Objective: To explore the application value of using 3-dimensional (3D) printing (3DP) technology to create individualized vaginal molds for brachytherapy (BT) in high-dose-rate 3D cervical cancer through reverse engineering of needle placement. Methods: Prospectively, 11 patients with cervical cancer were treated with 3DP-intracavitary/ interstitial (IC/IS) BT using 3DP to create individualized vaginal molds. All patients were performed BT after completion of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Each patient was treated with BT 5 times, the prescription dose was 600 cGy/F, which was performed once or twice a week, 2 of them were freehand IC/IS BT, and 3 were 3DP-IC/IS BT. The relevant planning parameters (bladder, rectum, sigmoid colon, and small intestine) and target conformity index (CI) for high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were compared between the groups. Results: There were significant advantages in the 3DP-IC/IS BT group compared with the freehand IC/IS BT group: HR-CTV D 90 (629.40±19.34 vs. 613.03±15.93 cGy, p=0.002), D 95 (580.74±18.31 vs. 567.44±23.94 cGy, p=0.032), bladder D 2cc (431.11±23.27 vs. 458.07±23.27 cGy, p<0.001), bladder D 1cc and bladder D 0.1cc . There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the 2 groups in rectal D 2cc (352.30±42.42 vs. 361.29±42.42 cGy, p=0.470), sigmoid colon D 2cc (236.73±78.95 vs. 246.50±58.17 cGy, p=0.621), CI (0.79±0.04 vs.0.79±0.039 p=0.773), HR-CTV V 100 , V 200 , D98 , D 100 and other OARs parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion Compared with IC/IS BT, 3DP-IC/IS BT has apparent advantages with simple operation and high safety. In addition, individualized mold helps to improve the tumor target area’s radiation dose while meeting the dose-limiting requirements for organs at risk and reduces the clinical proficiency requirements for operating physicians.

Objective:To observe the effects and explore the mechanism of Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)static training on vascular endothelial cell dysfunction and adiponectin(APN)in obese rats. Methods:Eight of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly selected as a normal group to be fed a common diet.The remaining rats were fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity models and randomly divided into a model group,an aerobic exercise group,and a static training group after successful modeling,with 8 rats in each group.During the entire experiment,rats in the normal group were fed a common diet without intervention.Rats in the model group were fed a high-fat diet without intervention.Rats in the aerobic exercise group were given moderate-intensity running exercises.Rats in the static training group were given 6-day/week static training for 8 weeks.The body mass and length of rats were recorded throughout the experiment,and the Lee's index was calculated.After the intervention,the perirenal and peri-epididymal fat weights of rats were measured,and the fat/body mass ratio was calculated.Four items of blood lipids were detected by biochemical methods[triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein(LDL),and high-density lipoprotein(HDL)];serum nitric oxide(NO),endothelin-1(ET-1),soluble thrombomodulin(sTM),and APN were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The morphological changes of the aorta in each group were observed under the microscope. Results:Compared with the normal group,the body mass,body length,Lee's index,perirenal fat mass,peri-epididymal fat mass,fat/body mass ratio,TG,TC,LDL,ET-1,and sTM in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05),while the HDL,NO,and APN were significantly reduced(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass,Lee's index,perirenal fat mass,peri-epididymal mass,fat/body mass ratio,TC,LDL,ET-1,and sTM in the aerobic exercise group and the static training group were significantly reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the HDL,NO,and APN were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with the aerobic exercise group,NO in the static training group was significantly higher(P<0.05).APN was positively correlated with NO(P<0.01),while APN was negatively correlated with ET-1 or sTM(P<0.01).Aortic morphological observation showed that the degree of endothelial injury in the aerobic exercise group and the static training group was less significant than that in the model group,and the improvement of endothelial cell morphology in the static training group was more notable than that in the aerobic exercise group. Conclusion:Tuina static training and aerobic exercise improved the aortic endothelial injury in obese rats,and the effect of Tuina static training was more significant.The mechanism of action may be related to regulating lipid metabolism and promoting APN secretion.

Objective: To observe the effect of Mo-Rubbing abdomen manipulation on glucose metabolism and inflammatory factors in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=10) and a group for modeling (n=50) using the random number table method. Rats in the group for modeling were induced to form T2DM models by a high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Thirty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, a Mo-Rubbing abdomen group, and a metformin group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group received no intervention, those in the Mo-Rubbing abdomen group received Mo-Rubbing abdomen manipulation, and those in the metformin group received metformin by gavage. After 8-week intervention, fasting insulin (FINS), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and area under the curve at the oral glucose tolerance test (AUC-OGTT), as well as serum inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected, and the morphological changes of the pancreas were also observed. Results: After the 8-week intervention, the levels of FINS, FPG, HOMA-IR, and AUC-OGTT of rats in the Mo-Rubbing abdomen group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05); the pancreatic injury degree in the Mo-Rubbing abdomen group and the metformin group was lower than that in the model group. Compared with the model group, the serum IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels of rats in the Mo-Rubbing abdomen group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels of the metformin group showed a downward trend; the serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the Mo-Rubbing abdomen group were significantly lower than those in the metformin group (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between FPG with IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the T2DM rats (P<0.01). Conclusion: Mo-Rubbing abdomen manipulation reduces the inflammatory response and improves the morphological changes of the pancreas in T2DM rats, thereby achieving the effect of lowering blood glucose.

Objective To explore clinical efficacy and mechanisms of medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion treatment for mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) of spleen deficiency and dampness type.Methods Totally 60 cases were randomly divided into observation group and control group according to a random digits table, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was inserted into the anus with mesalamine suppository 1 g once a day, while the observation group was given medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion treatment once a day based on the treatment for the control group. Medicinal cake (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata: Codonopsis Radix: Coptidix Rhizoma: Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma: Corydalis Rhizoma: Aucklandiae Radix=3:3:2:2:2:1) was put on the acupoints (Pishu, Zhongwan and Zusanli for the first group, Dachangshu, Tianshu and Shangjuxu for the second group, one group for each time, and 2 groups were used interchangeably). One wormwood cylinder was put on medicinal cake, 5 min each time, 3 doses each time, once a day. The treatment course for all was 8 weeks. The main symptom scores (diarrhea, bellyache, pus and blood stool) and total scores, colonoscopy Baron score and serum CC chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) expression level were compared between before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated and the adverse reactions were observed.Results The total effective rate in observation group was 93.33% (28/30) and significantly higher than that of the control group of 76.67% (23/30). After the treatment, the main symptom scores and total scores, colonoscopy Baron score and serum CCL20 expression level were significantly lower than those of pre-treatment in the same one group (P<0.05), which of the observation group were remakably lower than those of the control group (P<0.05); there was one case occured adverse reaction in the observation group and two cases in the control group, with no statistical significance between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion treatment is effective and safe in patients with mild-to-moderate UC of spleen deficiency and dampness type, which effects might be involved in regulating the expression of serum CCL20.