Objective:To investigate the dosimetric advantages of deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique in postoperative radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on patients requiring adjuvant radiotherapy after left-sided breast cancer surgery at Jiangsu Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. CT simulation images were acquired under both free breathing (FB) and DIBH respiratory modes. Planning target volumes (PTV) and organs at risk (OAR) were delineated, and dosimetric parameters were compared between the two respiratory modes. Additionally, patients were grouped into subgroups [internal mammary lymph node irradiation (IMNI) vs. non-IMNI, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy vs. modified radical mastectomy (MRM) followed by radiotherapy], and dosimetric differences among subgroups for both breathing modes were compared. The Velocity system was used to measure the minimum distances from the heart and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) to the PTV surface on CT images. These distances were defined as the heart-to-PTV and LAD-to-PTV distances. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationships between heart D max and LAD D max, heart-to-PTV distance and heart D mean, and LAD-to-PTV distance and LAD D max under both respiratory modes. Results:A total of 132 patients were included. Compared to the FB, DIBH showed no significant difference in target dose distribution, but significantly reduced dose to OAR. Specifically, the heart D mean and D max decreased by 1.8 Gy and 8.1 Gy, respectively, and the LAD D max decreased by 7.9 Gy, and the affected lung V 5 Gy and V 20 Gy were reduced by 6.4% and 2.5%, respectively (all P<0.05). All subgroups benefited from DIBH, with greater decrease of dose to OAR in the IMNI subgroup (compared with the non-IMNI subgroup) and the subgroup of MRM followed by radiotherapy (compared with the BCS followed by radiotherapy group). Under both FB and DIBH modes, heart D max and LAD D max showed linear correlations ( r=0.62 and 0.84, respectively; both P<0.001), heart-to-PTV distance correlated with heart D mean ( r=-0.61 and -0.67, respectively; both P<0.001), and LAD-to-PTV distance correlated with LAD D max ( r=-0.58 and -0.63, respectively; both P<0.001). Conclusions:The DIBH technique can significantly reduce dose to the heart, LAD, and lungs in patients undergoing postoperative radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer without compromising target dose. Patients receiving IMNI after left-sided breast cancer surgery benefit more from the DIBH technique.

Objective:To investigate the dosimetric advantages of deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique in postoperative radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on patients requiring adjuvant radiotherapy after left-sided breast cancer surgery at Jiangsu Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. CT simulation images were acquired under both free breathing (FB) and DIBH respiratory modes. Planning target volumes (PTV) and organs at risk (OAR) were delineated, and dosimetric parameters were compared between the two respiratory modes. Additionally, patients were grouped into subgroups [internal mammary lymph node irradiation (IMNI) vs. non-IMNI, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy vs. modified radical mastectomy (MRM) followed by radiotherapy], and dosimetric differences among subgroups for both breathing modes were compared. The Velocity system was used to measure the minimum distances from the heart and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) to the PTV surface on CT images. These distances were defined as the heart-to-PTV and LAD-to-PTV distances. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationships between heart D max and LAD D max, heart-to-PTV distance and heart D mean, and LAD-to-PTV distance and LAD D max under both respiratory modes. Results:A total of 132 patients were included. Compared to the FB, DIBH showed no significant difference in target dose distribution, but significantly reduced dose to OAR. Specifically, the heart D mean and D max decreased by 1.8 Gy and 8.1 Gy, respectively, and the LAD D max decreased by 7.9 Gy, and the affected lung V 5 Gy and V 20 Gy were reduced by 6.4% and 2.5%, respectively (all P<0.05). All subgroups benefited from DIBH, with greater decrease of dose to OAR in the IMNI subgroup (compared with the non-IMNI subgroup) and the subgroup of MRM followed by radiotherapy (compared with the BCS followed by radiotherapy group). Under both FB and DIBH modes, heart D max and LAD D max showed linear correlations ( r=0.62 and 0.84, respectively; both P<0.001), heart-to-PTV distance correlated with heart D mean ( r=-0.61 and -0.67, respectively; both P<0.001), and LAD-to-PTV distance correlated with LAD D max ( r=-0.58 and -0.63, respectively; both P<0.001). Conclusions:The DIBH technique can significantly reduce dose to the heart, LAD, and lungs in patients undergoing postoperative radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer without compromising target dose. Patients receiving IMNI after left-sided breast cancer surgery benefit more from the DIBH technique.