Role of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction on lower limb performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

AimTo verify whether arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction influence lower limb muscle strength and gait speed in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsCross-sectional study including seventy-eight older adults with T2DM (aged 67 ± 6 years and 42 % male). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV), while endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Lower limb muscle strength and gait speed were assessed using the 30-second chair stand test (30s-CST) and 10-Meter Walk Test, respectively.ResultsBoth PWV (m/s) and FMD (%) were univariately associated with number of repetitions in 30s-CST and gait speed (P < 0.05). After control for age, sex and body mass index, PWV remained associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: ?0.494 to ?0.054; P = 0.015) and gait speed (95 % CI: ?0.039 to ?0.002; P = 0.031). After adjustments for control variables, T2DM duration and glycemic control, FMD was associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: 0.008 to 0.324; P = 0.039) and gait speed (95 % CI: 0.011 to 0.038; P = 0.001).ConclusionIn older adults with T2DM, both arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with decreased leg muscle strength and slower gait speed.     

Effects of exogenous factors on spatial accuracy in neurosurgery

The study aimed to assess the effect of exogenous factors such as surgeon posture, surgical instrument length, fatigue after a night shift, exercise and caffeine consumption on the spatial accuracy of neurosurgical manipulations. For the evaluation and simulation of neurosurgical manipulations, a testing device developed by the authors was used. The experimental results were compared using nonparametric analysis (Wilcoxon test) and multivariate analysis, which was performed using mixed models. The results were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. The study included 11 first-year neurosurgery residents who met the inclusion criteria. Hand support in the sitting position (Wilcoxon test p value = 0.0033), caffeine consumption (p = 0.0058) and the length of the microsurgical instrument (p = 0.0032) had statistically significant influences on the spatial accuracy of surgical manipulations (univariate analysis). The spatial accuracy did not significantly depend on the type of standing position (Wilcoxon test p value = 0.2860), whether the surgeon was standing/sitting (p = 0.1029), fatigue following a night shift (p = 0.3281), or physical exertion prior to surgery (p = 0.2845).When conducting the multivariate analysis, the spatial accuracy significantly depended on the test subject (p < 0.0001), the use of support during the test (p = 0.0001), and the length of the microsurgical instrument (p = 0.0397). To increase the spatial accuracy of microsurgical manipulations, hand support and shorter tools should be used. Caffeine consumption in high doses should also be avoided prior to surgery.     

Tongue cancer treatment and oncological outcomes: The role of glossectomy classification

BackgroundNowadays surgery remains the gold standard of treatment for tongue cancer. Via a more clear and precise terminology, the glossectomy classification by Ansarin et al. facilitates shared communication between surgeons, allowing comparison between published research and improving surgical practice and patient care. To establish the association of glossectomies, according to their classification by Ansarin et al. with overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DSF), and cause-specific survival (CSS) in tongue cancer, we conducted a systemic retrospective study on 300 consecutive patients affected by primary oral tongue cancer and treated with surgery at the European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS (IEO).MethodsThree hundred patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma and treated at the Division of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of the European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS were cataloged according to the glossectomy classification. OS, DFS, and CSS were compared by surgical treatments.ResultsOS-5yrs was 80% for the type I glossectomy group, 75% for type II, 65% for type III, and 35% for type IV-V. DFS-5yrs was 74%, 60%, 55%, and 27%, respectively for I, II, III, and IV-V glossectomy group; CSS-5yrs was 82%, 80%, 72%, and 48%, respectively for I, II, III, and IV-V glossectomy group (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThis study confirmed that the application of the glossectomy classification was statistically correlated with patients' oncological outcomes.     

