Objective To investigate the effect of respiratory training based on core stability training on feedforward control in pa-tients with chronic nonspecific low back pain(CNLBP). Methods A total of 60 patients with CNLBP in Jiaxing Second Hospital from January,2022 to March,2023 were ran-domly divided into control group(n=30)and experimental group(n=30).Both groups received health educa-tion,physical factor therapy and core stability training,while the experimental group received respiratory training in addition,for four weeks.Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score,Japanese Orthopaedic Association low back pain(JOA)score and Oswestry Dysfunction Index(ODI)were compared between two groups before and after treat-ment,while surface electromyography was used to detect the root mean square(RMS)and integrated electromy-ography(iEMG)of transversus abdominis,multifidus and triceps(movement muscles),and the activation se-quence and relative activation time of transversus abdominis,multifidus and triceps were calculated. Results After treatment,the scores of VAS,JOA and ODI improved significantly in both groups(|t|>8.515,P<0.001),and the scores were better in the experimental group than in the control group(|t|>2.089,P<0.05).RMS and iEMG of transversus abdominis and multifidus improved significantly after treatment in both groups(|t|>18.831,P<0.001),and were significantly better in the experimental group(|t|>3.481,P<0.05).The transversus abdominis and multifidus in both groups were activated before the movement muscles,and the relative activation time of transversus abdominis and multifidus increased in negative(|t|>48.115,P<0.001),the experimental group being better(|t|>3.229,P<0.05). Conclusion Combination of core stability training and respiratory training is beneficial in reducing the pain of patients with CNLBP,reducing the lumbar dysfunction,improving the order of muscle activation,and strengthening feed-forward control.

Objective:To seek a correlation between short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and skill in the activities of daily living (ADL) after an ischemic stroke.Methods:Ninety ischemic stroke survivors were assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). Fecal samples were collected and analyzed for the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid using gas chromatography. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to identify SCFAs that correlated with the total BI score. Linear regressions were evaluated to explore the correlation between the total BI score and SCFAs.Results:The concentrations of propionic and butyric acids in the feces were found to correlate significantly with the total BI scores. Data including propionic acid and butyric acid levels, age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, any history of hypertension or diabetes, and other SCFAs were included in the regression models. Propionic and butyric acid levels were found to be potentially useful predictors of total BI scores.Conclusions:The concentration of propionic and butyric acids in the feces after an ischemic stroke can predict the survivor′s total BI score. Those concentrations could therefore be useful for predicting ADL ability.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of different multi-modality fusion models for predicting radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) following radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data from 198 patients with locally advanced NPC who experienced RIOM following radiotherapy at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from September, 2022 to February, 2023. Based on oral radiation dose-volume parameters and clinical features of NPC, basic classification models were developed using different combinations of feature selection algorithms and classifiers and integrated using a multi-criterion decision-making (MCDM)-based classifier fusion (MCF) strategy and its variant, the H-MCF model. The basic classification models, MCF model, the H-MCF model with a single modality or multiple modalities and other ensemble classifiers were compared for performances for predicting RIOM by assessing the area under the ROC curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: The H-MCF model, which integrated multi-modality features, achieved the highest accuracy for predicting severe RIOM with an AUC of 0.883, accuracy of 0.850, sensitivity of 0.933, and specificity of 0.800. CONCLUSIONS Compared with each of the individual classifiers, the multimodal multi-classifier fusion algorithm combining clinical and dosimetric modalities demonstrates superior performance in predicting the incidence of severe RIOM in NPC patients following radiotherapy.
Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/radiotherapy* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomatitis/diagnosis* ; Algorithms ; Radiation Injuries/diagnosis* ; Female ; Male ; ROC Curve

Objective:To observe any effects of contralateral repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the swallowing motor cortex on the swallowing and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:A total of 83 stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into an ipsilesional stimulation group ( n=22), a contralesional stimulation group ( n=21), a bilateral stimulation group ( n=20), and a control group ( n=20). In addition to their conventional dysphagia training, those in the three stimulation groups received 3Hz rTMS while the control group was given fake stimulation. The treatment was administered daily for 20 minutes, 6 days a week, for 5 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, swallowing function was assessed videofluoroscopically and using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS). The oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing were evaluated using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS). Brain stem conduction was assessed using BAEPs. Results:After treatment the average DOSS scores of all 4 groups were significantly better than before the treatment. The average DOSS scores of the contralesional and bilateral sti-mulation groups were then significantly better than those of the other two groups. The sub-item and total VDS scores of all 4 groups had decreased significantly, but the average score of the bilateral stimulation group was significantly lower than the control group′s average. Ipsilesional stimulation significantly improved the VDS sub-item scores for the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, laryngeal elevation, and pharyngeal transit time compared with the control group. In the contralesional stimulation group the average total score and the VDS sub-item scores for apraxia, premature bolus loss, oral transit times, the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, vallecular residue, laryngeal elevation, coating on the pharyngeal wall, and pharyngeal transit time were significantly lower than those of the control group, on average. After the treatment the latencies of BAEP waves I, III and V and the I-III, III-V and I-V interpeak intervals had decreased significantly in all four groups, but the average latencies and intervals of the bilateral and contralesional groups were significantly shorter than those of the control group. The latencies and intervals of the bilateral stimulation group were then significantly shorter than those in the ipsilesional stimulation group on average. The average latency of wave V in the bilateral stimulation group (6.53±0.73ms) was significantly shorter than that in the contralesional stimulation group after the treatment.Conclusion:Bilateral rTMS over the swallowing motor cortex combined with conventional dysphagia training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors.

