Association Between Nondominant Leg-Side Hip Internal Rotation Restriction and Low Back Pain in Male Elite High School Soft Tennis Players.

CONTEXT: The incidence of low back pain (LBP) is high among high school male soft tennis players. In some sports for which the rotational component of the body is important, an association between restricted hip internal rotation of the nondominant leg and LBP has been reported; however, whether this association holds in soft tennis is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between hip internal rotation, hip external rotation, hamstring flexibility, iliopsoas flexibility, and LBP incidence. DESIGN: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study, conducted at a sports training center. METHODS: Participants comprised 113 male elite high school soft tennis players (age: 16.1 [0.7] y) from 9 elite-level teams. The main outcome measures were the hip internal and external rotation range of motion, hamstring flexibility on the straight leg raise test, and iliopsoas flexibility on the Thomas test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the influence of main outcomes on LBP incidence in the past 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 35 participants had LBP (LBP group); 78 participants did not have LBP (non-LBP group). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio for height was 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.16; P = .043) and for the hip internal rotation range of motion in the nondominant leg was 0.90 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.95; P < .001), indicating significant associations with LBP. CONCLUSION: Hip internal rotation range of motion in the nondominant leg and height were crucial factors related to LBP in male elite high school soft tennis players.

Ultrasonic Assessment of Cancellous Bone Based on the Two-Wave Phenomenon.

The investigation of cancellous bone using ultrasound measurements is not an easy task due to the solid complex trabecular structure filled with fluid-like bone marrow. It is expected that the ultrasound propagated in cancellous bone contains valuable information about the complex structure. In this chapter, the methods to derive useful information by the two-wave phenomenon-based ultrasonic assessment of cancellous bone is introduced. First, the measurements and mathematical descriptions of the two-wave phenomenon are presented in Sect. 6.1. Here, a conventional mathematical method to understand the phenomenon and fundamental results of the experimental measurements are introduced. Next, in Sect. 6.2, the computational simulation methods using models representing real bone structures, the numerical or statistical separation techniques of the two waves, and machine learning techniques for deriving material information are discussed. Finally, in Sect. 6.3, the results and the current limitations of the clinical assessment with a device using the two-wave phenomenon are introduced.

Contributions of Muscle Elasticity and Lateral Slide of the Transversus Abdominis to Lumbar Stability.

CONTEXT: Lumbar instability can cause lumbar spondylolisthesis and chronic low-back pain in sports situation. Abdominal hollowing is commonly used in clinical practice to preferentially target the transversus abdominis (TrA) to stabilize the lumbar vertebrae; however, the contribution of muscle elasticity and lateral slide of the TrA to lumbar stability has not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the contribution of elasticity and lateral slide of the TrA to lumbar stability and to identify an effective exercise to stabilize the lumbar vertebrae. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: Laboratory. PATIENTS: A total of 29 healthy males participated in this study. INTERVENTIONS: The participants performed hollowing during measurement of muscle elasticity of TrA and both knees extension from crook lying position for pelvic stability measurement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lumbar stability, muscle elasticity change ratio, and lateral slide amount of TrA. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between elasticity of the TrA and lumbar stability; however, no relationship was observed between lateral slide and lumbar stability or elasticity of the TrA. CONCLUSION: Elasticity of the TrA and lumbar stability was significantly correlated; therefore, improving the tonicity of the TrA may stabilize the lumbar vertebrae in healthy individuals. Moreover, hollowing with maximum effort may be effective as training aimed to stabilize the lumbar vertebrae for physical dysfunction due to lumbar instability.

Influences of small-scale oscillations on growth inhibition and ultrastructural changes of Microcystis cells.

We investigated the effects of small-scale oscillation (SSO) on toxic Microcystis cells. The oscillating device was made of silicon with two axes that had a diameter of ∼40 mm, and a frequency of 2.5 Hz was observed at 150 rpm. The SSO was effective in inhibiting Microcystis growth. Microcystin release was not observed, whereas cell density barely increased in the oscillating group. Cell size and morphology of the oscillating group were no different from the control group. However, cell quotas of chl.a and microcystin in the oscillating group were half the level of the control group. Crucially, a number of large-sized holes were observed and layered long linear thylakoids were rarely observed in the oscillating group. Therefore, SSO was found to be very effective in Microcystis growth inhibition, and it caused ultrastructural changes without damage to the cell membrane and subsequent microcystin release.

Critical roles of type III phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase in murine embryonic visceral endoderm and adult intestine.

