Search

PL Dai,1,2,* XS Du,3,* Y Hou,1,* L Li,1 YX Xia,1 L Wang,1 HX Chen,1 L Chang,1 WH Li1 1Radiotherapy Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650100, People’s Republic of China; 2Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650100, People’s Republic of China; 3Oncology Department, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Huaian, Jiangsu 223001, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: L Chang; WH Li Email changli1981@126.com; wenhuili64@aliyun.comIntroduction: The biological changes after irradiation in lung cancer cells are important to reduce recurrence and metastasis of lung cancer. To optimize radiotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma, our study systematically explored the mechanisms of biological behaviors in residual A549 and XWLC-05 cells after irradiation.Methods: Colony formation assay, cell proliferation assay, cell migration assay, flow cytometry, BALB/C-nu mice xenograft models and Western blot of pan-AKT, p-Akt380, p-Akt473, PCNA, DNA-PKCS, KU70, KU80, CD133, CD144, MMP2 and P53 were used in our study to assess biological changes after irradiation with 0, 4 and 8 Gy at 0– 336 hr after irradiation in vitro and 20 Gy at transplantation group, irradiated transplantation group, residual tumor 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days groups in vivo.Results: The ability of cell proliferation and radiosensitivity of residual XWLC-05 cells was better than A549 cells after radiation in vivo and in vitro. MMP-2 has statistical differences in vitro and in vivo and increased with the migratory ability of cells in vitro. PCNA and P53 have statistical differences in XWLC-05 and A549 cells and the changes of them are similar to the proliferation of residual cells within first 336 hr after irradiation in vitro. Pan-AKT increased after irradiation, and residual tumor 21-day group (1.5722) has statistic differences between transplantation group (0.9763, p=0.018) and irradiated transplantation group (0.8455, p=0.006) in vivo. Pan-AKT rose to highest when 21-day after residual tumor reach to 0.5 mm2. MMP2 has statistical differences between transplantation group (0.4619) and residual tumor 14-day group (0.8729, p=0.043). P53 has statistical differences between residual tumor 7-day group (0.6184) and residual tumor 28 days group (1.0394, p=0.007). DNA-PKCS has statistical differences between residual tumor 28 days group (1.1769) and transplantation group (0.2483, p=0.010), irradiated transplantation group (0.1983, p=0.002) and residual tumor 21 days group (0.2017, p=0.003), residual tumor 0 days group (0.5992) and irradiated transplantation group (0.1983, p=0.027) and residual tumor 21 days group (0.2017, p=0.002). KU80 and KU70 have no statistical differences at any time point.Conclusion: Different proteins regulated apoptosis, proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma after radiotherapy at different times. MMP-2 might regulate metastasis ability of XWLC-05 and A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. PCNA and P53 may play important roles in proliferation of vitro XWLC-05 and A549 cells within first 336 hr after irradiation in vitro. After that, P53 may through PI3K/AKT pathway regulate cell proliferation after irradiation in vitro. DNA-PKCS may play a more important role in DNA damage repair than KU70 and KU80 after 336 hr in vitro because it rapidly rose than KU70 and KU80 after irradiation. Different cells have different time rhythm in apoptosis, proliferation and metastasis after radiotherapy. Time rhythm of cells after irradiation should be delivered and more attention should be paid to resist cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.Keywords: lung adenocarcinoma, XWLC-05 cells, biological, radiation

