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Epithelial protein lost in neoplasm (EPLIN) is an actin-associated cytoskeletal protein that plays an important role in epithelial cell adhesion. EPLIN has two isoforms: EPLINα and EPLINβ. In this study, we investigated the role of EPLINβ in osteoblasts using EPLINβ-deficient (

Introduction: Before corrective surgery for idiopathic scoliosis, the stress x-rays are indispensable to collect information regarding the reducibility of deformity, deciding fusion levels, and categorizing curve types and so on. The hanging radiograph has not been conducted preoperatively so far as known. The objective of this study was to investigate retrospectively the significance of the hanging radiograph for prediction of the curve correction with surgical procedure by comparing with the side-bending and the traction radiographs. Methods: The subjects enrolled in current study were 22 cases of idiopathic scoliosis who performed posterior instrumentation and fusion by ISOLA method between 2008 and 2014. They included 2 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 16 years and 8 months. The type of curves by Lenke classification were type 1 in 20 cases, type 2 in 1 case, and type 3 in 1 case. We investigated the correction rates of main thoracic curves in side-bending, traction, and hanging positions and compared them with that after surgery. In addition, correction indices were also calculated and compared among these stress x-rays. Results: The correction rate after surgery was 65.9% that was statistically higher than those in side-bending (44.2%), traction (46.6%), and hanging (22.1%) positions. There were statistical correlations between the correction rates after surgery and in side-bending position (R=0.73) and those after surgery and in traction position (R=0.57). However, there was no statistical correlation between the correction rates after surgery and in hanging position (R=-0.01). With regard to the correction indices, that in hanging position (3.67) was statistically higher than those in side-bending (1.51) and traction (1.45) positions. Conclusion: The correction rates in side-bending and traction positions seem to be useful to estimate the amount of curve correction before surgery whereas, that in hanging position did not have any significance as preoperative evaluation.

Background A nerve root anomaly, typified by a conjoined nerve root, is a rare finding. Conjoined nerve root anomalies are easily missed even in preoperative advanced imaging modalities, which can be potentially troublesome during and after surgery. In this report, we present a case of conjoined right L5–S1 nerve root in a patient with lumbar disc herniation, accompanied by spina bifida occulta, which was undiagnosed on preoperative imaging studies. Case report A 55-year-old Asian (Japanese) woman presented with low back pain and right leg radiating pain due to lumbar disc herniation at the right L5/S1. Physical examination revealed a positive Lasègue sign and the range of the straight leg raising test was 20° on the right side. The right patellar tendon reflex was normal; however, the right ankle jerk reflex disappeared. Although no obvious hypoesthesia was noted, mild muscle weakness (4/5) was observed in the right leg on the manual muscle test. We planned the lumbar discectomy under a microscope. During surgery, the conjoined right L5–S1 nerve root, which was compressed by herniated nucleus pulposus, was encountered. Although it was very thick and less mobile, some pieces of herniated nucleus pulposus could be removed piece by piece from the axillary part. After sequential decompressive procedures, the tightness of the conjoined right L5–S1 nerve root decreased but its mobility did not improve much. The laterality of the thickness and exit angle of the conjoined right L5–S1 nerve root was retrospectively confirmed on T2 coronal magnetic resonance images and magnetic resonance neurography. Postoperatively, right leg pain was immediately alleviated and complete improvement of muscle weakness was achieved 1 week later (5/5). Conclusions Magnetic resonance neurography is extremely useful for the accurate diagnosis of anomalous nerve roots because of clear visualization of the neural tissue. Discectomy under a microscope, which enables magnified three-dimensional observation of the surgical field, must provide a valid and safe procedure to achieve not only secure resection of herniated discs but also adequate exposure of anomalous nerve roots.

