Dyspnea in Patients Receiving Radical Radiotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Study

Background and Purpose: Dyspnea is an important symptomatic endpoint for assessment of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) following radical radiotherapy in locally advanced disease, which remains the mainstay of treatment at the time of significant advances in therapy including combination treatments with immunotherapy and chemotherapy and the use of local ablative radiotherapy techniques. We investigated the relationship between dose-volume parameters and subjective changes in dyspnea as a measure of RILI and the relationship to spirometry. Material and Methods: Eighty patients receiving radical radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer were prospectively assessed for dyspnea using two patient-completed tools: EORTC QLQ-LC13 dyspnea quality of life assessment and dyspnea visual analogue scale (VAS). Global quality of life, spirometry and radiation pneumonitis grade were also assessed. Comparisons were made with lung dose-volume parameters. Results: The median survival of the cohort was 26 months. In the evaluable group of 59 patients there were positive correlations between lung dose-volume parameters and a change in dyspnea quality of life scale at 3 months (V30 p=0.017; V40 p=0.026; V50 p=0.049; mean lung dose p=0.05), and a change in dyspnea VAS at 6 months (V30 p=0.05; V40 p=0.026; V50 p=0.028) after radiotherapy. Lung dose-volume parameters predicted a 10% increase in dyspnea quality of life score at 3 months (V40; p=0.041, V50; p=0.037) and dyspnea VAS score at 6 months (V40; p=0.027) post-treatment. Conclusions: Worsening of dyspnea is an important symptom of RILI. We demonstrate a relationship between lung dose-volume parameters and a 10% worsening of subjectiv

Towards an optimal sampling strategy for assessing genetic variation within and among white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars using AFLP

Cost reduction in plant breeding and conservation programs depends largely on correctly defining the minimal sample size required for the trustworthy assessment of intra- and inter-cultivar genetic variation. White clover, an important pasture legume, was chosen for studying this aspect. In clonal plants, such as the aforementioned, an appropriate sampling scheme eliminates the redundant analysis of identical genotypes. The aim was to define an optimal sampling strategy, i.e., the minimum sample size and appropriate sampling scheme for white clover cultivars, by using AFLP data (283 loci) from three popular types. A grid-based sampling scheme, with an interplant distance of at least 40 cm, was sufficient to avoid any excess in replicates. Simulations revealed that the number of samples substantially influenced genetic diversity parameters. When using less than 15 per cultivar, the expected heterozygosity (He) and Shannon diversity index (I) were greatly underestimated, whereas with 20, more than 95% of total intra-cultivar genetic variation was covered. Based on AMOVA, a 20-cultivar sample was apparently sufficient to accurately quantify individual genetic structuring. The recommended sampling strategy facilitates the efficient characterization of diversity in white clover, for both conservation and exploitation

Microsatellite diversity and chromosome number in natural populations of Trifolium riograndense Burkart

Twenty eight natural populations of Trifolium riograndense Burkart, an important forage legume from native pastures of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were evaluated for genetic diversity with eight Simple Sequences Repeats (SSR) markers. Chromosome numbers were also determined. The eight markers were polymorphic, with 35 alleles and an average of 4.37 alleles per locus, and Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) between 0.48 and 0.80. Group analysis based on Jaccard´s similarity coefficient separated the 28 accessions in nine groups, with an average genetic similarity of 0.44, indicating a high genetic variability among the populations. No evident relation between genetic distance and geographical origin was detected. The chromosome number of 2n=2x=16 was found in all populations, indicating lack of intraspecific variability for chromosome number in the species. This information on diversity can be used in conservation strategies as well as in genetic breeding programs of this species

Quel modèle de bibliothèque ?

Quel avenir pour les bibliothèques publiques ? Baisse du nombre des inscrits et érosion de la fréquentation, révolution numérique, reforme des politiques publiques : comment ne pas s’étonner que les professionnels des bibliothèques s’interrogent sur leur identité, leurs compétences, objectifs et perspectives. Les certitudes et convictions professionnelles d’hier volent en éclat. Où trouver de nouveaux repères, et comment ? Ce n’est pas un hasard quand deux publications d’envergure sortent à q..

