The relationship of serum gastrin-17 and oral mucositis in head and neck carcinoma patients receiving radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of serum gastrin-17 (G-17) and oral mucositis in head and neck carcinoma (HNC) patients receiving radiotherapy. METHODS: Serum G-17 were detected in patients before and after radiotherapy. Patients were divided into high G-17 group (baseline serum G-17 ≥ 5pmol/L) and low G-17 group (baseline serum G-17 < 5pmol/L). The severity of oral mucositis was analyzed between the two groups. Other complications such as dysphagia, salivary gland, mandible, thyroid function, larynx, pain, and weight loss were also investigated. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were analyzed in this study. The level of serum G-17 had a significant decrease after radiotherapy (7.29 ± 5.70pmol/L versus 4.93 ± 4.46pmol/L, P = 0.038). In low serum G-17 group, the incidences of grade 0, 1-2 and 3-4 of oral mucositis were 0%, 30.4%, and 69.6%, respectively. In high serum G-17 group, the incidences of grade 0, 1-2 and 3-4 of oral mucositis were 0%, 63.2%, and 36.8%, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum G-17 was negatively correlated with oral mucositis (r=-0.595, P < 0.01). Weight loss of low G-17 group was more serious than that of high G-17 group. CONCLUSION: Serum G-17 has a close relationship with oral mucositis. Baseline serum G-17 may be a potential predictor for the severity of oral mucositis in HNC patients receiving radiotherapy.

[Research on the Angle and Effective Depth of Deep Acupuncture at Baliao Points by Three-dimensional Reconstruction of Computed Tomography].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the needle insertion parameters of deep acupuncture at Baliao points for clinic and teaching. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 100 cases of prone pelvic CT from January to June 2016 in Nanjing Hospital was carried out. The 3 D images were scanned with continuous 5 mm slice thickness. The optimum needle angle is defined as the angle of the needle along the central axis of sacral anterior and posterior hole, and the angle between the needle body and the skin surface and the center line of the body was observed. The effect needle depth is defined as the thickness of the sacral back soft tissue plus 1/2 sacral depth, to observe the best needle angle of deep acupuncture parameters of Baliao points. RESULTS: For deep acupuncture at Baliao, the oblique thorn method should be used with the needle-point toward the inner bottom. The best insertion angle between needle body and skin surface is: Shangliao(BL 31) (61.04±12.15)°ï¼Œ Ciliao(BL 32) (57.57±10.01)°ï¼Œ Zhongliao(BL 33) (58.25±8.69)°ï¼Œ Xialiao(BL 34) (54.39±10.94)°. The optimum angle of insertion between the needle body and the posterior midline of the human body is: BL 31 (24.54±6.21)°ï¼Œ BL 32 (18.58±7.76)°ï¼Œ BL 33 (17.36±7.90)°ï¼Œ BL 34 (30.73±9.45)°. The effective insertion depth show a decreasing trend: BL 31 (58.16±12.43) mm, BL 32 (44.57±11.55) mm, BL 33 (33.96±10.74) mm, BL 34 (31.13±10.94) mm. The effective depth is positively correlated with BMI, and has no correlation with gender and weight. CONCLUSIONS: The study of the parameters of needle insertion should be taken into account both clinical efficacy and safety, and CT three-dimensional reconstruction can accurately, rationally and scientifically perform acupoint anatomical measurements.