ABSTRACT
Objective @# To investigate the changes of α2-macroglobulin in different stages of radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and to explore its feasibility as a marker of serum markers reflecting radiotherapy injury.@*Methods @#We collected the blood samples of 23 cases of newly diagnosed patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before the simple radiotherapy, the 10, 20, 30 and 33 times after simple radiotherapy, detected the α2- macroglobulin levels. The difference among the five stages was analysed by paired t-test using SPSS17.0 software package.@*Results @#The serum level of α2- macroglobulin elevated with the increase of number of radiotherapy. After 10 times’ radiotherapy, the serum α2-MG concentration in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was significantly higher than that before radiotherapy (12.04 ± 5.72 vs. 10.81 ± 5.38 U/L), the difference was statistically significant (t=4.818, P < 0.05). After 20 times’ radiotherapy, the serum α2-MG concentration in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was significantly higher than that before radiotherapy (12.26 ± 5.77 vs. 10.81 ± 5.38 U/L), and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.237, P < 0.001). After 30 times’ radiotherapy, the serum α2-MG concentration in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was significantly higher than that before radiotherapy (12.91 ± 5.55 vs. 10.81 ± 5.38 U/L), the difference was statistically significant (t=6.076, P < 0.05). At the end of radiotherapy, the serum α2-MG concentration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients was significantly (13.43 ± 6.05 vs. 10.81 ± 5.38 U/L) higher than that before radiotherapy (t=5.189, P < 0.05).@*Conclusion@#The serum level of α2- macroglobulin changes with the radiotherapy, so it can be a serum marker reflecting the damage of maxilla induced by ionizing radiation.
ABSTRACT
This study prospectively examined the intranasal distribution of nasal spray after nasal septal correction and decongestant administration.A cohort of 20 patients was assessed for the distribution of nasal spray before and after nasal septum surgery.Sprays were dyed and administered one puff per nostril when patients hold their head up in an upright position.Before and after decongestant administration,the intranasal distribution was semi-quantitatively determined by nasal endoscopy.The results showed that the dyed drug was preferentially sprayed onto the nasal vestibule,the head of the inferior turbinate,the anterior part of septum and nasal floor.As far as the anterior-inferior segment of the nasal cavity was concerned,the distribution was found to be influenced neither by the decongestant nor by the surgery (P＞0.05).However,both the decongestant and surgery expanded the distribution to the anatomical structures in the superior and posterior nasal cavity such as olfactory fissure,middle turbinate head and middle nasal meatus.No distribution was observed in the sphenoethmoidal recess,posterior septum,tail of inferior turbinate and nasopharynx.It was concluded that nasal septum surgery and decongestant administration significantly improves nasal spray distribution in the nasal cavity.