Fei Lu,1,2 Yu Hou,1 Yaoxiong Xia,1 Lan Li,1 Li Wang,1 Ke Cao,1 Haixia Chen,1 Li Chang,1 Wenhui Li11Department of Radiation Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology and Hematology, The First People’s Hospital of Honghe State, Mengzi, Yunnan, People’s Republic of ChinaPurpose: To compare the differences in survival and intracranial local control between patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and WBRT plus a radiotherapy boost (RTB) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases (BMs).Patients and methods: Between May 2010 and October 2017, 206 NSCLC patients with BMs were treated with brain radiotherapy; among these patients, 140 patients underwent WBRT alone (group A) and 66 patients underwent WBRT plus RTB (group B). The endpoints included intracranial local progression-free survival and regional progression-free survival time (iLPFS and iRPFS, respectively) and overall survival (OS).Results: Between the two groups, not all baseline clinical factors were well-balanced. The median iLPFS was 17.9 months in group A and 22.3 months in group B. The 2-year iLPFS rates were significantly lower in group A than in group B (34.5% vs 49.3%, P=0.041); however, no significant differences were observed in OS or iRPFS. Multivariate analyses revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) therapy was significantly associated with good OS, iLPFS, and iRPFS. Among the patients treated with TKIs (n=62), there were no differences in OS (P=0.190), iLPFS (P=0.334), or iRPFS (P=0.338) between groups A and B. In the patients without TKI treatment (n=102), the median iLPFS was significantly longer in group B than in group A (16.7 vs 12.0 months, P=0.032), but no significant differences were found in OS (p=0.182) or iRPFS (P=0.837) between the two groups.Conclusion: WBRT plus RTB significantly improved iLPFS compared with WBRT alone, especially in patients without EGFR-TKI treatment. However,there were no significant differences in iRPFS or OS between the two groups. Patients treated with EGFR-TKIs may not benefit from WBRT plus RTB.Keywords: non-small-cell lung carcinoma, brain metastases, brain radiotherapy, radiotherapy boost, tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Wei-Hua Li,1 Zi-Guan Zhang,1 Zheng-Rong Huang,1 Wei Zhang,1 Zhi-Bin Li,2 Zhong-Quan Qi3 1Xiamen Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, People’s Republic of China; 2Epidemiology Research Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, People’s Republic of China; 3Organ Transplantation Institute, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People’s Republic of China Introduction: To assess the effect of tumor laterality to cardiac-related deaths of breast cancer in the current radiation practices using a large modern population-based study.Methods: Women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2000 to 2008 were included using the current Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The primary outcome of this study was the cardiac-related mortality. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model to analyze the cardiac-related mortality including demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment factors.Results: We identified 168,761 breast cancer patients, including 85,006 (50.4%) patients with left-sided tumors and 83,755 (49.6%) patients with right-sided tumors. The median follow-up period was 8.8 years. The 10-year cardiac-related mortality was 2.3% and 2.3% in left- and right-sided tumors, respectively (P=0.685). The results indicated that patients with older age, non-Hispanic Black, receipt of mastectomy, and married status were the independent adverse factors for cardiac-related mortality. However, left-sided tumors were not associated to a higher risk of cardiac-related mortality than right-sided tumors following postoperative radiotherapy (right vs left, hazard ratios 1.025, 95% CI 0.856–1.099, P=0.484). The risk of cardiac-related mortality in the entire cohort was increased with the extension of follow-up time. However, there was still not significantly different between left- and right-sided tumors. Subgroup analysis also found no association between tumor laterality and cardiac-related mortality after postoperative radiotherapy based on various demographics and treatment factors.Conclusion: With a median follow-up of 8.8 years, no significant differences were found in cardiac-related mortality between left- and right-sided tumors under current radiation practices of breast cancer patients. Keywords: breast cancer, radiotherapy, tumor laterality, cardiac mortality

BackgroundThe Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry.Methods and resultsA total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P

The Beijing Spectrometer (BES) detector is a general purpose solenoid detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider in Beijing, China. The recent upgrade of the initial BES detector to the improved BES II detector is described. A new drift chamber, time-of-flight counter, luminosity monitor compatible with a low-β lattice was built as well as the vertex chamber.

The Beijing Spectrometer (BES) detector is a general purpose solenoid detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider in Beijing, China. The recent upgrade of the initial BES detector to the improved BES II detector is described. A new drift chamber, time-of-flight counter, luminosity monitor compatible with a low-β lattice was built as well as the vertex chamber.

Cytosolic group IV phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme with key roles in intracellular signaling. The current paradigm for activation of cPLA2 by stimuli proposes that both an increase in intracellular calcium and mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation occur together to fully activate the enzyme. Calcium is currently thought to be needed for translocation of the cPLA2 to the membrane via a C2 domain, whereas the role of cPLA2 phosphorylation is less clearly defined. Herein, we report that brief exposure of P388D1 macrophages to UV radiation results in a rapid, cPLA2-mediated arachidonic acid mobilization, without increases in intracellular calcium. Thus, increased Ca2+ availability is a dispensable signal for cPLA2 activation, which suggests the existence of alternative mechanisms for the enzyme to efficiently interact with membranes. Our previous in vitro data suggested the importance of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) in the association of cPLA2 to model membranes and hence in the regulation of cPLA2 activity. Experiments described herein show that PtdInsP2 also serves a similar role in vivo. Moreover, inhibition of PtdInsP2 formation during activation conditions leads to inhibition of the cPLA2-mediated arachidonic acid mobilization. These results suggest that cellular PtdInsP2 levels are involved in the regulation of group IV cPLA2 activation.