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the dynamic disinfection effect of the upper-room 222 nm ultraviolet radiation on the air in different areas of the emergency department, and to provide references for a new solution of air disinfection that man-machine coexisted in the medical and healthcare institutions. MethodsThe upper-room 222 nm ultraviolet radiation air sterilizers were installed at a height of 2.3‒2.6 m from the ground in the observation room, computed tomography (CT) scanning room, rescue room and consulting room of the emergency department in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University . The test area was divided into a 222 nm ultraviolet group and a control group according to whether the 222 nm ultraviolet germicidal air disinfection was conducted or not. The experimental group started air disinfection at8:00 a.m., and the air sampling was conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m., with a 10 min sampling interval of every 1 hour. While the control group only collected air sample with the same air sampling method used in the experimental group, without air disinfection. The air microbial sampler with six-level sieve impingement was used for the air sampling, and the differences in the total number of airborne bacterial colonies were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 128 air samples were collected in the trial, of which 64 were from the experimental group and 64 from the control group. The total number of airborne bacterial colonies in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0.001), and was maintained at a lower level throughout the entire period. The killing rate of 222 nm ultraviolet radiation to airborne microorganisms was approximately 55.76% to 76.33% in different sampling areas. The qualified rates of the total number of dynamic airborne bacterial colonies in the observation room, rescue room and consulting room were improved from 12.50%, 37.50% and 25.00% to 81.25%, 100.00% and 100.00%, respectively (all P<0.001). Over 62.50% of the time, the air quality in the consulting room and CT room in the 222 nm ultraviolet group met the environment standards for airborne bacterial colony criteria of class Ⅰ or class Ⅱ. ConclusionThe upper-room222 nm ultraviolet radiation germicidal disinfection can effectively reduce the total number of airborne bacterial colonies and improve the environment for emergency department, and the continuous using of it is helpful for keeping the air safe and clean.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum long non-coding RNA FGD5-AS1(ln-cRNA FGD5-AS1),microRNA-103a-3p(miR-103a-3p)and puerperal infection(PI)in patients with gesta-tional diabetes mellitus(GDM)in late pregnancy.Methods A total of 168 late pregnancy GDM patients who were hospitalized and delivered in the hospital from January 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected as the experimental group,and the patients were separated into an infected group(96 cases)and an uninfected group(72 cases)based on whether they had PI.At the same time,120 late pregnant women who underwent prenatal examination in the hospital and had normal gestational blood glucose were selected as the control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was applied to detect the expression levels of ln-cRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p.Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of PI in late pregnancy GDM patients.StarBase website was applied to analyze the relationship between lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p.Pearson was applied to analyze the correlation between lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the value of ln-cRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p in predicting the occurrence of PI.Results There was a statistically sig-nificant difference in the expression levels of serum lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p between the experi-mental group and the control group(P＜0.05),the expression level of serum lncRNA FGD5-AS1 in the infec-ted group was obviously higher than that in the uninfected group(P＜0.05),but the expression level of ser-um miR-103a-3p in the infected group was obviously lower than that in the uninfected group(P＜0.05).The expression level of lncRNA FGD5-AS1 was an independent risk factor for PI in late-pregnancy GDM patients(P＜0.05),and the expression level of miR-103a-3p was an independent protective factor for PI in late-preg-nancy GDM patients(P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p expression level(r=-0.409,P＜0.001).The efficacy of the combined detection of lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p for predicting PI in late pregnancy GDM patients was superior to that of serum lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and miR-103a-3p alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion LncRNA FGD5-AS1 is an independent risk factor for PI in late pregnancy GDM patients,while miR-103a-3p is an independent protective factor for PI in late pregnancy GDM patients.The combined detection has higher value for predicting PI in late pregnancy GDM patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of pathologically elevated-cyclic stretch induced by hypertension on mitochondrial biogenesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and the role of PGC1α in this process. Methods The Flexcell-5000T stretch loading system in vitro was applied to VSMCs with a frequency of 1. 