Caliper Measurements Research Articles

Accuracy and Reliability of 3D Imaging for Facial Movement Evaluation: Validation of the VECTRA H1.

The accuracy, intrarater, and interrater reliability of the VECTRA H1 were assessed when imaging four facial expressions: eyebrow lift, smile, snarl, and lip pucker. Fourteen healthy adult subjects had the distances between 13 fiducial facial landmarks measured at rest and the terminal point of each of the four movements by digital caliper and by the VECTRA H1. Intraclass correlation and Bland-Altman limits of agreement were used to determine agreement between measures. The agreement between measurements obtained by five different reviewers was evaluated by intraclass correlation to determine interrater reliability. Median correlation between digital caliper and VECTRA H1 measurements ranged from 0.907 (snarl) to 0.921 (smile). Median correlation was very good for both intrarater (0.960-0.975) and interrater reliability (0.997-0.999). The mean absolute error between modalities, and both within and between raters was less than 2 mm for all movements tested. The VECTRA H1 met acceptable standards for the assessment of facial morphology when imaging facial movements.

Cryolipolysis of the Arms and Inner Thighs Shows Similar Treatment Outcomes in Chinese Individuals Compared to White Individuals Treated in a Prior Study: The XinCOOL Study.

Studies of predominantly White participants show that cryolipolysis reduces subcutaneous fat in the arms and inner thighs, but none have specifically tested for similar outcomes in participants of Chinese descent. This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of cryolipolysis treatment for noninvasive subcutaneous fat reduction of arms and inner thighs in participants of Chinese descent to assess equivalence to results seen in a prior study of White participants. Replicating a similar study design, participants of first- or second-generation Chinese descent underwent cryolipolysis treatment of arms and/or inner thighs. Effectiveness was assessed using pretreatment and posttreatment photographic review by blinded, independent experts, investigator-assessed caliper measurements, and participant satisfaction 12 weeks posttreatment. Safety was assessed throughout. Among 50 enrolled participants, 48 completed the study. The majority of participants (97.9%) were female, with a mean age of 36.0 years and mean BMI of 24.16 kg/m2 (range 19.3-29.9 kg/m2). Overall, 76.4% and 70.0% of pretreatment photographs of arms and pairs of inner thighs, respectively, were correctly identified by at least 2 of 3 reviewers. The mean reduction from baseline in caliper-measured fat thickness was 6.5 mm for arms and 6.6 mm for inner thighs, and the majority of participants (>60%) were satisfied with the treatment. No adverse events were reported. Cryolipolysis is a well-tolerated, effective means of noninvasive fat reduction of arms and inner thighs in participants of Chinese descent. The results from this study show similar effectiveness and safety in Chinese participants compared with White participants treated in a prior study.

Novel banana lectin CAR-T cells to target pancreatic tumors and tumor-associated stroma

BackgroundCell therapies for solid tumors are thwarted by the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME) and by heterogeneous expression of tumor target antigens. We address both limitations with a novel class of...

What variables should inform needle length choice for deltoid intramuscular injection? A systematic review

Objectives(1) Assess the distribution of skin-to-deltoid-muscle distance (SDMD) at the deltoid intramuscular (IM) injection site; (2) its relationship with demographic and anthropometric variables and (3) Consider the findings in relation...

Experimental Study on Ultrasonic Detection Method of Ice Thickness for 10 kV Overhead Transmission Lines

Transmission-line icing is a serious threat to the security safe and stable operation of power systems. The icing monitoring of transmission lines is of significance for the prevention of freezing disasters in power systems. However, the lack of effective ice detection methods has brought great trouble to the safe operation for 10 kV overhead transmission lines in freezing weather. To tackle this problem, a method for detecting ice thickness for 10 kV overhead transmission lines based on ultrasonic detecting technique is proposed in this paper, in which the distance from the ultrasonic sensor to the line changed by transmission lines ice-coating and the distance difference before and after ice-coating detected by ultrasonic being the ice thickness. An ultrasonic detection platform for ice thickness on the steel rod to simulate the line icing is established. The calibration experiment with the effect of distance, temperature, and wind velocity on the ultrasonic is carried out, and the experiment with ice thickness on the steel rod detected by the ultrasonic is carried out. Furthermore, the effect of ice shape on the detection is studied, and the reason for the large error is analyzed when the number of bulges on the ice surface is large. The results show that the relative error of ice thickness obtained by the method proposed in this paper is less than 10% under conditions of uniform ice and relatively smooth ice surface, compared with vernier caliper measurements. An improved method for ice thickness detection using the trough time as the ultrasonic echo signal time is proposed when the number of bulges on the ice surface is large, and the relative error value of the improved method is verified to be less than 5%.

