Dream intensity scale: Factors in the phenomenological analysis of dreams.

The present study aimed to develop a comprehensive assessment tool for measuring subjective dream intensity by revising the original probes and response scales of the Dream Intensity Inventory and incorporating new variables. The factor analyses suggested that 18 items of the new instrument, Dream Intensity Scale, could form four scales and six subscales. The revision of the probes and response scales did not have major effects on the clustering of the indicator variables, which was highly consistent with the original three-factor measurement model. The alpha coefficients, interitem correlations, and item-scale correlations indicated a good internal consistency for the Dream Intensity Scale. Moreover, the convergent and discriminant concurrent validity of the Dream Intensity Scale and the clinical utility of its scale and subscale scores were substantiated by their selective correlations with neuroticism and extraversion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison between intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 3D tangential beams technique used in patients with early-stage breast cancer who received breast-conserving therapy

Background

The most often found complications in patients with breast cancer who received radiotherapy are cardiac and pulmonary function disorders and development of second malignancies.

Aim

To compare the intensity modulated radiotherapy with the 3D tangential beams technique in respect of dose distribution in target volume and critical organs they generate in patients with early-stage breast cancer who received breast-conserving therapy.

Materials and methods

A dosimetric analysis was performed to assess the three radiotherapy techniques used in each of 10 consecutive patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with breast-conserving therapy. Radiotherapy was planned with the use of all the three techniques: 3D tangential beams with electron boost, IMRT with electron boost, and intensity modulated radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost.

Results

The use of the IMRT techniques enables more homogenous dose distribution in target volume. The range of mean and median dose to the heart and lung was lower with the IMRT techniques in comparison to the 3D tangential beams technique. The range of mean dose to the heart amounted to 0.3–3.5 Gy for the IMRT techniques and 0.4–4.3 for the tangential beams technique. The median dose to the lung on the irradiated side amounted to 4.9–5 Gy for the IMRT techniques and 5.6 Gy for the 3D tangential beams technique.

Conclusion

The application of the IMRT techniques in radiotherapy patients with early-stage breast cancer allows to obtain more homogenous dose distribution in target volume, while permitting to reduce the dose to critical organs.     

Variation in infection parameters among populations within parasite species: intrinsic properties versus local factors

Within any parasite species, variation among populations in standard infection parameters (prevalence, intensity and abundance) is an accepted fact. The proportion of hosts infected and the mean number of parasites per host are not fixed values across the entire geographic range of any parasite species. The question is whether this inter-population variation occurs within a narrow, species-specific range and is thus driven mainly by the biological features of the parasite, or whether it is substantial and unpredictable, leaving population parameters at the mercy of local conditions. Here, the repeatability of estimates of prevalence, intensity and abundance of infection was assessed across populations of the same parasite species, for 77 metazoan parasite species of Canadian freshwater fishes. Overall, parameter values from different populations of the same parasite species were more similar to each other and more different from those of other species, than expected by chance alone. Much of the variation in parameter values in the dataset was associated with differences between parasite species, rather than with differences among populations within species. This was particularly true for intensity and abundance of infection; in contrast, prevalence values, while somewhat repeatable among populations of the same species, still showed considerable variation. Among the higher taxa investigated (monogeneans, trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, acanthocephalans, copepods), there was no evidence that species of one taxon display intrinsically greater variation in population parameters than species of other taxa. Overall, the results suggest that intensity and abundance of infection are real species characters, though somewhat variable. This conclusion supports the view that the biological features of parasite species can potentially override local environmental conditions in driving parasite population dynamics.     

Reference‐independent wide field fluorescence lifetime measurements using Frequency‐Domain (FD) technique based on phase and amplitude crossing point

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is an essential tool in many scientific fields such as biology and medicine thanks to the known advantages of the fluorescence lifetime (FLT) over the classical fluorescence intensity (FI). However, the frequency domain (FD) FLIM technique suffers from its strong dependence on the reference and its compliance to the sample. In this paper, we suggest a new way to calculate the FLT by using the crossing point (CRPO) between the modulation and phase FLTs measured over several light emitting diode (LED) DC currents values instead of either method alone. This new technique was validated by measuring homogeneous substances with known FLT, where the CRPO appears to be the optimal measuring point. Furthermore, the CRPO method was applied in heterogeneous samples. It was found that the CRPO in known mixed solutions is the weighted average of the used solutions. While measuring B16 and lymphocyte cells, the CRPO of the DAPI compound in single FLT regions was measured at 3.5 ± 0.06 ns and at 2.83 ± 0.07 ns, respectively, both of which match previous reports and multi‐frequency analyses. This paper suggests the CRPO as a new method to extract the FLT in problematic cases such as high MCP gains and heterogeneous environments.

In traditional FD FLIM measurements, the variation in phase angle and modulation are measured. By measuring over varying DC currents, another variation is detected in the FLT determined through the phase and modulation methods, with the CRPO indicating the true FLT.     

