Comparision on the effect of RT-LAMP and LAMP method for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中国人兽共患病学报

We compared the RT-LAMP,LAMP and L-J for detecting MTB to provide the rapid diagnosis method for tu-berculosis.In this assay,NTM and other common respiratory bacteria were used to detect specificity,Mycobacterium tubercu-losis specific products were identified by restriction enzyme digestion.To detect sensitivity,we used RT-LAMP,LAMP and L-J to detect 100 cases sputum specimens from patients with tuberculosis and 22 cases control sputum specimens,the 10 times dilution of 1 ng/μL H37Rv standard strains was used to detect RT-LAMP limit.The results showed that the positive rate of RT-LAMP,LAMP and L-J were 100%,92%,88%.RT-LAMP and L-J,RT-LAMP and LAMP were statistically signifi-cant,RT-LAMP had 10 times higher sensitivity than LAMP,RT-LAMP not only to identify viable but also capable of detec-ting a single copy of MTB.So RT-LAMP is superior to LAMP and L-J and is practical for use in primary medical care institu-tion or peripheral laboratory.

Early Changes in Apparent Diffusion Coefficient for Salivary Glands during Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Associated with Xerostomia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the salivary glands during radiotherapy (RT) and their association with the degree of xerostomia at 6 months after RT in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 26 patients with NPC who underwent RT. Each patient underwent diffusion-weighted MRI of the salivary glands at rest and with gustatory stimulation within 1 week before RT and 2 weeks after the beginning of RT. The ADC at rest (ADCR) and increase and increase rate with stimulation (ADCI, ADCIR) of the submandibular and parotid glands were calculated. The differences in the variables' values between 2 weeks after the beginning of RT and baseline (ΔADCR, ΔADCI, and ΔADCIR) were compared to the degree of xerostomia at 6 months after RT. RESULTS: The ADCR of the submandibular and parotid glands were both significantly higher at 2 weeks after the beginning of RT than found at baseline (both p < 0.01). The ADCI and ADCIR for the parotid glands were both significantly lower at 2 weeks after the beginning of RT than found at baseline (both p < 0.01). ΔADCI and ΔADCIR of the parotid glands were associated with the degree of xerostomia at 6 months after RT (r = −0.61 and −0.72, both p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The ADCs of the salivary glands change early during RT. The differences in the ADC increase and increase rate of the parotid glands between 2 weeks after the beginning of RT and baseline were associated with the degree of xerostomia at 6 months after RT.

Impact of the pattern of lymph node metastasis on the clinical target volume in radiotherapy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the pattern of lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after esophagectomy and its impact on the clinical target volume (CTV) delineation in radiotherapy fpr thoracic ESCC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The pattern of lymph node metastasis was retrospectively analyzed in 1077 patients with primary thoracic ESCC. All patients received esophagectomy with two- or three-field lymphadenectomy. The clinicopathologic factors related to lymph node metastasis were then analyzed using logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of cervical, upper mediastinal, middle mediastinal, lower mediastinal and abdominal cavity lymph node metastasis were 16.7%, 33.3%, 11.1%, 5.6% and 5.6%, respectively. The rates of those node metastasis in the middle thoracic ESCC were 4.0%, 3.8%, 28.5%, 7.1% and 17.1%, respectively, and the rates of those node metastasis in the lower thoracic ESCC were 1.5%, 3.0%, 22.7%, 37.0% and 33.2%, respectively. The depth of tumor invasion, histologic differentiation and the length of tumor were showed to be statistically most significant risk factors of lymph node metastasis of ESCC (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The depth of tumor invasion, histologic differentiation, and length of tumor were closely correlated with lymph node metastasis of ESCC. All these factors and tumor location should be considered comprehensively when designing the target volume for radiotherapy.</p>

