Preparation of FA-targeted magnetic nanocomposites co-loading TFPI-2 plasmid and cis-platinum and its targeted therapy effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The majority of patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) present with advanced-stage disease. The main treatment for these patients is concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which has various side effects. To improve the therapeutic effects and reduce the side effects of NPC chemoradiotherapy, we constructed a multifunctional folic acid (FA)-targeted magnetic nanocomposite codelivering tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) and cisplatin (CDDP). This novel nanocomposite (FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2) was obtained by amidation and electrostatic adsorption between FA-methoxypolyethylene glycol-polyethyleneimine (FA-MPEG-PEI) containing the TFPI-2 plasmid and magnetic nanoparticles modified by aldehyde sodium alginate loaded with CDDP. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the size of the individual magnetite particle core was approximately 11.5 nm. The structure and composition of the nanocomposites were identified and examined by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. The fluorescence analysis, Prussian blue iron staining, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and whole-body fluorescence imaging results demonstrated that FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 showed high gene transfection efficiency and could target tumor cells via folate receptor (FR)-mediated delivery. The codelivery analysis showed that the obtained FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 composite could cause significantly more apoptosis than treatment with CDDP or TFPI-2 alone. The results showed that the FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 composites were successfully synthesized and indicated to be a specific molecular target for the FR with significant inhibitory effects on the growth of HNE-1 cells.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of TRAF2 and TRAF5 gene in ankylosing spondylitis: a case–control study

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Objective To investigate the role of eight locus polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF5 gene and their...     

Induced regulatory T cells suppress Tc1 cells through TGF-β signaling to ameliorate STZ-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing pancreatic β cells. In addition to well-established pathogenic effector T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have also been shown to be defective in T1D. Thus, an increasing number of therapeutic approaches are being developed to target Tregs. However, the role and mechanisms of TGF-β-induced Tregs (iTregs) in T1D remain poorly understood. Here, using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced preclinical T1D mouse model, we found that iTregs could ameliorate the development of T1D and preserve β cell function. The preventive effect was associated with the inhibition of type 1 cytotoxic T (Tc1) cell function and rebalancing the Treg/Tc1 cell ratio in recipients. Furthermore, we showed that the underlying mechanisms were due to the TGF-β-mediated combinatorial actions of mTOR and TCF1. In addition to the preventive role, the therapeutic effects of iTregs on the established STZ-T1D and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse models were tested, which revealed improved β cell function. Our findings therefore provide key new insights into the basic mechanisms involved in the therapeutic role of iTregs in T1D.     

Effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients

The aim of the study was to explore the effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients. All patients were divided into Group A and Group B based on different interventions (Group A: acupuncture + conventional rehabilitation, Group B: conventional rehabilitation alone). Acupuncture was conducted once a day, five times a week for 8 weeks, and rehabilitation (including physical therapy and occupational therapy) was conducted for 2 hr per session, once a day, five times a week for 8 weeks. Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) were used to assess the motor and cognitive functions at baseline and the end of 8 weeks. After the intervention, FMA and MMSE scores were improved significantly in the two groups (p <.05), compared with the scores prior to intervention. After 8 weeks of intervention, a statistically significant difference in the FMA and MMSE scores was observed between the Group A and the Group B. The results suggested that the combined intervention is more effective than the conventional rehabilitation alone in improving cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients.     

Potential role of imaging for assessing acute pancreatitis-induced acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of acute pancreatitis (AP) that is associated with increased mortality. Conventional assessment of AKI is based on changes in serum creatinine concentration and urinary output. However, these examinations have limited accuracy and sensitivity for the diagnosis of early-stage AKI. This review summarizes current evidence on the use of advanced imaging approaches and artificial intelligence (AI) for the early prediction and diagnosis of AKI in patients with AP. CT scores, CT post-processing technology, Doppler ultrasound, and AI technology provide increasingly valuable information for the diagnosis of AP-induced AKI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also has potential for the evaluation of AP-induced AKI. For the accurate diagnosis of early-stage AP-induced AKI, more studies are needed that use these new techniques and that use AI in combination with advanced imaging technologies.     

