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The objective of the present study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of 'Sandwich treatment' strategy for large brain metastases (LBM) with diameter over 3 cm (minimum volume >= 15 cm3) located in motor area. Patients from four gamma knife center that received 'Sandwich treatment' were retrospectively studied from January 2016 to March 2023. The strategy was one-week treatment course including 2 stages of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and using bevacizumab once during SRS gap. The tumor volume and peri-tumor edema changes were analyzed before and after 'Sandwich treatment'. Manual muscle testing (MMT) score and Barthel Index (BI) score were used to evaluate the changes of patients' movement and physical strength rehabilitation. The patients' overall survival (OS) and tumor local control (TLC) rate was calculated. Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors that related to TLC. 61 patients with 72 lesions received the 'Sandwich treatment'. The median prescription dose was 13.0 Gy and 12.5 Gy at the first- and second-stage SRS. The mean tumor volume at the time of 'Sandwich treatment' and 3 months later was 20.1 cm3 and 12.3, respectively (P < 0.01). The mean peri-tumor edema volume at the first- and second-stage SRS was 12.6 cm3 and 5.2 cm3, respectively (P < 0.01). Patients' median MMT score improved from 6 at the beginning to 8 at the end of 'Sandwich treatment' (P < 0.01), BI score was also greatly improved from 45 at the time of 'Sandwich treatment' to 95 after 3 months (P < 0.01). Patients' median OS was 14.0 months, and the 3, 6, 12 months OS rate was 92.0%, 86.0% and 66.0%, respectively. The TLC rate at 3, 6, 12 months was 98.4%, 93.4%, and 85.3%, respectively. Patients with lung cancer had lower risk of tumor relapse. The cumulative incidence of patient's hemorrhage and radiation necrosis was 4.92% (3/61) and 13.11% (8/61) after 'Sandwich treatment'. 'Sandwich treatment' strategy is safe and effective for LBM located in motor area. The strategy could rapidly improve the patients' movement and enhance their physical strength rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is the age‐related loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength or physical function. It is most common in elderly individuals. Due to its high incidence, insidious onset, and extensive impact on the body, it has a huge impact on the family medical burden and the social public health expenditure in China. The understanding of sarcopenia in China is still lacking, and the recommendations for prevention, control, and intervention are not clear and unified. The purpose of this consensus report is to standardize the prevention, control, and intervention methods for sarcopenia in elderly patients in China; improve the efficacy of intervention; reduce complications during the intervention process; and reduce the risk of falls, fractures, disability, hospitalization, and even death in elderly individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herniation of the nucleus pulposus caused by disc degeneration and other reasons can cause low back pain and disability. In China, traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) and traditional Chinese massage (TCM) are widely used to improve symptoms of pain and disability in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The safety and efficacy of combination therapy have not been studied. Objectives: To assess the effect of traditional Chinese exercise combined with massage vs. traditional Chinese massage alone on pain, disability, lumbar mobility and gait performance in patients with LDH. Methods: Multi-center, randomized clinical trial conducted at 4 hospitals in China and enrolling 272 patients with LDH. Participants were randomly assigned to TCEs plus TCM group or TCM alone group. The combined therapy group received 18 Tai Chi training sessions (30-min sessions 3 times a week) and regular TCM treatments over 6 weeks. The control group received TCM therapy alone and was instructed to maintain their usual daily physical activity. Outcome variables measured included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Short Form of McGill PainQuestionnaire (SF-MPQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) and gait performance. Results: Among the 272 randomized participants, 259 completed the study. The mean VAS score was 51.77mm at baseline in the TCEs plus TCM group, and 50.93mm for the TCM alone group. The reduction in the VAS score at week 6 was greater in the TC group than in the TCM group with a mean difference of 4.05 (95% CI, 2.15-5.95; P < 0.001), and the ODI score with between-group differences of 3.57 points (95% CI, 2.84-4.30 points; P < 0.001). Similar significantly different results were observed in SF-MPQ, walking speed, cadence, and lumbar ROM. No serious adverse events were reported throughout the study period. Conclusion: Compared with TCM alone, TCEs combined with TCM treatment performed better in reducing pain and improving disability. The combination