Hepatic metastasis is the most common in rectal cancer, and patients with resectable hepatic metastasis have better survival. Pelvic radiotherapy has become a key component of multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis. For patients with unresectable hepatic metastasis, palliative radiotherapy to the primary lesion can reduce the risk of bleeding and obstruction and thus improve the quality of life. For patients with resectable hepatic metastasis, pelvic radiotherapy can effectively reduce the local recurrence rate, help some patients avoid surgery and improve their quality of life, and even improve the overall survival. At present, there is no consensus on the standardized treatment mode of pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer patients with hepatic metastasis, and it has become a hotspot for research on how to select the population benefiting from radiotherapy, how to optimize multidisciplinary collaboration and radiotherapy plans (long-course radiotherapy versus short-course radiotherapy) and how to preserve organs. This article reviews the research progress in pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis in recent years, and provides ideas for individualized pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis.

Hepatic metastasis is the most common in rectal cancer, and patients with resectable hepatic metastasis have better survival. Pelvic radiotherapy has become a key component of multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis. For patients with unresectable hepatic metastasis, palliative radiotherapy to the primary lesion can reduce the risk of bleeding and obstruction and thus improve the quality of life. For patients with resectable hepatic metastasis, pelvic radiotherapy can effectively reduce the local recurrence rate, help some patients avoid surgery and improve their quality of life, and even improve the overall survival. At present, there is no consensus on the standardized treatment mode of pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer patients with hepatic metastasis, and it has become a hotspot for research on how to select the population benefiting from radiotherapy, how to optimize multidisciplinary collaboration and radiotherapy plans (long-course radiotherapy versus short-course radiotherapy) and how to preserve organs. This article reviews the research progress in pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis in recent years, and provides ideas for individualized pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis.

The concept of the glial-vascular unit (GVU) was raised recently to emphasize the close associations between brain cells and cerebral vessels, and their coordinated reactions to diverse neurological insults from a "glio-centric" view. GVU is a multicellular structure composed of glial cells, perivascular cells, and perivascular space. Each component is closely linked, collectively forming the GVU. The central roles of glial and perivascular cells and their multi-level interconnections in the GVU under normal conditions and in central nervous system (CNS) disorders have not been elucidated in detail. Here, we comprehensively review the intensive interactions between glial cells and perivascular cells in the niche of perivascular space, which take part in the modulation of cerebral blood flow and angiogenesis, formation of the blood-brain barrier, and clearance of neurotoxic wastes. Next, we discuss dysfunctions of the GVU in various neurological diseases, including ischemic stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, and major depression disorder. In addition, we highlight the possible therapies targeting the GVU, which may have potential clinical applications.
Humans ; Neuroglia ; Nervous System Diseases ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Alzheimer Disease ; Glymphatic System

Radiotherapy is a pivotal method in cancer treatment harbouring immunomodulatory effects. Radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy has been proven to yield promising preliminary results in certain types of tumors. Most studies have concentrated on the dose fractionation of radiotherapy and timing of radiotherapy and immunotherapy. With the development of related studies, attention has been gradually paid to the influence of target volume upon circulating lymphocytes and tumor microenvironment. The interaction between target volume and immunotherapy has been valued. For tumors not suitable for hypofractionated radiotherapy, such as advanced esophageal cancer, conventional fractionated radiotherapy has been adopted. The volume and planning of target volume play a pivotal role in radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy. This article illustrates the feasibility of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy, theory and conception of optimizing target volume.

The glymphatic system plays a pivotal role in maintaining cerebral homeostasis. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, arising from small vessel disease or carotid stenosis, results in cerebrometabolic disturbances ultimately manifesting in white matter injury and cognitive dysfunction. However, whether the glymphatic system serves as a potential therapeutic target for white matter injury and cognitive decline during hypoperfusion remains unknown. Here, we established a mouse model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion via bilateral common carotid artery stenosis. We found that the hypoperfusion model was associated with significant white matter injury and initial cognitive impairment in conjunction with impaired glymphatic system function. The glymphatic dysfunction was associated with altered cerebral perfusion and loss of aquaporin 4 polarization. Treatment of digoxin rescued changes in glymphatic transport, white matter structure, and cognitive function. Suppression of glymphatic functions by treatment with the AQP4 inhibitor TGN-020 abolished this protective effect of digoxin from hypoperfusion injury. Our research yields new insight into the relationship between hemodynamics, glymphatic transport, white matter injury, and cognitive changes after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; Carotid Stenosis/drug therapy* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Digoxin ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; White Matter

