Clinical report of two dose fractionation modes using carbon ion beam therapy in the lymph node drainage area for lung cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To compare the adverse reactions, efficacy and survival rate of carbon ion beam irradiation in the elective lymph node (ENI) drainage area of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) with relative biological effect (RBE) dose of 48 Gy using 16 and 12 fractions.Methods:A total of 72 patients with pathologically confirmed LA-NSCLC admitted to Wuwei Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Tumor Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled and simple randomly divided into groups A and B, with 36 patients in each group. Patients in groups A and B were treated with carbon ion beam irradiation to the lymph node drainage area with 48 Gy (RBE) using 16 and 12 fractions. The acute and chronic adverse reactions, efficacy and survival rate were observed. The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method. Difference test was conducted by log-rank test.Results:The median follow-up time was 13.9 (8.8-15.7) months in group A and 14.6 (6.3-15.9) months in group B. Sixteen (44.4%) patients were effectively treated in group A and 9 (25%) patients in group B. Thirty-four (94.4%) cases achieved disease control in group A and 30 (83.3%) cases in group B. Statistical analysis showed that the overall survival rate in group B was similar to that in group A ( χ2=1.192, P=0.275). Comparison of planning parameters between two groups showed CTV volume, D mean, V 5 Gy(RBE), V 20 Gy(RBE) and V 30 Gy(RBE) of the affected lung, cardiac V 20 Gy(RBE), V 30 Gy(RBE) and D mean, esophageal V 30 Gy(RBE), V 50 Gy(RBE), D max and D mean, D max of the trachea and spinal cord had no significant difference (all P>0.05). No grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions occurred in the enrolled patients during treatment and follow-up. No statistical differences were observed in the acute radiation skin reaction ( χ2=5.134, P=0.077), radiation esophagitis ( χ2=1.984, P=0.371), and advanced radiation pneumonia ( χ2=6.185, P=0.103) between two groups. Conclusions:The two dose fractionation modes of carbon ion therapy system are equally safe in the mediastinal lymphatic drainage area of LA-NSCLC, and the adverse reactions are controllable. The long-term efficacy still needs further observation.

Vegetation restoration drives the dynamics and distribution of nitrogen and phosphorous pools in a temperate desert soil-plant system.

The role vegetation restoration and succession play in regulating Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) pools remains unexplored and poorly understood. To examine the effects of vegetation restoration and succession from a shifting sand dune to restored vegetation at different ages (23, 33, 50, and 58 years) on the dynamics and distribution of N and P pools in a soil-plant system, a comprehensive field investigation was conducted and N(P) concentrations and densities of soil, shrubs (including leaves, new branches, aging branches, and roots), and grass (including aboveground, roots, and litter) at each site were analyzed and quantified. We found that total N (TN) and total P (TP) density for the plant-soil system, in live shrub biomass as well as soil TN (STN) density in subsoil (10-100 cm), decreased between 23 and 50 years, and then increased from 50 to 58 years. STN and soil TP (STP) densities in topsoil (0-10 cm), and N and P densities of herbage and dead shrubs, continued to increase with restoration. N and P were primarily stored in soils and accounted for 89.83%-92.06% and 99.33%-99.48% of the TN and TP pools, respectively. In the first 23 years, live shrubs made up the second largest N and P pools, however, herbage made up the second largest N and P pools after 23 years. The ratios of N and P in herbage to TN and TP density increased from 3.71% to 6.31%, and 0.33%-0.43%, gradually approaching the native site (6.39% and 0.46%). The ratios of N and P in live shrubs to TN and TP density in the soil-plant system decreased from 4.55% to 1.08% and from 0.33% to 0.13%. Our results indicated that the restored ecosystem was a N(P) source from 0 to 50 (0-23) years, and a N(P) sink from 50 to 58 (23-58) years, with strong potential for accumulating more N (147.18 g m-2) and P (102.67 g m-2) to reach the natural site levels. These results suggest that vegetation restoration and succession may profoundly alter N and P geochemical cycles through N(P) redistribution in a temperate desert plant-soil system. Proper N and P addition at the initial stage of vegetation restoration may promote the recovery of desertified land.

Effect observation of conical stone needle on foot combined with bian anvil for insomnia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of conical atone needle on foot combined with Nan anvil at Yintang (CV 29) for insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy patients were randomly divided into a ibian technique group and an acupuncture group,35 cases in each one. In the Sian technique group, conical stone needle on foot combined with bias anvil at Yintang(GV 29) were used,and the therapy was applied at Yongquan(KI 1), Taichong(LR 3) and Gongsun(SP 4), etc. In the acupuncture group, common acupuncture was implemented at Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Sishencong(EX-HN 1), etc. In the two groups, treatment was given for 2 weeks,once a day. There were two days to have a rest between 5-time treatment. The change of Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) before and after treatment was recorded and the clinical effect was observed after 10-time treatment and in two weeks aftet treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment,the total scores of PSQI were declined significantly compared with those before treatment in the two groups(both P<0. 01). The total PSQI scores after treatment,the curative and effective rates and total effective rates when followed up bad no statistical significance(all P>0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Conical stone needle on foot combined with Sian anvil at Yintang(GV 29) treating insomnia is safe and effective,and this treatment acquires similar efficacy with less suffering.</p>

Effect of glycogen on calcium of donor liver during ischemia-reperfusion period / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of glycogen on calcium concentration of rabbit donor liver during ischemia-reperfusion period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Donor group (n=21) was divided into 3 subgroups randomly: Group A (n=7): fasting for 24 hours before harvesting; Group B (n=7): normal laboratory chew; Group C (n=7): normal laboratory chew plus glucose supplement intravenously. Based on the self-created animal model for ischemia-reperfusion, the levels of glycogen content, ATP level, viability of Ca(2+)ATPase and plasmic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) of liver tissue were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before cold preservation, there was a significant difference of glycogen content among the three groups at all time points except at the end of rewarming period. ATP level and Ca(2+)ATPase viability were significantly higher in group C than in other two groups. But the plasmic free Ca(2+) concentration was lower in groups with higher glycogen content.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Donor liver with high glycogen content can provide relatively sufficient ATP, maintain better Ca(2+)ATPase viability and prevent plasmic free Ca(2+) concentration overloading. This maybe an important mechanism for glycogen to ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury to the donor livers.</p>