Simultaneous separation and determination of several chiral antidepressants and their enantiomers in wastewater by online heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography.

A novel method for simultaneous separation and detection of the racemates and the enantiomers of common chiral antidepressants in wastewater matrix was developed by online heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) coupled to solid-phase extraction (SPE). Screening of chiral stationary phases (CSPs) and chromatographic conditions was investigated for complete enantioseparation to be compatible with RP-HPLC in 1st D-LC. Using methanol-0.

Analysis of the amplitude changes and baseline shifts of respiratory motion using intra-fractional CBCT in liver stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Purpose: Using intra-fractional cone-beam CT (CBCT) to evaluate the amplitude changes and baseline shifts of respiratory motion in liver stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Methods: The amplitude changes and baseline shifts of respiratory motion for 24 liver patients were evaluated by the four-dimensional (4D) CT, inter- and intra-fractional CBCT. The difference of the average liver position errors among all treatment fractions and the 4D CT representthe baseline shifts.

Design of a new breast vacuum bag to reduce the global and local setup errors and to reduce PTV margin in post-mastectomy radiation therapy.

To design a new breast vacuum bag to reduce global and local setup errors in post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). A total of 24 PMRT patients were immobilized with an old vacuum bag and 26 PMRT patients were immobilized with a new vacuum bag. The registration results were analysed using four regions of interest (ROI): the global ROI [including the whole region of the planning target volume (PTV), GROI], the supraclavicular area (SROI), the ipsilateral chest wall region (CROI) and the ipsilateral arm region (AROI).

Analysis of local setup errors of sub-regions in cone-beam CT-guided post-mastectomy radiation therapy.

The purpose of the study was to quantify local setup errors and evaluate the planning target volume (PTV) margins for sub-regions in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). The local setup errors of 20 patients undergoing CBCT-guided PMRT were analysed retrospectively. Image registration between CBCT and planning CT was performed using four sub-regions of interest (ROIs): the supraclavicular area (SROI), ipsilateral chest wall region (CROI), ipsilateral chest wall plus supraclavicular region (SROI + CROI) and vertebral region (TROI).

Home enteral nutrition may prevent myelosuppression of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of home enteral nutrition (HEN) on the myelosuppression of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) during the course of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods: A total of 18 outpatients with NPC administered oral nutritional supplementation intervention at home during the course of CCRT were designated as the HEN group, whereas 36 patients with NPC who had previously completed CCRT were retrospectively included as the control group. Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment, body mass index (BMI), and blood test were evaluated prior to CCRT.

Analysis of which local set-up errors can be covered by a 5-mm margin for cone beam CT-guided radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: To analyse which local set-up errors can be covered by a 5-mm margin for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: 11 regions of interest (ROIs) were registered for 24 NPC patients, with a total of 323 CBCT scans. According to the registration results, clinical target volume-planning target volume (CTV-PTV)/organs at risk-planning risk volume (OAR-PRV) margin analysis; Pearson correlation analysis; Bland-Altman plots; and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to investigate which local set-up errors of substructure can be represented by the PTV.

Transcription factor C/EBPβ promotes the transcription of the porcine GPR120 gene.

G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), an adipogenic receptor critical for the differentiation and maturation of adipocytes, plays an important role in controlling obesity in both humans and rodents and, thus, is an attractive target of obesity treatment studies. However, the mechanisms that regulate the expression of porcine GPR120 remain unclear. In this study, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) techniques were used to analyze and identify the binding of C/EBPβ (transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta) to the GPR120 promoter.

Implementation of single-breath-hold cone beam CT guided hypofraction radiotherapy for lung cancer.

Background: To analyze the feasibility of active breath control (ABC), the lung tumor reproducibility and the rationale for single-breath-hold cone beam CT (CBCT)-guided hypofraction radiotherapy.

Methods: Single-breath-hold CBCT images were acquired using ABC in a cohort of 83 lung cancer patients (95 tumors) treated with hypofraction radiotherapy. For all alignments between the reference CT and CBCT images (including the pre-correction, post-correction and post-treatment CBCT images), the tumor reproducibility was evaluated via online manual alignment of the tumors, and the vertebral bone uncertainties were evaluated via offline manual alignment of the vertebral bones.