Anatomical parameters of the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle based on a new magnetic resonance scan method / Parámetros anatómicos del músculo recto posterior menor de la cabeza basado en un nuevo método de escaner con resonancia magnética

The past findings confirm that the Rectus Capitis Posterior minor (RCPmi) is connected to the cervical spinal dura mater via the Myodural Bridge (MDB) through the posterior antlanto-occipital interspace. It is hypothesized to perform some functions. Furthermore, some clinical studies found that the pathology of RCPmi might be related to chronic headaches. But few studies were related to the morphological parameters of the RCPmi. It would be conducive to performing clinical researches on the RCPmi and MDB. To explore the optimal section for measuring the RCPmi by MRI and provide imaging anatomy parameters of the RCPmi for clinical research. The RCPmi was measured in the dissection of 10 formalin-fixed cadaver specimens. The morphological parameters of the RCPmi were obtained. Based on these parameters, T2-weighted images of the RCPmi were collected from 109 healthy adults by using the MRIs with different oblique sagittal scanning angles. The parameters of length and area of the RCPmi on the scanning sections were measured using MRI workstation and Mimics software. The length of RCPmi reached a maximum at 30 degrees scanning leaned from the posterior median line through the dens of the axis in oblique sagittal section. At this scanning section, the length of RCPmi was 21.2 ± 2.6 mm in males and 19.3 ± 2.4 mm in females and the area of RCPmi was 91.9 ± 27.2 mm2 in males and 73.3 ± 22 mm2 in females. These parameters of RCPmi were present with significant gender differences (P < 0.05) but was not age related. Thirty degrees leaned from the median line was suggested to be the optimum scanning angle to display the RCPmi in oblique sagittal section. The reference values of length and area of the RCPmi were established for studies of hypertrophy or amyotrophy of the RCPmi.

Hallazgos previos confirman que el músculo rector posterior menor de la cabeza (mRPMC) está conectado a la duramadre cervical por medio del puente miodural (PMD) a través del espacio intermedio antlanto-occipital posterior. Se plantea la hipótesis de su capacidad para realizar algunas funciones. Además, estudios clínicos encontraron que la patología del mRPMC podría estar relacionada con dolores de cabeza crónicos. Sin embargo, pocos estudios se relacionaron con los parámetros morfológicos del mRPMC. Se buscará realizar investigaciones clínicas sobre el mRPMC y el PMD, además de explorar la sección óptima que permita medir el mRPMC por resonancia magnética (RM) y que permita obtener la imagen adecuada para la identificación de los parámetros anatómicos del mRPMC en la investigación clínica. Se midió el mRPMC durante la disección de 10 especímenes, correspondientes a cadáveres fijados con formalina. Se obtuvieron los parámetros morfológicos del mRPMC. Basándose en estos parámetros, se estudiaron imágenes ponderadas en T2 del mRPMC de 109 adultos sanos, utilizando las resonancias magnéticas con diferentes ángulos de exploración sagital oblicua. Los parámetros de longitud y área del mRPMC en las secciones de exploración se midieron utilizando la estación de trabajo del equipo de RM y el software Mimics. La longitud del mRPMC alcanzó un máximo de 30 grados de exploración, inclinado desde la línea mediana posterior, a través del eje en la sección sagital oblicua. En esta sección la longitud del mRPMC fue 21,2 ± 2,6 mm en los hombres y 19,3 ± 2,4 mm en las mujeres, y el área del mRPMC fue 91,9 ± 27,2 mm2 en los hombres y 73,3 ± 22 mm2 en las mujeres. Se observaron diferencias significativas de sexo en estos parámetros del mRPMC (P <0,05) sin embargo estos no estaban relacionados con la edad. Se sugirieron 30 grados inclinados a partir de la línea mediana como el ángulo óptimo de exploración para mostrar el mRPMC en la sección sagital oblicua. Los valores de referencia de longitud y área del mRPMC se establecieron para estudios de hipertrofia o amiotrofia del mRPMC.

Low dose of interferon-α improves the clinical outcomes of docetaxel in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer: A pilot study.

The aim of this study was to test whether a low dose of interferon-α-2b (IFN-α2b) enhances the clinical outcome of docetaxel (DXT) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). A prospective controlled trial of 40 CRPC patients receiving 5 mg of prednisone twice daily was conducted, where patients were randomly assigned to be administered 75 mg/m2 DXT plus 3 mIU/m2 IFN-α2b (group A, n=20) or 75 mg/m2 DXT alone (group B, n=20). The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. There was no statistically significant difference in PSA response rate between groups A and B (65 vs. 47.4%, P=0.341). The tumor response rate in group A was significantly greater compared with that in group B (55 vs. 21.1%, P=0.048). The median PFS was longer in group A compared with that in group B (10 vs. 8 months, P=0.043). There was no statistically significant difference in median OS between the two groups (19 vs. 17 months, P=0.348), but one patient displayed a complete tumor response in group A. In groups A and B, transient grade 3 to 4 neutropenia was observed in nine and six patients, grade 3 to 4 anemia was observed in three and five patients, and grade 3 to 4 general fatigue was observed in four and one patient(s), respectively. The proportion of patients with grade 3 to 4 toxicity was not statistically different between the two groups. A low dosage of IFN-α2b may improve the antitumor activity of DXT with an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with CRPC.