ObjectiveTo investigate the delineation of gross tumor volume (GTV) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANC) according to imageological changes before and after induction chemotherapy (IC) in order to decrease high dose area and protect normal tissue better.MethodsBetween Mar 2010 to Jan 2011,11 patients with LANC were enrolled and treated with TPF regimen followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent chemotherapy,target volumes were delineated based on fused CT imaging before and after IC following project determination.Tumor target volumes after and before IC were respectively delineated according to imaging tumor residues and were overlaid by CTVnx in order to ensure radical doses for the imaging tumor volume before IC,the resulting differences of tumor target volumes of IC before and after were measured and analyzed by paired t-test.ResultsBefore and after IC,the average volumes of GTVnx were respectively 44.72 cm3 and 28.87 ( t =3.89,P =0.003 ),the average volumes of GTVnd were respectively 32.76 cm3 and 19.82 cm3 ( t =2.47,P =0.033 ),the volumes of maximum dose area in brainstem and spinal cord as well as eyeball decreased ( t =2.93-4.59,all P ＜0.05).ConclusionsLANC treated by 3 cycle TPF regimen followed by IMRT with concurrent chemotherapy showes significant shrinkage of tumor volume.The volume of high dose region which caused by normally recovered tissues were decreased by re-delineation of target volume in brainstem and spinal cord as well as eyeball of CT images after IC.

Objective To analyze the long?term efficacy of intensity?modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with or without chemotherapy in treatment of 454 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its influencing factors. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 454 patients with non?metastatic NPC who received IMRT with or without chemotherapy in our center from 2007 to 2012. Prescribed doses of 69. 96?73. 92 Gy in 33 fractions, 69. 96 Gy in 33 fractions, 60. 06 Gy in 33 fractions, and 50. 96 Gy in 28 fractions were applied to nasopharyngeal gross tumor volume, cervical metastatic lymph nodes, high?risk drainage area, and low?risk drainage area, respectively. In all patients, 438 received induction chemotherapy, 420 concurrent chemotherapy, and 216 adjuvant chemotherapy, most of which were based on cisplatin and taxol. The Kaplan?Meier method was used for calculating survival rates and the log?rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis. The Cox model was used for the multivariate prognostic analysis. Results The 3?year sample size was 210. The 3?year overall survival ( OS ) , local recurrence?free survival, nodal relapse?free survival, progression?free survival, and distant metastasis?free survival ( DMFS) rates were 88. 1%, 91. 0%, 90. 7%, 80. 5%, and 85. 1%, respectively. Age, T stage, and N stage were influencing factors for the OS rate ( P=0. 011;P=0. 005;P=0. 033);T stage and N stage were influencing factors for the disease progression?free survival ( P=0. 017;P=0. 005) and DMFS ( P=0. 012;P=0. 019) . The grade≥3 acute and late adverse reactions included hematological toxicity , oral mucositis , xerostomia , dysphagia , and brain injury . Conclusions IMRT promotes the long?term survival rates in patients with NPC. The distant metastasis is the major reason for treatment failure. The adverse reactions induced by IMRT combined with chemotherapy are tolerable.

