Characteristics of trunk lean motion during walking in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: Trunk lean motion on the frontal plane shifts the pressure across the medial-lateral cartilage of the stance limb's knee. The purpose of this study was to investigate trunk lean motion during walking in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Materials And Methods: The study involved five healthy normal controls and 12 patients with symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (six with unilateral and six with bilateral).

Relationship between maximum shoulder external rotation angle during throwing and physical variables.

The amount of stress imposed on shoulder and elbow appears to be directly correlated with the degree of maximum shoulder external rotation (MER) during throwing motions. Therefore, identifying risk factors contributing to the increase of MER angle may help to decrease the throwing injuries occurrence in baseball players. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the correlation between MER and the kinematic variables at stride foot contact (SFC) during the early cocking phase, the passive range of motion (ROM), and the shoulder strength.

The role of shoulder maximum external rotation during throwing for elbow injury prevention in baseball players.

The objective of the present study was to examine whether the passive range of shoulder external rotation (ER), the maximum shoulder external rotation angle (MER) during throwing, and the ratio of MER to ER are related to the incidence of the elbow injury. A mixed design with one between-factor (a history of the elbow injury) and two within-factors (ER and MER) was used to analyze the difference between baseball players with and without a history of medial elbow pain. Twenty high school baseball players who had experienced the medial elbow pain within the previous month but who were not experiencing the pain on the day of the experiment were recruited (elbow-injured group).

Development of porosity in carbons from yeast grains by activation with alkali metal carbonates.

Cellular structured activated carbon samples were prepared with the aid of alkali carbonates X2CO3 (X = Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs) from dry bread yeast with a milling procedure. The resultant carbon possesses a very large adsorption amount even for supercritical methane. The activation with Cs2CO3 gave the greatest surface area of 2420 m2 g(-1) from the subtracting pore effect method.

[Combined therapy with weight loss and amiodarone improved cardiac function in a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy complicated with severe obesity: a case report].

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of development of chronic heart failure, but recent epidemiological studies indicate that a higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with a better survival rate. This is described as the 'obesity paradox' or 'reverse epidemiology'. A 42-year-old male was admitted because of recurrent episodes of decompensated heart failure, and the diagnosis was idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy complicated with severe obesity (BMI 46.

Encapsulation of hemoglobin in mesoporous silica (FSM)-enhanced thermal stability and resistance to denaturants.

Hemoblogin (Hb), which is a typical oligomeric protein, was introduced into the pores of mesoporous silica (FSM: folded-sheet mesoporous material) that had a diameter of 7.5 nm. Soret CD spectra of Hb-FSM-7.

Defensive medicine practices among gastroenterologists in Japan.

Aim: To clarify the prevalence of defensive medicine and the specific defensive medicine practices among gastroenterologists in Japan.

Methods: A survey of gastroenterologists in Hiroshima, Japan, was conducted by mail in March 2006. The number of gastroenterologists reporting defensive medicine behaviors or changes in their scope of practice and the reported defensive medicine practices, i.

Effective immobilization of subunit protein in mesoporous silica modified with ethanol.

Ethoxylated FSM-type mesoporous silica (folded-sheet mesoporous material) with a pore diameter of 6.2 nm (FSM6.2) remarkably enhances rigidly of the structure in aqueous solutions.

EMG Analysis of Lower Extremity Muscles in Three Different Squat Exercises.

The purpose of this study was to come across an exercise that increases the Hamstring contraction levels so that it may protect the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Previous studies have postulated that changing the projection of the center of gravity behind the feet will decrease the translation of the tibia, therefore protect the ACL. Muscle activity of the quadriceps, hamstring and soleus muscles in healthy subjects was measured with an EMG during three different squat tasks with differences of support of body weight and the center of gravity.

[A case of emphysematous pyelonephritis successfully treated by percutaneous drainage guided by CT and review of previous cases reported in Japan].

A 40-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital for a high fever and left back pain. She was initially diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis by laboratory data and started with intravenous antibiotics. However, her general condition worsened.

Electromyographic analysis of the knee during jump landing in male and female athletes.

Many noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female athletes occur at foot strike during jump landing when the knee is extended. This study was undertaken to determine the activation level of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles electromyographically. Fifteen healthy volunteers (eight women and seven men), all of whom were collegiate basketball players, participated in the study.

Long-term treatment with probucol improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease.

Recent studies have shown that endothelial function is impaired in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Probucol has been recognized to have antioxidant properties as well as lipid-lowering effects, and may improve endothelial function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probucol on endothelial function in patients with CAD.

An early return to vigorous activity may destabilize anterior cruciate ligaments reconstructed with hamstring grafts.

Objective: To evaluate the actual date of the return to activity and its impact on the postsurgical stability of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using hamstring grafts.

Design: A retrospective analysis. The time of return to activity was determined by a questionnaire at 24 to 36 months after ACLRs.

