Objective To analyze the setup errors during proton and heavy ion therapy for head and head neck tumor patients fixed by thermoplastic film combined with styrofoam.Methods Totally 20 patients undergoing proton and heavy ion therapy at some hospital from January to December 2018 were selected retrospectively,of whom 10 ones had head tumors with clinical targets located in the head and the other 10 cases had head and neck tumors with clinical targets distributed in the head and neck.All the 20 patients were fixed with thermoplastic film combined with styrofoam.The head and neck images of the patients acquired after image guidance were aligned with the CT localization-based digitally reconstructed radiograph images,and the setup errors at six-dimensional directions(left-right translation,head-foot translation,forward-backward translation,isocentric rotation,pitch rotation and transverse-roll rotation)were recorded in the first five and the last five times of radiotherapy treatment.The data were processed by using the SPSS 23.0 statistical software and EXCEL.Results There were no significant differences between the head tumor patients in the setup errors at the six directions during the first and last five times of radiotherapy(P＞0.05).The head and neck tumor patients did not have obvious differences in the setup errors at the the directions of left-right translation,forward-backward translation,isocentric rotation and transverse-roll rotation(P＞0.05),while did at the directions of head-foot translation and pitch rotation(P＜0.05).The head and head neck tumor patients with the fixation by thermoplastic film combined with styrofoam had their setup errors at the six directions meet clinical requirements after calibration by the six-dimensional treatment table.Conclusion The fixation mode by thermoplastic film and styrofoam behaves well to enhance the setup repeatability for head tumor patients at the six-dimensional directions,while not so well for head neck tumor patients at the directions of head-foot translation and pitch rotation.Proper measures have to be taken to decrease the setup errors during proton and heavy ion therapy for head and head neck tumor patients.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(7):56-61]

Objective To investigate the value of a nomogram model based on contrast-enhanced CT radiomics in predicting the histological type of thymoma.Methods A total of 154 patients(101 in low-risk group and 53 in high-risk group)with thymoma confirmed by pathology were retrospectively selected.The cases were randomly divided into training set(n=107)and validation set(n=47)at a ratio of 7∶3.The three-dimensional volume of interest(VOI)of the whole lesion on the image from the arterial phase of contrast-enhanced CT was manually delineated,and the radiomics features were extracted.Based on the selected radiomics features,the radiomics model was constructed and the model Radiomics score(Radscore)was calculated.Clinical risk factors were screened to construct a clinical model,and a nomogram model was constructed by fusing Radscore and clinical risk factors.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,area under the curve(AUC),accuracy,sensitivity and specificity were compared to analyze the predictive efficacy and difference of different models for high-risk and low-risk thymoma.The decision curve and calibration curve were drawn to evaluate the clinical value and fitting performance of the nomogram model.Results Eleven radiomics features were selected to construct the radiomics model,and five clinical risk factors[myasthenia gravis(MG),morphology,border,surrounding tissue invasion and CT value in arterial phase]were used to construct the clinical model.In the training set,the AUC of the nomogram model(0.88)was higher than that of the radiomics model(0.80)and the clinical model(0.79),and the difference was statistically significant(Z=2.233,2.713,P=0.026,0.007,respectively).In the validation set,the AUC of the nomogram model was higher than that of the radiomics and clinical models,but the difference was not statistically significant.The calibration curve showed that the nomogram model had good fitting performance,and the decision curve showed that the nomogram model had high clinical benefit.Conclusion The nomogram model based on contrast-enhanced CT can effectively predict high-risk and low-risk thymoma,which is helpful to guide clinicians to make relevant decisions.

Objective:A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to determine the enzymatic activity of CD38 in blood, which was the major enzyme responsible for consuming nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Additionally, the study aimed to detect the differences in CD38 enzymatic activity among individuals of varying ages and health statuses.Methods:A 50 μl whole blood matrix and enzyme reaction substrate of 150 μl β-NAD at a concentration of 500 μmol/L were selected for the analysis. To eliminate the impact of endogenous β-NAD, the whole blood sample was pre-incubated at 37 ℃ for 20 minutes before adding the substrate. The reaction was terminated by perchloric acid (PCA) after incubation at 37 ℃ for 40 min. The change in product nicotinamide (NAM) before and after the enzymatic reaction was measured by HPLC to calculate the CD38 activity. The linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, and stability of the method were evaluated. The CD38 enzymatic activities in 60 healthy volunteers and 30 colorectal cancer patients in blood were determined by the developed method.Results:Pre-incubation at 37 ℃ for 20 minutes eliminated the effect of endogenous β-NAD. The correlation coefficient of NAM was 0.999 in the concentration range of 0.1-3.2 μmol/L, with limit of detection of 0.5 nmol/L and limit of quantification of 2.1 nmol/L. The average within-run imprecision ( CV) and total CV were 3.22%-4.03% and 2.91%-4.70%, respectively. The recovery rate ranged from 94.82% to 96.81%. The CD38 activity of whole blood was stable by storage at 4 ℃ for 48 hours, storage at room temperature for 8 hours, thawing of frozen whole blood at room temperature for 2 hours, or repeated freeze-thawing three times. NAM, NAD standards, and pre-treatment samples were stable after 48 hours at 4 ℃ and 8 hours at room temperature. CD38 activity gradually decreased with increasing concentration of the added CD38 inhibitor 4-aminoquinoline derivative (78c). Measurement of 60 healthy physical examination population samples showed significantly higher CD38 enzyme activity in the elderly group than that in the young group ( t=-2.776, P=0.007) and measurement of 30 colorectal cancer patients showed significantly higher CD38 enzyme activity than that in healthy people ( t=-2.572, P=0.012). Conclusion:The established HPLC method for determining CD38 enzymatic activity is characterized by its simplicity, efficiency, accuracy, and reproducibility. This technique serves as a valuable tool for investigating aging and aging-related diseases.

Objective:To explore the current status of surgery for portal hypertension to grasp current status and future development of surgery in China.Methods:This study is jointly sponsored by China Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Specialist Alliance & Portal Hypertension Alliance in China (CHESS).Comprehensive surveying is conducted for basic domestic situations of surgery for portal hypertension, including case load, surgical approaches, management of postoperative complications, primary effects, existing confusion and obstacles, liver transplantation(LT), laparoscopic procedures and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS), etc.Results:A total of 8 512 cases of portal hypertension surgery are performed at 378 hospitals nationwide in 2021.Splenectomy plus devascularization predominated(53.0%)and laparoscopy accounted for 76.1%.Primary goal is preventing rebleeding(67.0%) and 72.8% of hospitals used preventive anticoagulants after conventional surgery.And 80.7% of teams believe that the formation of postoperative portal vein thrombosis is a surgical dilemma and 65.3% of hospitals practiced both laparoscopy and TIPS.The major reasons for patients with portal hypertension not receiving LT are due to a lack of qualifications for LT(69.3%)and economic factors(69.0%).Conclusions:Surgery is an integral part of management of portal hypertension in China.However, it is imperative to further standardize the grasp of surgical indications, the handling of surgical operation and the management of postoperative complications.Moreover, prospective, multi-center randomized controlled clinical studies should be performed.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of the CHESS endoscpic ruler (CHESS ruler), and the consistency between the measured values and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022, a total of 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension were prospectively enrolled from General Hospital, Xixia Branch Hospital, Ningnan Hospital of People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (29 cases), and the First People′s Hospital of Yinchuan (25 cases), General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (18 cases), Wuzhong People′s Hospital (10 cases), the Fifth People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (10 cases), Shizuishan Second People′s Hospital (6 cases), Yinchuan Second People′s Hospital (5 cases), and Zhongwei People′s Hospital (2 cases) 8 hospitals. The clinical characteristics of all the patients, including gender, age, nationality, etiolog of liver cirrhosis, and Child-Pugh classification of liver function were recorded. A big gastroesophageal varices was defined as diameter of varices ≥5 mm. Endoscopist (associated chief physician) performed gastroscopy according to the routine gastroscopy procedures, and the diameter of the biggest esophageal varices was measured by experience and images were collected, and then objective measurement was with the CHESS ruler and images were collected. The diameter of esophageal varices of 10 randomly selected patients (random number table method) was determined by 6 endoscopists (attending physician or associated chief physician) with experience or measured by CHESS ruler. Kappa test was used to test the consistency in the diameter of esophageal varices between measured values by CHESS ruler and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Results:Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, male 65 cases and female 40 cases, aged (54.8±12.2) years old, Han nationality 82 cases, Hui nationality 21 cases and Mongolian nationality 2 cases. The etiology of liver cirrhosis included chronic hepatitis B (79 cases), alcoholic liver disease (7 cases), autoimmune hepatitis (7 cases), chronic hepatitis C (2 cases), and other etiology (10 cases). Liver function of 32 cases was Child-Pugh A, Child-Pugh B 57 cases, and Child-Pugh C 16 cases. All 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension were successfully measured the diameter of gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler, and the success rate of application of CHESS ruler was 100.0% (105/105). The procedure time from the CHESS ruler into the body to the exit of the body after measurement was (3.50±2.55) min. No complications happened in all the patients during measurement. Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension, 96 cases (91.4%) were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists. Totally 93 cases (88.6%) were considered as big gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler. Eight cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopist, however not by the CHESS ruler; 5 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the CHESS ruler, but not by the endoscopists; 4 cases were not recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler; 88 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler. The missed diagnostic rate of big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists experience was 5.4% (5/93), and the Kappa value of consistency coefficient between the measurement by the CHESS ruler and the interpretation by endoscopists experience was 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.60). The overall Kappa value of consistency coefficient by 6 endoscopists measured by CHESS ruler in big gastroesophageal varices diagnosis was 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 0.93).Conclusion:As an objective measurement tool, CHESS ruler can make up for the deficiency of subjective judgment by endoscopists, accurately measure the diameter of gastroesophageal varices, and is highly feasible and safe.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of early pancreatic duct stenting in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 201 patients with acute pancreatitis who were admitted to General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from October 2011 to December 2017 were collected. There were 106 males and 95 females, aged from 18 to 90 years, with a median age of 62 years. Of 201 patients, there were 178 cases with moderate severe acute pancreatitis and 23 cases with serious severe acute pancreatitis. Patients were treated with pancreatic duct stenting within 48 hours after admission. Observation indicators: (1) treatment; (2) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examination and telephone interview to detect recurrence of acute pancreatitis after surgery up to June 2019. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented by Mean± SD, and the independent sample t test was used for comparison between groups, and the matched samples t test was used for comparison between before and after. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented by M( P25 ,P75) or M(range), and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups, and the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used for comparison between before and after. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test . Results:(1) Treatment: 201 patients received pancreatic duct stenting successfully, 63 of which were detected pancreatic obstruction with white-floc. The interval time from admission to surgery , operation time, time for initial oral intake, duration of hospital stay and hospital expenses of 201 patients were 10 hours(4 hours,22 hours), (35±15)minutes, 3 days(2 days,5 days), 6 days(5 days,10 days) and 3.8×10 4 yuan (3.0×10 4 yuan,4.9×10 4 yuan). Of 201 patients, 22 patients were transferred to intensive care unit, including 1 case with serious severe underwent inhospital death and 1 case with moderate severe and 7 cases with serious severe underwent auto-discharge from hospital. There were 25 cases with local complications, including 17 cases with pancreatic infectious necrosis, 7 cases with pancreatic walled-off necrosis and 1 case with spleen infarction. All 25 patients were cured after surgical inter-vention or conservative treatment. Further analysis showed that cases being transferred to intensive care unit, cases undergoing surgical treatment, the time for initial oral intake, duration of hospital stay and cases undergoing auto-discharge from hospital were 6, 11, 3 days(2 days,5 days), 6 days(5 days,10 days) and 1 for the 178 moderate severe cases, versus 16, 5, 7 days(4 days,9 days), 9 days (7 days,17 days) and 7 for the 23 serious severe cases, showing significant differences ( χ2=91.561, 6.730, Z=6.485, 5.463, χ2=47.561, P<0.05). The white blood cell count, serum amylase indexes and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ score of 201 patients were (14±6)×10 9/L, 928 U/L(411 U/L,1 588 U/L), 9±5 before admission, versus (10±4)×10 9/L, 132 U/L(72 U/L,275 U/L), 6±4 at 48 hours after admission, respectively, showing significant differences ( t=12.219, Z=11.639, t=16.016, P<0.05). (2) Follow-up: of 201 patients, 153 cases were followed up for 40 months (27 months,55 months). During the follow-up, 32 of the 153 cases had recurrence of acute pancreatitis. Conclusion:Early pancreatic duct stenting is safe and feasible in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

Diabetes mellitus complicated with cerebral infarction is the commonest and most serious vascular complication of diabetes mellitus. With a high disability and mortality rate, it seriously threatens human health. Because the pathogenesis is still unclear, more and more scholars have focused on the research of diabetic cerebral infarction at home and abroad. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) compounds have a remarkable curative effect in the treatment of diabetic cerebral infarction. Its mechanisms of action mainly include anti-hypertension, reduction of blood sugar and lipid, promotion of vascular regeneration and vascular endothelial function, anticoagulation, anti-thrombosis, improvement of nerve function defect, reduction of infarct volume, improvement of hemorheological, inhibition of inflammation and platelet aggregation, and promotion of collateral circulation. Through literature search, this paper summarizes the research progress of the mechanisms of TCM compounds in treating diabetic cerebral infarction in recent five years at home and abroad, in order to provide reference for clinical treatment.

In the present study, in vitro nematicidal activity of chemical compositions from the methanol extract of Aristolochia mollissima fruits against the second stage juvenile (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica have been investigated. By using silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography methods, fourteen compounds were isolated from methanol extract of A. mollissima fruits. On the basis of spectral data, their structures were identified as aristolochic acid I (1), aristololactam I (2), aristololactam W (3), manshurolide (4), aristolactone (5), saropeptate (6), 2-(1-oxononadecyl)aminobenzoic acid (7), -sitosterol (8), sitostanetriol (9), daucosterol (10), formosolic acid (11), 5-ethyl-8,8-dimethyl nonanal (12), tetracosanoic acid,2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (13) and tetracosanoic acid (14), respectively. It is the first time that compounds 2-4, 6-7, 9-14 are separated from A. mollissima. Furthermore, nematicidal activity of fourteen monomer compounds against J2 Meloidogyne javanica in vitro were analyzed. The compounds 1-3, 6-7 exhibited different degrees toxic effects on J2 M. javanica in vitro, especially for aristolochic acid I (1), aristololactam I (2), aristololactam W (3) with the LC₅₀ values of 45.25, 36.56, 119.46 mg·L⁻¹ after 96 h. So, A. mollissima have the potential value of developing new plant source to control root nematodes.

Drainage ; Humans ; Pancreas ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Stents

[ ABSTRACT] Interstitial cells of Cajal ( ICC) is the pacemaker in the gastrointestinal tract , which is closely as-sociated with the formation of slow wave and the regulation of gastrointestinal motility .As the pacemaker of gastrointestinal tract, the activation of pacing signal is triggered by the local calcium oscillation in the ICC .The change of calcium concen-tration can activate many relevant ion channels , such as NSCC, ANO1, VGCC, HCN channels and potassium channels , which can generate a large number of pacing current to form the slow wave and then propagated by the gap junction between the ICC networks and smooth muscle cells to make the peristalsis of gastrointestinal tract in autonomic rhythm .However, the mechanism of these ion channels in the pacemaker activity is still unclear , so we refer to make a review about the re-search progress on these pacemaker channels in this article to illuminate the mechanism of pacemaker activity in ICC .