A CCL2/MCP-1 antagonist attenuates fibrosis of the infrapatellar fat pad in a rat model of arthritis.

Background: Fibrosis of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) is a feature of osteoarthritis and contributes substantially to the pain and dysfunction in patients' joints. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. C-C motif chemokine ligand-2 (CCL2) plays a central role in tissue fibrosis.

Anatomic restoration of the articular deep layer is a definitive factor for repair status in delaminated rotator cuff tear.

Background: Recent studies have focused on the deep layer in delaminated rotator cuff tears. However, no studies have discussed the relationship between repair success and the properties of the deep layer. Herein, we aimed to analyze the intraoperative repair tension of the deep layer with respect to clinical outcomes and repair integrity and to evaluate the clinical results of delaminated rotator cuff tears after dual layer-specific repair.

Long-lasting decreased pain threshold negatively affects functional recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Purpose: The relationship between sensitization and postoperative function in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-and postoperative reductions in the pressure pain threshold (PPT) on postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with ARCR and investigate changes in PPT and clinical outcomes resulting from postoperative administration of weak opioids activating the central inhibitory system.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent primary ARCR, categorized into Group A (excellent/good Constant scores) and B (fair/poor Constant scores).

Older Age, Poor Preoperative Quadriceps Muscle Strength, and Residual Pain as Risk Factors for Poor Quadriceps Muscle Strength Recovery at 1 Year After ACL Reconstruction: A TMDU MAKS Study of 402 Patients.

Background: Poor postoperative quadriceps muscle strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) leads to delayed return to sports and lower patient satisfaction.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine factors that affect quadriceps muscle strength 1 year after ACLR. It was hypothesized that older age, poor preoperative quadriceps muscle strength, and residual pain would be risk factors for poor quadriceps muscle strength recovery.

High diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting subscapularis tendon tears by focusing on the most superior portion of the subscapularis tendon.

Purpose: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that identifying the exact location of the most superior portion of the subscapularis tendon using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high diagnostic accuracy in detecting subscapularis tendon tears.

Methods: This study included 157 patients who underwent primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2014 and 2017. All patients underwent conventional 1.

Anatomical Repair of a Femoral-Sided Avulsion Fracture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Case Report.

Case: We report a rare case of femoral-sided avulsion fracture of both the anteromedial and posterolateral bundle attachments of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). We performed an arthroscopic double-bundle pull-out repair. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient had no deformity, laxity of the knee, and no limitations when engaging in various sports activities.

Osteointegration of a Biocomposite Suture Anchor After Arthroscopic Shoulder Labral Repair.

Purpose: To evaluate osteoconductivity of a poly-L-lactide co-glycolide (PLG)-calcium sulfate (CS)-β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) biocomposite suture anchor after arthroscopic shoulder labral repair.

Methods: The subjects of this study were patients who participated in a clinical trial for acquisition of marketing approval of a PLG-CS-β-TCP biocomposite anchor in Japan. They underwent arthroscopic labral repair using the anchor, and computed tomographic (CT) images of the glenoid were obtained 2 years after surgery.

Effects of breast structure on high-intensity focused ultrasound focal error.

Background: The development of imaging technologies and breast cancer screening allowed early detection of breast cancers. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive cancer treatment, but the success of HIFU ablation was depending on the system type, imaging technique, ablation protocol, and patient selection. Therefore, we aimed to determine the relationship between breast tissue structure and focal error during breast cancer HIFU treatment.

Clinical Significance of the Presence of Oscillatory Breathing Both at Rest and During Exercise in Cardiac Patients.

Cardiac patients often experience nocturnal and daytime oscillatory breathing (OB). OB noted at rest sometimes becomes unclear or even disappears during exercise. We evaluated the physiological significance of OB by comparing the clinical characteristics of cardiac patients who manifested OB only at rest (group A), only during exercise (group B), and both at rest and during exercise (group C).

A novel KCNQ1 nonsense variant in the isoform-specific first exon causes both jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome 1 and long QT syndrome 1: a case report.

Background: According to previous KCNQ1 (potassium channel, voltage gated, KQT-like subfamily, member 1) gene screening studies, missense variants, but not nonsense or frame-shift variants, cause the majority of long QT syndrome (LQTS; Romano-Ward syndrome [RWS]) 1 cases. Several missense variants are reported to cause RWS by a dominant-negative mechanism, and some KCNQ1 variants can cause both Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome (JLNS; in an autosomal recessive manner) and LQTS1 (in an autosomal dominant manner), while other KCNQ1 variants cause only JLNS. The human KCNQ1 gene is known to have two transcript isoforms (kidney isoform and pancreas isoform), and both isoforms can form a functional cardiac potassium channel.

Clinical significance of the overshoot phenomena of respiratory gas indices during recovery from maximal exercise testing.

Background: Overshoot phenomena of the gas exchange ratio (R:VCO/VO), ventilatory equivalent for O (VE/VO), and end-tidal O pressure (PETO) are commonly observed during recovery from maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). We investigated the clinical significance of the overshoots of these indices by comparing their magnitudes between healthy subjects and cardiac patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: In total, 121 subjects (73 healthy subjects and 48 cardiac patients with left ventricular ejection fraction<40%) who underwent CPX and achieved peak R≥1.

