Comparison of difficulty in stair ascent and descent after total knee replacement.

[Purpose] Although many studies have shown that patients have difficulty in climbing or descending stairs after undergoing total knee replacement, no study so far has compared the difficulty of stair ascent and descent based on objective indicators. This study compared stair ascending and descending processes based on three indicators and clarified which was more difficult. [Participants and Methods] We defined 1) movement method, 2) the necessity for handrail use, and 3) speed as objective indicators.

Age-related changes and sex differences in ankle plantarflexion velocity.

Ankle plantar flexors play a vital role in the mobility of older adults. The strength and velocity of plantarflexion are critical factors in determining walking speed. Despite reports on how age and sex affect plantarflexion strength, basic information regarding plantarflexion velocity is still lacking.

Amputation surgery associated with shortened survival in patients with localized soft tissue sarcoma.

Background: The objectives of this study were to clarify whether localized extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients who underwent amputation surgery experienced worsened survival and to identify those patients for whom amputation surgery worsened survival.

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we identified 8897 patients with localized extremity STS between 1983 and 2016. Of these 6431 patients, 733 patients underwent amputation surgery (Amputation group), and 5698 underwent limb-sparing surgery (Limb-sparing group).

Diverse impact of a probiotic strain, Shirota, on peripheral mononuclear phagocytic cells in healthy Japanese office workers: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Mononuclear phagocytic cells (MPCs) are classified into monocytes (Mos)/macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) based on their functions. Cells of MPCs lineage act as immune modulators by affecting effector cells, such as NK cells, T cells, and B cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of strain Shirota (LcS) ingestion on peripheral MPCs, particularly on their expression of functional cell-surface molecules enhanced in healthy adults.

Posterolateral full-endoscopic debridement and irrigation is effective in treating thoraco-lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis, except in cases with large abscess cavities.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and poor prognostic factors of posterolateral full-endoscopic debridement and irrigation (PEDI) surgery for thoraco-lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Methods: We included 64 patients (46 men, 18 women; average age: 63.7 years) with thoracic/lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis who had undergone PEDI treatment and were followed up for more than 2 years.

Maximum knee extension velocity without external load is a stronger determinant of gait function than quadriceps strength in the early postoperative period following total knee arthroplasty.

Objective: Quadriceps weakness is considered the primary determinant of gait function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, many patients have shown a gap in improvement trends between gait function and quadriceps strength in clinical situations. Factors other than quadriceps strength in the recovery of gait function after TKA may be essential factors.

Identification of a Functional Susceptibility Variant for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis that Upregulates Early Growth Response 1 (EGR1)-Mediated UNCX Expression.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a serious health problem affecting 3% of live births all over the world. Many loci associated with AIS have been identified by previous genome wide association studies, but their biological implication remains mostly unclear. In this study, we evaluated the AIS-associated variants in the 7p22.

Examination of the Impact of Strength and Velocity of the Knee and Ankle on Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

The muscle strength of the knee extension and plantarflexion plays a crucial role in determining gait speed. Recent studies have shown that no-load angular velocity of the lower limb joints is essential for determining gait speed. However, no reports have compared the extent to which lower limb functions, such as knee extension strength, knee extension velocity, plantarflexion strength, and plantarflexion velocity, impact gait speed in a single study.

Real-world persistence of twice-weekly teriparatide and factors associated with the discontinuation in patients with osteoporosis.

Introduction: A 28.2 μg twice-weekly formulation of teriparatide (2/W-TPD) was developed to provide comparably high efficacy for osteoporosis to a 56.5 μg once-weekly formulation while improving the safety and persistence rate.

Does Primary Tumor Resection in Patients with Metastatic Primary Mobile Vertebral Column Sarcoma Improve Survival?

Background: Primary mobile vertebral column sarcoma is an exceedingly rare malignancy. Although primary tumor resection has been reported to prolong survival in patients with metastatic bone sarcoma, whether primary tumor resection in patients with advanced primary mobile vertebral column sarcoma is associated with survival remains unclear owing to the rarity of this pathological entity.

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, 182 patients with metastatic primary mobile vertebral column sarcoma were identified between 1983 and 2015.

Immediate Effects of Single-Session High-Velocity Training for Lateral Trunk Movement on Gait Function in Early Postoperative Patients after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is an effective method for relieving pain and improving gait function. However, THA patients demonstrate slow gait speed at discharge. Rehabilitation programs after THA require the immediate improvement of gait speed early in the postoperative period.

Radical resection for solitary thoracic spinous-process metastasis: a case report and technical note.

Introduction: Bone metastases confined to the posterior elements of the spine are rarely treated, as there exist no established radical surgical treatment options for this area. Herein, we present a case report of and technical note on a patient who underwent radical resection for a metastatic tumor in the thoracic spinous process.

Case Presentation: A 34-year-old male presented with a nasopharyngeal carcinoma with a solitary metastatic focus in the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra.

Association between obesity and ossification of spinal ligaments in 622 asymptomatic subjects: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Previous studies on patients with symptoms of spinal ligament ossification, including ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ligamentum flavum (OLF), have not clarified whether obesity is a cause or consequence of these diseases and were limited by selection bias. Thus, we investigated the association between obesity and the prevalence of spinal ligament ossification in randomly selected asymptomatic subjects.

Materials And Methods: Between April 2020 and March 2021, 622 asymptomatic Japanese subjects who underwent computed tomography of neck to pelvis for medical check-up purposes were included.

Brain Metastasis in Soft Tissue Sarcoma at Initial Presentation.

Background/aim: Brain metastasis is a rare condition among patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS), and its precise incidence remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate which patients should be screened for brain metastasis.

Patients And Methods: We identified all patients with STS diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 in the SEER database.

Aggravation of Ossified Ligamentum Flavum Lesion Is Associated With the Degree of Obesity.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objectives: There is insufficient data on the clinical features of ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) of the thoracic spine and the risk of progression of ossified lesions. The link between obesity and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), which frequently coexists with OLF, has been demonstrated.

Thrombocytopenia Associated with Unrecognized Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is an Independent Predictor of Perioperative Significant Blood Loss in Cervical Laminoplasty.

Objective: To identify risk factors for significant blood loss (SBL) in cervical laminoplasty, especially regarding thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy resulting from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We retrospectively investigated differences in patient background data, laboratory data at the time of admission, and surgery-related data of 317 patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty and were divided into SBL (estimated blood loss [EBL] + drainage [D] ≥500 g) and non-SBL (EBL + D < 500 g) groups. To evaluate liver status, we used the fibrous 4 index and considered fibrous 4 index ≥1.

Polygenic Risk Score of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis for Potential Clinical Use.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common disease causing three-dimensional spinal deformity in as many as 3% of adolescents. Development of a method that can accurately predict the onset and progression of AIS is an immediate need for clinical practice. Because the heritability of AIS is estimated as high as 87.