Objective:To analyze the biological characteristics, phylogenic features and clinical significance of SQ219 and SQ220 isolated from clinical sputum and midstream urine specimens.Methods:The culture and biochemical characteristics of the two strains were observed. VITEK2 System, drug sensitivity testing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used for bacterial identification. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and core genome was performed. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) based on whole genome sequences was calculated.Results:SQ219 and SQ220 were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and non-motile bacteria. Their optimum growth was observed in NaCl-free medium at 30℃ and pH7. Flexirubin-type pigments were produced by SQ220 on Colombia blood agar, but not by SQ219. Both SQ219 and SQ220 were resistant to aztreonam, amikacin, tobramycin and colistin, which was consistent with the drug resistance phenotype of genus Chryseobacterium. The genome sequences of SQ219 and SQ220 were 5.08 Mb and 4.80 Mb in length, and the G+ C contents were 36.72% and 36.36%, respectively. Both strains carried β-lactam resistance gene ( blaCGA). 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis showed that SQ219 and SQ220 were closely related to Chryseobacterium gambrini DSM18014 T with the similarities of 98.93% and 98.36%, respectively. Core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that SQ219 and SQ220 were highly homologous to Chryseobacterium gambrini DSM18014 T. However, the ANI values between the two strains and Chryseobacterium gambrini DSM18014 T were 92.49% and 93.27%, respectively, below the threshold for prokaryotic species identification. Conclusions:Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, SQ219 and SQ220 represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium. This study would help promote the understanding of the evolution of Chrysobacterium and provide reference for the identification of new species of Chrysobacterium.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients with nocardiosis.Methods:From January 2013 to July 2019, 44 patients with nocardiosis in Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai were enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, including baseline characteristics, clinical manifestations, underlying diseases history of glucocorticoid therapy, laboratory data (blood routine examination, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, lymphocytes subsets, etc.), imaging changes, bacterial strain identification, treatment regimens and outcomes. According to the locations of infection, patients were divided into pulmonary nocardiosis, extrapulmonary single-organ nocardiosis and disseminated nocardiosis. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison among multiple groups. Results:Among the 44 cases of nocardiosis, 14 cases were pulmonary nocardiosis, 17 cases were extrapulmonary single-organ nocardiosis (including nine cases with central nervous system infection, six cases with skin and soft tissue infection, one case with abdominal abscess and one case with urinary tract infection) and 13 cases were disseminated nocardiosis (including four cases with bloodstream infection, six cases with central nervous system and lung or skin and soft tissue infection, three cases of lung and skin and soft tissue infection). Thirty-four cases had underlying diseases, and 27 cases received glucocorticoid or immunosuppressant treatment. The main symptom of 11 patients in pulmonary nocardiosis group was productive cough, while that of the patients in other two groups was fever. Nocardia species were mainly Nocardia brasiliensis, Nocardia nova and Nocardia farcinicaia. The white blood cell counts and neutrophils proportion were normal or slightly increased in 42 cases, and the platelets were normal or slightly decreased in 41 cases. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased in 19 cases, procalcitonin increased in 21 cases, C-reactive protein increased in 34 cases, and ferritin increased in 18 cases. A total of 34 patients were tested for lymphocyte subsets, of which 15 had CD4 + T lymphocytes decreased, 14 had CD8 + T lymphocytes increased, seven had B lymphocytes increased, seven had B lymphocytes decreased, and eight had natural killer cells decreased. The hemoglobin of patients with pulmonary nocardiosis was higher than that of patients with extrapulmonary infection, and the difference was statistically significant ( U=0.095, P=0.025). The imaging manifestations were mainly abscess and inflammatory exudation. Forty cases were cured or improved, one case was still on treatment, and three cases died. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of nocardiosis involving various organs are non-specific. Standardized treatment could reduce the mortality of nocardiosis.