therapy could be considered a valuable treatment option for LDH patients, with potential therapeutic utility for middle-aged and elderly patients with LDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish the predicted value of pulmonary function determined by impulse oscillometry (IOS) in children (4–17 years old) in China. Methods: A total of 6270 healthy children aged 4–17 years in China were included. The Master Screen IOS pulmonary function device (Jaeger Co, Germany) was used to detect the respiratory impedance (Zrs), resonant frequency (Fres), respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and respiratory system reactance (Xrs) at various oscillation frequencies, and the indices above were analysed. Stepwise multivariate regression was used to establish the regression equation of related parameters of IOS in different sexes, ages, height, and weight. Results: The differences in the main IOS parameters between different age stages were statistically significant regardless of sex (P < 0.05). The stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that IOS parameters were related to height, age, and weight, and most IOS parameters were most closely related to height (the absolute value of the regression coefficient was the largest). With increasing age and height, the values of Z5, R5, R20, R5–R20, and Fres decreased, while the value of X5 increased. Through height, age, and weight, we obtained the normal predicted values equation of children's IOS parameters. Compared with the other reference equations, our reference equation is more suitable for Chinese children. Conclusions: The study revealed the reference values of IOS parameters in healthy Chinese children. In the evaluation of results for lung function measurements, this predicted value equation is more consistent with the characteristics of Chinese children than other reference equations. Clinical Trial: ChiCTR: 1800019029. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The newly compiled Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi (Eight Methods and Five Footworks) is a fitness routine that has been developed in accordance with the appeal of the General Administration of Sport of China and promoted both in China and abroad. This paper aims to compare the differences in energy consumption and related parameters between the two types of Tai Chi. Methods: A total of 60 healthy participants were recruited; 37 males (aged 37.4 ± 10.4 years) and 23 females (aged 31.9 ± 12.8 years). The maximal exercise capacity of participants was measured at baseline. Then, they received Tai Chi training for 12-week and their energy metabolism was measured dynamically. Results: A set of the Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi requires approximately 3 min, while a set of 24 form simplified Tai Chi approximately 5 min and 40 s. The average oxygen uptake/kg (VO2/kg, 10.8 ± 2.52 ml/kg/min vs. 12.9 ± 2.59 ml/kg/min, P = 0.000), the highest VO2/kg (19.3 ± 6.03 ml/kg/min vs. 24.1 ± 7.50 ml/kg/min, p = 0.000, the average metabolic equivalent (METs,2.3 ± 0.16 METs vs. 3.2 ± 0.14 METs, p = 0.000), the highest oxygen pulse (VO2/HR, 11.1 ± 0.99 ml vs. 13.9 ± 0.93 ml, p = 0.000) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE, 10.7 ± 0.70 vs. 1.3 ± 0.62, p = 0.000) gained immediately after Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi exercise were significantly lower than those in 24 form simplified Tai Chi; heart rate recovery (HRR,1.5 ± 0.41 vs. 1.3 ± 0.45, p = 0.008) at 1 min after the practice was significantly higher than after the 24 form simplified Tai Chi. Meanwhile, the average heart rate (HR, 104.1 ± 11.41 bpm vs. 105.7 ± 9.68 bpm, p = 0.696) and the highest respiratory quotient (RQ, 1.0 ± 0.06 vs. 0.9 ± 0.09, p = 0.643) were not significantly different. The intensity of Tai Chi was described as the highest oxygen uptake of the participants when they performed the Tai Chi divided by their individual maximal oxygen uptake. Tai Chi intensity during Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi (50% ± 11.7% vs. 64% ± 12.5%) was significantly lower than during 24 form simplified Tai Chi. Conclusion: The newly compiled Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi is characterized by lower energy consumption than 24 form simplified Tai Chi. Trial registration: Ethics Committee of Sports Science Experiment, Beijing Sport University- 2018010H. Registered 19 June 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases is very poor. Currently, therapeutic methods for this patient population include whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), surgery, radiosurgery and systemic treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) could be effective on cerebral metastases of mutated NSCLC. However, which EGFR-TKIs is more appropriate is still unknown.