Objective: To investigate the effects of glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from the patients with double heterozygotes Hb Q-H and Hb J-Bangkok combined with β-thalassemia on the results of different HbA1c detection systems. Methods: Blood samples from 20 healthy adults and 20 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were collected to assess the results of five glycosylated hemoglobin detection systems. Blood samples from one Hb Q-H patient and one Hb J-Bangkok patient with β-thalassemia were also collected, and they were performed hemoglobin capillary electrophoresis with Capillarys2 and globin gene analysis by gap-PCR, PCR-RDB and DNA sequencing. The levels of HbA1c in all samples were detected by BioRad VARIANT Ⅱ (VⅡ), BioRad VARIANT ⅡTurbo2.0 (V Ⅱ-T2.0), Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing (C2FP), Primus Ultra2 (Ultra2) and Roche PPI 800 (PPI 800) glycosy lated hemoglobin detection instruments, respectively. For the samples with double heterozygotes, the levels of HbA1c were detected for 3 times each sample, and the results were preserved and analyzed. Results: The genotype of the Hb Q-H sample was --α QT /--SEA;β N /β N , and HbA1 CD74 G＞C mutation occurred in globin α1 chain, forming Hb Q-Thailand hemoglobin variant without normal α-globin peptide chain. The genotype of Hb J-Bangkok combined with β-thalassemia was αα/αα;βCD56/βCD41-42, and the point mutation of GGC＞GAC occurred at codon 56 of globin β-chain, forming Hb J-Bangkok hemoglobin variant without normal β-globin peptide chain. For the Hb Q-H sample, HbA1c results were reported by 3 of 5 HbA1c detection systems. The chromatograms of VⅡ and VⅡ-T2.0 detection systems were obviously different from normal chromatograms, and HbA1c results were not reported. However, the chromatograms of the C2FP system were similar to normal chromatograms, and the result of HbA1c was 3.7%. The Ultra2 system and PPI system reported the HbA1c results, 5.3% and 5.7%, respectively, without abnormal alarm. For the Hb J-Bangkok with β-thalassemia sample, HbA1c results were also reported by 3 of 5 HbA1c detection systems. The chromatograms of VⅡ and Sebia detection systems were obviously different from normal chromatograms, and HbA1c results were not reported. However, the chromatograms of VⅡ-T2.0 system were different from normal chromatograms, and a P4 peak (84.9%) was found. The HbA1c result was reported as 4.7%. The Ultra2 system and PPI system reported the HbA1c results, 4.7% and 3.8%, respectively, without abnormal alarm. Conclusion The samples from the Hb Q-H patient and the Hb J-Bangkok patient with β-thalassemia do not contain normal HbA, and there should be no HbA1c results. The chromatograms of VⅡ and VⅡ-T systems are obviously abnormal, indicating that the results can not be reported. The C2FP system is interfered obviously by Hb Q-H, but reports the HbA1c results, while it does not report the HbA1c results of Hb J-Bangkok combined with β-thalassemia. Both of Hb Q-H and Hb J-Bangkok have obvious interference to PPI and Ultra2 detection systems.

