Ultrasound-assisted middle thoracic epidural catheter placement utilizing the most dorsal sites of bilateral transverse process roots as anatomical landmarks: A cadaveric observational study and a clinical randomized controlled trial.

Study Objective: We developed an innovative method for ultrasound-assisted thoracic epidural catheter placement and assessed its potential to reduce procedural duration for trainees.

Design: A cadaveric observational study and a clinical randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Sapporo Medical University Hospital.

Comparison of busulfan pharmacokinetics between four-times-daily and once-daily administration in pediatric patients: a preliminary prospective observational trial.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of busulfan (BU) is useful for achieving the target area under the curve (AUC) because its effective plasma-concentration range is narrow. This preliminary observational study evaluated the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of BU administered four times daily or once daily to pediatric patients. The plasma concentrations were measured at both the test dose and first dose, and the doses on day 1 and days 2-4 were determined based on each TDM.

A case of pulmonary co-infection with and Mucorales in a patient with sarcoidosis.

A 54-year-old woman with fever and cough presented with left upper lobe consolidation and para-aortic and hilar lymphadenopathies and was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, and her condition improved spontaneously. Over the next 15 years, the patient experienced seven similar episodes and was treated with glucocorticoids for the first time in the eighth episode, but subsequently died of respiratory failure. The autopsy revealed diffuse alveolar damage and co-infection with and Mucorales in the lungs and mediastinum.

Dynamic Balance and Muscle Activity in Lifesavers: A Study on Intrinsic and Extrinsic Foot Muscles.

Activities on sandy soil are known to contribute to improved leg strength and balance. Lifesavers (LSs) have shown that sandy soil activity promotes intrinsic foot muscle development and improves balance. LS improves leg strength and balance through activities on sandy soil.

Risk Stratification According to Baseline and Early Change in Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemoimmunotherapy: A Multicenter Real-World Study.

Background: Chemoimmunotherapy is a standard treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, data on clinical predictive factors remain scarce.

Objective: We aim to identify clinical biomarkers in patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy.

Vibratory insertion of press-fit acetabular components requires less force than a single blow technique.

Aims: Periprosthetic fracture and implant loosening are two of the major reasons for revision surgery of cementless implants. Optimal implant fixation with minimal bone damage is challenging in this procedure. This pilot study investigates whether vibratory implant insertion is gentler compared to consecutive single blows for acetabular component implantation in a surrogate polyurethane (PU) model.

Interrelationships Among Accumulations of Intra- and Periorgan Fats, Visceral Fat, and Subcutaneous Fat.

We aimed to clarify the relationship between intra- and periorgan fats, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat. We used abdominal computed tomography to evaluate intra- and periorgan fat accumulations in the pancreas, liver, spleen, renal parenchyma, renal sinus, and skeletal muscle. The relationships between these fats, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat were examined by using partial correlation and covariance analysis, adjusting for BMI.

The tibial tubercle-to-trochlear groove distance changes in standing weight-bearing condition: An upright weight-bearing computed tomography analysis.

Background: The tibial tubercle-to-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and Insall-Salvati (I/S) ratio are widely used to determine the need for distal realignment in conjunction with medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction in patients with recurrent patellar dislocation. A TT-TG distance >20 mm and an I/S ratio >1.3 are significant anatomical risk factors for patellar instability.

Comparison of the Effects of OPRM1 A118G Polymorphism Using Different Opioids: A Prospective Study.

Context: μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) A118G polymorphism (rs1799971) causes loss of N-glycosylation sites at the extracellular domain of μ-opioid receptors. G-allele carriers show a limited response to morphine; however, studies investigating the impact of A118G polymorphism on the efficacy of opioids other than morphine are limited.

Objective: To compare the impact of A118G polymorphism on the efficacy of various opioids.

Three-dimensional joint surface orientation does not correlate with two-dimensional coronal joint line orientation in knee osteoarthritis: Three-dimensional analysis of upright computed tomography.