A new evaluation method to quantify the wear failure of irregular cutting tool during shield TBM tunneling in abrasive sandy ground

When shield TBM tunneling in abrasive sandy ground, excessive cutting tool wear resulting from untimely and inaccurate failure evaluation is prone to damage cutterhead structure and delay tunneling progress. Hence it is critical important for fast and accurate evaluation of tool wear failure. At present, caliper measurement method is used to qualify cutting tool wear in abrasive ground tunneling. The height reduction of cutter edge is considered as a common parameter to evaluate whether cutting tool is invalid. When it comes to irregular cutting tool, they will be unsuitable due to the complex surface topography. Especially when abrasive sand remains between the cutterhead and excavation face, severe secondary wear will occur on cutter body instead of cutter edge. There is still a lack of comprehensive methods and parameters for evaluating the wear failure of cutting tools. In the present study, the handheld 3D laser scanner has been applied to obtain the point cloud data of irregular cutting tool. The point cloud data has been imported into the Geomagic Control software for model reconstruction. Then, surface overlapped methodology has been utilized for the comparison of cutting tool models before and after wear to obtain the 3D wear nephogram. Cutter volume wear ratio (CVWR) and cutter height wear ratio (CHWR) have been proposed to quantity the wear failure of cutter edge and cutter body. A case study of ripper tooth and replaceable scraper at Sutong GIL Yangtze River Crossing Cable Tunnel has been conducted to set the threshold value of wear failure. The results indicate that the CVWR and CHWR are functional to identify the wear failure of irregular cutting tools. Compared with traditional caliper measurement method, 3D quantitative method allows a more rational and accurate evaluation of heterogeneous cutter edge wear and eccentric cutter body wear.

Evaluating the long-term conformation and hoof growth effects of starting hoof trimming at 5 months of age in New Zealand dairy goats

Hoof overgrowth is associated with poor conformation, an altered weight-bearing surface, and a reduction in the hoof's anatomic and functional integrity. As a result of housing systems that promote hoof overgrowth, hoof trimming is considered a priority in dairy goats. However, there are few data on the effects of the timing of first trimming on hoof conformation and growth rate. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the long-term effects of 2 different hoof trimming start times and (2) to investigate the pattern of hoof growth across the first 2 yr of life. Eighty 5-mo-old female Saanen-cross commercially housed dairy goats were allocated randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: (1) early trimmed (trimming beginning at 5 mo old; hooves were trimmed every 4 mo thereafter) and (2) late trimmed (trimming beginning at 13 mo old; hooves were trimmed every 4 mo thereafter). Using a combination of photographs and radiographs, hoof conformation, joint positions, and hoof wall length were assessed before the 13- and 25-mo trimming events. Hoof growth was assessed every 12 wk using caliper measurements. Overall, starting hoof trimming earlier had minor and inconsistent effects. However, detrimental changes in conformation and joint positions occurred between trimming events, particularly in the hind hooves, regardless of trimming treatment. At both assessments, there was a high percentage of overgrown toes and dipped heels, with the hind hooves being more affected compared with the front (overgrown toes at 13 mo, 97.1 vs. 79.1 ± 5.2%; overgrown toes at 25 mo, 91.7 vs. 56.3 ± 6.7%; dipped heels at 13 mo, 98.5 vs. 19.3 ± 5.0%; dipped heels at 25 mo, 88.3 vs. 4.9 ± 4.8%). In addition, at both assessments, the distal interphalangeal joint angle was greater in the hind hooves compared with the front (13 mo, 79.5 vs. 65.2 ± 1.7°; 25 mo, 79.0 vs. 66.7 ± 0.9°), whereas heel angles were less in the hind hooves compared with the front (13 mo, 41.8 vs. 57.1 ± 1.5°; 25 mo, 44.9 vs. 55.9 ± 1.1°). On average, the front hooves grew 4.39 mm/mo and the hind hooves grew 4.20 mm/mo. Early trimming did not have consistent effects on hoof growth rate. Importantly, our results suggest that trimming every 4 mo is not sufficient to prevent hoof overgrowth, the development of poor conformation, and detrimental changes in joint positions, particularly in the hind hooves. Furthermore, the detrimental changes may have masked any long-term treatment effects. Therefore, trimming frequency and age of first trimming should be considered when devising hoof care protocols for dairy goats housed in environments that do not offer opportunities for natural hoof wear.

