Life Course Epidemiology of Hip Osteoarthritis in Japan: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in Japanese newborns has reduced drastically following a primary prevention campaign initiated around 1972 to 1973; this perinatal education campaign promoted maintaining the hips of newborns in the naturally flexed-leg position. The purpose of the present study was to describe the life course epidemiology of hip osteoarthritis (OA) in adolescent and adult patients and to assess its association with exposure to the primary prevention campaign for DDH. METHODS: We included new patients with hip OA diagnosed from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, at 12 core hospitals (8 special-function hospitals and 4 regional medical care support hospitals). The trend in the percentage of hips with a history of DDH treatment in childhood was estimated with use of a centered moving average using the birth year of the patient. We compared the prevalence of severe subluxation (Crowe type II, III, or IV) between patients with secondary hip OA due to hip dysplasia who were born in or before 1972 and those who were born in or after 1973. RESULTS: Overall, 1,095 patients (1,381 hips) were included. The mean age at the time of the survey was 63.5 years (range, 15 to 95 years). A total of 795 patients (1,019 hips; 73.8% of hips) were diagnosed with secondary OA due to hip dysplasia. Approximately 13% to 15% of hips among patients born from 1963 to 1972 had a history of DDH treatment in childhood; however, the percentage decreased among patients born in or after 1973. The prevalence of severe subluxation (Crowe type II, III, or IV) among patients born in or after 1973 was 2.4%, which was significantly less than that among patients born in or before 1972 (11.1%; odds ratio, 0.20; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: As of 2022, secondary hip OA due to hip dysplasia is still responsible for most new cases of adolescent and adult hip OA seen in core hospitals in Japan. However, the perinatal education campaign initiated 50 years ago, which utilized a population approach and advocated for maintaining the hips of newborns in the naturally flexed-leg position, may have improved the environmental factors of DDH, as indicated by the apparently reduced need for treatment of DDH in childhood and the associated severe subluxation. This may result in a reduced need for challenging hip surgery later in life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Error of intraoperative measurement of stem anteversion is decreased by measuring in neutral hip position during total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative stem anteversion, which is the angle between the lower leg axis and the trial-stem axis with hip flexion and adduction, is generally evaluated by the surgeon's visual estimation during total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the conventional approach can be influenced by knee osteoarthritis or uncertain surgeon's observation point. Therefore, we developed a new method for measuring the stem anteversion angle in the neutral hip position using an original rod attached to the trial-stem perpendicular to the long axis and parallel to the stem neck. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of our method in comparison with the conventional method of measuring intraoperative stem anteversion angle. METHODS: We measured the intraoperative stem anteversion angle in consecutive 106 hips of 106 patients who underwent cementless primary THA with a tapered wedge stem. Absolute error in the stem anteversion angle was expressed as the difference between intraoperative (common vs. neutral hip positions) and postoperative computed tomography measurements, i.e., true stem anteversion. Additionally, we investigated the factors affecting these errors. RESULTS: The absolute error of measurement was significantly smaller in the neutral hip position than in the common position (3.0° ± 2.5° vs. 8.0° ± 3.9°; p < 0.0001). The factor associated with the error was advanced knee osteoarthritis in the common position, whereas it was not statistically significant in the neutral hip position. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the error in the intraoperative measurement of stem anteversion is decreased by measuring in the neutral hip position during THA.

Allometry of the quasi-pipe (qPipe) model for estimating tree leaf area and tree leaf mass applied to plant functional types.

The allometry of the pipe model quantifies the approximate proportionality between the tree leaf amount and the stem cross-sectional area at the crown base (ACB). It is useful for estimating and modeling carbon fixation abilities of trees but requires climbing the tree and is thus unsuitable for large-scale studies. Here, we adopted a previously proposed allometry (hereafter the quasi-pipe (qPipe) model allometry) formulating the relationship between the tree leaf amount and a surrogate of ACB, ACB_Est, calculated from tree dimensions measurable from the ground. Using published/unpublished data for 962 trees of 159 species collected between tropical rainforests and boreal forests, we established pipe and qPipe model allometries for evergreen-conifer, deciduous-conifer, evergreen-broadleaf, and deciduous-broadleaf plant functional types (PFTs). For the leaf area per tree (LA), allometric lines on a log-log plane were almost identical among the four PFTs in both models, with slopes of ~ 1. For the leaf mass per tree (LM), however, the allometric lines separated among the four PFTs in both models and had slopes greater than 1, indicating that the proportionality assumed in the pipe model held for LA but not LM. The applicability of the qPipe model in estimating the stand-scale leaf amount was further examined.

