A novel 11β-HSD1 inhibitor improves diabesity and osteoblast differentiation.

Selective inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) have considerable potential as treatment for osteoporosis as well as metabolic syndrome including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the anti-diabetic, anti-adipogenic, and anti-osteoporotic activity of KR-67500, as a novel selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitor. Cellular 11β-HSD1 activity was tested based on a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence method.

Correlation between Bone Mineral Density Measured by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Hounsfield Units Measured by Diagnostic CT in Lumbar Spine.

Objective: Use of quantitative computed tomography (CT) to evaluate bone mineral density was suggested in the 1970s. Despite its reliability and accuracy, technical shortcomings restricted its usage, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) became the gold standard evaluation method. Advances in CT technology have reduced its previous limitations, and CT evaluation of bone quality may now be applicable in clinical practice.

Cervical extension magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) may be caused by static and dynamic spinal cord compression, particularly during neck extension. Dynamic compression may be better evaluated with dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) images. We performed a retrospective study to determine the clinical indication for dynamic MR imaging, and conducted a survey regarding image interpretation by clinicians.

Development and evaluation of an improved technique for pulmonary function testing using electrical impedance pneumography intended for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Spirometry is regarded as the only effective method for detecting pulmonary function test (PFT) indices. In this study, a novel impedance pulmonary function measurement system (IPFS) is developed for directly assessing PFT indices. IPFS can obtain high resolution values and remove motion artifacts through real-time base impedance feedback.

Quantitative evaluation of median nerve motor function in carpal tunnel syndrome using load cell : correlation with clinical, electrodiagnostic, and ultrasonographic findings.

Objective: Major complaints of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are sensory components. However, motor deficit also impedes functional status of hand. Contrary to evaluation of sensory function, the objective, quantitative evaluation of median nerve motor function is not easy.

Anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effect of a novel selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitor in the diet-induced obese mice.

It has been reported that the selective inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) have considerable potential for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects of N-(5-carbamoyladamantan-2-yl)-3-((2-fluorophenyl) sulfonyl)thiazolidine-2-carboxamide (KR-67105), a novel 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, in diabetic mice model and preadipocyte model. KR-67105 concentration dependently inhibited 11β-HSD1 activity in human and mouse 11β-HSD1 overexpressing cells and mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Less invasive palliative surgery for spinal metastases.

Background: There may be patients with spinal metastasis for whom neither vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty nor open surgery is appropriate. Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) may fill the gap between techniques.

Objectives: To assess the outcome of the PPSF and radiotherapy/chemotherapy.

BMP-2 induced early bone formation in spine fusion using rat ovariectomy osteoporosis model.

Background Context: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) enhance bone formation. Numerous animal studies have established that BMPs can augment spinal fusion. However, there is a lack of data on the effect of BMP-2 on spinal fusion in the osteoporotic spine.

Sonographic findings of an ovarian serous surface papillary borderline tumor.

Sonographic findings of a serous surface papillary borderline tumor of the ovary have rarely been reported in the English literature. Here, we describe a case of serous surface papillary borderline tumor, which was depicted on gray-scale and Doppler ultrasonography as smoothly lobulated and polypoid heterogeneous echoic bilateral adnexal masses encased or surrounded by what was presumed to be normal-appearing ovarian follicles with increased vascular flow.

Quantitative analysis of intraoperative indocyanine green video angiography in aneurysm surgery.

Objective: Indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography (VA) is being used in assessment of blood flow during cerebrovascular surgery. However, data collected during ICG angiography are usually interpreted qualitatively. In this study, quantitative analysis of ICG angiogram was attempted.

Clinical outcomes of conservative management of spinal cord cavernous angiomas.

Background: There have been numerous studies on the outcomes of surgery for spinal cord cavernous angiomas. However, the natural history of conservatively treated disease is not well known. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the outcomes of conservatively managed patients with spinal cord cavernous angioma to determine the appropriate treatment strategies.

A validation study for estimation of femoral anteversion using the posterior lesser trochanter line: an analysis of computed tomography measurement.

The aim of this study was to introduce a simple and reliable intraoperative reference guide to reproduce the normal femoral anteversion during total hip arthroplasty (THA). We hypothesized that the posterior lesser trochanter line (PLTL) could be a useful guide for estimating femoral anteversion during THA. We conducted a study of 56 men (112 hips) to evaluate the relationship between the PLTL and the femoral anteversion using computed tomography scans.

X-Ray-based Kinematic Analysis of Cervical Spine According to Prosthesis Designs: Analysis of the Mobi C, Bryan, PCM, and Prestige LP.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: To identify significant kinematic changes in the cervical spine after cervical artificial disk replacement (ADR) using prostheses with diverse designs.

Summary Of Background Data: Various types of artificial disks are used for cervical ADR.

Medial loop of v2 segment of vertebral artery causing compression of proximal cervical root.

