Clinical outcomes of combined focused shock wave and ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy therapy.

Background: Various conservative treatments have been reported for refractory calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a combined therapy of focused shock wave (FSW) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation of calcific tendinopathy (US-PICT).

Methods: A total of 229 patients (246 shoulders) who experienced shoulder pain for over six months due to calcific tendinitis were included.

Retear Rate Between 1 and 2 Years Postoperatively After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Is Over 30% and Associated With Higher Tear Size and Fatty Degeneration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the integrity of the repaired rotator cuff between 1 and 2 years postoperatively after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigate the factors affecting its change, and assess the association between the change and postoperative clinical outcomes.

Methods: Rotator cuff tear patients who underwent ARCR and were evaluated by MRI before surgery, and 1 and 2 years after ARCR with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included in this study. Repair integrity was evaluated using Sugaya's classification, and according to the classification types IV and V were defined as retears.

The pivotal role of the Hes1/Piezo1 pathway in the pathophysiology of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) lacks fully effective treatments. This study investigated the role of Piezo1, a mechanosensitive ion channel component 1, in GIOP. We found reduced Piezo1 expression in cortical bone osteocytes from patients with GIOP and a GIOP mouse model.

Effect of the suture augmentation on the stability and strength of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction: The anchor and bone tunnel methods.

Background: The initial fixation strength of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction is increased by combining a suture augmentation (SA). However, no reports have investigated the stability of UCL reconstruction with SA across multiple elbow flexion angles and the influence of SA on the stability and failure strength of the anchor and bone tunnel methods. This study aimed to compare the displacement against a valgus load at multiple elbow flexion angles of the anchor and bone tunnel methods between with and without SA, and to compare the failure strength between these methods with SA.

Factors influencing the achievement of early surgery in proximal femoral fractures under a Japanese incentive policy.

Background: Proximal femoral fractures in geriatric patients are a major challenge in orthopedics, often leading to major functional impairment. Early surgical intervention is crucial for improving patient recovery and overall health outcomes. Thus, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare initiated a reimbursement policy in April 2022 to encourage early surgery for these fractures in patients aged ≥75 years.

Continuous local antibiotic perfusion technique for surgical site infections after shoulder surgery.

Background: Continuous local antibiotic perfusion (CLAP) is a method for preserving tissue and function against surgical site infections (SSIs) after shoulder surgery.

Methods: To describe the application of the novel CLAP technique to 10 patients with SSIs after shoulder surgery that were not controlled with repeated surgical débridement or elderly patients who are insufficient physical resilience for further surgeries.

Results: CLAP, consisting of gentamicin, was performed for 2 weeks, after which the infection was well-controlled.

Impact of long-term macrolide therapy on the evaluation indicator of outpatient oral antimicrobial use according to the AWaRe classification.

The WHO recently proposed a new indicator for judging the appropriateness of antimicrobial selection according to the AWaRe classification. Although macrolides are often administered for long-term macrolide therapy, the impact of this therapy on the indicator remains unclear. This study examined the impact of this therapy on the indicator for outpatient oral antimicrobial use.

A culture method with berbamine, a plant alkaloid, enhances CAR-T cell efficacy through modulating cellular metabolism.

Memory T cells demonstrate superior in vivo persistence and antitumor efficacy. However, methods for manufacturing less differentiated T cells are not yet well-established. Here, we show that producing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells using berbamine (BBM), a natural compound found in the Chinese herbal medicine Berberis amurensis, enhances the antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells.

Optimization of Traction Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Improve Visibility of the Elbow Cartilage.

We previously reported that elbow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 7 kg traction increases the joint space width of the radiocapitellar joint and improves articular cartilage visibility without arthrography. However, the optimal traction weight remains unclear. We assessed the effects of different traction weights on elbow MRI in 30 healthy volunteers.

Superior high-efficiency and high-throughput volatile flavor extraction of Japanese fermented seasonings by solvent-assisted stir bar solid extraction with reverse extraction.

Fermented seasonings have pleasant flavors that stimulate our appetite. Their flavoring properties change depending on factors such as their materials and fermented conditions. Therefore, a comparative analysis of their flavor is important when evaluating their quality.

Iguratimod suppresses sclerostin and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand production via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/early growth response protein 1/tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway in osteocytes and ameliorates disuse osteoporosis in mice.

Disuse osteoporosis is a prevalent complication among patients afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although reports have shown that the antirheumatic drug iguratimod (IGU) ameliorates osteoporosis in RA patients, details regarding its effects on osteocytes remain unclear. The current study examined the effects of IGU on osteocytes using a mouse model of disuse-induced osteoporosis, the pathology of which crucially involves osteocytes.

Automated detection and classification of the rotator cuff tear on plain shoulder radiograph using deep learning.

