Objective:To investigate the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (RP) induced by 125I seed implantation for the treatment of malignant lung tumors and analyze related dosimetric parameters. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 cases of malignant lung tumors treated with 125I seed implantation from January 2017 to December 2022 at Hebei Provincial Tumor Radioactive Seeds Implantation Diagnosis and Treatment Center. These cases consisted of eight patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 10 patients with adenocarcinoma, and 13 patients with metastatic cancer in other sites. At 1-6 months after treatment, these patients received postoperative chest CT scans, with the efficacy evaluated based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), including the objective response rate (ORR) and the disease control rate (DCR). The efficacy of RP was evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Postoperative dosimetric parameters, including D90 (minimum peripheral dose received by 90% of the target volume), V8 (percentage of lung volume receiving 8 Gy), V32 (percentage of lung volume receiving 32 Gy), and Dmean (mean radiation dose) of the affected lung, were statistically analyzed. The relationships of the RP occurrence with postoperative D90, V8, V32, and Dmean were analyzed by comparison with relevant external radiotherapy data, to identify the parameters that are correlated closely with RP occurrence. Results:All the patients underwent successful surgeries. The postoperative efficacy evaluation after six months showed complete response (CR) in 11 cases, partial response (PR) in 11 cases, stable disease (SD) in eight cases, and progressive disease (PD) in one case, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 71.0%, and a disease control rate (DCR) of 96.8%. Three patients suffered RP, with an incidence rate of 9.7%. Postoperative V8, V32, and Dmean could not serve as predictive indicators for RP. Follow-up observation revealed that three RP cases (3/5) exhibited postoperative D90 exceeding 170 Gy and no RP cases (0/26) showed postoperative D90 below 170 Gy. Conclusions:In the treatment of malignant lung tumors with 125I seed implantation, there is a certain correlation between RP and postoperative D90, while there is no correlation between it and V8, V32, and Dmean.

AIM: To assess the association between the Dem, axial length/corneal radius ratio(AL/CR ratio), and the refractive status of children aged 3 to 14, compare the efficiency of Dem with AL/CR ratio in predicting myopia, and to explore a more effective method for quantitatively predicting the refractive state of children.METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 519 children aged 3 to 14, including 519 eyes(data from the right eyes were used). All participants were out-patients at the ophthalmic clinic of Xi'an No.1 Hospital from March 2021 to December 2022. The axial length(AL), keratometry(K), Dem, and spherical equivalent refraction(SER)were recorded before ciliary paralysis, and myopia was defined when the SER ≤-0.50 D.RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between SER and Dem(r=0.88, P<0.01), and a negative correlation between SER and the AL/CR ratio(r=-0.87, P<0.01)in children aged 3-14. The optimal cutoff points for the Dem and AL/CR ratio were 20.40 D, and 3.02, respectively. Myopia could be diagnosed when the Dem ≤20.40 D or the AL/CR ratio ≥3.02. SER decreased by 0.57 D for every 1 D decrease in Dem and by 1.00 D for every 0.06 increase in the AL/CR ratio. The area under the ROC curve(AUC)for Dem(0.958)was significantly greater than that for the AL/CR ratio(0.940).CONCLUSION: There is a positive correlation between SER and Dem, and a negative correlation between SER and the AL/CR ratio in children aged 3-14. Dem is more efficient than the AL/CR ratio in myopia assessment. The eye biometrics directly provide Dem values, which is more convenient for calculating the dose-effect relationship with SER, thus making it more efficient for predicting SER in children.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of astragaloside Ⅰ,the active constituent of milkvetch root,in inhibiting podocyte injury and improving diabetic kidney disease.Methods According to the body weight,60 male db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group,astragaloside Ⅰ low-dose group(10 mg/kg),astragaloside Ⅰ medium-dose group(20 mg/kg),astragaloside Ⅰ high-dose group(40 mg/kg),and valsartan group(10mg/kg),with 12 mice per group.Twelve db/db littermate control db/m mice were used as the control group.The drug was administered by gavage for 8 weeks.Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure of the kidney;immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of nephrotic protein(nephrin),a marker of renal podocytes;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the contents of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-18(IL-18)in the serum of mice;Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain-related protein 3(NLRP3),cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1(Caspase-1),and Gasdermin D(GSDMD)in kidney tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the glomeruli of the model group showed obvious podocyte loss and foot process fusion;the protein expression of nephrin was decreased(P＜0.05);the contents of IL-1 β and IL-18 in serum were increased(P＜0.05);the protein expressions of NLRP3,Cleaved-Caspase-1,and GSDMD-N were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the renal pathological damage in the astragaloside Ⅰ administration groups were alleviated;the protein expression of nephrin was increased(P＜0.05);the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum were decreased(P＜0.05);the protein expressions of NLRP3,Cleaved-Caspase-1,and GSDMD-N were decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Astragaloside Ⅰ may play a role in intervening diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting pyroptosis and improving podocyte injury.

