ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the effect of the appointment checkup process optimized with the theory of constraints in shortening the appointment waiting time. Methods The patients who underwent ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging examination, and CT examinations were selected from the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from March 2017 to February 2018. Firstly, we applied the theory of constraints to investigate and analyze the status of medical technology examinations. Secondly, we optimized the process according to the results of the investigation. Finally, we compared the appointment duration of medical examinations before and after the optimization. Results Thanks to support of departments involved, the longest ultrasonography appointment waiting time was reduced from 3. 74 days to 1. 32 days. The longest appointment time for magnetic resonance imaging examination was reduced from 3. 74 days to 1. 33 days. The longest appointment waiting time for CT was reduced from 2. 62 days to 1. 55 days, and the goal of completing the checkup the day after the prescription was reached in the continuous improvement phase. Conclusions The optimization of the medical technology examination appointment process based on the constraint theory can effectively shorten the checkup appointment duration, maximize utilization of medical resources and optimize the services.
ABSTRACT
Interleukin-24 (IL-24) is a member of IL-10 family, which was cloned from human melanoma cells by the method of subtractive hybridization. IL-24 can inhibit the growth of tumor cells and angiogenesis and enhance radiation sensitivity and immune adjustment with non-toxic effects on normal cells.As a kind of cytokine with multiple anti-tumor functions, IL-24 will become a new weapon of gene therapy against cancer. The application and mechanism of IL-24 in the treatment of cancer will be discussed in this paper.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the correlation between imaging features of spiral computed tomography(SCT) and pathology, MVD, and the expression of VEGF in renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Methods Thirty patients with RCC diagnosed by pathology underwent SCT examinations.MVD and the expression of VEGF were examined immunohistochemically using SABC techniques. Results The detection and characterization rate as well as accuracy of staging before operation about 30 RCC of multiphasic SCT scans were 100 %, 100 % and 83.3 %, respectively. In 30 cases of RCC, the mean MVD was 36±12.4. The positive expression rate of VEGF were 73.33 %. There were no correlation between the MVD and the expression of VEGF in RCC (r =0.057, P >0.05). The features of SCT: on multiphasic SCT scans, the pathological nuclear grade, the MVD and positive expression of VEGF in groups of RCC with diameter larger than 3.0 cm, central necrosis, pseudocapsule and intravenous tumor emboli were obviously higher than those of the contrast group (P <0.05, P <0.05, P <0.05, respectively). The pathological nuclear grade and MVD in groups of RCC with lymph node metastasis were higher than the contrast group (P <0.05, P <0.05, respectively). There were the positive correlation between the enhanced Hounsfield' s units in the CMP and the MVD in 30 cases of RCC(r =0.784, P <0.05). The degree of enhancement correlated well positively with the MVD in 30cases of RCC (P < 0.05). Conclusion Multiphasic enhanced SCT scan is a reliable technique in the detection, pathologic characterization of RCC. Some SCT features are closely correlated with MVD and expressions of VEGF in RCC, which could be a noninvasive method in predicting aggressiveness and metastasis.