Biomechanical effects of saddle height changes in leisure cycling with unilateral transtibial prostheses: A simulated study.

Cycling is a beneficial physical activity for rehabilitating individuals with lower-limb amputations and serves as a feasible leisure sport. However, the optimal bicycle configuration for cycling with a unilateral transtibial prosthesis at leisure levels has not been investigated. For saddle height at professional cycling levels, existing literature suggests utilizing the same configuration as that used by intact cyclists, where the knee reaches 25-35° at maximum extension.

Biomechanical and Physiological Variables in Dynamic and Functional Balance Control during Single-Leg Loading in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Scoping Review.

Background: This scoping review summarizes the tasks and outcomes in dynamic and functional balance assessments of individuals with chronic ankle instability, focusing on the physiological and biomechanical characteristics.

Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases in September 2023 and revised in April 2024. Studies evaluating dynamic and functional balance in chronic ankle instability using clinical tests, as well as biomechanical and physiological outcomes, were included.

[Calcified Amorphous Tumor Diagnosed After Stroke:Report of a Case].

Calcified amorphous tumor (CAT), a non-neoplastic tumor, is rare. Histopathologic features are the presence of calcified nodules in an amorphous background of fibrin. CAT is reported to be associated with renal dysfunction or hemodialysis, and possibly causes cerebral embolism.

Transient Electromyographic Responses by Isokinetic Torque Release during Mechanically Assisted Elbow Flexion.

Power assistance on joint torque may not be beneficial to all the related muscles. We investigated the effects of power assistance on torque release during isokinetic elbow flexion. An isokinetic dynamometer system was used to simulate dynamic elbow flexion with power assistance, which altered the exercise conditions of baseline isometric torque (greater and lower) and rotation speed (faster and slower) of the lever arm.

[Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma in Situ with Positive Findings in Pleural Lavage Cytology].

We report a rare case of positive findings in pleural lavage cytology(PLC) in the patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). A 78-year-old woman was presented with a 30 mm pure groundglass nodule (GGN) in the left upper lobe on chest computed tomography (CT). After 2 years follow- up, thoracoscopic surgery was performed to resect the nodule.

Comparison of Phenotypes in Subcutaneous Fat and Perivascular Adipose Tissue Surrounding the Saphenous Vein in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: The saphenous vein (SV) is used as an essential conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but the long-term patency of SV grafts is a crucial issue. The use of the novel "no-touch" technique of harvesting the SV together with its surrounding tissue has been reported to result in good long-term graft patency of SV grafts. We recently showed that perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) surrounding the SV (SV-PVAT) had lower levels of metaflammation and consecutive adipose tissue remodeling than did PVAT surrounding the coronary artery.

[Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Patient with Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm:Report of a Case].

Coronary artery aneurysm is a rare entity defined as expansion more than 1.5 times of normal coronary artery in diameter. A 77-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and a giant right coronary artery aneurysm.

Backward Walking Styles and Impact on Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics.

Forward walking (FW) is a common balance assessment tool. However, its sensitivity is limited by the ceiling effect. Reverse gait, such as backward walking (BW), has been reported to have more advantages than FW for balance assessment.

Effects of various handle shapes and surface profiles on the hand-arm responses and comfort during short-term exposure to handle vibration.

The magnitude of hand- (HTV) and wrist- (WTV) transmitted vibration can negatively impact upper limb responses even during short-term exposure. This study aimed to establish the effects of various handle-grip designs on the harmful impacts of vibration, sustained grip exertion, and unnatural posture. The primary focus was to investigate how using a handle grip and how three shapes with two surface profiles affect HTV, WTV, and forearm muscle activities during exposure.

A Case of Severe Aortic Stenosis after Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Using Autologous Pericardium (Ozaki Procedure).

A 56-year-old man with a history of left nephrectomy for Wilms' tumor on chronic hemodialysis underwent aortic valve neocuspidization using autologous pericardium (Ozaki procedure) for aortic stenosis (AS) due to a bicuspid aortic valve 6 years ago. The AS gradually progressed and a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction was observed. Because of this, we decided to perform reoperative aortic valve replacement using a mechanical valve.

Users' adaptations to the proportional speed control of a motorised walker.

Purpose: Speed control is commonly used to regulate the forces applied by motorised walkers (MW) and there are often situations where the speed targeted deviates from the preferred walking speed of its users, such as when encouraging higher walking speeds and due to safety consideration. This study investigates the effects of different MW's target speeds on the selected walking speeds, force applied, perceived exertion, and gait of MW users during steady-state walking.

Materials And Methods: The spatiotemporal gait parameters and perceived exertion of twenty young healthy participants were measured as they walked at a comfortable, self-selected speed using a MW as it was controlled to target forward speeds of 0.

[Third Tricuspid Valve Replacement:Report of a Case].

