and 16.76,respectively,for 5-year DSS.Conclusions In the era of IMRT,the new clinical staging system (stages Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ) helps with prognostic evaluation and clinical treatment.

Objective To investigate the cell origin of interleukin (IL)-22-secreting cell of mice infected with Trichinella spiralis (T.spiralis) at the early encapsulated stage.Methods Twelve Balb/c mice were divided into the infected group and the control group according to body weight by random number table.The infected mice were intragastrically administrated with 300 muscle larvae of T.spiralis,and the control mice were given the same amount of normal saline.The IL-22-secreting cell subsets in mouse splenic lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry at the fourth week after infection.Results The proportion of IL-22-secreting cells in splenic lymphocytes of T.spiralis infected mice was increased when compared with control group [(0.88 ± 0.25)％ vs (0.28 ±0.17)％,t =-4.899,P ＜ 0.05].There was no significant difference between the proportion of CD3+IL-22+ cells and CD3-IL-22+ cells in the splenic lymphocytes of the infected group [(0.29 ± 0.17)％ vs (0.51 ± 0.17)％,t =-2.195,P ＞ 0.05],and the percentage of CD3-IL-22+ cells were similar between the infected group and the control group [(0.51 ± 0.17)％ vs (0.44 ± 0.22)％,t =-0.600,P ＞ 0.05].The proportion of CD3+IL-22+ cells in the infected group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(0.29 ± 0.17)％ vs (0.07 ± 0.06)％,t =-3.068,P ＜ 0.05],and the percentage of CD4+IL-22+ T cells and γδTCR+IL-22+ T cells were obviously increased in CD3+ lymphocytes [(1.28 ± 0.54)％ vs (0.16 ± 0.07)％,(0.33 ± 0.22)％ vs (0.02 ± 0.00)％,t =-4.997,-3.342,P ＜ 0.05].Conclusions The proportion of IL-22-secreting splenic lymphocytes is increased in mice infected with T.spiralis at the early encapsulated stage.The rise is caused by increased numbers of IL-22-secreting CD3 + lymphocytes,especially CD4+ T cells and γδT cells.

Objective:To preliminarily observe the feasibility of different immobilization techniques for total skin irradiation (TSI) using helical tomotherapy.Methods:Three eczema scrophuloderma patients treated with TSI in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were immobilized with low-temperature thermoplastic in a prone position, diving suit combined with negative pressure vacuum bag in a supine position, low-temperature thermoplastic combined with vacuum bag in a supine position, respectively. Different immobilization effects were observed. The conformity index (CI) of the target area, heterogeneity index (HI) of the target area, and the mean dose (D mean) of the target area were calculated. Results:Three immobilization methods could achieve satisfactory immobilization effects, and all the dosimetric parameters of radiation treatment plans met the clinical requirements. The average set-up errors in the left and right, head and foot, and abdomen and back directions of three patients were (0.26±3.40) mm, (-2.63±4.63) mm and (6.13±4.86) mm, respectively. The CI, HI andD mean were0.56±0.09, 1.186±0.059 and (2586.56±63.28) cGy. Conclusions:Low-temperature thermoplastic or diving suits can be combined with vacuum bags for immobilization in TSI. The epidermal dose can be increased with bolus through the dose-building effect, which can provide a safe and reliable method for TSI in helical tomotherapy.

