Effectiveness of a theory-based tailored mHealth physical activity intervention for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer:A quasi-experimental study

Objectives:This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of the theory-based tailored mHealth physical activity(PA)intervention among patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.Methods:A quasi-experimental study design was adopted.A total of 60 breast cancer patients were selected from two tertiary hospitals in Shanghai and Hangzhou City from September 2019 to August 2021.According to the admission order,30 patients werefirst included in the control group,followed by 30 patients in the intervention group.A smartphone application(app)named“Breast Care”was developed based on social cognitive theory,self-efficacy theory,and the theory of planned behavior.The app integrated various functions,including information browsing,PA monitoring and feedback,symptom reporting,and social interaction.Patients in the intervention group received three months of personalized online PA guidance in addition to routine care.The control group received routine care.Baseline and post-intervention investigations after three months were conducted in two groups using the Short Form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire,the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,and the Functional Assessment of Cancer TherapydBreast cancer.Results:After three months of intervention,compared to the control group,breast cancer patients in the intervention group showed significant improvements in walking,moderate PA,and overall PA(P<0.05).Compared to the baseline data,breast cancer patients in the intervention group had significant improvements in walking and overall PA after three months(P<0.05),whereas the control group experienced significant declines in walking,moderate PA,and overall PA after three months(P<0.05).There were statistically differences between the two groups in scores for anxiety,overall quality of life,and its dimensions,such as physical well-being,emotional well-being,and additional breast cancer well-being(P<0.05).Conclusions:The theory-based tailored mHealth PA intervention has demonstrated a positive impact on promoting PA behavior change and emotional management among breast cancer patients.The‘Breast Care’app integrated various practical behavior change strategies,offering valuable guidance for personalized remote rehabilitation support for cancer patients.

Non-invasive physical therapy as salvage measure for ischemic skin flap:A literature review

This review focuses on the available evidence regarding the molecular mechanisms and treatment potential of several non-surgical physical therapies for managing flap ischemia to propose a non-invasive,economical,and simple treatment to improve flap survival.A review of the literature was conducted on the topics of various non-invasive methods for the treatment of ischemic necrosis of the distal end of the flap between 1988 and 2019.A total of 52 published studies were reviewed on the applications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy,electrical stimulation therapy,heat stress pretreatment,phototherapy,and vibration therapy to manage skin flap necrosis.The underlying molecular mechanisms of these physical therapies on revitalizing the dying skin flaps were discussed and preliminary clinical uses of these therapies to salvage the necrotic skin flaps were pooled and summarized for clarifying the safety and feasibility of these methods.Various physical therapy regimens have been ushered to manage necrotic development in cutaneous flaps.With the refinement of these new technologies and enhancement of related basic science research on vascular revitalization,the prevention and treatment of flap ischemia will enter a new era.

The Physical and Clinical Aspects of Radiation Therapy in Skin Cancer and Subcutaneous Tissue Neoplasm

Cancers, malignant melanoma and sarcomas of the skin represent the most common group of malignancies in humans. The main treatment method of almost all skin cancers and subcutaneous tissue tumours is surgery, which consists of complete removal of a neoplastic lesion, with an adequate margin of healthy tissue. Radiotherapy plays an adjuvant role in this process, meaning complementing of the surgical procedure. This study compared four methods of irradiation treatment of cancer located in the skin or in subcutaneous tissues: contact brachytherapy, conventional orthovoltage therapy, electron beam conformal teleradiotherapy and IMRT dynamically shaped photonic beams conformal teleradiotherapy. In order to compare the methods and techniques of surface radiotherapy, following specific objectives were formulated. At the beginning in order to compare the scopes of the absorbed doses at different tissue depths, an analysis of parameters describing particular beams or radiation source has been performed—the curves for the absorbed-dose depth drop-offs. Doses distribution in tissue-like phantoms stimulating homogeneous cuboidal tissue block has been determined. A quality comparison of dose distribution in 2D and 3D treatment planning system for contact brachytherapy application has been made. The dose distribution for electron beam in the system has been determined. Conformal plannings for electron beam treatment, contact brachytherapy applicator treatment and 4 photon beams treatment optimized in IMRT technology have been performed. Dose distribution has been performed for the irradiated female patient within the well chest—the target included the recurrence area in the post-operative scar. The radiation therapy with X-rays has actually been completely eliminated from skin cancer and subcutaneous tissue radiotherapy by the electrons generated in linear accelerators, contact brachytherapy HDR and by high-energy photons used in conformal techniques, ex. IMRT. It is because the residual dose beyond the target is the highest for single X-ray beam. Although in brachytherapy HDR a rapid dose drop-off is observed, 5 cm from its normalization level for the target the residual radiation remains at the level of several percent. So, both X-rays beam radiation and brachytherapy in skin cancer treatment is connected with the administration of the dose with a high gradient in the health tissues. The dose distribution for photon conformal techniques IMRT or for electron radiation looks different. There with the dose normalization at the level of 90% or 85% we deal with the dose layer, the division does not exceed 15% of heterogeneity.

