Reduction of ischemic time using the pull-through technique for scapular free flap.

Purpose: Current scapular free flap (SFF) harvest in mandibular reconstruction often requires repositioning, hindering simultaneous harvest and resection and potentially increasing ischemic time. This study evaluated the efficacy of the pull-through technique (PTT) for SFF harvest, aiming to reduce ischemic time during mandibular segmental resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using SFF at two maxillofacial surgery departments between January 2015 and May 2022.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer, 2023.

The Japanese Society of Oral Oncology and Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have jointly developed clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) to improve and standardize the quality of oral cancer treatment in Japan. The first, second, and third editions were published in 2009, 2013, and 2019, respectively, and the 2023 edition was recently developed. In the development of the 2023 edition, 60 clinical questions (CQs) were listed.

Possible involvement of Toll-like receptor 8-positive monocytes/macrophages in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's disease.

Background: Sjögren's disease (SjD) is an autoimmune disease marked by lymphocytic infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to glandular dysfunction, where CD4-positive helper T (Th) cells and their cytokines are crucial in the pathogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that Toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly those recognizing immune complexes containing DNA and RNA, contribute to Th cell activation in various autoimmune diseases. This study explores the expression and function of these TLRs in SjD.

[The Influence of the Presence or Absence of a Patient Transfer Slide Board on Radiation and Image Quality When Using an Automatic Tube Current Modulation with Bed Height Compensation].

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of patient transfer slide boards with automatic couch height positioning compensation (AHC) on image quality and radiation dose during computed tomography (CT) examinations.

Methods: The chest phantom for Kyoto Kagaku (Kyoto) Type PBU-SS 2 was performed helical scan using a Canon Medical Systems (Tochigi) 80-row CT Aquilion Prime SP/i Edition. Scan parameters were tube voltage: 120 kV, tube current: min 50 mA max 500 mA with AHC for noise index: 15, slice thickness: 5.

Association Between Overhang of the Posterior Femoral Condyle and Restricted Postoperative Knee Flexion Related to Patient-Reported Stiffness in Medial-Pivot Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between the posterior longitudinal overhang in the femoral condyle (PLOF) in medial-pivot total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and a change in knee flexion angle (change in flexion).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 148 knees undergoing medial-pivot TKA for medial knee osteoarthritis. The primary outcome was the change in flexion (c-flexion) preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively.

Effect of genetic factors on the interindividual variability of warfarin dosage requirements in Japanese patients after adjusting for renal function.

Renal function significantly influences the appropriate warfarin dosage. However, studies investigating the impact of genetic factors on warfarin dosage, considering renal function, are limited. This study aimed to assess the role of genetic polymorphisms in , , , , , and in warfarin dosage adjustment considering renal function.

Radiological assessment of the dissection area in supraomohyoid neck dissection.

Purpose: The current supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) is performed above the omohyoid muscle to dissect levels I, II, and III in the levels of cervical lymph nodes. However, the anatomical boundary between levels III and IV is the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage. We investigated the anatomical relationship between the omohyoid muscle and cricoid cartilage using contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) images to assess the validity of the current SOHND.

Two onset types of achalasia and the long-term course to diagnosis.

Background: Recently, the incidence of achalasia has been increasing, but its cause remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the initial symptoms and the course of symptoms and to find new insights into the cause and course of the disease.

Methods: Altogether, 136 patients diagnosed with achalasia by high-resolution manometry (HRM) were enrolled.

Contact states with femoral cortical bone and periprosthetic bone mineral density changes differ between traditional and newly introduced fully hydroxyapatite-coated stems.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of initial fixation and changes in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) between patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a traditional fully hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated stem (T-HA group) and those with a newly introduced fully HA-coated stem (N-HA group).

Methods: The study included 36 patients with T-HA stems and 30 with N-HA stems. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the change in periprosthetic BMD, one and two years postoperatively.

A novel imageless accelerometer-based navigation system improves acetabular cup placement accuracy during total hip arthroplasty in the lateral decubitus position.

Introduction: The accuracy of acetabular cup placement using conventional portable imageless navigation systems in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the lateral decubitus position remains challenging. Several novel portable imageless navigation systems have been developed recently to improve cup placement accuracy in THA. This study compared the accuracy of acetabular cup placement using a conventional accelerometer-based portable navigation (c-APN) system and a novel accelerometer-based portable navigation (n-APN) system during THA in the lateral decubitus position.

A prediction model of abnormal acid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background And Aim: The measurement of esophageal acid exposure time (AET) using combined multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) tests is the gold standard for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, this catheter-based 24-h test can cause considerable patient discomfort. Our aim is to identify factors affecting AET and to develop a scoring model for predicting AET abnormalities before conducting the MII-pH test.