Objective:To treat the Crohn's disease(CD)patients with ustekinumab(UST),to eva-luate their clinical and endoscopic remission,and to evaluate their transmural response(TR)and trans-mural healing(TH)condition using intestinal ultrasonography(IUS).Methods:Retrospective analysis was made on patients diagnosed with CD in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2020 to Au-gust 2022,who were treated with UST for remission induction and maintenance therapy.All the patients were evaluated on both week 8 and week 16/20 after treatment,including clinical,biochemical indica-tors,colonoscopy and IUS examination.Results:A total of 13 patients were enrolled in this study,inclu-ding 11 males and 2 females.The minimum age was 23 years,the maximum age was 73 years and the mean age was 36.92 years.All the patients were in the active stage of disease before treatment,and the average Best Crohn's disease activity index(Best CDAI)score was 270.12±105.55.In week 8,the Best CDAI score of the patients decreased from 270.12±105.55 to 133.16±48.66(t=4.977,P＜0.001).Eight patients achieved clinical remission while 5 patients remained in the active stage.Nine patients underwent colonoscopy evaluation.The average simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease(SES-CD)score decreased from 10.71±7.14 before treatment to 6.00±7.81(t=2.483,P=0.048)in week 16/20.Four patients achieved endoscopic remission while 5 patients did not.In week 8,5 pa-tients achieved TR,2 patients achieved TH,the other 6 patients did not get TR or TH.In week 16/20,6 patients achieved TR,3 patients achieved TH while the other 4 patients did not get TR or TH.There was no significant statistical difference in the TR effect of UST between small intestine and colon lesions(Fisher test,P＞0.999).The rate of UST transmural response in the patients who had had previous bio-logical agent therapy was lower than those with no previous biological agent therapy,but there was no sig-nificant statistical difference(Fisher test,P=0.491).Conclusion:After treatment of UST,the clinical and endoscopic conditions of the CD patients had been improved,and some patients could achieve clini-cal remission and endoscopic remission.UST had good TR and TH effects on CD.TR might appear in week 8,and the TR effect increased in week 16/20.There was no significant statistical difference in the TR effect between small intestine and colon lesions.TR effect of UST was better in the patients who had no previous biological agent therapy than those who had had other biological agents,but the result had no significant statistical difference.

Objective To investigate the effect of serum lipid level on carotid artery stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.Methods Using a multi-center cross-sectional study,10 711 consecutive inpatients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke diagnosed clearly in 20 stroke screening and prevention project base hospitals from June 2015 to May 2016 were enrolled.According to the results of carotid ultrasonography,1 560 patients with extracranial carotid artery stenosis rate≥50% screened were enrolled in the study.They were divided into a severe stenosis group (70%-99%) and a mild-moderate stenosis group (<70%).The distribution of total cholesterol (TC),triacylglycerol (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in both groups of carotid stenosis patients were analyzed,and the quantitative classification was based on the normal range of serum lipids.The distributions of serum lipid levels in different grades in patients of both groups were compared with the non-parameter test.Results The incidence of dyslipidemia in the severe stenosis group was higher than that in the mild and moderate stenosis group.There was no significant difference between the two groups (54.4%[319/586]vs.48.3%[470/974],P<0.05).Dyslipidemia was an independent risk factor for severe carotid artery stenosis (OR,1.27,95% CI 1.24-1.30,P<0.01).The TC and LDL-C levels in patients of the severe stenosis group were significantly higher than those in the mild-moderate stenosis group (TC:3.98[3.31,4.82]mmol/L vs.3.91[3.31,4.53]mmol/L,LDL-C:2.48[1.86,3.14]vs.2.30[1.79,2.80];all P<0.01).With the increase of TC and LDL-C levels,there was significant differences between the severe stenosis group and the mild-moderate stenosis group (all P<0.05),and the proportions of TC >5.80 mmol/L (7.3%[43/586]vs.0.4%[4/974]) and LDL-C>3.12 mmol/L (26.3%[154/586]vs.10.0%[97/974]) in patients of the severe stenosis group were higher than those in the mild-moderate stenosis group (26.3%[154/586]vs.10.0%[97/974]).Conclusion The high LDL-C and TC levels may increase the incidence of severe carotid artery stenosis or occlusion.

OBJECTIVE： To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydrotalcite combined with omeprazole for gastric ulcer， and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical treatment. METHODS： Retrieved from PubMed， Embase， Medline， the Cochrane library， CNKI， VIP and Wanfang database， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about hydrotalcite combined with omeprazole （trial group） versus omeprazole alone （control group） for gastric ulcer during the database establishment to Aug. 2018. After data extraction of included literatures met inclusion criteria， and quality evaluation with Cochrane evaluator manual 5.0.1， Meta-analysis was performed for response rate， the incidence of ADR， recurrence rate of gastric ulcer bleeding， needed time of clinical symptom improvement and hospitalization stays by using Rev Man 5.3 statistical software. RESULTS： A total of 16 RCTs， involving 1 802 patients were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that response rate [RR＝1.24， 95％CI（1.19，1.29）， P＜0.001] of trial group was significantly higher than that of control group； recurrence rate of gastric ulcer [RR＝0.27，95％CI（0.17，0.45），P＜0.001]， clinical symptom improvement time [MD＝－2.04，95％CI（－2.25，       －1.83），P＜0.001] and hospitalization time [MD＝－4.25，95％CI（－4.55，－3.95），P＜0.001] of trial group were significantly lower or shorter than those of control group， with statistical significance. There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR [RR＝0.68，95％CI（0.46，1.02），P＝0.06] between 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS： Compared with omeprazole alone， hydrotalcite combined with omeprazole for gastric ulcer can obviously increase the clinical response rate， decrease the recurrence rate of gastric ulcer and shorten the needed time of clinical symptom improvement and hospitalization time， but do not increase the incidence of ADR.

