Objective To correct the counting loss of ³⁷Ar below the activity threshold during the measurement of the absolute activity of the inert radioactive gas ³⁷Ar using the proportional counter filled with gas. Methods Monte Carlo simulation with Geant4 was performed to establish a proportional counter model and output the energy deposition spectrum of ³⁷Ar, which were used to simulate and analyze the causes and correction of counting loss. Results The photon detection efficiency was only 38.7% at 60 kPa. The counting loss was mainly caused by the wall effect produced by the photons, which could be reduced by increasing the gas pressure and corrected by extrapolation. The influence of wall effect at 100 kPa was 4.4%, and the deviation between simulation and experiment was < 0.6%. Conclusion A factor could be calculated by Geant4 simulation for the correction of counting loss, thus achieving the accurate measurement of ³⁷Ar activity by proportional counter.

Objective　To explore the levels of peripheral blood IL-33 and the difference of arteriovenous fistula glucose (Da-jvGlu) after giving Shenqi glucose injection in acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods　The levels of plasma IL-33 and Da-jvGlu were detected in 126 patients of acute cerebral infarction and 10 normal controls.The correlation between IL-33 and cerebral infarction was analyzed.Results　Compared with those in normal control group and the pretherapy groups,the levels of IL-33 in large volume were significantly higher (P<0.05).After giving Shenqi glucose injection,the level of IL-33 in mid volume and small volume were significantly higher between groups (P<0.05).Compared with those in normal control group and the pretherapy groups,the level of Da-jvGlu in large volume was significantly higher (P<0.05).After giving Shenqi glucose injection,there was no significant difference of Da-jvGlu in statics between groups (P>0.05).Conclusion　Shenqi glucose injection can affect the levels of IL-33 to protect nerve cells and stabilize blood glucose concentration.

Objective: To study the changes of inflammatory response and apoptosis in parotid gland tissues of rats after X-ray irradiation, and to explore the protective effect and possible mechanism of Sarcandra glabra on radiation-induced parotid injury in rats. Methods: A total of 120 male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups(24 for each): control group, single irradiation group, radiation combined with a high(26.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1), moderate(13.4 g·kg^-1·d^-1) and low(6.7 g·kg^-1·d^-1) dosage of Sarcandra glabra group. The parotid gland of rats in the irradiation group received 15 Gy X-ray. Rats in each group were anesthetized with 2% pentobarbital sodium (0.16 ml/100 g) at 10, 40 and 70 d after irradiation and blood was collected from abdominal aorta. ROS levels in blood serum of each group were detected on the 10th, 40th and 70th days after irradiation. After parotid gland tissue was taken, the pathological changes and ultrastructural changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The expression level of TNF-α in parotid gland tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis of parotid cells was detected by TUNEL assay. Results: The content of ROS and the expression of TNF-α protein in the single irradiation group were simultaneously increased compared with the control group (t=-24.723, -35.013, -19.515, P<0.05; t=-13.563, 43.519, -15.249, P<0.05), while they were reduced by Sarcandra glabra in a dosage dependent manner, especially in the high dosage group of Sarcandra glabra (t=5.295, 8.138, 6.545, P<0.05; t=10.093, -7.868, 10.539, P<0.05). In the control group, the parotid gland tissue structure was intact, without congestion, exudation, edema, etc. For the single irradiation group, the parotid gland tissue became hyperemia, edema and inflammatory cell infiltration at 10 d after irradiation followed by fibrosis at 40 d after irradiation. These pathological alterations in the parotid gland tissue were significantly recovered when the rats were treated with Sarcandra glabra before irradiation, and the tissue damage was negatively correlated with drug dosage. TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate of parotid gland cells in the single irradiation groups was higher than that in the control group (t=-4.639, -3.979, P<0.05). Conclusions Sarcandra glabra protects parotid gland from radiation damage by scavenging radiation-induced ROS and declining inflammatory response, and thus it may be applied as a potential protective agent for radiation injury.

