Objective To propose a deep learning neural network approach for transforming megavoltage computed tomography(MVCT)images of cervical cancer into pseudo kilovoltage computed tomography(kVCT)images with high signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio,thus providing three-dimensional anatomical images and localization information required for adaptive radiotherapy of cervical cancer,and guiding the accelerator to achieve precise treatment.Methods The MVCT and kVCT images of 54 patients treated with cervical cancer radiotherapy were collected,with 44 cases randomly selected as the training set,and the remaining 10 cases as the test set.A cyclic generative adversarial network with gating mechanism and multi-channel data input was used to synthesize pseudo-kVCT images from MVCT images.The network training results were evaluated with imaging quality evaluation parameters,such as mean absolute error(MAE),peak signal-to-noise ratio(PSNR),and structural similarity index(SSIM).Results The MAE,PSNR,and SSIM of MVCT imagesvspseudo-kVCT(5:5)images were(24.9±0.7)HUvs(17.8±0.3)HU,(29.8±0.2)dBvs(30.7±0.2)dB,and 0.841±0.007 vs 0.898±0.003,respectively.Conclusion The generated pseudo-kVCT images have advantages in noise reduction and contrast enhancement,and can reduce the need for additional MV-kVCT electron density calibration in dose calculations.The dose calculation ability of pseudo-kVCT is comparable to that of MVCT,providing a possibility for the application of pseudo-kVCT images in image-guided adaptive radiotherapy.

Objective To construct a mutant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae NTUH-K2044 with modA gene deletion and its complementary strain and explore the role of modA gene in modulating anaerobic nitrate respiratory growth and phenotypes of K. pneumoniae. Methods The modA deletion mutant K. pneumoniae strain was constructed by homologous recombination using the suicide vector pKO3-Km. To obtain the complementary strain C-modA, the whole sequence fragment containing the promoter, open reading frame and terminator regions of modA was cloned into pGEM-T-easy and electrically transformed into the modA deletion mutant. The NTUH-K2044 wild-type strain, modA gene deletion mutant and complementary strain were compared by measuring in vitro anaerobic nitrate respiration growth, competitiveness index, biofilm quantification, mucoviscosity assay and morphological measurement using Image J. Results The modA deletion mutant strain ΔmodA and the complementary strain C-modA were successfully constructed. The modA gene knockout strain showed inhibited anaerobic nitrate respiratory growth compared with the wild-type and C-modA strains with significantly weakened competitiveness, reduced capacity of biofilm synthesis during anaerobiosis, and lowered mucoviscosity under anaerobic conditions. The ΔmodA strain showed a spherical morphology in anaerobic conditions as compared with the normal short rod-like morphology of K. pneumoniae, with also distinctly shorter length than the wild-type and C-modA strains. Conclusion The molybdate transport system encoding gene modA is associated with the pathogenic capacity of K. pneumoniae by modulating its anaerobic nitrate respiration, competitiveness, biofilm formation, hypermucoviscous phenotype and morphology.

OBJECTIVE To construct the integrated pharmaceutical care model of in-hospital pharmaceutical care+out-hospital pharmacy outpatient service for patients with lower extremity artery disease （LEAD）， so as to improve patients’ disease self- management ability， and the efficacy and safety of therapy. METHODS The in-hospital pharmaceutical care and out-hospital pharmacy outpatient service model was constructed for LEAD patients， including pharmaceutical evaluation， self-management ability education， and pharmacy follow-up， to perform long-term management of patients. Totally 65 LEAD patients admitted to the vascular surgery department of our hospital， receiving pharmacist management， from September， 2021 to December， 2022 were selected as the study objects， and pharmacists conducted in-hospital pharmaceutical care+continuous out-patient management. The efficacy indicators， safety indicators， and patients’s disease self-management ability indicators were compared before and after 3 months of pharmacist management. RESULTS After 3 months of pharmacists’ participation in the management of 65 patients， Fontaine stage decreased in 55 patients， there was the significant difference in Fontaine stage before and after management （P＜ 0.001）. The proportion of patients who completely followed the guidelines for medication increased from 63.1% to 96.9%； the incidence of small bleeding was reduced by 7.7% after pharmacists’ management. The scores of Morisky medication compliance and patients’ disease self-management ability were higher than 3 months ago （P＜0.001）. Patient proportion with “good” medical satisfaction increased by 18.4%. CONCLUSIONS The in-hospital pharmaceutical care and out-hospital pharmacy outpatient service model of LEAD patients can effectively improve patients’ disease self-management ability， and improve the efficacy and safety of therapy.

