Combining age, sex, body mass index, sport level, and preoperative quadriceps strength improves the predictive ability of quadriceps strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: This study compared the predictive ability of each independent predictor with that of a combination of predictors for quadriceps strength recovery one year after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using hamstring autografts were enrolled. Quadriceps strength, hamstring strength, and anterior tibial translation were measured, and the limb symmetry index (LSI) of the quadriceps and the hamstrings was calculated preoperatively and one year after surgery. Patients were classified into two groups according to the LSI of the quadriceps strength at one year postoperatively (≥ 80% or < 80%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the independent predictors of quadriceps strength recovery, and the cut-off value was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. A model assessing predictive ability of the combination of independent predictors was created, and the area under the curve (AUC) for each independent predictor was calculated by using the receiver-operating characteristic curves and the DeLong method. RESULTS: Of the 646 patients, 414 (64.1%) had an LSI of at least 80% for quadriceps strength one year after surgery, and 232 patients (35.9%) had an LSI of < 80%. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), preinjury sport level, and LSI of preoperative quadriceps strength were independently associated with quadriceps strength recovery one year after ACL reconstruction. The cut-off values were age: 22.5 years; sex: female; BMI: 24.3 kg/m2; preinjury sport level: no sport; and LSI of preoperative quadriceps strength: 63.3%. The AUC of the model assessing the predictive ability of the combination of age, sex, BMI, preinjury sport level, and LSI of preoperative quadriceps strength was significantly higher (0.73) than that of similar factors of preoperative quadriceps strength (AUC: 0.63, 0.53, 0.56, 0.61, and 0.68, p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: The combination of age, sex, BMI, preinjury sport level, and LSI of preoperative quadriceps strength had a superior predictive ability for quadriceps strength recovery at one year after ACL reconstruction than these predictors alone. Multiple factors, including patient characteristics and preoperative quadriceps strength, should be considered when planning rehabilitation programs to improve quadriceps strength recovery after ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Satisfaction with playing pre-injury sports 1 year after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a hamstring autograft.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined patient satisfaction with playing pre-injury sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to investigate patient satisfaction with playing pre-injury sport and identify factors associated with satisfaction. METHODS: A total of 97 patients underwent unilateral ACL reconstruction using a hamstring autograft and returned to pre-injury sports 1 year after surgery. Patient satisfaction with playing pre-injury sport was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) and an ordinal four-grade scale. Problems related to the operated knee were also assessed. Knee muscle strength, single leg hop distance, knee laxity, subjective knee pain, and fear of movement/reinjury using Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) were measured. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with patient satisfaction with playing pre-injury sport 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: The average VAS score for patient satisfaction with playing pre-injury sports 1 year after surgery was 77.8 ± 20.2. Of the 97 patients, 87 patients (89.7%) answered "satisfied" or "mostly satisfied", whereas 51 patients (52.6%) had one or more problems. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified that the TSK-11 score was associated with patient satisfaction with playing a pre-injury sport 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients who returned to pre-injury sports were satisfied with their outcomes. In contrast, approximately half of the patients had one or more problems after returning to play pre-injury sports. In particular, fear of movement/reinjury was significantly associated with patient satisfaction with playing pre-injury sport 1 year after surgery.

Impact of polypharmacy on oral health status in elderly patients admitted to the recovery and rehabilitation ward.

AIM: The oral health status of elderly adults has implications for general health problems. Polypharmacy for elderly adults is associated with an increased risk of potentially inappropriate medicines and many adverse drug events; however, no report has shown that polypharmacy itself is associated with complex oral problems. This study aimed to determine the association between polypharmacy and oral health status in patients admitted to the recovery and rehabilitation ward. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 471 patients (age: 81.9 ± 7.7 years, women: n = 346). Oral health status was measured using the Oral Health Assessment Tool and poor oral health status was defined as a score of ≥3. Cases of patients taking six or more medications were defined as polypharmacy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between polypharmacy and oral health status. Age, sex, body mass index, number of comorbidities, cognitive and motor functions, and potentially inappropriate medicines were set as confounding factors. RESULTS: Using the Oral Health Assessment Tool, 51.0% (n = 240) of patients scored ≥3. The prevalence of patients with polypharmacy was 56.9% (n = 268). Polypharmacy was significantly associated with poor oral health status (odds ratio = 1.65, 95% confidence interval = 1.14-2.39, P = 0.007; adjusted odds ratio = 1.65, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-2.43, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that polypharmacy was associated with poor oral health status. Focusing on the number of medications may be helpful in detecting oral problems. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 66-70.

Longitudinal Quadriceps Strength Recovery After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Autograft: Patients Stratified by Preoperative Quadriceps Strength Deficit.