Background and purpose:When the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) receive radiotherapy, their thyroids are inevitably involved. As a result, thyroid damage occurs. This study aimed to explore the effects of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on dynamics of thyroid blood flow in patients with NPC.Methods:A total number of 68 patients with NPC were enrolled in the study who received primary treatment of radical radiation and chemotherapy from Jul. 2012 to Oct. 2013. And the TMN stage was fromⅡ toⅣc according to UICC 2010. The treatment method consisted of 2 cycles of TPF induction treatment, concurrent radiation therapy (IMRT) with 2 cycles of DDP and 2 cycles of adjuvant therapy sequentially. Before radiotherapy, at the end of radiotherapy, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy, serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations of all cases were detected by electrochemiluminescence. The highest systolic velocity, mean velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, resistance index, and the value of all thyroid diameter lines were measured by type-B ultrasound.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6 months. Hypothyroidism: the incidence of immediate clinical hypothyroidism after radiotherapy was 5.9%; 3 months later, the incidence was 13.2%; and 6 months later, the incidence was 26.5%. The difference in volume change between before radiotherapy and at the end of radiotherapy had no statistical signiifcance (P>0.05). The difference in volume change between 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy had statistical signiifcance (P<0.05). The difference in FT3, FT4 and FSH between the end of radiotherapy and before radiotherapy had no statistical signiifcance, while there was statistically signiifcant difference between at the end of radiotherapy and 3 months after radiotherapy. The thyroid volume correlated with the average dose at the end of radiotherapy, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy as shown by the single factor correlation analysis (P<0.05). The results of sinlge factor correlation analysis also showed that the occurrence of hypothyroidism correlated with thyroid dose-volume parameter V40 at the end of radiotherapy (P<0.05). The correlation between hypothyroidism and the average dose on thyroid 6 months after radiotherapy was demonstrated by independentt test (P<0.05). Hypothyroidism had no correlation with thyroid artery systolic maximum velocity and resistance index at the end of radiotherapy, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy (P>0.05).Conclusion:The incidence of hypothyroidism may increase with time after radiotherapy. The volume may decrease with the increased dose of radiotherapy and the follow-up time. The patients with NPC after radiotherapy should be tested for thyroid lesions routinely. The thyroid dose-volume parameter V40 may be a predictor for acute radioactive thyroid lesions. The study did not reveal temporarily that hypothyroidism was associated with thyroid ultrasound blood lfow velocity.

Objective To explore the relationship between blood lipids level with creatinine clearance rate(Ccr)in patients with heart failure(HF). Methods A total of 955 patients who were diagnosed with heart failure(cardiac function NYHAⅡ~Ⅳclassification)upon discharge from the Department of Cardiology of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, between January 2010 to June 2013 were enrolled as HF group. Healthy adults (n=200) with normal cardiac function which approximately matched basic condition with HF group were selected as control group. The HF group was fur?ther divided intoⅡ,Ⅲ,Ⅳclassification according to their cardiac function(NYHA classification). HF group was also divid?ed into normal renal function group, mild renal injury group and moderate-severe renal injury group based on their Ccr. Ef?fect of gender and lipid parameters were also compared. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze factors influencing renal function in patients with HF. Results Compared with people in the control group, the levels of triacylglycerol(TG), total cholesterol(TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c)and non high density lipoprotein cholesterol(non-HDL-c)in patients of HF group were increased while Ccr and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c)were decreased. Ccr and lipids were obviously decreased in patients with HF of Ⅳclassification. TG and HDL-c were decreased in moderate-severe renal injury group. Females had a higher lipid levels than males in HF group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Advanced age, coronary heart disease and hypertension were all risk factors for renal impairment in patients with HF by binary logistic re?gression. On the other hand, weight gain and HDL-c were the protection factors for renal function in HF patients. Conclu?sion Dyslipidemias may lead to renal insufficiency in patients with HF. It was important to control lipids and improve re?nal function in patients with HF.

Objective To explore the predictive value of serum CEA and cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA21-1)prior treatment for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors ( TKI ) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Methods The study was a clinical research.Totally 101 matched tissue and plasma samples were collected from Peking University People′s Hospital from 2012 to 2013.All clinical specimens were analyzed for EGFR mutations in exons of 18, 19, 20 and 21 by ADx-ARMS and direct sequencing, and the serum levels of CEA and CYFRA21-1 were analyzed by ECLI.The correlation between EGFR mutant status and efficacy of EGFR-TKI and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed by χ2 test, Log-rank text and Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results The mutation rate was 60.4%(61/101) by ADx-ARMS and 33.7%(34/101) by direct sequencing.Mutations were more frequently observed in the higher serum CEA level patients(≥5μg/L,78.8%).However, the rates of EGFR mutations of different CEA levels were similar.Among the patients receiving TKI therapy, the efficacy of EGFR-TKI was closely related to serum CYFRA21-1 level prior treatment and EGFR mutation (χ2 =8.903, P =0.003; χ2 =28.590, P <0.001 ).And serum CYFRA21-1 level prior treatment and EGFR mutation were independent factors for EGFR-TKI treatment affecting PFS (RR=0.298, P<0.001;RR=0.086, P<0.001).Conclusion The mutation rate of EGFR was significantly related with the expression level of CEA prior treatment, and serum CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels prior treatment could be potential predictors of EGFR-TKI efficacy.

