Ramp lesions of the medial meniscus are associated with greater preoperative anterior knee laxity in anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of ramp lesions in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to compare preoperative knee laxity between the patients with and without ramp lesions by using an electromagnetic measurement system (EMS).

Methods: Two hundred six patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with preoperative EMS measurements were retrospectively enrolled in the present study. The diagnoses of the ramp lesions were made by arthroscopic inspections.

The role of circadian clock gene Arntl in the winter depression-like behavior in melatonin-proficient female CBA/N mice.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is a subtype of depression typically manifesting in winter. Typical symptoms of SAD, such as an increased need for sleep and carbohydrate cravings associated with increased appetite and weight, are distinct from those of major depression, and the underlying mechanisms of SAD remain unclear. Although laboratory mice are generally considered non-seasonal animals, we observed depression-like behaviors in melatonin-proficient female CBA/N mice maintained under winter-mimicking conditions.

Synthesis and preclinical testing of a selective beta-subtype agonist of thyroid hormone receptor ZTA-261.

Background: Thyroid hormones (TH) regulate the basal metabolic rate through their receptors THRα and THRβ. TH activates lipid metabolism via THRβ, however, an excess amount of TH can lead to tachycardia, bone loss, and muscle wasting through THRα. In recent years, TH analogs that selectively bind to THRβ have gained attention as new agents for treating dyslipidemia and obesity, which continue to pose major challenges to public health worldwide.

Discovery of orally bioavailable inhibitors of MALT1 with in vivo activity for psoriasis.

We report the design, synthesis, and biological activity of a series of compounds that exhibit potent mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation 1 (MALT1) inhibition. Structural transformation of the substructures of a starting compound gave amidomethyl derivatives and sulfonylguanidine derivatives that exhibited potent inhibition of MALT1. Compound 37 had good oral bioavailability and showed anti-psoriatic activity in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model after oral administration.

Photochromism of TiO Nanoparticles Doped with Molybdenum Ions: Neutral Color Change from Colorless to Black via Gray.

Transition metal oxide nanoparticles have been extensively studied for the development of smart windows which are expected to be a promising technology to save energy in buildings. However, most of them turn blue under UV irradiation. Since the blue coloration affects the color of objects through the windows, the development of materials with a neutral color which hardly disturbs the view is more beneficial.

Prostaglandin E synchronizes lunar-regulated beach spawning in grass puffers.

Many organisms living along the coastlines synchronize their reproduction with the lunar cycle. At the time of spring tide, thousands of grass puffers (Takifugu alboplumbeus) aggregate and vigorously tremble their bodies at the water's edge to spawn. To understand the mechanisms underlying this spectacular semilunar beach spawning, we collected the hypothalamus and pituitary from male grass puffers every week for 2 months.

Approximately 80% of Japanese osteoarthritic patients fall out of the safety range in restricted kinematically-aligned total knee arthroplasty in an analysis of preoperative long-leg radiograms.

Background: Restricted kinematically-aligned total knee arthroplasty (KA-TKA) is a reasonable modification to avoid the alignment outlier that may cause implant failure. However, despite a noted high incidence of constitutional varus in Japanese individuals, there has been no investigation into how many knees require the restriction in restricted KA-TKA (RKA-TKA) among Japanese patients. Therefore, we conducted a study using preoperative long-leg radiograms.

Contralateral knee flexion predicts postoperative knee flexion in unilateral total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective study.

Background: Postoperative flexion angle is associated with preoperative flexion in the same knee after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, whether the preoperative contralateral knee flexion angle could influence postoperative flexion remains unknown. This study aimed to test the effect of contralateral knee flexion on final flexion in the postoperative knee after unilateral TKA.

Approximately 41% of knees have a looser gap in full extension than in 20° flexion after Oxford unicompartmental arthroplasty.

Introduction: In Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (OUKA), the flexion and extension gaps should be adjusted to prevent mobile-bearing dislocation. The extension gap is recommended to be evaluated in the 20° flexion position to avoid underestimation due to tension of the posterior capsule. However, we have become aware of a looser gap in full extension than in 20° flexion in some instances.

Dynamic inversion of planar-chiral response of terahertz metasurface based on critical transition of checkerboard structures.

Dynamic inversion of the planar-chiral responses of a metasurface is experimentally demonstrated in the terahertz regime. To realize this inversion, the critical transition of the checkerboard-like metallic structures is used. Resonant structures with planar chirality and their complementary enantiomeric patterns are embedded in the checkerboard.

Examination of the Antimicrobial Peptide Myticalin A6 Active Site.

In 2017, Leoni et al. reported myticalins as novel cationic linear antimicrobial peptides obtained from marine mussels. The authors focused on myticalin A6 (29 amino acids), which has a relatively short chain length among myticalins and contains a repeating X-proline(Pro)-arginine (Arg) sequence in its structure.

Manipulation of Tibial Component to Ensure Avoidance of Bearing Separation from the Vertical Wall of Tibial Component in Oxford Unicompartmental Arthroplasty.

In Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, the relationship between the mobile bearing and the vertical wall of the tibial tray is important in preventing bearing dislocation. Separation of the bearing from the vertical wall can cause spinning of the bearing with an increased risk of subsequent dislocation. We report on intraoperative adjustment of the tibial tray performed to prevent the bearing from spinning.