Background: Two-dimensional (2D) coronal joint line orientation on radiography under weight-bearing conditions has been widely used in evaluating knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the effects of tibial rotation remain unknown. The present study aimed to newly define three-dimensional (3D) joint surface orientation relative to the floor as an unchangeable 3D angle unaffected by tibial rotation using upright computed tomography (CT), and to investigate correlations between 3D and 2D parameters in knee OA.

Association between daily gait speed patterns and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults.

Gait speed over a short distance is associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. Recently, daily gait speed has been assessed using accelerometers. However, because daily gait speed is only weakly correlation with gait speed over a short distance, its association with cognitive impairment needs to be investigated.

Efficacy and safety of isavuconazole against deep-seated mycoses: A phase 3, randomized, open-label study in Japan.

Objectives: Isavuconazole is a convenient triazole antifungal agent with a broad antifungal spectrum. A randomized, open-label study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471988) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole in Japanese patients with deep-seated mycoses.

Predictivity of daily gait speed using tri-axial accelerometers for two-year incident disability among Japanese older adults.

Gait speed is an important indicator of functional decline in older adults. Recently, daily gait speed has been assessed using accelerometers. However, it is unclear whether this parameter can predict the decline in functional abilities.

A novel anteroposterior axis of the tibia for total knee arthroplasty: An upright weight-bearing computed tomography analysis.

Background: The traditional anteroposterior (AP) axis (i.e., Akagi's line) has been widely used as the tibial component AP axis during total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Increased migratory activity and cartilage regeneration by superficial-zone chondrocytes in enzymatically treated cartilage explants.

Background: Limited chondrocyte migration and impaired cartilage-to-cartilage healing is a barrier in cartilage regenerative therapy. Collagenase treatment and delivery of a chemotactic agent may play a positive role in chondrocyte repopulation at the site of cartilage damage. This study evaluated chondrocyte migratory activity after enzymatic treatment in cultured cartilage explant.

Screening prefrailty in Japanese community-dwelling older adults with daily gait speed and number of steps via tri-axial accelerometers.

Prefrailty is an intermediate stage between non-frailty and frailty. It is associated with an increased risk of progression to frailty, which makes it important to screen older adults for prefrailty at an early stage. This study verified whether daily gait speed and number of steps measured using a tri-axial accelerometer could be used to identify prefrailty.

Compressive mechanical stress enhances susceptibility to interleukin-1 by increasing interleukin-1 receptor expression in 3D-cultured ATDC5 cells.

Background: Mechanical overload applied on the articular cartilage may play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. However, the mechanism of chondrocyte mechanotransduction is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of compressive mechanical stress on interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) and matrix-degrading enzyme expression by three-dimensional (3D) cultured ATDC5 cells.

Prediction of Compound Bioactivities Using Heat-Diffusion Equation.

Machine learning is expected to improve low throughput and high assay cost in cell-based phenotypic screening. However, it is still a challenge to apply machine learning to achieving sufficiently complex phenotypic screening due to imbalanced datasets, non-linear prediction, and unpredictability of new chemotypes. Here, we developed a prediction model based on the heat-diffusion equation (PM-HDE) to address this issue.

Radiographic evaluation of patellofemoral alignment in kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty: A comparative study with mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty (KA-TKA), in which femoral component is placed 3-5° of internal rotation relative to mechanically aligned (MA)-TKA, may have a potential risk of patellofemoral malalignment. This study aimed to assess patellofemoral alignment and compare the data between KA-TKA and MA-TKA, and the relationship with patellofemoral radiographic parameters and patient reported outcomes.

Methods: Among patients who underwent TKA in 2015 and 2016 in our institute, 28 KA-TKAs with a metal-backed patellar component were retrospectively assessed for patellofemoral alignment, and 28 MA-TKAs with a metal-backed patellar component served as controls.

Inhibition of the IL-18 Receptor Signaling Pathway Ameliorates Disease in a Murine Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Interleukin (IL)-18 expression in synovial tissue correlates with the severity of joint inflammation and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the role of the IL-18/IL-18 receptor-alpha (Rα) signaling pathway in autoimmune arthritis is unknown. Wild-type (WT) and IL-18Rα knockout (KO) mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen before the onset of arthritis induced by lipopolysaccharide injection.