MRI analysis of carpal tunnel syndrome in hemodialysis patients versus non-hemodialysis patients: a multicenter case-control study.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is common among patients receiving hemodialysis and deeply influences their daily life. Amyloid deposits are considered the main reason for median nerve compression, but its prevalence is unclear. Therefore, to determine the main region of amyloid deposition inside the carpal tunnel, we measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) of each component of the carpal tunnel in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Creation of nano eye-drops and effective drug delivery to the interior of the eye.

Nano eye-drops are a new type of ophthalmic treatment with increased potency and reduced side effects. Compounds in conventional eye-drops barely penetrate into the eye because the cornea, located at the surface of eye, has a strong barrier function for preventing invasion of hydrophilic or large-sized materials from the outside. In this work, we describe the utility of nano eye-drops utilising brinzolamide, a commercially available glaucoma treatment drug, as a target compound.

Topical ocular dexamethasone decreases intraocular pressure and body weight in rats.

Background: Recently, topical dexamethasone-induced ocular hypertension and a consequent loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been described in mice. This has been proposed as a model of steroid-induced glaucoma. In this study, we set up and evaluated a similar model in rats.

The effect of molecular structure on the anticancer drug release rate from prodrug nanoparticles.

The controlled release of an anticancer agent from drug nanoparticles could be achieved by varying the linker length of dimeric compounds as prodrug. Notably, the cytotoxicity of the cancer cells was closely related to the release rate of drug compounds. This strategy will lead to the establishment of the novel delivery system using drug nanoparticles.

Climber's finger.

Introduction: Climbers sometimes support their body with one finger hooked on a rocky ledge. This peculiar manoeuvre may cause a characteristic injury of the flexor tendon sheath, named "climber's finger".

Symptoms: (1) A sharp pain when grasping, and a sudden "snap" sound and snapping phenomenon in the concerned fingers and (2) a tender palpable mass proximal to the PIP joint.

Antinociceptive effect of linear polarized 0.6 to 1.6 microm irradiation of lumbar sympathetic ganglia in chronic constriction injury rats.

Linear polarized near-infrared light created with linear polarized near-infrared light therapy equipment (Super Lizer HA-550, Tokyo Iken Co, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) has been used for the treatment of various painful disorders in Japan. Irradiation near the stellate ganglion with a Super Lizer (ISGL) is an especially notable therapeutic method used with stellate ganglion block (SGB) or substitutes for SGB. ISGL is a safe, simple, well-tolerated, and effective treatment.

Radius lengthening for the treatment of Bayne and Klug type II and type III radial longitudinal deficiency.

Purpose: We performed radius lengthening to treat radial deviation of the wrist in patients with Bayne and Klug type II and type III radial longitudinal deficiencies. The purpose of this investigation was to review our results of radius lengthening for radial longitudinal deficiency.

Methods: Beginning in 1991 radius lengthening was performed to treat 4 patients with radial longitudinal deficiency whose mean age at the initial lengthening was 16 months.

Differential activation of astrocytes and microglia after spinal cord injury in the fetal rat.

Background: As the immature spinal cord was nerve growth permissive, we examined glial reactions that influence regeneration of the spinal cord in a fetal rat spinal cord injury model.

Methods: Three, 7, 21, and 35 days after intrauterine surgery, offspring were killed and the thoracic and lumbar spinal cords were carefully removed from the spinal column and then cut into 10 mum longitudinal sections. These sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody (GFAP) as a marker of astrocytes, and anti-complement CR3 antibody (OX-42) as a marker of microglia.

Role of simple cold storage in preventing epiphyseal growth plate impairment after replantation surgery in immature rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ischemia time on longitudinal bone growth after replantation, and to evaluate the usefulness of simple cold storage of an amputated limb in preventing epiphyseal growth-plate impairment. A hind-limb replantation model was produced with 5-week-old rats after various ischemia times. With more than 6 hr of warm ischemia, growth disturbance was observed, and extensive necrosis was histologically apparent in the central region of the growth plate of the proximal tibia, even at 1 week postoperatively.

Regional differences in the healing potential of the meniscus-an organ culture model to eliminate the influence of microvasculature and the synovium.

Meniscal healing is well known to be region-specific, and this is thought to be mainly due to its specific vascularity. The purpose of this study was to assess regional differences in the intrinsic healing potential of the meniscus, using an organ culture model to eliminate the influence of microvasculature and the synovium. A full-thickness circular defect, 1.

