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Tissue flossing involves wrapping a rubber band around a muscle group for a few minutes while performing joint motion, enhancing ankle joint torque and range of motion. As limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and plantar flexion muscle weakness are risk factors for sports injury, assessing the therapeutic effects of tissue flossing is important. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of calf tissue flossing on enhancing ankle joint torque and dorsiflexion range of motion. We conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial involving 19 healthy adult males who received two interventions (low and high-pressure tissue flossing bands) and a control condition (underwrap). Each intervention was applied for 2 minutes on the non-dominant calf, with 5--10 days between sessions. A pressure sensor placed on the posterior calf monitored the wrapping compression force. The intervention exercise comprised six voluntary isometric contractions of the ankle at three angles (20° plantar flexion, neutral 0°, and 10° dorsiflexion) for 3 seconds each using a dynamometer. The maximal isometric ankle plantar flexion torque and dorsiflexion range of motion were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. Significant interactions were observed in ankle plantar flexion torque at 10° dorsiflexion (p < 0.01) but not at 0° or 20° plantar flexion. The low- and high-pressure bands significantly enhanced ankle plantar flexion torque by 4.3 Nm (effect size [ES]: 0.14, p = 0.02) and 4.9 Nm (ES: 0.15, p < 0.05), respectively, and also enhanced the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion by 1.7° (ES: 0.43, p < 0.01) and 1.3° (ES: 0.35, p = 0.02), respectively, compared to the control. The low- and high-pressure band conditions had comparable effects on torque and range of motion. A few minutes of the calf tissue flossing intervention significantly enhanced ankle plantar flexion torque and dorsiflexion range of motion, although the effect sizes were trivial to small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We numerically study the dynamics of Faraday waves for Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) trapped by anisotropic potentials using the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation. In previous studies, Faraday waves were excited by periodic modulation of the interaction or potential; in contrast, this study systematically addresses the excitations of the two methods. When the interaction is modulated with a modulation frequency resonant with Faraday waves, the breathing mode along the tight confinement direction is excited, and the Faraday waves appear in the direction of weak confinement. A modulation frequency that is not resonant with Faraday waves does not excite Faraday waves. Thus, the dynamics depend on modulation frequencies. The behavior of the total energy and its decomposition characterize the dynamics. The excitation of Faraday waves depends on the anisotropy of the potentials as well; Faraday waves are excited only for elongated BECs. We compare the differences of the dynamics in modulation methods. There are no qualitative differences between the modulation of the interaction and potential. When the interaction and potential are simultaneously modulated, Faraday waves are excited but they do not necessarily work additively. To understand this phenomenon as a dynamical system, we choose a few dynamical variables and follow their trajectory in a phase space. The trajectory characteristics of Faraday waves and the breathing mode show that the methods of modulation are not very relevant; determining the target mode to excite is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The lower leg tissue flossing technique involves wrapping a rubber band around a muscle group for a few minutes while performing joint motion, enhancing ankle muscle strength output and dorsiflexion (DF) joint range of motion (ROM).1,2 However, there is currently no consensus regarding the effectiveness of this technique due to insufficient evidence-based research and inconsistencies in band pressure.3 Objectives: To clarify the immediate effects of lower leg tissue flossing using several compression bands focused on enhancing ankle muscle strength and DF-ROM. Study Design: Randomized cross-over controlled trial. Methods: Nineteen healthy adult males underwent the intervention: two bands (low and high pressure) and under- wrap (control) were wrapped for 2 min on the non-dominant lower leg, with 5-10 day intervals. A pressure monitor sensor inserted into the center of the posterior lower leg monitored wrapping compression force. The intervention exercise comprised six ankle joint plantar flexion (PF) and DF voluntary isometric contractions at three angles (PF 20°, neutral 0°, and DF 10°) for 3 seconds using a dynamometer. The maximum isometric muscle strength in DF