Muscle Activity Characteristics of the Pronator Teres during Throwing in Baseball Pitchers: A Pilot Study.

The pronator teres muscle is a major dynamic stabilizer of elbow valgus stress during throwing. This study aims to investigate pronator teres muscle activation during breaking ball pitching in baseball pitchers. Twelve male college baseball players with more than eight years of baseball experience were included in this study. A wireless surface electromyography (EMG) system was used to measure the activation of the forearm muscles and record EMG data during fastball and curveball pitching. Peak pronator teres muscle activation during curveball pitching was greater than that during fastball pitching (p = 0.03). There was no difference in the muscle activation of the other forearm muscles (p > 0.05). These results indicate that increased muscle activity in the pronator teres may contribute to stiffness and induce pronator teres syndrome or medial elbow injuries related to the overuse of the pronator teres, especially during curveball pitching. Controlling curveball throws contributes to player coaching and conditioning for the prevention of elbow joint disorders and pronator teres syndrome.

Osteocytic Osteolysis in PTH-treated Wild-type and Rankl-/- Mice Examined by Transmission Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Isotope Microscopy.

To demonstrate the ultrastructure of osteocytic osteolysis and clarify whether osteocytic osteolysis occurs independently of osteoclastic activities, we examined osteocytes and their lacunae in the femora and tibiae of 11-week-old male wild-type and Rankl-/- mice after injection of human parathyroid hormone (PTH) [1-34] (80 µg/kg/dose). Serum calcium concentration rose temporarily 1 hr after PTH administration in wild-type and Rankl-/- mice, when renal arteries and veins were ligated. After 6 hr, enlargement of osteocytic lacunae was evident in the cortical bones of wild-type and Rankl-/- mice, but not so in their metaphyses. Von Kossa staining and transmission electron microscopy showed broadly demineralized bone matrix peripheral to enlarged osteocytic lacunae, which contained fragmented collagen fibrils and islets of mineralized matrices. Nano-indentation by atomic force microscopy revealed the reduced elastic modulus of the PTH-treated osteocytic perilacunar matrix, despite the microscopic verification of mineralized matrix in that region. In addition, 44Ca deposition was detected by isotope microscopy and calcein labeling in the eroded osteocytic lacunae of wild-type and Rankl-/- mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that osteocytes can erode the bone matrix around them and deposit minerals on their lacunar walls independently of osteoclastic activity, at least in the murine cortical bone. (J Histochem Cytochem 68: -XXX, 2020).

The reconstruction for proximal nail fold mucous cyst using reverse and island flap.

We performed nail fold reconstruction after digital mucous cyst (DMC) excision using an island-type lateral finger flap on seven patients (four males and three females). Our procedure is a simple and useful method to repair minor nail fold lesion defects after DMC excision.

Analysis of the safety evaluation for premarketing clinical trials of hemodialyzer and of postmarketing safety reports of hemodialyzer in Japan and the US: insights into the construction of a sophisticated premarketing evaluation.

Our aim was to conduct a scoping review of the regulations for hemodialyzers in the safety evaluation in Japan and the United States, and to evaluate the criteria for premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing safety reports to inform the development of a sophisticated premarketing evaluation in Japan. Regulations for approval of hemodialyzers were identified from the databases of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan and the Federal Drug Agency (FDA) in the United States (US). The criteria for premarket clinical trials and postmarketing safety reports were evaluated for both countries. Standards in Japan required evaluation of blood compatibility and reporting of acute adverse effects by a premarketing clinical trial in 6 of 86 applications with semipermeable membrane materials deemed to be different to those of previously approved devices from 1983 to 31 August 2015. By comparison, the clinical trial was required in one of 545 approvals in the US from 1976 to 29 January 2016, but blood compatibility was not the point. All postmarketing adverse effects identified in Japan were included in the set of 'warnings'. The more stringent requirements for evaluation of blood compatibility and acute adverse effects in Japan seemed to be related to differences in the history of quality management systems for medical devices between the two countries. This study revealed that there were differences between Japan and the US in requiring the premarketing clinical trials for the hemodialyzers. Our findings could be useful for constructing sophisticated premarketing safety evaluation.

A model of muscle contraction based on the Langevin equation with actomyosin potentials.

We propose a muscle contraction model that is essentially a model of the motion of myosin motors as described by a Langevin equation. This model involves one-dimensional numerical calculations wherein the total force is the sum of a viscous force proportional to the myosin head velocity, a white Gaussian noise produced by random forces and other potential forces originating from the actomyosin structure and intra-molecular charges. We calculate the velocity of a single myosin on an actin filament to be 4.9-49 µm/s, depending on the viscosity between the actomyosin molecules. A myosin filament with a hundred myosin heads is used to simulate the contractions of a half-sarcomere within the skeletal muscle. The force response due to a quick release in the isometric contraction is simulated using a process wherein crossbridges are changed forcibly from one state to another. In contrast, the force response to a quick stretch is simulated using purely mechanical characteristics. We simulate the force-velocity relation and energy efficiency in the isotonic contraction and adenosine triphosphate consumption. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. We show that the Langevin equation for the actomyosin potentials can be modified statistically to become an existing muscle model that uses Maxwell elements.

Simple and easy reconstruction of nail matrix lesion using lateral finger flap after excision of digital mucous cyst.

We treated nine patients with skin defect produced by digital mucous cyst (DMC) excision on the finger and toe using lateral finger flap (LFF). The postoperative scars were esthetically acceptable and no recurrence of mucous cysts was observed. Our LFF is a simple method to repair minor distal dorsal finger defects.

[Bone Cell Biology Assessed by Microscopic Approach. Micro- and nanomechanical analysis of bone].

For Stiffness, we have several ways, Vicker's, Nano Indentor and NanoIndentation with AFM. Recent study needs several nm, tens of nm scale lateral resolution. For this request, AFM supply new technology, PeakForce QNM®, is only way to measure sub molecular level modulus mapping. In this article, introduce several data and specially talk about bone modulus near osteocytic lacunae treated with PTH which is considering to resolve bone matrix around the osteocytic lacunae.

Classification of recipient veins in microsurgical flap reconstructions of the lower extremities.

It is difficult to cure severe open fractures of the lower extremities due to the frequent occurrence of severe damage to soft tissues or blood vessels, as well as bone defects, and concomitant infection, such as osteomyelitis. If appropriate treatment is not performed, long-term complications, such as nonunion of the bone, intractable ulcers, or other disorders, may arise. Between 1993 and 2010, we reviewed the records of 27 patients, and 28 limbs were treated. A total of 31 free-tissue transfers were performed on these 28 limbs. In this study, we classified the degree of damage based on the operative appearance of the condition of the recipient vein. A state that was normal or near-normal was described as type I-normal. A vein that was buried under a scar, but was comparatively easy to detach and retained a moderate adventitia was classified as type II-moderate. A vein with close adhesion between the wall and the scar that was not easy to detach was described as type III-severe. We also examined the relationships between recipient vein type and each of the following: (1) concomitant injury, (2) bone reconstruction, (3) preoperative infection, (4) length of time from injury to reconstruction, (5) eventual reoperation, and (6) flap necrosis. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between recipient vein type and each of the following: bone reconstruction, preoperative infection, eventual reoperation, and flap necrosis. The selection of recipient vein is a factor that greatly affects the outcome of reconstruction of open fractures of the lower extremities. It is important to preoperatively estimate the condition of recipient vein even though it is difficult to preoperatively assess the condition. In some cases, only recipient veins in poor condition can be found intraoperatively on the affected leg. Under such circumstances, a cross-leg flap or a vein graft should be performed without hesitation to use recipient veins in a better condition.

The phenomenological model of muscle contraction with a controller to simulate the excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling.

We previously proposed a systematic motor model for muscle with two parallel Maxwell elements and a force generator P. The motor model showed the non-linear behavior of a muscle, such as the force-velocity relation and the force depression and enhancement, by using weight functions. Our newly proposed muscle model is based on the molecular mechanism of myosin cross-bridges. We assume that each parallel Maxwell element represents the mechanical properties of weak and strong binding of the myosin head to actin. Furthermore, we introduce a controller to simulate the excitation-contraction coupling of the muscle. The new muscle model satisfies all the properties obtained in our previous model and reduces the wasted energy of the viscous component to less than 5% of the total energy. The controller enables us to simulate contractions of slow and fast twitch muscles, which are driven by an artificial action potential or a processing electromyography signal despite their same mechanical components. The maximum velocities are calculated to be 3.4L(0)m/s for the fast twitch muscle model and 2.5L(0)m/s for the slow twitch muscle model, where L(0) is the initial length of the muscle model.

Hypolipidemic effect of Shoyu polysaccharides from soy sauce in animals and humans.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning and is available worldwide. We investigated the effects of Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) prepared from soy sauce on hyperlipidemia in vitro and in vivo. First, SPS inhibited pancreatic lipase. Second, in experiments with animals, it was found that SPS reduced serum triacylglycerol (TG) elevation induced by high-fat diets. Third, in a 2-week placebo-controlled parallel group study, healthy men (TG <150 mg/dl) were treated with 600 mg of SPS (n=5) or placebo (n=5) every day. After 2 weeks, serum TG elevation was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the SPS-treated group than in the placebo-treated group after 6 h of a high-fat diet. Fourth, in a 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study, hyperlipidemic men (TG >150 mg/dl) were treated with 600 mg of SPS (n=15) or placebo (n=15) daily. After 4 weeks, serum TG levels in the SPS-treated group were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the baseline (0 week). In conclusion, SPS of soy sauce reduce lipid absorption, and soy sauce is a potentially promising seasoning for the treatment of hyperlipidemia through food.

