The meniscus plays a vital role in knee biomechanics, particularly in load distribution and stability. Meniscus root tears (MRTs) compromise these functions, resulting in biomechanical alterations and knee osteoarthritis. The effectiveness of different MRT treatments is not yet well defined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe developed a new method for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic (δC and δN) analysis of underivatized amino acid (AA) enantiomers simultaneously, based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation and off-line isotopic measurement. l- and d-Enantiomers of each AA were isolated using a ReproSil Chiral-AA column, purified by wet chemical procedure, and analyzed for δC and δN values with a nanomol-scale elemental analyzer/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (nano-EA/IRMS) system. We successfully achieved the separation of l- and d-enantiomers of 15 proteinogenous AAs, with all l-enantiomers eluting before respective d-enantiomers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the effectiveness of psychological interventions in postoperative anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) compared to standard rehabilitation.
Methods: The databases searched were PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, and EMBASE were searched from each database inception to May 2023 for published studies. The methodological quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment (RoB 2.
Objective: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the transition of kinesiophobia and knee joint function from the preoperative period to three months postoperative, the time to resume running, six months post-ACLR, and the goal time to resume sports.
Methods: 54 patients who underwent initial ACLR were included in this study. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) was used to assess kinesiophobia.
The effect on survival of radiographic lymph node metastasis in uterine cervical cancer patients is more important than before, even though its prognostic value not been well investigated. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prognostic potential of F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (F-FDG PET) compared with Computed Tomography (CT) in uterine cervical cancer patients with stage IIICr allocated by imaging. Fifty-five patients with biopsy-proven primary cervical cancer underwent definitive radiation therapy for stages IIB-IVB of The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 classifications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Purpose] Kinesiophobia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been identified as an inhibitor of return to sports. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between kinesiophobia and knee function 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction when the patient intends to return to sports. [Participants and Methods] A total of 66 patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (mean age 17.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a potentially fatal polymicrobial infection that often leads to dysphagia after treatment. Such dysphagia is likely the result of fibrosis and scarring from inflammatory changes in the fascial space. A case is presented in which the mechanism of dysphagia was verified using two-dimensional analysis of the muscle lengths of the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeme B is an iron-coordinated tetrapyrrole molecule that acts as a cofactor in hemoproteins. It is expected to be ubiquitous in the environment, as -type hemoproteins catalyze a variety of essential biochemical reactions. In this study, we developed an analytical method to quantify heme B in biological and environmental samples using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a photodiode array detector.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCompound-specific isotope analyses of geoporphyrins, which are derivatives of chloropigments possessed by phototrophs, provide essential records of the biogeochemical cycle of past aquatic environments. Here, we evaluated uncertainties in carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions (δC and δN) associated with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification and isotopic measurements of geoporphyrins. Evaluation of total blank carbon and nitrogen for the HPLC and our sensitivity-improved elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometer (nano-EA/IRMS) analysis confirmed that blank carbon can be corrected and that blank nitrogen is negligible compared to the mass of geoporphyrins required for the isotopic measurement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Sino-Japanese Floristic Region (SJFR) in East Asia is one of the most diverse temperate floras in the world. However, the relative influence of Neogene palaeogeographical changes and Quaternary climatic fluctuations as causal mechanisms on species diversification remains largely controversial, because most divergence time estimates were inferred from single-locus data and have limited geographic or taxonomic sampling. To evaluate these influences, we use SNP markers from restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) loci and expressed sequence tags-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers to investigate the levels of genetic variation, speciation and demographic history of the temperate-deciduous forest (TDF) endemic Cardiocrinum (Endlicher) Lindley (Liliaceae), a genus comprising three species in China (C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe biogeochemistry of hypersaline environments is strongly influenced by changes in biological processes and physicochemical parameters. Although massive evaporation events have occurred repeatedly throughout Earth history, their biogeochemical cycles and global impact remain poorly understood. Here, we provide the first nitrogen isotopic data for nutrients and chloropigments from modern shallow hypersaline environments (solar salterns, Trapani, Italy) and apply the obtained insights to δN signatures of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) in the late Miocene.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is typically included in the nuclear donor injection medium. However, the cytotoxicity of PVP, which is injected into the cytoplasm of oocytes, has recently become a cause of concern. In the present study, we determined whether bovine serum albumin deionized with an ion-exchange resin treatment (d-BSA) was applicable to the nuclear donor injection medium in SCNT as an alternative to PVP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe examined effects of treatment with valproic acid (0, 0.2, 1 or 2 mM, VPA), an inhibitor of class I and IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs), of mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos for 24 h from 48 h (4-cell stage), 24 h (2-cell stage) or immediately after oocyte activation on blastocyst formation rates and qualities of the resultant blastocysts. Blastocyst formation rates (33.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is recognized as a prominent feature of vascular dysfunction with diabetes. For self-monitoring of the risk of diabetic complications, we proposed a simple adhesion test of erythrocytes using positively charged surfaces and its adhesion property was found to correlate HbA(1c) level in diabetic patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn most mammals, oocyte maturation is the final process of oogenesis, from the prophase of the first meiosis (germinal vesicle stage) to the metaphase of the second meiosis (MII), during which the oocyte acquires fertilizable competence as well as post-fertilization development competence. The nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation processes occur in synchrony but independently. Cytoplasmic maturation entails biochemical and structural changes in the cytoplasm, which give rise to oocytes capable of being fertilized and developing into embryos.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system has been fabricated using a magnetic force based cell patterning method, demonstrating a facile approach for the analysis of invasive capacity of BALB/3T3/v-src using an magnetic force and magnetite nanoparticles. The 3D cell patterning was performed using an external magnetic force and a pin holder, which enables the assembly of the magnetically labeled cells on the collagen gel-coated surface as array-like cell patterns, resulting in the development of a 3D in vitro culture model. The cells embedded in type I collagen showed a compacted, spheroid like configuration at each spot, and distinct, accelerated cell growth was observed in cancer model cells compared with the control cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF