The coronal plane alignment of the knee classification of a Japanese population indicates more varus deformity tendency compared with European countries.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the distribution of the coronal plane alignment of the knee (CPAK) phenotype between the healthy population and the arthritic population in Japan.

Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study included 1049 knees. There were 256 healthy individuals with a total of 512 knees and 310 individuals with a total of 537 arthritic knees who underwent around-knee osteotomy between June 2010 and January 2024.

The unique structure of the highly conserved PPLP region in HIV-1 Vif is critical for the formation of APOBEC3 recognition interfaces.

The human cellular cytidine deaminases APOBEC3s (A3s) inhibit virion infectivity factor (Vif)-deficient HIV-1 replication. However, virus-encoded Vifs abolish this defense system by specifically recruiting A3s to an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to induce their degradation. The highly conserved Vif PPLP motif is critical for the Vif-mediated antagonism of A3s and is believed to be important for Vif multimerization.

Is systolic blood pressure an early marker of concentric left ventricular geometry in young rugby athletes as a potential cardiac maladaptation?

Background: Long-term exercise training induces various morphological adaptations in the heart. Although concentric left ventricular (LV) geometry is occasionally observed in young athletes, its clinical significance is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of young rugby athletes with concentric LV geometry and considered its clinical implications.

Immediate changes in standing and walking when placing a hanger around the head of a patient with body lateropulsion: a case report.

Introduction: Body lateropulsion is a postural disorder characterized by involuntary leaning to one side and is a major symptom in individuals with Wallenberg syndrome. Although the hanger reflex has potential applications as a simple stimulus to control posture, there are no reports of its use in body lateropulsion cases. The case report aims to document the immediate effects of a wire hanger worn around the head on the center of foot pressure and gait pattern parameters.

Impact of aspirin on biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after robot assisted radical prostatectomy in a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

This study evaluated the impact of aspirin on the biochemical recurrence (BCR) rate following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in patients. A database search identified patients who underwent RARP for pT2-3N0M0 disease at any of 25 centers between 2011 and 2022, categorized into aspirin (n = 350) and control groups (n = 5857). Adjustment by 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) and Mahalanobis distance matching (MDM) created 350 matched pairs.

Left posterior superior temporal gyrus and its structural connectivity in schizophrenia.

The left posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology and core symptoms of schizophrenia, although its structural connectivity has not yet been systematically investigated. Here, we aimed to evaluate its white matter (WM) connectivity with Broca's area, the thalamus, and the right pSTG. Eighty-three patients with schizophrenia and 141 healthy controls underwent diffusion-weighted imaging and T1-weighted three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging.

Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score and knee society score for the minimal clinically important differences after cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty: Two-year follow up.

Background: This study investigated changes in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), 2011 Knee Society Score (KSS), and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) of these scores preoperatively to 2 years after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 168 patients who underwent primary cruciate-retaining (CR) TKA using the subvastus approach. The KOOS and KSS were assessed preoperatively and during the 3-month, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow ups.

Urinary fatty acid-binding protein 4 is a promising biomarker for glomerular damage in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims/introduction: Fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) 4, which acts as an adipokine secreted by adipocytes, macrophages, and capillary endothelial cells, is expressed in injured glomerular cells. It has been reported that urinary (U-) FABP4 is associated with renal dysfunction and proteinuria in several glomerular kidney diseases. However, the clinical significance of U-FABP4 in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains undetermined.

Assessment of Fresh Homologous Osteochondral Transplantation in Knees as a Salvage Treatment: A Prospective Case Series with a Minimum Follow-up Period of 10 Months.

 The present study evaluated the clinical outcomes and satisfaction of patients undergoing fresh homologous osteochondral transplantation in the knee as a salvage method.  We analyzed eight knees from seven male patients who underwent fresh homologous osteochondral transplantation by a single surgeon. Their follow-up period ranged from 10 months to 5 years and 5 months.

Efficacy of Genicular Nerve Block in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Comparative Study with and without Fluoroscopy Assistance.

 To compare the efficacy of fluoroscopy as an auxiliary method in genicular nerve block (GNB) with block guidance by anatomical parameters, without imaging aid, in reducing pain.  A total of 23 patients underwent fluoroscopy-guided or anatomical parameter-based GNBs. We applied the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities' Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain at 6 time points (preblock, and after 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days, 28 days, and 90 days).

Impact of neurovascular bundle preservation on biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate functional and oncological outcomes in patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral nerve-sparing (NS) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for high-risk prostate cancer.