Objective:To compare the effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1 )and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)on proliferation,migration,and odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cell (DPSC)in vitro.Methods:DPSCs were cultured in vitro and treated with either 1 00 μg/L SDF-1 or 1 00 μg/L G-CSF.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8 )and colony-forming unit (CFU ) were used to detect the effect of SDF-1 and G-CSF on the proliferation ability of DPSC.Cell migration of DPSC was determined by wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay.The effects of SDF-1 and G-CSF on odontoblastic differentiation of DPSC were evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP)staining, ALP activity and alizarin red S staining.The expression of odontoblastic-related genes such as dentin ma-trix protein 1 (DMP-1 )and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP)were quantified by real-time RT-PCR. Results:SDF-1 and G-CSF promoted the proliferation of DPSC slightly,but the difference was not statis-tically significant.Wound healing assay showed that SDF-1 and G-CSF promoted cell migration of DPSC significantly (P<0.01 ),but there was no significant difference between the two factors.In Transwell migration assay,the number of migrated cells of the control group was 5 .0 ±1 .4 per sight,while the SDF-1 group was 24.3 ±6.8 per sight and the G-CSF group was 1 1 .8 ±3.3 per sight,suggesting that cell migration of DPSC was improved significantly after being treated with SDF-1 or G-CSF,and SDF-1 was more effective than G-CSF (P<0.05 ).Significantly greater odontoblastic differentiation potential was found in SDF-1 group and G-CSF group based on the ALP staining.Higher ALP activity,more mineralization nodule formation and higher expressions of DMP-1 and DSPP were also found after SDF-1 or G-CSF treatment.Conclusion:SDF-1 had no significant effect on the proliferation of DPSC,but could significantly promote cell migration and odontoblastic differentiation of DPSC.Its effect on DPSC was bet-ter than G-CSF.

and indexes of the ROI which had significant difference between the groups. Results In the white matter regions, MD, D∥and D⊥in many regions of AD group were increased significantly than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. MD and D ⊥ showed more abnormalities, including the SCC, PCB, and FWM. Meanwhile, MK, K∥and K⊥in many regions of AD were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant. K ⊥ showed more abnormalities, including the SCC, FWM and TWM. In the gray matter regions, MD, D∥and D⊥of hippocampal of the AD group were all increased than the control group. However, it showed that MK and K⊥of the thalamus in AD group were 0.99 ± 0.10, 1.00 ± 0.11, respectively, and both increased than the control group (the value of MK and K⊥were 0.90±0.06, 0.90±0.07, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (t values was 3.31, 3.57 respectively, and both P values were<0.01). The indexes of different ROI had correlations with the MMSE scores. There were more regions in kurtosis indexes correlated with the MMSE scores than the diffusion indexes. The strongest correlation among the analyses was MK of the SCC (r=0.73, P<0.05). Conclusions This study based on DKI found the complex alterations aroused by microstructural changes were not only in the white matter but also the gray matter of the AD patients, especially the increased kurtosis of the thalamus, and this suggested that the microstructural complexity of it was increased. Moreover, it also suggested that indexes of DKI had varied sensitivity in detecting different diffusion alterations.

