Objective To investigate the significance of computed tomography(CT)and 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)for esophageal carcinoma. Methods Thirty-five patients newly diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma who received radical radiotherapy in our hospital from November 2013 to April 2015 were enrolled as subjects. Target volume was delineated on the CT images and MRI images(T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted fusion images). The MRI-and CT-based IMRT plans were designed using the same dose prescription and dose constraints for organs at risk(OAR). The target volume,prescribed dose,and doses for OAR were compared between the two plans. Results In the two plans, dose distribution and planning parameters met the clinical requirement. The length of lesion,gross tumor volume (GTV),and planning target volume(PTV)defined by 3.0 T MRI were significantly smaller than those defined by CT(P=0.00,0.03,0.03). There were no significant differences in the D 2%,D 98%,D 50%,homogeneity index,or conformity index for primary GTV(PGTV)and PTV-PGTV between the two plans(all P>0.05). Compared with the CT-based plan,the 3.0 T MRI-based plan had a significantly smaller mean dose to the lungs and an insignificantly smaller actual dose to the lungs(P=0.00;P>0.05).There were no significant differences in maximum doses tolerated by the spinal cord or heart between the two plans. Conclusions In terms of target volume delineation and dosimetric parameters, both CT-and 3.0 T MRI-based plans meet the clinical requirement. The 3.0 T MRI-based plan may provide potential benefits for some OAR due to a smaller target volume compared with the CT-based plan.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and adverse reactions of capecitabine combined with docetaxel and cisplatin (TP) regimen or 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) combined with TP regimen induction chemotherapy for stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ B nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of 65 newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with clinical stages Ⅲ-Ⅳ B who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from June 2020 to December 2021 were collected. These patients received induction chemotherapy and were divided into capecitabine combined with TP regimen group (capecitabine group, 34 cases) and 5-Fu combined with TP regimen group (5-Fu group, 31 cases) according to different chemotherapy regimens. The objective response rate (ORR) and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups of patients. Results:The differences in age, composition ratios of gender, T stage and N stage of patients and induction chemotherapy frequency between the two groups were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The ORR of nasopharynx in capecitabine group and 5-Fu group were 88.2% (30/34) and 74.2% (23/31), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 2.12, P = 0.145); the ORR of cervical lymph nodes were 85.3% (29/34) and 64.5% (20/31), with no statistically significant difference ( χ2 = 4.67, P = 0.097). The incidence of gastrointestinal reactions in the capecitabine group was lower than that in the 5-Fu group [41.2% (14/34) vs. 71.0% (22/31), χ2 = 6.45, P = 0.040], and the difference in the hematological adverse reaction between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy of capecitabine combined with TP regimen and 5-Fu combined with TP regimen induction chemotherapy for stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ B nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients is comparable, and the adverse reactions are tolerable. However, the capecitabine combined with TP regimen has lower incidence of gastrointestinal reactions and higher compliance by the patients. Therefore, the capecitabine combined with TP regimen can be prioritized in the induction chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the effect of nutritional intervention upon the clinical efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in patients diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma. Methods A total of 46 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Anhui Cancer Hospital from November 2016 to August 2017 were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients were randomly and evenly divided into the nutritional intervention (NI) and routine treatment (RT) groups. The changes in body mass index (BMI),PG-SGA, serum albumin ( ALB), hemoglobin ( HB), white blood cell ( WBC) and other objective nutritional parameters and the incidence of chemoradiotherapy-induced complications were recorded before and after chemoradiotherapy. Results Prior to chemoradiotherapy,age,sex,BMI,ALB,PLT and clinical staging did not significantly differ between two groups (all P>0. 05).In the NI group,the BMI was (21.52±2. 67) after chemoradiotherapy,significantly higher than (21.13±2. 73) before radiotherapy (P= 0. 000).Moreover,the PG-SGA score after chemoradiotherapy was significantly lower compared with that before chemoradiotherapy (P= 0. 000).In the RT group,the BMI,Hb,ALB,PLT and WBC after chemoradiotherapy were significantly lower than those before radiotherapy, and thePG-SGA score was worse after chemoradiotherapy ( all P<0. 05).In the NI group, the incidence of grade 3 myelosuppression was 4. 34％, significantly lower than 8. 68％ in the RT group ( P= 0. 000 ). Conclusions Patients with esophageal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy have a high nutritional risk. Nutritional intervention can improve the nutritional status, reduce the incidence of chemoradiotherapy-induced complications,and probably improve the quality of life and clinical prognosis.

Objective:To observe any effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on sleep disorders among children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods:A total of 102 children with CP and disordered sleep were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 51. All were given routine rehabilitation and sleep health education, but the experimental group additionally received rTMS for two weeks. The polysomnography (PSG) results of the two groups were recorded and analyzed.Results:The PSG parameters had improved greatly in both groups after the treatment. The percentage of N2 sleep (depth of sleep during light sleep) in the severe cerebral palsy group and of N3 sleep (depth of sleep during deep sleep) in the moderate cerebral palsy group had increased significantly more than in the mild cerebral palsy group, on average. After the intervention the percentages of N2 and N3 in those with mixed cerebral palsy and of N3 in those with involuntary motor cerebral palsy had increased significantly more than in those with spastic cerebral palsy, on average.Conclusion:rTMS treatment can improve the sleep disorders of children with cerebral palsy, especially N2 sleep among children with moderate to severe cerebral palsy, N3 sleep in cases of mixed or dyskinetic CP.