Proliferative Lesions of the Endometrium of 50 Four-Toed Hedgehogs ( Atelerix albiventris).

Uteri from 50 four-toed hedgehogs ( Atelerix albiventris) with clinical signs of uterine disease were histopathologically examined. Sixteen animals (32%) were diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, 7 animals (14%) were diagnosed with endometrial polyp, and 27 animals (54%) were diagnosed with endometrial neoplasia. The mean ages of the animals with endometrial hyperplasia, polyp, and neoplasia were 28.7 months, 29.4 months, and 25.2 months, respectively. The neoplasms were classified into 7 endometrial mixed tumors, 12 endometrial stromal nodules, and 8 endometrial stromal sarcomas. However, the endometrial stromal nodules and endometrial stromal sarcomas often developed within or were contiguous with an endometrial polyp or mixed tumor. Interestingly, the stromal tumors and the stromal components of the endometrial polyp and mixed tumor displayed extraendometrial differentiation (eg, into adipocytes, granular cells, smooth muscle cells, and osteoid tissue). The endometrial stromal sarcomas exhibited severe cellular atypia and invaded subendometrial tissue. Immunohistochemical examinations demonstrated that the stromal cells of the hyperplastic lesions as well as the neoplastic lesions were positive for CD10, the progesterone receptor, and Wilms tumor 1. The four-toed hedgehog develops unique uterine neoplasms that are mainly composed of endometrial stromal cells and probably arise from endometrial polyps and/or mixed tumors.

Validity of time series kinematical data as measured by a markerless motion capture system on a flatland for gait assessment.

As a cost-effective, clinician-friendly gait assessment tool, the Kinect v2 sensor may be effective for assessing lower extremity joint kinematics. This study aims to examine the validity of time series kinematical data as measured by the Kinect v2 on a flatland for gait assessment. In this study, 51 healthy subjects walked on a flatland while kinematic data were extracted concurrently using the Kinect and Vicon systems. The kinematic outcomes comprised the hip and knee joint angles. Parallel translation of Kinect data obtained throughout the gait cycle was performed to minimize the differences between the Kinect and Vicon data. The ensemble curves of the hip and knee joint angles were compared to investigate whether the Kinect sensor can consistently and accurately assess lower extremity joint motion throughout the gait cycle. Relative consistency was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Joint angles measured by the Kinect v2 followed the trend of the trajectories made by the Vicon data in both the hip and knee joints in the sagittal plane. The trajectories of the hip and knee joint angles in the frontal plane differed between the Kinect and Vicon data. We observed moderate to high correlation coefficients of 20%-60% of the gait cycle, and the largest difference between Kinect and Vicon data was 4.2°. Kinect v2 time series kinematical data obtained on the flatland are validated if the appropriate correction procedures are performed. Future studies are warranted to examine the reproducibility and systematic bias of the Kinect v2.

Age-dependency of the serum oxidative level in the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8.

Systemic oxidative stress is considered to cause aging. In this study, to estimate the oxidative stress level in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8), we evaluated serum reactive oxygen species production and reduction capacity by measurement of Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (d-ROM) and Biological Antioxidant Potential (BAP), respectively, with age. SAMP8 showed earlier increase of d-ROM value with age than SAM resistant 1 (SAMR1), the control strain. The BAP level was the highest in adult SAMP8, whereas SAMR1 presented the sustained BAP values between ages. These results indicate that oxidative stress in SAMP8 is higher than SAMR1. Our study is the first detailed report about d-ROM and BAP in SAMP8 and will provide useful fundamental data for future aging studies.

Experimental analysis for the contribution of tooth vibration to production of sibilant /s/ ∼ measurement of sound and vibration ∼.

Sibilant /s/, one of unvoiced sounds, is believed to be produced by flow turbulence provoked by the impingement of a jet to anterior teeth. Although it would be possible that the impingement of a jet as well as pressure fluctuations behind the anterior teeth associated with flow turbulence make anterior teeth vibrate, whereby contributing to the production of sibilant /s/, no studies have focused on this aspect. The present study is designed to investigate the possibility that the vibration of teeth contributes to the production of sibilant /s/. A morphologically simplified model of an oral cavity is fabricated. An air is steadily delivered at 45 L/min to the model to produce aeroacoustic sounds. Sound and vibration of teeth (obstacle wall) are measured simultaneously with a microphone and the Michelson interferometer. The spectrum analysis showed two peaks in the sound at 1,300 and 3,500 Hz, and one peak in the wall vibration at 3,500 Hz. An association of the peak at 3,500 Hz between the sound and wall vibration suggested that this sound is produced as a result of wall vibration. Experiments exhibited a decrease in the sound amplitude with an increase in thickness (rigidity) of teeth (obstacle wall). Those results demonstrated potential of the proposed method for exploring the production mechanism of sibilant /s/ and possibility of the contribution of teeth vibration to the production of sibilant /s/.