The volume loss of skeletal muscle, including lumbar paravertebral muscles, is negatively correlated with the rate of lumbo-pelvic deformity. Moreover, ectopic fat infiltration with highly expressed adipogenesis promoting genes in the paravertebral muscles may reflect pathology of sarcopenia and may cause age-related lumbo-pelvic deformity., Study Design. A retrospective analysis of a prospective, non-randomized cohort dataset. Objective. To cross-sectionally examine the prevalence of sarcopenia and the association between spine-pelvic deformity and skeletal muscle volume loss and ectopic fat infiltration into lumbar paravertebral muscles (PVMs) in patients who underwent lumbar surgery. Summary of Background Data. Muscle quality deterioration has been considered the main pathology of sarcopenia, reducing muscle strength directly. The qualitative deterioration as well as volume loss in PVM, which contributes significantly to core body extension, might cause aging-related spine deformity. Methods. In total, 184 patients were included. Sarcopenia was diagnosed at baseline, and all patients underwent whole-body X-ray. The amount of fat in lumbar PVM was evaluated with the Goutallier classification in magnetic resonance imaging findings. The expression of adipogenesis- and atrophy-promoting factors in PVM was evaluated with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results. In total, 36.1% of adults aged ≥60 years were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The values of skeletal muscle indexes of the limb and trunk were inversely correlated with the sagittal vertical axis, pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) values. The PT and PI-LL were greater, PVM area was smaller, and Goutallier grade was greater in sarcopenic adults than in non-sarcopenic older adults. Additionally, the PVM area correlated with the LL value, and Goutallier's grade correlated with the PT and PI-LL values. Moreover, the amount of ectopic fat in PVMs inversely correlated with skeletal muscle indexes. The expression levels of atrophy gene-1 and muscle ring-finger protein-1 did not differ between the groups and did not correlate with the PVM area. In contrast, the expression of Pparg and Cebpa was upregulated in sarcopenic older adults, where it correlated with Goutallier's grade. Conclusion. The volume loss of skeletal muscle, including lumbar PVM, and ectopic fat infiltration into the PVM, may cause the lumbo-pelvic deformity. Level of Evidence: 3

Background: Soy isoflavones and their metabolites such as equol have been associated with a reduced risk of hormone-sensitive tumors and metabolic syndromes. However, individual soy isoflavones and equol levels in atopic dermatitis remain uninvestigated. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the levels of urinary daidzein, genistein, and equol between atopic dermatitis patients and normal subjects and to examine the correlation between equol concentration and the severity of clinical symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Akita University Hospital and Aso Iizuka Hospital in Japan. Fifty patients with confirmed atopic dermatitis diagnosis and 67 healthy controls were recruited. Daidzein, genistein, and equol in urine were measured by using a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Results: Urinary equol levels were significantly lower in the atopic dermatitis patients than in the healthy controls (p = 0.002). The difference was particularly noticeable in young people (6–19 years, p < 0.001). No correlations were found between urinary equol levels and the severity of clinical symptoms and laboratory data in the atopic dermatitis patients. Conclusion: Equol levels in childhood might be involved in the development of atopic dermatitis.

Guided by the transition metal hydrogen atom transfer and radical-polar crossover concept, we developed a catalytic, Markovnikov-selective, functional-group tolerant, and scalable synthesis of cyclic carbamates, which are found in the structures of many bioactive compounds. This method not only provides common oxazolidinones but also six-to-eight-membered ring products. The reaction proceeds through the intramolecular displacement of an alkylcobalt(IV) in-termediate and dealkylation by 2,4,6-collidine; the activation energies of these steps were calculated by DFT. Cyclic ureas and cyclic phosphoramidates were also synthesized under the same reaction conditions.

Background Several clinical and basic studies have shown that an association exists between achieving decompression of the spinal cord within a few hours and neurological recovery, even in patients with complete paralysis due to cervical spine dislocation. This study aimed to clarify the impact of helicopter emergency medical services(HEMS)and craniocervical traction using a halo ring on rapid reduction of lower cervical spine dislocation in rural Japan. Methods The success rate of and factors inhibiting closed reduction, time from injury to reduction and functional prognosis of lower cervical spine dislocations treated between July 2012 and January 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Results Fourteen patients were transported by HEMS (group H), seven were by ambulances (group A) and two were by themselves. Although the average travelled distance and injury severity score were significantly higher in group H (64.5 km, 28.0) than in group A (24.7 km, 18.6), there was no significant difference in the average time to admission or the time to start craniocervical traction after admission between group H (159.4 min, 52.2 min) and group A (163.6 min, 53.2 min). The urgent traction could be administered for 20 patients. The success rate of closed reduction was 95%, and neurological deterioration following traction was not observed in any cases. The average traction time and weight for reduction were 30.3 min and 16.3 kg, respectively. Patients’ body size and fracture-dislocation types did not significantly affect the traction time or weight. The rate of reduction within 4 h after injury was higher in group H (79%) than in group A (33%). Herniated discs were found at dislocation levels in five patients by magnetic resonance imaging scans performed after closed reduction, and all cases of inner fixation were treated via the posterior approach an average of 5.7 days after admission. After these treatment, three of nine AIS A patients recovered the ability to walk, and all the three patients underwent successful closed reduction within 4 h after injury. Conclusion HEMS and highly successful closed reduction considerably contributed to the early reduction of cervical spine dislocation and can potentially improve complete paralysis.

BACKGROUND Most people currently use the internet to obtain information about many subjects, including health information. Thus, medical associations need to provide accurate medical information websites. Although medical associations have their own patient education pages, it is not clear if these websites actually show up in search results. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate how well medical associations function as online information providers by searching for information about musculoskeletal-related pain online and determining the ranking of the websites of medical associations. METHODS We conducted a Google search for frequently searched keywords. Keywords were extracted using Google Ads Keyword Planner associated with “pain” relevant to the musculoskeletal system from June 2016 to December 2019. The top 20 search queries were extracted and searched using the Google search engine in Japan and the United States. RESULTS The number of suggested queries for “pain” provided by Google Ads Keyword Planner was 930 in the United States and 2400 in Japan. Among the top 20 musculoskeletal-related pain queries chosen, the probability that the medical associations’ websites would appear in the top 10 results was 30% in the United States and 45% in Japan. In five queries each, the associations’ websites did not appear among the top 100 results. No significant difference was found in the rank of the associations’ website search results (P=.28). CONCLUSIONS To provide accurate medical information to patients, it is essential to undertake effective measures for search engine optimization. For orthopedic associations, it is necessary that their websites should appear among the top search results.

The residual stress behaviours in fillet welded lap joints of sheet metal have been researched in a systematic testing procedure with varied steel types, steel thicknesses and welding wires having different transformation points. Consequently, under the simulated fabrication welding conditions (with a constant amount of deposited metal), the transverse residual stress at the weld toe, which is deemed critical in fatigue strength, has been found almost invariable to a change in steel type and thickness, but it has been clarified to become compressive to a greater extent as the wire’s transformation point is lower. Moreover, as for the residual stress inside the weld metal, the compressive residual stress area has been found to expand as the welding wire’s transformation point reduces, from the results of the thermo-elastic-plastic analysis.

Background Most people currently use the internet to obtain information about many subjects, including health information. Thus, medical associations need to provide accurate medical information websites. Although medical associations have their own patient education pages, it is not clear if these websites actually show up in search results. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate how well medical associations function as online information providers by searching for information about musculoskeletal-related pain online and determining the ranking of the websites of medical associations. Methods We conducted a Google search for frequently searched keywords. Keywords were extracted using Google Ads Keyword Planner associated with “pain” relevant to the musculoskeletal system from June 2016 to December 2019. The top 20 search queries were extracted and searched using the Google search engine in Japan and the United States. Results The number of suggested queries for “pain” provided by Google Ads Keyword Planner was 930 in the United States and 2400 in Japan. Among the top 20 musculoskeletal-related pain queries chosen, the probability that the medical associations’ websites would appear in the top 10 results was 30% in the United States and 45% in Japan. In five queries each, the associations’ websites did not appear among the top 100 results. No significant difference was found in the rank of the associations’ website search results (P=.28). Conclusions To provide accurate medical information to patients, it is essential to undertake effective measures for search engine optimization. For orthopedic associations, it is necessary that their websites should appear among the top search results.

