Background
This study aimed to evaluate the role of baseline circulating tumor cells (CTCs) before and during concurrent chemoradiotherapy and attempted to determine the impacts of CTCs on the ...outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Methods
CTCs were detected using a negative selection strategy and flow cytometry protocol.
Results
We observed a significant correlation between baseline CTCs and staging (P = 0.001). The CTC counts were significantly reduced within 2‐4 weeks in 47 concurrent chemoradiotherapy responders (P < 0.001). Change of CTC counts correlates with progression‐free survival (PFS, P = 0.01) and overall survival (OS, P = 0.01). CTC decline status was an independent prognostic factor in PFS (P = 0.03) and OS (P = 0.05) in multivariate analyses.
Conclusion
In chemoradiotherapy responders, CTCs are significantly reduced. CTC decline within the first month indicates a longer PFS and OS, suggesting that the dynamics of CTCs could be more important than CTC number alone.
Neural adaptation in the frontoparietal and motor cortex–sensorimotor circuits is crucial for acquiring visuomotor skills. However, the specific nature of highly dynamic neural connectivity in these ...circuits during the acquisition of visuomotor skills remains unclear. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between acquisition of visuomotor skills and neural connectivity, we used electroencephalographic coherence to capture highly dynamic nature of neural connectivity. We recruited 60 male novices who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). Participants in EG were asked to engage in repeated putting practice, but CG did not engage in golf practice. In addition, we analyzed the connectivity by using 8–13 Hz imaginary inter‐site phase coherence in the frontoparietal networks (Fz‐P3 and Fz‐P4) and the motor cortex–sensorimotor networks (Cz‐C3 and Cz‐C4) during a golf putting task. To gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of learning trajectories, we compared data at three time points: baseline (T1), 50% improvement from baseline (T2), and 100% improvement from baseline (T3). The results primarily focused on EG, an inverted U‐shaped coherence curve was observed in the connectivity of the left motor cortex–sensorimotor circuit, whereas an increase in the connectivity of the right frontoparietal circuit from T2 to T3 was revealed. These results imply that the dynamics of cortico‐cortical communication, particularly involving the left motor cortex–sensorimotor and frontal‐left parietal circuits. In addition, our findings partially support Hikosaka et al.'s model and provide additional insight into the specific role of these circuits in visuomotor learning.
The purpose of the manuscript is to gain a broader understanding of the association between motor acquisition of visuomotor skills and neural connectivity, using electroencephalographic coherence to capture highly dynamic neural connectivity. The present study not only highlights the importance of the dynamics of cortico‐cortical communication in the acquisition of motor skills but also provides practical utility for motor learning.
According to the locus coeruleus–norepinephrine (LC–NE) theory, activity of the LC, the major releaser of NE in the brain, regulates inhibitory control. As there is reciprocal communication between ...circulating epinephrine and the LC, plasma epinephrine is used as the index of LC–NE activity. The aim of this crossover randomized controlled trial is to expand on previous findings by investigating the effects of free‐weight, multiple‐joint, and structural barbell resistance exercises. Previous studies have had some methodological limitations, such as failure to report the process of randomization, absence of resistance exercise familiarization before the maximal strength testing, and lack of protocol publication. To address these issues, this study incorporates resistance exercise familiarization, transparent reporting of randomization, and submission as a registered report. The results suggest that a single session of resistance exercise (barbell squat, press, and deadlift) with an intensity of 65%–78% 1RM for five repetitions (70%–90% relative intensity) and three sets with 3‐min rest intervals improved Stroop congruent reaction time (RT) only (t(27) = −2.663, mean reduction = −15 ms, p = .013, 95% CI −26, −3). No significant enhancements were observed in Stroop incongruent RT, inhibitory control as indexed by Stroop effect, or inhibitory control as indexed by the RT difference between the Stroop task and the simple reaction task. Moreover, the alterations in plasma epinephrine levels did not significantly associate with changes in any measure of cognitive performance.
By addressing previous methodological limitations and employing a registered report format, this study provides more reliable findings on the effects of acute resistance exercise on cognitive performance. We found that, although acute resistance exercise enhances a certain cognitive outcome measured by the Stroop task, the improvement does not appear to be associated with changes in plasma epinephrine.
