[Consideration on Animal Experiment in PET/CT].

PET/CT imaging can reflect the physiological metabolic process in living body which is the model experiment incapable to simulate. Animal experiment may be considered for systematic validation of PET/CT products. The obtained research data can be used to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of PET/CT products, and be submitted as supporting documents for research data or clinical evaluation data when doing product registration or alteration registration. In this study, the functions and advantages of animal experiments were expounded, and relevant research cases were given as well as the issues that should be paid attention to. It can be a reference for the validation and review of PET/CT products.

[Discussion on Clinical Evaluation of Proton Radiotherapy System].

This article introduces the main points of the clinical evalutaion of proton radiotherapy system, includes the main methods of clinical data collection and data analysis, as the reference for manufacturers to apply for registration.

[Main Points of Registration Technical Data Evaluation of Proton/Carbon Ion Radiotherapy System].

This article introduces the main points of the technical data evalutaion of proton/carbon ion radiotherapy system registration, as the reference for manufacturers to apply for registration.

Elevated serum C-reactive protein, carcinoembryonic antigen and N2 disease are poor prognostic indicators in non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM: To assess the prognostic value of mediastinal lymph node metastases (N2 disease), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to the 7th edition of the TNM classification. METHODS: Newly diagnosed stage III-IV NSCLC were enrolled, including 75 patients with malignant pleural effusion. The relationship between serum CRP levels and other relevant variables such as sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status, smoking status, initial staging, N2 disease, serum albumin, white blood cell count, platelet count, CEA, comorbidity and pathology were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to find prognostic markers using Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Of the 127 patients enrolled, 55 (43%) had elevated CRP levels. There was a significant correlation between serum CRP level and platelet count (P = 0.011). Median overall survival (OS) in the normal CRP group was significantly longer than in the high CRP group (15.7 months vs 9.1 months, P = 0.013). Hypoalbuminemia (P = 0.047), higher CEA (P = 0.043) and N2 disease (P = 0.040) were additional prognostic factors on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis an elevated CRP serum level (HR = 1.796; P = 0.005), higher CEA (HR = 1.563; P = 0.031) and N2 disease (HR = 1.723; P = 0.012) were independent prognostic factors for poor survival. CONCLUSION: High levels of serum CRP and CEA, and N2 disease are independent prognostic indicators for the survival of patients with stage III-IV NSCLC.

[Anticoagulant efficacy and safety of argatroban for patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anticoagulant efficacy and safety of argatroban for patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 300 consecutive patients with coronary heart disease undergoing elective PCI were enrolled and randomized into heparin group (100 U/kg via artery sheaths, n = 150) and argatroban group (200 µg/kg bolus, followed by 350 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) i.v. infusion, n = 150). The primary efficacy endpoint was the activated clotting time (ACT) results (10 min and 60 min after anticoagulant administration and at the point at the end of PCI). The additional dosage of heparin or argatroban was given if the ACT value during PCI procedure < 250 s. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was also measured at pre-procedure, 10 min after anticoagulant injection and 60 min after PCI. The primary safety endpoint was thrombosis and hemorrhagic events during PCI procedure and hospital stay. RESULTS: All patients in the two groups attained the target ACT ( ≥ 250 s), and ACT in heparin group was significantly prolonged [(343.32 ± 44.70) s vs. (289.60 ± 20.88) s, P < 0.01], at 10 min after anticoagulation injection. ACT was similar between the two groups at 60 min after anticoagulation injection [(291.26 ± 46.79) s vs. (288.40 ± 21.61) s, P > 0.05]. The ACT value in argatroban group was similar at 10 min and 60 min after injection (P > 0.05). Supplemental anticoagulant was needed for 13 (8.7%) patients in heparin group and 2 (1.3%) patients in argatroban group because of ACT under 250 s (P < 0.05) . At the end of PCI procedure, ACT in heparin group was significantly shorter than in argatroban group [(247.16 ± 41.38)s vs. (278.65 ± 20.51) s, P < 0.01]. APTT in heparin group was significantly prolonged than in argatroban group not only at 10 min point [(182.16 ± 4.37) s vs. (81.69 ± 21.49) s, P < 0.01] after anticoagulant injection but also at the point of 60 min after PCI procedure[(169.13 ± 6.35)s vs. (56.21 ± 15.68) s, P < 0.01]. There was no thrombus event in two groups and no bleeding event in argatroban group, and there was three bleeding events in heparin group [2.0% (3/150) vs.0, P > 0.05]. CONCLUSION: Argatroban is an effective and safe anticoagulation agent during elective PCI procedure, anticoagulant efficacy and risk of bleeding side effects of argatroban are similar to heparin.

Reversible hydrogen desorption from LiBH4 catalyzed by graphene supported Pt nanoparticles.

