Efficacy Of A Combination Of Transarterial Chemoembolization And Radiation Therapty For Patients With Hepatochellular Carcinoma Ineligible For Resection Or Radiofrequency Ablation.

Purpose: The local control rate of trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was unsatisfactory compared to resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). To increase the local control rate for tumors, we performed radiation therapy followed by TACE in our institution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the TACE and radiotherapy combination in HCC patients ineligible for resection or RFA. Material and Methods: Between January 2017 and April 2020, 33 patients with HCC ineligible for resection or RFA were treated with a combination of TACE and radiation therapy. Eight patients were initial cases, and 25 were recurrent or residual cases. A total dose of 40-60 Gy in 5-20 fractions was delivered to the 50-90% isodose line. Results: The median follow-up period was 16 months (range, 6-47 months); the objective response rate was 66.7%; and the 1- and 2-year overall survival rates, 72.7% and 62.5%, respectively. The objective response rate for HCCs <5 em was 79.2%; the 1- and 2-year overall survival rates, 91.7% and 62.5%, respectively; median progression-free survival, 13.5 months (range, 3-47 months), and the 1- and 2-year local progression-free survival rates, 95.8% and 85.7%, respectively. There was one case each of grade 2 radiation esophagitis and ascites after three months of irradiation. Conclusion: The combination of TACE and radiation therapy shows good local control and acceptable toxicity, particularly in HCCs <5 cm and may be a good treatment option

Transgenic up-regulation of alpha-CaMKII in forebrain leads to increased anxiety-like behaviors and aggression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies have demonstrated essential roles for alpha-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (alpha-CaMKII) in learning, memory and long-term potentiation (LTP). However, previous studies have also shown that alpha-CaMKII (+/-) heterozygous knockout mice display a dramatic decrease in anxiety-like and fearful behaviors, and an increase in defensive aggression. These findings indicated that alpha-CaMKII is important not only for learning and memory but also for emotional behaviors. In this study, to understand the roles of alpha-CaMKII in emotional behavior, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing alpha-CaMKII in the forebrain and analyzed their behavioral phenotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We generated transgenic mice overexpressing alpha-CaMKII in the forebrain under the control of the alpha-CaMKII promoter. In contrast to alpha-CaMKII (+/-) heterozygous knockout mice, alpha-CaMKII overexpressing mice display an increase in anxiety-like behaviors in open field, elevated zero maze, light-dark transition and social interaction tests, and a decrease in locomotor activity in their home cages and novel environments; these phenotypes were the opposite to those observed in alpha-CaMKII (+/-) heterozygous knockout mice. In addition, similarly with alpha-CaMKII (+/-) heterozygous knockout mice, alpha-CaMKII overexpressing mice display an increase in aggression. However, in contrast to the increase in defensive aggression observed in alpha-CaMKII (+/-) heterozygous knockout mice, alpha-CaMKII overexpressing mice display an increase in offensive aggression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Up-regulation of alpha-CaMKII expression in the forebrain leads to an increase in anxiety-like behaviors and offensive aggression. From the comparisons with previous findings, we suggest that the expression levels of alpha-CaMKII are associated with the state of emotion; the expression level of alpha-CaMKII positively correlates with the anxiety state and strongly affects aggressive behavior.</p

Continuous Repetition Motor Imagery Training and Physical Practice Training Exert the Growth of Fatigue and Its Effect on Performance

Continuous repetition of motor imagery leads to mental fatigue. This study aimed to examine whether fatigue caused by motor imagery training affects improvement in performance and the change in corticospinal excitability. The participants were divided into “physical practice training” and “motor imagery training” groups, and a visuomotor task (set at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction in participants) was performed to assess the training effect on fatigue. The measurements were recorded before and after training. Corticospinal excitability at rest was measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation according to the Neurophysiological Index. Subjective mental fatigue and muscle fatigue were assessed by using the visual analog scale and by measuring the pinch force, respectively. Additionally, the error area was evaluated and calculated at pre-, mid-, and post-terms after training, using a visuomotor task. After training, muscle fatigue, subjective mental fatigue, and decreased corticospinal excitability were noted in both of the groups. Moreover, the visuomotor task decreased the error area by training; however, there was no difference in the error area between the mid- and post-terms. In conclusion, motor imagery training resulted in central fatigue by continuous repetition, which influenced the improvement in performance in the same manner as physical practice training