Objective To construct a mutant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae NTUH-K2044 with modA gene deletion and its complementary strain and explore the role of modA gene in modulating anaerobic nitrate respiratory growth and phenotypes of K. pneumoniae. Methods The modA deletion mutant K. pneumoniae strain was constructed by homologous recombination using the suicide vector pKO3-Km. To obtain the complementary strain C-modA, the whole sequence fragment containing the promoter, open reading frame and terminator regions of modA was cloned into pGEM-T-easy and electrically transformed into the modA deletion mutant. The NTUH-K2044 wild-type strain, modA gene deletion mutant and complementary strain were compared by measuring in vitro anaerobic nitrate respiration growth, competitiveness index, biofilm quantification, mucoviscosity assay and morphological measurement using Image J. Results The modA deletion mutant strain ΔmodA and the complementary strain C-modA were successfully constructed. The modA gene knockout strain showed inhibited anaerobic nitrate respiratory growth compared with the wild-type and C-modA strains with significantly weakened competitiveness, reduced capacity of biofilm synthesis during anaerobiosis, and lowered mucoviscosity under anaerobic conditions. The ΔmodA strain showed a spherical morphology in anaerobic conditions as compared with the normal short rod-like morphology of K. pneumoniae, with also distinctly shorter length than the wild-type and C-modA strains. Conclusion The molybdate transport system encoding gene modA is associated with the pathogenic capacity of K. pneumoniae by modulating its anaerobic nitrate respiration, competitiveness, biofilm formation, hypermucoviscous phenotype and morphology.

Objective:To perform clinical acceptance tests of an optical surface imaging (OSI) system to ensure its accuracy and reliability in clinical applications.Methods:Based on the AAPM TG147 and AAPM TG302 reports, clinical tests were conducted for various performance indicators of the AlignRT system using phantoms, followed by the quantitative assessment of the system′s overall operational accuracy. Additionally, gating tests were performed on the radiotherapy plans of 13 patients to characterize the overall dosimetric accuracy of gated delivery under the guidance of the AlignRT system.Results:The camera units of the AlignRT system exhibited average relative positional deviations of 0.34 and 0.47 mm, respectively. The positional deviations from the radiation isocenter can be corrected through calibration with a phantom. Thermal drift primarily occurred in the vertical ( y) and longitudinal ( z) directions, measuring 0.2 and 0.3 mm, respectively. The accuracy deviation caused by differences in ambient light intensity was approximately 0.04 mm. When a camera unit was obstructed, the primary deviation was found in the lateral ( x) direction, about 0.15 mm. In the translational direction, the maximum deviation in positioning accuracy was 0.4 mm. During couch rotation, primary deviation occurred in the direction of YAW rotation, averaging 0.38°. There was a strong correlation between system monitoring deviations and cone-beam CT (CBCT) registration deviations, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.8. In the case of gated delivery, the relative gamma pass rate for dose distribution exceeded 99% compared to the non-gated delivery. Conclusions:The AlignRT system provides sub-millimeter monitoring accuracy, meeting the demand for patient position verification and real-time monitoring in clinical treatment. Given that the introduction of a linear accelerator into gating did not result in significant dosimetric deviations, clinical plans can be performed reliably using gated treatment.

Objective:To perform clinical acceptance tests of an optical surface imaging (OSI) system to ensure its accuracy and reliability in clinical applications.Methods:Based on the AAPM TG147 and AAPM TG302 reports, clinical tests were conducted for various performance indicators of the AlignRT system using phantoms, followed by the quantitative assessment of the system′s overall operational accuracy. Additionally, gating tests were performed on the radiotherapy plans of 13 patients to characterize the overall dosimetric accuracy of gated delivery under the guidance of the AlignRT system.Results:The camera units of the AlignRT system exhibited average relative positional deviations of 0.34 and 0.47 mm, respectively. The positional deviations from the radiation isocenter can be corrected through calibration with a phantom. Thermal drift primarily occurred in the vertical ( y) and longitudinal ( z) directions, measuring 0.2 and 0.3 mm, respectively. The accuracy deviation caused by differences in ambient light intensity was approximately 0.04 mm. When a camera unit was obstructed, the primary deviation was found in the lateral ( x) direction, about 0.15 mm. In the translational direction, the maximum deviation in positioning accuracy was 0.4 mm. During couch rotation, primary deviation occurred in the direction of YAW rotation, averaging 0.38°. There was a strong correlation between system monitoring deviations and cone-beam CT (CBCT) registration deviations, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.8. In the case of gated delivery, the relative gamma pass rate for dose distribution exceeded 99% compared to the non-gated delivery. Conclusions:The AlignRT system provides sub-millimeter monitoring accuracy, meeting the demand for patient position verification and real-time monitoring in clinical treatment. Given that the introduction of a linear accelerator into gating did not result in significant dosimetric deviations, clinical plans can be performed reliably using gated treatment.