25 Hz and an amplitude of 5% or 15% to simulate the mechanical environment under normal physiological or hypertensive pathological conditions respectively. Western blotting and qPCR were used to detect the expression of PGC1α, citrate synthase and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in VSMCs under normal physiological or hypertensive pathological conditions. VSMCs were treated with PGC1α specific activator ZLN005 to promote PGC1α expression or specific interfering fragment siRNA to inhibit PGC1α expression in order to detect the effect on citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number. Results Compared with 5% physiological cyclic stretch, 15% pathologically elevated-cyclic stretch significantly suppressed the expression of PGC1α, citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number in VSMCs. Compared with control group, the protein expression of PGC1α was significantly decreased and increased respectively. When VSMCs transfected with PGC1α siRNA or incubated PGC1α activator ZLN005, the expression of citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number were also significantly down regulated and up-regulated in VSMCs accordingly. Under physiological cyclic stretch conditions, the protein level of PGC1α was significantly down-regulated by PGC1α siRNA, which also significantly down-regulated citrate synthase expression and mtDNA copy number. The protein expression of PGC1α was significantly up-regulated by ZLN005, which also enhanced the expression of citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number. Conclusions The pathological cyclic stretch induced by hypertension significantly down-regulated the expression of citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number via suppressing the expression of PGC1α, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction of VSMCs. PGC1α may be a potential therapeutic target molecule to alleviate the progression of hypertension.

Objective:To study the time consumption of clinical trial projects in each link of contract signing in medical institutions and its influencing factors, to provide a reference for further optimizing the clinical trial management process and improving the efficiency of contract signing.Methods:All of the review records of projects that signed clinical trial contracts at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2021 were retrospectively analyzed by comparing the time consumption in each link before signing the contracts and the frequency of contract reviews. Multiple linear regressions were applied to multivariate analyze the influence of different factors on contract signing.Results:A total of 761 clinical trial contracts signed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2018 to 2021 were included in this study, and the average time consumption of contract signing was 127.0 days, among which the consumption of contract review by the hospital was 10.5 days and by sponsors was 99.0 days. The time consumption of contract signing has been decreasing in recent 4 years, from 154.0 days in 2018 to 104.0 days in 2021. The phase of clinical trials, category of sponsors, frequency of contract reviews, and different policies of the institutions were the main influencing factors for contract signing time ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Clinical trial institutions should optimize the contract approval progress, provide agreement templates and targeted service, and strengthen propaganda and information system construction, to improve the efficiency of reviewing and signing clinical trial contracts.

Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced* ; East Asian People ; Risk Factors ; Heart Disease Risk Factors ; Lipids ; Anticholesteremic Agents/adverse effects* ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Treatment Outcome

Abstract: Objective To construct a shuttle vector pHT315-AaCPR100A with two spore-producing-dependent promoters and the target gene AaCPR100A in Escherichia coli-Bacillus thuringiensis. Methods The forward promoter of Cry3A, named Pro-1 (+), was amplified by PCR using pSVP27A plasmid as the template, and the target gene AaCPR100A was amplified using Aedes aegypti RNA reverse conversion cDNA as the template. The plasmid pHT315 was linearized by digestion with Hind Ⅲ and Sal Ⅰ. The forward promoter and the target gene were inserted into the linearized vector pHT315 successively by in-fusion cloning according to the transcription direction. The synthesized plasmid containing the Cry3A reverse promoter sequence was used as the template, and the Pro-1 (-) reverse promoter was amplified by PCR. The intermediate vector containing the forward promoter and the target gene was linearized by EcoR I restriction enzyme, and the reverse promoter was inserted downstream of the target gene by in-fusion cloning in the direction of transcription. Results By agarose gel electrophoresis, the forward promoter, target gene AaCPR100A and reverse promoter bands were clear and of good quality, which could be used for in-fusion cloning experiments. The two spore-producing-dependent promoters and target gene fragments were connected by In-fusion cloning. The recombinant vector pHT315-AaCPR100A was verified by PCR. The forward promoter, target gene fragment and reverse promoter were successfully amplified in the recombinant vector. Nucleotide sequencing verified that the sequencing results of the bidirectional promoter sequence and the target gene sequence were basically consistent with the sequence alignment results, which met the requirements of the construction of vector elements and proved that the recombinant vector was successfully constructed. Conclusions Based on the above results, this study proves that the recombinant shuttle vector with two spore-producing-dependent promoters can be successfully constructed by in-fusion cloning technology, laying the foundation for the construction of engineered Bacillus thuringiensis expressing dsRNA of AaCPR100A.