This study investigated the unique contribution of motor ability to visuospatial working memory (VSWM) and neuroelectric activity in school‐age children. Seventy‐six children aged 8.7 ± 1.1 years ...participated in this cross‐sectional study. We assessed aerobic fitness using the 20‐m endurance shuttle run test, muscular fitness (endurance, power) using a standard test battery, and motor ability (manual dexterity, ball skills, and static and dynamic balance) using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. A modified delayed match‐to‐sample test was used to assess VSWM and the P3 component of event‐related potentials. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that greater aerobic fitness was associated with smaller coefficient of variation of reaction time (p = .008), greater muscular fitness was associated with higher response accuracy (p = .022), greater motor ability was associated with higher response accuracy (p < .001) and increased P3 mean amplitude (p < .001) after controlling for age. Furthermore, the positive associations of motor ability with response accuracy (p = .001) were independent of muscular fitness. The findings from this study provide new insight into the differential associations between health‐related fitness domains and VSWM, highlighting the influence of motor ability on brain health and cognitive development during childhood.
The current study is the first study to use behavioral and electrophysiological measures to quantify the unique contribution of motor ability to visuospatial working memory in school‐age children. Our results complement previous evidence and identifying childhood motor ability as a unique behavioral correlate of visuospatial working memory has implications for informing exercise‐based intervention to incorporate activities that challenges motor skills.
This study examined the behavioral and neuroelectrical impacts of a coordinative exercise intervention with different exercise intensities on executive function in kindergarten children. Participants ...underwent the Eriksen flanker test before and after an exercise program that involved 35-min sessions twice per week for 8 weeks, with either low or moderate intensity. Our findings revealed that exercise intervention, regardless of intensity, resulted in shorter reaction times and higher response accuracy in both congruent and incongruent trials, with incongruent trials receiving a larger benefit from exercise compared with congruent trials. Additionally, neuroelectrical activation demonstrated greater P3 amplitude and shorter P3 latency following exercise in both trials. These results suggest that coordinative exercise may specifically benefit prefrontal-dependent tasks in the immature brain state of kindergarten children by increasing the allocation of attentional resources and enhancing the efficiency of neurocognitive processing.
Research regarding the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on executive function has grown exponentially in recent years. However, there has been no comprehensive review of the current ...state of literature. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to summarize previous research regarding the acute and chronic effects of HIIT on executive function across the lifespan and highlight future research directions. The results indicated that acute bouts of HIIT has a positive effect on inhibition in children/adolescents and adults, and further that chronic HIIT benefits inhibition and working memory in children. More research employing chronic interventions, focusing on middle-aged and older adults, and examining the effects on the working memory and cognitive flexibility domains of executive function are needed. Future research should also focus on a) the use of stronger research designs, b) the effects of HIIT dosage/modality, c) consideration of individual differences, d) possible underlying mechanisms, and e) examining the feasibility of translating HIIT to real-word settings.
Objective
To compare the levels of social support, physical function, and social‐emotional function between oral cavity cancer survivors who did or did not resume work 6 months or longer after ...treatment completion.
Methods
This cross‐sectional study examined survivors of oral cavity cancer who were treated at the outpatient radiation department of a medical center in Northern Taiwan. Questionnaires were used to collect data regarding perceived social support, physical function, social‐emotional function, and return to work status after treatment. Logistic regression was conducted to determine factors related to returning to work.
Results
We examined 174 survivors of oral cavity cancer, 55.2% of whom returned to work after treatment. Relative to survivors who returned to work, those who did not return to work reported needing greater tangible social support, having fewer positive social interactions, having poorer physical function, and having poorer social‐emotional function. Multivariable analysis indicated that younger age (OR = 0.864, P < .05), higher family income (OR = 10.835, P < .05), sufficient tangible social support (OR = 0.943, P < .05), positive social interaction (OR = 1.025, P < .05), and better physical function (OR = 1.062, P < .05) were significantly associated with the return to work.
Conclusions
Survivors of oral cavity cancer who did not return to work had worse physical and social‐emotional function and required more tangible social support and positive social interactions. Providing occupational rehabilitation and counseling for oral cavity cancer survivors may help them return to work.
