Growth of the Social #RadOnc Network on Twitter

PurposeTwitter is an increasingly popular social media platform within the health care community. The objective of this analysis is to characterize the profile of radiation oncology–related tweets and Twitter users over the past 6 years.Methods and MaterialsUsing the web-based social media analytics platform Symplur Signals, we filtered tweets containing at least 1 of the following hashtags or key words: #radonc, #radiationoncology, "rad onc," or "radiation oncology." We evaluated radiation oncology–related Twitter activity between October 2014 and March 2020 for tweet frequency, tweet content, and individuals or groups posting tweets. We identified the most influential Twitter users contributing to radiation oncology–related tweets.ResultsFrom 2014 to 2020, the quarterly volume of radiation oncology–related tweets increased from 5027 to 29,763. Physicians contributed the largest growth in tweet volume. Academic radiation oncologists comprise 60% of the most influential Twitter accounts responsible for radiation oncology–related content. The number of radiation-oncology resident physicians on Twitter increased from 25 to 328 over the past 6 years, and 20% of radiation-oncology residency programs have a Twitter account. Seventy-one percent of radiation oncology–related tweets generated direct communication via mentions, and 59% of tweets contain links to external sources, including scientific articles.ConclusionsThe number of physicians contributing radiation oncology–related Twitter content has increased significantly in recent years. Academic radiation oncologists are the primary influencers of radiation oncology–related Twitter activity. Twitter is used by radiation oncologists to both professionally network and discuss findings related to the field. There remains the opportunity for radiation oncologists to broaden their audience on Twitter to encompass a more diverse community, including patients.     

Xenogeneic bone marrow transplantation: II. Porcine-specific growth factors enhance porcine bone marrow engraftment in an in vitro primate microenvironment

Abstract: Establishment of mixed bone marrow chimerism in pig-to-primate transplantation, as a means of inducing specific immune tolerance, will require that both immune and nonimmune barriers be overcome. As a preliminary step in evaluating nonimmune barriers in this system, we have developed an in vitro model of engraftment in which long-term culture of porcine bone marrow-derived hematopoietic cells is supported on preformed primate bone marrow stromal layers. In the absence of cytokine supplementation, primate stromal cells were unable to support long-term porcine hematopoiesis in these cultures. Supplementation with porcine Steel Factor was required for long-term maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cell content and total hematopoietic activity. Addition of porcine IL-3, in combination with porcine Steel Factor, increased long-term progenitor cell content and hematopoietic activity on primate stroma to levels comparable to that obtained in cultures on porcine stroma. The combination of porcine GM-CSF and Steel Factor increased progenitor cell content and hematopoietic activity early in the cultures, but had little effect in long-term cultures. The Steel Factor and IL-3 combination was species-specific in its action in these cultures, as the corresponding human cytokines were unable to effectively support long-term porcine hematopoiesis. Likewise, the combination of porcine cytokines had only minimal effects on long-term bone marrow culture of primate CD34+ cells I on primate stroma.     

Diastolic function in children and adolescents on dialysis and after kidney transplantation: an echocardiographic assessment

Thirty-seven children and adolescents on renal replacement therapy (11 on haemodialysis, 14 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 12 after renal transplantation) were studied by echocardiography, echo-Doppler and phonocardiography. Right and left ventricular (R/L V) diastolic functions were measured by transmitral and transtricuspid flow velocities and by LV isovolumic relaxation time (LVIRT). Thirty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls. R/L V diastolic dysfunction was only observed in the dialysis patients. In these patients LVIRT was prolonged. LV and RV peak inflow velocities were increased both in early (E) and late (A) diastole with a reduction in the E/A ratios. This pattern of diastolic dysfunction is compatible with the combined effects of a hypercirculatory state (volume overload, anaemia, arteriovenous fistula) and an abnormality of cardiac relaxation. The transplant patients showed no major cardiac abnormalities.     

Vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membranes causing macular pucker.

We used vitreous surgery to remove idiopathic epiretinal membranes from the macular area in 70 consecutive cases. The abnormal tissue was successfully removed in each case. Vision improved postoperatively in 61 eyes (87%), remained unchanged in six eyes (9%), and worsened in three eyes (4%). However, at the time of final examination vision was improved in only 47 eyes (67%), primarily because of the occurrence or progression of nuclear sclerosis, which occurred in 38 of 60 phakic eyes (63%). Four preoperative factors were associated with final visual acuity of 20/60 or better: (1) initial vision of 20/100 or better, (2) shorter preoperative duration of blurred vision, (3) thin epiretinal membrane, and (4) absence of traction retinal detachment.     

