Effect of tap dance on plantar pressure, postural stability and lower body function in older patients at risk of diabetic foot: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the effects of tap dance (TD) on dynamic plantar pressure, static postural stability, ankle range of motion (ROM), and lower extremity functional strength in patients at risk of diabetic foot (DF). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomised, single-blinded, two-arm prospective study of 40 patients at risk of DF was conducted. The intervention group (n=20) received 16 weeks of TD training (60 min/session×3 sessions/week). The control group attended four educational workshops (1 hour/session×1 session/month). Plantar pressure, represented by the primary outcomes of peak pressure (PP) and pressure-time integral (PTI) over 10 areas on each foot, was measured using the Footscan platform system. Secondary outcomes comprised static postural stability, ankle ROM and lower extremity functional strength. RESULTS: Reductions in intervention group PP (right foot: mean differences=4.50~27.1, decrease%=25.6~72.0; left foot: mean differences=-5.90~6.33, decrease%=-22.6~53.2) and PTI at 10 areas of each foot (right foot: mean differences=1.00~12.5, decrease%=10.4~63.6; left foot: mean differences=0.590~25.3, decrease%=21.9~72.6) were observed. Substantial PP and PTI differences were noted at the second through fourth metatarsals, medial heel and lateral heel in the right foot. Substantial PP and PTI differences were detected at metatarsals 1 and 2 and metatarsal 2 in the left foot, respectively. Moderate training effects were found in plantar flexion ROM of both feet, lower extremity functional strength, and length of center-of-pressure trajectory with eyes closed and open (r=0.321-0.376, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A 16-week TD training program can significantly improve ankle ROM, lower extremity functional strength, and static postural stability. To attain greater improvements in plantar pressure, a longer training period is necessary. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1800014714.

Neutrophil mediated postoperative photoimmunotherapy against melanoma skin cancer.

Surgery is the primary treatment option for most melanoma; however, high tumor recurrence rate after surgical resection becomes the main cause of death in cancer patients. The development of efficient drug delivery nanosystems to inhibit postoperative tumor recurrence becomes very necessary. In the present study, IR780 molecules and TRP-2 peptide were encapsulated in the hydrophobic shell and hydrophilic interior of TAT peptide functionalized liposomes to form TLipIT NPs, which were further internalized into neutrophils (NEs) to achieve TLipIT/NEs. After being intravenously injected into postoperative B16F10-bearing mice, TLipIT/NEs could actively migrate toward the inflamed residual tumor and release TLipIT through neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Under NIR laser irradiation, the TLipIT exhibited both photothermal and photodynamic effects to induce immunogenic cell death for maturation of DCs, and simultaneously, to release TRP-2 peptide as a melanoma associated antigen to further strengthen the maturation of DCs, both of which prompts the activation of T cells and induces potent immune responses. TLipIT/NEs hold great potential for the inhibition of postoperative tumor recurrence.

Improving the photothermal therapy efficacy and preventing the surface oxidation of bismuth nanoparticles through the formation of a bismuth@bismuth selenide heterostructure.

Bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles (NPs) are emerging as promising photothermal agents for computed tomography imaging-guided photothermal therapy. However, it is challenging to improve their photothermal conversion efficacy and prevent their oxidation. Herein, Bi@bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) core@shell NPs were designed and fabricated for improving the photothermal performance due to the staggered energy levels between Bi and Bi2Se3. With near-infrared light irradiation, both the materials could be excited to generate hot carriers due to their extremely narrow bandgaps. The hot electrons would transfer to the conduction band of Bi2Se3 and the hot holes to the valence band of Bi, leading to the effective separation of hot carriers. Then, these hot electrons and holes would recombine nonradiatively at the interface of Bi and Bi2Se3 and produce more phonons, resulting in an enhanced photothermal conversion efficacy. Moreover, the presence of Bi2Se3 on the surface of Bi NPs could prevent Bi from surface oxidation due to the higher stability of Bi2Se3. In fact, Bi@Bi2Se3 NPs showed excellent biocompatibility and photothermal therapeutic efficacy against cancer cells.

Effects of Jiazhu decoction in combination with cyclophosphamide on breast cancer in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Jiazhu decoction (JZD) in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) on the growth of breast cancer in mice and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms of action. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups of 10 (untreated model group, JZD group, CTX group, and JZD + CTX group) and subcutaneously injected with 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells. Tumors were allowed to establish for ~7 d before initiation of treatment with CTX (100 mg/kg every week by intraperitoneal injection) and/or JZD (0.015 mL of 1.65 g/mL crude drug, administered daily by gavage). The model group received equivalent volumes of vehicle on the same schedules. Tumor volumes were measured every 3 d. Mice were sacrificed after 3 weeks of treatment, and tumors were excised and subjected to RT-qPCR and western blot analysis to evaluate expression of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway components ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 at the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The mean tumor volume was smaller and the growth rate was slower in the CTX and JZD + CTX groups compared with the model group (P < 0.05), and in the JZD + CTX group compared with the CTX and JZD groups (P < 0.05). Tumor growth was inhibited by 35.4% and 48.1% by CTX and JZD + CTX treatment, respectively (P < 0.001). The expression of ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 mRNA and protein in tumors was significantly lower in mice treated with JZD or JZD + CTX compared with the untreated mice (P < 0.05), and was significantly lower in mice treated with JZD + CTX compared with either JZD or CTX alone (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: JZD inhibited the growth of mouse breast cancer cells in vivo, possibly by reducing the expression of ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Combination therapy with JZD plus CTX had a more potent inhibitory effect on breast cancer growth compared with either agent alone.

[Analysis on theses, funding ratio and impact factor of the "Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases" in 2000-2004].

Number of theses published and the major evaluation indicators of the (Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases) in 2000-2004 were analyzed. Together 833 papers and communications were published in the 5 years and the original articles, reviews and experiment reports occupied 39.4%, 9.1% and 4.4% respectively. The key authors were from universities (53.4%) and disease control institutions (29.4%). 20 universities/institutions published over 8 papers in the period occupying 38.1%. The average rate of papers supported by various funds and by international agencies was 0.50 and 0.09 respectively, and higher in 2004, 0.52 and 0.07 respectively. The ratio of national, ministry (provincial) and international projects was 29.9%, 43.9% and 20.4% respectively. The overall citation and impact factor of this journal increased from 325 and 0.377 in 2000 to 437 and 0.462 in 2004 respectively, being among the best of the periodicals and expressing its high academic level and its domestic and abroad importance in the field of parasitology.

[Analysis on theses and citation of the "Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases" in 2004-2005].

The published articles and citation of the Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases in 2004-2005 were statistically analyzed. Among 312 papers published in the two years, original articles and experiment reports occupied 42.3% and 7.7% respectively. Authors were mainly from colleges/universities (61.5%) and institutions for disease control (28.5%). 51.9% of the articles received support by research funds/foundations. 82.3% were with reference citation mostly from periodicals, with 58.7% and 31.5% respectively from international and national (Chinese) journals. The average Price index was 44.9%. This Journal possesses a group of stable and qualified authors, covers substantial content with relatively broad citation, and is an important source of information in parasitological research.