Feasibility of using post-contrast dual-energy CT for pediatric radiation treatment planning and dose calculation

Objectives:When iodinated contrast is administered during CT simulation, standard practice requires a separate non-contrast CT for dose calculation. The objective of this study is to validate our hypothesis that since iodine affects Hounsfield units (HUs) more than electron density (ED), the information from post-contrast dual-layer CT (DLCT) would be sufficient for accurate dose calculation for both photon and proton therapy.Methods and materials:10 pediatric patients with abdominal tumors underwent DLCT scans before and after iodinated contrast administration for radiotherapy planning. Dose distributions with these DLCT-based methods were compared to those with conventional calibration-curve methods that map HU images to ED and stopping-power ratio (SPR) images.Results:For photon plans, conventional and DLCT approaches based on post-contrast scans underestimated the PTV D99 by 0.87 ± 0.70% (p = 0.18) and 0.36 ± 0.31% (p = 0.34), respectively, comparing to their non-contrast optimization plans. Renal iodine concentration was weakly associated with D99 deviation for both conventional (R² = 0.10) and DLCT (R² = 0.02) approaches. For proton plans, the clinical target volume D99 errors were 3.67 ± 2.43% (p = 0.0001) and 0.30 ± 0.25% (p = 0.40) for conventional and DLCT approaches, respectively. The proton beam range changed noticeably with the conventional approach. Renal iodine concentration was highly associated with D99 deviation for the conventional approach (R² = 0.83) but not for DLCT (R² = 0.007).Conclusion:Conventional CT with iodine contrast resulted in a large dosimetric error for proton therapy, compared to true non-contrast plans, but the error was less for photon therapy. These errors can be greatly reduced in the case of the proton plans if DLCT is used, raising the possibility of using only a single post-contrast CT for radiotherapy dose calculation, thus reducing the time and imaging dose required.Advances in knowledge:This study is the first to compare directly the differences in the calculated dose distributions between pre- and post-contrast CT images generated by single-energy CT and dual-energy CT methods for photon and proton therapy.     

Multidrug-resistant bacteria in geriatric clinics,nursing homes,and ambulant care – Prevalence and risk factors

Colonization/infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, is an increasing problem not only in hospitals but also in long-term care facilities. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence as well as the risk factors of colonization/infection with MRSA, VRE, and ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae in geriatric clinics, nursing homes, and ambulant care in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 288 patients from 2 geriatric clinics (n = 46), 8 nursing homes (n = 178), and 2 ambulant care facilities (n = 64) as well as 64 staff members were screened for MDRB in the time period from October 2006 to May 2007. 58 patients (20.1%) and 4 staff members (6.2%) were colonized with MDRB. Among patients, 27 (9.4%) were colonized with MRSA, 11 (3.8%) were screened positive for VRE, and 25 (8.7%) were found to be colonized with ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae. Prevalence of MDRB in geriatric clinics, nursing homes, and ambulant care facilities were 32.6%, 18.5%, and 15.6%, respectively. Significant risk factors for MDRB were immobility (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5–4.9; p = 0.002), urinary catheter (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.7–5.9; p < 0.001), former hospitalization (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–4.0; p = 0.033), and wounds/decubiti (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5–4.9; p = 0.03). Finally, the high level of MDRB in geriatric clinics, nursing homes, and ambulant care points to the importance of these institutions as a reservoir for dissemination.     

基于CBCT的下颌第一磨牙区即刻种植相关的影像学研究

目的利用CBCT研究下颌第一磨牙区即刻种植适宜的植入位点、植入角度与植入深度,为术前数字化设计和临床操作提供参考依据。方法选取100例符合纳入标准的患者CBCT影像学资料,测量下颌第一磨牙区的牙槽骨厚度、颊侧及舌侧骨板厚度、牙根间隔宽度,同时测量下颌第一磨牙与下颌神经管及舌侧骨倒凹的关系,并进行统计学分析。结果由近中至远中,下颌第一磨牙的牙槽骨厚度及颊侧骨板厚度逐渐增大,舌侧骨板厚度逐渐减小;由牙槽嵴顶至根尖,牙根间隔宽度逐渐增大,最大为(5.00±1.42)mm;近中根、远中根、远舌根、牙根间隔顶至下颌神经管的距离分别为(7.47±2.38)mm、(7.19±2.49)mm、(9.59±1.94)mm、(15.90±2.39)mm;由近中至远中,下颌神经管颊侧及舌侧骨板最大厚度分别为(6.54±1.25)mm、(2.53±0.84)mm;下颌舌侧骨倒凹角度为(149.67±8.30)°,倒凹深度为(1.51±0.43)mm。结论在下颌第一磨牙区即刻种植前可通过CBCT规划合适的种植路径,注意避开下颌神经管和舌侧骨倒凹。若根尖至下颌神经管的安全距离足够,可从牙根间隔处植入,若安全距离不足,植入位点可偏近中舌侧,植入角度可适当舌倾。     

