Calculation of joint reaction force and joint moments using by wearable walking analysis system.

In gait analysis, which is one useful method for efficient physical rehabilitation, the ground reaction force, the center of pressure, and the body orientation data are measured during walking. In the past, these data were measured by a 3D motion analysis system consisting of high-speed cameras and force plates, which must be installed in the floor. However, a conventional 3D motion analysis system can measure the ground reaction force and the center of pressure just on force plates during a few steps.

Development of walking analysis system consisting of mobile force plate and motion sensor.

In walking analysis, which is one useful method for efficient physical rehabilitation, the ground reaction force, the center of pressure, and the body orientation data are measured during walking. In the past, these data were measured by a 3D motion analysis system consisting of high-speed cameras and force plates, which must be installed in the floor. However, a conventional 3D motion analysis system can measure the ground reaction force and the center of pressure just on force plates during a few steps.

Fern constituents: dryocrassy formate, sitostanyl formate and 12alpha-hydroxyfern-9(11)-ene from Cyathea podophylla.

Dryocrassyl formate, sitostanyl formate, and 12alpha-hydroxyfern-9(11)-ene were isolated from the fresh fronds of Cyathea podophylla. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and synthesis. Ten known triterpenoids, three derivatives of phytol, a stanol, and beta-tocopherol were also identified from this fern.

Fern constituents: triterpenoids from Adiantum capillus-veneris.

Two new migrated hopane triterpenoids, viz. 4alpha-hydroxyfilican-3-one and fern-9(11)-en-12beta-ol, and olean-18-en-3-one and olean-12-en-3-one as the first example of oleanane compounds from Adiantum ferns were isolated along with many other known triterpenoids from Adiantum capillus-veneris of China and Egypt. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses.

Purification and characterization of 3,3-dihydroxyazetidine from culture medium of Bacillus mesentericus and B. subtilis.

A method is described for the purification of 3,3-dihydroxyazetidine (DHA), which accelerates the growth of Bifidobacterium spp., from the culture medium of Bacillus mesentericus (BM). Purification involved adsorption to an ion-exchange resin; it required less time and gave a higher yield than a previously reported method.

Bacopaside I and II: two pseudojujubogenin glycosides from Bacopa monniera.

Two saponins, designated as bacopaside I and II, have been isolated from Bacopa monniera Wettst. and their structures have been elucidated as 3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->2)-[6-O-sulphonyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl pseudojujubogenin (1) and 3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl pseudojujubogenin (2) mainly on the basis of 2D NMR and other spectral analyses.

Triterpenoids from Adiantum caudatum.

Three triterpenoids, 8alpha-hydroxyfernan-25,7beta-olide, 3alpha-hydroxy-4alpha-methoxyfilicane and 19alpha-hydroxyferna-7,9(11)-diene were isolated from the fresh fronds of Adiantum caudatum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. Thirteen known triterpenoids were also identified from this fern.

Comparison of the effects in vitro of tea tree oil and plaunotol on methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

The effects in vitro of tea tree oil (TTO) and plaunotol were examined by monitoring the growth of a standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209P and of fourteen methicillin-susceptible strains of S. aureus (MSSA), together with twenty methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the doses for 50% inhibition of growth (ID50) were determined by the micro-broth dilution (MD) method, and the broth dilution with shaking (BDS) method, respectively.

A new factor from Bacillus mesentericus which promotes the growth of Bifidobacterium.

It was reported previously that supernatants of cultures of Bacillus mesentericus TO-A promote the growth of Bifidobacterium species. In this study, a new growth-promoting factor, BM-1, was purified from the supernatant of such a culture and its chemical structure was determined. BM-1 was identified as 3,3-dihydroxyazetidine, and it promoted the growth of several strains of Bifidobacterium.

[Home therapy for patients treated with radiotherapy].

Twenty seven patients with a malignancy which had been treated by radiotherapy were cared for by a visiting nurse team in the terminal stage. The median survival time after beginning the visits was 3 months.

Characteristics of cardiovascular morphology and function in the high-normal subset of hypertension defined by JNC-VI recommendations.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the morphological and functional characteristics of the cardiovascular system among subgroups of hypertension defined by the JNC-VI recommendations. One hundred and sixteen subjects (normotensives and unmedicated hypertensives: 49+/-10 yr) were classified into 4 groups based on the criteria of JNC-VI: normotensive (NOR: n = 38), high-normal blood pressure (HN: n = 16), stage 1 hypertensive (SI: n = 28), and stage 2 to 3 hypertensive (SII-III: n = 34). Ultrasonographic examinations of the heart and carotid artery were performed in all subjects, and the following parameters were obtained: left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness at end-diastole (RWTd), cardiac diastolic function (A/E), common carotid artery diameter (CAD), intimal media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT), and distensibility of the common carotid artery (Distens).

Anti-carcinogenic activity of Taraxacum plant. II.

Eleven triterpenoids (1-11) from the roots of Taraxacum japonicum (Compositae) were examined for their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetrade-canoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), in Raji cells as a primary screening test for anti-tumor-promoters (cancer chemopreventive agents). Of these triterpenoids, taraxasterol (1) and taraxerol (7) exhibited significant inhibitory effects on EBV-EA induction, but the inhibitory effects of their acetates 2 and 8 were weaker than those of 1 and 7. Furthermore, 1 and 7 exhibited potent anti-tumor-promoting activity in the two-stage carcinogenesis tests of mouse skin using 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as an initiator and TPA as a promoter, and 1 showed a remarkable inhibitory effect on mouse spontaneous mammary tumors using C3H/OuJ mouse.

