Thermoregulation of nutrient-restricted hair ewes subjected to heat stress during late pregnancy

In summers with severe hot environmental temperatures, thermoregulation is expected to be critical during the last third of gestation of hair ewes, and this effect can be overstated by suboptimal feeding conditions. Twenty-four multiparous hair sheep ewes with approximately 100 d of pregnancy were randomly assigned to two treatments to evaluate the effects of nutritional restriction (NR) during late gestation on some serum metabolites, physiological variables, and thyroid hormone concentrations under intense heat load (maximum temperature 42–45 °C). Treatments were as follows: (1) control, ewes fed free choice wheat straw plus a concentrate at a rate of 500 g/d, and (2) nutritionally-restricted (NR) ewes, which were offered wheat straw only ad libitum. Body weight of NR ewes dropped 5.1 kg (P<0.05), while control ewes gained 4.7 kg during the study period. Rectal temperature was not affected (P>0.05) by feeding regime either in the morning or afternoon hours. Respiration rate was greater (P<0.05) in control ewes (20 and 40 breaths/min higher in the day and night, respectively) on d 130 and 145 of pregnancy compared to NR ewes. Skin temperatures during the morning and afternoon were affected (P<0.05) by feeding regime at d 130 and 145 of pregnancy. In the morning, NR ewes presented greater (P<0.05) head and rump temperature at day 145 of gestation, and lower (P<0.05) udder temperatures at d 130 and 145 than control ewes. In the afternoon, skin temperatures of NR ewes were higher (P<0.05) in head and right flank on d 130 and 145 of pregnancy, and in udder at day 145 compared to control ewes. Serum glucose was higher (P<0.05) in NR ewes than control animals at day 145 of pregnancy. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and thyroid hormones were not affected by nutritional restriction. Overall, it was found that nutritionally restricted ewes were less affected by intense heat loads than well-fed ewes, apparently due to the lower metabolic heat produced by this underfed animals. Also, it was apparent that the lower respiration rate of NR ewes was compensated by a greater body surface temperature.     

腹腔镜直肠癌根治术围手术期的护理研究

目的:研究腹腔镜直肠癌根治术围手术期的护理.方法:本组研究的对象为我院2009年12月-2012年12月期间共收治的420例结肠癌患者,并随机将所有的患者分为两组,腹腔镜手术组与传统开腹手术组,每组分别由210例直肠癌患者组成,将两组患者的各项临床护理指标进行详细的观察与分析.结果:腹腔镜手术组与传统开腹手术组患者在手术之前的ASA评分、Dukes分.期以及手术时间等方面均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).然而,腹腔镜手术组患者无论在肛门排气时间、下床活动时间,还是住院时间等方面均少于传统开腹手术组患者(P＜0.05,),且术中的出血量以及术后的并发症也明显少于传统开腹手术组患者(P＜0.05).结论:对于直肠癌患者而言,进行腹腔镜手术治疗具有术后恢复快,住院时问短,并发症少等临床优点.而加强患者的围手术期心理护理,则保障临床治疗效果,促进患者康复的重要手段,值得推广与应用.     

Development of stapled short helical peptides capable of inhibiting vitamin D receptor (VDR)–coactivator interactions

We synthesized stapled helical leucine-based peptides (DPI-01-07) containing 2-aminoisobutyric acid and a covalent cross-linked unit as inhibitors of vitamin D receptor (VDR)–coactivator interactions. The effects of these peptides on the human VDR were examined in an inhibition assay based on the receptor cofactor assay system, and one of them, DPI-07, exhibited potent inhibitory activity (IC₅₀: 3.2 μM).     

Neoadjuvant oral vs. infusional chemoradiotherapy on locally advanced rectal cancer: Prognostic factors

Aim

To evaluate the prognostic factors and impact on survival of neoadjuvant oral and infusional chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background

There is still no definitive consensus about the prognostic factors and the impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on survival. Some studies have pointed to an improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with tumor downstaging (TD) and nodal downstaging (ND).

Materials and methods

A set of 159 patients with LARC were treated preoperatively. Group A – 112 patients underwent concomitant oral chemoradiotherapy: capecitabine or UFT + folinic acid. Group B – 47 patients submitted to concomitant chemoradiation with 5-FU in continuous infusion. 63.6% of patients were submitted to adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

Group A: pathologic complete response (pCR) – 18.7%; TD – 55.1%; ND – 76%; loco-regional response – 74.8%. Group B: pCR – 11.4%; TD – 50%; ND – 55.8%; LRR – 54.5%. The loco-regional control was 95.6%. There was no difference in survival between both groups. Those with loco-regional response had better PFS.