Protocol for the RETHINK study: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, non-inferiority clinical trial comparing acetaminophen and NSAIDs for treatment of chronic pain in elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with chronic pain, oral analgesics are essential treatment options to manage pain appropriately, improve activities of daily living abilities and achieve a higher quality of life (QOL). It is desirable to select analgesics for elderly patients based on comparative data on analgesic effect and risk of adverse events; however, there are few comparative studies so far. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the efficacy and safety of acetaminophen are non-inferior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in elderly patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a multicentre, randomised controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study to compare the analgesic effect and adverse events between acetaminophen or NSAIDs (loxoprofen or celecoxib). A total of 400 elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee will be recruited from five institutions in Japan. Patients of 65 years or older with osteoarthritis-related pain will be registered and randomly assigned to acetaminophen, loxoprofen or celecoxib with 2:1:1 allocation. The primary endpoint is change in the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) item 3 (worst pain) score from baseline to week 8. The secondary endpoints are BPI item 3 score change from baseline to week 4, health-related QOL measured by Short Form-8 Health Survey, and occurrence of adverse events including gastrointestinal disorders and abnormal liver function. Data will be analysed in accordance with a predefined statistical analysis plan. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol was approved by the Kyushu University Hospital Certified Institutional Review Board for Clinical Trials on 28 January 2021 (KD2020004) and the chief executive of each participating hospital. The results of the study will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals, and the main findings will be presented at international scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: jRCTs071200112.

Reversible down-regulation of photosystems I and II leads to fast photosynthesis recovery after long-term drought in Jatropha curcas.

Jatropha curcas is a drought-tolerant plant that maintains its photosynthetic pigments under prolonged drought, and quickly regains its photosynthetic capacity when water is available. It has been reported that drought stress leads to increased thermal dissipation in PSII, but that of PSI has been barely investigated, perhaps due to technical limitations in measuring the PSI absolute quantum yield. In this study, we combined biochemical analysis and spectroscopic measurements using an integrating sphere, and verified that the quantum yields of both photosystems are temporarily down-regulated under drought. We found that the decrease in the quantum yield of PSII was accompanied by a decrease in the core complexes of PSII while light-harvesting complexes are maintained under drought. In addition, in drought-treated plants, we observed a decrease in the absolute quantum yield of PSI as compared with the well-watered control, while the amount of PSI did not change, indicating that non-photochemical quenching occurs in PSI. The down-regulation of both photosystems was quickly lifted in a few days upon re-watering. Our results indicate, that in J. curcas under drought, the down-regulation of both PSII and PSI quantum yield protects the photosynthetic machinery from uncontrolled photodamage.

Anterior superior iliac spine is not always reliable as a pelvic reference axis. -3D study of pelvic axis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of the axis connecting both anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS axis) as the absolute pelvic axis. No study has ever verified the accuracy of ASIS axis particularly on the AP pelvic radiograph, which cannot be specified on it. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty and fifty patients with femoral neck fracture were recruited as subjects without hip deformities and their CT scan data were collected. We defined the line through both center of femoral heads as absolute reference axis of pelvis three-dimensionally. On the coronal plane, the errors between the femoral head axis and the axes through six pelvic landmarks in total, including ASIS were analyzed. On the axial plane, the errors of the lines through four landmarks were analyzed in the same way. Finally, on the coronal images, the mediolateral diameter of the obturator foramen and the mediolateral distance between the midline of the sacrum and the pelvic cavity were measured to evaluate bilateral symmetry of the pelvis. RESULTS: The errors tended to be smaller as the axes were closer to the femoral head axis (axes connecting bilateral superior aspects of the acetabulum and the teardrops) and the ASIS axis errors were moderate. The obturator foramen based on the ASIS axis was more asymmetrical than the femoral head axis. CONCLUSION: Adjusting the pelvic tilt and rotation, surgeons should not always rely on the ASIS and refer to appropriate, close to the hip joint references in each case.

A laser guide technique: a novel method for accurate acetabular cup alignment in total hip arthroplasty.