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of advanced NSCLC patients with brain metastases for EGFR targeted therapy from November 2013 to April 2018 at Dongguan People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, China. A total of 43 patients were recruit in this study. Among them, 21 cases received icotinib (125 mg, thrice a day) and 22 cases received gefitinib (250 mg, once a day) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point of this study was intracranial PFS (iPFS). The relationships between therapeutic arms and patients characteristics were performed using Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. The differences in PFS among the two arms were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log rank tests.Results: There was no significant difference of intracranial ORR (66.6% versus 59.1%, P = 0.62) and DCR (85.7% versus 81.8%, P = 0.73) between the two arms. The median intracranial PFS (iPFS) for icotinib and gefitinib arms were 8.4 months (95% CI, 5.4 to 11.3 months) and 10.6 months (95% CI, 6.3 to 14.8 months), respectively (P = 0.17). Adverse events of the two study arms were generally mild. None of the patients experienced dose reduction of EGFR-TKIs.Conclusions: Our study showed that icotinib and gefitinib had similar efficacy for brain metastasis of EGFR mutated NSCLC. Large randomized studies are suggested to further illuminate the effect of these two EGFR-TKIs on cerebral lesions of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer-related fatigue is a widely prevalent global public health concern with serious consequences. Increasing evidence suggests the effectiveness of exercise intervention in treating cancer-related fatigue, but there is a lack of a summary of relevant literature on the same to help reach a clear consensus., Objective: To summarize evidence regarding the efficacy of exercise interventions to reduce cancer fatigue, as determined in systematic reviews (SRs) and/or meta-analyses (MAs)., Method: From inception to September 2022, PubMed (1948-2022), Embase (1974-2022), Cochrane Library (1993-2022), CINAHL (1937-2022), Web of Science (1997-2022), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (1999-2022), Wanfang Database (1993-2022), and Chinese Biomedical Database (1994-2022) were searched for inclusion to the study. Two reviewers independently extracted the data from the included articles. AMSTAR II was to evaluate the methodological quality of the reviews., Results: A total of 46 systematic reviews were assessed for data on exercise intervention in reducing cancer-related fatigue among cancer patients. In addition, some studies have reported adverse events during the exercise intervention period. The quality of the included systematic review was found to be low or critically low., Conclusions: The present systematic review of systematic reviews supports exercise intervention for reducing cancer-related fatigue. Further higher-quality studies are warranted to improve the level of evidence for exercise interventions for application in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The crystal structure of goldichite KFe(SO4)2⋅4H2O was determined on a single crystal from the Baiyinchang copper deposit, Gansu, China. [P121/c1, a = 10.395(2), b = 10.475(2), c = 9.0875(18) Å, β = 101.65(3)°, V = 969.1(3) Å3, Z = 4]. All non-H atoms were refined with anisotropic displacement parameters and positions of H-atoms were determined by difference Fourier methods and refined from X-ray diffraction data. The crystal structure of goldichite consists of corrugated sheets parallel to the (100) plane by sharing corners between FeO6 octahedra and SO4 tetrahedra. The interstitial potassium atom exhibits a [KO7(H2O)2] nine-fold coordination, which shares edges to form a column parallel to the c-axis and to build a slab with the corrugated sheet. These slabs are linked in the [100] direction through a network of hydrogen bonds. Three types of hydrogen bonds involve links of slabs: Ow(3)-H(3B)···O(1), Ow(6)-H(6B)···O(11) and Ow(9)-H(9B)···O(11). The FTIR spectrum of goldichite shows a strong absorption between ~3384 cm−1 and ~3592 cm−1, which is in accordance with the O-H···O distances derived from structure data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus are common causes of respiratory infections. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their prevalence. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemic changes of common respiratory viruses in the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University in Hangzhou, China, from October of 2017 to February of 2021. We collected statistics from 121,529 patients in the outpatient and inpatient departments of the hospital who had throat or nose swabs collected for testing for four virus antigens by the colloidal gold method. Of these, 13,200 (10.86%) were positive for influenza A virus, 8,402 (6.91%) were positive for influenza B virus, 6,056 (4.98%) were positive for adenovirus, and 4,739 (3.90%) were positive for respiratory syncytial virus. The positivity rates of the influenza A virus (0-14 years old, P = 0.376; over 14 years old, P = 0.197) and respiratory syncytial virus (0-14 years old, P = 0.763; over 14 years old, P = 0.465) did not differ significantly by gender. After January of 2020, influenza virus infection decreased significantly. The