Photoperiodic regulation of dopamine signaling regulates seasonal changes in retinal photosensitivity in mice.

At high latitudes, approximately 10% of people suffer from depression during the winter season, a phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Shortened photoperiod and/or light intensity during winter season are risk factors for SAD, and bright light therapy is an effective treatment. Interestingly, reduced retinal photosensitivity along with the mood is observed in SAD patients in winter.

Stress-Induced In Situ Modification of Transition Temperature in VO Films Capped by Chalcogenide.

We attempted to modify the monoclinic-rutile structural phase transition temperature () of a VO thin film in situ through stress caused by amorphous-crystalline phase change of a chalcogenide layer on it. VO films on C- or R-plane AlO substrates were capped by GeSbTe (GST) films by means of rf magnetron sputtering. of the VO layer was evaluated through temperature-controlled measurements of optical reflection intensity and electrical resistance.

A Novel Technique for Varus Tibial Cutting for Oxford Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

To reduce the stress on the medial tibial cortex and to decrease the risk of fracture, a varus cut of the tibia appears to be a reasonable alternative to the orthogonal cut by conventional methods. We present a new instrument and procedure, which enables a varus tibial cut for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. We used a custom-made, slidable fixator instead of the standard fixator to set the extramedullary rod on the leg.

Bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for windswept knee osteoarthritis: A report of 13 cases.

Background: Windswept deformity is a condition of the lower limbs with a valgus knee on one side and a varus knee on the other. We present a case series of bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for windswept knee osteoarthritis (WSKO).

Methods: We analysed the outcomes of 26 knees of 13 consecutive patients with WSKO treated with bilateral UKA.

Visible light responsive TiO photocatalysts for degradation of indoor acetaldehyde.

Photocatalysis is a promising technique for developing sustainable and environmentally friendly materials to improve indoor air quality. Visible-light-responsive TiO has been widely investigated but there are inconsistent results because photocatalytic properties depend strongly on synthetic methods. Herein, we synthesize TiO doped with 10 different metal ions (M-TiO) by conducting a dialysis in a sol-gel method to obtain the best photocatalyst for the degradation of acetaldehyde under LED irradiation.

Validation of the Macroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Status Using the Oxford Classification System in Relation to Cartilage Defects on the Medial Tibial Plateau in Osteoarthritic Knees.

This study evaluated the relationships between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grading using the Oxford classification system and cartilage defects on the medial tibial plateau to clarify the validity of the system. We studied the location and size of a full-thickness cartilage defect of the medial tibial plateau in 154 knees (97 patients) treated by unicompartmental (113) or total (41) knee arthroplasty between April 2017 and January 2018, and analyzed their relationship to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grade, Grade 1 (normal), Grade 2 (synovial damage), Grade 3 (longitudinal split), Grade 4 (friable and fragmented), and Grade 5 (absent). Significant trends in decreased posterior preserved cartilage, increased defect length, and posteriorized defect center were associated with increasing ACL grade.

Extent of in vivo sagittal bearing movement and its relationship with tibial posterior slopes in Oxford mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

Background: The effect of increased tibial slope on the bearing movement and clinical results in mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty has not been well discussed. We aimed to clarify the extent of in vivo sagittal bearing movement and bearing overhang using fluoroscopy and their relationship with the tibial posterior slopes and clinical results.

Methods: This retrospective study included 40 patients who underwent Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for anteromedial osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis of the knee.

Light and Hormones in Seasonal Regulation of Reproduction and Mood.

Organisms that inhabit the temperate zone exhibit various seasonal adaptive behaviors, including reproduction, hibernation, molting, and migration. Day length, known as photoperiod, is the most noise-free and widely used environmental cue that enables animals to anticipate the oncoming seasons and adapt their physiologies accordingly. Although less clear, some human traits also exhibit seasonality, such as birthrate, mood, cognitive brain responses, and various diseases.

Seasonal changes in NRF2 antioxidant pathway regulates winter depression-like behavior.

Seasonal changes in the environment lead to depression-like behaviors in humans and animals. The underlying mechanisms, however, are unknown. We observed decreased sociability and increased anxiety-like behavior in medaka fish exposed to winter-like conditions.

[TWO CASES OF PEDIATRIC DEEP RENAL INJURY AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL].

We report two cases of pediatric deep renal injury at a local hospital. Case 1 was a 13-year-old girl. She fell from a bicycle and hit her back in a gutter.

Does the duration to bipolar hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture influence on postoperative muscular strength?

Background: The primary purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative muscular strength and functional performance between early versus late bipolar hip arthroplasty (BHA) intervention for femoral neck fracture classified by the duration from the onset to surgery.

Methods: Twenty-one patients who could walk at 12 months or more after BHA were enrolled into this study. We examined the muscular strength of hip flexion, extension, abduction, and knee extension of these patients.

Investigating Instructor Talk in Novel Contexts: Widespread Use, Unexpected Categories, and an Emergent Sampling Strategy.

Instructor Talk-noncontent language used by instructors in classrooms-is a recently defined and promising variable for better understanding classroom dynamics. Having previously characterized the Instructor Talk framework within the context of a single course, we present here our results surrounding the applicability of the Instructor Talk framework to noncontent language used by instructors in novel course contexts. We analyzed Instructor Talk in eight additional biology courses in their entirety and in 61 biology courses using an emergent sampling strategy.