The metabolism of membrane phosphoinositides is critical for a variety of cellular processes. Phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(3,5)P(2)] controls multiple steps of the intracellular membrane trafficking system in both yeast and mammalian cells. However, other than in neuronal tissues, little is known about the physiological functions of PtdIns(3,5)P(2) in mammals. Here, we provide genetic evidence that type III phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIPKIII), which produces PtdIns(3,5)P(2), is essential for the functions of polarized epithelial cells. PIPKIII-null mouse embryos die by embryonic day 8.5 because of a failure of the visceral endoderm to supply the epiblast with maternal nutrients. Similarly, although intestine-specific PIPKIII-deficient mice are born, they fail to thrive and eventually die of malnutrition. At the mechanistic level, we show that PIPKIII regulates the trafficking of proteins to a cell's apical membrane domain. Importantly, mice with intestine-specific deletion of PIPKIII exhibit diarrhea and bloody stool, and their gut epithelial layers show inflammation and fibrosis, making our mutants an improved model for inflammatory bowel diseases. In summary, our data demonstrate that PIPKIII is required for the structural and functional integrity of two different types of polarized epithelial cells and suggest that PtdIns(3,5)P(2) metabolism is an unexpected and critical link between membrane trafficking in intestinal epithelial cells and the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Irreducible plantar dislocation of the interphalangeal joint of the great toe due to an accessory sesamoid bone: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Great toe dislocation frequently occurs at the metatarsophalangeal joint. However, an irreducible dislocation of the great toe interphalangeal (IP) joint due to an accessory sesamoid bone is relatively unusual. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old woman suffered a dislocated IP joint of the left great toe. The distal phalanx was plantar subluxated, and the articular surface was misaligned. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography images did not indicate any factors inhibiting reduction. In addition, the sesamoid bone at the IP joint was found to be rotated in the long-axis direction. The sesamoid bone of the IP joint was hooked from the distal direction and occupied the intercondylar area. IP joint of the left great toe was flexed and the distal phalanx was pushed toward the proximal phalanx during reduction locking with fluoroscopic guidance under local anesthesia, and the dislocation was successfully reduced. DISCUSSION: The sesamoid bone at the IP joint is anatomically located dorsal to the flexor hallucis longus tendon and volar plate. The sesamoid bone fitted exactly in the distal intercondylar area. The sesamoid bone in our patient could be rotated by forcible plantar flexion of the IP joint displaced proximally and hooked into the intercondylar area from the proximal aspect. Then, the distal phalanx was pulled proximally through the volar plate. This is the first report on a plantar dislocation of the IP joint.

Fast characterization of two ultrasound longitudinal waves in cancellous bone using an adaptive beamforming technique.

The received signal in through-transmission ultrasound measurements of cancellous bone consists of two longitudinal waves, called the fast and slow waves. Analysis of these fast and slow waves may reveal characteristics of the cancellous bone that would be good indicators of osteoporosis. Because the two waves often overlap, decomposition of the received signal is an important problem in the characterization of bone quality. This study proposes a fast and accurate decomposition method based on the frequency domain interferometry imaging method with a modified wave transfer function that uses a phase rotation parameter. The proposed method accurately characterized the fast and slow waves in the experimental study, and the residual intensity, which was normalized with respect to the received signal intensity, was less than -20 dB over the bone specimen thickness range from 6 to 15 mm. In the simulation study, the residual intensity was less than -20 dB over the specimen thickness range from 3 to 8 mm. Decomposition of a single received signal takes only 5 s using a laptop personal computer with a single central processing unit. The proposed method has great potential to provide accurate and rapid measurements of indicators of osteoporosis in cancellous bone.

Conventional, Bayesian, and Modified Prony's methods for characterizing fast and slow waves in equine cancellous bone.

Conventional, Bayesian, and the modified least-squares Prony's plus curve-fitting (MLSP + CF) methods were applied to data acquired using 1 MHz center frequency, broadband transducers on a single equine cancellous bone specimen that was systematically shortened from 11.8 mm down to 0.5 mm for a total of 24 sample thicknesses. Due to overlapping fast and slow waves, conventional analysis methods were restricted to data from sample thicknesses ranging from 11.8 mm to 6.0 mm. In contrast, Bayesian and MLSP + CF methods successfully separated fast and slow waves and provided reliable estimates of the ultrasonic properties of fast and slow waves for sample thicknesses ranging from 11.8 mm down to 3.5 mm. Comparisons of the three methods were carried out for phase velocity at the center frequency and the slope of the attenuation coefficient for the fast and slow waves. Good agreement among the three methods was also observed for average signal loss at the center frequency. The Bayesian and MLSP + CF approaches were able to separate the fast and slow waves and provide good estimates of the fast and slow wave properties even when the two wave modes overlapped in both time and frequency domains making conventional analysis methods unreliable.