Comparison of clinical estimations and radiological measurements in the context of paediatric cervical masses: How accurate are we?

Cervical masses represent a common presentation to the paediatric ENT outpatient clinic. Despite their high prevalence, few represent an underlying malignant pathology. Currently, there is no universally accepted algorithm for management of such cases in the United Kingdom. Local guidance often centres around clinical interpretation of size when determining the need for investigation. With such emphasis placed on size, the authors sought to investigate the accuracy of physician palpation and in turn explore the validity of common referral pathways. A retrospective methodology was used to address the research objective. All paediatric ultrasound scans conducted during a 24-month period were reviewed to compare the clinical and radiological assessments of diameter. A 2 tailed paired student's t-test was selected to evaluate the differences between the two measurements and ultimately assess clinician accuracy. 753 paediatric cervical ultrasound scans were conducted during the 2-year period. Initial analysis identified three discrete ultrasonographically diagnostic groups: lymph nodes (n=532), non-lymph node masses (n=162) and normal anatomy (n=59). Further analysis of clinical estimation and radiological measurement demonstrated a statistically significant difference (p<0.02) for the lymph-node group. A statistically significant difference was not demonstrated within the non-lymph node group (p=0.66). When clinician assessment resulted in a value outside of what was considered accurate, lymph node sizes were predominantly overestimated (62/91, 68%). Conversely, non-lymph node masses where the clinical measurement was not within 5mm of the ultrasound measurement were more commonly underestimated in size (11/45, 55%) but this was not statistically significant. Our study demonstrates a statistically significant tendency for clinicians to overestimate paediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. Calliper measurement may further improve accuracy of assessment.

Analysis of the Anterior Maxillary Zone: Evaluation of Chu’s Gauge Proportion Instrument in a Transylvanian Population

Abstract Background: The esthetic proportion gauge developed by Chu is using a 78% recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion and it is based on evaluating the size and proportion of frontal teeth chairside. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of Chu’s device and to measure the correlation between the width and length of the frontal teeth, attempting to identify the application of the proportion gauge in Mureș county. Materials and methods: From the 142 selected patients, 73 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The height and width values of the participants’ teeth were measured with a digital caliper and evaluated with Chu’s esthetic proportion gauge. The measurements were then compared statistically. Results: The values obtained from the digital caliper measurements did not correlate with Chu’s proportion scale, and the results showed no significant differences between the two sides (p &gt;0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the measured teeth ratios did not show a similarity with the predetermined esthetic proportion scale suggested by Chu.

Comparing Variability in Measurement of Subcutaneous Tumors in Mice Using 3D Thermal Imaging and Calipers.

Repeatable tumor measurements are key to accurately assessing tumor growth and treatment efficacy. A preliminary study that we conducted showed that a novel 3D and thermal imaging system (3D-TI) for measuring subcutaneous tumors in rodents significantly reduced interoperator variability across 3 in vivo efficacy studies. Here we further studied this reduction in interoperator variability across a much larger dataset. A dataset consisting of 6,532 paired 3D-TI and caliper interoperator measurements was obtained from tumor scans and measurements in 27 laboratories across 289 studies, 153 operators, over 20 mouse strains, and 100 cell lines. Interoperator variability in both measurement methods was analyzed using coefficient of variation (CV), intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis, and significance testing. The median 3D-TI CV was significantly lower than the median caliper CV. The effects of large interoperator variability at critical points in the study were also investigated. At stratified randomization, changing the operator performing caliper measurements resulted in a 59% probability that a mouse would be reassigned to a different group. The probability that this would occur when using 3D-TI was significantly lower at 29%. In studies in which a tumor was expected to regress, changing the operator during the study was associated with a tumor volume increase of approximately 500mm³ when using calipers. This change did not occur when using 3D-TI. We conclude that 3D-TI significantly reduces interoperator variability as compared with calipers and can improve reproducibility of in vivo studies across a wide range of mouse strains and cell lines.

Investigating error in saw mark minimum kerf width measurements.

Minimum kerf width (MKW) is often assessed in medicolegal cases of skeletal sharp force trauma and can provide information about the tool used. Previously published saw MKW research focuses on the relationship between MKW and saw blade set width (width of the saw blade including tooth set). Despite these publications using various measurement tools and methods to collect MKW, error in MKW measurements is not well-documented. The goal of this research was to investigate MKW measurement precision in terms of intraobserver error, interobserver error, and the effects of measurement modality (e.g., calipers versus stereo microscope). The study sample consisted of 351 incomplete cuts made with 27 diverse saws. MKW was collected using three methods: (1) inserting the internal caliper jaws into the incomplete kerf, (2) placing the external caliper jaws on the cortical surface, and (3) using a digital stereo microscope and associated measurement software. For each method, intraobserver error and interobserver error were assessed. Differences in measurements taken with the three measurement modalities were assessed for each observer as well. Relative technical error of measurement (rTEM) and coefficients of reliability indicate that internal caliper and stereo microscope measurements had the lowest intra- and interobserver error (rTEM=3.72% to 6.15%; r=0.98-0.996). External caliper measurements performed the worst (rTEM: intra=8.53% and inter=21.32%). There was higher precision between internal caliper and stereo microscope measurements than with the external caliper measurements. This research highlights the need for measurement standardization.

Indole-3-Carbinol Inhibits the Growth of Endometriotic Lesions by Suppression of Microvascular Network Formation.

Endometriosis represents an estrogen-dependent disorder with a complex pathophysiology. Phytochemicals are promising candidates for endometriosis therapy, because they simultaneously target different cellular processes involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Herein, we analyzed whether indole-3-carbinol (I3C) suppresses the development of endometriotic lesions, which were surgically induced by fixation of uterine tissue samples (diameter: 2 mm) from female BALB/c donor mice to the peritoneum of recipient animals. The mice received either I3C or vehicle (control) by peroral administration once per day. Growth, cyst formation, cell proliferation, microvascularization and protein expression of the lesions were assessed by high-resolution ultrasound imaging, caliper measurements, histology, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. I3C inhibited the vascularization and growth of endometriotic lesions without inducing anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative side effects on reproductive organs. This was associated with a significantly reduced number of proliferating stromal and endothelial cells and a lower expression of the pro-angiogenic signaling molecules vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) within I3C-treated lesions when compared to controls. These findings indicate that I3C effectively inhibits endometriotic lesion formation in mice. Thus, further studies should clarify whether I3C may be also beneficial for the prevention and therapy of the human disease.

Targeting C3d in Combination with Daratumumab:a Strategy to Enhance Therapeutic Potential in Multiple Myeloma