For accurate cup alignment without navigation in total hip arthroplasty (THA), we developed a "laser guide technique." The major purposes of this paper are to introduce the technique and compare its accuracy with a conventional manual technique. As a clinical outcome, the dislocation rate was reviewed. Our laser guide technique, which includes preoperative postural adjustment and intraoperative angular reference, has been detailed in the manuscript. 599 hips in 523 patients who underwent primary THA with piriformis-sparing posterolateral approach in April 2010-March 2016 were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: conventional group (135 hips), laser guide group (80 hips), and laser + radiographic alignment guide group (384 hips). Radiographic inclination (RI) and radiographic anteversion (RA) errors were evaluated. The dislocation rate was reviewed in 540 hips in 476 patients who were followed up > 2 years postoperatively. Absolute values of the RI/RA error in the three groups were 5.3° ± 4.0°/6.5° ± 4.5°, 4.0° ± 2.8°/4.9° ± 4.4°, and 3.3° ± 2.6°/3.6° ± 2.8°, respectively, indicating substantially enhanced accuracy with laser and radiographic alignment guide. The dislocation rates were 2.5% (3/119) and 0.2% (1/421) in the conventional and laser groups, respectively. Our novel laser guide technique considerably enhanced cup alignment accuracy, suggesting its potential applicability for THA in the lateral decubitus position.

"Anterior-shift sign": a novel MRI finding of adult hip dysplasia.

INTRODUCTION: In adult hip dysplasia, methods for direct evaluation of hip instability have not been established. The present study aimed to determine findings suggestive of hip instability on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate their correlations with clinical and radiological factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 72 hips in 50 patients with hip dysplasia (45 females, 5 males; mean age: 40.0 years; age range: 15-59 years; Kellgren-Lawrence grade: ≤ 2). Hip dysplasia was defined as a lateral center-edge angle < 25°. Among the hips, 50 had pain (symptomatic dysplasia group) and 22 were asymptomatic (asymptomatic dysplasia group). As controls, 12 normal hips in 12 patients who underwent screening for asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head by MRI were evaluated. Using an oblique axial view on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images, we evaluated the presence of a gap between the posterior part of the femoral head and the corresponding acetabular surface, indicating hip instability (anterior-shift sign). The correlations of anterior-shift sign with clinical and radiographical factors were examined. RESULTS: Anterior-shift sign was observed in 92.0% in the symptomatic dysplasia group, 9.1% in the asymptomatic dysplasia group, and 0% in the control group. In adult hip dysplasia, cases with anterior-shift sign had significantly more pain and labrum tear occurrence than cases without anterior-shift sign. Anterior-shift sign was correlated with Kellgren-Lawrence grade and degree of acetabular coverage. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that hip instability can be observed as the anterior-shift sign on MRI. This sign is useful when considering indications for periacetabular osteotomy in adult hip dysplasia.

Spherical Periacetabular Osteotomy.

Various techniques for periacetabular osteotomy have been reported to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis in dysplastic hips1-5. Bernese periacetabular osteotomy, which involves the use of an anterior approach, is widely performed throughout the world because it offers preservation of the blood supply to the bone fragment and lateral pelvic muscles. However, Bernese periacetabular osteotomy has potential complications, such as nonunion at the osteotomy site, postoperative fracture, nonunion of the pubis and ischium, and damage to the main trunk of the obturator artery. Spherical periacetabular osteotomy (SPO) has been developed to resolve some of disadvantages of Bernese periacetabular osteotomy6. Although SPO involves some technical difficulty, the procedure is safe when performed with use of appropriate preoperative 3-dimensional planning and surgical technique. Description: Preoperative 3-dimensional planning is utilized to decide the radius of the curved osteotome, locations of the reference points for the osteotomy line, and depth of the bone groove at the teardrop area. The pelvic positioning is arranged fluoroscopically to match the neutral position based on preoperative planning. A 7-cm incision is made along the medial margin of the iliac crest. An anterior iliac crest osteotomy of 4.5 cm (length) × 1 cm (medial wedge-shaped) is performed. The operative field is maintained with aluminum retractors. The osteotomy line is completed by connecting the preoperatively planned reference points on the inner cortex of the ilium. The bone groove is made along the osteotomy line with use of a high-speed burr. A blunt osteotome is inserted into the bone groove at the teardrop area until it reaches the preoperatively planned depth. The blunt osteotome makes a pathway for the curved osteotome without breaking the quadrilateral surface (QLS) or perforating the hip joint. The special curved osteotome is inserted manually until it reaches the bottom of the groove, and the posterior cortex is cut. After the top of the teardrop is divided fluoroscopically, the anterior ischial cortex is osteotomized with a sharpened spiked Cobb elevator at the infracotyloid groove. An angled curved osteotome is used for the osteotomy of the superior area of the teardrop area. The bone fragment is rotated with a spreader and an angled retractor, and fixed with 2 absorbable screws. Beta-tricalcium phosphate blocks are inserted into the bone gap. The osteotomized wedge-shaped iliac bone is repositioned and fixed. Alternatives: Alternatives include the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy, rotational acetabular osteotomy, and triple innominate osteotomy. Rationale: Bernese periacetabular osteotomy utilizes an anterior approach, cuts into the QLS, and preserves the posterior column. In contrast, SPO preserves the QLS and does not cut the pubis. These features of SPO have some advantages. The large osteotomized surface is advantageous for osseous fusion, and preserving the QLS and pubis protects the trunk of the obturator artery. Furthermore, the preservation of the connection between the ilium, ischium, and pubis in SPO maintains a more stable pelvic ring than in Bernese periacetabular osteotomy. The osteotomy line is arranged to prevent leg shortening caused by thin medial bone stock of the bone fragment. Although splitting the teardrop area in SPO is somewhat technically difficult, particularly in cases with a thin teardrop, it can be safely done with use of preoperative 3-dimensional planning and appropriate surgical technique.In addition, the use of our medial wedge-shaped osteotomy at the iliac crest has 2 advantages: protection of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and preservation of the attachment of the tensor fascia latae muscle. Expected Outcomes: The advantages of SPO are a stable pelvic ring postoperatively, reduced risk of nonunion at the osteotomy site, no risk to the trunk of the obturator artery, preservation of the blood supply to the bone fragment, a small incision, and early muscle recovery. Important Tips: Preoperative 3-dimensional planning of the osteotomy design is essential.The special curved osteotomes are designed so that osteotomy of the posterior cortex is completed when the handles are perpendicular to the pelvis.The special curved osteotomes are made with a radius of either 50 or 60 mm, which are the most suitable sizes for the Japanese population. Larger-diameter osteotomes may be required for different races.As the rotated bone fragment is relatively small, it is difficult to obtain rigid fixation of the osteotomy site. Hence, the fragment can move slightly in the early phase after surgery. Careful rehabilitation is needed. Acronyms and Abbreviations: AIIS = anterior inferior iliac spineASIS = anterior superior iliac spineLFCN = lateral femoral cutaneous nerveG.T. = greater trochanterK-wire = Kirschner wireBeta (ß)-TCP = beta-tricalcium phosphate.

Predictive factors of non-treatment and non-persistence to osteoporosis medication after fragility hip fractures at 3 years after discharge: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in the northern Kyushu district of Japan.

We examined osteoporosis medication use and factors affecting persistence in 497 patients with fragility hip fractures. Only 25.5% of patients received continuous medication for 3 years, and 44.1% of patients received no treatment. Low Barthel index at discharge was a risk factor for both non-treatment and non-persistence to osteoporosis medication. PURPOSE: Fragility hip fractures (FHF) caused by osteoporosis decrease the quality of life and worsen life expectancy. Use of osteoporosis medication may be an efficient method in the prevention of secondary FHF. However, previous studies have reported low rates of osteoporosis medication and persistence after FHF. This study aimed to evaluate osteoporosis medication use and factors affecting persistence in patients with FHF in the northern Kyushu area of Japan. METHODS: A total of 497 FHF patients aged ≥ 60 years with a 3-year follow-up were included. We prospectively collected data from questionnaires sent every 6 months regarding compliance with osteoporosis medication. We compared baseline characteristics among three groups: no treatment (NT), no persistence (NP), and persistence (P), and conducted multivariable regression models to determine covariates associated with non-treatment (NT vs. NP/P) and non-persistence (NP vs. P). RESULTS: There were 219 (44.1%), 151 (30.4%), and 127 (25.5%) patients in the NT, NP, and P groups, respectively. Factors associated with non-treatment were male sex, chronic kidney disease, no previous osteoporosis treatment, and low Barthel index (BI) at discharge. The only factor associated with non-persistence was a low BI at discharge. Factors associated with a low BI at discharge were male sex, older age, trochanteric fracture, and surgical delay. CONCLUSION: Low BI at discharge is a risk factor for both non-treatment and non-persistence to osteoporosis medication. Therefore, appropriate interventions to improve BI may result in persistence to osteoporosis medication.