Objective We systematically analyze the changes in the count and function of platelet at the early sepsis based on clinical study and single cell sequencing.Methods Clinical data of sepsis patients at the early stage were collected and had been compared between different prognostic groups in the prospective case-control study.The independent risk factors of death were analyzed by logistic regression,and the predictive efficacy of clini-cal indicators was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The healthy volunteers and sepsis patients were recruited.Clinical researchers collected peripheral venous blood samples for sorting cell samples to carry out single-cell RNA sequencing(sc-RNA seq).Through bioinformatics techniques,we analyzed the changes in platelet count,the significantly differential-expressed genes and its enriched functional signaling pathways in the early stages of sepsis.Results(1)A total of 224 patients were enrolled,with a 90 day survival rate of 70.5%.Compared with the survival group,the count of platelet and MAP in the death group at the early stage of sepsis were significantly lower,but the plasma lactate content and SOFA score were significantly higher.(2)Based on single cell sequencing technology,cells are annotated as six groups.The proportion of innate immune cells(neutrophils,monocytes,and dendritic cells)was significantly increased in the early stage of sepsis compared to the healthy volun-teers(2.15∶1),while platelets significantly decreased(0.31∶1).(3)Through bioinformatics technology,CD41/CD42a/CD61 was identified as platelet specific molecules,with significantly increased expression levels in sepsis.Three molecules can distinguish platelets together.(4)771 genes were significantly upregulated and 1101 genes were significantly downregulated in platelets of patients with sepsis,including core molecules involved in physiological functions such as cell adhesion,chemotaxis,and immune response.Functional analysis suggests that differentially expressed genes are enriched in coagulation,immune functions and cell death,participating in oxidative phosphory-lation,leukocyte chemotaxis,iron death,and NOD like receptor signaling pathways.Conclusion Reduced platelet count is associated with poor prognosis in the early stage of sepsis.The specific high expression molecules CD41/CD42a/CD61 that are significantly upregulated in platelets can serve as biomarkers for platelets.Platelets not only mediate cell adhesion and coagulation cascade,but also participate in functional changes such as immune cell chemotaxis,inflammatory response,and the pathological death of inflammatory cells.

Glaucoma is one of the most common optic neuropathies, featuring progressive retinal ganglion cell damage and visual field loss (Tham et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2020). Currently, the only effective treatment for this condition is the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) (Palmberg, 2001; Heijl et al., 2002). Canaloplasty is a proven bleb-independent surgery with good efficacy and safety profiles in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (Gołaszewska et al., 2021). However, early transient postoperative IOP elevation has been reported in up to 30% of cases (Riva et al., 2019), similar to that commonly observed in other internal drainage glaucoma surgeries such as implantation using iStent (0%-21.0%), CyPass (10.8%), and Hydrus (4.8%-6.5%) (Lavia et al., 2017). This complication may be a predictor of poor reserve in the outflow system and is potentially associated with surgical failure. Nonetheless, the exact pathophysiology of glaucoma remains unknown, and studies clarifying the risk factors for postoperative IOP elevation have been scarce.
Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/surgery* ; Incidence ; Treatment Outcome ; Risk Factors