OBJECTIVE： To systematically review therapeutic efficacy and safety of mirtazapine combined with selective calcium channel blocker （SCCB） in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome （IBS）， and provide evidence-based reference for clinical medication. METHODS： Retrieved from the Cochrane Library， PubMed， Embase， Medline， CNKI， VIP and Wanfang database， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about mirtazapine combined with SCCB （trial group） versus SCCB （control group） for IBS were collected. After literature screening and data extraction， quality evaluation was performed by using Cochrane system evaluator manual 5.1.0 recommend bias risk evaluation tool. Meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 14.0 software. RESULTS： A total of 14 RCTs involving 1 005 patients were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the total response rate [RR＝1.34，95％CI（1.25，1.44），P＜0.001]，neuropeptide-Y level after treatment [SMD＝0.77，95％CI（0.49，1.05），P＜0.001]， response rate of abdominal pain therapy [RR＝1.32，95％CI（1.06，1.66），P＝0.014] and response rate of treatment for abnormal stool characteristics [RR＝1.75，95％CI（1.36，2.27）， P＜0.001] were significantly higher than control group； the scores of depression scale after treatment [SMD＝－1.87， 95％CI （－2.35， －1.39）， P＜0.001]， anxiety scale after treatment [SMD＝－2.25， 95％CI （－3.35， －1.15）， P＜0.001]， abdominal pain symptom score after treatment [SMD＝－7.41， 95％CI  （－8.30，－6.51）， P＜0.001]， diarrhea symptom score after treatment [SMD＝－6.39， 95％CI （－7.96，－4.81）， P＜0.001] were significantly lower than those of the control group. There were no statistical significance in response rate of abdominal distension therapy [RR＝1.07，95％CI（0.90，1.28），P＝0.421] and response rate of abnormal defecation therapy [RR＝1.05，95％CI（0.88，1.26），P＝0.588]， the incidence of abdominal pain [RR＝0.45，95％CI（0.11，1.97）， P＝0.291] and exhaustion [RR＝5.00，95％CI（0.60，41.79），P＝0.137] between 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS： Mirtazapine combined with SCCB can significantly improve therapeutic efficacy of IBS patients， promote clinical symptoms， but do not increase the occurrence of ADR as abdominal pain and exhaustion.

Objective:To investigate the necessity of adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its impact on dose improvement.Methods:Clinical data of 89 NPC patients admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from July 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received 25+7 rounds of adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy. Plan-A was defined as the initial CT scan-based 25-fraction radiotherapy plan, while plan-B was defined as the re-planned 7-fraction radiotherapy plan based on a subsequent CT scan. The changes in the target and parotid gland volumes were compared between plan-A and plan-B. Plan-I was a one-time simulation of plan-A extended to 32 fraction radiotherapy plan, and plan-II was generated through registration and fusion of the plan-A and plan-B for adaptive re-planning. The differences in dose metrics, homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), and dose to organs at risk (OAR) were compared between plan-I and plan-II. Statistical analysis was performed by using paired t-test. Results:Compared with plan-A, the gross tumor volume of massive bleeding lesions (GTV nx) and parotid gland volume of plan-B were decreased by 13.14% and 11.12%, respectively (both P<0.001). While planning clinical target volume of metastatic lymph nodes (PCTV nd) of plan-B was increased by 7.75%( P<0.001). There were significant changes in the lymph nodes of plan-A and plan-B. The D mean, D 5%, D 95% of massive bleeding lesions planning target volume (PTV nx) and D 5% of high risk planning target volume (PTV1) in plan-II were all significantly higher than those in plan-I (all P<0.05). The CI of PTV nx and PTV1 in plan-II was closer to 1 than that in plan-I. In all assessed OAR, the D mean, D 50%, and D max of plan-II were significantly lower than those of plan-I (all P<0.05). Conclusions:During radiotherapy, NPC patients may experience varying degrees of primary tumor shrinkage, parotid gland atrophy, and lymph node changes. It is necessary to deliver re-planning and significantly improve the dose of target areas and OAR.