A Novel Minimally Invasive Spherical Periacetabular Osteotomy: Pelvic Ring Preservation and Patient-Specific Osteotomy by Preoperative 3-Dimensional Templating.

BACKGROUND: Spherical periacetabular osteotomy (SPO) is a novel osteotomy involving splitting the teardrop, using patient-specific preoperative planning, and requiring only a 7-cm skin incision. We report preoperative planning methods and short-term results of SPO. METHODS: In preoperative planning, computed tomography (CT) images were imported into 3-dimensional templating software. The radius of the curved chisel was mapped to pass through the teardrop, the infracotyloid groove of the ischium, and the area between the anterior superior iliac spine and the anterior inferior iliac spine. The osteotomy height and the predicted depth of osteotome insertion were measured, and those values were reproduced during surgery. We performed a retrospective analysis of data on 52 consecutive patients (55 hips) with hip dysplasia who underwent SPO and were followed for at least 2 years: 27 hips had Tönnis grade 0, 21 had grade 1, and 7 had grade 2. The mean age at surgery was 38 years (range, 17 to 56 years). The rotated bone fragment and iliac crest were fixed with absorbable screws. Statistical analysis was performed with the paired t test. RESULTS: The mean (range) of the lateral center-edge and sourcil angles were 6.0° (-20° to 18°) and 26.0 (13° to 38°), respectively, before surgery and 30.0° (15° to 43°) and 3.8° (-4° to 27°), respectively, after surgery (p < 0.001). However, 11 hips (20%) showed a loss of correction of bone rotation (<3 mm) or the sourcil angle (<3°). Radiographs showed bone union in all hips within 3 months after the surgery. Early second surgery related to absorbable screws was performed in 2 hips. No patient had required conversion to total hip arthroplasty at the time of writing. Clinical scores were significantly improved at the 2-year follow-up (p < 0.001). Paresthesia of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve area was very common but had resolved in 92% of the patients at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SPO is a novel minimally invasive periacetabular osteotomy that has the potential disadvantage of early loss of correction (observed in 20% of the hips in the present study) but may provide the benefit of decreasing the risk of nonunion at the pubis osteotomy site. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Is Ranawat triangle method accurate in estimating hip joint center in Japanese population?

BACKGROUND: Little information has been available regarding the usefulness of Ranawat triangle method in estimating anatomical hip joint center in the Japanese population. In this study, we aimed to determine the accuracy of the method in estimating hip joint center. METHODS: Using digitally reconstructed radiographs of 123 normal hips (123 patients), we measured the hip joint center coordinates (Cx, Cy) with reference to the ipsilateral lowest point of the teardrop, the pelvic width, and the pelvic height. Using these measurement values, we performed the following analyses: (1) the relationship of hip joint center location with pelvic dimensions; (2) accuracy of Ranawat method in estimating hip joint center; (3) alternative methods to estimate hip joint center using pelvic height. RESULTS: The mean Cx and Cy were 32 ± 3.0 mm and 13 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. Pelvic height was positively correlated with Cx (r = 0.51, p < 0.001) and Cy (r = 0.69, p < 0.001), but the correlations of pelvic width with Cx and Cy were negligible. The mean estimation error of the Ranawat method was -6.7 ± 2.6 mm in x-axis and 6.6 ± 1.9 mm in y-axis, respectively. The hip joint center was estimated within a 5 mm error in both axes in only 8 hips (6.5%). Thus, we developed two estimating methods using pelvic height, modified Ranawat method and pelvic height ratio method, and the estimation errors of these methods were within 5 mm in both axes in 118 hips (96%) and 116 hips (94%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ranawat method showed poor accuracy in estimating anatomical hip joint center and is not recommended for clinical use. Our alternative methods may be useful for surgeons planning the position of the acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty.

Digitalized analyses of intraoperative acetabular component position using image-matching technique in total hip arthroplasty.