Effectiveness of a Group Exercise Class vs. Home Exercise Program as a Follow-up to Physical Therapy for Older Adults with High Fall Risk

This quasi-experimental study compared the results of a traditional model of physical therapy(PT)care to a PT wellness model known as GroupHab.The traditional model included discharge from PT with a home exercise program(HEP)to be self-administered with or without the addition of a community-based exercise program.The wellness model included participation in a PT-designed and supervised group exercise program(GroupHab class)in an outpatient clinical setting following discharge from PT.Independent t-tests were used to compare the number of falls,exercise frequency,and exercise duration between the two groups.A repeated measures,analysis of variance(RM-ANOVA)compared changes in balance confidence scores both within and between groups,and a multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA)analyzed group differences across multiple quality of life ratings using the SF-20.All data were analyzed at the 0.05 alpha level using SPSS 24 statistical software.Our results showed a significantly greater reduction in recurrent falls among the GroupHab wellness group compared to the HEP group(t=2.811,p=0.009).The resulting odds ratio for subsequent falls was 2.2 among HEP participants and 0.2 among GroupHab participants.Exercise adherence was also greater for those who participated in the GroupHab class.They documented greater exercise frequency(t=-3.253,p=0.002)and more exercise minutes(t=-7.188,p<0.001)than those who participated in the HEP.When comparing changes in the participants’balance confidence,we found an average increase of 5%among GroupHab participants compared to a 6%decrease among HEP participants(F=16.877,p<0.001,power=0.981).Although our multivariate analysis of the SF-20 scores revealed no significant difference overall(F=0.768,p=0.73),the univariate analyses showed significantly greater improvements among GroupHab participants in selected areas of physical function.These results suggest that at-risk older adults who are discharged into a functionally-based group exercise class are less likely to experience recurrent falls and are more likely to have more confidence in their balance than those who are discharged with a standard HEP and/or use of community-based exercise classes.

Does physical therapy and rehabilitation improve outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers?

One of the most common and serious complications of diabetes mellitus is ulceration of the foot. Among persons with diabetes, 12%-25% will present to a healthcare institution for a foot disorder during their lifespan. Despite currently available medical and surgical treatments, these are still the most common diabetes-related cause of hospitalization and of lower extremity amputations. Thus, many adjunctive and complementary treatments have been developed in an attempt to improve outcomes. We herein review the available literature on the effectiveness of several treatments, including superficial and deep heaters, electro-therapy procedures, prophylactic methods, exercise and shoe modifications, on diabetic foot wounds. Overall, although physical therapy modalities seem to be useful in the treatment of diabetic foot wounds, further randomized clinical studies are required.

The Effects of Pain Neuroscience Education with Conventional Physical Therapy on Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Study

Background and Purpose: Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is a condition that affects the foot and causes complaints such as pain and stiffness. The most common symptom of this condition is pain. There are many treatment options to deal with this condition, such as conservative therapy, medications, and surgical interventions in rare cases. This case study aims to investigate the potential impact of pain neuroscience education (PNE), combined with a conventional Physical Therapy (PT) program on a 37-year-old-patient with chronic plantar fasciitis. Case description: A 37-year-old male health care professional presented to an outpatient physical therapy clinic with a diagnosis of chronic PF for around two years. The participant had tried several treatment options with no improvement of his symptoms. After undergoing a physical therapy evaluation, he was given a plan of care for twelve sessions by a skilled physical therapist for a six-week period, with each session consisting of 30 minutes of conventional PT, followed by 5 to 15 minutes of PNE. Results: After completing the prescribed plan of care, the patient reported a reduction in subjective symptoms via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). He also reported improvement with symptoms and functional independence via the Foot Function Index (FFI). The patient reported no change in the quality of sleep via Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Lastly, he demonstrated no objective improvement in foot pressure with the Navicular Drop Test. Discussion: This case report indicates that PNE, combined with conventional PT for PF can have a positive impact on subjective pain and foot function. PNE should involve many topics about the physiology of pain and the nervous system and should be administered by a certified therapeutic pain specialist. Further studies are recommended to investigate the impact of this intervention in combination with traditional PT for PF in larger populations.

Improving cancer therapy by combining cell biological, physical, and molecular targeting strategies

Successful cancer therapy depends on selective killing of tumor cells while sparing normal cells. Selectivity can be achieved through treatment strategies that target tumor cells. A recent report from the Li laboratory （1） describes an elegant strategy to selectively kill tumor cells by combining several targeting strategies based on cell biological, physical, and molecular （genetic） properties of tumor and normal cells that enhances tumor cell killing in vitro and in an in vivo tumor xenograft model. The idea of using a multiplex targeting approach is reminiscent of strategies in which several antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections while minimizing the chance that rare antibiotic-resistant mutants will arise within a population.

Effective of exercise therapy on functional balance, physical performance and quality of life among patients undergoing hemodialysis: randomized controlled trial

Background:Patients undergoing hemodialysis suffer from deteriorating physical health,impaired physical function,and have a low quality of life,that explained by insufficient metabolic clearance.To overcome these obstacles,cost-effective strategies must be developed,including exercise as a complement to hemodialysis therapy.Objective:To determine the effectiveness of exercise therapy on functional balance,physical performance,and quality of life among patients undergoing hemodialysis:a randomized controlled trial.Methods:This randomized controlled trial study was carried out on 68 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis for at least six months and had a medically stable condition who were randomly divided into training(n=32)exercise therapy and(n=31)control,groups.The training group participated in 8-week(3 sessions per week)resistance exercise therapy in three sets of 10 repetitions of knee extension,hip flexion,and hip abduction with the use of an elastic band under the supervision of a training physiotherapist and researcher during the first hour of the three routine hemodialysis treatment session per week.But the control group did not experience any intervention.To analyze the data,two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni statistical tests were used at the significant level of(P=0.05).Results:6 Minute-Walk Test(6MWT)(0.013),and in the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly(PASE)(0.014),and Short Survey Form 36(SF-36)questionnaires and health-related quality of life(HRQOL)(0.001)had significant improvements in the training group in comparison to the control group from pre to post-test,also physical performance(0.001)was improving as compared with control group(0.89)at(P=0.05).Conclusion:Resistance exercise therapy interventions for eight weeks effectively improve the physical function and performance,activity levels,and health-related quality of life of patients with chronic kidney disease and undergoing regular hemodialysis compared with a control group.

Patient’s Perception of Autonomy Support and Shared Decision Making in Physical Therapy

Background: Shared Decision Making (SDM) is primarily intended to enhance patient autonomy. To date, the relationship between patients’ perceived levels of involvement and autonomy support has never been investigated in the field of physical therapy. Based on the recently reported extremely low level of observed SDM in physical therapy, similarly poor patient perceptions are expected. Objective: The main objectives of this study were to examine patients’ perceptions of SDM and autonomy support in physical therapy and to explore the relationship between both. Design: Patient survey after real consultations in physical therapy. Methods: Patients completed the Dyadic Observing Patient Involvement (Dyadic OPTION) instrument and the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ) to examine patients’ perceived levels of SDM and autonomy support, respectively. Multilevel analyses were applied to determine the relationship between both perceptions. Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients, who were recruited by 13 physical therapists, agreed to participate. The median Dyadic OPTION score was 72.9 out of a total possible score of 100. The median HCCQ score was 94.3 out of a total possible score of 100. Patients’ experienced level of SDM (b = 0.14;p < 0.001) and patients’ age (b = 0.12;p = 0.001) contributed to patients’ perceived autonomy support. None of the physical therapist characteristics were related to patients’ perceived autonomy support. Limitations: Only 13 out of 125 therapists who were personally contacted agreed to participate. Conclusion: Using patients’ perceptions, we found that a relationship between SDM and autonomy support existed. In contrast to observational studies, our study also demonstrated that the participating physical therapists individually tailored patient support by adapting their implementation of SDM to each patient.