淋巴结转移率对Ⅲ期胃癌术后辅助放疗疗效的评估作用

目的 探讨淋巴结转移率（MLR）对淋巴结清扫不超15枚的Ⅲ期胃癌患者（不含食管胃结合部癌）接受术后辅助放疗疗效的评估作用。方法 严格按照纳入与排除标准,从美国SEER癌症数据库中纳入2010—2016年确诊的淋巴结清扫不超15枚的Ⅲ期非食管胃结合部胃癌患者590例,其中,接受胃癌手术联合辅助化疗的患者291例（手术+化疗组）,接受胃癌手术联合辅助放化疗的患者299例（手术+放化疗组）,对两组患者采用1 ∶1倾向得分匹配（PSM）,回顾性分析MLR对淋巴结清扫不超15枚的Ⅲ期胃癌患者预后影响,并评估不同MLR患者选择术后辅助放疗的意义。结果 根据受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）的分析结果,将0.5定为MLR的截点值。在纳入研究的两组Ⅲ期胃癌患者中,手术+放化疗组中位生存期为23个月,1、3、5年的总生存（OS）率分别为77.1%、33.2%和22.8%。手术+化疗组中位生存期为21个月,1、3、5年的OS率分别为72.2%、33.6%和23.1%,但两组患者的OS差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。亚组分析发现,MLR≤0.5患者中手术+放化疗组与手术+化疗组的OS差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）,而MLR>0.5患者中手术+放化疗组的OS明显优于手术+化疗组（χ²=8.542,P < 0.05）。PSM前多因素Cox回归分析显示,种族、T、N分期、MLR和辅助放疗是影响淋巴结清扫不超15枚的Ⅲ期胃癌患者OS的重要因素（Wald=8.544、7.547、10.925、18.047、10.715,P < 0.05）。两组Ⅲ期胃癌患者经PSM后分析发现,手术+放化疗组和手术+化疗组的OS差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）,其中MLR≤0.5患者中手术+放化疗组与手术+化疗组的OS差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）,MLR>0.5患者中手术+放化疗组的OS明显优于手术+化疗组（χ²=6.944,P < 0.05）。PSM后多因素Cox回归分析显示,种族、T、N分期、MLR和辅助放疗是影响淋巴结清扫不超15枚的Ⅲ期胃癌患者OS的重要因素（Wald=7.154、8.023、7.744、17.016、4.149,P < 0.05）。两组Ⅲ期胃癌患者PSM前后的预后分析结果相符。结论 MLR是淋巴结清扫不超15枚的Ⅲ期胃癌术后患者预后的重要影响因素。MLR≤0.5患者的OS未见从术后辅助放疗中获益,而MLR > 0.5患者则建议接受术后辅助放疗以期改善预后。     

三维可视化引导放疗摆位系统的研发及临床应用

目的 开发一种三维可视化技术辅助放疗患者摆位,并对比分析其在乳腺和盆腔放疗中与传统摆位方法的差异。方法 选取2020年6月至2021年4月常州第二人民医院40例放疗患者作为研究对象,其中乳腺、盆腔患者各20例。利用患者定位CT数据进行三维可视化重建,并将三维可视化模型与真实治疗环境融合,通过交互操作使得三维可视化模型位于加速器等中心点,并以此为依据进行实际患者的摆位。每例患者每周先进行传统摆位、再进行三维可视化引导放疗摆位,分3周采集,所有患者共240次摆位数据,以锥形束CT （CBCT）引导的摆位作为金标准进行比较。结果 乳腺患者和盆腔患者三维可视化引导摆位x、y、z轴摆位误差绝对值后分别为（1.92±1.23）、（2.04±1.16）、（1.77±1.37） mm和（2.07±1.08）、（1.33±0.88）、（1.99±1.25） mm,各轴精度较传统摆位分别提高了38.83%、52.40%、33%和36.84%、54.04%、52.58%,y、z轴上的差异具有统计学意义（t=2.956~5.734,P<0.05）。同时,对于乳腺患者,两种摆位方法y方向误差分布具有统计学意义（χ²=7.481,P<0.05）,对于盆腔患者,两种摆位方法在各轴的误差分布差异均有统计学意义（χ²=5.900、6.415、7.200,P<0.05）。结论 三维可视化技术引导放疗摆位方法有效提高了乳腺和盆腔患者的摆位精度,具有潜在的临床应用价值。     

基于三维预测剂量的自调节调强放疗自动计划方法

目的 开发一种基于预测剂量的自调节调强放射治疗自动计划方法,以增强自动计划的鲁棒性。方法 利用3D U-Res-Net_B网络预测出三维剂量分布后,在直接子野优化的每次迭代中先基于上次迭代结果计算当前剂量,再联合预测剂量计算目标剂量,然后以此为目标进行优化。完成所有迭代或满足循环退出条件后,得到最终的治疗计划。在30例直肠癌病例上进行测试,验证算法的效果。结果 临床计划治疗靶区的V_100%均值和标准差为（95.03±0.91）%,自动计划为（94.67±1.96）%,接近临床值（P>0.05）,而预测值为（92.90±2.13）%,与临床计划的差异具有统计学意义（t=29.0,P<0.05）;自动计划在小肠V₃₅、膀胱V₄₀、股骨头的V₂₀~V₄₀等多项指标上低于预测值和临床值,且差异具有统计学意义（t=4.5~118.0,P<0.05）,在其他危及器官的指标上与临床值的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 本方法增强了自动计划的鲁棒性,提高了其应对复杂情况的能力。     

水中总α放射性测量的制源厚度及效率校准研究

目的 研究制源厚度及效率校准对水中总α放射性测量结果的影响。方法 分别采用²⁴¹Am和天然铀标准溶液加入水样制备样品源、²⁴¹Am标准物质粉末直接铺样制备标准源,研究质量厚度与探测效率的关系、质量厚度对样品源净计数率的影响、有效厚度的测定以及有效厚度法和厚源法对同一水样测量结果的影响。结果 在水样中分别加入²⁴¹Am和天然铀标准溶液测得水样的有效厚度均与经验值4 mg/cm²基本一致;水样的α计数率在质量厚度为2A~5A mg/cm²时近似处于线性增长趋势,>10A mg/cm²时计数率基本平稳不再增加（A为样品盘面积,cm²）;分别采用有效厚度法和厚源法测量同一水样的总α放射性,铺样在质量厚度为10A mg/cm²时,两种方法的结果最一致。结论 在分析水样总α放射性时,为减少因样品源质量厚度不同引起的总α计数率偏差、因标准源质量厚度不同所致的探测效率偏差,铺样厚度均选择为10A mg/cm²较为合理。     

Decreased cortical thickness of left premotor cortex as a treatment predictor in major depressive disorder

Brain Imaging and Behavior - This study aimed to examine the cerebral cortex characteristics (thickness, surface area, and curvature) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and explore...