Dosimetric effects of bolus and lens shielding in treating ocular lymphomas with low-energy electrons

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for primary orbital lymphomas. Lens shielding with electrons can reduce the risk of high-grade cataracts in patients undergoing treatment for superficial tumors. This work evaluates the dosimetric effects of a suspended eye shield, placement of bolus, and varying electron energies. Film (GafChromic EBT3) dosimetry and relative output factors were measured for 6, 8, and 10?MeV electron energies. A customized 5-cm diameter circle electron orbital cutout was constructed for a 6?×?6-cm applicator with a suspended lens shield (8-mm diameter Cerrobend cylinder, 2.2-cm length). Point doses were measured using a scanning electron diode in a solid water phantom at depths representative of the anterior and posterior lens. Depth dose profiles were compared for 0-mm, 3-mm, and 5-mm bolus thicknesses. At 5?mm (the approximate distance of the anterior lens from the surface of the cornea), the percent depth dose under the suspended lens shield was reduced to 15%, 15%, and 14% for electron energies 6, 8, and 10?MeV, respectively. Applying bolus reduced the benefit of lens shielding by increasing the estimated doses under the block to 27% for 3-mm and 44% for 5-mm bolus for a 6?MeV incident electron beam. This effect is minimized with 8?MeV electron beams where the corresponding values were 15.5% and 18% for 3-mm and 5-mm bolus. Introduction of a 7-mm hole in 5-mm bolus to stabilize eye motion during treatment altered lens doses by about 1%. Careful selection of electron energy and consideration of bolus effects are needed to account for electron scatter under a lens shield.     

腹腔镜肝切除治疗58例肝内胆管细胞癌的临床探讨

目的探讨腹腔镜肝切除治疗肝内胆管细胞癌(ICC)的安全性及可行性。方法采用回顾性研究方法。收集2016年1月—2018年12月湖南师范大学附属第一医院行腹腔镜肝切除治疗的58例ICC患者的临床资料。其中男性34例,女性24例;年龄34~71岁,中位年龄54岁。观察指标:(1)手术治疗情况:手术方式、手术时间、术中出血量、术中输血率、术中肝门阻断时间、中转率、术后并发症、术后住院时间、术后胃肠道恢复时间、围手术期有无死亡病例及非计划手术病例。(2)术后病理情况。(3)随访。采用门诊和电话方式进行随访,了解患者术后生存情况。随访时间截至2019年6月。正态分布的计量资料以均数±标准差(Mean±SD)表示,计数资料用频数和百分比(%)表示。结果本研究共纳入58例患者,其中48例患者在腹腔镜下完成ICC根治性外科切除手术,10例患者行腹腔镜中转开腹。(1)手术治疗情况:手术方式有腹腔镜下左半肝(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ段)切除,腹腔镜下右半肝(Ⅴ、Ⅵ、Ⅶ、Ⅷ段)切除,腹腔镜下右肝后叶(Ⅵ、Ⅶ段)切除,腹腔镜下扩大右后叶切除,腹腔镜下肝中叶(Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅷ段)切除,腹腔镜下Ⅴ、Ⅵ段切除,腹腔镜下左半肝(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ段)联合肝尾叶(Ⅰ、Ⅸ段)切除,腹腔镜扩大左半肝切除,腹腔镜下Ⅵ段切除,腹腔镜下Ⅶ、Ⅷ段切除,腹腔镜左肝外叶(Ⅱ、Ⅲ段)切除,腹腔镜右肝肿块切除;手术时间(320.38±107.68)min;术中出血量(262.34±76.06)mL;术中输血率为0(0/58);术中肝门阻断时间(48±15)min;其中10例腹腔镜中转开腹手术,中转率17.2%(10/58);术后胆瘘发生率为6.9%(4/58),保守治疗、通畅引流(T管负压吸引)后痊愈出院;无其他严重并发症发生。术后住院时间(9.34±3.39)d;术后胃肠道恢复时间(1.84±0.57)d;围手术期内无死亡病例及非计划手术病例。(2)病理情况:术中32例行淋巴结清扫,术后26例病理结果提示胆管细胞癌未行淋巴结清扫;病理学检查结果显示,所有肿瘤切缘的病理报告均为阴性,4例淋巴结清扫并提示淋巴结转移阳性。(3)随访结果:58例ICC患者中,49例获得术后随访,随访时间为6~36个月,术后肿瘤生存时间为4~36个月,28例获得无瘤生存,17例患者出现肝内转移并多发淋巴结转移,4例患者发现肝内转移后行微波消融治疗,9例患者失访。结论腹腔镜肝切除经验丰富的中心,应用腹腔镜治疗肝内胆管细胞癌是安全及可行的。     

