Progress of research on the preventive and therapeutic agents against radiation-induced injuries / 中国辐射卫生

Radiation-induced injury, a body dysfunction caused by irradiation, is associated with the dose, duration, and speed of radiation and is predominantly derived from radiation therapy for patients with malignant tumors. The current clinical treatment mainly includes amelioration of injury, alleviation of symptoms, and improvements in function restoration of the affected sites because of lack of targeted agents specific to radiation-induced injuries. Research and development of preventive and therapeutic agents against radiation-induced injuries are of great significance to reduce the body damages caused by radiotherapy and improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. This review summarizes the radiation-induced injury and its mechanisms, radioprotectants, and therapeutic agents for radiation, and proposes future development directions, so as to provide a reference for alleviation of radiation-induced injury and improvement in prognosis.

Tenofovir vs. entecavir on recurrence of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria after hepatectomy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the Milan criteria is shown to be beneficial. However, a high rate of post-operative HCC recurrence hinders the long-term survival of the patients. This study aimed to investigate and compare the impacts of tenofovir (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) on the recurrence of hepatitis B viral (HBV)-related HCC beyond the Milan criteria.@*METHODS@#Data pertaining to 1532 patients who underwent hepatectomy and received antiviral therapy between January 2014 and January 2019 were collected from five centers. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine prognostic factors for HCC recurrence.@*RESULTS@#The analysis incorporates 595 HBV-related HCC patients. The overall 5-year RFS was 21.3%. Among them, 533 and 62 patients received ETV and TDF treatment, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 46.3%, 27.4%, and 19.6%, respectively, in the ETV group compared with 65.1%, 41.8%, and 37.2%, respectively, in the TDF group (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that TDF treatment (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.604, P = 0.005), cirrhosis (HR: 1.557, P = 0.004), tumor size (HR: 1.037, P = 0.008), microvascular invasion (MVI) (HR: 1.403, P = 0.002), portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) (HR: 1.358, P = 0.012), capsular invasion (HR: 1.228, P = 0.040), and creatinine levels (CREA) (HR: 0.993, P = 0.031) were statistically significant prognostic factors associated with RFS.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria exhibited a high rate of HCC recurrence after hepatectomy. Compared to the ETV therapy, TDF administration significantly lowered the risk of HCC recurrence.

Bone regeneration using an injectable calcium phosphate/autologous iliac crest bone composites for segmental ulnar defects in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of segmental bone loss remains a challenge in skeletal repair. A major therapeutic goal is the development of implantable materials that will promote bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE: We evaluate bone regeneration in grafts containing different concentrations autologous iliac crest bone (ACB) particles, carried in a new injectable calcium phosphate cement (CPC), in ulnar bone defects in rabbits. METHODS: Large upper-mid-diaphyseal defects (10 mm) were created in the left ulnae of 60 skeletally mature New Zealand white rabbits. ACB concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (by volume) in CPC were used to fill operated sites. Defect bridging was monitored by serial radiography at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-operation. Samples were then examined histologically and by manual palpation to determine the extent of new bone formation. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, we observed more elaborate structures and extensive absorption in ulnae treated with mixtures containing low concentrations of ACB (such as 0% and 25% volume of ACB/CPC), compared with those treated with mixtures containing high concentrations of ACB (such as 75% and 100% volume of ACB/CPC). At 8 weeks, histomorphometry revealed increased trabecular area and volume in the group treated with high ACB concentrations compared with those treated with low ACB concentrations. At 12 weeks, complete cortical bridging and regeneration of marrow space were detected in groups treated with high concentrations of ACB, and the amount of new bone regeneration was greater in these groups than in those treated with low ACB concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of rabbit ulnar defects with injectable CPC carrying an optimized concentration of ACB particles can lead to cortical bridging and bone marrow regeneration within 12 weeks.

Research on compensatory of contralateral vertebral artery by MRA in unilateral stenosis / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To evaluate the MRA by measuring the diameter of the stenosis artery and the contralateral normal vertebral artery with unilateral stenosis. Methods Seventeen-six patients were divided into normal group and vertebral arterial type of cervical spondylosis group.Among 26 vertebral arterial type of cervical spondylosis cases,13 cases appeared as vertebral arterial type with unilateral stenosis of ≤1.6 mm in diameter .Statistics assessment of MRA in stenosis and contralateral artery was engaged. Results The unilateral artery stenosis diameter measured

Effects of electro-acupuncture on behavioral recovery and its molecular basis in chronic spinal cord injured rats / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo study the therapeutic mechanisms of electro-acupuncture on chronic spinal cord injury in rats.MethodsA model of chronic spinal cord injury was made. After 60 days, the pressure installs were removed, and the animals were treated with electro-acupuncture. A quantitive analysis was carried out using Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale (BBB scale). The expression of Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and its receptor TrkC were observed through immunohistochemistrical method and western blotting.ResultsAfter spinal cord injury, enhanced NT-3 and TrkC immunoreactivities were evident in neurons and glial cells. Furthermore, they were diminished in the electro-acupuncture group. Meanwhile, both evoked potentials and BBB scales were improved after EA treatment (P<0.05). ConclusionThe treatment of electro-acupuncture may promote behavioral function recovery of experimental animals, and NT-3 and TrkC may take part in the recovery.

Effect of acupuncture on the expression of nerve transmitter and neurotrophic factor in rats with chronic spinal cord injury / 中国康复理论与实践

@# ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of electro-acupuncture (EA) on chronic spinal cord injury.MethodsAn animal model of moderate chronic progressive compression on spinal cord was made. Then the animals were decompressed and treated with EA. The combined behavioral scores (CBS) were tested, and the expressions of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB on the section of the rat's spinal cord were examined with immunohistochemical method.Results90 days after injury, the CBS of EA group was significantly better than that of decompression group ( P<0.05) and the number of positive ChAT cells in ventral horn of spinal cord in EA group was more than that in decompression group (P<0.05). The expressions of BDNF and TrkB enhanced after injury were recovered in the EA group.ConclusionThe electro-acupuncture may be effect on chronic spinal cord injury in rats by influencing the expressions of BDNF and its receptor, and improvs the expression and activity of ChAT.

Experimental study of apoptosis in chronic compressive injury of the spinal cord / 中华创伤杂志

Objective　To explore the phenomenon of neural apoptosis after chronic compressive spinal cord injury. 　Methods　A newly designed chronic progressive compressive spinal cord injury model of rat was adopted in this study. Forty-five Wister rats were divided into mild, moderate, and severe group according to the compressive degree of the spinal cord. The Feulgen stain and TUNEL were used to investigate the apoptosis and its characteristics in different kinds of neural cells. 　 Results　Apoptosis index in moderate injury group was the highest. Apoptotic cells largely located in ventral, lateral and dorsal column of the white matter. Most of them were oligodendrocytes. Positive neuron occasionally presented in laminae Ⅲ～Ⅸ part of the sections. Most of them located in dorsal gray horn. 　Conclusions　 Apoptosis is an important event in secondary pathophysiological process of chronic progressive compressive spinal cord injury. Apoptosis is one of the reasons for neural cell death. The apoptosis of oligodendrocytos may contribute to myelin sheath disruption of white matter.