Improvement of rotational arc during deep flexion range of a novel designed polyethylene insert for posterior-stabilised total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: One of the remaining issues in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is achieving sufficient rotational arc during deep flexion range of the knee for specific postures such as the 'seiza' or cross-legged sitting. This study aimed to evaluate whether there was a change in the actual in vivo rotational arc during deep flexion range before and after a design change of polyethylene (PE) inserts. METHODS: In 50 posterior-stabilised TKA cases, knee kinematics, including rotational movement, were measured intraoperatively using an image-free navigation system to compare a newly designed PE insert with reduced the posterior lip with a conventional PE insert. Femoral-tibial rotational angles at 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and 130° knee flexion were evaluated. Varus/valgus instability, knee range of motion, and femoral rollback were also measured. Obtained parameters were compared between new and conventional PE inserts. The independent factors associated with rotational arc during deep flexion range (120° and 130° knee flexion) were analysed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The newly designed PE insert demonstrated a significant increase in the rotational arc at 120° (22.9 ± 8.7° vs. 30.1 ± 11.9°, P < 0.001) and 130° (24.3 ± 9.5° vs. 32.5 ± 12.4°, P < 0.001) knee flexion compared with that with the conventionally designed posterior-stabilised insert. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that using the newly designed PE insert was an independent predictor of improved rotational arc during deep flexion range: regression coefficient was 11.2 (95% confidence interval 7.1-15.3, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The design change, which reduced the posterior lip of the PE insert, contributed to improved rotational arc in 120° and 130° deep flexion ranges.

Melanocortin-4 receptor in macrophages attenuated angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice.

Obesity is recognized as an independent risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). While mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene is the most common cause of obesity caused by mutations in a single gene, the link between MC4R function and vascular disease has still remained unclear. Here, by using melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) deficient mice, we confirmed MC4R deficiency promotes AAA and atherosclerosis. We demonstrated the contribution of two novel factors towards vascular vulnerability in this model: leptin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and loss of MC4R signaling in macrophages. Leptin was shown to promote vascular vulnerability via PI3K-dependent upregulation of Spp1 expression in VSMC. Additionally, Ang II-induced AAA incidence was significantly reduced when MC4R gene expression was myeloid cell-specifically rescued in MC4R deficient (MC4RTB/TB) mice. Ex vivo analysis showed a suppression in NF-κB activity in bone marrow-derived macrophages from LysM(+);MC4RTB/TB mice compared to LysM(-);MC4RTB/TB mice, which exaggerates with endogenous MC4R ligand treatment; α-MSH. These results suggest that MC4R signaling in macrophages attenuates AAA by inhibiting NF-κB activity and subsequent vascular inflammation.

Diversity and composition of flower-visiting insects and related factors in three fruit tree species.

Animal-mediated pollination is an essential ecosystem service for the production of many fruit trees. To reveal the community composition of flower-visiting wild insects which potentially contribute to fruit production and to examine the effects of geographic location, local meteorological conditions and locally introduced domesticated pollinators on them, we investigated the community composition of insects visiting the flowers (hereafter, "visitors") of apple, Japanese pear and Oriental persimmon for 1‒3 years at 20 sites around Japan. While most of the variation (82%) of the community composition was explained by tree species with a slight contribution by geographic distance (2%), maximum temperature and tree species contributed 62% and 41% of the variation in total abundance of the visitors, respectively. Though the dominant families of the visitors varied spatiotemporally, the community composition of the visitors of apple and Japanese pear clearly differed from that of Oriental persimmon. While Andrenidae and Syrphidae together accounted for 46%‒64% of the visitors of apple and Japanese pear, Apidae represented 57% of the visitors of Oriental persimmon. The taxonomic richness, diversity and evenness of the visitors were best predicted by locally introduced domesticated pollinators and local meteorological conditions of wind speed and maximum temperature. Amongst these selected factors, locally introduced domesticated pollinators could have the largest impact. It seemed to be strongly related to the reduction of taxonomic richness, diversity and evenness of the visitors, accounting for 41‒89% of the variation. Results suggested that the community composition and total abundance of potential pollinators were predominantly determined by tree species and temperature, but locally introduced domesticated pollinators could have a determinantal pressure on the taxonomic diversity of the community.