Reconstruction of hand skin defects by microdissected mini anterolataral thigh perforator flaps.

SUMMARY: Three cases of traumatic skin defect and two cases of secondary skin defect after releasing scar contractures on the dorsum or palm of the hand, except for the fingers and thumb, were successfully reconstructed with the use of microdissected thin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps. This particular type of reconstruction needs thin, small flap coverage with a reliable blood supply from a long vascular pedicle. Microdissection of the perforator enables the distribution of vessels towards the thin layer of adipose tissue to be identified and the vessel in the deep adipose layer to be used as an additional pedicle vessel. Therefore, a small and thin flap can be elevated accurately with a longer vascular pedicle than is possible with the conventional method of flap elevation.

Promotive effect of Shoyu polysaccharides from soy sauce on iron absorption in animals and humans.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional fermented seasoning of Japan and is available throughout the world. We investigated the effect of Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) prepared from soy sauce on iron absorption in vitro and in vivo. First, by measuring the iron-binding capacity of SPS, it was found that SPS stabilized the solubility of ferrous iron at neutral pH's by forming a complex, Fe-SPS. Second, in experiments with animals, it was found that SPS enhanced the absorption and/or pooling of iron in organs when anemic rats were fed iron-supplemented diets. Third, in a 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study, healthy women were treated with 600 mg of SPS (n = 22) or placebo (n = 23) each day. After the 4 weeks, serum levels of iron, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the SPS-treated than in the placebo-treated group. In conclusion, SPS of soy sauce enhanced iron absorption, and soy sauce is a potentially promising seasoning for the treatment of anemia through food.

Comparison of the phospholipid classes in human milk in Japanese mothers of term and preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Phospholipids (PLs) play an essential role in the growth and brain development of infants. AIM: To investigate PL composition in human milk (HM), including lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM), from healthy Japanese mothers. Analyses were performed on colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk from mothers of preterm and term infants. METHODS: HM samples were collected from mothers of 15 term infants (term group) and of 19 preterm infants (preterm group). PL composition was determined by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography in conjunction with phosphorus analysis. RESULTS: In both groups, the PL content (% of total lipid) of mature milk was significantly lower than in colostrum. SM and PC were the main PLs in HM, but in the preterm group, the percentage of SM in mature milk was significantly higher and PC in mature milk was significantly lower than in the term group. CONCLUSION: The transition from colostrum to mature milk leads to an increase in SM and a decrease in PC in the HM of preterm infants, along with a decrease in PL content. This is the first report to demonstrate the differences in PL composition in HM between mothers of preterm and term infants.

Environmental factors affecting black/white coloration of the silken girdle in the swallowtail butterfly, Atrophaneura alcinous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).

The silken girdles of pupae of the swallowtail butterfly Atrophaneura alcinous show black and white color diphenism. Field observations revealed that all pupae observed on non-food plants and the leaves and stems of the larval food plant Aristolochia debilis were classified as a silken girdle of a black type, while a large portion of pupae pupating on the twigs and trunks of cherry trees in close proximity to A. debilis were classified as a silken girdle of a black type. Additionally, all pupae observed on the surfaces of artificial objects in areas where there are no surrounding plants or trees were classified as a silken girdle of a white type. We demonstrated the effect of day length and the texture, light, plant odor and humidity of pupation sites on the coloration of the silken girdle in A. alcinous. Regardless of long-day or short-day day length conditions, light conditions of constant light or dark, or the presence of a plant odor of A. debilis as environmental cues, all larvae placed at over 80% relative humidity (R.H.) developed into pupae with a silken girdle of a black type. However, all larvae developed into pupae with a silken girdle of a white type when R.H. was below 75%. Furthermore, when pupae with a silken girdle of a white type were transferred to conditions of 90% R.H. within 24 hr of pupation, the white color of the silken girdle changed into a black type within 24 hr of the transfer. The present data suggest that the induction of a black coloration of the silken girdle in A. alcinous requires a R.H. of approximately 80% or more as an environmental factor.