Improving Balance through Virtual Reality and Physical Therapy Integration

Background and Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology that shows promise in the assistance of physical therapy (PT). This case report explores the use of virtual reality with a patient suffering from unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH). Case Description: The patient is a 50-year-old male who was referred to physical therapy following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was diagnosed with having an acute left UVH, accompanied by reports of dizziness, imbalance and gait disturbances which impaired him from his work in construction. Intervention: The patient was seen two to three times a week for 40-minute sessions along with an individualized home exercise program. Interventions included vestibular rehabilitation exercises, balance training, gait training, and VR. The goals of VR were to provide task-specific simulations to improve postural balance, decrease anxiety through exposure therapy, and improve smooth eye pursuits to improve static balance. Outcomes: Outcomes used included subjective questionnaires such as the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence survey and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) as well as functional tests like the Sensory Organization Test, Motor Control Test, and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). Outcome measures were performed at initial evaluation, at the 10th visit, and again at discharge. Notable improvements were seen on DHI and FGA scores. Conclusion: Dizziness, confidence, balance, and gait improved following vestibular rehabilitation combined with VR. Outcomes of this case suggest that virtual reality in conjunction with vestibular rehabilitation therapy is effective in improving deficits of unilateral vestibular hypofunction. Additionally, the use of VR in this case report suggests this can be an effective tool for intervention to facilitate patient-specific goals.

Age and Gender-Related Differences in Physical Functions of the Elderly Following One-Year Regular Exercise Therapy

Reports on physical functions during maintenance period of the elderly with cardiac and other serious diseases are limited. This study aims to clarify age and gender-related differences in their physical functions. Participants included 167 elderly individuals (males, 78;mean age, 76.5 years;SD = 6.0 years;females, 89;mean age, 75.5 years;SD = 4.5 years) who participated in a 1-year regular exercise therapy twice a week. The following eight physical function tests were selected: grip strength, 10-m obstacle walking time, one-legged balance with eyes open, sit-ups, sitting trunk flexion, 6-min walk, stepping by sitting position, and a timed up & go (TUG). Two-way analysis of variance was used to examine mean differences by gender and age: young elderly group (aged 65 - 74 years) and old elderly group (aged ≥ 75 years). In the grip strength, sit-ups, 6-min walk, 10-m obstacle walking time, stepping by sitting position, and sitting trunk flexion tests, males were superior in the former four tests, and females were superior in the latter two tests. The young elderly group was superior in all tests except for sit-ups compared with the old elderly group. The balance during one-legged with eyes open test was superior in males compared with females in the young elderly group, but decreased in males in the old elderly group. In conclusion, physical functions of the elderly during maintenance period are different between genders. Muscle strength, muscle endurance, whole-body endurance, and walking ability are superior in males, whereas flexibility and agility are superior in females. The old elderly group was inferior in all the elements of physical function except muscle endurance.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies in Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Students Enrolled in a Hybrid-Learning Curriculum during the Pandemic

Physical therapy students can experience elevated levels of stress due to the pressure to be successful, changes in the environment, personal concerns, the lack of spare time, increased work, or financial burdens. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived stress and coping strategies of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students enrolled in a hybrid-learning curriculum during the COVID-19 pademic. A total of 73 students enrolled in the DPT hybrid-learning curriculum responded to a survey which consisted of socio-demographics, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the 28-item Brief COPE. A general question regarding stress relating to COVID-19 was presented as a sliding percentage. Data analysis included a Spearman correlation, a Kruskal-Wallis test, and a linear regression to evaluate coping mechanisms against PSS scores. The mean (± SD) score on the PSS was 22.65 (± 10.21) and the Brief COPE was 59.18 (± 10.61). A non-significant negative correlation was found between the PSS and Brief COPE (r = -0.024). A third of the variation in the perceived stress score could be accounted for by students utilizing coping mechanisms regardless of other factors (R2 = 0.35). No significant differences were found when comparing PSS and Brief Cope to age, hours worked per week and term. Perceived stress was higher in females compared to males, but the results were not significant. Stress related to COVID-19 mean percentage reported by DPT students was 49.03%. During a global pandemic, DPT students enrolled in a hybrid-learning curriculum reported elevated levels of stress but reported higher adaptive versus maladaptive coping strategies. It can be beneficial that universities evaluate the stress and coping methods of students to potentially avoid the negative impacts of stress.