Fast and slow wave detection in bovine cancellous bone in vitro using bandlimited deconvolution and Prony's method.

Fast and slow waves were detected in a bovine cancellous bone sample for thicknesses ranging from 7 to 12 mm using bandlimited deconvolution and the modified least-squares Prony's method with curve fitting (MLSP + CF). Bandlimited deconvolution consistently isolated two waves with linear-with-frequency attenuation coefficients as evidenced by high correlation coefficients between attenuation coefficient and frequency: 0.997 ± 0.002 (fast wave) and 0.986 ± 0.013 (slow wave) (mean ± standard deviation). Average root-mean-squared (RMS) differences between the two algorithms for phase velocities were 5 m/s (fast wave, 350 kHz) and 13 m/s (slow wave, 750 kHz). Average RMS differences for signal loss were 1.6 dB (fast wave, 350 kHz) and 0.4 dB (slow wave, 750 kHz). Phase velocities for thickness = 10 mm were 1726 m/s (fast wave, 350 kHz) and 1455 m/s (slow wave, 750 kHz). Results show support for the model of two waves with linear-with frequency attenuation, successful isolation of fast and slow waves, good agreement between bandlimited deconvolution and MLSP + CF as well as with a Bayesian algorithm, and potential variations of fast and/or slow wave properties with bone sample thickness.

Combining three-dimensional acoustic coring and a convolutional neural network to quantify species contributions to benthic ecosystems.

The seafloor is inhabited by a large number of benthic invertebrates, and their importance in mediating carbon mineralization and biogeochemical cycles is recognized. However, the majority of fauna live below the sediment surface, so most means of survey rely on destructive sampling methods that are limited to documenting species presence rather than event driven activity and functionally important aspects of species behaviour. We have developed and tested a laboratory-based three-dimensional acoustic coring system that is capable of non-invasively visualizing the presence and activity of invertebrates within the sediment matrix. Here, we present reconstructed three-dimensional acoustic images of the sediment profile, with strong backscatter revealing the presence and position of individual benthic organisms. These data were used to train a three-dimensional convolutional neural network model and, using a combination of data augmentation and data correction techniques, we were able to identify individual species with an 88% accuracy. Combining three-dimensional acoustic coring with deep learning forms an effective and non-invasive means of providing detailed mechanistic information of in situ species-sediment interactions, opening new opportunities to quantify species-specific contributions to ecosystems.

An experimental study on the ultrasonic wave propagation in cancellous bone: waveform changes during propagation.

Wave propagation in a trabecular bone was experimentally investigated using an acoustic tube. For the purposes of this study, a cubic sample was gradually filed so the waveform change due to the sample thickness could be observed. The initial sample showed clear two-wave separation. As the sample became thinner, the fast and slow waves gradually overlapped. The apparent frequencies and amplitudes of the fast waves obtained from the time domain data decreased significantly for the smaller thicknesses. This indicates an increase in the apparent attenuation at the initial stage of the propagation. Next the authors investigated the distribution of the ultrasonic field after the transmission through the cancellous bone sample. In addition to a large aperture receiver, a needle-type ultrasonic transducer was used to observe the ultrasonic field. Within an area of the same size of the large transducer, the waveforms retrieved with the needle sensor exhibited high spatial variations; however, the averaged waveform in the plane was similar to the waveform obtained with the large aperture receiver. This indicates that the phase cancellation effect on the surface of the large aperture receiver can be one of the reasons for the strong apparent attenuation observed at the initial stages of the propagation.

Evaluation of arthrokinematics and posterior soft tissues of the ankle during ankle dorsiflexion using ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Arthrokinematics (caudal and posterior movements of the talus) and posterior soft tissues of the ankle during ankle dorsiflexion have not been objectively evaluated in detail. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of arthrokinematics and posterior soft tissues of the ankle during ankle dorsiflexion using ultrasound. METHODS: Thirteen healthy adults participated in the study. Participants whose passive dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint was <35° were classified as the restricted group (n = 6), and participants whose passive ankle dorsiflexion ROM was ≥35° were classified as the control group (n = 7). Passive ankle dorsiflexion was performed to measure the ankle arthrokinematics. Strain elastography was performed to measure the elasticity of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) and Kager's fat pad (KFP) at each dorsiflexion angle. RESULTS: A significant difference in the posterior movement of the talus at the ankle dorsiflexion of 30° was observed between the two groups (P = 0.04). The elasticity of the restricted group was increased at all angles in both FHL and KFP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that it is possible to objectively evaluate the direction of ankle arthrokinematics and posterior ankle soft-tissue restrictions using ultrasound.