Gene dosage effect in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 homozygotes: A clinical and neuropathological study.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. However, it remains unclear whether SCA6 shows a gene dosage effect, defined by earlier age-of-onset in homozygotes than heterozygotes. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed four homozygous SCA6 subjects from our single institution cohort of 120 SCA6 subjects.

The impact of including corticosteroid in a periarticular injection for pain control after total knee arthroplasty: a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Unlabelled: There is conflicting evidence about the benefit of using corticosteroid in periarticular injections for pain relief after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We carried out a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of using corticosteroid in a periarticular injection to control pain after TKA. A total of 77 patients, 67 women and ten men, with a mean age of 74 years (47 to 88) who were about to undergo unilateral TKA were randomly assigned to have a periarticular injection with or without corticosteroid.

Pain control after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial comparing periarticular injection and epidural analgesia.

Background: Periarticular injection is becoming more commonly utilized for pain relief following total knee arthroplasty. However, we are aware of no randomized controlled trial that has investigated the efficacy of periarticular injection for pain relief after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: We performed a randomized controlled trial of patients scheduled for simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Constructive rescue of TFIIH instability by an alternative isoform of XPD derived from a mutated XPD allele in mild but not severe XP-D/CS.

Mutations in XPD cause xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), XP and Cockayne syndrome (CS) crossover syndrome (XP/CS), trichothiodystrophy and cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome (COFS). COFS represents the most severe end of the CS spectrum. This study reports two Japanese patients, COFS-05-135 and COFS-Chiba1, who died at ages of <1 year and exhibited typical COFS manifestations caused by XPD mutations p.

Clinical significance of a spiral phenomenon in the plot of CO₂ output versus O₂ uptake during exercise in cardiac patients.

A spiral phenomenon is sometimes noted in the plots of CO₂ output (VCO₂) against O₂ uptake (VO₂) measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with heart failure with oscillatory breathing. However, few data are available that elucidate the clinical significance of this phenomenon. Our group studied the prevalence of this phenomenon and its relation to cardiac and cardiopulmonary function.

Postoperative epidural analgesia compared with intraoperative periarticular injection for pain control following total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although epidural analgesia has been used for postoperative pain control after total knee arthroplasty, its usefulness is being reevaluated because of possible adverse effects. Recent studies have proven the efficacy of periarticular analgesic injection and its low prevalence of adverse effects. The present study compares the clinical efficacies of epidural analgesia and periarticular injection after total knee arthroplasty.

The anatomy of the coracohumeral ligament and its relation to the subscapularis muscle.

Background: Only a few reports describe the extension of the coracohumeral ligament to the subscapularis muscle. The purposes of this study were to histo-anatomically examine the structure between the ligament and subscapularis and to discuss the function of the ligament.

Methods: Nineteen intact embalmed shoulders were used.

Intraoperative soft tissue tension and postoperative range of motion in posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Intraoperative soft tissue tension can significantly impact the range of motion following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the level of impact remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between intraoperative soft tissue tension and postoperative range of motion.

Intramedullary screw fixation with bone autografting to treat proximal fifth metatarsal metaphyseal-diaphyseal fracture in athletes: a case series.

Background: Delayed unions or refractures are not rare following surgical treatment for proximal fifth metatarsal metaphyseal-diaphyseal fractures. Intramedullary screw fixation with bone autografting has the potential to resolve the issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the result of the procedure.

Postoperative stability on lateral radiographs in the surgical treatment of pertrochanteric hip fractures.

Background: Fixed-angle sliding hip-screw devices are commonly used to treat pertrochanteric fractures. The controlled impaction between the head and neck fragment and the femoral shaft fragment is crucial. However, the poor quality of fracture reduction can intercept controlled impaction and lead to excessive sliding.

[A case report of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus responding to DSM-TACE (degradable starch microspheres-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization)].

A 56-year-old man was revealed to be HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus. Curative operation was impossible because we recognized many daughter lesions in the liver. Tumor marker was very high.

Effects of parasympathetic blockade on hepatic and portal venous flow.

Background/aims: To investigate the effect of parasympathetic blockade on the hepatic circulation, a study was performed in healthy men because the precise knowledge of factors to affect the hepatic circulation is required for the evaluation of liver diseases.

Methodology: Doppler measurements of the hepatic venous and portal venous flow were obtained with measurements of cardiac function before and after the administration of atropine sulfate, 0.02 mg/kg.

Fibrous dysplasia with cystic appearance in maxillary sinus.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) in the paranasal sinuses is uncommon, and its management may be difficult. We report the case of a 25-year-old female with FD exhibiting a cystic appearance in the maxillary sinus. The patient had been complaining of facial swelling for few years.

[Imaging studies and surgical approach to postoperative maxillary cysts].

Surgical treatment for postoperative maxillary cysts (POMC) can be performed using the peroral method, or the endonasal method which is less invasive. Recently, the percentage of cases in which the endonasal method is employed has increased with the widespread use of endoscopy and advancement in imaging techniques. However, the peroral method is still necessary in some cases.