Psychomotor efficiency is achieved by expert performers who exhibit refined attentional strategies and efficient motor program execution. Further understanding of the psychomotor efficiency ...hypothesis requires examination of the co‐activation of key electroencephalographic (EEG) indices, including frontal theta (Fθ) power, left temporal alpha (T3α) power, the sensory‐motor rhythm (SMR), and frontocentral alpha power (FCα). This study examined the relationship between these selected neural processes and the odds of successful cognitive‐motor performance. EEG indices of successful and failed putts observed in twenty‐seven skilled golfers were subjected to mixed‐effects logistic regression analysis. The results revealed that concurrent elevations of Fθ and T3α were associated with increased odds of successful performance. The co‐activation from motoric processes indicated by SMR and FCα also elevated the odds. Overall, the findings emphasize that refined attention allocation and effective motor program processing are essential cognitive features of superior cognitive‐motor performance for skilled golfers.
Different functional connectivities in the brain, specifically in the frontoparietal and motor cortex-sensorimotor circuits, have been associated with superior performance in athletes. However, ...previous electroencephalogram (EEG) studies have only focused on the frontoparietal circuit and have not provided a comprehensive understanding of the cognitive-motor processes underlying superior performance. We used EEG coherence analysis to examine the motor cortex-sensorimotor circuit in golfers of different skill levels. Twenty experts, 18 amateurs, and 21 novices performed 60 putts at individual putting distances (40-60% success rate). The imaginary inter-site phase coherence (imISPC) was used to compute 8-13 Hz coherence that can be used to distinguish expert-novice and expert-amateur differences during motor preparation. We assessed the 8-13 Hz imISPC between the Cz and F3, F4, C3, C4, T3, T4, P3, P4, O1, and O2 regions. (1) Amateurs had lower 8-13 Hz imISPC in the central regions (Cz-C3 and C4) than novices and experts, but experts had lower 8-13 Hz imISPC than novices. (2) Skilled golfers (experts and amateurs) had lower 8-13 Hz imISPC in the central-parietal regions (Cz-P3 and P4) than novices. (3) Experts had lower 8-13 Hz imISPC in the central-left temporal regions (Cz-T7) than amateurs and novices. Our study revealed that refinement of the motor cortex-sensorimotor circuit follows a U-shaped coherence pattern based on the stage of learning. The early learning stage (i.e., novice to amateur) is characterized by lower connectivity between the regions associated with motor control and visuospatial processes, whereas the late learning stage (i.e., amateur to expert) is characterized by lower connectivity in the regions associated with verbal-analytic and motor control processes.
Chinese mind-body exercises (CMBEs) are positively associated with executive function (EF), but their effects on EF, from synthesized evidence using systematic and meta-analytic reviews, have not ...been conducted. Therefore, the present systematic review with meta-analysis attempted to determine whether CMBEs affect EF and its sub-domains, as well as how exercise, sample, and study characteristics moderate the causal relationship between CMBEs and EF in middle-aged and older adults. Seven electronic databases were searched for relevant studies published from the inception of each database through June 2020 (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Weipu). Randomized controlled trials with at least one outcome measure of CMBEs on EF in adults of mean age ≥ 50 years with intact cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and with or without chronic diseases were included. A total of 29 studies (
N
= 2,934) ultimately were included in this study. The results indicated that CMBEs improved overall EF (Standardized Mean Differences = 0.28, 95% CI 0.12, 0.44), as well as its sub-domains of working memory and shifting. The beneficial effects of CMBEs on EF occurred regardless of type (Tai Chi, Qigong), frequency of group classes (≤2 time, 3-4 time, ≥5 times), session time (≤45 min, 46-60 min), total training time (≥150 to ≤300 min, >300 min), and length of the CMBEs (4-12 week, 13-26 week, and >26 week), in addition to that more frequent participation in both group classes and home practice sessions (≥5 times per week) resulted in more beneficial effects. The positive effects of CMBEs on EF were also demonstrated, regardless of participants mean age (50-65 years old, >65 years old), sex (only female, both), and cognitive statuses (normal, MCI, not mentioned), health status (with chronic disease, without chronic disease), as well as training mode (group class, group class plus home practice) and study language (English, Chinese). This review thus suggests that CMBEs can be used as an effective method with small to moderate and positive effects in enhancing EF, and that more frequent group classes and home practice sessions may increase these effects. However, certain limitations, including strictly design studies, limited ES (effect size) samples for specific variables, and possible biased publications, required paying particular attention to, for further exploring the effects of CMBEs on EF.
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