Effects of Physical Exercise and Music Therapy on Cognitive Aspects in Tunisian Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Type Dementia

Aim: The objective of this research is to highlight the effectiveness of physical exercise and music therapy in older patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Patients with a mild level of AD were included in this study, divided into the therapy group (TG;N = 30, aged 68 ± 3.2 years) and the control group (CG;N=30, aged 65 ± 2.6 years). The therapy group was enrolled in an exercise-training program (walking, resistance and balance exercises) combined with musical therapy for 10 weeks (three sessions of 60 minutes per week). The Control group was instructed to follow their daily rhythm of life (e.g., rest, reading) under the same conditions. The intervention program was enrolled under the supervision of;one psychologist;a neurologist;two music therapists, and two physiotherapists, all belonging to the same hospital unit. After 10 weeks of participation in the combined program, cognitive parameters were improved in the therapy group measured with the Behavior Pathology in Alzheimer Disease (BEHAVE-AD), (p < 0.05) for activity disturbance, diurnal rhythm disturbances, anxieties and phobias, affective disturbance. The percentage range of improvements is 1.07% to 2.96%. Results: Our results demonstrate that physical exercise combined with music therapy improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions: Physical exercise and music therapy are beneficial combined treatments for improving life quality in older patients. This approach may be useful to help patients with a mild level of Alzheimer’s disease improve their behavioral and psychological parameters.

The Application Status of Horticultural Therapy in the Study of College Students’Physical and Mental Health

Horticultural therapy,as a new medical method,has a good effect on human physical,mental health and society.This study focused on the significance of horticultural therapy in college students,the research of experimental content and the problems encountered in the specific implementation,fully understood the application status of horticultural therapy on college students’physical and mental health,and proposed that agricultural colleges and universities could take advantage of their own advantages to actively carry out relevant research,in order to provide technical support for the comprehensive development of horticultural therapy in college students.

Metaphysical Energy Therapy in the Treatment of Cranial Nerve Palsies with Special Reference to Bell’s Palsy

Neuropathy, or nerve injury, is a severe and common impediment of diabetes. Studies evaluate that 50% of people with diabetes will develop neuropathy. Diabetic nerve injury is impairment of a single solitary nerve (also named mononeuropathy). Com- monly 2 cranial nerves Viz., cranial nerve VII and cranial nerve VI are involved in facial nerve palsies. The former one is called Bell’s palsy and is acute Lower Motor Neuron facial nerve paralysis (>80%) causing an inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. The later one is sixth nerve palsy, (the abducens nerve), which is responsible for triggering contraction of the lateral rectus muscle to abduct (i.e., turn out) the eye resulting in double vision on the affected side. In recent times, we have found to our amazement, rapid restoration of normalcy within a few hours to a few days, of Cranial Nerve palsies in diabetic subjects at our centre. We are presenting a group of cases having Type2DM over different time periods from 6 to 20 years and those who suddenly suffered facial nerve palsy and they came to VHSDRC for treatment. They were started on the new modality called the Dynamic Acupuncture Mediated Meta-physical Energy Therapy (DAMM Therapy), to recover from the facial palsy. The DAMM therapy is a unique novel way of infusing and transferring healing energy from the therapist to the patient. Within 2 - 7 sittings of DAMM therapy patients showed 75% - 100% improvement in their clinical condition.

The Future Therapy of Renal Cell Carcinoma? Non-Invasive Physical Plasma as an Innovative Oncological Therapy Modality

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most important urological tumors and is one of the most common cancer diseases worldwide. Unfortunately, the treatment options are very limited due to resistances. Non-invasive physical plasma (NIPP) is currently becoming a promising and very well tolerated treatment option for cancer. NIPP represents a highly energized gas and induces varying antioncogenic cell responses in tumor cells. And also in the case of RCC, NIPP treatment has great potential to enhance and supplement existing anticancer treatment options. Outstanding characteristics of NIPP treatment are 1) a precise and local effect on the treated tissue and 2) an almost exclusive effect on treated tumor cells without side effects. This allows an enormously large therapeutic window and makes the combination of NIPP treatment and classical therapy appear particularly promising. In addition to RCC, plasma oncology offers an extremely innovative physical treatment method for future oncology in general. This brief review article summarizes the current knowledge on the potential use of NIPP in RCC therapy.