Bone lengthening for congenital differences of the hands and digits in children.

Purpose: We investigated the growth of bones after lengthening to evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of bone lengthening in congenital hand deficiencies.

Methods: Bone lengthening was performed to treat congenital hand deficiencies including hypoplastic thumb, hypoplasia of the small finger, cleft hand, metacarpal synostosis, brachymetacarpia, symbrachydactyly, and amniotic band syndrome. A total of 15 patients (1-13 years old) underwent lengthening of 23 bones.

Corrective valgus osteotomy after free vascularized fibula transfer for the treatment of osteomyelitis at the neck of the femur: case report.

Reconstruction using a free vascularized fibula was performed on a long bony defect after osteomyelitis of the proximal femur. For this type of bone defect, a double-barrel fibular graft is recommended. The authors used this procedure for a 58-year-old male who had osteomyelitis of the left proximal femur.

Interposed autologous nerve segment stimulates nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve allografts in a rat model.

The ability of autologous nerve segments interposed between allografts, to increase the total nerve-gap distance, was studied. Sciatic nerve allografts were carried out in a rat model. A 15-mm nerve gap was repaired with a 25-mm nerve graft (interposed group: allo-auto-allograft; control group: allo-allo-allograft).

A morphological study of the scaphoid using a mathematical technique and comparative study of the three-dimensional measurements of the scaphoid.

To guide reconstruction of scaphoid non-union, we attempted to create full-scale models of the scaphoid by three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) of the healthy side. In this study, we obtained 3D scans of 51 cadaveric hands and studied the difference in morphology between genders and between the left and right sides. The major axis length on a fixed plane and Fourier transformation curve were examined.

Arteriovenous malformation of the ring finger. Pre- and postoperative evaluation using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography.

We experienced a case of arteriovenous malformation of the ring finger. The lesion was examined by three-dimensional computed tomography angiography with volume rendering and maximum intensity projection techniques pre- and postoperatively. The images demonstrated the location and extent of the lesion and were quite useful for surgical planning and the evaluation of operative results.

Second- and third-generation Omniflex modular femoral stem: results 3 to 8 years after surgery.

Primary cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the Omniflex modular femoral stem was conducted on 73 hips in 70 patients. The arc deposition (AD)-type stem was used in 26 hips, and the hydroxyapatite (HA)-type stem was used in 47 hips. The mean follow-up period of patients in the AD group was 78 (range, 61-96) months and that of patients in the HA group was 52 (range, 36-61) months.

Attachment of autogenous tendon graft to cortical bone is better than to cancellous bone: a mechanical and histological study of MCL reconstruction in rabbits.

We analyzed the mechanical and histological variables after the attachment of an autogenous tendon graft to cortical or cancellous bone. We reconstructed the medial collateral ligament of the knee in 33 Japanese white rabbits, using a bone socket procedure. The floor of the bone socket was cortical bone in group A and cancellous bone in group B.

Transplanted neuronal progenitor cells in a peripheral nerve gap promote nerve repair.

A basic experiment of peripheral nerve regeneration using neuronal progenitor cells embedded in collagen gel was performed in a rat sciatic nerve defect. First, when neuronal progenitor cells derived from the fetal rat hippocampus were cultured in atelocollagen-containing medium, neurospheres positive for anti-nestin antibody were confirmed after 8 days. These cells differentiated into astrocytes positive for anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody, oligodendrocytes positive for anti-galactocerebroside (GalC) antibody and neurons positive for anti-neurofilament 200 (NF200) antibody, and they were capable of extending axons.

Three-dimensional CT imaging of flexor tendon ruptures in the hand and wrist.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the applicability of 3D CT imaging in the evaluation of flexor tendon rupture in the hand and wrist.

Design: Twenty-four digits in 22 patients (18 adults, 4 children) with a spectrum of finger flexion disturbances were investigated by a multidetector-row CT scanner, and diagnosed by 3D CT image with the volume rendering technique. The accuracy of the image diagnosis was confirmed operatively in 20 digits.

Abductor digiti minimi musculocutaneous island flap as an opposition transfer: a case report.

We described the use of an abductor digiti minimi musculocutaneous (ADM) island flap as an opposition transfer. This procedure is easy and safe, and provides more of a bulge in the thenar area than the Huber transfer. This procedure can be used in the treatment of Blauth grade 2 and 3A hypoplastic thumb.