Objective To improve the efficiency of result reporting and ensure the accuracy of the results by establishing autoverification system in Clinical Chemistry and Immunology Laboratory.Methods The study followed the requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)AUTO-10A and ISO 15189:2012.In addition,seven categories of verification rules were encoded using the autoverification function of the CentraLink?Data Management System on the Aptio?Automation platform.These rules included Clinical Diagnostic Standard(CS), Sample Status(SS), Quality Control Severity(QS), Instrument Error Flags Severity(IS), Normal Severity(NS), Delta Check Severity(DS), and Logical Assessment Standard(LS).Various modules of Aptio Automation,laboratory information system(LIS)and hospital information system(HIS)were integrated using the CentraLink system to establish the autoverification system.Results The autoverification system was set up and tested from August 2015 to April 2016.In total, the system ran 4 496 425 tests on 366 180 chemistry specimens.The overall autoverification rate for tests performed increased from 53.4% to 87.0%.Glucose had the highest rate (98.3%)while CKMB had the lowest rate(63.6%).Average TAT for result verification decreased by 97.7%,from 46.3 minutes to 3.7 minutes.The system ran 410,040 tests on 160 119 chemiluminescence specimens.The autoverification rate for tests performed increased from 40.2%to 89%.C-P had the highest rate(98.4%)while A-TPO had the lowest rate(58.7%).Average TAT for result verification decreased by 77.4%,from 14.6 minutes to 3.3 minutes.From May 2016 to January 2017(when autoverification was employed),compared with the same period in 2014(when manual verification was employed),the following changes were observed with no increase in staff capacity:a)Volume of routine chemistry tests increased by 46.4%,and median TAT for tests decreased by 41.9%, from 118 minutes to 83 minutes; b)Volume of chemiluminescence tests increased by 24.5%and median median TAT for tests decreased by 52.4%, from 131 minutes to 86 minutes;c)Median TAT for critical values decreased by 50.5%; d)Rates of tests that did not go through autoverification were 88.2% for NS,6.05% for SS, 2.40% for DS,2.00% for LS, 0.97%for IS,and 0.43% for CS; e)Rates of abnormal specimen status identified by Aptio Automation were 7.13‰for jaundice,5.39‰ for blood lipids,2.20‰ for hemolysis,0.17‰ for barcode error, and 0.15‰ for insufficiency;f)Error rate decreased to 0.00%;and g)staff satisfaction increased from 85%to 100%.Conclusion Autoverification of results by using the CentraLink Data Management System can achieve quality control over the entire process of clinical laboratory testing, ensure accuracy of test results, improve work efficiency, decrease TAT, minimize the error rate, avoid skill variation of staff, reduce the pressure of performing manual verification,and improve medical security.

Objective To explore the relationship between the serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and the pathogenesis,therapeutic intervention of schizophrenia. Methods One hundard twenty-five patients with schizophrenia (case group) with no medication for at least 4-week and 136 healthy controls (control group) were evaluated by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scala (PANSS). Simultaneously blood tests were performed to detect serum NPY levels. In the case group, PANSS was evaluated and blood collected again after 4 weeks of treatment with olanzapine. Result At the baseline,the serum NPY concentration was significantly lower in the case group than in control group (t=-5.79, P<0.01). The scores of RBANS and its factors were significantly lower in the case group than in control group (all P<0.01). The concentration was positively correlated with the score of the attention factor for RBANS scale (r=0.20, P=0.04). After treatment with olanzapine for 4 weeks,the serum NPY level in the case group was significantly increased (t=-2.23,P=0.03).The scores of PANSS total scale and subscale were significantly decreased(all P<0.01).There was no significant correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and PANSS total or subscale scores from baseline to 4-week (all P>0.05). Conclusion The present study has revealed a significant decrease in serum NPY levels in patients with schizophrenia which can be attenuated by treatment of Olanzapine.The action of Olanzapine may be related to the mechanism of action of Olanzapine.However,there is no correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and the improvement in the patientˊs clinical symptoms.

Chemoradiotherapy is a major treatment for inoperable esophageal carcinoma (EC).However, there is still controversy over the target volume for radiation, particularly nodal target volume.EC is characterized by a high rate of lymph node metastasis, and its metastatic pattern is not always predictable.Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) will increase the radiation field, which may increase the incidence of adverse events.Some investigators used involved-field irradiation (IFI) to reduce treatment-related toxicities without compromising survival.Studies have demonstrated that regional and distant micrometastases can be controlled, to some extent, by chemotherapy, incidental irradiation, and the abscopal effects of radiation.With either ENI or IFI, EC recurrence is usually found in the primary tumor and at distant sites, without survival difference.These data suggest that IFI is feasible in EC patients.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM,WHO grade IV) contains some glioma stem cells which have unique self-renewal capacity and multilineage potency.There are numerous neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of adult human brain;it may also act as a storehouse of glioma stem cells that can promote the development and recurrence of a tumor.GBM involving SVZ is prone to early recurrence and intracranial metastasis after resection,so irradiation of the SVZ potentially influences the survival of GBM patients.This review provides a summary of related experimental and clinical studies,and discusses the value of irradiation of the SVZ in GBM patients and the direction of future research.