Feasibility of core cervical muscle group exercises and massage in the improvement of cervical spine curvature changes during radiotherapy for head and neck neoplasms / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective:To investigate the role of cervical core muscle group exercise and massage in the change of cervical spine curvature during radiotherapy for head and neck tumors and the effect on set-up errors.Methods:A total of 40 patients with head and neck tumours receiving radiotherapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from March 2020 to July 2021 were prospectively selected, and all of them underwent different degrees of changes in cervical spine curvature during radiotherapy. The cervical core muscle exercise and manual massage were used to do treatment intervention on the change in the cervical spine curvature. Changes in cervical spine curvature at the time of the curvature change of the cervical spine and at 1 d, 3 d and 5 d after the intervention were observed by using cone beam CT, and then data were recorded in 3 dimensions. The set-up error when cervical spine curvature changed was compared with that after the muscle group exercise and manipulation, and Pearson was used to analyze the linear correlation of set-up errors in each direction.Results:There were 23 males and 17 females, with a median age of 41 years (26-62 years). The significant improvement of cervical curvature at 1 d, 3 d and 5 d after the intervention could be found in 2 cases (5.0%), 20 cases (50.0%) and 39 cases (97.5%). Using the cervical 4 vertebrae as the matching standard, the set-up errors at the time of change in cervical spine curvature and at 1 d, 3 d and 5 d after treatment were (1.3±0.9) mm, (1.2±0.8) mm, (1.3±0.7) mm and (1.3±0.7) mm in the left-right direction respectively; (2.0±0.7) mm, (1.7±0.8) mm, (1.8±0.7) mm and (1.9±0.8) mm in the head-foot direction respectively; (4.9±0.7) mm, (4.6±0.7) mm, (3.4±0.7) mm, (1.7±0.6) mm in the anterior-posterior direction respectively. The set-up error in the anterior-posterior directions at 3 d and 5 d after treatment intervention was lower than that at the time of change in cervical spine curvature and at 1 d after treatment intervention (all P < 0.01), and that at 5 d after treatment intervention was lower than that at 3 d after treatment intervention ( P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the left-right direction and head-foot direction at each time point (all P > 0.05). There was no correlation between left-right direction and head-foot direction ( r = 0.049, P = 0.540), between left-right direction and anterior-posterior direction ( r = 0.041, P = 0.607), and between head-foot direction and anterior-posterior direction ( r = 0.003, P = 0.931) in terms of set-up errors. Conclusions:Core cervical muscle group training and massage could improve the change in cervical spine curvature, increase the repeatability of the set-up, which provides a favourable guarantee for accurate treatment.

Genome-Wide analysis of aluminum-activated malate transporter family genes in six rosaceae species, and expression analysis and functional characterization on malate accumulation in Chinese white pear.

Aluminum-activated malate transporters (ALMTs) exhibit a variety of physiological roles in plants to regulate fruit quality, but the evolutionary history of the ALMT family in the Rosaceae species remains unknown. In this study, a total of 113 ALMT homologous genes were identified from six Rosaceae species (Pyrus bretschneideri, Malus × domestica, Prunus persica, Fragaria vesca, Prunus mume, and Pyrus communis), and 27 of these sequences came from Chinese white pear, designated PbrALMT. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, we divided these ALMT genes into three main clusters (A-C). Conserved domain analysis indicated that all PbrALMT proteins contained the ALMT domain and the FUSC_2 domain, and fewer proteins included the FUSC domain. The results of subcellular localization experiments showed that parts of PbrALMT proteins containing the FUSC domain were located in the membrane. Collinearity analysis revealed that segmental and dispersed duplications were the primary forces underlying ALMT gene family expansion in the Rosaceae. Calculation of Ka/Ks between the paralogous pairs indicated that all of the genes in the PbrALMT family have evolved under negative selection. Combining the changes of malate content and transcriptome data analysis, five genes belonging to Cluster B were chosen for qRT-PCR, and the results revealed that Pbr020270.1, as a candidate gene, may play important roles in malate accumulation during pear fruit development. Further transgenic assay confirmed the above conclusion. The present study provides a foundation to better understand the molecular evolution of ALMT genes in pear and the functional characterization of these genes in the future.

Investigating bone chip formation in craniotomy.

