A comparative study based on deformable image registration of the target volumes for external-beam partial breast irradiation defined using preoperative prone magnetic resonance imaging and postoperative prone computed tomography imaging.

Background: To explore the differences and correlations between the target volumes defined using preoperative prone diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postoperative prone computed tomography (CT) simulation imaging based on deformable image registration (DIR) for external-beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Methods: Eighteen breast cancer patients suitable for EB-PBI were enrolled. Preoperative prone diagnostic MRI and postoperative prone CT scan sets for all the patients were acquired during free breathing.

External-beam partial breast irradiation in a supine versus prone position after breast-conserving surgery for Chinese breast cancer patients.

To investigate the differences in target volumes and dosimetric parameters between the supine and prone positions for external-beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for Chinese breast cancer patients, thirty breast cancer patients who underwent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) EB-PBI after BCS were enrolled. Supine and prone scan sets were acquired during free breathing for all patients. Target volumes and organs at risk (OARs) including the heart, ipsilateral lung and bilateral breast were contoured by the same radiation oncologist.

Changes in cardiac volume determined with repeated enhanced 4DCT during chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is considered curative intent treatment for patients with non-operative esophageal cancer. Radiation-induced heart damage receives much attention. We performed repeated four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) to detect changes in cardiac volume during radiotherapy for esophageal cancer patients, and explored potential factors responsible for those changes.

A Potent Antitumor Efficacy of Novel Recombinant Type I Interferon.

Antiproliferative, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities of endogenous type I IFNs (IFN1) prompt the design of recombinant IFN1 for therapeutic purposes. However, most of the designed IFNs exhibited suboptimal therapeutic efficacies against solid tumors. Here, we report evaluation of the and antitumorigenic activities of a novel recombinant IFN termed sIFN-I.

Determining the Optimal Dose Prescription for the Planning Target Volume with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Non- Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine a method of dose prescription that minimizes normal tissue irradiation outside the planning target volume (PTV) during stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Previous research and patients with typical T1 lung tumors with peripheral lesions in the lung were selected for analysis. A PTV and several organs at risk (OARs) were constructed for the dose calculated; six treatment plans employing intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were produced, in which the dose was prescribed to encompass the PTV, with the prescription isodose level (PIL) set at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 95% of the isocenter dose.

Clinicopathological features of an ascending colon mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma with clinical serosal invasion.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) is exceedingly rare with a poor outcome. In this article, we reported a MANEC in a 68-year-old woman with a symptom of abdominal pain and distension. MANEC derived from the ascending colon with highly aggressive behavior.

Overexpression of nuclear β-catenin in rectal adenocarcinoma is associated with radioresistance.

Aim: To investigate the association between nuclear β-catenin overexpression in rectal adenocarcinoma and radioresistance.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted. The analysis involved 136 patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent short-course preoperative radiotherapy and radical resection.

[Detection of human parvovirus B19, human bocavirus and human parvovirus 4 infections in blood samples among 95 patients with liver disease in Nanjing by nested PCR].

Objective: To analyze the infection of human parvovirus B19, human bocavirus (HBoV) and human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) in blood samples among patients with liver disease in Nanjing by molecular detection.

Methods: Nested PCR assays were designed and validated to detect B19, HBoV and PARV4, respectively. The assays were used to screen three parvoviruses in blood samples from 95 patients with different liver disease in Nanjing.

[Establishing a high-titer infectious avian influenza A (H5N1) pseudotyped viral particle].

A transient four-plasmid cotransfection system was used to construct avian influenza A (H5N1) pseudotyped viral particle (H5N1Pp) by incorporating hemagglutinin (HA) protein and neuraminidase (NA) protein from H5N1 avian influenza virus onto Murine leukemia virus pseudotyped viral particles, the transmission electron microscopy, infectivity titer assay, hemagglutination assay, neutralization assay of H5N1Pp were studied. We established a pseudotyped H5N1 viral particle at a high titer of 10(8) Pp/mL, the morphology,the hemagglutination activity and neutralization specificity of H5N1Pp is simililar to wild H5N1 virus. The research result sets a platform for studying this virus, including its receptors, the functional analysis of HA and NA, neutralizing antibodies and anti-H5N1 drug development.

The effect of electroacupuncture on T cell responses in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalitis.

Successive electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on Zusanli ST36 acupoints of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), which is an inflammatory disease mediated by autoreactive T cells, relieved disease severity, inhibited specific T cell proliferation and rebuilt the CD4+ T cell subset balance. In addition, EA-treated rats had significantly higher ACTH concentrations in vivo compared to untreated EAE rats. These results indicated that EA stimulation could relieve the severity of EAE by restoring balance to the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg Th cell subset responses by stimulating the hypothalamus to increase ACTH secretion.

[Application of standardized uptake value for FDG PET-CT in predicting radiation pneumonitis].

Objective: To investigate the correlation of radiation pneumonitis (RP) with standardized uptake value (SUV) for fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) in lung cancer patients treated with radiation therapy.

Methods: Fourty patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received FDG PET-CT before and after radiotherapy. The average SUV of the lung tissue irradiated with a dose of < or = 5 Gy, 5.

Voriconazole into PLGA nanoparticles: improving agglomeration and antifungal efficacy.

This study is concerned with preparing PLGA nanoparticles loaded with voriconazole (PNLV), investigating the burst release and agglomeration of PNLV, and also evaluating antifungal efficacy of PNLV compared with voriconazole (VRC). The emulsion-solvent evaporation technique for nanoparticles and tests against fungi were completed. The amount of VRC in PNLV with sodium hexametaphosphate was 2.