Curcuma longa enhances IFN-γ secretion by natural killer cells through cytokines secreted from macrophages.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) regulates the human immune system. To study the interaction between macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells, we established a THP-1 macrophage-conditioned media. Among the 58 natural plant extracts tested, Curcuma longa exerted the strongest IFN-γ-enhancing effect in NK-92 cells through THP-1 macrophages.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Using a Single Transcartilage Needle Electrode During Thyroidectomy.

Objectives: Application of transcartilage needle electrode for intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) during thyroidectomy has been considered an alternative method of electromyography (EMG) tube recording. However, needle electrodes must be inserted into both sides of the thyroid cartilage with exposure of the cartilage lamina. We sought to evaluate the feasibility of applying a single ipsilateral transcartilage needle electrode for IONM during unilateral hemithyroidectomy.

Sulforaphene Suppresses Adipocyte Differentiation via Induction of Post-Translational Degradation of CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein Beta (C/EBPβ).

Adipocyte differentiation (adipogenesis) is a crucial process that determines the total number and size of mature adipocytes that will develop. In this study, the anti-adipogenic effect of sulforaphene (SFEN), a dietary isothiocyanate (ITC) derived from radish, is investigated both in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and in human adipose tissue-derived stem cells. The results revealed that SFEN significantly inhibit adipogenic cocktail-induced adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation at the early stage of adipogenesis.

Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture.

There is no clear consensus on the optimal treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture. Recently, studies have demonstrated the critical role of functional rehabilitation in the treatment of ruptured Achilles tendons. Hence, conservative treatment is preferred by a growing number of surgeons seeking to treat the condition without the risk of complications from surgery.

Results of Simple Conservative Treatment of Midfoot Charcot Arthropathy.

Background: Traditionally, conservative management with an offloading orthosis, such as total contact cast (TCC), has been the standard of care for midfoot Charcot arthropathy. Considering complications of TCC and surgery, we treated midfoot Charcot arthropathy without TCC in our patients. The purpose of this study was to report clinical and radiological outcomes of conservative management of midfoot Charcot arthropathy.

Differences in lower quarter Y-balance test with player position and ankle injuries in professional baseball players.

Purpose: Although there has been research about the correlation between ankle injury and Y-balance test (YBT) conducted in other sports, there has been a lack of research on the correlation between ankle injury among baseball players and YBT scores or on differences in scores according to baseball positions. This study focused on professional baseball players as its subjects with the aims of analyzing the correlation between YBT and ankle injury and assessing differences in YBT between baseball positions.

Methods: Age, height, weight, body mass index, and spine malleolar distance of 42 professional baseball players were measured.

Results of tenorrhaphy with early rehabilitation for acute tear of Achilles tendon.

Background: For the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture, early rehabilitation after surgical repair is believed to be a useful method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of open tenorrhaphy followed by early rehabilitation.

Methods: A total of 112 patients who underwent open repair and early rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon rupture from January 2003 to March 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

Prognosis of Single Spinal Metastatic Tumors: Predictive Value of the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score System for Spinal Adverse Events.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: We evaluated the predictive value of the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) system for spinal adverse events (SAEs) in patients with single spinal metastatic tumor.

Overview Of Literature: The SINS system was developed to assess spinal instability in patients with single metastatic spinal tumor.

Sarcopenia increases the risk for mortality in patients who undergo amputation for diabetic foot.

Background: Although there have been reports that diabetes affects the prevalence of sarcopenia, no studies have examined the relationship between sarcopenia and mortality in patients undergoing leg amputation. The purpose of this study is to determine whether sarcopenia affects the mortality rate of patients undergoing diabetic foot amputation.

Methods: From among patients who underwent limb amputation for diabetes complications, this study included 167 patients who underwent abdominal CT within 1 year of amputation.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Background and purpose - The frequency of progression of osteoarthritis and persistence of symptoms in untreated osteochondral lesion of the talus (OCL) is not well known. We report the outcome of a nonoperative treatment for symptomatic OCL. Patients and methods - This study included 142 patients with OCLs from 2003 to 2013.

Combined Autograft and Bone Cement for Painful Chondroblastoma: A Case Report.

Chondroblastomas of the talus can lead to joint collapse and are often treated using curettage and bone grafting. In the present report, we describe the case of a 19-year-old female with a large chondroblastoma of the talus associated with a secondary aneurysmal cyst. We treated the large cartilage lesion, which involved most of the talus, with an iliac bone graft combined with bone cement to fill the large bone defect and preserve the subchondral bone of the articular surface of the dome of the talus.

Inter-segmental motions of the foot: differences between younger and older healthy adult females.

Background: Although accumulative evidence exists that support the applicability of multi-segmental foot models (MFMs) in evaluating foot motion in various pathologic conditions, little is known of the effect of aging on inter-segmental foot motion. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in inter-segmental motion of the foot between older and younger adult healthy females during gait using a MFM with 15-marker set.

Methods: One hundred symptom-free females, who had no radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis, were evaluated using MFM with 15-marker set.