Background Since 1981, we have performed school scoliosis screening (SSS) using Moire topography in Miyazaki, Japan and attained a certain result in detecting scoliosis. However, this screening system was discontinued due to cessation of repair and production of Moire topographic equipment. The purpose of this study was to make clear both the results and the problems of SSS by Moire topography on the basis of our past 33 years' experiences. Methods The subjects were 689,293 students (5th grade boys in 200,329, 5th grade girls in 191,919, 8th grade boys in 151,351, and 8th grade girls in 145,694) who were screened by Moire topography between 1981 and 2013. The number of students received SSS, the positive rate of Moire topography, the discovery rate of scoliosis greater than 20°, the reference rate to the second screening, and the positive predictive value of Moire topography to detect scoliosis greater than 20° were investigated. Results The number of students received SSS achieved a peak in 1992. The positive rate of Moire topography and the discovery rate of scoliosis were highest in 8th grade girls. The reference rates to the second screening were 49.8% in 5th grade students and 41.4% in 8th grade students. The positive predictive values were 2.1% in 5th grade students and 7.6% in 8th grade students. Conclusion SSS by Moire topography seemed to be effective in detecting scoliosis although both the positive predictive value and the reference rate to the second screening were low.

A narrowband, visible-blind ultraviolet photodetector (PD) for UV-A is fabricated using a Mg0.52Zn0.48O film that is formed on a quartz substrate by a radio-frequency sputtering technique using a ZnO-Mg composite target. The content of Mg in the film is controlled by varying the number of Mg chips on the ZnO plate. The fabricated PD has a metal-semiconductor-metal structure with interdigitated electrodes and exhibits a narrow 3 dB bandwidth of 26 nm with a peak response wavelength of 340 nm and a cut-off wavelength of 353 nm. Moreover, the peak responsivity of the PD increases linearly with the bias voltage up to 30 V, indicating that the device operates via a photoconductive gain mechanism.

Despite numerous genetic studies on bone metabolism, understanding of the specific mechanisms is lacking. We developed an efficient screening system to identify novel genes involved in bone metabolism using mutant mouse strains registered with the Exchangeable Gene Trap Clones (EGTC) database. From 1278 trap clones in the EGTC database, 52 candidate lines were selected in the first screening, determined based on “EST profile”, “X-gal”, “Related article”, and “Novel gene”. For the second screening, bone morphometric analysis, biomechanical strength analysis, bone X-gal staining, etc. were performed on candidate lines. Forty-two male trap lines (80.8%) showed abnormalities with either bone morphometric analysis or biomechanical strength analysis. In the screening process, X-gal staining was significantly efficient (P = 0.0057). As examples, Lbr and Nedd4 trap lines selected using the screening system showed significant bone decrease and fragility, suggesting a relationship with osteoblast differentiation. This screening system using EGTC mouse lines is extremely efficient for identifying novel genes involved in bone metabolism. The gene trap lines identified as abnormal using this screening approach are highly likely to trap important genes for bone metabolism. These selected trap mice will be valuable for use as novel bio-resources in bone research.

Type 2 isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase catalyzes the interconversion between two active units for isoprenoid biosynthesis, i.e., isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate, in almost all archaea and in some bacteria, including human pathogens. The enzyme is a good target for discovery of antibiotics because it is essential for the organisms that use only the mevalonate pathway to produce the active isoprene units and because humans possess a nonhomologous isozyme, type 1 isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase. However, type 2 enzymes were reportedly inhibited by mechanism-based drugs for the type 1 enzyme due to their surprisingly similar reaction mechanisms. Thus, a different approach is now required to develop new inhibitors specific to the type 2 enzyme. X-ray crystallography and gel filtration chromatography revealed that the enzyme from a thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus shibatae , is in the octameric state at a high concentration. Interestingly, a part of the regions that are involved in the substrate binding in the previously reported tetrameric structures is integral to the formation of the tetramer-tetramer interface in the substrate-free octameric structure. Site-directed mutagenesis at such regions resulted in stabilization of the tetramer. Small-angle X-ray scattering, tryptophan fluorescence, and dynamic light scattering analyses showed that substrate binding causes the dissociation of an octamer into tetramers. This property, i.e., incompatibility between octamer formation and substrate binding, might provide clues to develop new specific inhibitors of the archaeal enzyme.