经皮微波消融联合经皮穿刺椎体成形术治疗腰椎转移瘤的疗效

目的 观察微波消融（microwave ablation，MWA）联合经皮穿刺椎体成形术（percutaneous vertebroplasty，PVP）治疗腰椎转移瘤的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析2016年6月至2019年6月广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院收治的50例腰椎转移瘤患者的临床资料，其中行经皮椎体成形术26例（PVP 组），经皮微波消融联合经皮椎体成形术24例（PVP+MWA组）。观察两组患者疼痛、功能状态以及骨水泥外渗情况和术后肿瘤复发率。结果 随访6～36个月，PVP组VAS评分从术前的（7.58±1.06） 分降至术后1个月的（3.27±1.40） 分和术后6个月的（3.08±1.60） 分；PVP+MWA组从术前的（7.67±1.05） 分降至术后1个月的（3.04±1.20） 分和术后6个月的（2.96±1.46） 分，两组术后 1个月及6个月的VAS评分低于术前（均P<0.05）,但重复测量方差显示，组间效应差异无统计学意义（F=0.223，P=0.801）。术后1个月，PVP组的KPS评分较术前提升（21.50±11.32） 分，PVP+MWA组较术前提升（19.92±13.19） 分，两者差异无统计学意义（t=0.457，P=0.650）。PVP+MWA 组的骨水泥外渗率（12.5% vs 38.5%，P=0.037）和肿瘤复发率（8.3% vs 30.8%，P=0.048）均低于PVP 组。结论 经皮穿刺椎体成形术单独或联合微波消融治疗腰椎转移瘤均可取得较好临床疗效，两者联合在减少骨水泥外渗及局部肿瘤控制中更有优势。      

Aflibercept in Combination With FOLFIRI as First-line Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC): A Phase II Study (FFCD 1302)

BackgroundFOLFIRI (irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin) + aflibercept improves median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Our aim was to investigate efficacy and tolerability of this combination in the first line.Patients and MethodsPatients with untreated documented mCRC received aflibercept plus FOLFIRI every 14 days until progression or unacceptable toxicity in an open, phase II single-arm, multicenter trial. The primary endpoint was the 6-month PFS rate. Secondary endpoints were OS and tolerability. A 2-step Simon design was used with H₀: 55% and H₁= 75%. Data were analyzed in intention to treat.ResultsForty-one patients were included, and 40 were analyzed (1 consent withdrawal) in 9 French centers between October 2014 and February 2017. The median age was 65 years (range, 46-81 years), 55% had ≥ 2 metastatic sites, and 50% and 15% had RAS and BRAF mutations, respectively. Twenty-two (54.5%; 95% confidence interval, 38.9%-68.5%) patients were alive and non-progressive at 6 months. FOLFIRI + aflibercept was considered ineffective, resulting in the cessation of inclusions. The median follow-up was 34 months. The overall response rate was 55%, and the disease control rate was 80%. The median duration of treatment was 5.3 months; the median PFS and OS were 8.2 and 18.6 months, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 adverse events were mainly gastrointestinal (47.5%) and vascular (32.5%). Of the patients, 87.5% had at least 1 dose modification.ConclusionAlthough the primary objective was not met, first-line FOLFIRI + aflibercept for mCRC leads to median PFS and OS close to those reported with classical doublet and targeted agents, but with significant toxicities needing dose reduction.     

低剂量γ射线全身照射对猴免疫功能的影响

目的　探索大动物低剂量全身照射的适宜剂量 ,以便评价低剂量全身照射应用于临床的可能性。方法　食蟹猴 32只随机分为 4组 ,用γ射线 (吸收剂量率为 0 175mGy min)分别照射0、30、5 0和 75mGy。分别在环磷酰胺处理前、后 ,亦即照射前和照射后 1、2、8、33和 5 0周检测淋巴细胞亚群、免疫球蛋白及自然肿瘤红细胞花环试验 (NTERT)。结果　结果显示白细胞释放细胞因子尤其是CD1 6 参与免疫调控 ,出现时间 剂量的反应 ;体液免疫中以IgA升高为特征 ,照射后第 8周 5 0和75mGy 2个剂量组与对照组相比差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ;NTERT结果显示 ,在照射后第 2周 ,第 1、2、3组分别与第 4组相比差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但第 1组分别与第 2、3组相比差异无显著性。结论　γ射线单次低剂量全身照射对免疫功能低下模型的食蟹猴红、白细胞免疫功能有增强其免疫功能的作用。     

Advances in the use of natural receptor- or ligand-based chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) in haematologic malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T cell therapy has recently made promising advances towards treatment of B-cell malignancies. This approach makes use of an antibody-derived single chain variable fragment (scFv)-based CAR to target the CD19 antigen. Currently scFvs are the most common strategy for creation of CARs, but tumor cells can also be targeted using non-antibody based approaches with designs focused on the interaction between natural receptors and their ligands. This emerging strategy has been used in unique ways to target multiple tumor types, including solid and haematological malignancies. In this review, we will highlight the performance of receptor-ligand combinations as designs for CARs to treat cancer, with a particular focus on haematologic malignancies.