Pain Candidate Genes 5-HTTLPR and COMT Affect Anxiety and Mood in Japanese Ballet Dancers: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study.

The balance of mental, physical, and technical aspects is essential in improving ballet performance. Ballet dancers' emotional and behavioral characteristics vary, even under identical stress conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between the pain candidate genes 5-HTTLPR and COMT and anxiety in Japanese ballet dancers.

Recovery Process for Sports-Related Concussion Assessed with Precise Ocular Motility.

Ocular motility has been linked to Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 5 scores. However, the link between ocular motility changes and assessment result changes remains unclear. Hence, we investigated that potential link in patients with sports-related concussions.

Physiologic Mechanical Stress Directly Induces Bone Formation by Activating Glucose Transporter 1 (Glut 1) in Osteoblasts, Inducing Signaling via NAD+-Dependent Deacetylase (Sirtuin 1) and Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (Runx2).

Mechanical stress is an important factor affecting bone tissue homeostasis. We focused on the interactions among mechanical stress, glucose uptake via glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), and the cellular energy sensor sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in osteoblast energy metabolism, since it has been recognized that SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, may function as a master regulator of the mechanical stress response as well as of cellular energy metabolism (glucose metabolism). In addition, it has already been demonstrated that SIRT1 regulates the activity of the osteogenic transcription factor runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2).

Effects of Different Exercise Conditions on Antioxidant Potential and Mental Assessment.

Exercise increases oxidative stress, leading the body to strengthen its antioxidant defenses, thus reducing the incidence of major diseases. As these associations are relatively unclear for ordinary levels of exercise for reduced stress, this study evaluated the effects of different exercise conditions on diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and subjective mood. Forty-nine students (22.

A novel, self-assembled artificial cartilage-hydroxyapatite conjugate for combined articular cartilage and subchondral bone repair: histopathological analysis of cartilage tissue engineering in rat knee joints.

Purpose: We previously created a self-assembled cartilage-like complex in vitro from only three cartilage components, hyaluronic acid (HA), aggrecan (AG) and type II collagen, without other materials such as cross-linking agents. Based on this self-organized AG/HA/collagen complex, we have created three novel types of biphasic cartilage and bone-like scaffolds combined with hydroxyapatite (HAP) for osteochondral tissue engineering. These scaffolds have been developed from self-assembled cartilage component molecules and HAP at the nanometer scale by manipulating the intermolecular relations.

Long Term Changes in Muscles around the Knee Joint after ACL Resection in Rats: Comparisons of ACL-Resected, Contralateral and Normal Limb.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) resection on the morphological and contractile characteristics of rectus femoris (RF) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles in both injured and contralateral hindlimbs in rats. Wistar male rats (8-week old) were used. No ACL-resection-associated changes in the mass of both muscles were observed 1 week after ACL resection.

The NAD-Dependent Deacetylase Sirtuin-1 Regulates the Expression of Osteogenic Transcriptional Activator Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (Runx2) and Production of Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 in Chondrocytes in Osteoarthritis.

Aging is one of the major pathologic factors associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Recently, numerous reports have demonstrated the impact of sirtuin-1 (Sirt1), which is the NAD-dependent deacetylase, on human aging. It has been demonstrated that Sirt1 induces osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Incidence of injury among adolescent soccer players: a comparative study of artificial and natural grass turfs.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of acute injuries and soccer-related chronic pain from long-term training and during matches in adolescent players using natural grass turfs (NT) and artificial turfs (AT).

Design: Case-controlled prospective study.

Setting: Institutional-level Fédération Internationale de Football Association Medical Centre of Excellence.