Post-stroke depression often seriously affects the prognosis and quality of life of patients and many clinical trials had shown that Chai Hu Shu Gan San (柴胡疏肝散) combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had good efficacy and minor side effects. We aimed to conduct this metaanalysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chai Hu Shu Gan San as an adjuvant drug for SSRI in treating post-stroke depression. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), Chongqing VIP, and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from their date of foundation to December 15, 2018. Literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two authors independently. The data synthesis and analysis were performed by using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 software and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the results. Finally, a total of 22 articles were included. The meta-analysis confirmed the advantages of the combination of SSRI and Chai Hu Shu Gan San, mainly from four aspects: the Hamilton Depression (HAMD) scale score (MD=3.66; 95% DI=2.33-4.98; p<0.001), the Modified Edinburgh Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS) score (MD=4.87; 95% CI=2.32-7.43; p<0.001), the efficacy rate (OR=3.50; 95% CI =2.61-4.69; p<0.001) and the incidence of adverse reactions (OR=0.28; 95% CI=0.17-0.46; p<0.001). No significant publication bias was observed, and sensitivity analysis suggested a good stability of the results. According to the present evidence, we concluded that Chai Hu Shu Gan Sa

In this study, we used next-generation sequencing methods to screen 300 individuals for BRCA1 and BRCA2. A novel mutation (c.849dupT) in BRCA2 was identified in a female patient and her unaffected brothers. This mutation leads to the truncation of BRCA2 functional domains. Moreover, BRCA2 mRNA expression levels in mutation carriers are significantly reduced compared to noncarriers. Immunofluorescence and western blot assays showed that this mutation resulted in reduced BRCA2 protein expression. Thus, we identified a novel mutation that damaged the function and expression of BRCA2 in a family with breast cancer history. The pedigree analysis suggested that this mutation is strongly associated with familial breast cancer. Genetic counsellors suggest that mutation carriers in this family undergo routine screening for breast cancer, as well as other malignancies, such as prostate and ovarian cancer. The effects of this BRCA2 mutation on drug resistance should be taken into consideration during treatment.
Blotting, Western ; BRCA2 Protein ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Genes, BRCA2 ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pedigree ; Prostate ; RNA, Messenger ; Siblings

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of iASPP for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods One hundred and thirty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were initially diagnosed and treated between January and December 2012 in Department of Radiation Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.The clinical staging was classified according to the cancer staging criteria 2009 AJCC/UICC.All patients were treated by IMRT.Cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy was given to patients with stages Ⅲ-ⅣB disease.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of iASPP in the carcinoma tissues,and the clinicopathological features were compared among the patients with different expressions of iASPP.Furthermore,the relationship between the expression of iASPP and the efficacy in patients was explored.Results Of 130 patients,positive expression of iASPP was observed in 86 patients (66.2％),and negative expression in 44 patients (33.8％).There was significant difference in the positive expression rate of iASPP among the patients with different N-stage and clinical stages(x2 =7.565,4.947,P ＜ 0.01).At three months after treatment,no significant difference was found in the response rate of tumor with different expression of iASPP.In univariate analysis,the expression of iASPP was significant predictor of 3 year-DMFS (x2 =4.335,P =0.037) and PFS (x2 =6.640,P =0.01).Furthermore,N-stage was significant predictor of 3y-DMFS (x2 =8.058,P =0.005),PFS (x2 =9.554,P =0.002) and OS (x2 =6.987,P =0.008),respectively.By using multivariate Cox analysis,the expression of iASPP and N-stage was independent prognostic factors for PFS (x2 =4.336,5.228,P ＜ 0.05),respectively.Conclusions Positive expression of iASPP may be a poor prognostic factor for NPC patients.