Evaluation of overexposure risk when there is a space between the subject and the couch in computed tomography: a phantom study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of overexposure associated with automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) and automatic couch height positioning compensation mechanism (AHC) in computed tomography (CT) systems, particularly in scenarios involving a gap between the subject and the couch. Results revealed that when AHC was enabled, CT dose index volume (CTDI) increased by approximately 10% at 2.5 cm, 20% at 5.

Is bone remodelling around fully hydroxyapatite-coated and tapered-wedge stems related to the stem fixation pattern?

Purpose: This study aimed to compare bone mineral density (BMD) changes around the femoral component after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in a fully hydroxyapatite-coated stem (CORAIL) and in a tapered-wedge stem (Taperloc complete) and identify predictors of BMD changes.

Methods: This retrospective study compared 43 hips in the CORAIL group and 40 hips in the Taperloc group. The relative changes in BMD at 2 years after THA measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and the three-dimensional quantified contact states of the stem with the femoral cortical bone were assessed.

Differences in Mucosal Permeability Among Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Classified Based on the Colonic Location and Disease Activity.

Introduction: Factors affecting mucosal permeability (MP) in ulcerative colitis (UC) are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the difference in MP among patients with UC classified according to the colonic locations and to evaluate the correlations between local MP and endoscopic or histological activity of UC.

Methods: The transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), which is inversely proportional to permeability, of tissue samples from the mucosa of the ascending colon, descending colon, and rectum of patients with UC and healthy individuals (HIs) was measured by using the Ussing chamber.

TNF-α-induced Inhibition of Protein Myristoylation Binding Between NMT1 and Sorbs2 in Osteoblasts.

Background/aim: Bone resolution due to tumor invasion often occurs on the surface of the jaw and is important for clinical prognosis. Although cytokines, such as TNF-α are known to impair osteoblasts, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Protein myristoylation, a post-translational modification, plays an important role in the development of immune responses and cancerization of cells.

Evaluation of Ice Recrystallization Inhibition of Ice-Binding Proteins by Monitoring Specific Ice Crystals.

Ice recrystallization is a phenomenon in which large ice crystals are formed at the expense of smaller ones. The resultant large ice crystals degrade the quality of frozen foods and cryopreserved biomaterials. To minimize freeze damage by controlling the ice recrystallization process, various compounds have been developed, including biological antifreezes, synthetic peptides, glycopeptides, polymers, and small molecules.

CT-assessed sarcopenia and prognostic nutritional index are associated with poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Recently, it has been reported that sarcopenia and nutritional evaluation are associated with the prognosis of patients with cancer; however, there are only a few detailed reports on oral cancer. This single-center retrospective study aimed to analyze the relationship between computed tomography (CT)-assessed sarcopenia (CT-SP), immunocompetence, nutritional status, and the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent radical therapy with surgery for OSCC between January 2014 and January 2021.

Molecular evolution of Cypridina noctiluca secretory luciferase for production of spectrum-shifted luminescence-emitting mutants and their application in nuclear receptor-reporter assays.

Luciferase is a popular enzyme used for biological analyses, such as reporter assays. In addition to a conventional reporter assay using a pair of firefly and Renilla luciferases, a simple multicolor reporter assay using multiple firefly or beetle luciferases emitting different color luminescence with a single substrate has been reported. Secretory luciferases have also been used for convenient sample preparation in reporter assays; however, reporter assay using secretory luciferase mutants that emit spectrum-shifted luminescence have not yet been reported.

Treatment strategy changes for inflammatory bowel diseases in biologic era: results from a multicenter cohort in Japan, Far East 1000.

Many molecular targeted agents, including biologics, have emerged for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but their high prices have prevented their widespread use. This study aimed to reveal the changes in patient characteristics and the therapeutic strategies of IBD before and after the implementation of biologics in Japan, where the unique health insurance system allows patients with IBD and physicians to select drugs with minimum patient expenses. The analysis was performed using a prospective cohort, including IBD expert and nonexpert hospitals in Japan.

Prognostic models of quality of life after total knee replacement: A systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review and critically appraise prognostic models for quality of life (QOL) in patients with total knee replacement (TKA).

Methods: Subjects were TKA recipients recruited from inpatient postoperative settings. Searches were made on June 2022 and updated on April 2023.

The modification of bone cut angle and joint line obliquity did not change the tibiofemoral kinematics and stability of knee joint after total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: Previous reports using cadaveric knees and musculoskeletal computer simulation have shown that kinematically aligned (KA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) provides more natural and physiological tibiofemoral kinematic patterns than mechanically aligned (MA) TKA. These reports suggested that the modification of joint line obliquity improve the knee kinematics. This study aimed to determine whether joint line obliquity change the intraoperative tibiofemoral kinematics in TKA candidates with knee osteoarthritis.