ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the characteristics of plantar pressure of ankle joints at different limb laterality and different stress positions. Methods Twenty-three healthy subjects were recruited to perform walking trails. Each subject was tested for plantar pressure in ankle neutral position, ankle inversion and ankle eversion through simple custom-designed walkways and plantar pressure plate. The evaluation indices were peak pressure, contact area, contact time percentage, M/L (ratio of sum of medial plantar peak pressure to sum of lateral peak pressure), A/P (ratio of sum of toe peak pressure to heel peak pressure). Results The peak pressure of the first metatarsus bone in the dominant foot was significantly larger than that in the non-dominant foot, and the peak pressure of the fifth metatarsus bone was significantly smaller than that on the non-dominant foot. The M/L of dominant side was significantly larger than that of the non-dominant side. Except for the peak pressures of the mid-foot and the first toe, there were significant differences in other regions among the three ankle positions. The percentage of contact time in each area during inversion was greater than that in neutral position, and the percentage of contact time of plantar regions during eversion was longer than that in neutral position except the second toe. The M/L in inversion, neutral and eversion position were 1.24±0.46, 1.06±0.26, 0.88±0.25. The M/L of dominant foot was greater than that of the non-dominant foot, and the A/P during inversion and eversion was greater than that in neutral positions. Conclusions The stability of the dominant foot was better than that of the non-dominant foot. The standing stability decreased during inversion and eversion. During inversion, the body shifted inward and forward to maintain the stability. During eversion, the center of gravity shifted outward and forward to maintain the stability.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the impact of chemotherapy compliance on the therapeutic efficacy of induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy alone for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Based on intention to treat analysis (ITT) for 400 patients, 314 patients were analyzed by per protocol (PP) analysis. The patients were divided into induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (IC/CCRT, 127 patients) or induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy group (IC/RT, 187 patients). The patients who completed 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy and at least 2 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy in the IC/CCRT group and the patients who completed 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy in the IC/RT group were analyzed. Radiotherapy was given by two-dimensional technique with γ-ray, X-ray and electron beams. The chemotherapy regimen was FUDR plus carboplatin for induction chemotherapy and carboplatin alone for concurrent chemotherapy. Results The follow-up rate was 96.2%. 295 patients were followed to at 3 years. Based on PP analysis, Grade 3/4 toxicity was found in 23.6% of the patients in IC/CCRT group and 13.4% in the IC/RT group (χ~2 =5,50,P=0.019). No grade 4 toxicity was found in the IC/RT group. The median follow-up time was 3.9 years, and no significant difference was found between the two groups in 3-year overall survival (78.1% : 84.6% ;χ~2 = 0. 61, P =0. 435), disease-free survival (74.3 % : 70.1% ;χ~2= 0. 12, P= 0.731), Iocoregional relapse-free survival (89.7% : 89.5% ; χ~2= 0. 10, P= 0.748), or distant metastasis-free survival (78.9%:76.5% ;χ~2=0.05,P=0.825). Conclusions With more severe toxicities, the IC/CCRT regimen does not improve the overall survival in locally advanced NPC patients compared with the IC/RT regimen.