Objective To evaluate the treatment efficacy,toxicities and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC ) treated with intensity modulated radiation oncology ( IMRT ).Methods Between January 2006 and August 2008,300 patients with pathologically diagnosed NPC from 6 center received IMRT.The number of patients with stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳa+b disease (UICC/AJCC 2002 staging system) were 6,45,141 and 108,respectively.The prescription doses were as follows:70-74 Gy/30f toplanning target volume of primary nasopharynx tumor ( PTVRλ),68-70 Gy/30f to planning target volume of positive lymphnode (ptvnd),60-64 Gy/30f to higher risk region (PTV1),50-54 Gy/30f to lower risk region (PTV2).Patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳa+b disease also received cisplatin-based chemotherapy.Cox method was used for Multivariate analysis.ResultsThe follow-up rate was 99.7％.The 4-year rate of local control,regional control,metastasis-free survival (DMFS),disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was 94.0％,95.5％,87.4％,80.8％,86.1％,respectively.Mucositis was the most severe acute toxicity,with 18.0％grade 1,48.7％grade 2,33.3％grade 3.No patient suffered from grade 4mucositis.Xerostomia was the most common late toxicity,with 12.0％ grade 0,75.7％ grade 1,12.3％grade 2.No grade 3-4 xerostomia was observed.There were 18,15 and 42 patients failed in local,regional and distant metastasis,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that N stage was the only prognostic factor for OS (x2 =5.17,P=0.023),DMFS (x2 =6.91,P=0.009) and DFS (x2 =8.15,P=0.004) in these patients.ConclusionsIMRT can improve the treatment efficacy of NPC.The acute and late toxicities were tolerated.Distant metastasis becomes the main treatment failure.N stage is a significant prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of serum homocysteine (Hcy) and anti-citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody concentration in depression rat model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and to explore the immunologic mechanism of depression and the relation between depression and its autoimmunity. METHODS: Sixty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, 30 rats in each group, which were divided into 3 subgroups: a normal control group, a model group and a fluoxetinetreated group. The depression rat model was established under CUMS and seperated feeding, after which, open field, sugar consumption and forced swimming test were applied in the first group. After the blood was taken in the second group of rats through heart puncture, the level of serum Hcy was detected by enzymatic cycling assay and serum anti-CCP antibody by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group and the fluoxetine treatment group, spontaneous activity and sucrose consumption and preference percentage of the rats in the model group significantly reduced, while the immobility time in forced swimming test and the level of Hcy and anti-CCP antibody in the rat serum significantly increased. CONCLUSION Immunity inflammation and autoimmune reaction exist in CUMS depression model rats, and fluoxetine treatment can improve these immune response.
Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Male ; Peptides, Cyclic ; immunology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: Regional nodal metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma plays an important role in the definition of radiotherapy area and clinical stage. It is also one of the main factors influencing prognosis. This study was designed to explore the pattern of metastatic lymph nodes for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which might provide a basis for clinical treatment and research. METHOD: From Jan. 2009 to Jul. 2011, 1 298 histologically diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients had routine MRI scan before radiotherapy in The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. Diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists together assessed the nodal distribution according to the guideline CT-based delineation of lymph node levels. Then,Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlations between T stage and nodal metastasis rate and between nodal diameter and nodal extracapsular invasion. RESULT: Of 1298 patients, 1067 (82.2%) had nodal involvement. The distributions were as: 20 in level I b,604 in level II a,883 in level II b,330 in level III, 78 in level IV, 162 in level Va,49 in level Vb,967 in retropharynx. Leap metastasis rate was 0.69%. In these patients, a total of 2464 positive nodes,including 1589 (64.52%) extra capsular spread nodes, were detected. The rate of nodal extracapsular invasion was higher when the axial diameter increased. No significant correlation was found between T stage and nodal involvement. CONCLUSION The level II and retropharyngeal node are the most frequently involved regions. They have similar metastatic rate and are both the first echo node to metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Level I metastasis is very low. There is a positive correlation between the proportion of extracapsular spread of metastatic lymph nodes and the axial diameter of lymph nodes. The cervical node involvement of nasopharyngeal carcinoma spread orderly down the neck, and the incidence of skip metastasis is rare. There is no significant difference between T stage and nodal involvement.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy in treating metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma to the cervical lymph nodes. Methods A total of 154 cases of stage N2-N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (1992 stage system) were randomized into two groups: group A (76 cases, treated with microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy) and group B (78 ca-ses, treated with chemoradiotherapy alone). Both groups received 1 to 2 cycles of chemotherappy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil and then received regular radiotherapy. The total doses of radiotherapy were 70-78 Gy/35-39 f, 47-51 d for the primary loci of nasopharynx and 68-72 Gy/34-36 f,46-50 d for the metastatic loci in the neck. Group A received microwave hyperthermia on the metastatic cervical node at the beginning of radiotherapy, with the micro-wave hyperthermia administered for 45 min every time,two times a week, totaling 8 to 14 times. Results The complete extinction rates of neck metastatic carcinoma were 80.3% and 61.5% , respectively, in groups A and B (P<0.05). The overall response rates of neck metastasis in the two groups were 100% and 96.2% , respective-ly. When the cervical lymph node metastasis disappeared, the radiotherapy doses in group A and B were (45.8 ± 5.46 ) Gy and (58.8±5.03 ) Gy, respectively (P<0.01). The 5-year local control rates of cervical lymph node in group A and B were 97.4% and 76.9%(P<0.05 ), respectively. The one-, three- and five- year survival rates were 97.4% , 76.3% and 59.2% respectively, in group A, versus 93.6% (P>0.05) ; and 52.6% (P< 0.01) and 41.0% (P<0.05), respectively, in group B. Conclusions Microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy can elevate the complete extinction rate of cervical lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and reduce the radiotherapy dose needed of effective control. The 5-year local control rate of cervical lymph node metastasis in combined therapy group is superior to that in the chemoradiotherapy alone group,and can elevate the long-term survival rate of patients.