Protection of lung function by introducing single photon emission computed tomography lung perfusion image into radiotherapy plan of lung cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The lung functional status could be displayed on lung perfusion images. With the images, the radiotherapy plans of lung cancer could be guided to more optimized. This study aimed to assess quantitatively the impact of incorporating functional lung imaging into 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten patients with NSCLC who had undergone radiotherapy were included in this study. Before radiotherapy, each patient underwent CT simulation and lung perfusion imaging with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The SPECT images were registered with simulation planning CT and used to contour functional lung (lung-F) and non-functional lung (lung-NF). Two 3DCRT plans and two IMRT plans were designed and compared in each patient: two anatomic plans using simulation CT alone and two functional plans using SPECT-CT in addition to the simulation CT. Dosimetric parameters of the four types of plans were compared in terms of tumor coverage and avoidance of normal tissues. Total radiation dose was set at 66 Gy (2 Gy x 33 fractions).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In incorporating perfusion information in 3DCRT and IMRT planning, the reductions on average in the mean doses to the functional lung in the functional plan were 168 cGy and 89 cGy, respectively, compared with those in the anatomic plans. The median reductions in the percentage of volume irradiated with > 5 Gy, > 10 Gy, > 20 Gy, > 30 Gy and > 40 Gy for functional lung in the functional plans were 6.50%, 10.21%, 14.02%, 22.30% and 23.46% in 3DCRT planning, respectively, and 3.05%, 15.52%, 14.16%, 4.87%, and 3.33% in IMRT planning, respectively. No greater degree of sparing of the functional lung was achieved in functional IMRT than in 3DCRT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Function-guided 3DCRT and IMRT plannings both appear to be effective in preserving functional lung in NSCLC patients.</p>

Multiplicity Teaching on Microbiology Laboratory Class / 微生物学通报

Laboratory teaching played the crucial part of microbiology teaching, which was benefit to improve the operational capacity, analysis and resolving ability of students. We carried out the multiplicity teaching by remodeling experiment process, designing integral test, and resolving practical issue and setting up comprehensive trail. It was proved by fact that the multiplicity teaching increased the study interesting of students, inspired their activity, initiative and creativity.

CT and MRI image fusion in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for cranial carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the advantage of CT and MRI image fusion in determining the target precisely during 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for cranial carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five patients received CT and MRI examination simultaneously for localizing the tumor and defining target before 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. The target defined by MRI image was used as gross tumor volume, whereas CT value was used to calculate dose, making plan for radiotherapy. The difference between the target defined by CT and MRI was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 25 patients underwent CT and MRI image fusion for localizing the tumor and defining the target in order to make anatomic symbol and surface symbol superposed. The number of tumor nodual detected by CT was as same as that found by MRI in 23 cases except two. Compared with the GTV defined by MRI image, it was larger in 10 cases by CT image, whereas smaller in 15 cases. The response rate assessed by MRI image was 64.0% (CR + PR) at the end of radiotherapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT and MRI image fusion technique is more precise than either by CT or MRI alone in defining the GTV of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for cranial carcinoma.</p>

Protective effects and its mechanisms of total alkaloids from rhizoma Coptis chinensis on Helicobacter pylori LPS induced gastric lesion in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and its possible mechanisms of total alkaloids (TA) from rhizoma Coptis chinensis on H. pylori LPS induced gastric lesion in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>H. pylori lipopolysaccharide was applied to rat intragastrically for 4 days to induce a pattern of mucosal responses resembling that of acute gastritis. After treatment with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) TA, we identified the changes on gastric histopathology, the effects on the activities of cNOS and NOS-2, the contents of TNF-alpha and the gastric mucus epithelial cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>H. pylori LPS could significantly induce the epithelial cell apoptosis of gastric mucus, increase the expression of NOS-2 and decline the expression of cNOS, and enhance the content of TNF-alpha in serum. Treatment with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) TA led to reduction in the extent of mucosal inflammatory changes elicited by H. pylori LPS and decrease in epithelial cell apoptosis. Furthermore, this effect of TA was associated with decrease in content of TNF-alpha in serum, decline in NOS-2, and increase in cNOS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The findings suggest that TA is a potent protective agent against H. pylori LPS induced gastric mucosal inflammation. The concerned mechanisms may be related to its inhibition on epithelial cell apoptosis, and the suppression of the inflammatory responses by upregulating cNOS and interfering with the events propagated by NOS-2, and reducing the content of TNF-alpha.</p>

