Predictors of Occlusion of Hepatic Blood Vessels after Irreversible Electroporation of Liver Tumors

PurposeTo examine predictors of midterm occlusion in portal and hepatic veins within or adjacent to the ablation zone after irreversible electroporation (IRE) of liver tumors.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective cohort analysis included 39 patients who underwent CT-guided IRE of liver tumors. Vessels within or adjacent to the ablation zone were identified on CT images acquired immediately after the procedure, and the positional relationships with the ablation zone (within/adjacent), locations (proximal/distal), and diameters (< 4 mm or ≥ 4 mm) were evaluated. Using contrast-enhanced follow-up scans, each vessel was classified as patent, stenosed, or occluded. Associations between vessel occlusion and each variable were investigated.ResultsOverall, 33 portal veins and 64 hepatic veins were analyzed. Follow-up scans showed occlusion in 12/33 (36.7%) portal veins and 17/64 (26.6%) hepatic veins. Vessels within the ablation zone were occluded significantly more frequently than vessels adjacent to the ablation zone (portal: 55.6% [10/18] vs 13.3% [2/15], P = .04; hepatic: 45.4% [15/33] vs 6.4% [2/31], P = .011). Vessels with a diameter < 4 mm were also occluded significantly more frequently than vessels with a diameter ≥ 4 mm (portal: 72.7% [8/11] vs 18.1% [4/22], P = .011; hepatic: 54.8% [17/31] vs 0% [0/33], P < .001). The respective positive and negative predictive values for occlusion of vessels categorized as both within and < 4 mm were 88% (7/8) and 82% (20/25) for portal veins and 79% (15/19) and 96% (43/45) for hepatic veins.ConclusionsMidterm vessel occlusion after liver IRE could be predicted with relatively high accuracy by assessing ablation location and vessel diameter.     

Neural Correlates of Failed Inhibitory Control as an Early Marker of Disordered Eating in Adolescents

BackgroundBinge eating and other forms of disordered eating behavior (DEB) are associated with failed inhibitory control. This study investigated the neural correlates of failed inhibitory control as a potential biomarker for DEB.MethodsThe study used prospective longitudinal data from the European IMAGEN study adolescent cohort. Participants completed baseline assessments (questionnaires and a brain scan [functional magnetic resonance imaging]) at 14 years of age and a follow-up assessment (questionnaires) at 16 years of age. Self-reported binge eating and/or purging were used to indicate presence of DEB. Neural correlates of failed inhibition were assessed using the stop signal task. Participants were categorized as healthy control subjects (reported no DEB at both time points), maintainers (reported DEB at both time points), recoverers (reported DEB at baseline only), and developers (reported DEB at follow-up only). Forty-three individuals per group with complete scanning data were matched on gender, age, puberty, and intelligence (N = 172).ResultsAt baseline, despite similar task performance, incorrectly responding to stop signals (failed inhibitory control) was associated with greater recruitment of the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in the developers compared with healthy control subjects and recoverers.ConclusionsGreater recruitment of the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate regions during failed inhibition accords with abnormal evaluation of errors contributing to DEB development. As this precedes symptom onset and is evident despite normal task performance, neural responses during failed inhibition may be a useful biomarker of vulnerability for DEB. This study highlights the potential value of prospective neuroimaging studies for identifying markers of illness before the emergence of behavior changes.     

环境电离辐射体源表面剂量率的MC模拟计算及实验比较

目的　对核工业地质勘查计量站的 8个圆柱型环境电离辐射体源和两个本底模型上方不同高度处的空气吸收剂量率进行较为准确的定值。方法　采用蒙特卡罗软件MCNP ,对上述环境电离辐射体源和本底模型上方的空气吸收剂量率进行了模拟计算 ,采用 1台高气压电离室剂量率仪对各环境电离辐射体源和本底模型上方不同高度处的空气吸收剂量率进行了实测 ,模拟计算结果与实测结果以及其他工作者过去所作的剂量率测量和计算结果进行了比较。结果　MC模拟计算值与其他工作者得到的空气吸收剂量率理论值吻合较好 ,最大偏差小于 10 % ,一般偏差小于±5 %。结论　只要各种输入参数准确 ,采用MC模拟计算 ,可以得到辐射体源和本底模型上方不同高度处较准确 (3%不确定度 )的空气吸收剂量率模拟计算值。     

氯化甲基汞染毒对亲仔两代ICR小鼠脑、肝、肾中汞分布的影响

[目的]通过ICR孕鼠饮水接触低剂量氯化甲基汞,研究汞在亲仔两代小鼠脑、肝、肾及血清中的分布及其相关性。[方法]ICR孕鼠随机分为对照组、低剂量组(0.01mg/L)和高剂量组(0.10mg/L),于怀孕第6天起分别自由饮用蒸馏水及氯化甲基汞含量分别为0.01、0.10mg/L的蒸馏水直至哺乳期结束,用原子荧光法测定汞在各脏器内的含量,并做血清汞和脏器汞含量的相关性分析。[结果]在低剂量甲基汞作用下,亲仔两代未出现明显的毒性反应。随着染毒剂量的增加,亲仔两代小鼠血清中的总汞含量增加,对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组母鼠血清中总汞含量分别为1.228、2.358和6.195μg/L,仔鼠为0.801、3.217和3.763μg/L,高剂量组和对照组间差别有显著性(P<0.05);随着染毒剂量的增加,各脏器中的总汞含量也增加,对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组母鼠肾脏总汞含量分别为13.890、25.780、253.980ng/g组织湿重,肝脏为3.710、11.520、100.820ng/g组织湿重,脑组织为2.820、3.070、23.810ng/g组织湿重;对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组仔鼠肾脏总汞含量分别为6.940、13.090、102.170ng/g组织湿重,肝脏为2.660、5.450、38.850ng/g组织湿重,脑组织为1.600、2.660、8.120ng/g组织湿重;母鼠和仔鼠脏器中总汞蓄积的模式一样:肾脏>肝脏>脑组织。在低剂量下,母鼠血清总汞含量与肝脏、肾脏、脑组织中的总汞含量的相关系数分别为0.830、0.967、0.802;在高剂量下,与肝脏、肾脏、脑组织的相关系数分别为0.997、0.833、0.850,均有较高的相关性(P<0.05)。而仔鼠在高剂量下血清总汞与肝脏、肾脏、脑组织的相关系数分别为0.737、0.672、0.702,其血清总汞和脏器总汞也有相关性(P<0.05);在低剂量时血清总汞与肝脏、肾脏、脑组织总汞的相关系数分别为0.040、0.300、0.080,没有相关性(P>0.05)。[结论]母鼠接触低剂量甲基汞即可在亲仔两代各脏器中蓄积,亲代血清总汞含量和脏器总汞含量具有明显的相关性;仔代在高剂量时血清总汞含量和脏器总汞含量有明显的相关性,而在低剂量下无相关性。     

Semi-empirical systematics of (n,He-3) cross sections for 14.6 MeV neutrons

A new semi-empirical formula for the calculation of the (n, He-3) cross section at 14.6 MeV neutron energy is obtained. It is based on the evaporation model. The new formula with three parameters is found to give a better fit to the data than the previous comparable formulae.