Conclusions

Tumor and nodal downstaging, loco-regional response and a normal CEA level turned out to be important prognostic factors in locally advanced rectal cancer. Nodal downstaging and loco-regional response were higher in Group A. Those with tumor downstaging and loco-regional response from Group A had better OS. Adjuvant chemotherapy had no impact on survival except in those patients with loco-regional response who achieved a higher PFS.     

3.0 T高分辨磁共振在直肠癌术前T N分期、环周切缘有无累及淋巴结转移的评估价值

摘要 目的：研究3.0 T高分辨磁共振（MRI）在直肠癌术前T N分期、环周切缘有无累及淋巴结转移的评估价值。方法：将我院从2018年1月～2019年12月收治的直肠癌患者120例纳入研究。所有患者均接受3.0 T高分辨MRI检查,以术后病理结果为金标准,分析其对术前T N分期、环周切缘有无累及淋巴结转移的评估价值。结果：直肠癌术前3.0 T高分辨MRI T分期与病理结果一致性较高,检验结果显示Kappa值=0.543,P值=0.000。直肠癌术前3.0 T高分辨MRI N分期与病理结果一致性较高,检验结果显示Kappa值=0.519,P值=0.000。以术后病理结果为金标准,直肠癌术前3.0 T高分辨MRI诊断环周切缘累及的灵敏度、特异度、准确度、阴性预测值、阳性预测值分别为92.50%（37/40）、93.75%（75/80）、93.33%（112/120）、96.15%（75/78）、88.10%（37/42）。直肠癌淋巴结转移者MRI边缘模糊、肠周围脂肪信号不均匀占比较无淋巴结转移者更高,且短径较无淋巴结转移者更长（均P＜0.05）。结论：3.0 T高分辨MRI在直肠癌术前T N分期、环周切缘有无累及淋巴结转移的评估价值较高,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

A comparative study of prostate PTV margins for patients using hydrogel spacer or rectal balloon in proton therapy

PurposeTo compare the planning target volume (PTV) margins needed for prostate patients who have used hydrogel spacer or rectal balloon during proton treatments.MethodTotal of 190 prostate patients treated with proton therapy during 2017 were selected for this study. Of these patients, 96 had hydrogel spacer injection and 94 patients had only rectal balloons insertion. All patients had implanted gold markers inside the prostate for daily target alignment. Post-treatment radigraphs were obtained to evaluate prostate intrafraction motion. The systematic and random components of patient setup residual error and prostate intrafraction motion error were obtained. PTV margins were calculated using the van Herk formula for both patient groups.ResultsFor setup residual error, the mean values in the superior-inferior (SI) direction and the variances in the left–right (LR) direction were statistically different between the two groups. For intrafraction motion, there were significant differences of the mean values in the SI direction and of the variances in both LR and anterior-posterior (AP) directions. The population PTV margins for hydrogel spacer group were 2.6 mm, 3.3 mm, and 1.6 mm in LR, SI, AP directions, respectively. For the rectal balloon group, the PTV margins were 2.1 mm, 3.1 mm, and 2.0 mm in LR, SI, AP directions, respectively.ConclusionStatistically significant differences were observed in the patient setup and prostate intrafraction motion errors of the two patient groups. However, under the current protocol of bladder preparation and daily marker-based x-ray image-guidance, population PTV margins were comparable between the two patient groups.     

