Relationship of the fabella with the origins of the plantaris and gastrocnemius lateral head muscles in late-term fetuses: a histological study.

Previous studies of midterm fetuses indicated that a cartilaginous fabella appeared to be embedded in the plantaris (PL), and was fused with the gastrocnemius lateral head (GL). We re-examined the topographical anatomy of the fabella or its analogue (a tight fibrous mass) originating in the GL and/or PL by evaluating histological sections of the unilateral knees of 15 late-term fetuses. Regardless of whether the cartilaginous fabella was present (6 fetuses) or absent (9 fetuses), the origins of the PL and GL muscles each had three parts.

Versican contributes to ligament formation of knee joints.

Versican is a large proteoglycan in the extracellular matrix. During embryonic stages, it plays a crucial role in the development of cartilage, heart, and dermis. Previously, we reported that Prx1-Vcan conditional knockout mice, lacking Vcan expression in mesenchymal condensation areas of the limb bud, show the impaired joint formation and delayed cartilage development.

Repeated standing back extension exercise: Influence on muscle shear modulus change after lumbodorsal muscle fatigue.

Background: In low back pain, multifidus muscle fibers reportedly exhibit increased stiffness. Low back pain was associated with lumbodorsal muscle fatigue. There is no report of using shear modulus to verify the mechanism of an immediate effect of exercise on low back pain.

Dynamic postural control correlates with activities of daily living and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) negatively affects dynamic postural control, which is a basic function that individuals use to perform activities of daily living (ADL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of center of pressure (COP) control during the transition from double-leg to single-leg standing with subjective assessments of ADL and quality of life (QOL) in patients with knee OA.

Methods: Thirty-six patients (29 females) with moderate-to-severe knee OA participated.

Larger hip external rotation motion is associated with larger knee abduction and internal rotation motions during a drop vertical jump.

Associations among hip motions, knee abduction and internal rotation motion during a drop vertical jump (DVJ), which increases the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury, remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine associations among knee abduction, internal rotation and hip joint motions during a DVJ. Fifty-seven young female participants performed a DVJ from a 30-cm height.

Paratenon of the cruciate ligaments of the knee: a macroscopic and histological study of human foetuses.

Background: The paratenon is a sheath-like connective tissue that allows the tendon to move with minimal friction. The careful removal of the paratenon along the cruciate ligaments is a critical step of knee surgery. Thus, orthopaedic surgeons and interventional radiologists consider the paratenon as a basic anatomical tissue along a ligament, not along a tendon.

Warm-Up Intensity and Time Course Effects on Jump Performance.

Jump performance is affected by warm-up intensity and body temperature, but the time course effects have not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate time course effects on jump performance after warm-up at different intensities. Nine male athletes (age: 20.

Postural Stability and Muscle Activation Onset during Double- to Single-Leg Stance Transition in Flat-Footed Individuals.

The effects of foot posture on postural stability and on muscular activation pattern for postural control remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate postural stability and muscular activation onset during the transition task from double- to single-leg stance in individuals with different foot postures. Twenty-seven healthy men (age: 21.

Resveratrol improves motor function in patients with muscular dystrophies: an open-label, single-arm, phase IIa study.

Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are inherited disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Previously, we have shown that resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), an antioxidant and an activator of the protein deacetylase SIRT1, decreases muscular and cardiac oxidative damage and improves pathophysiological conditions in animal MD models. To determine whether resveratrol provides therapeutic benefits to patients with MDs, an open-label, single-arm, phase IIa trial of resveratrol was conducted in 11 patients with Duchenne, Becker or Fukuyama MD.

Comparing the extent of breast cancer tumors through contrast-enhanced ultrasound vs B-mode, opposed with pathology: evergreen study.

Background: To prove the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in determining the extent of resection, more evidence about B-mode and CEUS as opposed to pathology is required. We compared maximum tumor width measured on B-mode/CEUS images with that determined pathologically.

Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, 152 operable breast cancer patients who had undergone both B-mode and CEUS were analyzed.

Landing instructions focused on pelvic and trunk lateral tilt decrease the knee abduction moment during a single-leg drop vertical jump.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of pelvic and trunk lateral tilt-focused landing instructions on the knee abduction moment during the single-leg drop vertical jump task.

Design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Setting: Motion analysis laboratory.

The prevalence of chronic ankle instability and its relationship to foot arch characteristics in female collegiate athletes.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and to investigate its relationship to the foot arch in collegiate female athletes by each sports event.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University setting.

Epidemiological features of immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis in Japan.

Background/purpose: Epidemiological data on immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) are scarce.

Method: We randomly selected healthcare facilities from a list of all facilities in Japan. The selection rate was determined according to a stratification based on the facility characteristics and scale.

Intake of Common Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Breast Cancer Risk among Japanese Women: Findings from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study.

