Protein superfolds are characterised as frustration-free topologies: A case study of pure parallel β-sheet topologies.

A protein superfold is a type of protein fold that is observed in at least three distinct, non-homologous protein families. Structural classification studies have revealed a limited number of prevalent superfolds alongside several infrequent occurring folds, and in α/β type superfolds, the C-terminal β-strand tends to favor the edge of the β-sheet, while the N-terminal β-strand is often found in the middle. The reasons behind these observations, whether they are due to evolutionary sampling bias or physical interactions, remain unclear.

Dynamic Balance During Walking in Transfemoral Prosthesis Users: Step-to-Step Changes in Whole-Body and Segment Angular Momenta.

Transfemoral prosthesis users (TFPUs) typically have a high risk of balance loss and falling. Whole-body angular momentum ( [Formula: see text] is a common measure for assessing dynamic balance during human walking. However, little is known about how unilateral TFPUs maintain this dynamic balance through segment-to-segment cancellation strategies.

Sprinting performance of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation: compensation strategies for lower limb coordination.

Understanding the sprinting patterns of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (uTFA) is important for designing improved running-specific prostheses and for prosthetic gait rehabilitation. Continuous relative phase (CRP) analysis acquires clues from movement kinematics and obtains insights into the sprinting coordination of individuals with uTFA. Seven individuals with uTFA sprinted on a 40 m runway.

Ground reaction forces during double limb stances while walking in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation.

The asymmetrical gait of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation has been well documented. However, there is not a wealth of investigation into asymmetries during the double limb stance depending on whether the intact or prosthetic limb is leading. The first aim of this study was to compare ground reaction forces during the double limb stance of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation depending on whether their intact (initial double limb stance) or prosthetic (terminal double limb stance) limb was leading.

Spatiotemporal gait patterns in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation: A hierarchical cluster analysis.

Gait pattern classification in individuals with lower-limb amputation could help in developing personalized prosthetic prescriptions and tailored gait rehabilitation. However, systematic classifications of gait patterns in this population have been scarcely explored. This study aimed to determine whether the gait patterns in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (UTFA) can be clustered into homogeneous subgroups using spatiotemporal parameters across a range of walking speeds.

Centre of pressure during walking after unilateral transfemoral amputation.

Lower-limb amputation imposes a health burden on amputees; thus, gait assessments are required prophylactically and clinically, particularly for individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (UTFA). The centre of pressure (COP) during walking is one of the most useful parameters for evaluating gait. Although superimposed COP trajectories reflect the gait characteristics of individuals with neurological disorders, the quantitative characteristics based on the COP trajectories of individuals with UTFA remain unclear.

Biomechanical determinants of top running speeds in para-athletes with unilateral transfemoral amputation.

Background: An increased understanding of biomechanical determinants that influence the sprint performance of para-athletes with a unilateral transfemoral amputation will provide us with a basis for better evaluating athletes' sprint performance and would be expected to aid in the development of more effective training methods and running-specific prosthesis selection guidelines.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of mechanical determinants to the top running speeds of para-athletes with unilateral transfemoral amputation wearing a running-specific prosthesis.

Study Design: Observational study within the subject.

Effects of step frequency during running on the magnitude and symmetry of ground reaction forces in individuals with a transfemoral amputation.

Background: Individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation are prone to developing health conditions such as knee osteoarthritis, caused by additional loading on the intact limb. Such individuals who can run again may be at higher risk due to higher ground reaction forces (GRFs) as well as asymmetric gait patterns. The two aims of this study were to investigate manipulating step frequency as a method to reduce GRFs and its effect on asymmetric gait patterns in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation while running.

Secondary cancers after carbon-ion radiotherapy and photon beam radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer: A comparative study.

Background: There are limited studies on the risk of secondary cancers after carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT). We assessed the incidence of secondary cancers in patients treated with CIRT for cervical cancer. We also evaluated the incidence of secondary cancers in patients who received standard photon radiotherapy (RT) throughout the same period.

Effects of walking speed and prosthetic knee control type on external mechanical work in transfemoral prosthesis users.

During human locomotion, each limb performs step-to-step work on the body center of mass to maintain forward walking. This energy exchange relies on physiological mechanisms which are altered or impaired in transfemoral prosthesis users (TFPUs). Exploring step-to-step energy exchange modifications displayed by TFPUs at greater walking speeds may provide insight into their means for improving gait efficiency.

External Mechanical Work in Runners With Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation.

Carbon-fiber running-specific prostheses have enabled individuals with lower extremity amputation to run by providing a spring-like leg function in their affected limb. When individuals without amputation run at a constant speed on level ground, the net external mechanical work is zero at each step to maintain a symmetrical bouncing gait. Although the spring-like "bouncing step" using running-specific prostheses is considered a prerequisite for running, little is known about the underlying mechanisms for unilateral transfemoral amputees.

Effects of walking speed on magnitude and symmetry of ground reaction forces in individuals with transfemoral prosthesis.

Individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (uTFA) walk asymmetrically. Investigating gait symmetry in ground reaction force (GRF) is critical because asymmetric loading on the residual limb can result in injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the GRF of individuals with uTFA by systematically controlling their walking at eight speeds(2.

The register shift rules for βαβ-motifs for de novo protein design.