[Surgical reconstruction of the common carotid artery by an ePTFE graft for invasive thyroid cancer: a case report].

Surgical reconstruction of the carotid artery using a synthetic graft is rarely performed. A 71-year-old woman developed hoarseness and was diagnosed as having thyroid cancer. Computed tomography (CT) and angiography revealed an irregular thyroid tumor invading the left common carotid artery, and encasement of the artery by the tumor.

Physical stress by magnetic force accelerates differentiation of human osteoblasts.

We examined the effect of magnetic force on differentiation of cultured human osteoblasts. Magnetic microparticles (MPs) were introduced into the cytoplasm of a human osteoblast cell line and the cells were cultured in a magnetic field (MF) in group MP-MF. Three groups of controls were used: cells without MPs were cultured out of MF (group C), cells without MPs were cultured in MF (group MF), and cells with MPs were cultured out of MF (group MP).

Novel drug delivery device using silicone: controlled release of insoluble drugs or two kinds of water-soluble drugs.

Drug release mechanism from silicone carrier differs depending on physicochemical properties of the drug. So far, there have been few reports on controlled release of insoluble drug and on simultaneous release of two kinds of water-soluble drugs. The purposes of this study are to establish methods for (1).

Novel method to control release of lipophilic drugs with high potency from silicone.

Silicone has been utilized as a carrier material for sustained release system of lipophilic drugs. Extensive studies revealed that drug release rate is influenced by factors such as physicochemical properties of the drug and additives.(1-5)) When a lipophilic drug is highly potent at low concentrations, the drug release rate should be strictly controlled so as to avoid side effects.

Augmented vasodilator response to L-arginine after coronary angioplasty may attenuate restenosis.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the control of vascular tone as well as structure. This study examined the possibility that the extent of restenosis 3 months after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) might be correlated with the magnitude of NO production at the PTCA sites on the day following PTCA. In 23 consecutive patients who underwent PTCA, we examined the coronary artery diameter response to intracoronary administration of L-arginine (1 microg/kg) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN, 40 microg/kg) at the sites of PTCA (n = 25) and at untreated sites distal to the PTCA sites approximately 18 h after PTCA.

Anterior knee laxity in young women varies with their menstrual cycle.

We studied 16 women 21-23 years old with regular menstrual cycles (28+/-4 days) and no history of knee injury. From their basal body temperatures and the serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone, the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases were delineated. Using a KT-2000 arthrometer, anterior displacement at 89 N and 134 N and anterior terminal stiffness (N/mm) at 134 N were measured two or three times every week over a 4-week period.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury in recreational alpine skiers: analysis of mechanisms and strategy for prevention.

Between 1995 and 1997, a retrospective survey was conducted in Japan to classify the types of injuries sustained by recreational alpine skiers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes and mechanisms of lower-extremity equipment-related (LEER) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in this population. Seventy-seven (96%) of the 80 respondents reported that their ski bindings did not release their ski boots at the time of their accident, and 30 respondents (38%) reported functional failure of their ski bindings, or that the ski boots came off.

Development of a new drug delivery system for protein drugs using silicone (II).

In order to achieve a zero-order release of protein drugs, we have developed a new drug delivery system using silicone, which is named the covered-rod-type formulation. Preparation of the covered-rod-type formulation was conducted under mild conditions without heat treatment or the use of organic solvents. The covered-rod-type formulation released human serum albumin (HSA) or interferon (IFN) at a constant rate for 30-100 days in vitro without significant initial burst.

[Clinical laboratory data and reference intervals standardized in Fukuoka].

In Fukuoka whose population is approximately five million inhabitants, surveys on the accuracy of laboratory data have been performed by the Fukuoka Prefecture Medical Association for the last 30 years. We have been attempting to evaluate the data for routine use since 1988, and it has become possible to share laboratory data between all institutions in Fukuoka prefectures. As a result, reference intervals for 23 clinical chemistry analytes were established in 1995, to which were added in 1996 five serum protein constituents that have been utilized for clinical examinations.

Standardization of laboratory data and establishment of reference intervals in the Fukuoka Prefecture: a Japanese perspective.

Standardization of 22 clinical chemistry analytes and five serum protein constituents has been performed in the Fukuoka Prefecture, which has a population of approximately five million. The standardization project was established to determine reference intervals for these analytes by educating physicians, medical technologists and staff of medical institutions, and by daily or monthly monitoring the use of common control samples through e-mail. Standardization extended to 97% of the institutions in the prefecture.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ regulatory protein gene expression in human right atrium under hemodynamic overload.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) mRNA expression is reduced in the failing human myocardium. However, it is not known whether SR Ca2+-regulatory protein gene expression is altered in human myocardial tissue subjected to pressure overload or volume overload. We sought to determine whether SR Ca2+-regulatory protein gene expression is altered in human atrial tissue subjected to mechanical overload.