Objective To compare the effects of two arc(TA)and dual arc(DA)techniques on the dose distribution to the planning target volume(PTV)and organs at risk(OAR)in volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT)for lower mid-thoracic esophageal cancer.Methods Ten patients with lower mid-thoracic esophageal cancer who received radiation therapy at some hospital from July 2020 to June 2022 were selected retrospectively.A TA radiation therapy plan and a DA radiation therapy plan were developed for each patient using the Ray Arc module of RayStation 4.7.5.4 planning system,and the two kinds of radiation plans were compared in terms of dosimetric parameters including D2,D5,D50,D95,D98,homogeneity index(HI),conformity index(CI),beam-on time and total monitor unit for PTV and lung V5,V10,V20,V30 and Dmean and heartV30,V40 and Dmean and spine cord Dmax for OAR.SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results TA and DA radiation therapy plans had no significant differences in PTV CI,HI,D2,D5,D50,D95 and beam-on time(P＞0.05),and DA plan had D98 and total monitor unit higher obviously than those of TA plan(P＜0.05).In terms of OARs protection,DA plan had heart V30,V40 and Dmean slightly lower than those of TA plan with non-significantly differences(P＞0.05),while lung V5,V30 and Dmean and spine cordDmax significantly lower(P＜0.05).Conclusion DA technique gains advantages over TA technique in PTV dose distribution and dose to OAR,and the involvement of DA technique in preparing the VMAT plan for esophageal cancer contributes to enhancing the treatment efficacy.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(1):62-66]

Octapeptin has strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, while it also has activity against some Gram-positive bacteria. This study used natural octapeptin A3 and B3 as lead compounds for structural modification. Twenty-one peptide derivatives (including A3 and B3) containing eight amino acid residues were prepared by solid-phase synthesis, and evaluated for antibacterial activity and renal cytotoxicity. Among them, three compounds 6, 7 and 17 exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and significantly enhanced the activity for Gram-positive bacteria while maintaining the activity of Gram-negative bacteria. Several compounds improved the activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compound 7 was active against all test strains and had relatively low renal cytotoxicity. The results provide a basis for the further development of novel polypeptide antibiotics.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50％(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40％(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P＞0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00％vs.64.50％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

Objective To explore the distribution and localization of dopamine receptor D3-D5 in the small intestine of different species.Methods The distribution and expression of D3-D5 in the small intestine of mice,rats and rhesus monkeys were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.The expression of D3-D5 in immunoglobulin A positive plasma cells(IgA+PC)located in the lamina propria(LP)were detected by immunofluorescence double labeling.Results D3 and D5 were widely distributed in the epithelium,LP,submucosal plexus(SMP)and intermuscular plexus(MP)of the small intestine in mice,rats and rhesus monkeys.The distribution of D4 in the small intestinal of mice and rhesus monkeys were consistent with the result of D3 and D5.D4 was distributed only within the epithelium and LP of rat small intestine.D3 and D5 were expressed in the IgA+PC in the LP of mice and rats,whereas D4 was not.Conclusion The distribution and localization pattern of D3 and D5 are similar in the small intestine of mice,rats and rhesus monkeys,whereas those of D4 vary between different species.Dopamine may be involved in regulating the functions of IgA+PC.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Giardia duodenalis is a zoonotic intestinal parasitic protozoan that can severely harm human and animal health,and causes substantial economic losses to humans and animal husbandry annually.Currently,no effective drugs and vaccines a-gainst giardiasis are available.With the development of bioinformatics and sequencing techniques,genomic sequencing of the Giardia genome and comparative genomics analysis have advanced understanding of the molecular characteristics of Giardia.This article reviews the current status of genome sequencing,structural genomics,comparative genomics,and functional ge-nomics for Giardia duodenalis,to provide new ideas for understanding the origins,evolution and pathogenic mechanisms of Giardia,to aid in the diagnosis,design of new veterinary drugs,and development of vaccines for giardiasis.