Objective:To investigate the relationship between dosimetric parameters and tumor volume change after 125I implantation for thyroid cancer and obtain better dosimetric parameters that predict the curative effect more accurately. Methods:A total of 22 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer (23 targets) who received 125I interstitial brachytherapy in Department of Oncology, Hebei General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients received post-operative dose verification, and the D 90 (Minimum dose received by 90% target volume) was calculated. After a regular follow-up, the tumor volume reduction ratio after t months (R t) , actual absorbed dose (D 1m) , efficacy corrected absorbed dose (D 1e) , and sensitivity corrected absorbed dose (D 1s) of the first month were calculated according to the actual follow-up CT images. The statistical test was carried out by SPSS21.0. The Spearman linear analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between D 90, D 1m, D 1e, D 1s and R t, and the curve fitting was also completed. Results:The post-operative D 90, D 1m, D 1e, D 1s and R t were (129.73±14.22) Gy, (36.95±7.35) Gy, (43.45±11.32) Gy, (41.78±13.39) Gy, and (32.00±19.00) %, respectively. And the correlation coefficient were 0.692, 0.551, 0.728, and 0.858, respectively, which showed significant positive relevance between dosimetric parameters and tumor volume change ( P<0.01) , the curve fitting presented cubic function. Conclusion:The post-operative D 90, D 1m, D 1e, and D 1s can be predictors for curative effect, and D 1s is the best predictor.

Background::Keratinocytes play an important role in wound healing; however, less is known about skin keratinocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aimed to search for the transcriptional characteristics of keratinocytes at the single-cell level from T2DM patients, and to provide experimental data for identifying the pathological mechanisms of keratinocytes under pathological conditions.Methods::We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on the skin tissue from two T2DM patients and one patient without diabetes-induced trauma using the BD Rhapsody TM Single-Cell Analysis System. With the help of bioinformatics R-based single-cell analysis software, we analyzed the results of single-cell sequencing to identify the single-cell subsets and transcriptional characteristics of keratinocytes at the single-cell level, including Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyzes. Results::In this study, we found specific highly expressed signature keratinocyte-related genes. We analyzed the transcriptome of keratinocytes from experimental and control groups and screened a total of 356 differential genes, which were subject to bioinformatics analysis. Enriched pathways included oxidative phosphorylation, antigen processing and presentation, prion and Huntingtons’ diseases, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, thermogenesis, vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum.Conclusions::This study revealed the characteristics of keratinocytes at the single-cell level and screened a group of differentially expressed genes related to T2DM-associated keratinocytes, oxidative phosphorylation, cytokine receptor interactions, prion diseases, and other signaling pathways.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of hypopituitorism after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) in the acute phase and analysis the effect of hypopituitorism on prognosis.Methods:Patients with aSAH that were diagnosed and treated in China-Japan Union Hospital from Sep. 2017 to Sep. 2018 and undergoing pituitary function evaluation within 3 to 7 days were retrospectively analyzed. 72 patients were enrolled, including 31 males and 41 females. The average age was 50.1 years old (36-71) . The WFNS gradings were Ⅰ, 24; Ⅱ, 20; Ⅲ, 15; Ⅳ, 10; Ⅴ, 3. The Fisher gradings were 2, 21; 3, 38; 4, 13. Acute hydrocephalus happened in 13 cases. Aneurysm located in the Willis circle in 56 cases and not in the Willis circle in 16 cases. 37 cases were treated by microsurgical clipped and 35 cases were treated by embolism. Patients with hypocortisolism were treated by hydrocortisone replacement, and patients with hypothyroidism were given levothyroxine replacement therapy. Patients were followed up at 3 months and their recovery was evaluated by GOS score.Results:Hypopituitorism was detected in 34 patients; the incidence of hypopituitorism was 47.2%. There was no significant correlation between the occurrence of hypopituitorism and age, gender, and hydrocephalus ( P>0.05) . Patients with WFNS grade ≥Ⅳ, Fisher grade 4, aneurysm located in the Willis circle, and treated by clipping were more likely to undergo hypopituitorism. The proportion of patients with good recovery (GOS ≥4) in the hypopituitorism group was smaller than that in the normal pituitary function group at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions:Patients with WFNS grade ≥Ⅳ, Fisher grade 4, aneurysm located in the Willis circle, and treated by clipping are more likely to undergo hypopituitorism. Hypopituitorism in acute stage affects the prognosis of aSAH patients. Patients with hypocortisolism and hypothyroidism should be treated actively.