The thermally induced de-/rehydrogenation performance of the graphene supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/G) doped LiBH4 was greatly improved even at very low catalyst content due to a synergetic effect of Pt addition and nanoconfinement in graphene. For the 5 wt% Pt/G doped LiBH4 sample, the onset hydrogen desorption temperature is about 140 °C lower than that of the pure LiBH4. With increasing loading of the Pt/G catalysts in LiBH4 samples, the onset dehydrogenation temperature and the two main desorption peaks from LiBH4 were found to decrease while the hydrogen release amount increased. About 17.8 wt% can be released from the 50 wt% Pt/G doped LiBH4 sample below 500 °C. Moreover, variation of the equilibrium pressure (350-450 °C) indicates that the dehydrogenation enthalpy is reduced from 74 kJ mol(-1) H2 for the pure LiBH4 to ca. 48 kJ mol(-1) H2 for the 10 wt% Pt/G doped LiBH4, showing improved thermodynamic properties. More importantly, a reversible capacity of ca. 8.1 wt% in the 30th de-/rehydrogenation cycle was achieved under 3 MPa H2 at 400 °C for 10 h, indicating that the Pt/G catalysts play a crucial role in the improvement of the hydrogen uptake reversibility of LiBH4 at lower temperature and pressure conditions. Especially, LiBH4 was reformed and a new product, Li2B10H10, was detected after the rehydrogenation process.

Treatment of cervical vertebral (C1) metastasis of lung cancer with radiotherapy: A case report.

The present study discusses a patient with C1 vertebral metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the left lung. The patient was a 31-year-old female suffering from neck pain who was referred by her physician. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed osteolytic destruction of the C1 vertebra. Chest and computed tomographic scans revealed lung carcinoma changes involving the left lung. A biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma of the left lung. Abnormal activity was present in the cervical spine (C1) region in a radionuclide bone scan. The patient was then referred to an oncologist. The spine was stabilized with a rigid collar and a course of radiation therapy and pain medication was initiated immediately. At the 9-month follow-up examination, there was no evidence of progression on the MRI scans and the main neck symptoms had disappeared. At present, the overall survival (OS) time is 11 months. Patients complaining of new onset back or neck pain should be assumed to have vertebral metastasis until proven otherwise. Trivial trauma should be taken seriously in these cases and investigated with appropriate clinical, laboratory and imaging examinations.

Note: A time-resolved Kerr rotation system with a rotatable in-plane magnetic field.

A time-resolved Kerr rotation system with a rotatable in-plane magnetic field has been constructed to study anisotropic spin relaxation of electrons in semiconductors. A permanent magnet magic ring is placed on top of a motor-driven rotation stage (RS) to create the rotatable in-plane magnetic field. The RS is placed on a second translation stage to vary the local magnetic field around a sample. The in-plane magnetic field in such a system varies from 0.05 to 0.95 T, with full-round 360° rotatablity, thus offering a convenient and low-cost way to study the anisotropy of spin dynamics in semiconductors. Its performance was demonstrated via measurement of the anisotropy of the spin dephasing time (SDT) of electrons in a two-dimensional electron system embedded in a GaAs/Al(0.35)Ga(0.65)As heterostructure. The SDT with B∥[110] was observed to be 10% larger than that with B∥[110], consistent with the results of others, which was measured via rotating sample.

[Treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistulas with interventional minimally invasive techniques].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the interventional techniques for treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). METHODS: Ten patients with acquired AVFs, including 4 with renal AVF, 3 with iliac AVF, and 3 with subclavian AVF, were treated with interventional procedures. The etiological factors of the AVFs were penetrating trauma in 5 cases, iatrogenic injury in 3, malignancy in 1, and intestine Crohn's disease in 1. The patients presented with peripheral venous hypertension (n = 6), local bruit (n = 10), cardiac overload (n = 10), the right cardiac failure (n = 2), and hematuria (n = 4). Three patients underwent transcatheter super-selective coils embolization and 7 underwent stent-graft placement in the involved arteries. RESULTS: The technical success was achieved in all cases. Completion angiography documented complete exclusion of the fistulas. Minor complications occurred in 3 patients, but without significant consequences. The patients experienced immediate relief of the limb swelling, peripheral venous hyperemia, and tachycardia. The local bruit was disappeared. The cardiac overload conditions were improved significantly, which was confirmed by ultrasound scan. Renal function tests in patients with renal AVF were stable. Radioactive isotopic scan revealed that the function was preserved in the treated kidney in two patients using stent-graft placement in the renal arteries. Follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 6 years. Three patients respectively died of unrelated AVF diseases in 6, 9, and 14 months after the treatment. Re-intervention with an another stent-graft placement was performed on 2 patients with recurrence of the AVF respectively at 3 weeks and two months after the procedures. The minor stenosis was found in stent-graft 2 of patients on the follow-up angiography respectively at 6 and 8 months after the treatment. Seven patients are still alive and in good condition without further intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive interventional procedures, including super-selective embolization and stent-graft exclusion, are safe and effective in the treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistulas.