The concept of competency-based standardized residency training is gaining global popularity. However, the process of assessing, continuously evaluating, and conducting final competency evaluations remains challenging. The Milestones 2.0 system, developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, provides a framework for evaluating competencies in radiation oncology residents. The core objective of this system is to assess sub-competencies within core competencies, categorizing them from novice to expert across 5 levels. Evaluation occurs every 6 months, with the expectation that all residents reach level 4 in all sub-competencies by the end of their training. This approach aims to enhance the standardization of residency evaluations across the United States. This article aims to analyze the Milestones 2.0 competency framework and explore its potential applicability and reference value for standardized radiation oncology residency training in China.

Objective:To explore the effects of proton FLASH irradiation (FLASH-IR) and conventional irradiation (CONV-IR) on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and pyroptosis of renal cancer cells.Methods:Renal cancer cells (769-P) were irradiated with 8 Gy of protons at a dose rate of 40 Gy/s for FLASH-IR and 0.4 Gy/s for CONV-IR, Ctrl group was treated without irradiation. Cells were collected 24 h after irradiation. The changes in the cell cycle were measured using flow cytometry. The expression of genes and proteins related to the cell cycle, apoptosis, and pyroptosis signaling pathways in renal cancer cells was measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot.Results:Proton FLASH-IR increased the proportion of renal cancer cells in the G 0/G 1 phase [FLASH-IR group vs. Ctrl group, (67.01±0.44)% vs. (38.68±0.63)%, t = -63.99, P<0.05], while CONV-IR increased the proportion of renal cancer cells in the G 2/M phase [CONV-IR group vs. Ctrl group, (56.65±1.52)% vs. (23.67±0.51)%, t = -29.17, P<0.05]. Both proton FLASH-IR and CONV-IR caused apoptosis of renal cancer cells ( tFLASH= -16.24 to -5.01, P <0.05; tCONV=-20.08 to 6.11, P < 0.05) and CONV-IR activated the P53/P21 pathway ( t = -16.86 to -9.74, P < 0.05). Both proton FLASH-IR and CONV-IR induced pyroptosis of renal cancer cells ( tFLASH= -23.36 to 20.18, P <0.05; tCONV=-41.62 to 13.95, P <0.05), and the former exhibited a greater effect (FLASH-IR group vs. CONV-IR group, 0.96±0.01 vs. 0.68±0.44, t = -10.46, P <0.05). Conclusions:Both proton FLASH-IR and CONV-IR bring about changes in the cell cycle of renal cancer, promoting apoptosis and pyroptosis. However, there are differences between the two mechanisms that require further exploration. Proton FLASH-IR holds promise for the treatment of renal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the differential effects of proton FLASH irradiation and conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation on human normal liver cells WRL68 and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2.Methods:Using a 100 MeV high-current proton cyclotron accelerator, WRL68 and HepG2 cells were subjected to CONV (0.8 Gy/min) and FLASH (40 Gy/s) irradiation with 4 Gy protons. After irradiation, changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest were detected at different time points. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing was employed to analyze alterations in the gene expression profiles of the two cell lines.Results:For WRL68 cells, compared with CONV irradiation, proton FLASH irradiation enhanced cell proliferative activity ( t=10.18-16.67, P<0.05), reduced the apoptotic rate ( t=3.21-8.30, P<0.05), and decreased the proportion of cells arrested in the G 2 phase at the same time points ( t=34.08-65.16, P<0.05). In contrast, for HepG2 cells, proton FLASH irradiation significantly inhibited cell proliferation ( t=2.57-9.39, P<0.05), increased the apoptotic rate ( t=3.25-66.70, P<0.05), and similarly induced cell cycle arrest predominantly in the G 2 phase ( t=10.87-27.47, P<0.05). Transcriptome sequencing identified 906 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the FLASH group and the CONV group in WRL68 cells, and 1 243 DEGs were detected in HepG2 cells. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of these DEGs suggested that cellular adhesion and oxygen effect may serve as crucial microscopic mechanisms underlying FLASH radiotherapy. Conclusions:Under proton FLASH irradiation, the radiation-induced damage to human normal liver cells was significantly alleviated, whereas the damage to hepatocellular carcinoma cells was aggravated. The identified DEGs are involved in multiple radiobiological functional pathways.