This study investigated the association between intake of common alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and breast cancer risk among Japanese women. This study included 33,396 Japanese women aged 40-79 years from 24 areas in Japan from the Collaborative Cohort study. During the follow-up period (≥20 years), 245 incidents or mortal breast cancers were documented.

Prevalence and characteristics of chronic ankle instability and copers identified by the criteria for research and clinical practice in collegiate athletes.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and copers among collegiate athletes as identified by criteria for research (CAI-R and copers-R) and for clinical practice (CAI-C and copers-C).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University.

Genome-wide association meta-analysis identifies GP2 gene risk variants for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Japan. To identify risk loci, we perform a meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies comprising 2,039 pancreatic cancer patients and 32,592 controls in the Japanese population. Here, we identify 3 (13q12.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 and the Incidence of Malignant Neoplasms in a Nested Case-Control Study.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 is a potent mitogen, but IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 inhibits IGF1. To elucidate the relationship between both IGF1 and IGFBP and the risk of tumorigenesis, the association between IGF1 and IGFBP3 serum levels and of malignant tumor incidence was investigated in a prospective case-control study nested in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. A baseline survey was started in 1988-1990, 110,585 subjects were enrolled, and 35% of participants donated blood samples.

Biomechanical Analysis of Midfoot Instability After Bifurcate Ligament Injury and Ankle Brace Application: A Cadaveric Study.

This cadaveric study investigated the biomechanical characteristics and stabilizing contribution of the bifurcate ligament using a multidirectional loading method and assessed the stabilizing effect of a brace after injury of the ligament. Eight freshly frozen cadaveric feet were tested for forefoot torque in inversion, eversion, adduction, and plantarflexion. Each band of the bifurcate ligament was transected sequentially, and the contribution of each portion of the ligament, as well as the stabilizing effects of the ankle brace, were examined.

Topographical anatomy of the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon: a study using human fetuses.

The greater omentum covers the transverse colon from the anterior side in adults, but people might believe the morphology stable once established during fetal life. Sections from 49 midterm and 17 late-stage human fetuses, of gestational ages (GA) 8-15 and 30-38 weeks, respectively, showed complete fusion between the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon after physiological herniation at GA 8-9 weeks; the transverse colon attaching to the anterior aspect of the gastric antrum and pylorus at GA 10-15 weeks; the colon pushing the pylorus or superior portion of the duodenum upward (at GA 10-15 weeks and 30-38 weeks); and the greater omentum without covering the greater portion of the jejunum and ileum but shifted leftward (at GA 30-38 weeks). These subsequent topographical variations of the transverse colon with the stomach and duodenum included the colon tightly fusing with the stomach by a fibrous tissue and; the greater omentum and/or the mesocolon wedged between the stomach and transverse colon.

Individualized nutritional treatment for acute stroke patients with malnutrition risk improves functional independence measurement: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of individualized nutritional treatment on the activities of daily living of acute stroke patients.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled study. The eligibility criteria were acute stroke, age >65 years and the presence of malnutrition risk.

Functional Adaptation of the Fibrocartilage and Bony Trabeculae at the Attachment Sites of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

The direct insertion of an enthesis is composed of uncalcified fibrocartilage (FC) and calcified FC, believed to function as buffers for multidirectional forces applied to the ligament. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the FC thickness and bony trabecular orientation of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on both the femoral and tibial sides. Six cadavers were examined (age at death: 73-92 years).

Abdominal draw-in maneuver changes neuromuscular responses to sudden release from trunk loading in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.

Background: Abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) has been recommended to achieve appropriate trunk muscle response for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, it has remained unclear whether the intervention with ADIM could change the trunk muscle response to sudden release from loading, which is considered to contribute mechanical circumstances to low back pain. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of the intervention with ADIM on electromyography (EMG) activities of trunk muscles following sudden release from loading.

Lower limb muscle mass is associated with insulin resistance more than lower limb muscle strength in non-diabetic older adults.

Aim: We examined the association of muscle mass and muscle strength with insulin resistance, focusing on lower limb muscles.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, and participants were registered in 2017 from the Tanno-Sobetsu Study, a population-based cohort study. After excluding individuals aged <64 years or with a history of diabetes mellitus, 272 non-diabetic older adults (116 men, 156 women) met the inclusion criteria.

Reproducibility of elastic modulus measurement of the multifidus using the shear wave elastography function of an ultrasound diagnostic device.

[Purpose] This study aimed to obtain evidence of the musculo-physiological involvement in the effect of physiotherapy on low back pain by examining the reproducibility of elasticity measurements of the multifidus muscle at different trunk angles via the shear wave elastography function of an ultrasound diagnostic device. [Participants and Methods] This study included 11 healthy adults. Measurements were conducted with participants in the prone position, and the elasticity of the superficial and deeper layers of the multifidus muscle was measured under the following 3 conditions: trunk at neutral position, trunk flexed at 40°, and trunk extended at 20°.