All-IP wireless sensor networks for real-time patient monitoring

AbstractThis paper proposes the all-IP WSNs (wireless sensor networks) for real-time patient monitoring. In this paper, the all-IP WSN architecture based on gateway trees is proposed and the hierarchical address structure is presented. Based on this architecture, the all-IP WSN can perform routing without route discovery. Moreover, a mobile node is always identified by a home address and it does not need to be configured with a care-of address during the mobility process, so the communication disruption caused by the address change is avoided. Through the proposed scheme, a physician can monitor the vital signs of a patient at any time and at any places, and according to the IPv6 address he can also obtain the location information of the patient in order to perform effective and timely treatment. Finally, the proposed scheme is evaluated based on the simulation, and the simulation data indicate that the proposed scheme might effectively reduce the communication delay and control cost, and lower the packet loss rate

Gene therapy with tumor-specific promoter mediated suicide gene plus IL-12 gene enhanced tumor inhibition and prolonged host survival in a murine model of Lewis lung carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach for cancer. Targeted expression of desired therapeutic proteins within the tumor is the best approach to reduce toxicity and improve survival. This study is to establish a more effective and less toxic gene therapy of cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Combined gene therapy strategy with recombinant adenovirus expressing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) mediated by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter (AdhTERTHRP) and murine interleukin-12 (mIL-12) under the control of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (AdCMVmIL-12) was developed and evaluated against Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) both <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro</it>. The mechanism of action and systemic toxicities were also investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The combination of AdhTERTHRP/indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) treatment and AdCMVmIL-12 resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition and survival improvement compared with AdhTERTHRP/IAA alone (tumor volume, 427.4 ± 48.7 mm³<it>vs </it>581.9 ± 46.9 mm³, <it>p </it>= 0.005 on day 15; median overall survival (OS), 51 d <it>vs </it>33 d) or AdCMVmIL-12 alone (tumor volume, 362.2 ± 33.8 mm³<it>vs </it>494.4 ± 70.2 mm³, <it>p </it>= 0.046 on day 12; median OS, 51 d <it>vs </it>36 d). The combination treatment stimulated more CD4⁺and CD8⁺T lymphocyte infiltration in tumors, compared with either AdCMVmIL-12 alone (1.3-fold increase for CD4⁺T cells and 1.2-fold increase for CD8⁺T cells, <it>P </it>< 0.01) or AdhTERTHRP alone (2.1-fold increase for CD4⁺T cells and 2.2-fold increase for CD8⁺T cells, <it>P </it>< 0.01). The apoptotic cells in combination group were significantly increased in comparison with AdCMVmIL-12 alone group (2.8-fold increase, <it>P </it>< 0.01) or AdhTERTHRP alone group (1.6-fold increase, <it>P </it>< 0.01). No significant systematic toxicities were observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Combination gene therapy with AdhTERTHRP/IAA and AdCMVmIL-12 could significantly inhibit tumor growth and improve host survival in LLC model, without significant systemic adverse effects.</p

Protective Role of Nuclear Factor-Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury and Inflammation

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is one of the most common and fatal complications of thoracic radiotherapy. Inflammatory cell infiltration, imbalance of inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative damage were reported to be involved during RILI pathogenesis, especially in the early phase of RILI. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcriptional regulator of antioxidative cascades, and regulates life span of mice after administration of thoracic irradiation. We investigated the effects of Nrf2 on RILI and inflammation using Nrf2-knockout, Nrf2-overexpression and wild-type mice with or without 15 Gy ionizing radiation to thorax. Our results showed that Nrf2 deficiency aggravated radiation-induced histopathological changes, macrophage and neutrophil infiltration, serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1, IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-12p70), and the levels of peroxidation products in the mouse lung. Moreover, loss of Nrf2 reduced radiation-induced serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and antioxidative proteins. Nrf2 overexpression significantly alleviated radiation-induced histopathological changes, macrophages and neutrophils infiltration, serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the levels of peroxidation products in lung tissues. Nrf2 overexpression also increased the serum levels of IL-10 and antioxidative proteins. These results indicated that Nrf2 had a protective role against radiation-induced acute lung injury and inflammation, and that antioxidative therapy might be a promising treatment for RILI

The interaction between different types of activated RAW 264.7 cells and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Two major ways of macrophage (MΦ) activation can occur in radiation-induced pulmonary injury (RPI): classical and alternative MΦ activation, which play important roles in the pathogenesis of RPI. MΦ can produce chemokine MΦ inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), while MIP-1α can recruit MΦ. The difference in the chemotactic ability of MIP-1α toward distinct activated MΦ is unclear. We speculated that there has been important interaction of MIP-1α with different activated MΦ, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of RPI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Classically and alternatively activated MΦ were produced by stimulating murine MΦ cell line RAW 264.7 cells with three different stimuli (LPS, IL-4 and IL-13); Then we used recombinant MIP-1α to attract two types of activated MΦ. In addition, we measured the ability of two types of activated MΦ to produce MIP-1α at the protein or mRNA level.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Chemotactic ability of recombinant MIP-1α toward IL-13-treated MΦ was the strongest, was moderate for IL-4-treated MΦ, and was weakest for LPS-stimulated MΦ (p < 0.01). The ability of LPS-stimulated MΦ to secrete MIP-1α was significantly stronger than that of IL-4-treated or IL-13-treated MΦ (p < 0.01). The ability of LPS-stimulated MΦ to express MIP-1α mRNA also was stronger than that of IL-4- or IL-13-stimulated MΦ (p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The chemotactic ability of MIP-1α toward alternatively activated MΦ (M2) was significantly greater than that for classically activated MΦ (M1). Meanwhile, both at the mRNA and protein level, the capacity of M1 to produce MIP-1α is better than that of M2. Thus, chemokine MIP-1α may play an important role in modulating the transition from radiation pneumonitis to pulmonary fibrosis <it>in vivo</it>, through the different chemotactic affinity for M1 and M2.</p

Survival benefit of adding chemotherapy to intensity modulated radiation in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND:To evaluate the contribution of chemotherapy for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated by intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and to identify the optimal combination treatment strategy. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Between 2006 and 2010, 276 patients with stage II-IVb NPC were treated by IMRT alone or IMRT plus chemotherapy. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy included neoadjuvant or concurrent, or neoadjuvant plus concurrent protocols. The IMRT alone and chemoradiotherapy groups were well-matched for prognostic factors, except N stage, with more advanced NPC in the chemoradiotherapy arm. RESULTS:With a mean follow-up of 33.8 months, the 3-year actuarial rates of overall survival (OS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were 90.3%, 84.2%, 80.3%, and 69.2% for all of the patients, respectively. Compared with the IMRT alone arm, patients treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy had a significantly better DFS (HR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.12-6.22; P = 0.03), patients with neoadjuvant-concurrent chemoradiotherapy had a significant improvement in RFS and DFS (HR = 4.03; 95% CI, 1.35-12.05; P = 0.01 and HR = 2.43; 95% CI, 1.09-5.44; P = 0.03), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy provided no significant benefit in OS, MFS, RFS, and DFS. Stage group and alcohol consumption were prognostic factors for OS and N stage was a significant predictor for DFS. CONCLUSIONS:Addition of concurrent or neoadjuvant-concurrent chemotherapy to IMRT is available to prolong RFS or DFS for locoregionally advanced NPC. Such work could be helpful to guide effective individualized therapy