Polarized and unpolarized neutron scattering techniques along with x-ray diffraction have been used to study the magnetic and structural properties of a single crystal of Nd2CuO4. Long-range magnetic order of the Cu moments develops at TN=245 K, with a simple antiferromagnetic configuration of spins as found in La2NiO4, while the spin directions may be either collinear or noncollinear. Additional abrupt transitions are observed at 75 and 30 K, in which spin reorientations take place. Bragg peaks associated with the crystal structure are found at the same positions as the magnetic Bragg peaks, and indicate that a small distortion of the basic tetragonal structure has occurred above 300 K. At low temperatures the Nd moments also order antiferromagnetically (TN=1.5 K), while an additional transition of a continuous nature is observed at 150 mK.

Polarized and unpolarized neutron-diffraction measurements have been taken to determine the magnetic structure of the Cu spins in the RBa2Cu3O6+x system as a function of temperature. Most of the results have been obtained on two (semiconducting) oxygen-deficient single crystals of composition NdBa2Cu3O6.1 and NdBa2Cu3O6.35. On cooling from the paramagnetic state, the Cu-O plane layers first order at a Néel temperature TN1 in a simple antiferromagnetic arrangement of spins, with TN1=430 K for x=0.1 and TN1=230 K for x=0.35, and with a saturated moment of 0.65B. At a lower temperature TN2 the Cu chain layer also orders, with TN2=80 and 10 K for x=0.1 and 0.35, respectively. Hence both transition temperatures decrease with increasing oxygen concentration in this range of x, and the qualitative behavior for these two samples is found to be identical. We have not, however, observed this low-T structure in polycrystalline samples of either YBa2Cu3O6+x or NdBa2Cu3O6+x, and some possible explanations for this difference in behavior are discussed. For the single crystals in the low-T phase the Cu spins in all three copper-oxygen layers are ordered in a simple antiferromagnetic arrangement, with the magnetic unit cell double the chemical unit cell along all three crystallographic directions. On the basis of the measured integrated intensities of over 40 magnetic reflections in both ordered phases, the results can be accounted for quantitatively with the assumption of a 3d magnetic form factor on the Cu ions, with no need for a significant moment on any of the oxygen ions. At low T, site-averaged moments of 0.35B and 0.8B are obtained in the chain and the plane layers, respectively. The fact that the ordered moment on the plane layers increases in the low-T phase is direct evidence that two-dimensional quantum fluctuations play an important role in the plane layers in the high-T ordered phase. The evolution of the low-T spin structure into the high-T structure involves a noncollinear configuration in which the spins rotate as a function of temperature in the plane layers, while the chain layer becomes thermally disordered. The temperature dependence of the structure indicates that competing interactions between the layers are important, and this is discussed in detail. Finally, exploratory measurements as a function of applied magnetic field indicate that the magnetic anisotropy in the tetragonal plane is much smaller than the exchange energies. © 1990 The American Physical Society.

Neutron-diffraction techniques have been used to study the magnetic ordering of the Nd ions in semiconducting Nd2CuO4 and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. For the Ce-doped system a sharp transition to long-range antiferromagnetic order occurs at TN1.2 K, with a simple magnetic unit cell which is double the chemical unit cell along the a and b directions. The same magnetic structure is observed in the parent system Nd2CuO4, in which the Cu spins are also ordered magnetically, but strong coupling between the Nd and Cu sublattices is indicated. © 1990 The American Physical Society.

Introduction: Objective structured clinical examinations have traditionally been used to assess clinical skills. However, these face-to-face clinical assessments were hindered by physical and social restrictions imposed during COVID-19. This created a need to develop novel approaches for reliable assessment of clinical skills. We explored and evaluated a virtual exercise teleconsultation assessment (VETA) to replicate a teleconsultation setting where physiotherapy students were assessed on exercise prescription and coaching skills. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional mixed-methods study using convenience sampling. A VETA was implemented for 172 physiotherapy students via Zoom to allow synchronous interaction with standardised patients (SPs). 67 students and 9 SPs completed two separate post evaluation surveys on themes relating to administration, support, authenticity, effectiveness, and value of the VETA. Likert-type responses were categorised as positive, neutral, or negative while coded qualitative responses were consolidated into themes by inductive content analysis. Results: 76% of students agreed that the assessment was authentic while 93% felt that the SPs were realistic and believable. Responders also highlighted important challenges including the limited camera viewing angle, time and space constraint, adequacy of equipment and reliability of connectivity. Exploratory factor analysis of responses revealed three latent constructs: (1) clarity of assessment, (2) clinical relevance, and (3) value of assessment. Conclusion: Despite the technical challenges, VETA demonstrated clarity and value as an alternative assessment and showed relevance to future telehealth practice, which is increasingly pervasive in clinical settings. This paper demonstrates a feasible approach for the virtual assessment of clinical competencies.