Objective? To explore the working characteristics and difficulties of hospice nurses and provide reference for improvement of palliative care practice. Methods? By purposive sampling, 10 nurses from a cancer specialist hospital and a community hospital in Beijing were selected and interviewed by semi-structured in-depth interviewing method and the interview data was analyzed by Colaizzi method. Results? The palliative nurses need patience and detailed mind, sympathy, compassion and empathy; the working characteristics of nursing included establishing trust, all the way accompany; palliative nursing and nurses have mutual influences: while getting the self-improved and sense of accomplishment, nurses' psychological burden was heavy and needed psychological adjustment; the palliative nurses faced difficulties such as unsuccessful communication with patients and their family members, lacking in relevant knowledge, misunderstanding from the colleagues and short of medical resources. Conclusions? Hospitals should strengthen the emotional adjustment support for the palliative nurses and to relieve the nurses from stress and negative affect; the government and hospitals should strengthen the propaganda of palliative care so that the citizens can better understand and accept palliative care.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the symptomatic characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis patients and the report symptom-based outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery. METHOD: One hundred and nineteen chronic rhinosinusitis patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery, including 52 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps and 67 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, were enrolled. Patients were asked to evaluate their symptoms before surgery and 12 months after endoscopic sinus surgery using 10 cm visual analog scale measures. RESULT: The most commonly reported symptoms were nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, headache, facial pressure and altered sense of smell. Compared with patients of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, patients of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps reported significantly higher scores of nasal discharge, whereas lower scores of altered sense of smell (P<0.01 for both). The most disturbing symptom was nasal discharge and altered sense of smell for chronic rhinosinusitis patients without and with nasal polyps, respectively. After endoscopic sinus surgery, the scores for all studied symptoms were improved greatly in both chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps groups (P<0.01 for all). CONCLUSION Chronic rhinosinusitis patients with and without nasal polyps present different symptomatic characteristics. Endoscopic sinus surgery can improve patient-based symptoms significantly. Visual analog scale is a simple and powerful tool to evaluate chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms.
Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sinusitis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of the human Adenovirus (HAdv) infections in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( allo-HSCT) patients and explore the clinical significance of HAdv monitoring .Methods A total of 845 cases underwent allo-HSCT were included retrospectively in Perking University People′s Hospital from October 2012 to August 2014.Peripheral blood HAdv load were monitored twice weekly within 100 days after allo-HSCT, or whenever necessary quantitatively by real-time PCR. Meanwhile, other clinical samples such as stool , urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BLAF ) were also detected qualitatively whenever necessary .The follow-up period was at least six months after allo-HSCT.All clinical data were collected and analyzed .Results The total positive rate of HAdv was 3.4% ( 29/845 ) .The incidence of HAdv infection was higher in children [3.8%(6/155), <18y] than that of adults [3.3%(23/690),≥18y].HAdv infection diagnosed within 100 days after allo-HSCT accounted for 72.4%(21/29) of the total number of positive cases .There were 19 cases detected positive in peripheral blood , 16 cases in stool , 9 cases in urine , and 1 cases in BLAF , respectively.One patient was positive in peripheral blood , stool and urine.The overall median time of HAdv was 69 (13-189) d.The median time was 56 (53 -144) d in stool ,which was earlier than that of in peripheral blood , urine and stool.Among 29 cases of HAdv positive patients , 17 patients were coinfected with Cytomegalovirus(CMV) and 11 casess with Epstein-Barr virus(EBV).Twenty-five cases of HAdv were diagnosed with acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD) before HAdv infection, and 4 cases were diagnosed with chronic graft-versus-host disease ( cGVHD ) . The most common clinical manifestation was HAdv enteritis (14 cases), followed by hemorrhagic cystitis (7 cases).Two cases complicated with multiple organ injury ( >2 ) clinically, 1 cases with pneumonia.There were 8 cases of death at the end of follow-up.Conclusions HAdv is an important pathogen causing infection in patients after allo-HSCT. The infenction is characterized with multiple organ involvement .CMV and EBV coinfection is common .HAdv monitoring was of great significance in allo-HSCT patients.