Protective effects of trehalose against Mn‐induced α‐synuclein oligomerization in mice: Involvement of oxidative stress and autophagy

Overexposure to manganese (Mn) is widely known to induce alpha‐synuclein (α‐Syn) oligomerization, which has been attributed to the oxidative damage of α‐Syn protein. Trehalose has been shown to induce autophagy and serve as a chemical chaperone, but little information has been reported about its effect on Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization. In this study, we investigate whether trehalose can effectively interfere with Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization, using different concentrations of trehalose (2% and 4% (g/vol [mL])) in a mouse model of manganism. After 6 weeks of exposure to Mn, both oxidative stress and autophagy were activated and resulted in α‐Syn oligomerization and neuronal cell damage in the mouse brain tissue. Our results also revealed that pretreatment with trehalose significantly reduced the oxidative damage to α‐Syn protein and increased autophagy activation. These findings clearly demonstrated that trehalose can relieve Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization and neuronal cell damage through its anti‐oxidative and autophagy‐inducing effects.     

重庆地区蛇咬伤后急救处理

目的：探讨重庆地区蛇咬伤的急救处理及分析治疗过程中凝血功能变化。方法回顾性分析我院2003年1月～2013年9月收治的1191例蛇咬伤患者（男性696例,女性495例;年龄16～81岁,平均45.2岁）临床表现、治疗情况、凝血功能变化及分泌物细菌培养等。结果重庆地区蛇咬伤以蝮蛇为主,轻型患者830例（69.69％）,就诊时临床表现以患肢肿胀常见,占92.35％。五步蛇及眼镜蛇较蝮蛇导致凝血系统异常具有显著性差异（ P＜0.05）。咬伤溃疡创面分泌物行细菌加药敏试验培养率49.5％,细菌培养阳性率21.3％。结论我院蛇咬伤以蝮蛇咬伤常见,五步蛇及眼镜蛇等咬伤较少,但对凝血功能影响显著,需及早综合处理蛇伤,合理运用抗菌药物,提高防治水平。     

A comparison of standard PCNL and staged retrograde FURS in pelvis stones over 2 cm in diameter: a prospective randomized study

The aim of the study was to compare percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and staged retrograde flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) methods used in the treatment of kidney stones of 2 cm or more in diameter. The study comprised a total of 60 patients with a diagnosis of kidney pelvic stones more than 2 cm in diameter, for whom surgery was planned between January 2013 and January 2014. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups as staged retrograde FURS (Group A) and PCNL (Group B). Comparison of the groups was made with respect to operating time, number of procedures, total treatment time, length of hospital stay, stone-free rates and complications according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. In Group A, the total operating time of multiple sessions was 114.46 min. In Group B, a single session of PCNL was applied to all patients and the mean operating time was 86.8 min (p = 0.014). Mean total treatment time was 2.01 weeks in Group A and 1 week in Group B (p < 0.01). The mean total hospitalization time was 3.66 days in Group A and 3.13 days in Group B (p = 0.037). At the end of the sessions, clinically insignificant residual fragments were observed in ten patients of Group A and one patient of Group B (p = 0.03). No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in terms of stone-free rates or complications. Although current technology with FURS is effective on large kidney stones, it has no superiority to PCNL due to the need for multiple sessions and long treatment time.     

Cytomegalovirus colitis in a patient with Behcet’s disease receiving tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitory treatment

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha （TNF-α） inhibitors are effective in the treatment of various inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Increased risks of serious infections are the major issues concerning the long-term safety of these agents. We present a case of a young male Behcet’s patient whose disease was complicated by cytomegalovirus （CMV） colitis. Colitis started 10 d after the third Infliximab dose and responded to the cessation of TNF blocking treatment and administration of ganciclovir. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma act at several levels in combating viral infections.CMV infections should be kept in mind and included in the differential diagnosis of severe gastrointestinal symptoms in patients receiving anti-TNF agents.