Shoyu polysaccharides from soy sauce improve quality of life for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional fermented seasoning of East Asian countries and is available throughout the world. We obtained polysaccharides from raw soy sauce, and showed the anti-allergic activities of these Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) in vitro and in vivo. The present study determined whether oral supplementation of SPS is an effective intervention for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. In an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study, patients with mild seasonal allergic rhinitis were treated with 600 mg of SPS (n=25) or placebo (n=26) each day. After 4 weeks of treatment with SPS, symptom scores such as sneezing, nasal stuffiness, and hindrance of daily life were significantly different (P<0.05) from those in placebo-treated groups. The total symptom score, calculated from the sum of individual scores, showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the 2 groups after 4-8 weeks. On nasal examination by the investigator, the color of the inferior turbinate in SPS-treated patients was significantly different (P<0.05) from that in placebo-treated patients between weeks 4 and 8, and the nasal symptom scores for color of inferior turbinate, watery discharge, and state of sniffles were also significantly different (P<0.05) from those in the placebo-treated group after 8 weeks. In conclusion, SPS of soy sauce improved the quality of life of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, and soy sauce would be useful in an anti-allergic therapy utilizing daily foods.

A new motor model representing the stretch-induced force enhancement and shortening-induced force depression in skeletal muscle.

A motor model that consists of two Maxwell elements with a force generator and one Voigt element is proposed in this paper. The motor model can achieve a hyperbolic force-velocity relation when we alter weight functions applied to the Maxwell elements and the force generator. Rate coefficients are introduced to determine the weight function and to improve the motor performance and the time course of the motor force. The weight functions are used as a controller of the motor. We assume that the mechanical impulse applied to the motor affects the rate coefficients and found that the amount of the mechanical impulse is related to the amount of force depression following motor shortening and to the amount of force enhancement following motor stretching. The time courses of the motor force following shortening and stretching quantitatively resemble those in other muscle experiments. The maximum energy efficiency of the motor that we obtained was 50% with an ATP hydrolysis type and 25% with an AC-DC motor type.

Quality of life improvement with soy sauce ingredients, Shoyu polysaccharides, in perennial allergic rhinitis: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional fermented seasoning of East Asian countries and available throughout the world. We obtained polysaccharides from raw soy sauce, and showed the anti-allergic activities of these Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) in vitro and in vivo. The present study determined whether oral supplementation of SPS is an effective intervention for patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. In a 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study, patients with mild perennial allergic rhinitis were treated with 600 mg of SPS (n=11) or placebo (n=10) each day. After 4 weeks of treatment with SPS, a reduction in symptom scores for runny nose, sore throat, and itchy eyes were significantly changed from the baseline within the group (p<0.05), but no change in these scores was observed over 4 weeks of treatment in the placebo group. However, differences in the symptom scores during the study period were not significantly different between the groups. The total symptom score, calculated from the sum of individual scores, showed a significant difference between the 2 groups after 4 weeks of treatment (p<0.05). The efficacy of global symptoms score, which was defined as the adjusted mean change from baseline during 4 weeks of treatment, also showed a significant improvement in the SPS group (p<0.05). An overall evaluation of the medication's effectiveness after 4 weeks treatment showed significant differences between the SPS- and placebo-treated groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, SPS of soy sauce improved the quality of life for patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, and soy sauce would be useful in an anti-allergic therapy utilizing everyday foods.

A rheological motor model for vertebrate skeletal muscle in due consideration of non-linearity.

A rheological motor model that satisfies the major mechanical properties of the skeletal muscle is proposed. The model consists of two Maxwell elements and a Voigt element connected in parallel with each other and has a force generator in it. The model well explains the mechanical behavior in quick and slow recovery phases in the isometric contraction of the muscle and achieves a sufficient isotonic shortening speed. The energy liberation of the motor in isotonic contraction is calculated and a mechanism of control is proposed, which operates so as to decrease the dissipated energy by altering the weights of the elastic and viscous constants in Maxwell elements. And thereby it becomes possible for the motor to possess non-linearity in energy liberation and load-velocity relation alike in muscle. The model would be a base model to be utilized for analyzing the kinetics of human macrosystems and/or for modeling the human neuromuscular system of motion control.

Evaluation of the disinfective efficacy of povidone-iodine with the use of the transparent film dressing OpSite Wound.

To determine the duration of efficacy of disinfection with povidone-iodine (PVP-I) conducted before application of OpSite Wound (Smith and Nephew, UK), bacteriological evaluation was carried out. In 9 healthy adults, 3 sites on the forearms or other parts were chosen for application of OpSite Wound after adequate disinfection with PVP-I. As compared to the bacterial count score of 1.67-2.00 before disinfection, a significant reduction of the score was observed on removal of OpSite Wound on days 1, 2 and 3. The score of 0.5-0.67 immediately after disinfection did not change or deteriorate until removal of OpSite Wound. This finding supports the fact that unnecessary dressing changes could be avoided postoperatively for at least 3 days by disinfection with PVP-I and application of OpSite Wound particularly for operations categorized as 'clean surgery'.