Tenosynovitis with psammomatous calcification-Analysis by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.

Tenosynovitis with psammomatous calcification (TPC) is an extremely rare condition. It was first described as a characteristic subtype of idiopathic calcifying tenosynovitis, with only 40 cases reported to date. Here, we present a case of TPC affecting a female patient in her late teens, with no relevant medical history.

Medial soft tissue release is also related to the anterior stability of cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty: a cadaveric study.

Background: Medial soft tissue release is occasionally performed to achieve mediolateral ligament balance in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), whose sequential effect on mediolateral and anteroposterior stability remains unclear. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the difference in mediolateral and anteroposterior stability according to a sequential medial soft tissue release in TKA.

Methods: Cruciate-retaining TKA was performed in six cadaveric knees.

Effects of within-day intervals on adaptation to visually induced motion sickness in a virtual-reality motorcycling simulator.

This study investigated the effects of the time interval between virtual reality (VR) sessions on visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) reduction to better understand adaptation to and recovery from a nauseating VR experience. The participants experienced two 6-min VR sessions of a first-person motorcycle ride through a head-mounted display with (1) a 6-min interval, (2) an interval until the VIMS score reached zero, and (3) a 60-min interval. The results showed that for each condition, VIMS in the second session was aggravated, unchanged, or attenuated, respectively, indicating that additional resting time was necessary for VIMS adaptation.

Small medial proximal tibial angle is a radiographic finding strongly associated with less coronal alignment correction under valgus stress in medial knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: The degree to which varus knees can be corrected manually is important when considering total versus unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The primary aim was to clarify the relationship between the degree of coronal alignment correction and radiographic parameters involved in UKA prognosis using preoperative full-length lower extremity valgus stress radiography. The secondary aim was to identify the factors affecting alignment correction.

Internal Rotation, Varus, and Anterior Femoral Component Malalignments Adversely Affect Patellofemoral Joint Kinematics in Patellofemoral Arthroplasty.

Background: Patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) is reported to provide nearly normal PF joint kinematics but only with adequate surgical techniques. This study evaluated the effects of various femoral component settings on patellar component biomechanics.

Methods: A dynamic musculoskeletal computer simulation analyzed normal knee and standard PFA models, as well as 8 femoral component malposition models: 5° internal or external rotation, 5° valgus or varus, 5° extension or flexion, and 3-mm or 5-mm anterior positioning.

Roles of muscle activities in foreleg movements during predatory strike of the mantis.

Foreleg trajectory in the mantis strike varies depending on prey distance. To examine how muscle activities affect foreleg trajectory, we recorded strike behaviours of the Chinese mantis with a high-speed camera and electromyograms of the foreleg trochanteral extensor and flexor. At the approach phase of the mantis strike, the prothorax-coxa (P-C) joint elevated and the femur-tibia (F-T) joint extended.

Microglia-triggered hypoexcitability plasticity of pyramidal neurons in the rat medial prefrontal cortex.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an outer component of Gram-negative bacteria, induces a strong response of innate immunity via microglia, which triggers a modulation of the intrinsic excitability of neurons. However, it is unclear whether the modulation of neurophysiological properties is similar among neurons. Here, we found the hypoexcitability of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons after exposure to LPS in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of juvenile rats.

Decreased mitochondrial function in UVA-irradiated dermal fibroblasts causes the insufficient formation of type I collagen and fibrillin-1 fibers.

Background: Decreases of collagen fibers and the disappearance of oxytalan fibers are typical symptoms of photoaged skin. Although a low quality of mitochondria (MT) in photoaged skin cells has been observed, it is unknown whether the decreased quality of MT is responsible for the insufficient formation of dermal fibers.

Objective: To identify the role of mitochondrial quality in skin photoaging focusing on the formation of dermal fibers.

Imipramine prevents Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial neurotoxicity.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a Gram-negative anaerobe involved in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis, including local inflammation of the oral cavity. However, periodontal disease has recently been identified as a significant factor in the pathogenesis of neural diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.

Finger Abscess Caused by a Black Fungus, .

is a relatively new species of black fungi that can cause infection that primarily affects the skin and soft tissues in humans. Black fungal infection is challenging to diagnose and often needs surgery. However, few studies have reported black fungal and infections in the field of plastic surgery.