Objective:To explore the effects of proton FLASH irradiation (FLASH-IR) and conventional irradiation (CONV-IR) on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and pyroptosis of renal cancer cells.Methods:Renal cancer cells (769-P) were irradiated with 8 Gy of protons at a dose rate of 40 Gy/s for FLASH-IR and 0.4 Gy/s for CONV-IR, Ctrl group was treated without irradiation. Cells were collected 24 h after irradiation. The changes in the cell cycle were measured using flow cytometry. The expression of genes and proteins related to the cell cycle, apoptosis, and pyroptosis signaling pathways in renal cancer cells was measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot.Results:Proton FLASH-IR increased the proportion of renal cancer cells in the G 0/G 1 phase [FLASH-IR group vs. Ctrl group, (67.01±0.44)% vs. (38.68±0.63)%, t = -63.99, P<0.05], while CONV-IR increased the proportion of renal cancer cells in the G 2/M phase [CONV-IR group vs. Ctrl group, (56.65±1.52)% vs. (23.67±0.51)%, t = -29.17, P<0.05]. Both proton FLASH-IR and CONV-IR caused apoptosis of renal cancer cells ( tFLASH= -16.24 to -5.01, P <0.05; tCONV=-20.08 to 6.11, P < 0.05) and CONV-IR activated the P53/P21 pathway ( t = -16.86 to -9.74, P < 0.05). Both proton FLASH-IR and CONV-IR induced pyroptosis of renal cancer cells ( tFLASH= -23.36 to 20.18, P <0.05; tCONV=-41.62 to 13.95, P <0.05), and the former exhibited a greater effect (FLASH-IR group vs. CONV-IR group, 0.96±0.01 vs. 0.68±0.44, t = -10.46, P <0.05). Conclusions:Both proton FLASH-IR and CONV-IR bring about changes in the cell cycle of renal cancer, promoting apoptosis and pyroptosis. However, there are differences between the two mechanisms that require further exploration. Proton FLASH-IR holds promise for the treatment of renal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the differential effects of proton FLASH irradiation and conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation on human normal liver cells WRL68 and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2.Methods:Using a 100 MeV high-current proton cyclotron accelerator, WRL68 and HepG2 cells were subjected to CONV (0.8 Gy/min) and FLASH (40 Gy/s) irradiation with 4 Gy protons. After irradiation, changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest were detected at different time points. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing was employed to analyze alterations in the gene expression profiles of the two cell lines.Results:For WRL68 cells, compared with CONV irradiation, proton FLASH irradiation enhanced cell proliferative activity ( t=10.18-16.67, P<0.05), reduced the apoptotic rate ( t=3.21-8.30, P<0.05), and decreased the proportion of cells arrested in the G 2 phase at the same time points ( t=34.08-65.16, P<0.05). In contrast, for HepG2 cells, proton FLASH irradiation significantly inhibited cell proliferation ( t=2.57-9.39, P<0.05), increased the apoptotic rate ( t=3.25-66.70, P<0.05), and similarly induced cell cycle arrest predominantly in the G 2 phase ( t=10.87-27.47, P<0.05). Transcriptome sequencing identified 906 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the FLASH group and the CONV group in WRL68 cells, and 1 243 DEGs were detected in HepG2 cells. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of these DEGs suggested that cellular adhesion and oxygen effect may serve as crucial microscopic mechanisms underlying FLASH radiotherapy. Conclusions:Under proton FLASH irradiation, the radiation-induced damage to human normal liver cells was significantly alleviated, whereas the damage to hepatocellular carcinoma cells was aggravated. The identified DEGs are involved in multiple radiobiological functional pathways.

The concept of competency-based standardized residency training is gaining global popularity. However, the process of assessing, continuously evaluating, and conducting final competency evaluations remains challenging. The Milestones 2.0 system, developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, provides a framework for evaluating competencies in radiation oncology residents. The core objective of this system is to assess sub-competencies within core competencies, categorizing them from novice to expert across 5 levels. Evaluation occurs every 6 months, with the expectation that all residents reach level 4 in all sub-competencies by the end of their training. This approach aims to enhance the standardization of residency evaluations across the United States. This article aims to analyze the Milestones 2.0 competency framework and explore its potential applicability and reference value for standardized radiation oncology residency training in China.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines emphasize that external chest compression should be started as early as possible during CPR. In addition to manual hand compressions, the machine for CPR can be used instead. However traditional machines for CPR take a lot of time toinstall, and is not conducive to the early initiation of chest compressions. So the medical staff of the emergency department of Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University designed a new type of machine for CPR based on scissor lift principle without back plate. The design has obtained the national utility model patent. This patented product with flexible lifting and accurate placement is easy to install and fix, and can overcome the drawbacks of conventional machines that are uneasy to install, thus ensuring the implementation of high quality CPR.