Prevalence of low back pain and its associated risk factors among professions and workers in health, medical, and welfare facilities in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and its associated risk factors, including physical function, are not fully clarified among health, medical, and welfare facility professionals and workers. Furthermore, issues related to the prevention of LBP are not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of LBP and associated risk factors, including physical function, in professionals and workers in health, medical, and welfare facilities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Physical examinations for LBP were conducted, and data were collected at health, medical, and welfare facilities in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1085 health, medical, and welfare facility professionals and workers participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence was calculated based on the presence or absence of symptoms of LBP at the time of survey. Then, bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between LBP and age, gender, occupation, history of treatment for LBP, passive straight leg raising (SLR) angle, and abdominal muscle strength. Furthermore, multivariate analysis was performed to examine the relationship between LBP and the six risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of LBP was high (74.8%). Bivariate analysis showed a significantly higher percentage of nursing professionals (46.2%) in the LBP group (p < .001). The association between LBP and the risk factors in multivariate analysis was as follows: history of treatment for LBP (odds ratio [OR] = 3.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.63-5.84, p < .001), nursing professionals as occupation (OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.55-2.90, p < .001), passive SLR angle (OR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.24-3.42, p = .005), abdominal muscle strength (OR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.07-2.41, p = .021), and gender (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.08-2.14, p = .015). CONCLUSION: In the future, it will be necessary to take preventive measures for risk factors and to follow up longitudinally on the prevalence of LBP and on workers with indicated risk factors.

Deep-sea infauna with calcified exoskeletons imaged in situ using a new 3D acoustic coring system (A-core-2000).

The deep ocean is Earth's largest habitable space inhabited by diverse benthic organisms. Infauna play crucial roles in shaping sedimentary structures, relocating organic matter, porewater chemistry, and hence biogeochemical cycles. However, the visualization and quantification of infauna in situ inside deep-sea sediment has been challenging, due to their sparse distribution and that deep-sea cameras do not visualize animals living below the sediment surface. Here, we newly developed a 3D acoustic "coring" system and applied it to visualize and detect burrowing bivalves in deep-sea sediments. The in situ acoustic observation was conducted at a dense colony of vesicomyid clams in a hydrocarbon seep in Sagami Bay, Japan, focusing on a patch of juvenile clams with a completely infaunal life style. We clearly observed strong backscatters from the top and lower edges of animals in our 3D acoustic data. At least 17 reflectors were identified in the survey area (625 cm2), interpreted to correspond to living clams. The estimated depths of the lower edge of clams ranged between 41 and 98 mm. The acoustic system presented here is effective for detecting and monitoring infauna with calcified exoskeletons. This novel tool will help us better assess and understand the distribution of deep-sea infauna, particularly those groups with hard exoskeletons, as well as biogeochemical cycles.

Regulation of anaphylactic responses by phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase type I {alpha}.

The membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2)] is a critical signal transducer in eukaryotic cells. However, the physiological roles of the type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKIs) that synthesize PI(4,5)P(2) are largely unknown. Here, we show that the alpha isozyme of PIPKI (PIPKIalpha) negatively regulates mast cell functions and anaphylactic responses. In vitro, PIPKIalpha-deficient mast cells exhibited increased degranulation and cytokine production after Fcepsilon receptor-I cross-linking. In vivo, PIPKIalpha(-/-) mice displayed enhanced passive cutaneous and systemic anaphylaxis. Filamentous actin was diminished in PIPKIalpha(-/-) mast cells, and enhanced degranulation observed in the absence of PIPKIalpha was also seen in wild-type mast cells treated with latrunculin, a pharmacological inhibitor of actin polymerization. Moreover, the association of FcepsilonRI with lipid rafts and FcepsilonRI-mediated activation of signaling proteins was augmented in PIPKIalpha(-/-) mast cells. Thus, PIPKIalpha is a negative regulator of FcepsilonRI-mediated cellular responses and anaphylaxis, which functions by controlling the actin cytoskeleton and dynamics of FcepsilonRI signaling. Our results indicate that the different PIPKI isoforms might be functionally specialized.

Propagation of two longitudinal waves in a cancellous bone with the closed pore boundary.