Impact of PET/CT on precise radiotherapy planning for non-small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of PET/CT on the clinical staging, target volume delineation and precise radiotherapy (PAR) planning for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PET/CT scanning was performed in 58 histologically proven NSCLC patients for radical radiotherapy or surgery. The clinical staging of all patients was determined by PET/CT according to 1997 World Health Organization (WHO) staging system. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) planning was established with identical parameters based on CT image and PET/CT fused image, respectively. The indexes including volume of GTV (V(GTV)), percentage of the total lung volume which received more than 20 Gy (V(20)), mean lung dose (MLD), tumor control probability (TCP), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), and dose to spinal cord (Ds) were selected and evaluated. The quality of the two plans and the impact of PET/CT on PAR planning was compare and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1. PET/CT image results changed the clinical stages in 21 of 58 (36.2%) patients with 14 upstaged and 7 downstaged, therefore, the management decisions were modified in 16 (27.6%) patients. 2. Among 32 patients who underwent surgery, PET/CT staging result was consistent with pathologic staging in 29 with one false negative and 2 false positive in lymph node staging. The sensitivity of PET/CT was 96.9% and accuracy 90.6%. 3. The differences of indexes including V(GTV) (P = 0.004), V(20) (P = 0.000) and MLD (P = 0.004) between the two radiotherapy plannings were statistically significant, whereas, the Ds, TCP and NTCP (left lung, right lung, skin and spinal cord) was not.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>1. The impact PET/CT on clinical staging of NSCLC and PAR planning was remarkable. 2. PET/CT is more consistent with pathology in staging than CT and, therefore, is an important compensatory staging measure. 3. Compared with CT, PET/CT can reduce the V(GTV) in patients with atelectasis and obstructive pneumonitis when contouring the target volume, so can provide better protection for normal surrounding lung tissue. On the other hand, PET/CT is more sensitive in detecting mediastinal lymph node metastasis than CT, and the V(GTV) can be more precise and guaranteed. 4. Radiopneumonitis may be more effectively prevented because of significant decrease in V(20) and MLD by more precise planning based on PET/CT results. 5. PET/CT not only can provide satisfactory Ds, TCP and NTCP within clinical demand, but also more precise delineation of the radiation target volume and precise radiotherapy planning for NSCLC.</p>

Thermal dosimetric study on hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy for deep seated pelvic malignancies / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To ascertain a clinically meaningful thermal dose unit-temperature equivalent minute (TEM) 42.5 degrees C and the relationship between TEM 42.5 degrees C and tumor response rate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 1998 to December 2002, 49 patients with recurrent or metastatic malignancies in the pelvis were treated with hyperthermia combined with conventional radiotherapy. Direct thermometry with high resistance lead needle was used whenever possible to measure the temperature by inserting Teflon catheter into the tumor. TEM 42.5 degrees C was used as the thermal dose unit and the relationship between TEM 42.5 degrees C and tumor response rate was monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a positive correlation between response rate TEM 42.5 degrees C and the radiation dose. The tumor volume and number of heat treatment showed no influence on response.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis indicate that there is a positive correlation between the response rate, TEM 42.5 degrees C and the radiation dose. TEM 42.5 degrees C may act as a useful thermal dose unit in the combination of hyperthermia and radiotherapy. To lower the incidence of complications in thermometry, direct thermometry with high resistance lead needle can be used to measure the temperature by inserting Teflon catheter into the deep-seated malignancies.</p>