馬尾症候群を呈した腰椎椎間板ヘルニア手術症例の検討を行ったので，文献的考察を加え報告する．馬尾症候群と診断し緊急手術を行った5例（男性3例，女性2例，平均年齢37歳）を対象とし，臨床像（発症様式，膀胱直腸障害発症から手術までの期間等），手術関連項目，術後成績（JOA score，膀胱直腸障害の改善度等）に関して検討を行った．発症様式は，急性発症2例，段階的発症3例，5例中3例は尿閉や尿失禁を伴う重度障害であった．膀胱直腸障害出現から手術までの期間は2日以内が2例，3日以降が3例であった．全例初診後24時間以内に手術を施行されJOA scoreならびに排尿障害は改善していたが，3例で排便感覚の改善が不十分であった．本症においては，膀胱直腸障害発症後48時間以降の手術では機能障害残存率が高いとの報告があり，下肢症状のみならず膀胱直腸障害をいかに早く察知するかが重要である．

( R )-(+)-Cibenzoline (95% ee) was synthesized in two steps from (+)-2,2-diphenylcyclopropylmethanol 3a (98% ee), which was oxidized with IBX in DMSO, followed by treatment with ethylenediamine in the presence of I 2 and K 2 CO 3 in t BuOH. Compound ( R )-(+)- 3a (98% ee) was prepared by cyclopropanation of 3,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ol 1 with Et 2 Zn and CH 2 I 2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of ( S )-2-(methanesulfonyl)amino-1-( p -toluenesulfonyl)amino-3-phenylpropane 2 , followed by esterification with 3,5-dinitorobenzoyl chloride, recrystallization, and hydrolysis.

Physical properties of the organic charge-transfer complex that may be regarded as a doping system are presented. We measured resistivity of an ambient-pressure superconductor, κ-(BEDT-TTF)4Hg2.89Br8, as functions of temperature, magnetic field, and pressure. Metallic and superconducting states of this salt are possibly attributable to the doping effect, which originates from incommensurability of Hg chain because band structure calculation predicts strong electron-electron correlation enough to localize the itinerant electrons. We uncovered anomalous pressure and magnetic field dependences of superconductivity as well as non-Fermi liquid behavior in the normal-state resistivity at low pressures. In addition, we observed a pressure-induced crossover to the Fermi liquid behavior, which is seen in non-doped κ-type salts at any pressures.

We demonstrated high-pressure studies on two kinds of layered organics. One is a Mott insulator, β'-(BEDT-TTF) 2 ICl 2 , with an exactly half-filled band. By applying extremely high pressure to it, we observed the highest- T c superconductivity among organics. T c amounts to 14.2 K at 8.2 GPa. The other is a doped-type conductor, κ-(BEDT-TTF) 4 Hg 2.78 Cl 8 , with the band-filling shifted from the half-filled state. We uncovered that it had an anomalous pressure-temperature phase diagram. T c had a minimum structure within the superconducting phase along with pressure axis. In addition, we found that this superconducting phase was lying in between two nonmetallic phases.

We studied the normal state properties of an organic superconductor, κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br, through the measurement of the Hall effect as functions of temperature and pressure. At low pressure, the Hall coefficent shows the peak structure. From the coincidence of the temperature and its pressure evolution with those of anomalies observed in other physical properties, the peak temperature is considered to be T*. At high pressure, we observed the drastic decrease and sign change of the Hall coefficient. From the incompatibility with the behavior of a similar compound, κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2, we concluded that this behavior orignate from the singularity of the Fermi surface of this salt.

Asymmetric synthesis of tranylcypromine was achieved using an enantioselective Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation catalyzed by a simple disulfonamide derived from an α-amino acid. The optically active ...