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is an important surgical undertaking, mostly used for benign and malignant tumors in the pancreatic head and periampullary region. The postoperative pancreatic fistula is the main factor to cause death after pancreaticoduodenectomy, and pancreaticojejunostomy is an independent risk factor for pancreatic fistula. In order to reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula, surgeons have proposed dozens of pancreaticojejunostomy, but so far there are no randomized trials proved which method of pancreaticojejunostomy is better than the others. This article reviews the methods and characteristics of different pancreaticojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

There are still many existing problems in the training of medical undergraduates and microsurgery talents in China, such as lack of scientific research ability and scientific literacy of medical undergraduates, insufficient practical ability, short of scientific research opportunities for medical undergraduates, and inadequate talent reserve in microsurgery. In view of the above shortcomings, Wannan Medical College has established a training course on microneurosurgery technology for medical undergraduates, and made a preliminary exploration to solve the above problems. Through the training, undergraduates not only improve their practical ability, but also stimulate their interest in microsurgery, which will help them adapt to clinical and scientific research work at an early stage. Neurosurgical microscopic technology training with emphasis on extracurricular expansion as main content, plays an important role in the cultivation of undergraduate microscopic skills, the establishment of basic theories of neurosurgery, the improvement of scientific research accomplishment and the expansion of extracurricular vision.

The massive loss of oligodendrocytes caused by various pathological factors is a basic feature of many demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Based on a variety of studies, it is now well established that impairment of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to differentiate and remyelinate axons is a vital event in the failed treatment of demyelinating diseases. Recent evidence suggests that Foxg1 is essential for the proliferation of certain precursors and inhibits premature neurogenesis during brain development. To date, very little attention has been paid to the role of Foxg1 in the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs in demyelinating diseases of the CNS. Here, for the first time, we examined the effects of Foxg1 on demyelination and remyelination in the brain using a cuprizone (CPZ)-induced mouse model. In this work, 7-week-old Foxg1 conditional knockout and wild-type (WT) mice were fed a diet containing 0.2% CPZ w/w for 5 weeks, after which CPZ was withdrawn to enable remyelination. Our results demonstrated that, compared with WT mice, Foxg1-knockout mice exhibited not only alleviated demyelination but also accelerated remyelination of the demyelinated corpus callosum. Furthermore, we found that Foxg1 knockout decreased the proliferation of OPCs and accelerated their differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Wnt signaling plays a critical role in development and in a variety of diseases. GSK-3β, a key regulatory kinase in the Wnt pathway, regulates the ability of β-catenin to enter nuclei, where it activates the expression of Wnt target genes. We then used SB216763, a selective inhibitor of GSK-3β activity, to further demonstrate the regulatory mechanism by which Foxg1 affects OPCs in vitro. The results showed that SB216763 clearly inhibited the expression of GSK-3β, which abolished the effect of the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs caused by the knockdown of Foxg1. These results suggest that Foxg1 is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs through the Wnt signaling pathway. The present experimental results are some of the first to suggest that Foxg1 is a new therapeutic target for the treatment of demyelinating diseases of the CNS.

Objective To quantitatively analyze and testify the diagnostic value of combined MRS and DWI for prostate cancer based on sextant localization.Methods Patients who underwent prostate MR examinations in our hospital had MRS and DWI scanning in addition to conventional MRI.The(choline+creatine)/citrate(CC/C)value in each measurable voxel and the minimal ADC value(ADC_(mini))in each sextant were measured.Taking CC/C of no less than 0.911 as the cutoff value for prostate cancer,the ratios of positive voxel(PVR)in sextants were calculated.The selected patients were divided into 2 groups according to the date of examination,for the quantitative analysis and the verification respectively.Group 1 was from Feb,2006 to Dec,2006,and group 2 from Jan,2007 to Jul,2007.The diagnostic efficacy of PVR,ADC_(mini) and their combination was tested by ROC analysis.Results There were 40 patients in group 1 and group 2 respectively for the linear discrimination of the cluster analysis,including 20 patients with prostate cancer and 20 patients without prostate cancer.The linear discrimination equation calculated from group 1 was 'D=3.264×ADC_(mini)-0.205×PVR-4.407'.The areas under curve(Az)of ROC for PVR,ADC_(mini) and D were 0.769,0.910 and 0.909,respectively.In group 2,the Az of ROC for PVR,ADC_(mini) and D were 0.838,0.912 and 0.915,respectively.There were no statistical difference between ADC_(mini)-alone and D in both groups(X~2=0.32 and 1.50,P＞0.05).Conclusions Quantitative prostate DWI had higher diagnostic value than MRS.The combined use of MRS and DWI was not superior to the DWI-alone in the diagnostic efficacy of prostate cancer.