A wide range of de novo design of αβ-proteins has been achieved based on the design rules, which describe secondary structure lengths and loop torsion patterns favorable for design target topologies. This paper proposes design rules for register shifts in βαβ-motifs, which have not been reported previously, but are necessary for determining a target structure of de novo design of αβ-proteins. By analyzing naturally occurring protein structures in a database, we found preferences for register shifts in βαβ-motifs, and derived the following empirical rules: (1) register shifts must not be negative regardless of torsion types for a constituent loop in βαβ-motifs; (2) preferred register shifts strongly depend on the loop torsion types.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy with Simultaneous Integrated Boost for Clinically Node-Positive Prostate Cancer: A Single-Institutional Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes and the toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB-IMRT) combined with androgen-deprivation therapy for clinically node-positive (cN1) prostate cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 97 patients with cN1 prostate cancer who received SIB-IMRT between June 2008 and October 2017 at our hospital. The prescribed dosages delivered to the prostate and seminal vesicle, elective node area, and residual lymph nodes were 69, 54, and 60 Gy in 30 fractions, respectively.

Inter-limb weight transfer strategy during walking after unilateral transfemoral amputation.

Although weight transfer is an important component of gait rehabilitation, the biomechanical strategy underlying the vertical ground reaction force loading/unloading in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation between intact and prosthetic limbs remains unclear. We investigated weight transfer between limbs at different walking speeds in 15 individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation and 15 individuals without amputation as controls, who walked on an instrumented treadmill. The normalized unloading and loading rates were calculated as the slope of decay and rise phase of the vertical ground reaction force, respectively.

Anterior-posterior ground reaction forces across a range of running speeds in unilateral transfemoral amputees.

As a fundamental motor pattern, the ability to run at a range of constant speeds is a prerequisite for participating in competitive games and recreational sports. However, it remains unclear how unilateral transfemoral amputees modulate anterior and posterior ground reaction force impulses (GRFIs) in order to maintain constant running speeds. The purpose of this study was to investigate anterior and posterior GRFIs across a wide range of constant running speeds in unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing a running-specific prosthesis.

Significance of concurrent use of weekly cisplatin in carbon-ion radiotherapy for locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Although carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) with concurrent chemotherapy (chemo-C-ion RT) is a promising treatment for adenocarcinoma (AC) of the uterine cervix, its long-term efficacy remains unclear. We evaluated the long-term significance of concurrent weekly cisplatin and C-ion RT for locally advanced AC of the uterine cervix.

Methods: We performed a pooled analysis of patients with stage IIB-IVA AC of the uterine cervix who underwent C-ion RT alone or chemo-C-ion RT between September 2007 and December 2018 at our institution.

Long-Term Outcomes of Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy for Malignant Gynecological Melanoma.

Surgical resection is considered a standard therapy for malignant melanoma (MM). However, it has not yet been established as an optimal treatment strategy for gynecological MMs, particularly owing to their very low incidence rates. We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for gynecological MMs.

A Phase 1/2 Study of Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Uterine Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Protocol 1302).

Purpose: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of carbon-ion radiation therapy (C-ion RT) with concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma in a phase 1/2 clinical trial.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-two patients were treated with C-ion RT with concurrent weekly cisplatin at a dose of 40 mg/m. The phase 1 component evaluated the safety of 72.

SUV-based Parameters of FDG-PET/CT Reliably Predict Pathologic Complete Response After Preoperative Hyperthermo-chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Cancer.

Background/aim: To determine the most reliable predictor for pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy and regional hyperthermia (HCRT) for rectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-six patients were enrolled. The local control status of the patients was assessed using F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and colonoscopy before and after HCRT.

Clinical Advantage of Chest-wall Post-mastectomy Radiation Therapy Without Bolus.

Background/aim: The clinical outcomes of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) without bolus remain to be fully examined, so that we evaluated clinical outcomes of PMRT without bolus and to measure the chest-wall dose surface histogram (DSH) parameters.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two patients with breast cancer who received PMRT without bolus were retrospectively analyzed. DSH values of the percentage of maximum dose (D) were measured.

Tiny Falx Meningioma Causing Massive Interhemispheric Subdural Hematoma: A Case Report.

Bleeding from meningiomas is well known, but massive subdural hemorrhage from a very small meningioma is rare. A 61-year-old woman presented with a sudden-onset headache and slight right hemiparesis without a history of trauma. Computed tomographic scan showed bilateral acute/subacute interhemispheric subdural hematoma, but contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan, non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital subtraction angiography failed to detect the cause.

Chemoradiotherapy for unresectable cases of thymic epithelial tumors: a retrospective study.

Background: Because of the rarity of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), there is no treatment for managing unresectable tumors that is supported by a high level of evidence. We present here the clinical outcomes of concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy for patients with unresectable TETs.

Methods: We collated records for 215 patients with TETs who were treated at our institution and focused on the 20 patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy without curative-intent surgical resection.

[Vertebral artery dissection due to a bone anomaly of the superior facet of C6: a rare cause of embolic stroke].

We report a rare case of repeated vertebral artery (VA) occlusion. The VA occlusion was due to a distal embolism originating from traumatic VA dissection resulting from mechanical compression due to excessive bone formation of the superior facet of C6. A 39-year-old male suffered from two embolic events in the right VA with a 4-month intervals.

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured dissecting aneurysm of peripheral superior cerebellar artery].

The peripheral superior cerebellar artery (SCA) dissecting aneurysm (DA) is extremely rare, with only 4 cases (including our case) having been reported. Here we report a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured DA of peripheral SCA and summarize the 23 cases of the DA of peripheral arteries in the posterior fossa. A 64-year-old woman was found unconscious at home and was admitted to our hospital on December 12, 1998.