Relation between glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and valgus laxity of the elbow in high school baseball pitchers.

Background: There are few literatures describing the association between glenohumeral internal rotation deficits (GIRD) and valgus laxity of the elbow on the throwing side of high school pitchers with and without a history of elbow symptom.

Methods: The passive range of motion of glenohumeral internal and external rotation on bilateral side shoulders was measured in 75 high-school baseball pitchers during the preseason. Using ultrasonography, the width of the ulnohumeral joint of the elbow was measured at 30° of flexion, both at rest and with valgus stress in the pitching side.

Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography for major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular and renal events in patients with chronic kidney disease: results from first year of follow-up of the Gunma-CKD SPECT multicenter study.

Purpose: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events. We examined whether stress myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) provides reliable prognostic markers for these patients.

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective cohort trial from the Gunma-CKD SPECT study protocol, patients with CKD [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 min/ml per 1.

Carotid Artery Stenting in Right-sided Aortic Arch: A Case Report.

The present report describes a patient with pseudo-occlusion of the left internal carotid artery accompanied by aortic anomalies consisting of right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery arising from Kommerell's diverticulum. Initial attempt of carotid artery stenting via the trans-femoral approach was unsuccessful because of low origin of the left common carotid artery. Therefore, carotid artery stenting (CAS) via the trans-brachial approach was successfully performed with distal balloon protection.

The Neural Correlates of Shoulder Apprehension: A Functional MRI Study.

Although shoulder apprehension is an established clinical finding and is important for the prevention of shoulder dislocation, how this subjective perception is evoked remains unclear. We elucidated the functional neuroplasticity associated with apprehension in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability (RSI) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twelve healthy volunteers and 14 patients with right-sided RSI performed a motor imagery task and a passive shoulder motion task.

Prospective multifactorial analysis of preseason risk factors for shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball pitchers.

Purpose: To prospectively identify preseason physical factors for shoulder and elbow injuries during the season in high school baseball pitchers.

Methods: The study included 105 high school baseball pitchers [median age 16 (15-17) years]. The range of motion of the shoulder (90° abducted external and internal rotation) and elbow (extension/flexion), shoulder muscle strength (abduction and prone internal and external rotation), shoulder and elbow laxity, horizontal flexion, and scapular dyskinesis were assessed.

Accelerometry-based gait characteristics evaluated using a smartphone and their association with fall risk in people with chronic stroke.

Background: The smartphone, which contains inertial sensors, is currently available and affordable device and has the potential to provide a self-assessment tool for health management. The aims of this study were to use a smartphone to record trunk acceleration during walking and to compare accelerometry variables between poststroke subjects with and without a history of falling.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 day care centers for elderly adults.

Improvement in Strain Concordance between Two Major Vendors after the Strain Standardization Initiative.

Background: Disagreement of strain measurements among different vendors has provided an obstacle to the clinical use of strain. A joint standardization task force between professional societies and industry was initiated to reduce intervendor variability of strain. Although feedback from this process has been used in software upgrades, little is known about the effects of efforts to improve conformity.

The impact of faulty posture on rotator cuff tears with and without symptoms.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the prevalence of rotator cuff tears would be higher among individuals with poor posture, regardless of the presence of symptoms.

Methods: The study initially comprised 525 residents of a mountain village who participated in an annual health check. Participants completed a background questionnaire, and physical examinations were performed to evaluate shoulder function.

Prevalence of and risk factors for shoulder osteoarthritis in Japanese middle-aged and elderly populations.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) in populations older than 40 years and to examine risk factors and the relationship with shoulder function.

Methods: The respondents in this study consisted of 541 patients who underwent general medical examinations in April 2012 as residents of a single village. The mean age was 65.

Impaired HDL function in obese adolescents: impact of lifestyle intervention and bariatric surgery.

Objective: HDL regulates endothelial function via stimulation of nitric oxide production. It is documented that endothelial function is impaired in obese adolescents, and improved by lifestyle interventions (LI).

Design And Methods: HDL function in obese adolescents and the impact of LI or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) was assessed.

[A case of so-called carcinosarcoma of the middle portion of the bile duct diagnosed preoperatively].

A 73-year-old man was admitted to a hospital with a complaint of epigastralgia and for evaluation of liver dysfunction. After hospitalization, he experienced disturbance of consciousness with septic shock, and was then transferred to our hospital. Computed tomography revealed dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct and tumor of the middle bile duct.

Long-survival case of thymic carcinoma with superior vena cava tumor thrombus.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the thymus is rare and responds poorly to treatment. Invasion of great vessels and metastasis are significant predictors for poor prognosis. Thymic tumors commonly cause superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction by extrinsic compression or invasion, but intraluminal permeation is the most uncommon cause.

[Crista terminalis bridge mimicking right atrial mass; report of a case].

A 67-year-old female was operated upon because of transthoracic echocardiograms revealing a 13 x 8 mm mass in right atrium. However, there was no mass and was prominent crista terminalis (CT) instead. CT is the largest and strongest fibromuscular bundle in the right atrium, which separates primitive right atrium from the venous sinus.