POSTURAL ALTERATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF PODALIC LOAD IN AGONISTIC ASYMMETRIC SPORT ACTIVITIES

Introduction. Asymmetric sports are characterized by a non-symmetric muscular activity of kinetic chains of two hemisoma. The aim of our case-control study is to evaluate the interference of non-symmetric muscular activity on the postural asset. In particular boxe and kick-boxing fighters were evaluated because of their asymmetric guard. Materials and methods. From January to May 2012, 35 subjects were recruited; 15 were playing asymmetric sports (8 boxers and 7 kick-boxers), 10 symmetric sports (5 football players and 5 basket players), 10 no sport. Inclusion criteria were: age between 18 and 35 years, male gender, BMI range 20-25 kg/m², right hand preference, middle- high agonistic level (at least 4 training for week, duration of the session≥ 1 hour), absence of pain or of muscle-skeletal injuries in the last 12 mounths. All subjects underwent clinic and biopostural (including baropodometric static and dynamic examination, stabilometric examination and podoscananalyzer) examination. Results. Our results show that players of asymmetric sports present alterations in weight distribution beetwen the 2 lower limbs (left 44.86%, right 55.14%), an average alteration of the hindfoot/forefoot ratio on the left (hf= 60.54%- ff = 39.49%) and invertion of this ratio on the right (hf= 46.95%- ff= 53.05%) with PMP (pressure maximum points) localized on the right forefoot in the 80% of the patients. Moreover mean values of COF (center of foot) angle (5.6°) show a rotation in an anticlockwise direction of the over-segmentary structures in all the athletes. At stabilometric examination, mean values of ellipse surface were respectively of 71.09 mm² with OE (opened eyes) and of 36.15 mm² with CE (closed eyes). Players of simmetric sports present: weight distribution (left 48.16 – right 51.84%), hindfoot- forefoot ratio on the left (hf=59.1%- ff= 40.9%) and on the right (hf=59.06%- ff=40.94%) with PMP localized on the right forefoot in only the 10% of the patients; moreover mean value of COF angle (0.46°) was normal. At stabilometric examination, mean values of ellipse surface were normal with OE (42.96 mm²) and CE (49.16 mm²). As for those who don’t play any sport: weight distribution (left 49,38%- right 50,62%), hindfoot/forefoot ratio on the left (hf=56.77%- ff 43.23%), on the right (hf=53.78%- ff =46.22%) with PMP localized on the right forefoot in only the 15% of the patients; besides mean value of COF angle was 0.91°. At stabilometric examination, mean values of ellipse surface were normal (respectively of 209.66 mm2 with OE and of 247.08mm2 with CE). Conclusions. Our results seem to confirm the hypothesis that asymmetric sport brings some postural changes such as weight distribuition on the lower limbs, hindfoot/forefoot ratio, COF angle. Moreover in agonistic players (asymmetric and symmetric athletes) the stabilometric examination shows a reduction of ellipse surface with OE compared to CE, suggesting an increase of proprioceptive control on the balance. We took underconsideration the boxe and kickboxing fighters who during the sport practice assume postures that are consisting with our findings; so our results are in agreement with the theory about the plasticity of the tonic-postural system. Bibliography 1. Oyama S, Myers JB, Wassinger CA, Daniel Ricci R, Lephart SM. Asymmetric resting scapular posture in healthy overhead athletes. J Athl Train. 2008 Oct-Dec;43(6):565-70. 2. Leroy D, Polin D, Tourny-Chollet C, Weber J. GRHAL (Research group on gait disorders), CHU Rouen. Spatial and temporal gait variable differences between basketball, swimming and soccer players. Int J Sports Med. 2000 Apr;21(3):158-62. 3. Bressel E, Yonker JC, Kras J, Heath EM. Comparison of static and dynamic balance in female collegiate soccer, basketball, and gymnastics athletes. J Athl Train. 2007 Jan-Mar;42(1):42-6