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) daratumumab (DARA) targeting CD38 can induce minimal residual disease negative remissions in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, majority of patients subsequently relapse or become refractory to treatment (RRMM). Rapid reduction of surface CD38 levels in MM cells following DARA infusion due to trogocytosis by monocytes and granulocytes leads to reduced complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), effector functions that rely on antigen density. High expression of complement regulatory proteins, CD55 and CD59 on MM cell surface can also impede CDC activity. Therefore, modalities to overcome these limitations and improve clinical outcome for patients with RRMM are needed. Daratumumab is a strong activator of complement. While a subset of cells may be lysed by the membrane attack complex, all cells reacted with daratumumab are opsonized by C3d, the terminal component of C3. C3d remains covalently attached at the cell surface. Thus, the newly acquired membrane bound C3d constitutes a target for additional intervention, particularly when the cell surface CD38 is lost or low following treatment with DARA. Using phage display technology, we generated and characterized recombinant rabbit/human chimeric mAbs that selectively bind C3 fragments including C3d but not full length C3. We selected two high affinity anti-C3d mAbs (clones 5S8 and d301 with kD values 3.35 nM and 0.99 nM, respectively) that showed reactivity against both human and mouse C3d. To deposit C3d on myeloma cell lines (MM1-S, MM1-R, RPMI8226, NCI-H929, KMS-12-PE) without activating CDC, the cells were reacted with DARA in C5 depleted normal human serum. Both 5S8 and d301 bound to the C3d opsonized cells. Based on SPR analysis these two mAbs do not compete for C3d binding suggesting that they recognize distinct epitopes. In normal human serum, the anti-C3d mAbs enhanced killing by CDC of DARA-opsonized target cells compared to DARA alone (P<0.0001). The non-targeting IgG1 isotype control mAb trastuzumab (TRA) did not bind C3d or enhance DARA-mediated killing. To test the combination of DARA with anti-C3d mAbs in vivo, we used Balb/c-SCID mice bearing subcutaneous (s. c.) MM1-R tumors. First, using clones 5S8 and d301, we demonstrated in vivo binding of mouse C3d on MM1-R tumor cells harvested 24 h after a single intraperitoneal (i. p.) injection of DARA. Next, we challenged the mice s. c. with MM1-R cells and randomly divided them into the following treatment groups: 20 mg/kg DARA single agent (n=7), or combination treatments of 10 mg/kg of each of two mAbs: DARA + TRA (n=10), DARA + 5S8 (n=13), DARA + d301 (n=13). The mAbs were given via i. p. injections weekly starting on day 7 post tumor challenge and continued for 6 weeks. Palpable tumors were noticed in mice between days 7 and 14, and tumor growth was monitored by caliper measurements twice weekly. Mice were euthanized when tumors reached pre-defined limits. All the mice that received DARA + TRA showed progressive tumor growth with median survival of 38 days and all mice had to be euthanized by day 50. Doubling the dose of DARA to 20mg/kg slightly increased median survival to 43 days (P = 0.12 vs DARA+TRA). Two of 7 mice that received DARA alone (at 20 mg/kg) survived to day 175. Median survival for mice treated with DARA (10mg/kg) plus an anti-C3d mAb was 162 days (P = 0.006 for comparison to DARA 20mg/kg), and 13 of 26 (50%) mice in this cohort survived tumor-free beyond 200 days. There was no statistically significant difference between groups treated with 5S8 or d301 in combination with DARA (P = 0.23). All the surviving mice showed no evidence of tumor, weight loss or other morbidity indicating that they are essentially tumor-free. In summary, these results demonstrate that combination treatment of DARA with anti-C3d mAbs improves efficacy over single agent DARA leading to long-term survival in the MM.1R xenograft model. The combination of C3d targeting mAbs with DARA could improve clinical efficacy and overcome resistance to single agent therapy.

Can Clinical Postpartum Muscle Assessment Help Predict the Severity of Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain?A Prospective Cohort Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the clinical assessment of pelvic floor muscles and the diastasis recti abdominis could predict the severity of pelvic girdle pain during the first year postpartum. Between 2018 and 2020, 504 women were recruited to this prospective longitudinal cohort study. At 2 to 3months postpartum, their pelvic floor muscles and diastasis recti abdominis were assessed using vaginal palpation, observation, and caliper measurement. The participants completed the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ) at 2 to 3, 6, 9, and 12months postpartum. Mixed-effect models were used to determine how the results of pelvic floor muscle and diastasis recti abdominis assessments predicted the PGQ score. A sub-analysis for middle to high PGQ scores was conducted. Maximal voluntary pelvic floor muscle contractions ≥3 (Modified Oxford Scale, scored from 0 to 5) predicted a decreased PGQ score (β = -3.13 [95% CI = -5.77 to -0.48]) at 2 to 3months postpartum, with a higher prediction of a middle to high PGQ score (β = -6.39). Diastasis recti abdominis width did not have any significant correlation with the PGQ score. A sub-analysis showed that a diastasis recti abdominis width ≥35mm predicted an increased PGQ score (β = 5.38 [95% CI = 1.21 to 9.55]) in women with pelvic girdle pain. The distinction between weak and strong maximal voluntary pelvic floor muscle contractions is an important clinical assessment in women with postpartum pelvic girdle pain. The exact diastasis recti abdominis width, measured in millimeters, showed no clinical relevance. However, a diastasis recti abdominis width ≥35mm was associated with a higher PGQ score, and further research about this cutoff point in relation to pain is needed. This study highlights the importance of clinical assessment of pelvic floor muscles in patients with postpartum pelvic girdle pain. A better understanding of the role of this muscle group will enable more effective physical therapist treatment of pelvic girdle pain.

Intratumoral injection of holmium-166 microspheres as neoadjuvant therapy of soft tissue sarcomas in dogs.

Minimally invasive microbrachytherapy is in development to treat solid tumors by intratumoral injection of (radioactive) holmium-166 (166Ho) microspheres (MS). A high local dose can be administered with minimal damage to surrounding tissue because of the short soft tissue penetration depth of 166Ho beta radiation. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of 166Ho microbrachytherapy in client-owned canine patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS). We included seven dogs with STS not suitable for local excision due to tumor size and/or location. 166HoMS were suspended in a carrier fluid and multiple needle-injections were performed in predetermined tumor segments to maximize tumor coverage. Tumor response was evaluated using 3D caliper and CT measurements. Follow-up further included monitoring for potential side effects and registration of subsequent treatments and survival, until at least two years after treatment. Delivered radioactive doses ranged from 70 to 969 Gy resulting in a mean tumor volume reduction of 49.0 ± 21.3% after 33 ± 25 days. Treatment-related side effects consisted of local necrosis (n = 1) and ulceration of the skin covering the tumor (n = 1), which resolved with basic wound care, and surgical excision of residual tumor, respectively. Residual tumor was surgically resected in six patients after 22-93 days. After a mean follow-up of 1,005 days, four patients were alive, two patients were euthanized because of unrelated causes, and one patient was euthanized because of disease progression after the owner(s) declined subsequent surgical treatment. 166Ho microbrachytherapy was a safe and effective neoadjuvant treatment option for canine patients with STS.

Magnitudes and orientations of present-day in-situ stresses in the Kurdistan region of Iraq: Insights into combined strike-slip and reverse faulting stress regimes

The study area is in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including the northwestern extension of the Zagros suture zone, where present-day stress data derived from actual measurements is rare. The magnitudes and orientations of principal in-situ stresses were determined using well logging data. The deepest drilled formation in this study was the Albian upper Qamchuqa Formation in northeastern Iraq, which is a carbonate hydrocarbon reservoir. In the present study, several wireline logs including borehole image logs, conventional wireline logs, and six-arm caliper logs for two vertical wells provided detailed borehole breakout and drilling-induced tensile fracture (DITF) data between depths of 1600 and 2240 m. Two oil wells (wells A and B) were evaluated, and in well A, several breakouts occurred in eight distinct zones. Below the depth of 1600 m, 26 pairs of breakouts with considerable length were observed. The standard deviation of breakout azimuths was 11°, and the mean azimuth of the breakouts was N162°E. Using breakout and DITF data, the orientations of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses (SH and Sh) were determined, and the results were validated by six-arm caliper measurements and lithological evaluation from wireline log data. The mean azimuth of maximum horizontal in-situ stress was N72°E, which showed relative consistency with the NE–SW to E–W direction of tectonic movement and previous studies in the nearby Zagros suture zone. Ultimately, the magnitudes of the three principal in-situ stresses were determined by two methods: poroelastic strain theory and breakout analysis. The stress regime below the depth of 1600 m was a reverse faulting stress regime, and above this depth, it likely changed to a strike-slip faulting stress regime. The determined stress regime was consistent with the nature and dynamics of the tectonic plate movement of the Arabian and Eurasian (Iranian) plates. Consequently, results suggest that the pattern of present-day tectonic stress is controlled mainly by the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian plates.

Prediction and validation of total and regional skeletal muscle volume by using anthropometric measurements in prepubertal Japanese children.

It is difficult to easily estimate skeletal muscle (SM) volume in children. We aimed to develop regression-based prediction equations to estimate the total body and regional SM volume using calliper measurements of skinfold thickness and limb circumference and to investigate the validity of these equations. In total, 142 healthy, prepubertal, Japanese children, aged 6-12 years, were divided into two groups: the model development group (sixty boys, thirty-eight girls) and the validation group (twenty-six boys, eighteen girls). Contiguous magnetic resonance images were obtained from the first cervical vertebra to the ankle joints as reference data. SM volume was calculated from the summation of the digitised cross-sectional areas. Limb and waist circumferences were measured at mid-upper arm, mid-thigh, maximal calf and at the level of umbilicus. Each girth was corrected for subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, as estimated by skinfold thickness measurements. Skinfold thickness was measured at the posterior upper arm, anterior thigh, medial calf and lateral to the umbilicus, using callipers. Significant correlations were observed between the site-matched SM volume, measured by MRI, and each corrected girth × standing height value in the model development group. When these SM volume prediction equations were applied to the validation group, the measured total body and regional SM volume were similar to the predicted values. These results suggest that the anthropometric prediction equations developed in this study provide reliable information about the total and regional SM volume in prepubertal Japanese children, with varying degrees of estimation accuracy for each region.