CONTEXT: Some studies have discussed postoperative quadriceps strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, the effect of preoperative quadriceps strength deficit on longitudinal postoperative quadriceps strength recovery after ACLR with hamstring autograft is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To reveal the longitudinal postoperative quadriceps strength recovery after ACLR with hamstring autograft among patient groups stratified by preoperative quadriceps strength deficit. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single center. PATIENTS: In total, 420 patients (222 men and 218 women; age at the time of surgery 23.1 [8.9] y) who underwent ipsilateral ACLR with hamstring autograft and completed knee function tests preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were included in this study. INTERVENTION: The authors measured quadriceps strength at 60°/s, tested 1-leg hop performance (distance and anxiety), and calculated the quadriceps strength index (QSI) and limb symmetry index for 1-leg hop distance. Patients were divided into the following 4 groups according to their preoperative QSI: >80% (Excellent group), 80% to 60% (Good group), 60% to 40% (Moderate group), and ≤40% (Poor group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative QSI at 3, 6, and 12 months and 1-leg hop performance at 12 months after the surgery. RESULTS: The Excellent group had the highest postoperative QSI at all periods. Based on the 1-leg hop performance, the Poor group had the lowest limb symmetry index and significantly greater anxiety during jump performance in comparison with the Excellent and Good groups. CONCLUSION: The present study shows a longitudinal recovery process and the average postoperative quadriceps strength after ACLR with hamstring autograft in patient groups stratified by preoperative QSI. The results indicate that the difference in preoperative QSI affects not only the longitudinal postoperative QSI recovery but also high-level 1-leg hop performance after ACLR using hamstring autograft.

Prediction of quadriceps strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a hamstring autograft: Decision tree analysis.

BACKGROUND: The wide variations in patient demographics and concomitant injuries make the prediction of which patients will regain strength quickly following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction challenging. This study aimed to identify the dominant factor affecting quadriceps strength recovery after ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft and to construct a predictive model for quadriceps strength recovery using decision tree analysis. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-six patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft were included in this study. The isokinetic quadriceps strength at 60°/s was measured preoperatively and at 6 months after surgery. The quadriceps strength index (QSI) was calculated by normalising the peak torque of the involved leg with the uninvolved leg and multiplying it by 100. A stepwise multiple linear regression and a decision tree analysis were performed to assess whether or not the following parameters affect quadriceps strength recovery at 6 months: socio-demographic data and maximum isokinetic quadriceps strength. RESULTS: The preoperative QSI, age, and pre-injury Tegner activity scale were independently correlated with quadriceps strength recovery at 6 month after surgery. The decision tree analysis demonstrated that patients were expected to have a QSI ≥85% at 6 months after surgery if they met one of the following conditions: (1) age <23 years with a preoperative QSI ≥78.8%, (2) age ≥29 years with a preoperative QSI ≥98.0%, or (3) age <16 years with a preoperative QSI <58.5% and pre-injury Tegner activity scale ≥9. By contrast, patients ≥29 years with a preoperative QSI <98.0% were likely to achieve a quadriceps strength index <70% at 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the decision tree analysis, younger patients could achieve good quadriceps recovery even if they have a lower preoperative QSI, whereas patients ≥29 years need a higher preoperative QSI to obtain good muscle recovery.

A case of serous cystic neoplasm with form changes on an image obtained during long-term follow-up.

A 45-year-old man presented with a 24-mm macrocystic lesion at the pancreatic head, which was detected by computed tomography (CT). During six years of follow-up, CT, MRI, and endosonographic images of the cystic lesion showed that the cystic lesion had enlarged to 42mm, with the appearance of a thick cyst wall. Since a cystic tumor could not be ruled out, surgery was performed. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed microcystic-type serous cystadenoma of the pancreas, with the presence of internal bleeding in the cyst and hemorrhage and thick fibrous tissue in the cyst wall. We could observe a serous cystic neoplasm with prismatic form changes on an image obtained during long-term follow-up. Thus, we considered this case to be useful for investigating the natural history of serous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas.

The Association Between Perceived Stress and Low Back Pain Among Eldercare Workers in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between perceived stress and low back pain (LBP) among Japanese eldercare workers. METHODS: Self-reported questionnaires were completed regarding perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14), presence of memorable LBP in the preceding month, and other relevant factors (age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, job demands, job control, and social support) among 954 eldercare workers. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Data from 571 eldercare workers were analyzed. In the multivariate logistic regression model, higher perceived stress was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of memorable LBP (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 1.05 [1.02 to 1.08]). CONCLUSIONS: Higher perceived stress was independently associated with LBP among eldercare workers. Our study indicates the importance of considering perceived stress as one of the factors related to LBP.

Two cases of unresectable advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer perforation during chemotherapy with trastuzumab.

Case 1 was a 70-year-old man, and case 2 was a 65-year-old woman. Both were diagnosed with type 2 advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer. Capecitabine, cisplatin, and trastuzumab (HXP therapy) were administered to both patients. However, both patients developed peritonitis caused by gastric cancer perforation during HXP therapy on day 38 for case 1 and day 8 for case 2. Emergency omentum filling and gastric segmental resection were performed for both patients. The same chemotherapy regimen was continued after the surgery, and partial response was observed in both patients. Because most advanced HER2-positive gastric cancers are ulcers, we should always consider the risk of gastric cancer perforation while administering HXP therapy, which has a high cytoreductive effect. Good convalescence can be expected by continuing chemotherapy after emergency surgery due to gastric cancer perforation.