Neutron-diffraction measurements have been carried out as a function of hydrostatic pressure to study the magnetic order of the Cu spins in NdBa2Cu3O6.35 and NdBa2Cu3O6.1. In the high-temperature phase, where the Cu planes order antiferromagnetically, we find that the Néel temperature TN1 is very strongly dependent on pressure, increasing at the rate of 1/423 K/kbar. We attribute this phenomenal sensitivity to the two-dimensional-like behavior of this magnetic system. In the low-temperature phase, which is associated with magnetic ordering of the chains, only a small change in the ordering temperature TN2 is observed. © 1989 The American Physical Society.

We have employed polarized and unpolarized neutron-diffraction techniques on both powders and single crystals to establish the nature of the magnetic order of the Cu ions in oxygen-deficient (nonsuperconducting) RBa2Cu3O6+x (R=Y,Nd). Magnetic Bragg peaks of the type (h2,k2,l) are observed that yield a magnetic structure in which the Cu spins are coupled antiferromagnetically both in the Cu-O planes as well as along the tetragonal c axis, with the spin direction in the tetragonal plane. The Néel temperature is very sensitive to the oxygen content, with TN(x1/40)500 K, while the spin configuration is independent of x. © 1988 The American Physical Society.

Neutron and X-ray diffraction have been used to study the magnetic and structural properties of single crystal Nd2CuO4. Long range magnetic order of the Cu moments develops at TN=245 K, with a noncollinear antiferromagnetic arrangement of spins. Additional abrupt transitions are observed at 75 K and 30 K, in which a spin reorientation takes place. Bragg peaks associated with the crystal structure are found at the same positions as the magnetic Bragg peaks, and indicate that a distortion of the basic tetragonal structure has occurred above 300 K. © 1989.

Introduction The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been on the rise, with acute exacerbation of COPD associated with the highest burden and multiple pulmonary and systemic consequences. People with COPD have been found to have an abnormal response of systemic inflammation. To date, although limited, there are studies that suggest negative associations between inflammatory markers and important clinical outcomes such as exercise capacity and muscle force. This protocol aims to systematically review the evidence for (i) the associations between inflammatory markers and lung function, muscle force and exercise capacity and (ii) the influence of other factors (eg, hospitalisation, exercise programme) on the level of inflammatory markers in people with COPD.Methods and analysis Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science and ProQuest will be searched from database inception to February 2023 using PEO search strategy (Population: adults with COPD; Exposure: inflammatory markers; Outcomes: lung function, muscle force and exercise capacity). Four reviewers working in pairs will independently screen articles for eligibility and extract data that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Depending on the design of the included studies, either Cochrane risk-of-bias version 2 or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tools will be used to rate the methodological quality of the included studies. Effect sizes reported in each individual study will be standardised to Cohen’s d and a random effects model will be used to calculate the pooled effect size for the association.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is unnecessary as this study will only use publicly available data. The findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42022284446.

Objective. This study is aimed at ascertaining the feasibility of conducting the 1-minute sit-to-stand (1MSTS) and 30-second sit-to-stand (30SSTS) tests for healthy participants via video consultation. A secondary aim was to compare the relationship between the 1MSTS and 30SSTS. Methods. A total of 63 participants were recruited via the Singapore Institute of Technology emails and social media in 2020 during the peak of COVID-19. Prior to the sit-to-stand testing, all participants completed the consent form and physical activity questionnaires. Anthropometric data such as height and weight were also collected prior to testing. An instructional video detailing the sit-to-stand (STS) movement and the requirements for the environment set-up were sent to the participants via email. All STS tests were conducted virtually via the Zoom application. Healthy participants aged 21 to 55 years old performed a 1MSTS and 30SSTS each in random order. Results. All recruited participants completed the STS tests with no reported adverse events. Majority of participants were from the 21- to 25-year-old age groups, and the average number of repetitions performed by this group was 21.9±5.6 for the 30SSTS and 44.7±12.6 for the 1MSTS. Conclusion. Conducting the STS tests via video consultation was demonstrated to be safe and feasible. The number of repetitions performed in the 1MSTS is correlated to that of the 30SSTS, but 1MSTS has the ability to elicit a greater HR response among younger adults.