Objective:To observe the effect of observing good swallowing on the swallowing action of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Eighteen stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=9) and a control group ( n=9). In addition to routine swallowing rehabilitation therapy, the treatment group was asked to simulate swallowing after watching a video of normal people′s swallowing action. They did so 5 times a week for 10 minutes, while the control group just watched landscape videos at the same time. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment, both groups were assessed using the eating assessment tool (EAT-10), the functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and the penetration and aspiration scale (PAS). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was also used to observe their swallowing action. Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the measurements before the treatment. After the 8 weeks of treatment the average EAT-10, FOIS and PAS scores of the treatment group were all significantly better than before the treatment and better than the control group′s averages at the time. fMRI showed significantly more areas activated in the precuneus, parietal lobe, posterior central gyrus, BA7, BA5, frontal lobe and paracentral lobule in the treatment group compared with before the intervention and also more than in the control group.Conclusions:Observing proper swallowing action can improve dysphagia and activation of the swallowing-related brain areas of stroke survivors.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis after salvage radiotherapy with or without hormone therapy for prostate cancer.Methods:From May 2014 to December 2020, 248 patients undergoing salvage radiotherapy due to prostate-specific antigen (PSA)persistence or biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (n=157) and West China Hospital, Sichuan University (n=91) were analyzed. Median age was 66 (45-78) years old. Median PSA was 23.50 (0.18-845.00) ng/ml. The number of PSA persistence and biochemical progression were 143 (59%) and 105 (42%). The number of pT 2, pT 3a, pT 3b, pT 4, and unknown T stage was 99, 49, 78, 15 and 7 cases.The number of N 0, N 1 and unknown N stage was 153, 44 and 51 cases. 165 cases had positive surgical margin. Gleason score of 6, 7, 8, >8 score and unknown was in 12, 104, 34, 90 and 8 patients. Early and late salvage radiotherapy was performed in 117 and 131 patients, and 70 patients (28%) were CRPC. Hormone therapy was used combined with radiotherapy in 182 patients (73%). PSA decline after radiotherapy was compared with Chi-squre test. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare progression free-survival (PFS)after radiotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses of PFS were performed using Cox proportional hazards model. Early salvage radiotherapy was defined as PSA≤0.5 ng/ml before radiotherapy, and late salvage radiotherapy was defined as PSA>0.5ng/ml. Results:PSA response (PSA decline ≥50%) rate was 94% (233/248), and 82% (203/248) patients had PSA decline ≥ 90%. Twelve (5%) patients had rising PSA after completing radiotherapy, but only 4 (2%) had real progression. The median PFS was 69 months (95% CI 68-70), and 3-year and 5-year PFS rate were 80% and 67%. PFS of PSA persistence and biochemical progression were similar ( HR =0.71, 95% CI 0.37-1.37, P=0.311). Compared with late salvage radiotherapy, early salvage radiotherapy had better PFS [69 (95% CI 68-70) vs. 59 (95% CI 44-74) months, P<0.001]. Compared with hormone sensitive, castration-resistant was associated with worse PFS (5-year PFS rate 74% vs. 51%, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, Gleason score>8, castration-resistant and late salvage radiotherapy were unfavorable prognostic factors. Conclusions:In patients receiving salvage radiotherapy with or without hormone therapy for PSA persistence and biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy, high PSA level before radiotherapy and castration resistant is associated with poor prognosis.

Objective:To explore the effect of robot-assisted training and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the lower limb function of hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods:Forty hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=20) and a control group ( n=20). Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training and robot-assisted walking training, but the treatment group was additionally treated with rTMS at 1Hz applied to the primary motor cortex M1 area at an intensity of 80% of the resting motor threshold. The stimulation time was 5 seconds at 5-second intervals, 600 pulses each time, five times a week for 8 weeks. Lower limb motor function, balance and walking function were assessed before and after the intervention using the Fugl-Meyer assessment for the lower extremities, the Berg balance scale and the Holden walking function scale. Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any measurement before the training, but after the intervention all of the measurements had improved significantly in both groups, with the average Fugl-Meyer score, Berg score and Holden grading significantly better in the treatment group.Conclusion:Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can improve the effectiveness of robot-assisted walking training in improving lower limb motor function, balance and walking after a stroke.

Objective:To observe any effect of repeated unilateral high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the swallowing function and functional magnetic resonance images of dysphagic stroke survivors.Methods:Twenty stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=10) and a control group ( n=10). Both groups received traditional swallowing rehabilitation training, while the treatment group was additionally provided with high frequency rTMS over the cortical area of the suprahyoid muscle group of the healthy contralateral cerebral hemisphere. The stimulation frequency was 5Hz and the stimulation intensity was 80% of the resting movement threshold. During the 20-minute treatment, there was a 20-second interval between each 2-second dose of stimulation. Before and after the treatment, both groups were evaluated using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), a swallowing functional communication measurement (FCM) and the modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MMASA). In addition, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe any changes in the relevant brain regions. Results:After the treatment the average EAT-10, FCM and MMASA scores of both groups were significantly better than those before the treatment, with the treatment group′s averages significantly superior to those of the control group. After the treatment, the activation range of the parietal lobe, the superior parietal lobule, the BA7 region and the BA40 area in the treatment group was significantly larger than before the treatment and larger than the control group′s ranges.Conclusions:Repeated high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cortical area of the suprahyoid muscles in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere can improve dysphagia and promote the activation of brain areas related to swallowing after a stroke.