Factors affecting quadriceps strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autografts in athletes.

PURPOSE: Patients typically return to sports activities 6-12 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and quadriceps strength has been used as one of the criteria to return to sports activities. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that affect quadriceps strength recovery after ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft 6 months after surgery. METHODS: Isokinetic quadriceps strength at 60°/s was measured preoperatively and 6 months after surgery in 193 athletes who underwent ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft. The quadriceps strength index was calculated by normalizing the peak torque of the involved leg with the uninvolved leg. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the quadriceps strength index 6 months after surgery: at least 85 % (n = 84) or less than 85 % (n = 109). Multivariate logistic regression analysis and a receiver operating curve analysis were performed. RESULTS: The preoperative quadriceps strength index [odds ratio (OR) 1.02; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.03], age (OR 0.92; 95 % CI 0.86-0.98), sex (OR 2.45; 95 % CI 1.19-5.18), and knee pain (OR 0.17; 95 % CI 0.04-0.52) were independently associated with quadriceps strength recovery. The cut-off value of the preoperative quadriceps strength index was 70.2 % to obtain at least 85 % quadriceps strength index 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: To achieve sufficient quadriceps strength recovery at the timing of return to sports activities following ACL reconstruction using a hamstring tendon autograft, preoperative quadriceps strength, age, sex, and knee pain should be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Association between CT-Diagnosed Pneumonia and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Gastric Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This prospective cohort study aimed to elucidate the incidence and characteristics of pneumonia associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of gastric neoplasms using CT. METHODS: We included consecutive 188 patients with gastric neoplasms treated with ESD. All patients underwent CT before ESD and the day after ESD. Pneumonia associated with ESD was defined as lung ground glass opacity or consolidation by CT the day after ESD. RESULTS: In 188 patients, 28 patients had diabetes mellitus. Pneumonia was observed by CT in 21 patients (11.2%) after ESD. Of those, 7 patients had diabetes mellitus. By univariate analysis, compared with patients with non-pneumonia complications, risk factors for pneumonia were significantly increased in patients with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01) and in those who underwent a long procedure time (p = 0.02). By multivariate analysis, pneumonia was significantly increased in patients with diabetes mellitus (OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.35-12.19) and in those who underwent a long procedure time (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CT-diagnosed pneumonia associated with ESD was relatively high. Furthermore, it was revealed that diabetes mellitus and a long procedure time were risk factors of CT-diagnosed pneumonia.

Association between the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index and Executive Function in Community-Dwelling Elderly People.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between arterial stiffness (AS) measured with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and executive function in community-dwelling elderly people. METHODS: Subjects were 140 community-dwelling elderly people who participated in the study at Kobe, Japan during the period of August-September 2014, of which 126 (mean age±SD: 73.2±6.1, female: 67.5%) met the inclusion criteria and completed the study. Age, sex, body mass index, global cognition, existence of chronic disease, medication, smoking history, and years of education were assessed. The degree of AS was assessed using CAVI. Executive function was assessed using the Category Word Fluency Test (CWFT), Letter Word Fluency Test (LWFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). We used a correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to investigate whether higher CAVI was independently associated with lower executive function. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, higher mean CAVI correlated with lower CWFT (rho=－0.21, p=0.020), LWFT (rho=－0.32, p＜0.001), and DSST (rho=－0.31, p＜0.001). In the multivariate analysis, higher mean CAVI was associated with lower LWFT (ß=－0.21, p=0.046) after adjusting for confounding factors, although there was no association with CWFT (ß=－0.05, p=0.61) and DSST (ß=－0.06, p=0.51). CONCLUSIONS: We found that high CAVI was associated with lower LWFT. These results suggest that arterial stiffness is associated with lower performance in phonemic fluency.

Distinct features of protein folding by the GroEL system from a psychrophilic bacterium, Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H.

We investigated the protein folding mechanism of the GroEL system of a psychrophilic bacterium, Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H. The amount of mRNA of the groESL operon of C. psychrerythraea was increased about 6-fold after a temperature upshift from 8 to 18 °C for 30 min, suggesting that this temperature causes heat stress in this bacterium. A σ(32)-type promoter was found upstream of the groESL, suggesting that the C. psychrerythraea groESL is regulated by the σ(32) system, like the groESL in E. coli. The maximum ATPase and CTPase activities of CpGroEL were observed at 45 and 35 °C, respectively, which are much higher than the growth temperatures of C. psychrerythraea. We found that the refolding activity of the CpGroEL system in the presence of ATP is lower than that in the presence of CTP. This suggests that ATP is not the optimum energy source of the CpGroEL system. Analyses for the interaction of CpGroEL-CpGroES revealed that CTP could weaken this interaction, resulting in effective refolding function of the CpGroEL system. From these findings, we consider that the CpGroEL system possesses an energy-saving mechanism for avoiding excess consumption of ATP to ensure growth in a low-temperature environment.