Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

朝鲜淫羊藿酸性多糖的理化特性及对HepG2细胞脂质堆积的改善作用＊

目的 对比研究朝鲜淫羊藿酸性多糖酯化还原前后的理化特性，并探讨其改善油酸诱导的肝癌HepG2细胞脂质堆积活性的差异。方法 采用高效凝胶渗透色谱法测定朝鲜淫羊藿酸性多糖（EFPA）的均一性和分子量，高效液相色谱法测定EFPA和酯化还原后朝鲜淫羊藿酸性多糖（EFPA-R）的单糖组成；采用油酸（OA）处理HepG2细胞诱导建立脂质蓄积模型，不同浓度EFPA与EFPA-R（10、30、100、300 μg·mL^-1）分别和OA共同作用于细胞24 h，采用CCK-8试剂盒测定细胞存活率，油红O染色观察细胞内脂滴蓄积情况，并采用试剂盒测定细胞内总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）含量。结果 EFPA为成分均一的多糖组分，分子量为125.8 kDa，由甘露糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖、葡萄糖醛酸和阿拉伯糖组成，摩尔比为1.7∶7.4∶1.4∶1.8∶1.0，葡萄糖占比最大，EFPA-R由甘露糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖和阿拉伯糖组成，摩尔比为0.8∶10.6∶2.1∶1.0；在10-300 μg·mL^-1范围内，EFPA和EFPA-R对HepG2细胞的抑制作用较弱，作为给药浓度；与空白组相比，模型组细胞中TC、TG含量显著升高（P < 0.01），细胞内红色脂滴显著增多，与模型组相比，EFPA可显著降低细胞中TC、TG含量（P < 0.01），明显减少细胞内红色脂滴（P < 0.05或P < 0.01），EFPA-R干预后细胞则无明显变化。结论 EFPA可明显改善HepG2细胞脂质堆积情况，且呈现剂量依赖性，而半乳糖醛酸（GalA）的存在可能是其抑制HepG2细胞脂质蓄积的关键因素。     

蒙药绿松石的质量标准研究＊

目的 建立蒙药绿松石的质量标准。方法 收集不同产地绿松石，共10批。观察绿松石样品和粉末的性状并进行理化鉴别；按2020年版《中国药典》（四部）通则方法测定绿松石样品中水分、浸出物含量；采用原子吸收光谱法测定绿松石样品铜元素含量。结果 绿松石为不规则、周围带有黑石的块状物，表面蓝绿色，体重，质硬脆，难砸碎，断面呈贝壳状，蜡样光泽，粉末呈灰绿色，无臭，味淡；理化鉴别结果显示，呈铜盐反应；10批次样品中水分含量为0.41%-3.94%（SD=1.37%），浸出物含量为0.21%-0.81%（SD=0.21%），铜元素含量为3.03%-4.63%（SD=0.63%）。结论 初步拟定绿松石中水分含量不得超多5.0%、浸出物含量不得低于0.10%，铜元素含量应为2.60%-4.84%，制定的标准可用于蒙药材绿松石的质量控制。     

Clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with COVID-19 between Omicron era vs. pre-Omicron era

IntroductionDetailed data on clinical characteristics in children with the omicron strain of SARS-COV-2 are limited.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study of children with COVID-19 at the National Center for Child Health and Development to evaluate the clinical manifestations during and before the emergence of the omicron variant. Only symptomatic patients without underlying diseases were included. Participants were divided into two temporal groups: the “omicron era” (1/2022–2/2022) and the “pre-omicron era,” where the delta variant predominated (7/2021–11/2021). The patients were subclassified into an older vaccine-eligible group (aged 12–17 years), a younger vaccine-eligible group (aged 5–11 years), and a vaccine-ineligible group (aged 0–4 years).ResultsWe compared 113 patients in the omicron era with 106 in the pre-omicron era. Most patients in both eras had non-severe disease, and no patients required mechanical ventilation or died. Among patients aged 0–4 years, sore throat and hoarseness were more common during the omicron era than the pre-omicron era (11.1% vs. 0.0% and 11.1% vs. 1.5%, respectively). Croup syndrome was diagnosed in all patients with hoarseness. Among patients aged 5–11 years, vomiting was more frequent during the omicron era (47.2%) than during the pre-omicron era (21.7%). Cough and rhinorrhea were less common during the omicron era in patients aged 0–4 and 5–11 years, respectively, than during the pre-omicron era.ConclusionsIn children with COVID-19, clinical manifestations differed between the omicron and pre-omicron eras. In the Omicron era, croup syndrome was more frequent in vaccine-ineligible children.     

Effect of Replacement of Wharton Acellular Jelly With FBS on the Expression of Megakaryocyte Linear Markers in Hematopoietic Stem Cells CD34+

Objective: Animal environments for the growth of stem cells cause the transmission of some diseases and immune problems for the recipient. Accordingly, replacing these environments with healthy environments, at least with human resources, is essential.  One of the media that can be used as an alternative to animal serums is Wharton acellular jelly (AWJ).  Therefore, in this study, we intend to replace FBS with Wharton jelly and investigate its effect on the expression of megakaryocyte-related genes and markers in stem cells. Materials and Methods: In this study, cord blood-derived CD34 positive HSCs were cultured and expanded in the presence of cytokines including SCF, TPO, and FLT3-L. Then, the culture of expanded CD34 positive HSCs was performed in two groups: 1) IMDM culture medium containing 10% FBS and 100 ng / ml thrombopoietin cytokine 2) IMDM culture medium containing 10% AWJ, 100 ng / ml thrombopoietin cytokine.  Finally, CD41 expressing cells were analyzed with the flow cytometry method. The genes related to megakaryocyte lineage including FLI1 and GATA2 were also evaluated using the RT-PCR technique.  Results: The expression of CD41, a specific marker of megakaryocyte lineage in culture medium containing Wharton acellular jelly was increased compared to the FBS group. Additionally, the expression of GATA2 and FLI1 genes was significantly increased related to the control group. Conclusion: This study provided evidence of differentiation of CD34 positive hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood to megakaryocytes in a culture medium containing AWJ.     

Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.     

Fungal mycobiome drives IL-33 secretion and type 2 immunity in pancreatic cancer

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