Background: The diagnosis of rotator cuff tears (RCTs) using radiographs alone is clinically challenging; thus, the utility of deep learning algorithms based on convolutional neural networks has been remarkable in the field of medical imaging recognition. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence (a deep learning algorithm; a convolutional neural network) to detect and classify RCTs using shoulder radiographs, and compare its diagnostic performance with that of orthopedic surgeons.

Methods: A total of 1169 plain shoulder anteroposterior radiographs (1 image per shoulder) were included in the total dataset and divided into four groups: intact, small, medium, and large to massive tear groups.

Discovery of TP0628103: A Highly Potent and Selective MMP-7 Inhibitor with Reduced OATP-Mediated Clearance Designed by Shifting Isoelectric Points.

Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play an important role in pathophysiological processes such as cancer and fibrosis. We previously discovered selective MMP-7 inhibitors by molecular hybridization and structure-based drug design. However, the systemic clearance (CL) of the biologically active lead compound was very high.

Efficacy of radial shock wave therapy on rat models of adjuvant arthritis.

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an effective treatment for musculoskeletal pain, tendinopathy, and fasciitis with an anti-inflammatory effect. ESWT can be categorized into two groups: radial pressure wave (RPW) and focused shock wave (FSW). Although there have been several studies on the inflammation and pain-improvement mechanisms of FSW, there are few studies on the pain-improvement mechanisms of RPW.

Biomechanical Comparison of Stability and Strength After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction With Suture Anchor Fixation Versus Bone Tunnels.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries occur frequently in baseball players, and UCL reconstruction is performed when nonoperative treatment fails.

Purpose: To compare a novel all-suture anchor method of UCL reconstruction with a method using bone tunnels (Ito method) by investigating the displacement against valgus torque and the failure strength.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes meniscus regeneration through the cultivation of synovial mesenchymal stem cells via the CXCL6-CXCR2 pathway.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in promoting meniscus regeneration by cultivating synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) and to validate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Human SMSCs were collected from patients with osteoarthritis. Eight-week-old nude rats underwent hemi-meniscectomy, and SMSCs in pellet form, either with or without bFGF (1.

Evaluation of articular changes using a rat mono-iodoacetate-induced shoulder arthritis model by histology and radiology.

The rat mono-iodoacetate (MIA) arthritis model has been used in studies on the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Few studies have explored its utility in shoulder arthritis research, and none have evaluated the effects of time and different MIA doses on arthritis progression. Therefore, we developed a rat MIA shoulder arthritis model to evaluate articular changes through radiological and histological analyses.

Effect of arthroscopic subacromial decompression during arthroscopic repair of small to medium-sized rotator cuff tears.

Background: Although arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) is a commonly used procedure during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), the effect of ASD on the clinical outcomes for ARCR is controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of ARCR with or without ASD.

Methods: Patients (n = 315 with 320 shoulders) who underwent ARCR for small to medium-sized rotator cuff tears were followed for at least 24 months.

Return to sports and physical work after anatomical and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: No consensus has been reached on the return to sports or physical work after shoulder arthroplasty due to a shortage of literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate return to sports or physical work after anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), as well as the clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) aTSA or RSA between 2012 and 2017, and 2) patients who preoperatively participated in sports or physical work.

Helix-forming aliphatic homo-δ-peptide foldamers based on the conformational restriction effects of cyclopropane.

Considerable effort has been directed toward developing artificial peptide-based foldamers. However, detailed structural analysis of δ-peptide foldamers consisting of only aliphatic δ-amino acids has not been reported. Herein, we rationally designed and stereoselectively synthesized aliphatic homo-δ-peptides forming a stable helical structure by using a chiral cyclopropane δ-amino acid as a monomer unit.

Solvent-assisted stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with simultaneous olfactometry for the characterization of aroma compounds in Japanese Yamahai-brewed sake.

Yamahai-brewed sake, a Japanese alcoholic beverage brewed from rice and produced via natural lactic acid fermentation, has a complex and rich flavor compared with Sokujo-brewed sake, brewed with a general method using pure lactic acid. This study aimed to characterize the aroma compounds in Yamahai-brewed sake using solvent-assisted stir bar sorptive extraction (SA-SBSE) with gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry (GC-O/MS) and to confirm the enhanced sensitivity of GC-O/MS with SA-SBSE compared with SBSE alone. SA-SBSE with GC-O/MS increased the number of detected odor-active compounds and improved the FD factor sensitivity of Yamahai-brewed sake.

Analyzing Chronological Change in Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Results in Patients With Kienböck's Disease by Using an Original Grading System.

Background and objective Signal changes in MRI for Kienböck's disease have only been qualitatively assessed so far. In light of this, we proposed a new grading system for quantitative analysis with an ordinal scale. Methods The study included 31 patients (17 men, 14 women) with Kienböck's disease.