A 79-year-old man underwent tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) with a bovine pericardial bioprosthesis, Carpentier-Edwards Perimount (CEP), for tricuspid regurgitation 27 years earlier. Twenty-one years after the first operation, he underwent re-TVR with a bovine pericardial bioprosthesis, Magna Mitral Ease, due to prosthetic valve dysfunction. Since the prosthetic valve dysfunction progressed again, the third TVR was performed six years after the second operation.

[Coronary Aneurysm with Fistula].

We successfully treated two rare cases of coronary aneurysm with fistula. Case 1;A 65-year-old female referred to our hospital with the coronary aneurysm and fistula. Right coronary aneurysm with fistula leading to coronary sinus was observed.

Different flooring surfaces affect infants' crawling performance.

This study assessed the influence of different types of flooring on infants' crawling motion patterns and performance. Each participating infant (range: 8.7-12.

Motor control characteristics of upper limbs in response to assistive forces during bilateral tasks.

Most research on power assist suits (PASs) that concerned PAS-human interactions has used human physical reactions as criteria to evaluate the mechanical function, however, with minimal emphasis on human reactions in response to PASs. In this study, we focused on the physiological responses of the upper limbs including muscle activity of the biceps brachii and the triceps brachii, co-activation, force steadiness (CV) and rated perceived exertion (RPE) to various patterns of bilateral assistive force, such as unilateral assistance (L0% & R67% [% = percentage of workload force, L = left arm, R = right arm], L67% & R0%, L0% & R33%, L33% & R0%), symmetrical (L0% & R0%, L33% & R33%, L67% & R67%) and asymmetrical bilateral assistance (L33% & R67%, L67% & R33%), during bilateral isometric force-matching tasks. The results showed a similar muscular response of the two arms to bilateral assistive conditions, and the muscle activity of the arm that was being observed decreased only when the assistive force that applied on itself increased, indicating that both arms may have adopted similar but independent motor control mechanisms to acclimate to the bilateral assistive forces.

The effect of horizontal forces from a Smart Walker on gait and perceived exertion.

Increasingly, electric motors are being incorporated into wheeled walkers to implement various smart features to better assist their users physically. These modified walkers, known as Smart Walkers, use their electric motors to generate horizontal forces that can be used to reduce the physical load for walking, prevent falls and provide navigation support. However, these forces can also alter gait and may inadvertently increase the exertion of the users.

Effects of mechanical assistance on muscle activity and motor performance during isometric elbow flexion.

Mechanical assistance on joint movement is generally beneficial; however, its effects on cooperative performance and muscle activity needs to be further explored. This study examined how motor performance and muscle activity are altered when mechanical assistance is provided during isometric force control of ramp-down and hold phases. Thirteen right-handed participants (age: 24.

Changes in Muscle Activity in Response to Assistive Force during Isometric Elbow Flexion.

This study investigated the muscle activity and force variability in response to perturbation of assistive force during isometric elbow flexion. Sixteen healthy right-handed young men (age: 22.0 ± 1.

Force and electromyography responses during isometric force release of different rates and step-down magnitudes.

This study investigated motor responses of force release during isometric elbow flexion by comparing effects of different ramp durations and step-down magnitudes. Twelve right-handed participants (age: 23.1 ± 1.

An overview of hand postures and aging on morphological changes of the median nerve.

Background: High-resolution ultrasound is being widely used in carpal tunnel examination to understand morphological and biomechanical characteristics of the median nerve and surrounding anatomy structures.

Main Body: Healthy young and elderly men were recruited. The median nerve at proximal wrist region was examined by ultrasound imaging technique.

[Pulmonary Non-tuberculous Mycobacteriosis Complicated with Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma;Report of a Case].

A 64-year-old man with pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis(pulmonary NTM) who had been treated by antituberculous chemotherapy, developed a new nodule of 8 mm in size in the segment 3 of the right upper lobe. The cavity of 4.0 cm in size in the segment 1+2 of the left upper lobe due to Mycobacterium avium infection was preexisted.

Deformation of the median nerve at different finger postures and wrist angles.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes of the median nerve cross-sectional area (MNCSA) and diameters of the median nerve at different finger postures and wrist angles.

Methods: Twenty-five healthy male participants were recruited in this study. The median nerve at wrist crease was examined at six finger postures, and repeated with the wrist in 30° flexion, neutral (0°), and 30° extension.

[Anterior Mediastinal Myxoid Liposarcoma Detected by Chest Computed Tomogram in the Patient with Pneumothorax].

A 57-year-old woman visited our hospital with left chest pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) scanning showed left pneumothorax with apical bullae and a nodular shadow in the left anterior mediastinum accidentally. However, a week later, we could not detect a mediastinal shadow on chest CT image after healing of left pneumothorax.