Ultrasound propagation in cancellous bone (porous media) under the condition of closed pore boundaries was investigated. A cancellous bone and two plate-like cortical bones obtained from a racehorse were prepared. A water-immersion ultrasound technique in the MHz range and a three-dimensional elastic finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method were used to investigate the waves. The experiments and simulations showed a clear separation of the incident longitudinal wave into fast and slow waves. The findings advance the evaluation of bones based on the two-wave phenomenon for in vivo assessment.

Determining attenuation properties of interfering fast and slow ultrasonic waves in cancellous bone.

Previous studies have shown that interference between fast waves and slow waves can lead to observed negative dispersion in cancellous bone. In this study, the effects of overlapping fast and slow waves on measurements of the apparent attenuation as a function of propagation distance are investigated along with methods of analysis used to determine the attenuation properties. Two methods are applied to simulated data that were generated based on experimentally acquired signals taken from a bovine specimen. The first method uses a time-domain approach that was dictated by constraints imposed by the partial overlap of fast and slow waves. The second method uses a frequency-domain log-spectral subtraction technique on the separated fast and slow waves. Applying the time-domain analysis to the broadband data yields apparent attenuation behavior that is larger in the early stages of propagation and decreases as the wave travels deeper. In contrast, performing frequency-domain analysis on the separated fast waves and slow waves results in attenuation coefficients that are independent of propagation distance. Results suggest that features arising from the analysis of overlapping two-mode data may represent an alternate explanation for the previously reported apparent dependence on propagation distance of the attenuation coefficient of cancellous bone.

Transverse incision advantages for total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: If a transverse incision can be safely used for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), decreases in scar formation, reduced injury of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve and improved kneeling motion will be observed. METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients (101 knees) on whom primary TKA was performed with follow-up of more than 2 years. A longitudinal incision was used for the first 40 knees and a transverse incision for the remaining 61 knees. Operation time, blood loss, complications and Knee Society Score were evaluated. Wound lengths, widths and the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) were measured 1 year after the surgery. Further examination evaluated sensory disturbances and whether kneeling was possible. RESULTS: The complication rate in both groups was almost the same. The wound lengths measured at a 90° knee-flexed position were about 15 cm with no significant difference between the groups. The average width measured at a maximum area was significantly smaller in the transverse group than in the longitudinal group. MSS of the transverse group was also significantly lower than that of the longitudinal group. Sensory disturbance was found to be significantly smaller in the transverse group than in the longitudinal group both in subjective and objective evaluation at 1 year after surgery. When a transverse incision was used, the direction of the incision corresponded to the running direction of the saphenous nerve, and thus, we were able to reduce sensory disturbances on the distal lateral side of the knee joint. The transverse group (70.4%) performed significantly better than the longitudinal group (40.6%) at kneeling motion. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that making a transverse incision is a safe method, resulting in a reduction of scar formation and less dysfunction of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, and improvement of kneeling motion.

Medial-row failure after arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair.

We report 4 cases of medial-row failure after double-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) without arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASAD), in which there was pullout of mattress sutures of the medial row and knots were caught between the cuff and the greater tuberosity. Between October 2006 and January 2008, 49 patients underwent double-row ARCR. During this period, ASAD was not performed with ARCR. Revision arthroscopy was performed in 8 patients because of ongoing symptoms after the index operation. In 4 of 8 patients the medial rotator cuff failed; the tendon appeared to be avulsed at the medial row, and there were exposed knots on the bony surface of the rotator cuff footprint. It appeared that the knots were caught between the cuff and the greater tuberosity. Three retear cuffs were revised with the arthroscopic transtendon technique, and one was revised with a single-row technique after completing the tear. ASAD was performed in all patients. Three of the four patients showed improvement of symptoms and returned to their preinjury occupation. Impingement of pullout knots may be a source of pain after double-row rotator cuff repair.

Influence of cancellous bone microstructure on two ultrasonic wave propagations in bovine femur: an in vitro study.

The influence of cancellous bone microstructure on the ultrasonic wave propagation of fast and slow waves was experimentally investigated. Four spherical cancellous bone specimens extracted from two bovine femora were prepared for the estimation of acoustical and structural anisotropies of cancellous bone. In vitro measurements were performed using a PVDF transducer (excited by a single sinusoidal wave at 1 MHz) by rotating the spherical specimens. In addition, the mean intercept length (MIL) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) were estimated by X-ray micro-computed tomography. Separation of the fast and slow waves was clearly observed in two specimens. The fast wave speed was strongly dependent on the wave propagation direction, with the maximum speed along the main trabecular direction. The fast wave speed increased with the MIL. The slow wave speed, however, was almost constant. The fast wave speeds were statistically higher, and their amplitudes were statistically lower in the case of wave separation than in that of wave overlap.