Aim To explore the improvement effect of Bazi Bushen capsule on thymic degeneration in SAMP6 mice and the possible mechanism.Methods Twenty 12 week old male SAMP6 mice were randomly divided into the model group(SAMP6)and the Bazi Busheng capsule treatment group(SAMP6+BZBS).Ten SAMR1 mice were assigned to a homologous control group(SAMR1).The SAMP6+BZBS group was oral-ly administered Bazi Bushen capsule suspension(2.8 g·kg-1)daily,while the other two groups were orally administered an equal amount of distilled water.After nine weeks of administration,the morphology of the thymus in each group was observed and the thymus in-dex was calculated;HE staining was used to observe the structural changes of thymus tissue;SA-β-gal stai-ning was used to detect thymic aging;flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of thymic CD3+T cells in each group;Western blot was used to detect the levels of p16,Bax,Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in thymus;immunofluorescence was applied to detect the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells in each group;ELISA was employed to detect IL-7 lev-els in thymus.Results Compared with the SAMP6 group,the thymic index of the SAMP6+BZBS group significantly increased(P＜0.05);the disordered thy-mic structure was significantly improved;the positive proportion of SA-β-gal staining significantly decreased(P＜0.01);the proportion of CD3+T cells apparently increased(P＜0.05);the level of p16 protein signifi-cantly decreased(P＜0.05);the level of Bcl-2 pro-tein significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the lev-el of cleaved caspase-3 protein markedly decreased(P＜0.05);the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells evidently increased;the level of IL-7 significantly increased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Bazi Bushen capsule can delay thymic degeneration,inhibit cell ap-optosis in thymus and promote thymic cell development in SAMP6 mice,which may be related to increasing the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells and promoting IL-7 secretion.

Objective:To explore the effects of hypoxia on traumatic brain swelling (TBS) in rats with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH).Methods:Forty-five SD rats were divided into 5 groups according to the random number table method, with 9 rats in each group: sham surgery normal oxygen group which underwent sham surgical procedures and were placed in a closed container with ventilation, sham surgery hypoxia group which underwent sham surgical procedures and were placed in a closed container with oxygen volume fraction of 8% for hypoxia induction, ASDH normal oxygen group which made into the ASDH model and placed in a closed container with ventilation, ASDH hypoxia group were made into the ASDH models and placed in a closed container with oxygen volume fraction of 8% for hypoxia induction, and ASDH hypoxia+oxygen inhalation group which inhaled oxygen continuously with oxygen volume fraction of 40% after being made into the ASDH models and induced for hypoxia. Six rats were selected from each group immediately after the modeling and craniotomy was performed to observe the brain swelling during the surgery and evaluate the degree of TBS. Microvascular blood flow was observed by laser speckle imaging system before modeling, before craniotomy, and immediately after craniotomy. The remaining 3 rats in each group were killed directly after modeling and brain tissue specimens were collected. The expression levels of pericellular protein α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β) at 0, 30 and 60 minutes after modeling were detected through Western blot analysis. The expression levels of α-SMA, PDGFR-β and microvascular marker platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 31 (CD31) at 0 minute after modeling were tested through immunofluorescent staining.Results:No brain bulge was observed in the sham surgery normal oxygen group. The height of brain bulge in sham surgery hypoxia group was 0.5(0.0, 1.0)mm, with no significant difference from that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group ( P>0.05); it was 2.2(2, 2.5)mm in the ASDH normal oxygen group, significantly higher than that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and sham surgery hypoxia group ( P<0.01), it was 3.1(2.9, 3.2)mm in the ASDH hypoxia group, significantly higher than that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group ( P<0.01); it was 2.8(2.7, 2.9)mm in the ASDH hypoxia+oxygen inhalation group, not statistically different from that in the ASDH hypoxia group ( P>0.05), but significantly increased compared with that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group ( P<0.01). Before modeling, before craniotomy and after craniotomy, the microvascular blood flow was 224.2±49.7, 224.8±50.3, 225.1±50.3 respectively in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and 224.7±43.7, 220.9±45.9, 221.8±45.5 respectively in the sham surgery hypoxia group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05); it was 226.5±52.7, 173.4±40.7, 172.0±40.7 respectively in the ASDH normal oxygen group, significantly decreased compared with that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and sham surgery hypoxia group ( P<0.05); it was 225.7±46.4, 131.4±23.6 and 131.0±23.5 respectively in the ASDH hypoxia group, significantly decreased compared with that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group ( P<0.05); it was 226.2±56.1, 132.6±21.7 and 131.7±21.9 respectively in ASDH hypoxia+oxygen inhalation group, significantly decreased compared with that in the sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group ( P<0.05), with no significant difference from that in the ASDH hypoxia group ( P>0.05). At 0, 30 and 60 minutes after modeling, the expression levels of α-SMA and PDGFR-β were 0.70±0.02, 0.67±0.01, 0.55±0.05 and 0.65±0.03, 0.56±0.03 and 0.59±0.02 respectively in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and were 0.63±0.04, 0.60±0.01 0.55±0.05 and 0.62±0.01, 0.51±0.01 and 0.60±0.02 respectively in the sham surgery hypoxia group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05); they were 0.88±0.06, 0.87±0.05, 0.82±0.03 and 0.85±0.03, 0.85±0.03, 0.88±0.04 respectively in the ASDH normal oxygen group, significantly higher than those in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and sham surgery hypoxia group ( P<0.01); they were 1.19±0.08, 1.10±0.10, 0.97±0.04 and 1.04±0.06, 1.19±0.07, 1.27±0.08 respectively in the ASDH hypoxia group, significantly higher than those in sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group ( P<0.05 or 0.01); they were 1.20±0.07, 1.10±0.04, 0.96±0.04 and 1.04±0.05, 1.15±0.11, 1.20±0.07 respectively in ASDH hypoxia+oxygen inhalation group, significantly higher than those in sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery normal group and ASDH normal oxygen group ( P<0.01), but with no significant difference from those in ASDH hypoxia group ( P>0.05). At 0 minute after modeling, the fluorescence expression of α-SMA and PDGFR-β was weaker in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and the fluorescence expression of CD31 was stronger. There was no significant difference in the fluorescence expressions of α-SMA, PDGFR-β and CD31 between the sham surgery hypoxia group and sham surgery normal oxygen group. The fluorescence expressions of α-SMA and PDGFR-β in the ASDH normal oxygen group were stronger than those in the sham surgery normal oxygen group and sham surgery hypoxia group, while the fluorescence expression of CD31 was weaker. The fluorescence expressions of α-SMA and PDGFR-β in ASDH hypoxia group were stronger than those in the sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group, while the fluorescence expression of CD31 was weaker. The fluorescence expressions of α-SMA and PDGFR-β in the ASDH hypoxia+oxygen inhalation group were stronger than those in the sham surgery normal oxygen group, sham surgery hypoxia group and ASDH normal oxygen group, while the fluorescence expression of CD31 was weaker, with no significant difference from the fluorescence expressions of α-SMA, PDGFR-β and CD31 in ASDH hypoxia group. Conclusions:Hypoxia in ASDH rats will stimulate pericytes contraction, which causes cerebral microcirculatory disturbance, thus leading to TBS. Short-term inhalation of oxygen of medium concentration cannot dilate pericytes or microcirculation vessels, with no obvious effect on improving the conditions of TBS.