AIMS: Appropriate acetabular component placement has been proposed for prevention of postoperative dislocation in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Manual placements often cause outliers in spite of attempts to insert the component within the intended safe zone; therefore, some surgeons routinely evaluate intraoperative pelvic radiographs to exclude excessive acetabular component malposition. However, their evaluation is often ambiguous in case of the tilted or rotated pelvic position. The purpose of this study was to develop the computational analysis to digitalize the acetabular component orientation regardless of the pelvic tilt or rotation. METHODS: Intraoperative pelvic radiographs of 50 patients who underwent THA were collected retrospectively. The 3D pelvic bone model and the acetabular component were image-matched to the intraoperative pelvic radiograph. The radiological anteversion (RA) and radiological inclination (RI) of the acetabular component were calculated and those measurement errors from the postoperative CT data were compared relative to those of the 2D measurements. In addition, the intra- and interobserver differences of the image-matching analysis were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean measurement errors of the image-matching analyses were significantly small (2.5° (SD 1.4°) and 0.1° (SD 0.9°) in the RA and RI, respectively) relative to those of the 2D measurements. Intra- and interobserver differences were similarly small from the clinical perspective. CONCLUSION: We have developed a computational analysis of acetabular component orientation using an image-matching technique with small measurement errors compared to visual evaluations regardless of the pelvic tilt or rotation.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(7):360-367.

Predictive factors of mortality of patients with fragility hip fractures at 1 year after discharge: A multicenter, retrospective study in the northern Kyushu district of Japan.

PURPOSE: Fragility hip fractures (FHFs) are associated with a high risk of mortality, but the relative contribution of various factors remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate predictive factors of mortality at 1 year after discharge in Japan. METHODS: A total of 497 patients aged 60 years or older who sustained FHFs during follow-up were included in this study. Expected variables were finally assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The 1-year mortality rate was 9.1% (95% confidence interval: 6.8-12.0%, n = 45). Log-rank test revealed that previous fractures (p = 0.003), Barthel index (BI) at discharge (p = 0.011), and place-to-discharge (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with mortality for male patients. Meanwhile, body mass index (BMI; p = 0.023), total Charlson comorbidity index (TCCI; p = 0.005), smoking (p = 0.007), length of hospital stay (LOS; p = 0.009), and BI (p = 0.004) were the counterparts for females. By multivariate analyses, previous vertebral fractures (hazard ratio (HR) 3.33; p = 0.044), and BI <30 (HR 5.42, p = 0.013) were the predictive variables of mortality for male patients. BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (HR 2.70, p = 0.023), TCCI ≥5 (HR 2.61, p = 0.032), smoking history (HR 3.59, p = 0.018), LOS <14 days (HR 13.9; p = 0.007), and BI <30 (HR 2.76; p = 0.049) were the counterparts for females. CONCLUSIONS: Previous vertebral fractures and BI <30 were the predictive variables of mortality for male patients, and BMI <18.5 kg/m2, TCCI ≥5, smoking history, LOS <14 days, and BI <30 were those for females. Decreased BI is one of the independent and preventable risk factors. A comprehensive therapeutic approach should be considered to prevent deterioration of activities of daily living and a higher risk of mortality.

Correction to: Nitrogen acquisition, net production and allometry of Alnus fruticosa at a young moraine in Koryto Glacier Valley, Kamchatka, Russian Far East.

In the original publication of the article, one of the author names was published incorrectly as "Jiri Dorezal". The correct name is Jirí Dolezal.

Deviation of femoral intramedullary alignment rod influences coronal and sagittal alignment during total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: An intramedullary (IM) rod is used to resect the distal femur vertically to the femoral mechanical axis in the coronal plane in many cases of total knee arthroplasties (TKA). The valgus angle between the mechanical axis and the anatomical axis of the distal femur is estimated preoperatively. It is known the deviation of the IM rod in the femoral canal could influence the femoral component alignment. However, there is no published data regarding how many degrees of deviation to make with the IM rod. The purpose of this study is to measure each deviation of the IM rod using three-dimensional (3D) computer simulations. METHODS: Preoperative CT scans on 30 knees undergoing TKA were studied. The line connecting central points at 10 and 20 cm proximal from the intercondylar notch was defined as the anatomical axis and the point at which the anatomical axis intersects the surface of the distal femur was considered as the entry point of the IM rod. The medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) deviations between the anatomical axis and the IM rod were measured. RESULTS: The ML and AP deviations were 0.8 and 1.1° on average. The IM rod was deviated medio-laterally more than 1.0° in three knees (10%). CONCLUSION: Surgeons should note the ML difference of the resection thickness of the distal femur for coronal alignment. If the ML difference varies greatly from the preoperative planning, they need to adjust at most 1.0° of valgus angle to achieve the appropriate coronal alignment. Level of evidence III, Therapeutic.