and PF and ankle DF-ROM were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. Results: The ankle PF muscle strength showed a significant interaction at 10° DF (p<0.01) but none at 0° and 20° PF. The low- and high-pressure bands significantly enhanced the ankle PF muscle strength by 4.3 (p=0.02) and 4.9 Nm (p<0.05), respectively, compared to the control. The ankle DF-ROM showed significant interaction (p<0.01), and the low- and highpressure bands significantly enhanced the ankle DF-ROM by 1.7° (p<0.01) and 1.3° (p=0.02), respectively, compared to the control. The low- and high-pressure band groups had comparable muscle strength and DF-ROM. Conclusions: The two-minute lower-leg tissue flossing intervention significantly enhanced ankle PF strength and DF-ROM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The effectiveness of shoulder external rotation exercises (ER-Ex) in preventing shoulder and elbow disorders in baseball players is widely recognized.1 However, it is unclear whether educational exercises with real-time visual feedback (FB) using ultrasonography have an additive effect on facilitating rotator cuff contraction. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the additive effect of shoulder ER-Ex with real-time visual feedback using ultrasonography. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-six players (mean age 20.5 years) were block-randomized into the ER-Ex with FB using ultrasonog- raphy group (FB-G) and ER-Ex only as the control group (C-G). The FB-G performed ER-Ex with ultrasonography FB during exercise, while the C-G performed ER-Ex without FB. Both groups performed three sets of 10 repetitions of ER-Ex in a prone position with the shoulder abducted to 90 degrees and the elbow flexed to 90 degrees. Both groups independently performed the ER-Ex for one month before their regular baseball practices.The primary outcome measure was the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder & Elbow Score, including total and subitem scores. Secondary outcomes included pitching performance (ball speed and elbow valgus torque) and physical function (shoulder rotation muscle strength and range of motion). These were evaluated for one month before and after the intervention. Results:No significant changes were found in the KJOC total score, pitching performance, or physical function. However, a significant improvement was observed in KJOC subitem 1, related to warm-up time (p=0.02), with the score increasing from 78.8 to 87.2 points for the FB-G (p=0.01). Conclusions: One month of self-exercise following the educational intervention combining ER-Ex with real-time visual FB showed no additional effects on the KJOC total score or pitching performance. However, ER-Ex with real- time visual FB could potentially contribute to reducing warm-up time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed gross and histological examinations of the livers of sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Hokkaido, Japan. Out of 1,381 deer slaughtered for venison production, thickening and dilation of the large intrahepatic bile ducts and Fasciola flukes in the duct lumens were detected in 621 deer (45.0%). Furthermore, 107 non-bile lesions (75 intrahepatic and 32 capsular lesions) were detected during gross examinations. Histologically, the bile duct lesions included chronic proliferative cholangitis, papillary hyperplasia, goblet cell and pyloric gland metaplasia, and periductal fibrosis. Many of the intrahepatic non-bile duct lesions (53/75, 71%) were considered to be Fasciola fluke migration-associated lesions, including two lesion types: necrosis, hemorrhage, and eosinophilic granuloma formation (29 lesions), and lymphoid tissue formation (24 lesions). Lymphoid tissue formation was considered to result from the persistent immune responses against dead Fasciola flukes. An epidermoid liver cyst was found incidentally, which has not been reported in the veterinary literature. In summary, this study demonstrated the predominance of fascioliasis-associated lesions in sika deer livers. The gross and histological lesions caused by Fasciola flukes in sika deer were similar to fascioliasis in other animals. Moreover, we described lymphoid tissue formation as a fascioliasis-associated lesion for the first time. The fact that bile duct lesions (45.0%) had a markedly higher prevalence than fascioliasis-associated parenchymal lesions (53/1,381, 3.8%) indicated that sika deer are a permissive host for fascioliasis. Our results provide information that will aid pathological examinations of sika deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A white nodule was detected in the liver of a wild female sika deer. The nodule was histologically diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and it transitioned into a hyperplastic and chronically inflamed intrahepatic bile duct showing Fasciola infection. Therefore, the tumor was demonstrated to have originated from the biliary epithelium of the intrahepatic bile duct. Hyperplastic and chronic inflammatory changes of the biliary epithelium might have contributed the carcinogenesis of the present case, as proposed in human primary intrahepatic SCC cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of primary intrahepatic SCC in an animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A slaughtered 2-year-old female sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) had diffusely distributed multinodular lesions on the serosal surface of the peritoneal cavity and several nodules in the pleural cavity. Histologically, they were composed of proliferating spindle-shaped neoplastic cells, arranged in a fascicular fashion. The cells in the invasive foci transitioned from a sarcomatoid to an epithelioid appearance. Immunohistochemically, both the spindle-shaped and epithelioid cells were at least focally positive for pancytokeratin, vimentin, calretinin, α-SMA, and desmin. From these findings, the deer was diagnosed with peritoneal sarcomatoid mesothelioma with metastasis to the pleural cavity. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of peritoneal mesothelioma in a cervid species and the first case of mesothelioma in a sika deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-year-old castrated Toy poodle presented with swelling and proptosis of the right third eyelid caused by an exophytic mass on the bulbar surface. Histologically, the mass was composed of stratified neoplastic basaloid cells, arranged in nests and interconnecting islands, which were mixed with tubular structures. Immunohistochemically, the basaloid cells were positive for p63 and cytokeratin (CK) 14, and the inner epithelial cells of the tubular structures were positive for CK7, CK8, and CK19. According to these findings, the mass was diagnosed as a basal cell adenocarcinoma. Although basal cell adenocarcinoma is rare in animals, it should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for superficial tumors of bulbar conjunctiva of third eyelid in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In horse, the characterizations of hyalocytes under the steady state are still unclear. Therefore, we investigated characterizations of hyalocytes in normal equine eyes by their immunohistochemical phenotype, histomorphology and distribution. Thirty-one eyes from 18 horses, divided into 4 groups (G) by age, were used: early (G1) and late gestation (G2) fetuses, 1- to 3-year-old (G3) and 8- to 24-year-old (G4) horses. Equine hyalocytes were histologically classified into 4 types, and they immunohistochemically expressed MHC II and CD163. Hyalocytes were detected on and/or around ciliary processes and pars plana in G2, G3 and G4, but were not located on retina and optic papilla. A significant increase in distribution was found between G2 and both G3 and G4, and the largest distribution was found at ciliary processes in these groups. Equine hyalocytes were characterized as residential ocular macrophage and MHC II antigen-bearing cell, accompanied by a pleomorphic appearance and located in the contiguous ciliary body. Our data provided characterizations of hyalocytes in normal equine eyes and may well contribute to improving the understanding of pathogenesis of equine ocular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the uveal tract participate in ocular immunity including immune homeostasis and the pathogenesis of uveitis. In horses, although uveitis is the most common ocular disorder, little is known about ocular immunity, such as the distribution of APCs. In this study, we investigated the distribution of CD163-positive and MHC II-positive cells in the normal equine uveal tract using an immunofluorescence technique. Eleven eyes from 10 Thoroughbred horses aged 1 to 24 years old were used. Indirect immunofluorescence was performed using the primary antibodies CD163, MHC class II (MHC II) and CD20. To demonstrate the site of their greatest distribution, positive cells were manually counted in 3 different parts of the uveal tract (ciliary body, iris and choroid), and their average number was assessed by statistical analysis. The distribution of pleomorphic CD163- and MHC II-expressed cells was detected throughout the equine uveal tract, but no CD20-expressed cells were detected. The statistical analysis demonstrated the distribution of CD163- and MHC II-positive cells focusing on the ciliary body. These results demonstrated that the ciliary body is the largest site of their distribution in the normal equine uveal tract, and the ciliary body is considered to play important roles in uveal and/or ocular immune homeostasis. The data provided in this study will help further understanding of equine ocular immunity in the normal state and might be beneficial for understanding of mechanisms of ocular disorders, such as equine uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]