Larger bone marrow lesion volume before medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy correlates with better improvement of clinical scores in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) and bone marrow lesion (BML) scores and volumes. The hypotheses were that quantitative BML volume is more associated with clinical outcomes of MOWHTO than qualitative BML evaluations, and pre-operative BML volume is associated with the improvement of clinical outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent MOWHTO were retrospectively enrolled.

Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy With High Hinge Position Risks Lateral Hinge Fracture in Men With Posterolateral Tibial Condyle Protrusion.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the 3-dimensional morphology of the proximal tibia around the osteotomy plane in open-wedge high tibial osteotomy, focusing on the posterolateral (PL) and posteromedial (PM) tibial condyles, and to clarify the changes in morphologic parameters due to differences in patient characteristics and hinge position. The secondary aim was to examine whether morphologic features were associated with insufficient osteotomy, which increases the risk of lateral hinge fracture (LHF).

Methods: The PL and PM anteroposterior distance, asymmetry ratio, and discrepancy between PL and PM distances along the tibial osteotomy plane were measured.

Multimodal Imaging of Subfoveal Pachydrusen Containing a Blood Flow Signal.

Individuals with pachydrusen, larger than 125 m, have a significantly thicker choroid than do those with soft drusen or reticular pseudodrusen. Little is known about cases of abnormal blood flow within pachydrusen. The purpose of this report was to demonstrate a blood flow signal within pachydrusen using optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography.

Activation of Host Immune Cells by Probiotic-Derived Extracellular Vesicles via TLR2-Mediated Signaling Pathways.

Since probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are capable of activating innate immunity, they are expected to be useful as novel adjuvants. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the immunostimulatory effects of EVs released from probiotic cells, we newly investigated the role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and immune cell downstream signaling in the generation of proinflammatory cytokines. Isolated Bifidobacterium- and Lactobacillus-derived EVs expressed peptidoglycan, one of the major pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

Static Mediolateral Tilt of the Joint Line after Total Knee Arthroplasty Does Not Reflect Dynamic Tilt during a Stair Ascent Activity.

The correlation between static and dynamic mediolateral (ML) tilts of the joint line in the coronal plane remains unknown after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose was to evaluate the ML tilt as measured by two-dimensional to three-dimensional registration during stair ascent in TKA patients, and to examine the correlation between the dynamic ML tilt and radiographic measurements of static indices. Thirty-two knees that underwent TKA using the mechanical alignment method were included.

Biomechanical Comparison of Kinematic and Mechanical Knee Alignment Techniques in a Computer Simulation Medial Pivot Total Knee Arthroplasty Model.

Several concepts may be used to restore normal knee kinematics after total knee arthroplasty. One is a kinematically aligned (KA) technique, which restores the native joint line and limb alignment, and the other is the use of a medial pivot knee (MPK) design, with a ball and socket joint in the medial compartment. This study aimed to compare motions, contact forces, and contact stress between mechanically aligned (MA) and KA (medial tilt 3° [KA3] and 5° [KA5]) models in MPK.

Xanthophyll Carotenoids Reduce the Dysfunction of Dermal Fibroblasts to Reconstruct the Dermal Matrix Damaged by Carbonylated Proteins.

Although extracellular carbonylated proteins (CPs) are found at higher levels in sun-exposed skin, their impact on the cellular functions of fibroblasts and their involvement in the progression of photoaging skin are not fully clarified. In our previous study, we reported that extracellular CPs increase levels of intracellular oxidative stress and result in the accumulation of newly synthesized CPs in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). Furthermore, fibroblasts exposed to CP-BSA, which is a model of extracellular CPs, had upregulated expression levels of mRNAs encoding matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and interleukin-8/CXCL8 (IL-8/CXCL8).

Possible Involvement of MyD88 in Regulating Stress Response in Mice.

Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) is an adapter protein of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family that regulates innate immune function. Here, we identified a novel role of MyD88 in regulating stress response. MyD88 deficiency decreased immobility time in the forced swim test without affecting locomotor activity in mice.

Expression of PRIP, a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding protein, attenuates PI3K/AKT signaling and suppresses tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model.

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation resulting from aberrant cell cycle progression. The activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling, a regulatory pathway for the cell cycle, stabilizes cyclin D1 in the G1 phase by inhibiting the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) via phosphorylation. We previously reported that phospholipase C-related catalytically inactive protein (PRIP), a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P] binding protein, regulates PI3K/AKT signaling by competitively inhibiting substrate recognition by PI3K.