Early Intestinal Changes Following Abdominal Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To compare tests for intestinal function with clinical scores after abdominal irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At the Department of Radiotherapy, Erfurt, Germany, intestinal changes were studied in 91 patients receiving abdominal radiotherapy between 1992 and 1996. Conventional fractionation (1.8-2 Gy per fraction, total doses 30.6-62.5 Gy) was applied. Before and at weekly intervals during radiotherapy, the clinical response was scored according to RTOG/EORTC for the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Resorption tests for vitamin B(12) and D-xylose were performed before the onset and immediately after treatment. RESULTS: The clinical response displayed a well-defined dose-effect relationship with grade 1 effects in 5% and 50% of the patients at about 10 Gy and 50 Gy, respectively. For grade 2 reactions, 5%- and 50%-effective doses were 20-30 Gy and 60-80 Gy. Effects in the upper and lower GI tract were highly correlated. Changes in body weight did not show a correlation with other clinical symptoms. Changes in resorption also displayed a significant dose effect. However, no correlation was found with the clinical symptoms in the individual patient. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the clinical manifestation of intestinal side effects according to RTOG/EORTC criteria was reflected by neither the vitamin B(12) nor by the D-xylose resorption test. Hence, these tests cannot be regarded as useful for objective quantitation of intestinal radiation injury.     

Expression of the c-erbB-2-encoded oncoprotein and progesterone receptor in human meningiomas

The present study investigated the expression of c-erbB-2 in 59 meningiomas, including different histological subtypes and anaplastic variants, by immunocytochemistry and molecular biological techniques. Immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody FWP-51 directed against c-erbB-2-encoded oncoprotein gp185 demonstrated variable degrees of immunoreactivity in all meningiomas. The intensity of immunostaining correlated with the degree of expression as assessed by Western analysis in 28 meningiomas using polyclonal antiserum 21N. There was no correlation between the degree of expression and histological variants. Immunoreactivity of all menigiomas was distinctly less intense, however, than that of the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3, and slightly lower than that of brain metastases of breast and ovarian carcinomas that served as positive controls for both methods. By Southern analysis all meningiomas showed a single copy of the c-erbB-2 gene. Non-neoplastic arachnoid cap cells also exhibited c-erbB-2 expression and the degree of immunoreactivity was comparable with the majority of meningiomas. These data argue against an overexpression of c-erbB-2 in meningiomas, but rather indicate a cell-type-specific constitutive expression of the c-erbB-2 gene product in meningiomas and their putative progenitor cells. Since a subgroup of meningiomas is known to express progesterone receptors (PR), gp185 immunoreactivity was compared to the hormone receptor status using monoclonal antibody KD68. Fifty-six percent meningiomas showed PR immunoreactivity, but there was no statistically significant correlation with the degree of gp185 expression.This study was supported by a grant of the Tumorzentrum Heidelberg/Mannheim (M.K., No. 10028060)     

肱骨干骨折--髓内钉与钢板固定的比较

总体而言，这些报道提示：采用髓内钉治疗肱骨干骨折较采用钢板带来更多的并发症，尤其是采用顺行人路。同时，这些报道没有提供确切的证据证明何种方法在骨折愈合、减少感染或上肢总体功能上优于另一种。     

Vitrectomy for impending idiopathic macular holes

We performed pars plana vitrectomy in 15 patients with physical changes and visual loss believed to indicate impending macular hole formation. Twelve (80%) of 15 eyes have not progressed to macular holes during a minimum follow-up period of 15 months (average, 26 months). In these 12 patients final vision was within one line of the preoperative vision in four eyes, improved two or more lines in five eyes, and was two lines worse in three eyes. Decreased vision in all three eyes was the result of progressive lenticular nuclear sclerosis. A thin sheet of cortical vitreous fibers was sometimes found intraoperatively on the surface of the retina, despite an apparent complete posterior vitreous detachment.     

Metabolic and hemodynamic responses to concurrent voluntary arm crank and electrical stimulation leg cycle exercise in quadriplegics.

This study determined the metabolic and hemodynamic responses in eight spinal cord injured (SCI) quadriplegics (C5-C8/T1) performing subpeak arm crank exercise (ACE) alone, subpeak functional electrical stimulation leg cycle exercise (FES-LCE) alone, and subpeak FES-LCE concurrent with subpeak ACE (hybrid exercise). Subjects completed 10 minutes of each exercise mode during which steady-state oxygen uptake (VO2), pulmonary ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), mean arterial pressure (MAP), arteriovenous oxygen difference (a-v O2 diff), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were determined. Although mean VO2 for both ACE alone and FES-LCE alone was matched at 0.66 l/mi, individualized power outputs ranged from 0-30 W (mean = 19.4 +/- 1.3) and 0-12.2 W (mean = 2.3 +/- 0.6), respectively. Hybrid exercise elicited significantly higher VO2 (by 54 percent), VE (by 39-53 percent), HR (by 19-33 percent), and CO (by 33-47 percent), and significantly lower TPR (by 21-34 percent) than ACE or FES-LCE performed alone (P less than or equal to 0.05). Stroke volume was similar between hybrid exercise and FES-LCE alone, and these two exercise modes evoked a significantly higher SV (by 41-56 percent) than during ACE alone. These data clearly demonstrate that hybrid exercise creates a higher aerobic metabolic demand and cardiac-volume load in SCI quadriplegics than either subpeak levels of ACE or FES-LCE performed separately. Therefore, hybrid exercise may provide more advantageous central cardiovascular training effects in quadriplegics than either ACE or FES-LCE alone.