Selective Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Detected With Exercise Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome that is refractory to conservative management should be treated with surgical fasciotomy. However, owing to the limitations of intracompartmental needle manometry in reaching a definite diagnosis, the appropriate timing for fasciotomy and on which compartment remain unclear. The authors report the case of a 22-year-old male military cadet who reported pain in his left calf when running or walking for long distances.

Comparison of Multisegmental Foot and Ankle Motion Between Total Ankle Replacement and Ankle Arthrodesis in Adults.

Background: Total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle arthrodesis (AA) are usually performed for severe ankle arthritis. We compared postoperative foot segmental motion during gait in patients treated with TAR and AA.

Methods: Gait analysis was performed in 17 and 7 patients undergoing TAR and AA, respectively.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane suppresses high-fat diet-induced obesity through inhibiting adipogenesis of pre-adipocytes by targeting USP2 activity.

Scope: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a derivative abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, is well known for its various health benefits such as chemo-preventive and anti-obesity effects. I3C is easily metabolized to 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a more stable form, in acidic conditions of the stomach. However, the anti-obesity effect of DIM has not been investigated clearly.

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-Positive Pericytic Cells of White Adipose Tissue from Critical Limb Ischemia Patients Display Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Properties.

Background: The pericytes in the blood vessel wall have recently been identified to be important in regulating vascular formation, stabilization, remodeling, and function. We isolated and identified pericyte-like platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta-positive (PDGFRβ+) cells from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue from critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients and investigated their potential as a reliable source of stem cells for cell-based therapy.

Methods: De-identified subcutaneous fat tissues were harvested after amputation in CLI patients.

Diabetic Foot Complications Despite Successful Pancreas Transplantation.

Background: It is known that successful pancreas transplantation enables patients with diabetes to maintain a normal glucose level without insulin and reduces diabetes-related complications. However, we have little information about the foot-specific morbidity in patients who have undergone successful pancreas transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predisposing factors for foot complications after successful pancreas transplantation.

Inter-segmental motions of the foot in healthy adults: Gender difference.

Background: Multi-segment Foot Models (MFM) have increased in use for both clinical and research applications; however, little is known about the gender differences of inter-segmental motions within the foot and ankle during gait. The objectives of this study were to analyze the gender differences of inter-segmental foot motion during gait in healthy young adults using a MFM with a 15-marker set.

Methods: One hundred healthy adults (50 males, 50 females) between 20 and 35 years of age who had normal function and no radiographic abnormality, were evaluated.

Sex differences in knee joint loading: Cross-sectional study in geriatric population.

This study investigated sex differences in knee biomechanics and investigated determinants for difference in a geriatric population. Age-matched healthy volunteers (42 males and 42 females, average age 65 years) without knee OA were included in the study. Subjects underwent physical examination on their knee and standing full-limb radiography for anthropometric measurements.

Debridement and Functional Rehabilitation for Achilles Tendon Infection Following Tendon Repair.

Background: An infected Achilles tendon after tendon repair is particularly difficult to treat because of the poor vascularity of the tendon as well as the thin surrounding soft tissue. For treatment of an infected Achilles tendon following tendon repair, we first focused on complete debridement and then promoted fibrous scar healing of the Achilles tendon using functional treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all of the medical records of 15 tertiary referral patients with postoperative infection of the Achilles tendon occurring between 2007 and 2012.

Foot and Ankle Function at Maturity After Ilizarov Treatment for Atrophic-Type Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia: A Comprehensive Outcome Comparison with Normal Controls.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and the biomechanical function of the foot and ankle at skeletal maturity of patients treated for atrophic-type congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) compared with healthy young adult controls.

Methods: Twenty-four patients (mean age of 19.1 years) who had undergone Ilizarov treatment for unilateral atrophic-type CPT were compared with twenty-four controls (mean age of 19.

Quantitative Assessment of Foot Blood Flow by Using Dynamic Volume Perfusion CT Technique: A Feasibility Study.

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of foot blood flow measurement by using dynamic volume perfusion computed tomographic (CT) technique with the upslope method in an animal experiment and a human study.

Materials And Methods: The human study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The animal study was approved by the research animal care and use committee.

Chlorella vulgaris Attenuates Dermatophagoides Farinae-Induced Atopic Dermatitis-Like Symptoms in NC/Nga Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and inflammatory skin disease that can place a significant burden on quality of life for patients. AD most frequently appears under the age of six and although its prevalence is increasing worldwide, therapeutic treatment options are limited. Chlorella vulgaris (CV) is a species of the freshwater green algae genus chlorella, and has been reported to modulate allergy-inducible factors when ingested.

A fermented barley and soybean formula enhances skin hydration.

Skin hydration is one of the primary aims of beauty and anti-aging treatments. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) and soybean (Glycine max) are major food crops, but can also be used as ingredients for the maintenance of skin health. We developed a natural product-based skin treatment using a barley and soybean formula (BS) incorporating yeast fermentation, and evaluated its skin hydration effects as a dietary supplement in a clinical study.