Objective: To analyze the factors influencing the short-term efficacy of CT-guided ¹²⁵I seeds implantation in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic tumors in head and neck. Methods: A total of 73 patients (61 males, 12 females; age: (59.1±11.5) years) with head and neck tumors recurrence and metastasis treated by ¹²⁵I seeds implantation in Hebei General Hospital from January 2015 to April 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. The implanted seeds activity was 11.1-29.6 MBq, and the prescription dose was 80.0-145.0 Gy. CT examination was conducted 3 months after ¹²⁵I seeds implantation. According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, short-term efficacy was classified as effective (complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR)) and ineffective (stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD)). Univariate analysis of factors affecting short-term effect (gender, age, history of radiation therapy, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, pathological type, the longest diameter of tumor, implantation patterns, seeds activity, immediate postoperative dose delivered to 90% gross tumor volume (D₉₀), and with adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery or not) were conducted. Variables with P<0.2 were enrolled in logistic multivariate regression analysis. In addition, artificial neural network (ANN) was constructed with all influencing factors as independent variables and short-term efficacy as dependent variables. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for the common influencing factors in logistic regression analysis and ANN analysis. Results: There were 34 with effective results and 39 with ineffective results. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the longest diameter of tumor, immediate postoperative D₉₀, with adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery or not had significant impacts on the short-term efficacy (Wald values: 6.950, 4.804, 4.790, all P<0.05); According to results of ANN analysis, the top 5 in order of importance for short-term efficacy prediction were immediate postoperative D₉₀, the longest diameter of tumor, age, seeds activity and gender. ROC curve analysis indicated that the longest diameter of tumor and immediate postoperative D₉₀ were the best predictors for short-term efficacy, with the threshold of 5.25 cm and 110.05 Gy respectively, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.843 and 0.847 respectively (both P<0.001). Conclusions The short-term efficacy of ¹²⁵I seeds implantation in the recurrence and metastasis of head and neck tumors is mainly related to the longest diameter of tumor and immediate postoperative D₉₀. Patients with the longest diameter of tumor <5.25 cm and with D₉₀>110.05 Gy can achieve better efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy on erectile and urinary functions in mid-low rectal cancer patients.

METHODSSeventy mid-low rectal cancer patients from January 2012 to May 2013 in The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were prospectively enrolled. According to tumor staging and patient decision, patients received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy(50 Grays administered over a six-week period and four cycles of concomitant mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy followed by operation (study group) or surgery alone(control group). Dropouts, loss to follow up and relapse during follow-up were removed from the analysis. A total of 30 patients stayed in study group and 29 patients in control group. To assess erectile and urination functions, the five-item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) and the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaires were used before therapy and 12 months after surgery.

RESULTSIn both study and control groups, total IIEF-5 score was decreased significantly at postoperative 12-month compared to initial assessment(P<0.01). Compared with control group, IIEF-5 score change was significantly higher in study group (9.6 ± 6.1 vs. 5.3 ± 5.3; P<0.01). Total IPSS score in both groups was increased significantly at postoperative 12-month compared to initial assessment(P<0.05). No significant difference was found in IPSS score change between the two groups (3.0 ± 3.4 vs. 1.5 ± 3.0, P>0.05). Univariate analysis on study group showed that age, tumor location and maximal diameter were associated with erectile dysfunction. Age was associated with urination dysfunction (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeoadjuvant radiochemotherapy has significant impact on erectile dysfunction after surgery in mid-low rectal cancer patients.

Chemoradiotherapy ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence