Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of simultaneous enhanced accelerated radiation therapy for brain metastases (SMART-Brain) combined with functional area protection. Methods SMART-Brain was planned for 60 patients with multiple brain metastases. Using the whole brain intensity modulation technique, important functional areas such as hippocampus were protected against irradiation by delivering a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Meanwhile, a high dose of 40 Gy was delivered to brain metastases in 10 fractions. All patients were followed up to evaluate the efficacy, incidence of adverse reactions, median overall survival (OS), and intracranial progression-free survival (IPFS). Results The effective rate was 73.33% (44 cases), the disease control rate was 91.67% (55 cases), median OS was 15.2 months, and IPFS was 12 months. The 1 and 2-year OS was 66.7% and 26.4%, and the 1-year IPFS was 46.7%. The MMSE scores at 1, 3, and 6 months after SMART showed no significant differences compared with baseline scores (P > 0.05). Grade 2 and above inner ear damage such as otitis media, hearing loss, and dizziness was absent. Conclusion Smart-Brain can significantly reduce the treatment time and better protect the organs at risk, and serves as an economical, safe, and effective radiotherapy regimen in areas with limited technical conditions.

Objective To compare the dosimetric characteristics of non-coplanar and coplanar field technology in static intensity-modulated radiotherapy of gastric cancer patients, so as to provide a reference for clinical radiotherapy plan selection. Methods Thirty-six patients with gastric cancer were selected to receive intensity-modulated radiotherapy in Huanggang Central Hospital, which was designed plan A and B. Group A used 7-field coplanar technology, while Group B used 7-field non-coplanar technology. We compared the differences of the optimized monitor unit, the dosimetry of organs at risk and target areas between group A and group B. Results Both group A and B could meet the requirements of doctors. The homogeneity index (0.14 ± 0.02), the conformity index (0.98 ± 0.01), D_min (4315.21 ± 16.74) cGy、D_mean (4679.28 ± 28.39) cGy and D_max(4952.30 ± 33.26) cGy of target areas in group B were better than those of group A. Moreover, the monitor unit of group B was much lower than that of group A, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The D_max, D_mean, V₁₅, V₂₀ and V₃₀ of the left and right kidneys in group B were lower than those of group A. The D_max (3408.57 ± 46.03) cGy, D_mean (1250.32 ± 14.27) cGy and V₂₀ (44.91% ± 6.67%) of spinal cord and the D_max (3408.57 ± 46.03) cGy, D_mean (1720.55 ± 17.42) cGy, V₂₀ (25.31% ± 7.78%) and V₃₀ (18.52% ± 1.56%) of small intestine were also lower than those of group A. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The non-coplanar field radiation plan has more advantages in terms of target dose distribution and protection of organs so that it can be more considerably used in the process of planning and design.

The high rotational speed of the axial flow blood pump and flow separation of the centrifugal blood pump are the main causes for blood damage in blood pump. The mixed flow blood pump can effectively alleviate the high rotational speed and the flow separation. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to explore the performance of the mixed blood pump with a closed impeller. A mixed flow blood pump with closed impeller was studied by numerical simulation in this paper. The flow field characteristics and the pressure distribution of this type of blood pump were analyzed. The hydraulic performance of the blood pump and the possible damages to red blood cells were also discussed. At last, pump performance was compared with the mixed flow blood pump with semi-open impeller. The results show that the mixed flow blood pump with close impeller studied in this paper can operate safely and efficiently with a good performance. The pump can reach the pressure head of 100 mmHg at 5 L/min mass flow rate. Flow in the blood pump is uniform and no obvious separation or vortex occurs. Pressure distribution in and on the impeller is uniform and reasonable, which can effectively avoid the thrombosis of blood. The average mean value of hemolysis index is 4.99 × 10 . The pump has a good biocompatibility. Compared with the mixed flow blood pump with semi-open impeller, the mixed flow blood pump with closed impeller has higher head and efficiency, a smaller mean value of hemolysis index prediction, a better hydraulic performance and the ability to avoid blood damage. The results of this study may provide a basis for the performance evaluation of the closed impeller mixed flow blood pump.
Computer Simulation ; Equipment Design ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) non-structural protein NS1 is a multifunctional protein important for virus replication and induction of apoptosis in host cell. To better understand the function of the NS1 protein, it is urgent to address reducing the toxicity of NS1 to host cells. In the present study, we established a stable cell line that regulates expression of NS1 of HBoV1. The recombinant lentivirus plasmid containing a regulatable promoter fused with ns1 gene was constructed and transfected into HEK 293T cells using transfection reagent. The HEK 293T cell lines stably expressing NS1-100 and NS1-70 proteins were established by screening resistant cells with puromycin and inducing NS1 expression with doxycycline. The expression of NS1 protein was determined by fluorescent labeling protein and Western blotting. HBoV1 promoter was transfected into stably expressing NS1 cell line and its trans-transcriptional activity was analyzed. The results showed that NS1 protein was expressed stably in the established cell lines and had a strong activation activity on the HBoV1 promoter driving luciferase gene. Taken together, this study provides a solid basis for further research on the function of NS1 and the pathogenesis of human bocavirus.
Human bocavirus ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect difference for stroke between meridian-collateral diagnosis and therapy byand conventional acupuncture with syndrome differentiation.

METHODSTotally 148 patients were assigned into an observation group(72 cases) and a control group(76 cases) by random number table,with 10 cases dropping out in the observation group. In the observation group,meridians were examined and differentiated and then the treating meridians and acupoints were defined. Corresponding acupuncture was used according to them. In the control group,acupuncture was applied at acupoints by internal differentiation and experience. Treatment was given once a day and five times a week,with total 20 times. The motion function of limbs and coloboma degree of nerve function were assessed by Fugl-Meyer score and National Institutes of Health Stroke Score(NIHSS) before and after treatment as well as at three-month follow-up.

RESULTSAfter treatment,the Fugl-Meyer scores increased and the NIHSS scores decreased in the two groups compared with those before treatment(all<0.05). At follow-up three months after treatment,Fugl-Meyer score upgraded in the observation group (<0.05) and NIHSS score declined in the two groups (both<0.01) than those before treatment,and NIHSS scores were statistically different between the two groups(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMeridian-collateral diagnosis and therapy byhas better long-term efficacy when it is compared with conventional acupuncture with syndrome differentiation for motion function of limbs and nerve function of stroke.

Objective To assess the correlation and agreement of the mitral valve geometry parameters obtained by real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography ( RT-3D-TTE) and real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography ( RT-3D-TEE) . Methods RT-3D-TTE and RT-3D-TEE were performed on 29 healthy volunteers under conscious state and general anesthesia respectively . The mid-systole mitral valve parameters were analyzed by TomTec Imaging Systems . The repeatability test of the mitral valve parameters obtained by RT-3D-TTE was performed . The correlation and agreement of the mitral valve parameters obtained by RT-3D-TTE and RT-3D-TEE were assessed , and then the differences of mitral valve parameters between the two methods were compared . The study was approved by the Shanxi Dayi Hospital Ethics Committee ( Approval no .YXLL-2015-040) . Results ① The mitral valve parameters obtained by RT-3D-TTE showed excellent intra- and interobserver reproducibility ,in intra-observer and inter-observer with ICC > 0 .8 for all the parameters ,and the Bland-Altman plots displayed the average differences of anterior-posterior ( AP) ,anterolateral-posteromedial ( ALPM ) ,annular circumference ( AC) ,three-dimensional annular area ( AA3D ) for intra- and interobserver were 0 .009 ± 0 .11 , - 0 .008 ± 0 .10 , - 0 .036 ± 0 .32 ,0 .030 ± 0 .36 in intra-observer and - 0 .018 ± 0 .09 ,0 .087 ± 0 .20 , - 0 .037 ± 0 .44 ,- 0 .016 ± 0 .62 in inter-observers ,respectively . ② There were close correlations ( r = 0 .566 - 0 .870 , P <0 .01) and good agreement ( ICC = 0 .719 - 0 .931 , P < 0 .01) between the mitral valve parameters obtained by RT-3D-TTE and RT-3D-TEE . ③ The mitral valve parameters obtained by RT-3D-TTE were similar to those obtained by RT-3D-TEE .Among the parameters ,AP ,two-dimensional annular area ( AA 2D ) ,annular height ( AH) ,tenting volume ( TV) ,anterior leaflet length ( ALL) and posterior leaflet length ( PLL) had no statistically significant differences between the two methods ( P > 0 .05) . The rest of parameters including ALPM ,sphericity ( SPI) ,commissural diameter (CD) ,AC ,AA 3D ,nonplanarity angle ( NPA) ,tenting height ( T H) ,maximum annular displacement ( ADmax) and maximum annular displacement velocity ( ADVmax) had significant differences ( P < 0 .05) . Conclusions The mitral valve parameters obtained by RT-3D-TTE are highly reproducible and similar to those obtained by RT-3D-TEE ,and the two methods have close correlations and good agreement . Therefore ,RT-3D-TTE has higher potential clinical application value in the evaluation of mitral valve geometry .

BACKGROUND: Neuroscience and brain science researches have paid attention to the effect of astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of neurologic impairment disease and neural regeneration. Studying astragalus membranaceus effects on neural stem cells are becoming a new research direction. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of astragalus injection on biological viability of rat neural stem cells. METHODS: Neural stem cells of Wistar rats were separated and cultured. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to identify the neural stem cells. The purified cells were gained by the second subcultivation in vitro, and then the cells were randomly divided into control group and astragalus injection groups with various concentrations (50, 200, 400 g/L) to culture for 6, 12 and 24 hours. The activity of cells was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and then the immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expressions of neuron-specific enolase and glial fibril ary acidic protein in the 50 g/L astragalus injection group after induced for 7 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The viability of neural stem cells increased significantly after intervention with different concentrations of astragalus injection for 6 hours as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the cel viability after treated with different concentrations of astragalus injection for 24 hours (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the cells in the 50 g/L astragalus group differentiated rapidly, and the number of positive cells for neuron-specific enolase was increased significantly (P < 0.05). The neural stem cells proliferation was hastened, and its differentiation was promoted by the interference of astragalus injection.

Objective To investigate the compound donkey-hide gelatin syrup in reducing adverse reactions of qi-blood weakness patients caused by clozapine.Methods 132 patients from Psychiatric Hospital of Yunnan Province between January 2010 and June 2010 were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group.Both groups were taken clozapine orally.On this basis,the treatment group was taken compound donkey-hide gelatin syrup and the control group was taken placebo syrup.After 8 weeks treatment for both groups,the PANSS,TESS,physical examination and experiment examination were observed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety.Results ① the total curative effect:the treatment group was 73.53％,the control group was 65.63％,showing statistical difference (x2=2.543,P＜0.05).② PANSS scores changes before and after the treatment:PANSS score at 2,4,6,8 weeks after the treatment of both groups were [(72.51 ±27.55),(60.54±24.03),(53.12± 15.27),(48.15± 11.88) in treatment group respectively,and (70.71 ±23.90),(58.89± 18.95),(53.06± 14.38),(48.98 ± 9.78) in the control group,respectively],both showing significant difference than the same group before the treatment [(103.99±39.12) in the treatment group,(99.78±34.35) in the control group] (P＜0.05).But there was no statistical significance between two groups (F=2.413,P＞0.05).③ adverse reactions:during the treatment liver function,blood cell analysis,dystonia,Parkinson's obstacle,akathisia,abnormal gastrointestinal reaction,heart rate,heart rate variability and blood pressure in the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group (x2=4.562,P＜0.05).Conclusion Compound donkey-hide gelatin syrup can effectively relieve adverse reactions in qi-blood weak psychosis patients after clozapine treatment and improve their drug tolerance.

Objective To compare the effect of high volume continuous blood purification (CBP) with routine CBP on multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS).Methods 38 patients with MODS were randomly divided into high volume CBP group( treatment group,18 cases) and routine CBP group (control group,20 cases).And they were respectively detected on mean arterial pressure(MAP),dosage of Dopamine,PaO2/FiO2,APACHE [ score,lactic acid,length of stay and mortality in ICU post-treatment 24h and 48h.Results Compared with control group,MAP and PaO2/FiO2 on treatment group were more higher( P ＜ 0.05 ),while dosage of Dopamine,APACHE Ⅱ score,lactic acid were significantly shorter than these of treatment group( P ＜ 0.05 ),and length of stay and mortality in ICU were significantly lower than those of treatmen group [ ( 8.54 ± 4.15 ) d vs ( 11.82 ± 5.76) d,P ＜ 0.05:22.2％ vs 35.0％,P ＜0.05 ].Conclusion High volume CBP could reduce the mortality in ICU compared with control group routine CBP.

OBJECTIVE: VEGF-C,D are known to be capable of inducing proliferation of lymphatic endothelia cell and development of lymphatic vessels, so we investigated the expression of VEGF-C,D in the differentiated thyroid carcinoma tissues microarray in order to understand the significance mechanism of cervix lymphatic metastasis of thyroid cancer. METHOD: A tissue microarray containing 71 specimens was constructed, including normal thyroid tissues, thyroid adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma with and without lymphatic metastasis, follicular thyroid carcinoma. VEGF-C, D protein expression was detected with immunohistochemistry. RESULT: The expression of VEGF-C,D were not observed in normal thyroid tissues and adenoma tissues. The expression of VEGF-C,D in papillary thyroid carcinoma was significantly higher than those in follicular thyroid carcinoma (P < 0.05) and adeno ma tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of VEGF-C,D in papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymphatic metastasis was significantly higher than those in papillary thyroid carcinoma without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION By inducing proliferation of lymphatic endothelia cell and development of lymphatic vessels, VEGF-C,D contributed to lymphatic metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D ; biosynthesis ; Young Adult