A transgenic pig carrying MMTV/v-Ha-ras was produced by microinjection of DNA into pronuclear stage embryos. Reproductive technologies, such as superovulation, insemination methods and synchronization of recipients were also investigated to establish the efficient systems to obtain pronuclear stage embryos and transgenic pigs aiming at improving efficiency of the protocol for producing transgenic pigs. Integration of the transgene was detected by Southern hybridization analysis in one female among 29 piglets which had been born after transfer of 195 DNA-injected embryos to 8 recipients. Expression of the transgene was detected by RT-PCR in 8 of 17 organs of the founder transgenic pig examined. The transgenic pig transmitted the transgene to 42.3% of 26 offspring. However, development of tumour was not found either in the founder or its progeny during the observation period for 30 and 1-8 months, respectively. The average number of ova collected from donors superovulated with 1500 IU eCG was significantly higher than the number collected from gilts which were superovulated with 1000 IU (26.3 vs 6.8, P

Daily ultrasonic monitoring was conducted to examine the dynamics of bovine ovarian follicular development (large: ≥10 mm, middle: ≥5 mm and

Hyperacute rejection (from pig to human) is thought to result from activation of complement initiated by the binding of host natural antibodies to α-galactosyl (α-Gal) epitopes of donor endothelial cells. However, α-Gal epitope shares a common precursor with H antigen in humans. This means that H antigens as well as α-Gal epitopes are synthesized in a competitive manner by different enzymes. We thought that it would be possible to convert α-Gal epitopes into H antigens by introducing cDNA of α(1,2)-fucosyltransferase (α1–2FT) into porcine cells, and so, pig embryos were microinjected with αl-2FT cDNA. Transgenic pigs that carried α1–2FT were thus established. Cytotoxicity of fibrocytes derived from skin of transgenic pig was measured by 51Cr release assay, which showed that H antigen-expressing cells were significantly resistant to a challenge with human sera. These experiments indicate that our method provides a new strategy which contributes to a successful discordant xenotransplantation.

Acetylation of 2-aryl-2-butene-1,4-diols with 10 equivalents of vinyl acetate in the presence of 50 wt % of porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) Type II regioselectively proceeded to afford the correspond...

Acetylation of 2-aryl-2-butene-1,4-diols with 10 equivalents of vinyl acetate in the presence of 50 wt % of porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) Type II regioselectively proceeded to afford the correspond...

We studied the normal-state properties of an organic superconductor, κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 Cu[N(CN) 2 ]Br, through the investigation of the Hall effect as functions of temperature and pressure. At low pressures, the Hall coefficient shows an apparent increase with lowering temperature and a following peak structure. In this pressure range, the Hall effect possibly correlates with the spin fluctuation. At high pressures, we observed a drastic decrease and sign change in the Hall coefficient. With the dissimilarity with the behavior of similar compounds such as κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 Cu(NCS) 2 and κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 Cu(N[CN] 2 )Cl, we concluded that this behavior originates from a superstructure below 200 K.

κ-(BEDT-TTF) 4 Hg 2.89 Br 8 is an ambient-pressure superconductor with a transition temperature ( T c ) value of 4.3 K. This salt can be considered as an electron system that is naturally carrier doped into a Mott insulator by a slight excalation of the Hg ions. In order to obtain information about the nature of the metallic and superconducting states in this doping system, we performed electrical resistivity measurements as functions of temperature and pressure. We revealed that T c showed an anomalous two-peak structure along the pressure axis. In addition, we found that the power of the temperature in the low-temperature normal-state resistivity correlated with the T c diagram. We concluded that an observable critical boundary existed between the non-Fermi-liquid and Fermi-liquid states in this system.

The P–T phase diagram and transport properties of a layered organic superconductor, � -(BEDTTTF)4Hg2:89Br8, which can be viewed as a nealy half-filled band system, are reported. Through careful resistivity measurements under pressures of up to 4.5 GPa, we uncovered anomalous pressure dependence of Tc of this superconductor, including a peak structure at approximatly 0.7 GPa and a minimum structure at higher pressure. The normal-state resistivity showed T-linear behavior at low pressures and this behavior gradually transformed into T-squared behavior with increasing pressure. The pressure, Pc � 2 GPa, at which Tc has a turning value, corresponds to the onset of the T-squared behavior.