Hip External Rotator Strength and Compensatory Movement in Three Different Positions

Measuring intrinsic hip external rotator strength (ER) without compensatory pelvic motion and activation of the sartorius is important for preventing or rehabilitating lower extremity injuries. However, the optimal method for measuring intrinsic hip ER muscle strength while minimizing compensatory pelvic motions and activation of the sartorius is unclear. The purpose of this study is to compare measurements of hip ER strength, compensatory pelvic motion, and sartorius activation in the sitting, prone, and sidelying positions. Thirty-one healthy subjects (16 males and 15 females) were recruited for this study. Hip ER strength, pelvic kinematics, and sartorius muscle activation were measured during maximal isometric contraction of the hip ER in the sitting, prone, and sidelying positions. Hip ER strength was measured using a load-cell-type strength-measurement sensor. Pelvic kinematics was measured using an electromagnetic motion-tracking sensor. Electromyography was used to measure sartorius muscle activity. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. The result showed that hip ER strength and sartorius muscle activation were significantly lower in the sidelying compared with the sitting and prone positions (p < 0.01). Pelvic anteroposterior tilting was significantly greater in the sitting compared with the prone and sidelying positions (p < 0.01). Pelvic rotation differed significantly among positions (p < 0.01). Pelvic lateral tilting was significantly greater in the prone compared with the sitting position (p < 0.017). Compensatory pelvic motion and sartorius muscle activation were lower when hip ER strength measurements were made in the sidelying position. Therefore, the sidelying position is effective for measuring selective intrinsic hip ER strength.

Effect of serum testosterone and percent tumor volume on extra-prostatic extension and biochemical recurrence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Several studies have revealed that the preoperative serum testosterone and percent tumor volume （PTV） predict extra-prostatic extension （EPE） and biochemical recurrence （BCR） after radical prostatectomy. This study investigated the prognostic significance of serum testosterone and PTV in relation to EPE and BCR after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy （LRP）. We reviewed 520 patients who underwent LRP between 2004 and 2012. PTV was determined as the sum of all visually estimated tumor foci in every section. BCR was defined as two consecutive increases in the postoperative prostate-specific antigen （PSA） 〉0.2 ng ml^-1. The threshold for serum total testosterone was 3.0 ng ml^-1, Multivariate logistic regression was used to define the effect of variables on the risk of EPE and BCR. A low serum testosterone （〈3.0 ng ml^-1） was associated with a high serum PSA, Gleason score, positive core percentage of the prostate biopsy, PTV, and all pathological variables. On multivariate analysis, similar to previous studies, the serum PSA, biopsy positive core percentage, Gleason score, and pathological variables predicted EPE and BCR. In addition, low serum testosterone （〈3.0 ng ml^-1, adjusted OR, 8.52; 95% CI, 5.04-14.4, P = 0.001） predicted EPE and PTV （adjusted OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05, P = 0.046） predicted BCR. In addition to previous predictors of EPE and BCR, low serum testosterone and PTV are valuable predictors of EPE and BCR after LRP.

A combination of immunoadjuvant nanocomplexes and dendritic cell vaccines in the presence of immune checkpoint blockade for effective cancer immunotherapy

Nanovaccines are used as delivery platforms for antigens and adjuvants, which activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and enhance anticancer immune responses.1,2 Researchers have recently developed a self-assembled nanocomplex using a polysorbitol-co-PEI (PSPEI) polymer complexed with poly(I:C) (PIC). By binding to different surface proteins, this nanocomplex enhances the intracellular delivery of cargos and induces potent anticancer immune responses against melanoma cells.3 We have previously demonstrated that PD-1/PD-L1 blockade enhanced the efficacy of DC-based cancer immunotherapy.4,5 Moreover, the combination of nanomedicines and PD-L1 blockade has been reported to enhance CD8+ T cell activation and inhibit immunosuppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment.6 In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of a combinatorial treatment comprising the immunoadjuvant nanocomplex PSPEI-PIC, a DC vaccine, and PD-L1 blockade in a murine colon cancer model.

Expanded natural killer cells augment the antimyeloma effect of daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in a mouse model

The use of natural killer(NK)cells is a promising and safe immunotherapeutic approach in the field of cancer immunotherapy.However,combination treatments are required to enhance the effector functions and therapeutic efficacy of NK cells.In this study,we investigated the potential of daratumumab(Dara),bortezomib,and dexamethasone(Dvd)to augment the antitumor effects of NK cells in a multiple myeloma(MM)xenograft mouse model.NK cells were expanded and activated using the K562-OX40 ligand and membrane-bound IL-18 and IL-21 in the presence of IL-2 and IL-15 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MM patients.A human MM xenograft model was established using human RPMI8226-RFP-FLuc cells in NOD/SCID IL-2Rγnull(NSG)mice.Tumor-bearing mice were divided into six treatment groups:no treatment,expanded NK cells(eNKs),Dara,Dara+eNKs,Dvd,and Dvd+eNKs.Dvd treatment strongly enhanced the cytotoxicity of eNKs by upregulating expression of NK cell activation ligands,downregulating expression of NK cell inhibitory ligands,and promoting antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.The combination of eNKs with Dvd significantly prolonged mouse survival and reduced the tumor burden and serum M-protein level.Furthermore,Dvd pretreatment significantly increased eNK persistence and homing to MM sites.Our findings suggest that Dvd treatment potentiates the antimyeloma effects of NK cells expanded and activated ex vivo by modulating immune responses in MM-bearing mice.