适形调强放射治疗同步TP化疗对局部晚期非小细胞肺癌患者免疫功能、全身炎症反应指标和血清肿瘤标志物的影响

摘要 目的：观察适形调强放射治疗（IMRT）同步TP化疗方案（顺铂联合紫杉醇）对局部晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者免疫功能、全身炎症反应指标和血清肿瘤标志物的影响。方法：选取2017年8月-2019年8月期间清远市人民医院收治的局部晚期NSCLC患者86例。采用抛硬币法随机将患者分为对照组和实验组,各43例,对照组给予TP化疗,实验组在对照组基础上联合IMRT,对比两组临床疗效、免疫功能、全身炎症反应指标和血清肿瘤标志物,观察两组不良反应发生率、1年生存率和中位生存时间。结果：实验组的客观缓解率、疾病控制率分别为44.19%、83.72%,均高于对照组的23.26%、53.49%（P<0.05）。治疗2个周期后,两组CD3⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺、CD4⁺降低,但实验组较对照组高（P<0.05）;两组CD8⁺升高,但实验组低于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗2个周期后,两组糖类抗原125(CA125)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、中性粒细胞-淋巴细胞比值(NLR)、血小板-淋巴细胞比值(PLR)降低,且实验组低于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组的中位生存时间长于对照组。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析发现,实验组的1年生存率高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：IMRT同步TP化疗应用于局部晚期NSCLC患者,可减轻免疫抑制,缓解炎症反应,阻止肿瘤进展,近期疗效较好。     

不同声强超声对孕鼠子宫收缩及胎鼠神经损伤的影响及机制

目的:探讨不同声强超声对孕鼠子宫收缩及胎鼠神经损伤的影响及机制。方法:将32只孕鼠随机分为A(0)组、B(2)组、C(4)组、D(8)组,每组各8只,分别接受声强为0 W cm~(-2)、2 W cm~(-2)、4 W cm~(-2)和8 W cm~(-2)的超声辐照20 min。记录孕鼠子宫收缩及子宫平滑肌ATP酶的活力,检测胎鼠大脑皮层与海马神经元凋亡及胆碱能神经系统相关酶的活力。结果:超声增加孕鼠子宫收缩频率、收缩幅度、收缩张力和子宫活动度(P均0.05),降低孕鼠子宫平滑肌中钠钾ATP酶、钙ATP酶和钙镁ATP酶的活性(P均0.05)。超声降低胎鼠大脑皮层和海马中Bcl~(-2)水平(P0.05),增加Bax和Caspase-3水平(P均0.05)。以及促进乙酰胆碱酯酶活力,降低乙酰胆碱和乙酰胆碱转移酶水平(P均0.05)。且4 W cm~(-2)和8 W cm~(-2)的超声比2 W cm~(-2)超声对这些指标的作用更强。结论:4 W cm~(-2)和8 W cm~(-2)超声可能通过降低ATP酶的活性促进孕鼠子宫平滑肌收缩,并可引起胎鼠大脑皮层和海马神经元损伤,机制可能与胆碱能神经元系统失衡有关,2 W cm~(-2)声强的超声对胎鼠神经元损伤甚小。     

适形调强放疗联合顺铂为基础的化疗对≥5 cm非小细胞肺癌患者生存质量和血清肿瘤标志物的影响

摘要 目的：探讨适形调强放疗联合顺铂为基础的化疗治疗≥5 cm非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）的疗效及对生存质量和血清肿瘤标志物的影响。方法：选取2016年1月~2019年1月来我院就诊的60例NSCLC患者（肿瘤直径≥5 cm）。分组方法采用随机数字表法,分为对照组（适形调强放疗）和观察组（适形调强放疗联合顺铂为基础的化疗治疗）,各30例。对比两组疗效、生存质量、1年生存率、血清肿瘤标志物和不良反应发生情况。结果：观察组治疗后的生存质量优于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组治疗后的总有效率为63.33%（19/30）,高于对照组的36.67%（11/30）（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组神经元烯醇化酶（NSE）、糖类抗原199（CA199）、细胞角蛋白19片段（CYFRA21-1）较治疗前下降,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组的1年生存率66.67%高于对照组36.67%（P<0.05）。两组放射性肺炎、放射性食管炎的发生率组间对比无差异（P>0.05）。观察组的全身不良反应、血液毒性发生率高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：适形调强放疗联合顺铂为基础的化疗治疗≥5 cm NSCLC患者,疗效较好,可有效控制疾病进展,提高患者生存率。     

调强放疗联合替莫唑胺对高级别脑胶质瘤术后患者免疫功能和生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：观察调强放疗联合替莫唑胺对高级别脑胶质瘤术后患者免疫功能和生活质量的影响。方法：选择我院2015年7月~2017年9月收治的有完整临床资料的高级别脑胶质瘤患者107例,根据双色球随机分组法将患者分为对照组和观察组,分别为53例和54例,对照组给予调强放疗,观察组给予调强放疗联合替莫唑胺治疗,均治疗6周。对比两组疗效、免疫功能、生活质量、无进展生存时间、总生存时间和不良反应发生情况。结果：治疗6周后,观察组的客观缓解率55.56%、疾病控制率77.78%高于对照组的35.85%、56.60%（P<0.05）。观察组的无进展生存时间、总生存时间长于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗6周后,观察组的CD8⁺水平低于对照组,CD3⁺、CD4⁺水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗6周后,观察组的躯体功能、机体疼痛、健康状况、生命力、心理职能、躯体角色、情感角色、社会功能维度评分高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应总发生率对比无显著性差异（P>0.05）。结论：调强放疗联合替莫唑胺应用于高级别脑胶质瘤术后患者,可减轻调强放疗导致的免疫抑制,提高患者生活质量,延长其无进展生存时间、总生存时间。