Macrophage Delivered HSV1716 Is Active against Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Oncolytic viruses (OV) promote anti-tumour responses through the initiation of immunogenic cancer cell death which activates the host’s systemic anti-tumour immunity. We have previously shown that intravenously administered HSV1716 is an effective treatment for mammary cancer. However, intravenous administration of a virus has the potential to result in neutralization and sequestration of the virus which may reduce efficacy. Here, we show that the oncolytic virus HSV1716 can be administered within a cellular carrier (macrophages). PyMT and 4T1 murine mammary cancer cell lines were implanted into immuno-competent murine models (orthotopic primary, early metastatic and brain metastasis models). HSV1716 or macrophages armed with HSV1716 (M-HSV1716) were administered intravenously, and tumour size was quantified using caliper measurement or bioluminescence imaging. Administration of M-HSV1716 led to tumour shrinkage and increased the survival of animals. Furthermore, these results were achieved with a 100-fold lower viral load, which has the potential for decreased toxicity. Our results demonstrate that M-HSV1716 is associated with activity against murine mammary cancers and provides an alternative platform for the systemic delivery of OV.

Comparison of white-to-white measurements using four devices and their determination of ICL sizing

BackgroundTo compare the measurements obtained from the Orbscan II, IOLMaster 700, Pentacam AXL, and Castroviejo caliper and their effects on calculating the recommended implantable collamer lens (ICL) size and postoperative vault measurements.MethodsThis is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who underwent ICL surgery by a single surgeon from March 1, 2018 to July 31, 2021. Records were reviewed for the anterior chamber depth (ACD) and white-to-white (WTW) measurements obtained from the Orbscan II, IOLMaster 700, Pentacam AXL, and Castroviejo caliper (WTW only). These were used to calculate the recommended ICL size. The actual ICL size implanted, and vault measurements obtained one month postoperatively were also collected.ResultsOne hundred seven eyes with a mean age of 27.9 ± 7.7 years were included in the study. Mean WTW measurements were significantly different between devices (P < 0.0001), with the IOLMaster 700 having the highest value (12.14 ± 0.04 mm) and the caliper having the lowest value (11.45 ± 0.04 mm). Mean ACD measurements were the lowest in Orbscan II (3.12 ± 0.25 mm) and the highest in Pentacam AXL (3.16 ± 0.24 mm). The Pentacam AXL produced an ICL size similar to the Orbscan in 69.2% of eyes. The IOLMaster yielded an ICL measurement one size larger than Orbscan-based calculations in 64.5% of eyes. Using the Orbscan WTW and ACD, the desired vault of 0.25 to 0.75 mm and 0.25 to 1.00 mm was achieved in 70% and 91% of eyes, respectively. Substituting caliper WTW to IOLMaster 700 or Pentacam AXL WTW increases the percentage of achieving the desired vault to 80%, similar to the Orbscan.ConclusionsThe Orbscan II, IOLMaster 700, and Pentacam AXL cannot be used interchangeably for calculating ICL sizing. Combining the WTW from caliper measurement with the ACD of the IOLMaster 700 or Pentacam AXL could improve ICL sizing and achieve a higher percentage of eyes with the desired vault.

Optically excited nanoparticle enhanced high intensity focused ultrasound therapy of in vivo cancer models

The use of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNP) that have been actively targeted to a specific tumour region is a highly active area of research for both drug delivery and hypothermia applications. One application is providing in situ cavitation nuclei for enhancing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation. When the nanoparticles are simultaneously exposed to HIFU and pulsed laser illumination, microscopic vapour bubbles form providing a controllable way to nucleate cavitation. Using an EGFR-expressing head and neck xenograft model, the biodistribution of targeted and untargeted AuNPs were examined using multispectral, whole body photoacoustic imaging, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis following systemic or intratumoral injections. Systemic delivery showed negligible concentration of AuNRs in the tumour; however, intratumoral injection increased its concentration, but remained in the tumour at high concentration for the first 48hrs. Evaluation of ablation performance was undertaken using the same tumour model. An intratumoural injection of untargeted particles, with single 10 s continuous wave HIFU exposures for peak positive/negative pressures of 2.4/2.0 MPa, with simultaneous illumination of 1064 nm pulsed laser light with a surface energy density of 70 mJ/cm2. Post treatment tumour volume was monitored using high frequency ultrasound imaging and calliper measurements, to evaluate exposure efficacy.