Objective:To analyze the ultrasound characteristics of small bowel volvulus among adults and to investigate the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of small bowel volvulus.Methods:Totally 34 adults with small bowel volvulus confirmed by clinical diagnosis or surgery and who underwent ultrasound examination at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2017 to October 2022 were enrolled, including 19 males and 15 females, aged (55.0±21.8) years (range: 19 to 94 years). The clinical characteristics, CT images and ultrasound images of the patients were retrospectively reviewed, and the ultra, sound features of small bowel volvulus and its diagnostic efficacy were analyzed.Results:Abdominal pain was the typical clinical symptom of all patients. Other symptoms included 21 cases of abdominal distension, 19 cases of nausea and vomiting, and 13 cases of cessation of passage of stool or flatus. Eight patients had signs of peritonitis and 22 patients had abnormal bowel sounds. Twenty patients had a history of abdominal surgery. Twenty-seven patients underwent surgery for intestinal obstruction, and the remaining 7 patients improved after conservative treatment. All cases were evaluated by ultrasound, 11 cases showed a “whirl sign” and were diagnosed as small bowel volvulus, the diagnostic accuracy rate was 32.4% (11/34), ultrasound simultaneously diagnosed intestinal obstruction in 21 cases, 17 cases of abdominal effusion, 4 cases of intestinal wall thickening, 2 cases of abdominal mass, 1 case of intussusception, 1 case of right sided inguinal hernia. CT and ultrasound had a consistent positive discovery in 88.2% (30/34) of all the patients.Conclusion:Ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis of small bowel volvulus and the evaluation of complications.

Objective:To analyze the ultrasound characteristics of small bowel volvulus among adults and to investigate the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of small bowel volvulus.Methods:Totally 34 adults with small bowel volvulus confirmed by clinical diagnosis or surgery and who underwent ultrasound examination at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2017 to October 2022 were enrolled, including 19 males and 15 females, aged (55.0±21.8) years (range: 19 to 94 years). The clinical characteristics, CT images and ultrasound images of the patients were retrospectively reviewed, and the ultra, sound features of small bowel volvulus and its diagnostic efficacy were analyzed.Results:Abdominal pain was the typical clinical symptom of all patients. Other symptoms included 21 cases of abdominal distension, 19 cases of nausea and vomiting, and 13 cases of cessation of passage of stool or flatus. Eight patients had signs of peritonitis and 22 patients had abnormal bowel sounds. Twenty patients had a history of abdominal surgery. Twenty-seven patients underwent surgery for intestinal obstruction, and the remaining 7 patients improved after conservative treatment. All cases were evaluated by ultrasound, 11 cases showed a “whirl sign” and were diagnosed as small bowel volvulus, the diagnostic accuracy rate was 32.4% (11/34), ultrasound simultaneously diagnosed intestinal obstruction in 21 cases, 17 cases of abdominal effusion, 4 cases of intestinal wall thickening, 2 cases of abdominal mass, 1 case of intussusception, 1 case of right sided inguinal hernia. CT and ultrasound had a consistent positive discovery in 88.2% (30/34) of all the patients.Conclusion:Ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis of small bowel volvulus and the evaluation of complications.