Comparison of Physical Therapy Follow-Up of Patients with Operated and Non-Operated Lumbar Spinal Stenosis According to the Nottingham Health Profile-Pain Scale

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) continues to be a major problem in societies, causing job loss and lowering quality of life. There are two types of treatment methods, physical therapy and surgery. If patients with LSS avoid treatment, they are likely to experience neurological deterioration in later years. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical therapy applied after decompression surgery or the effect of only applied physical therapy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Materials and Methods: The results of the physical therapy follow-up of patients who had surgery and did not have surgery due to lumbar spinal stenosis between July 2014 and December 2019 were compared with each other. All patients received physical therapy for 6 months. Included were 42 patients who underwent decompression surgery due to LSS; 56 patients were not operated. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Nottingham Health Profile-Pain (NHP-Pain) scale at the initial, first, third and sixth months. The results were compared statistically. Results: The age of the operated patients was 54.69 ± 8.42 (39 - 71), while the non-operated patients were 59.16 ± 14.04 (34 - 83). There was no significant difference in the statistical comparison (p = 0.053). While the body mass index (BMI) of the operated patients was 29.43 ± 4.99 (21 - 40), the BMI of the non-operated patients was 28.84 ± 4.62 (22 - 42). There was no significant difference in the statistical comparison (p = 0.552). The scores of a 6-month physical therapy follow-up of patients were evaluated according to the NHP-pain scale. The values of patients who underwent surgery, initial - 1st month (p < 0.001), 1st month - 3rd month (p = 0.028), 3rd month - 6th month (p = 0.389) follow-up of the intervals were compared statistically. The values of non-operated patients, initial - 1st month (p = 0.008), 1st month -3rd month (p = 0.013), 3rd month - 6th month (p = 0.025) were compared statistically. Patients with and without surgery had significantly different initial pain scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The NHP-Pain scores of the patients undergoing physical therapy with the operation were shown to provide more significant improvement than the group receiving only the physical therapy. Patients with LSS should be treated with an operation to obtain the maximum benefit of physical therapy.

Revolutionizing gastric cancer treatment:The potential of immunotherapy

Gastric cancer,a prevalent malignancy worldwide,ranks sixth in terms of frequency and third in fatality,causing over a million new cases and 769000 annual deaths.Predominant in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia,risk factors include family medical history,dietary habits,tobacco use,Helicobacter pylori,and Epstein-Barr virus infections.Unfortunately,gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage,leading to a grim prognosis,with a 5-year overall survival rate below 5%.Surgical intervention,particularly with D2 Lymphadenectomy,is the mainstay for early-stage cases but offers limited success.For advanced cases,the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends chemotherapy,radiation,and targeted therapy.Emerging immunotherapy presents promise,especially for unresectable or metastatic cases,with strategies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,tumor vaccines,adoptive immunotherapy,and nonspecific immunomodulators.In this Editorial,with regards to the article“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review”,we address the advances in the field of immunotherapy in gastric cancer and its future prospects.

Muscle function, physical performance and body composition changes in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy

Prostate cancer （PCa） is the most common visceral malignancy in men with androgen deprivation therapy （ADT） the preferred therapy to suppress testosterone production and hence tumor growth. Despite its effectiveness in lowering testosterone, ADT is associated with side effects including loss of muscle mass, diminished muscle strength, decrements in physical performance, earlier fatigue and declining quality of life. This review reports a survey of the literature with a focus on changes in muscle strength, physical function and body composition, due to short-term and long-term ADT. Studies in these areas are sparse, especially well-controlled, prospective randomized trials. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data （up to 2 years） for men with PCa treated with ADT as well as patients with PCa not receiving ADT and age-matched healthy men are presented when available. Based on limited longitudinal data, the adverse effects of ADT on muscle function, physical performance and body composition occur shortly after the onset of ADT and tend to persist and worsen over time. Exercise training is a safe and effective intervention for mitigating these changes and initial guidelines for exercise program design for men with PCa have been published by the American College of Sports Medicine. Disparities in study duration, types of studies and other patient-specific variables such as time since diagnosis, cancer stage and comorbidities may all affect an understanding of the influence of ADT on health, physical performance and mortality.

物理治疗(Physical Therapy)专业在美国的发展——美国高校体育系新专业介绍

物理治疗专业培养专业的康复和治疗人员 ,对人的残障、损伤和疾病予以预防、治疗和康复 ,特别是对体育运动中出现的损伤与康复有着重要的作用。该专业在美国已有 80多年的发展历史 ,体育教育出现此专业只有近几十年的历程。随着大众体育运动的普及和人们对健康与安全的日益关心 ,物理治疗专业必将受到全社会的重视和欢迎。