Incidence of Chronic Radiodermatitis after Fluoroscopically Guided Interventions: A Retrospective Study

PurposeTo assess the incidence and risk factors for chronic radiodermatitis after fluoroscopically guided interventions (FGIs) in high-risk patients.Materials and MethodsBetween 2010 and 2016, of 55,782 patients who underwent FGIs, 359 had a risk procedure for skin injury (maximal skin dose > 3 Gy, air kerma > 5 Gy, dose area product [DAP] > 500 Gy.cm², or fluoroscopy time > 60 minutes). Ninety-one of these patients were examined by a dermatologist for radiodermatitis (median time after procedure, 31.2 months [95% confidence interval, 14.2–50.7]). In each case, the clinical features and topography of the skin lesions were recorded and their incidence calculated. The characteristics of the patients and of the FGIs were tested as risk factors.ResultsEight patients (8.8%) had chronic radiodermatitis; 19 (20.9%) had acute radiodermatitis. Body mass index, DAP value, and air kerma were the only risk factors identified.ConclusionsThis study shows that chronic radiodermatitis may be considered a frequent side effect in an at-risk population. The lesions are commonly benign, but extensive sclerosis can occur. Patients should be better informed about the side effects and offered a skin exam periodically.     

p53 protein, interferon-gamma, and NF-kappaB levels are elevated in the parkinsonian brain

We and other workers found markedly increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis-related proteins in parkinsonian brain. Although the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains enigmatic, apoptosis might be involved in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD. To investigate the possible presence of other inflammatory cytokines and/or apoptosis-related protein, the levels of p53 protein, interferon-gamma, and NF-kappaB were measured for the first time in the brain (substantia nigra, caudate nucleus, putamen, cerebellum, and frontal cortex) from control and parkinsonian patients by a highly sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The p53 protein level in the caudate nucleus was significantly higher in parkinsonian patients than in controls (P<0.05), whereas this protein in the substantia nigra, putamen, and cerebral cortex showed no significant difference between parkinsonian and control subjects. The interferon-gamma level was significantly higher in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic regions (substantia nigra, caudate nucleus, and putamen) in parkinsonian patients than in the controls (P<0.05), but was not significantly different in the cerebellum or frontal cortex between the two groups. In accordance with previous immunohistochemical analysis, the NF-kappaB level in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic regions was significantly higher in parkinsonian patients than in the controls (P<0.05). These data suggest that the significant increase in the levels of p53 protein, interferon-gamma, and NF-kappaB reflect apoptosis and the inflammatory state in the parkinsonian brain and that their elevation is involved in the degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.     

TGF—β1和Smad3在子宫肌瘤组织中的表达及意义

目的检测转化生长因子β1（transforming growth factor β1,TGF—β1）和Smad3在子宫肌瘤组织中的表达,探讨两者的相关性。方法采用RT—PCR法分别检测子宫肌瘤组织以及邻近正常子宫平滑肌组织中TGF—β1和Smad3的mRNA表达情况。结果①TGF—β1在子宫肌瘤组织和正常子宫平滑肌组织中都有表达,且肌瘤组中TGF—β1的mRNA的表达（1．51±0．34）明显高于正常组（1．29±0．35）,差异有统计学意义（t=5．73,P=0．000）;②Smad3在肌瘤组和正常组都有表达,且肌瘤组中Smad3表达（1．36±0．20）明显高于正常组（1．13±0．27）,差异有统计学意义（t=7．34,P=0．000）;③肌瘤组中TGF—β1和Smad3的mRNA的表达呈正相关（rs=0．769,P=0．000）。结论TGF—β1能诱导子宫肌瘤纤维化,信号蛋白Smad3在其中发挥了重要作用。