positivity rate of respiratory syncytial virus remained high, and its epidemic season was similar to before. Strict respiratory protection and regulation of crowd activities have a great impact on the epidemic characteristics of viruses. After major changes in the public health environment, virus epidemics and their mutations should be monitored closely, extensively, and continuously., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The aim of the present study was to describe the characteristics of dental fear of Chinese adult patients with periodontal disease and provide information for clinical assessment. Methods: A total of 1203 dental patients completed questionnaires that included Corach's Dental Anxiety Scales (DAS), Dental Fear Survey (DFS) and the short-form Dental Anxiety Inventory (S-DAI). Among all the patients, 366 cases were self-reported periodontal disease. The general characteristics were described, such as socio-demographics, dental attendances and oral health behaviors. The statistical analysis was performed by t-test, Mann--Whitney U test and linear regression respectively to evaluate correlations between dental fear and general characteristics according to the three scales. Results: The prevalence of dental fear was 74% among 1203 patients, 23.4% of total with high dental fear, while 27.3% in the patients with periodontal disease. The average score of DAS and DFS for patients with periodontal disease was significantly higher than those without periodontal disease. The regression analysis indicated that gender, age, periodontal status, dental attendances and oral health behaviors were correlated with dental fear. Among 366 patients with periodontal disease, gender, dental attendances and oral health behaviors had correlation with dental fear. The analysis of DFS scale exhibited that 'drilling with handpiece' and 'injecting the anesthetic' were the most important factors to contribute to dental fear. Conclusions: There was high prevalence of dental fear in Chinese adult patients, particularly in patients with periodontal disease, and high level of dental fear may lead to poor periodontal status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare balance ability between elderly individuals who practiced Tai-Chi-Chuan (TCC) for average 9.64 years and elderly individuals who did not practice TCC and its relationship with lower extremity muscle strength and ankle proprioception. Methods: Twenty-five elderly volunteers were divided into two groups according to their TCC practcing experience. Sixteen were TCC group and the other nine were control population. Subjects completed a static balance test and ankle proprioception test using a custom-designed evaluation system, and concentric and eccentric knee extensor and flexor muscle strength tests. Subjects stood on the plate form to measure the proprioception in functional standing position which was differed from the previous studies. Multiple linear regressions were also used to predict the important factor affecting balance. Results: TCC group performed better than the control group in balance, proprioception, and muscle strength of lower extremity. The proprioception was the most important factor related to balance ability and it can be accounted for explaining 44% of variance in medial-lateral sway direction, and 53% of variance in antero-posterior sway direction. The proprioception may be a more important factor which affecting the balance ability. Conclusion: TCC training is recommended to the elders; as it can improve balance ability through better proprioception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which defined clinical outcome and prognostic determinants in patients with brain metastases (BM) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study reviewed all patients with HCC and BM treated in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in China between January 1994 and December 2009. The study concluded that BM from HCC is rare and associated with an extremely poor prognosis, and patients with a low RPA class may benefit from aggressive treatment.

Tai chi chuan (TCC) is a Chinese conditioning exercise and is well known for its slow and graceful movements. Recent investigations have found that TCC is beneficial to cardiorespiratory function, strength, balance, flexibility, microcirculation and psychological profile. The long-term practice of TCC can attenuate the age decline in physical function, and consequently it is a suitable exercise for the middle-aged and elderly individuals. TCC can be prescribed as an alternative exercise programme for selected patients with cardiovascular, orthopaedic, or neurological diseases, and can reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals. The exercise intensity of TCC depends on training style, posture and duration. Participants can choose to perform a complete set of TCC or selected movements according to their needs. In conclusion, TCC has potential benefits in health promotion, and is appropriate for implementation in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]