SNPs in the COX-2/PGES/EP signaling pathway are associated with risk of severe capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology - Capecitabine is a widely used 5-fluorouracil oral prodrug. Hand-foot syndrome (HFS), one of the most common adverse events of capecitabine, impacts...     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for thoracic empyema in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Thoracic empyema in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis is a challenging situation. The clinical characteristics are rarely reported, and the surgical outcomes remain unclear. We report our experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in these patients during 10-year period of time. Between 2005 and 2015, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, bacteriological studies, and thoracoscopic surgical results of 23 empyema patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The mean patient age was 67.1 ± 12.9 years. All patients had additional preexisting systemic diseases. The mean duration of hemodialysis was 34.7 ± 25.8 months. The infections causing empyema were pneumonia in 11 (47.8%), blood stream infection in 8 (34.8%), and uremic pleuritis in 4 (17.4%). Among the 22 identified microorganisms, the most common pathogen was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (31.8%). After thoracoscopic surgery, 8 patients (34.8%) required additional procedures for complications, including 2 patients who required repeated thoracoscopy for hemothorax and 6 (26.1%) patients who required open drainage for residual empyema. The mean hospital stay was 62.4 days, and 6 patients (26.1%) died in the hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that maintenance hemodialysis longer than 5 years was a significant factor associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 14.8, 95% confidence interval 1.5–151.6; p < 0.0001). While surgical management of thoracic empyema in uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis is associated with high rates of complication and mortality, thoracoscopic surgery is feasible, especially for patients undergoing hemodialysis for less than 5 years.     

Implementation of Newborn Screening for Hemoglobin H Disease in Mainland China

Hemoglobin H disease is the most severe non-fatal form of α-thalassemia syndrome characterized by pronounced microcytic hypochromic hemolytic anemia. It is predominantly seen in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Studies suggest that hemoglobin H disease is not as benign a disorder as previously thought. Newborn screening for hemoglobin H disease is especially appealing because the screening test is based on the detection of hemoglobin Bart’s (γ4) that is only possible within the newborn period. In this study, we reported on a 4-year period of newborn screening program at a mainland Chinese hospital, which detected 35 babies with hemoglobin H disease in a total of 26 152 newborns. The overall prevalence for hemoglobin H disease among all newborns in southern China is ~1 in 1,000. These children need appropriate follow-up and potential comprehensive care during their growth and development.     

Do stressed mothers have heavier children? A meta‐analysis on the relationship between maternal stress and child body mass index

Child obesity continues to be a prevalent public health issue. This meta‐analysis synthesized 17 studies investigating the association between levels of psychological stress experienced by mothers and the body mass index of their children. The overall standardized mean difference effect size was positive and significantly different from zero in cross‐sectional d = 0.20 (k = 14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06, 0.34) and longitudinal studies d = 0.18 (k = 5, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.351) and had significant heterogeneity in both (cross‐sectional, Q[13] = 193.00, P < 0.001; longitudinal, Q[4] = 29.46, P < 0.001). In longitudinal studies, effect sizes were larger when children also would have experienced the stressor, Q(6) = 4.68, P < 0.05, for toddlers than infants, Q(4) = 5.04, P < 0.05, and in higher quality studies, Q(4) = 14.58, P < 0.05. Results highlight the potential benefits of including a parent stress management component in childhood obesity prevention programmes.     

Wnt/β⁃catenin信号通路参与马蹄内翻足畸形形成的研究

目的　探讨Sox9（sex determining region Y-box9）和β-catenin对先天性马蹄内翻足（congenital talipes equinovarus，CTE）的影响以及Wnt/β-catenin信号通路作用机制。 方法　将孕10 d的SD大鼠随机均分为实验组及对照组，以135 mg/kg全反式维甲酸溶于矿物油对实验组大鼠进行灌胃制作胎鼠CTE模型，对照组予以等量矿物油灌胃处理，取大鼠足踝部组织，通过免疫组化、RT-PCR、Western blot检测β-catenin、Sox9以及磷酸化β-catenin-S552的表达水平。 结果　与对照组相比，HE染色可见CTE模型组织中有较多的胶原组织沉积，免疫组化结果显示实验组标本Sox9与β-catenin表达增高，RT-qPCR表明实验组Sox9与β-catenin的mRNA水平显著增高，Western blot结果显示实验组Sox9与β-catenin的表达增高而磷酸化β-catenin-S552表达降低。 结论　CTE大鼠的足踝部组织中Sox9高表达受Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控，该通路参与先天性马蹄内翻足畸形的形成。