Objective To investigate the method to isolate and culture hepatic stellate cells ( HSCs) for studying the cellular mechanisms of hepatic frbrosis.Methods HSCs were isolated by nycodenz density gradient centrifugation after the hepatocytes obtained from adult male gebils were digested with pronase, collagenase and DNase, infused via portal vein.The cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion test.The purity of HSCs was identified by detectingα-SMA, desmin immunohistochemical staining.Results The yield rate of HSCs was 0.5~1 ×107 per gerbil liver, and the cell viability was more than 90%.The percentage ofα-SMA-positive cells was more than 75%after 3 days primary culture and almost 100% cells were α-SMA and desmin positive in passage culture.Conclusion The successful protocol of primary culture of Mongolian gerbil HSC provide a technical support for research of relevant liver diseases and drug development in the future.

Objective To investigate the incidence, imaging and clinical characteristics in elderly patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with CAE who underwent coronary angiography between January 2006 and December 2012. According to age, the enrolled patients were divided into two groups (elderly group, age≥ 65 years; non-elderly group, age < 65 years). The clinical feature, imaging characteristics and the 5-year survival rate of the two groups were compared.Results The preva-lence of CAE in elderly patients was 0.33%. Patients in elderly group were found to have significantly higher proportion of female (30.1%vs. 10.1%,P< 0.001), three-vessel disease (60.5%vs. 45.2%,P = 0.003) and localized ectasia (55.0%vs. 40.2%,P = 0.003). In addition, body mass index (20.90 ± 2.71 kg/m2vs. 22.31 ± 2.98 kg/m2,P < 0.001) and percentage of current smokers (45.0%vs. 64.6%,P < 0.001) were significantly lower in elderly group. Cumulative survival curves demonstrated reduced 5-year cumulative survival at the follow-up in the elderly group compared with the non-elderly group (88.0%vs. 96.0%,P = 0.002). But the 5-year event free survival rate failed to show a significant difference between the two groups (31.0%vs. 35.0%,P= 0.311).ConclusionThe prevalence of CAE in elderly patients was 0.33%, which was about 1/3 of the entire numbers of CAE patients. There were significant differences between the elderly and the non-elderly patients with CAE in terms of coronary artery disease risk factors and coronary artery ectatic characteristics. CAE might be asso-ciated with increased mortality risk in the elderly.

Background and purpose:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually occurs in people of states of the Southern China. Chemoradiotherapy plays an important role in the therapy of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, chemoradiotherapy causes more toxic side effects than radiation therapy alone, which affects the therapy. Now symptomatic treatment and nutrition supports are common ways in the clinic in order to improve the tolerance of patients for the therapy, but with little effect. To evaluate the clinical significance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: From Oct. 2010 to Jun. 2012, a total of 71 patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received PEG before chemoradiotherapy were enrolled. During chemoradiotherapy, gastrostomy diet and nursing were supplied, adverse events, tolerance and nutrition indicators including weight and alcohol of human albumin were detected as well. Results:PEG were performed successfully on 68 patients, but failed in the other 3 patients. Of the 68 patients, 4 have not received concurrent chemotherapy because of liver metastases and liver function damage, 51 of the remaining 64 patients could completely ifnished 3 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy, with the completion rate of concurrent chemotherapy at 79.69%. The weight change ranged from-11.86%to 0.83%, with a mean value of-5.32%±2.99%. Paired-sample t test of human albumin before and after the treatment showed no significant difference (P=0.742). Grade Ⅱ radioactive oral cavity mucositis appeared in 60.29%patients (41/68), and 22.06%patients (15/68) suffered gradeⅢradioactive oral cavity mucositis.Conclusion:For patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, preventative PEG improved the tolerance of chemoradiotherapy, reduce the incidence of adverse events. The period of therapy interruption caused by sever adverse event were shortened as well, PEG also increased the completion rate of concurrent chemotherapy. Nutritional status and living quality of patients are improved. In addition, PEG is a safe, economic and simple method.