胸腹腔镜联合食管癌切除术对食管癌患者肺功能、免疫功能的影响及颈部吻合口瘘的影响因素探讨

摘要 目的：探讨胸腹腔镜下进行食管癌切除术对患者肺功能、免疫功能的影响,并分析颈部吻合口瘘的影响因素。方法：选择2016年8月至2021年8月期间我院收治的130例食管癌患者,均成功实施胸腹腔镜联合食管癌切除术,观察手术前后肺功能、免疫功能的变化情况。观察130例患者术后颈部吻合口瘘发生率,采用多因素Logistic回归分析颈部吻合口瘘的影响因素。结果：术后7d,患者的第1s用力呼气量（FEV₁）、用力肺活量（FVC）、呼气流量峰值（PEF）较术前下降（P<0.05）。术后当天、术后7天,患者的CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺ /CD8⁺较术前下降后升高,CD8⁺较术前升高后下降（P<0.05）。130例患者术后有28例发生颈部吻合口瘘,发生率为21.54%。均为术后3~18 d内确诊为颈部吻合口瘘,按照是否发生颈部吻合口瘘将患者分为有吻合口瘘组（n=28）和无吻合口瘘组（n=102）。颈部吻合口瘘的发生与术前白蛋白、体质量指数（BMI）、糖尿病史、病变位置、吻合方式、手术时间、术中出血总量、重症呼吸室（ICU）时间、呼吸机使用时间、纤支镜吸痰次数、术后出现肺部感染、住院时间有关（P<0.05）。多因素Logisitic回归分析结果显示：术前白蛋白偏低、病变位置位于上段、术后出现肺部感染、糖尿病史、吻合方式为手工吻合、住院时间偏长是食管癌患者术后发生颈部吻合口瘘的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：胸腹腔镜联合食管癌切除术治疗食管癌患者,可有效减轻免疫抑制,但不可避免的会影响机体的肺功能,且颈部吻合口瘘的发生受到术前白蛋白、病变位置、术后出现肺部感染等多方面的影响,应着重关注此类患者,以防吻合口瘘的发生。     

Definitive,intensity modulated tomotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost for prostate cancer patients – Long term data on toxicity and biochemical control

AimTo report long-term data regarding biochemical control and late toxicity of simultaneous integrated boost intensity modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) with tomotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.BackgroundDose escalation improves cancer control after curative intended radiation therapy (RT) to patients with localized prostate cancer, without increasing toxicity, if IMRT is used.Materials and methodsIn this retrospective analysis, we evaluated long-term toxicity and biochemical control of the first 40 patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer receiving SIB-IMRT. Primary target volume (PTV) 1 including the prostate and proximal third of the seminal vesicles with safety margins was treated with 70 Gy in 35 fractions. PTV 2 containing the prostate with smaller safety margins was treated as SIB to a total dose of 76 Gy with 2.17 Gy per fraction. Toxicity was evaluated using an adapted CTCAE-Score (Version 3).ResultsMedian follow-up of living patients was 66 (20–78) months. No late genitourinary toxicity higher than grade 2 has been reported. Grade 2 genitourinary toxicity rates decreased from 58% at the end of the treatment to 10% at 60 months. Late gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was also moderate, though the prescribed PTV Dose of 76 Gy was accepted at the anterior rectal wall. 74% of patients reported any GI toxicity during follow up and no toxicity rates higher than grade 2 were observed. Grade 2 side effects were reported by 13% of the patients at 60 months. 5-year freedom from biochemical failure was 95% at our last follow up.ConclusionSIB-IMRT using daily MV-CT guidance showed excellent long-term biochemical control and low toxicity rates.     

In vivo dosimetry of the rectum in image-guided adaptive interstitial-intracavitary brachytherapy of cervix cancer – A feasibility study

Aim and backgroundTo investigate the feasibility of in vivo rectal dosimetry in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy of cervical cancer.Materials and methodsError of measurement of dose rate in a semiconductor diode probe was investigated depending on the distance and angle in water, and on temperature in a polymethyl methacrylate phantom using an Ir-192 source. Furthermore, the difference between the measured and calculated dose was analysed in the interstitial brachytherapy of 30 cervix cancer patients. The relationship between in vivo measured dose, calculated dose in the point of the diode, calculated maximal dose in the point of the diodes and calculated maximal dose of the rectum were examined.ResultsThe dosimeter measured with 85% accuracy at more than 5 cm from the source, but within a closer distance the accuracy decreased significantly. At 45–90° angle, the device measured with a 15% error. The error increased with the temperature, 22% at 35 °C. In 8 cases (26.7%) the maximal dose was measured in the correct diode. The device measured 73% of the calculated dose in the point of the diode. The maximum of the calculated doses of diodes was 60% of the calculated maximal dose. The in vivo measured dose was 35% of the calculated maximal dose.ConclusionsUnder treatment conditions, the semiconductor diode does not provide reliable measured data. The probe pushes the rectal wall closer to the high dose areas and underestimates the dose of it. Semiconductor probe is not recommended for in vivo dosimetry of the rectum in image-guided brachytherapy of cervical cancer.