Nitrogen acquisition, net production and allometry of Alnus fruticosa at a young moraine in Koryto Glacier Valley, Kamchatka, Russian Far East.

Alders (Alnus spp.) often dominate at nutrient-poor sites by symbiotic relations with atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, little is known about quantitative relationships between root nodule as a nitrogen acquisition organ and leaf as a carbon acquisition organ. To examine carbon allocation, nitrogen acquisition and net production in nutrient-poor conditions, we examined allocation patterns among organs of shrub Alnus fruticosa at a young 80-year-old moraine in Kamchatka. Slopes of double-log allometric equations were significantly smaller than 1.0 for the root mass, leaf mass and root nodule mass against stem mass, and for the root nodule mass against root mass, indicating that smaller individuals invested disproportionally more biomass into resource-acquiring leaf and root tissues than to supportive tissues compared to older individuals. The slope of allometric equation of root depth against stem height was 0.542, indicating that smaller/younger individuals allocate disproportionally more biomass into root length growth than stem height growth. On the contrary, the root nodule mass isometrically scaled to leaf mass. The whole-plant nitrogen content also isometrically scaled to root nodule mass, indicating that a certain ratio of nitrogen acquisition depended on root nodules, irrespective of plant size. Although the net production per plant increased with the increase in stem mass, the slope of the double-log regression was smaller than 1.0. On the contrary, the net production per plant isometrically increased with leaf mass, root nodule mass and leaf nitrogen content per plant. Since the leaf mass isometrically scaled to root nodule mass, growth of each individual occurred at the leaves and root nodules in a coordinated manner. It is suggested that their isometric increase contributes to the increase in net production per plant for A. fruticosa in nutrient-poor conditions.

Can the hip joint center be estimated from pelvic dimensions in dysplastic hips?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine correlations between the hip joint center position and pelvic dimensions and whether the three-dimensional position of the original hip joint center could be estimated from pelvic landmarks in dysplastic and normal hips. METHODS: We reviewed the pelvic CT scans of 70 patients (70 hips) with hip dysplasia. Seventy-seven normal hips were used as controls. The hip joint center coordinates (Cx, Cy, and Cz) and pelvic dimensions were measured with reference to the anterior pelvic plane coordinate system. Multiple regression formulas were used to estimate the original hip joint center. RESULTS: The hip center for both dysplastic and normal hip was highly correlated with the distance between the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) in the coronal plane (r = 0.76 and 0.84), the distance from the ASIS to the pubic tubercle in the sagittal plane (r = 0.81 and 0.76), and distance from the pubic tubercle to the most posterior point of the ischium on the transverse plane (r = 0.76 and 0.78). The hip joint center could be estimated within a 5-mm error for more than 80% of hips on their respective axes in both dysplastic and normal hips. CONCLUSIONS: The three-dimensional position of the original hip joint center was correlated with pelvic dimensions, and can be estimated with substantial accuracy using pelvic landmarks as references. Although these results are preliminary, this estimation method may be useful for surgeons planning total hip arthroplasties.

Understory Dwarf Bamboo Affects Microbial Community Structures and Soil Properties in a Betula ermanii Forest in Northern Japan.

In order to understand the relationships between understory bamboo and soil properties, we compared microbial community structures in the soil of a Betula ermanii boreal forest with Sasa kurilensis present and removed using high-throughput DNA sequencing. The presence of understory S. kurilensis strongly affected soil properties, including total carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate, and the C:N ratio as well as relative soil moisture. Marked differences were also noted in fungal and bacterial communities between plots. The relative abundance of the fungal phylum Ascomycota was 13.9% in the Sasa-intact plot and only 0.54% in the Sasa-removed plot. Among the Ascomycota fungi identified, the most prevalent were members of the family Pezizaceae. We found that the abundance of Pezizaceae, known to act as mycorrhizal fungi, was related to the amount of total carbon in the Sasa-intact plot. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly higher, whereas those of Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria were lower in the Sasa-intact plot than in the Sasa-removed plot. Furthermore, the results obtained suggest that some species of the phylum Planctomycetes are more likely to occur in the presence of S. kurilensis. Collectively, these results indicate that the presence of S. kurilensis affects microbial communities and soil properties in a B. ermanii boreal forest.