To sum up integrative nursing experience of a case with chronic refractory wound formation caused by drug extravasation.The essentials of integrative nursing are:structured nursing intervention of"assessment-management-treatment"based on the Triangle of Wound Assessment;determination of the timing for integrative nursing according to the theory of TCM sores and ulcers;implementation of copper board scraping method to promote circulation of qi and blood;use of Huo-long Comprehensive Moxibustion Therapy to promote muscle regeneration.With the help of the cooperation of the multidisciplinary specialist nursing team,the wound was completely healed after 59 days of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine nursing interventions.

Objective: To analyze the phenotype and genotype of two pedigrees with inherited fibrinogen (Fg) deficiency caused by two heterozygous mutations. We also preliminarily probed the molecular pathogenesis. Methods: The prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and plasma fibrinogen activity (Fg∶C) of all family members (nine people across three generations and three people across two generations) were measured by the clotting method. Fibrinogen antigen (Fg:Ag) was measured by immunoturbidimetry. Direct DNA sequencing was performed to analyze all exons, flanking sequences, and mutated sites of FGA, FGB, and FGG for all members. Thrombin-catalyzed fibrinogen polymerization was performed. ClustalX 2.1 software was used to analyze the conservatism of the mutated sites. MutationTaster, PolyPhen-2, PROVEAN, SIFT, and LRT online bioinformatics software were applied to predict pathogenicity. Swiss PDB Viewer 4.0.1 was used to analyze the changes in protein spatial structure and molecular forces before and after mutation. Results: The Fg∶C of two probands decreased (1.28 g/L and 0.98 g/L, respectively). The Fg∶Ag of proband 1 was in the normal range of 2.20 g/L, while it was decreased to 1.01 g/L in proband 2. Through genetic analysis, we identified a heterozygous missense mutation (c.293C>A; p.BβAla98Asp) in exon 2 of proband 1 and a heterozygous nonsense mutation (c.1418C>G; p.BβSer473*) in exon 8 of proband 2. The conservatism analysis revealed that Ala98 and Ser473 presented different conservative states among homologous species. Online bioinformatics software predicted that p.BβAla98Asp and p.BβSer473* were pathogenic. Protein models demonstrated that the p.BβAla98Asp mutation influenced hydrogen bonds between amino acids, and the p.BβSer473* mutation resulted in protein truncation. Conclusion: The dysfibrinogenemia of proband 1 and the hypofibrinogenemia of proband 2 appeared to be related to the p.BβAla98Asp heterozygous missense mutation and the p.BβSer473* heterozygous nonsense mutation, respectively. This is the first ever report of these mutations.
Humans ; Afibrinogenemia/genetics* ; Codon, Nonsense ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Fibrinogen/genetics* ; Genotype