In a craniotomy, the milling cutter is one of the most important cutting tools. The operating performance, tool durability and cutting damage to patients are influenced by the tool's sharpness, intensity and structure, whereas the cutting characteristics rely on interactions between the tool and the skull. In this study, an orthogonal cutting experiment during a craniotomy of fresh pig skulls was performed to investigate chip formation on the side cutting and face cutting of the skull using a high-speed camera. The cutting forces with different combinations of cutting parameters, such as the rake angle, clearance angle, depth of cut and cutting speed, were measured. The skull bone microstructure and cutting damage were observed by scanning electron microscope. Cutting models for different cutting approaches and various depths of cut were constructed and analyzed. The study demonstrated that the effects of shearing, tension and extrusion occur during chip formation. Various chip types, such as unit chips, splintering chips and continuous chips, were generated. Continuous pieces of chips, which are advisable for easy removal from the field of operation, were formed at greater depths of cut and tool rake angles greater than 10°. Cutting damage could be relieved with a faster recovery with clearance angles greater than 20°.

The economic effects of rural residents' health in China: Empirical analysis based on endogeneity / 中国卫生政策研究

As a sort of human capital, health is a concrete manifestation of human productivity.At home and abroad, there are many empirical studies focusing on the economic effects of health that have been conducted, but the research methods have not paid enough attention to the endogeneity of health in those studies.This paper evaluates the effects of health on the income of rural residents in China with the micro panel data from China Health and Nutrition Survey.To get reliable results, the paper controls the endogenity of health by using simultaneous equation model and solves the parameters by using the three-stage least squares method.The study found that health has significantly positive effects on the income of rural residents in China, a conclusion which is in conformity with the economic effects of health.To improve the health of rural residents and fully implement the economic effects of health, the study recommends the government to put more efforts on promoting healthcare services, health-related education, and improving the living standards of rural residents in China.

Clinical observation after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in type 2 diabetes mellitus / 实用医学杂志

Objective To observe multiple metabolic changes within one year after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate the index of the gastric bypass surgery and the determination of applicable population. Methods The clinical and laboratory data before and after surgery in 112 patients diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus by RYGB were included in this study. According to BMI, these patients were divided into two groups: normal group (≤ 25kg/m2), and the overweight group (> 25 kg/m2). The physiologic and biochemical indexes of the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, respectively. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS17.0 software. Results Compared with the preoperative period, the levels of HbA1c and HOMA-IR in the postoperative period were significantly increased in the two groups. Principal component analysis showed that the postoperatively contributions of BMI and HbA1c in 6 months was bigger than that of the other indexes, while HOMA-β, HOMA-IR had larger contributions after 6-month postoperative period. Conclusion Various metabolic indexes in patients with type 2 diabetes improve significantly within one year after surgery, and the complete remission rate is gradually increased. The indexes including weight, blood glucose, serum lipids, HOMA-βand HOMA-IR in overweight and obese group have more significant improvements than those in normal group. Obese patients are more appropriate for the surgical treatment. The indexes, such as BMI, HbA1c,HOMA-βand HOMA-IR, should help to evaluate the operating effectiveness and preoperative indications.

Study on the effects of mM-CSF in the functional polarization of macrophages / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory/immune modulatory effects of high-expressing membrane bound M-CSF-hematopoietic malignant cells on macrophages. Methods After coculturing RAW264.7 and murine macrophage cell line with Namalwa-M, a cell line stably expressing mM-CSF, and companing with Nainalwa-V, a cell line stably transfected with the empty vector as the control, flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of the marker of alternatively activated macrophages, CD206, and intracellular expression of IL-10, IL-12, IL-6 and TNF-α to study the immunophenotype of RAW264.7; phagocytic assays to investigate their functional activity in vitro. Results RAW264.7 cocultured with Namalwa-M consistently showed high-level expression of CD206, which indicated activities of these macrophage cells were increased. Furthermore, these RAW264.7 expressing high levels of IL-10, TNF-a and low levels of IL-12, IL-6, as determined by intracellular staining were suggested that the phagocytic activity was increased. Functionally, RAW264.7 cocultured with Namalwa-M showed a higher level of phagocytic activity. Conclusion Macrophage generated in vitro after cocultured with mM-CSF-expressing hematopoietic malignant cell line could be transformed into abnormal macrophage with an immunophenotype defined as IL-10-high, IL-12-low, IL-6-low and TNF-α-high.