Anti-carcinogenic activity of Taraxacum plant. I.

An extract of the roots of Taraxacum japonicum (Compositae) exhibited strong anti-tumor-promoting activities on the two-stage carcinogenesis of mouse skin tumor induced by dimethylbenz[a] anthracene (DMBA) as an initiator and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) as a promoter, as well as on that induced by DMBA and fumonisin B1. Further, the extract exhibited anti-tumor-initiating activity on the two-stage carcinogenesis of mouse skin tumor induced by (+/-)-(E)-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3-hexen amide (NOR-1) as an initiator and TPA as a promoter. These results suggested that an extract of the roots of the Taraxacum plant could be a valuable chemopreventive agent against chemical carcinogenesis.

The antibacterial activity of plaunotol against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Plaunotol was tested for possible antibacterial activity against twenty strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and fourteen strains of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) which had been isolated from the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis under growth-promoting conditions. Plaunotol was effective against all strains tested.

Effects of short-acting and long-acting loop diuretics on heart rate variability in patients with chronic compensated congestive heart failure.

Background: We investigated the effects of a short-acting loop diuretic (furosemide) and a long-acting loop diuretic (azosemide) on heart rate variability, fluid balance, and neurohormonal responses in patients with mild to moderate chronic congestive heart failure.

Methods: Nineteen patients with mild to moderate chronic congestive heart failure received furosemide (40 to 60 mg/day) or azosemide (60 to 90 mg/day) for 5 days in a crossover manner. We performed time-domain and frequency-domain analyses of 24-hour Holter electrocardiographic recordings to assess heart rate variability.

Transvaginal ultrasonography of female urethral carcinoma treated with radiation therapy: report of two cases.

Female urethral carcinoma is an uncommon disease that often cannot be detected precisely by computed tomography and MR imaging. Therefore, we applied transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) using a real-time scanner with 7.5 MHz transducer to two female patients with urethral carcinoma who were treated with radiation therapy, to evaluate tumor extension and radiation response.

Effects of an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker on cardiovascular autonomic nervous system and carotid distensibility in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

We investigated the relationship between cardiovascular autonomic nervous system function and carotid arterial distensibility during treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (derapril) or a calcium channel blocker (manidipine) for hypertension. In 37 patients with hypertension, autonomic function was assessed by heart rate variability and baroreceptor sensitivity using phenylephrine injection. Left ventricular mass index and carotid arterial distensibility were assessed by ultrasound examinations.

Hormonal and cardiorenal responses to acute saline loading in mild congestive heart failure--the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition.

We investigated cardiorenal responses to acute saline loading in patients with mild congestive heart failure (CHF) with and without angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Saline loading (infusion of 250 ml of normal saline) was performed on 10 patients with mild CHF and 10 control subjects. Although saline loading reduced plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensin II to a similar extent in both groups, it increased cardiac output, renal blood flow, and the ratio of renal blood flow to cardiac output in the mild CHF group but not in the control group.

Transrectal ultrasonography in evaluation of chronic rectal complications after radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors studied the ability of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) to assess chronic rectal complications after radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Methods: One hundred twenty-five TRUSs were performed for 67 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Transrectal ultrasonography images of the rectal anterior wall and perirectal connective tissue adjacent to the uterine cervix were recorded with real-time scanner with 7.

[Studies on residual cardiovascular dysfunction in patients receiving long-term antihypertensive treatment of calcium channel blockers: with special reference to left ventricular hypertrophy, and impairments of left ventricular diastolic function and carotid arterial distensibility].

Residual cardiovascular dysfunctions including left ventricular hypertrophy, and impairment of left ventricular diastolic function and carotid arterial distensibility were investigated in hypertensive patients treated with calcium channel blockers for more than 1 year. Ultrasonographic examinations of the heart and carotid artery were performed in patients treated with calcium channel blocker alone for more than 1 year (n = 45) and in age-, sex- and weight-matched control subjects (n = 29). The following parameters were obtained: left ventricular mass index, cardiac diastolic function (A/E ratio) and carotid arterial distensibility (Distens).

Anti-tumor-promoting activities of triterpenoids from ferns. I.

To search for possible anti-tumor-promoters (cancer chemopreventive agents), we carried out primary screening of 23 triterpenoid hydrocarbons (1-23) isolated from ferns using an in vitro synergistic assay system. Of these triterpenoids, hop-17(21)-ene (2), neohop-13(18)-ene (3), neohop-12-ene (4), taraxerane (17), multiflor-9(11)-ene (18), multiflor-8-ene (19), glutin-5(10)-ene (21) and taraxastane (23) exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Further, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited remarkable anti-tumorpromoting effects on mouse skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test using 7,12-dimethybenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as an initiator and TPA as a promoter.

Gallium-67 scintigraphy in evaluation of malignant lymphoma of the thyroid gland.

During the period from 1982 to 1994, a total of 45 67Ga scintigrams were performed in 12 patients with malignant lymphoma of the thyroid gland. Eight scintigrams were performed before treatment, 12 during the course of radiation therapy, and 25 after treatment. Scintigrams before treatment showed intense uptake in the thyroid masses irrespective of their size.

Radiation therapy for esophageal cancer in patients over 80 years old.

Purpose: A retrospective analysis was performed to investigate the treatment outcome and the significance of radiation therapy for esophageal cancer in patients over 80 years old.

Methods And Materials: Between 1971 and 1990, 257 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated by radiation therapy. Of these, 40 patients over eighty years old were investigated.