Methods: The cohort comprised 2683 patients with clinical stage T1-4, N0M0 high-risk prostate cancer who underwent RARP in Japanese tertiary care centers from August 2011 to April 2023. High risk was defined using the European Association of Urology risk stratification criteria.

Autism-spectrum quotient mediates the relationship between clinical symptoms and quality of life in schizophrenia.

Background: Social dysfunctions can affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients with schizophrenia. The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) is a widely used measure of innate autistic traits. However, in patients with schizophrenia, the score may represent the severity of autism-like social dysfunctions as a consequence of symptoms.

[A Case of Esophageal Perforation Caused by Metallic Stent Placement after Long-Term Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer].

A 72-year-old man had been undergoing chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer for over 4 years. He presented with dysphagia, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)revealed esophageal stricture due to tumor growth. Subsequently, he underwent placement of a partially covered esophageal stent(HANAROSTENT® Esophagus, M.

Frontal neurodegeneration associated with Frontal Assessment Battery in early Alzheimer's disease.

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is widely used to assess executive dysfunction in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer's disease (aMCI-AD), but its neurobiological meaning is unclear. To elucidate this, we examined the relationship between the FAB score and three key imaging biomarkers: gray matter volume, amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition, and glucose metabolism.

Methods: Twenty Aβ- and tau-positive aMCI-AD patients and age-matched controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography with [C]PiB and [F]FDG.

Catalytic mechanism underlying the regiospecificity of coumarin-substrate transmembrane prenyltransferases in Apiaceae.

Plant membrane-bound prenyltransferases (PTs) catalyze the transfer of prenyl groups to acceptor substrates, phenols, using prenyl diphosphates as the donor substrate. The presence of prenyl residues in the reaction products, prenylated phenols, is key to the expression of a variety of physiological activities. Plant PTs generally exhibit high specificities for both substrate recognition and prenylation sites, while the molecular mechanism involved in these enzymatic properties is largely unknown.

Can the clinical sign "head-turning sign" and simple questions in "Neucop-Q" predict amyloid β pathology?

Background: To establish simple screening tests to suspect Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, the clinical sign "head-turning sign" (HTS), which is a patient's behavior of turning their head towards their partner to seek assistance with questions posed by the examiner during the interview, and the simple screening questionnaire for dementia named "Neucop-Q" were validated in participants diagnosed with amyloid and tau positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: We enrolled 155 patients: 47 cognitive normal, 36 with mild cognitive impairment, 64 with dementia, and 8 with psychiatric disorders. All participants underwent Neucop-Q [three questions: Consciousness/self-awareness of cognitive disabilities (C) normal/impaired (nor/imp), Pleasure/pastime (P) nor/imp, and News/knowledge on current topics (N) nor/imp] and amyloid/tau PET.

Diagnostic usefulness of 24-h polysomnography for idiopathic hypersomnia co-occurring with neurodevelopmental disorders: A case report.

Background: Although central disorders of hypersomnolence (CDH) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently comorbid, they often remain underdiagnosed, leading to insufficient treatment and sociopsychological outcomes.

Case Presentation: Here, we present a case of a male in his late 20s with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder who exhibited symptoms suggestive of idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), a subtype of CDH. The patient experienced difficulty waking up and dropped out of university.

Characteristics and course of lower extremity muscle activity in a patient with body lateropulsion due to pontine infarction: a case report.

Background: Body lateropulsion (BL) is a phenomenon in which the body involuntarily falls to one side; however, its detailed postural control characteristics remain unclear.

Objective: This case report aimed to measure the surface electromyography (EMG) of the lower limbs while standing in a patient with severe BL on the affected side due to pontine infarction and to investigate the characteristics of postural control.

Case Description: We evaluated a patient with severe BL due to pontine infarction at two-time points, 6 and 20 days after onset, to assess static standing balance under open and closed eye conditions and measure the center of pressure (COP) and lower extremity EMG during these tasks.

3D Analysis of Metatarsal Torsion by Computed Tomography in Normal, Hallux Valgus, and Hallux Rigidus Feet.

Background: One factor contributing to rotational deformity of the first metatarsal in hallux valgus is torsion of the metatarsal itself. Hallux rigidus also involves reduction of the longitudinal arch, but metatarsal torsion has not been discussed. We hypothesized that metatarsal torsion may be a morphologic change unique to hallux valgus.