Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve the Quality and Safety of Radiation Therapy

Within artificial intelligence, machine learning (ML) efforts in radiation oncology have augmented the transition from generalized to personalized treatment delivery. Although their impact on quality and safety of radiation therapy has been limited, they are increasingly being used throughout radiation therapy workflows. Various data-driven approaches have been used for outcome prediction, CT simulation, clinical decision support, knowledge-based planning, adaptive radiation therapy, plan validation, machine quality assurance, and process quality assurance; however, there are many challenges that need to be addressed with the creation and usage of ML algorithms as well as the interpretation and dissemination of findings. In this review, the authors present current applications of ML in radiation oncology quality and safety initiatives, discuss challenges faced by the radiation oncology community, and suggest future directions.     

腹腔镜联合药物治疗卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿合并不孕的疗效分析

目的探讨腹腔镜联合药物治疗中重度卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿(OEM)合并不孕的临床疗效。方法选取我院在2011年1月至2014年1月收治的中重度OEM合并不孕患者120例,随机分为A组、B组和对照组各40例,三组患者均行腹腔镜保守性手术治疗,对照组术后不联合药物治疗,A、B两组术后联合药物治疗,其中A组给予诺雷德肌肉注射,B组给予孕三烯酮胶囊口服治疗,并比较三组术后性激素水平、妊娠率、复发率和安全性。结果性激素水平的比较,A组、B组术后6个月FSH、LH、E2、CA125等指标均明显优于对照组(p<0.05);妊娠率和复发率比较,A组、B组两组妊娠率明显大于对照组(p<0.05),复发率明显小于对照组(p<0.05),且A组复发率明显小于B组(p<0.05);A组4例(10%)患者出现谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)转高,其它两组无不良事件发生。结论腹腔镜联合药物治疗中重度OEM合并不孕效果显著,可明显降低复发率提高妊娠率,且给予诺雷德治疗可更好的降低复发率,且安全性高。     

Myocardial prostaglandin E release by nitroglycerin and modification by indomethacin

In open chest dogs, studies were made of the effects of intravenous trinitroglycerin (10 micrograms/kg per min) on circumflex arterial coronary blood flow, coronary vascular resistance, systemic arterial pressure and myocardial prostaglandin E production before and after indomethacin (n = 9) or indomethacin vehicle (n = 5). During a 30 minute trinitroglycerin infusion, coronary sinus prostaglandin E concentration increased significantly (approximately +41 percent, p less than 0.01) without significant changes in left atrial prostaglandin E concentration. After indomethacin (5 mg/kg), but not indomethacin vehicle alone, a second trinitroglycerin infusion (10 micrograms/kg per min) produced a significantly smaller decrease in coronary vascular resistance (p less than 0.05) and systemic blood pressure (p less than 0.01) and no increase in coronary sinus prostaglandin E (p less than 0.001) by comparison with control values. The heart rate response to trinitroglycerin was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) after than before indomethacin. This study suggests that the mechanism of action of trinitroglycerin may be at least partially mediated through the prostaglandin system.     

Evaluation of flecainide acetate in the management of patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death

The clinical effectiveness of flecainide acetate was evaluated in 36 patients (29 male and 7 female, average age 56 years) in whom therapy with previous antiarrhythmic agents had failed. All patients had documented ventricular tachycardia on Holter electrocardiographic recording and 31 of 36 (86%) had had syncope or required cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or both. Angiographic findings demonstrated significant coronary artery disease in 22 (61%) and primary left ventricular dysfunction in 14 (39%), with a left ventricular ejection of 0.39 +/- 0.4. Patients were treated with an average flecainide dose of 302 +/- 76 mg/day. The follow-up time was 101 +/- 156 days. Thirty-two of 36 patients (89%) had complete elimination of ventricular tachycardia from Holter monitoring and only 2 patients had flecainide discontinued because of noncardiac side effects (numbness, blurred vision and ataxia). However, the drug was subsequently discontinued in 5 patients because of cardiac side effects (proarrhythmic effect in 2, sinus bradycardia in 1, complete atrioventricular block in 1 and new left bundle branch block in 1) and 10 patients died during flecainide therapy (1 with cerebral stroke, 3 with congestive heart failure and 6 with incessant ventricular tachycardia). A comparison of the general cardiac features of those who died with those who did not revealed a significantly lower ejection fraction (0.24 +/- 0.1 vs 0.45 +/- 0.1, p less than 0.05) and a significantly higher flecainide dose (350 +/- 85 versus 276 +/- 59 mg/day, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The significance of the ileocecal valve in massive resection of the gut in puppies.

Clinical observations suggest that retention of the ileocecal valve is vital for survival in neonates who undergo resection of small bowel to the extent that less than 40 cm remain. Twenty-four puppies underwent 90% resection of small bowel and 12 of these also had a destructive procedure performed on the ileocecal valve. Survival and weight patterns were used to assess results when it was found both parameters supported the clinical observations. The practical application is that all attempts should be made to retain the ileocecal valve in situations in which only short lengths of small bowel remain.     

改良Reid阴道镜评分在CIN分级诊断中的应用价值

目的评价改良的Reid阴道镜评分系统（RCI）在宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）分级诊断中的应用价值。方法对宫颈液基薄层细胞学（TCT）筛查异常的482例患者行阴道镜检查,就异常图像的宫颈病变颜色、边界、异形血管及碘试验行改良的Reid阴道镜评分,初步判断病变分级。在可疑病变部位取多点病理活检。结果阴道镜下评分与组织病理学完全符合率为80．50％,能检测出CIN及浸润癌的敏感性为96．49％,特异性为82．07％,阳性预测值62．50％。0—2分组、3～4分组、5～8分组的诊断阳性预测值分别为28．00％、52．08％、92．86％。评分系统对CINⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅲ的诊断敏感性分别为93．18％、70．59％、58．33％。6例浸润癌的评分均在3分以上。阴道镜RCI评分与组织病理学结果经Kappa一致性检验,其值为0．5209（P〈0．05）,存在一致性。结论改良RCI评分应用于CIN分级的半定量判断,可提高阴道镜诊断的准确性和客观性;有助于减少阴道镜下宫颈癌前病变,尤其是低级别CIN的漏诊率。     

Reid Colposcopic Index Evaluation: Comparison of General and Oncologic Gynecologists

The Reid colposcopic index (RCI) helps physicians for interpret the results of colposcopic examination.To compare the accuracy of RCI in colposcopic evaluation between general and oncologic gynecologists, thisprospective trial was conducted by invited women over 20 years of age who were scheduled for a colposcopyat Chiang Mai University Hospital between August, 2008 and May, 2014 to participate. Pregnant patients orthose having a history of hysterectomy or conization were excluded. During the colposcopy, all patients weresimultaneously evaluated by general and oncologic gynecologists utilizing the RCI. Further management witheither a biopsy or LEEP in each patient was dependent on the decision of the attending oncologic gynecologist.The accuracy of the RCI in diagnosing HSIL or more was calculated by the comparison with the final histology.Finally, 135 patients were recruited into this study. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of RCIin diagnosing HSIL or more in general gynecologists were 45.2%, 80.7%, 41.1%, 83.2% and 72.6% while in theoncologic gynecologists were 51.6%, 85.6%, 51.6%, 85.6% and 77.8%, respectively. The difference in accuracybetween evaluator groups was not significant (p-value=0.28). Of 3 patients with invasive cervical cancer, all wereundetected by the general gynecologists using RCI while only 1 invasive cervical cancer was missed via RCI bythe oncologic gynecologists. We conclude that RCI could be used by general gynecologists in provincial hospitalswith major concerns about missing invasive cervical cancer. A short training period regarding colposcopy mighthelp to resolve this problem     

阴道镜Reid评分对宫颈人乳头瘤病毒感染的诊断价值

目的探讨阴道镜Reid评分对宫颈人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染的诊断价值。方珐因宫颈疾病行阴道镜检查及宫颈活组织检查者528例,以组织病理学诊断为标准,分析阴道镜Reid评分诊断宫颈HPV感染的价值。结果阴道镜Reid评分诊断宫颈HPV感染及宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）的符合率为52．66％,诊断宫颈低度病变（包括HPV感染和CINⅠ）的敏感性为51．05％,诊断宫颈高度病变（包括CINⅡ／和CINⅢ）的敏感性为66．67％;病理诊断为HPV感染者,边界、颜色、血管等评分项目分值与Reid评分总分呈正相关,而边界、颜色分值分别与血管分值无显著相关性。结论阴道镜检查结合Reid评分对诊断宫颈HPV感染有一定的临床应用价值。     

Identification and characterization of a growth factor secreted by an established cell line of human retinoblastoma maintained in serum-free medium

A growth factor is obtained from a human retinoblastoma cell line (Y-79) growing in culture in the absence of any added serum or hormone. The retinoblastoma derived growth factor (RDGF) is still secreted by the Y-79 cells after they have been growing in a serum-free environment for over 5 months. RDGF stimulates both cell division and thymidine uptake of Swiss mouse 3T3 fibroblasts in media containing 0.2% fetal bovine serum. The thymidine uptake occurs maximally 16–42 hr after addition of RDGF.The factor has an apparent molecular weight of 38,000 as determined by Sephadex G-100 chromatography and is heat and trypsin labile. There appears to be additional material of higher MW which also stimulates thymidine uptake by the 3T3 cells.