Objective: It is rare that the medial loop in the V2 segment of the vertebral artery (VA) causes compression of the proximal cervical root of the spinal cord without leading to bony erosion and an enlarged foramen. We evaluated the clinical significance and incidence of the medial loop in the V2 segment of the VA.

Methods: We reviewed the records from 1000 consecutive patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the cervical spine between January 2005 and January 2008.

Congenital portosystemic shunts: prenatal manifestations with postnatal confirmation and follow-up.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prenatal sonographic findings that could be helpful for diagnosis of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts and the follow-up results.

Methods: Six neonates with congenital shunts between the portal vein and hepatic vein were enrolled in this study. Prenatal sonography was performed in 5 cases.

Redundant effects of ketamine on the pathogenesis and severity of Brucella abortus infection.

Brucella abortus is an intracellular bacterium and leading to a serious debilitating disease known as brucellosis. Ketamine is an anesthetic and a sedative that affects the immunomodulatory activities of various immune cells. The current study was to elucidate the role of ketamine in B.

Adenoma malignum of the uterine cervix: imaging features with clinicopathologic correlation.

Background: Adenoma malignum, also known as minimal deviation adenocarcinoma, is a subtype of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical, pathologic, and imaging features of the adenoma malignum of the uterine cervix.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the CT and MRI findings in 13 patients: size, endoluminal fluid, appearance of the solid and cystic component, margin, enhancement, characteristics of locules of the cystic lesion, tumor spread, and associated ovarian lesion.

Sonographic findings of uterine cervical lymphoma manifesting as multinodular lesions.

Uterine cervical lymphoma, a very rare condition, has rarely been reported in sonographic findings in the English medical literature. We describe a case of uterine cervical lymphoma which was detected initially and depicted on sonography as a multinodular smoothly lobulated heterogeneous mass with some posterior enhancements.

Carbenoxolone prevents the development of fatty liver in C57BL/6-Lep ob/ob mice via the inhibition of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c activity and apoptosis.

Carbenoxolone is the 3-hemisuccinate of glycyrrhetinic acid, the active principal of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). It was reported that carbenoxolone improved glucose tolerance with increased insulin sensitivity in mice with high fat diet-induced obesity. In the present study, we elucidated the protective effect of carbenoxolone in fatty liver animal models of C57BL/6-Lep(ob/ob) mice through inhibition of hepatic lipogenesis and apoptosis.

Rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This article describes 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in which hip joint conditions were similar to rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint. The patients had the following additional characteristics: (1) age at diagnosis was comparatively older; (2) rheumatoid arthritis had an onset after age 40 years; (3) severe rheumatoid arthritis was present in >4 major joints; (4) long-term steroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were taken due to the high activity of rheumatoid arthritis; and (5) patients were underweight, with body mass indexes <20 kg/m(2).Rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint rarely occurs in osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Uterus didelphys with blind hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis (Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome) suspected on the presence of hydrocolpos on prenatal sonography.

We report the case of a female neonate with ipsilateral renal agenesis and uterus didelphys with blind hemivagina, also known as Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich (HWW) syndrome. Prenatal sonography revealed the absence of the left kidney and a retrovesical cystic lesion suspected as hydrometrocolpos. Postnatal evaluation confirmed that the cystic lesion was a hydrocolpos associated with double uterus and blind hemivagina (HWW syndrome).

The effect of vertebroplasty on costal pain related to osteoporotic thoracic compression fractures in elderly patients.

Objective: To analyze the effect of vertebroplasty on costal pain which develops following osteoporotic thoracic compression fractures (OTCFs).

Methods: The authors reviewed the medical records of 35 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation for the treatment of OTCFs over a five year period. The patients were divided into two groups: the costalgia group included patientswho had costal pain after a vertebral fracture and the non-costalgia group included patients without costalgia.

Outcomes of Instrumented Posterolateral Fusion for Patients Over 70 Years with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Disease: A Minimum of 2 Years Follow-up.

Objective: To determine the outcome of posterolateral fusion (PLF) for patients over 70 years of age with degenerative lumbar spinal disease.

Methods: The authors reviewed 18 patients (13 women and 5 men) over 70 years of age who underwent PLF with a minimum 2-years follow-up at a single institution. The parameters for analysis were clinical outcome, intraoperative bleeding, operating time, transfusion amount, fusion rate, decreased disc height at the operated level, and the incidence of adjacent disc degeneration.

The use of the posterior lesser trochanter line to estimate femoral neck version: an analysis of computed tomography measurements.

We hypothesized that the lesser trochanter could be a useful guide for estimating femoral component version during total hip arthroplasty. We conducted a study of 88 patients to evaluate the relationship between the posterior lesser trochanter line (PLTL) and the femoral neck axis (FNA) using computed tomographic scans. The mean angle between the PLTL and the FNA was 17.