Association between clinical manifestations of occlusal trauma and magnetic resonance imaging findings of periodontal ligament space.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between clinical manifestations of occlusal trauma of the teeth and maximum signal intensity of periodontal ligament space on MRI. METHODS: 20 subjects (males: 9, females: 11, mean age: 35.9 ± 14.0 years, range: 22-65 years) participated in this study. Subjective symptoms of bruxism, tooth mobility, fremitus, occlusal contact area, occlusal force, widening of the periodontal ligament space, and thickening of the lamina dura were defined as clinical manifestations of occlusal trauma. The total number of clinical manifestations was used to evaluate the degree of clinical occlusal trauma, with a score of 7 indicating the highest degree of occlusal trauma. The maximum signal intensity in the periodontal ligament space was evaluated by a specific T2 weighted MRI sequence: IDEAL image. RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlation between the total clinical occlusal trauma score and maximum signal intensity in the periodontal ligament space was 0.529 for all teeth, 0.517 for anterior teeth, and 0.396 for molar teeth (p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: A significant correlation between the degree of occlusal trauma and the signal intensity of the periodontal ligament space suggests a new potential MRI-based method for objectively determining occlusal trauma.

Long-term clinical results of alumina ceramic medial pivot total knee arthroplasty: a 10-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The newly-designed alumina ceramic medial pivot total knee prosthesis was introduced to reduce polyethylene wear and better fit the anatomical morphology of the Asian population. This study aimed to clarify the long-term clinical results of alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty over a minimum follow-up period of 10 years. METHODS: The data of 135 consecutive patients who underwent primary alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were examined over a minimum 10-year follow-up period. The knee range of motion, Knee Society Score (KSS) knee score, Knee Society Score function score, and radiological parameters were assessed. The survival rate was also evaluated by using reoperation and revision as endpoints. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period lasted 11.8 ± 1.4 years. Patients who were not followed accounted for 7.4% of the total cohort. Knee and function scores of KSS improved significantly following total knee arthroplasty (P < 0.001). In 27 individuals (28.1%), a radiolucent line was observed. Aseptic loosening occurred in three cases (3.1%). The survival rates for reoperation and revision were 94.8% and 95.8% 10 years after the operation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During a minimum 10-year follow-up period, the present model of alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty showed good clinical outcomes and survival rates.

Ipragliflozin Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy Associated with Perirenal Adipose Expansion in Mice.

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors inhibit the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We determined whether changes in perirenal fat (PRAT) by a SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin (Ipra) contribute to the suppression of DN development. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were used as a DN model and were treated with or without Ipra for 6 weeks. Ipra treatment reduced urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and glomerular hypertrophy in HFD-fed mice. In the PRAT of Ipra-treated mice, adipocyte size was increased, and inflammation, fibrosis, and adipocyte death were suppressed. In conditioned medium made from PRAT (PRAT-CM) of Ipra-treated mice, the concentration of leptin was significantly lower than PRAT-CM of mice without Ipra treatment. Serum leptin concentration in renal vein positively correlated with UAE. PRAT-CM from HFD-fed mice showed greater cell proliferation signaling in mouse glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) than PRAT-CM from standard diet-fed mice via p38MAPK and leptin-dependent pathways, whose effects were significantly attenuated in PRAT-CM from Ipra-treated mice. These findings suggest that Ipra-induced PRAT expansion may play an important role in the improvement of DN in HFD-fed mice. In vitro experiments suggest that reduced PRAT-derived leptin by Ipra could inhibit GECs proliferation, possibly contributing to the suppression of DN development.

Age-associated decline of monocyte insulin sensitivity in diabetic and healthy individuals.

OBJECTIVE: It is unclear whether monocyte/macrophage insulin signaling in humans is affected by type 2 diabetes (T2DM), systemic insulin sensitivity, and other unknown factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fifty-three adult volunteers (control group) not taking any medication and without cardiovascular risk factors, and 59 patients with T2DM (T2DM group) were included. Monocytes were isolated and cultured from all participants. RESULTS: In cultured monocytes, insulin-stimulated AKT and FOXO3 phosphorylation was significantly suppressed in T2DM compared with that in the control group. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT was significantly correlated with body mass index and serum insulin level only in the control group. In both groups, significant negative correlation between age and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT and FOXO3 was commonly observed. In the control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated induction of TNFA, and NOS2 was significantly and negatively correlated with insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation. Age was also significantly correlated with LPS-stimulated induction of TNFA. DISCUSSION: Aging plays an important role in the development of monocyte insulin resistance, not only in patients with T2DM but also in healthy participants. Monocyte insulin sensitivity is negatively correlated with inflammatory responses and may be helpful for subclinical risk assessment of CVDs and/or insulin resistance in participants without risk factors.

Roles of vacuolar H+-ATPase in mice treated with norepinephrine and acetylcholine.

Norepinephrine (NE) is widely used to treat cardiac arrest and profound hypotension. A prolonged vasoconstriction of blood vessel could cause ischemia and hypoxia which results in a decrease in intracellular pH. V-ATPases pump protons across the plasma membranes of numerous cell types. V-ATPases-mediated intracellular regulation in the ischemic kidney is incompletely studied; we sought to determine the roles of V-ATPases in mice treated with NE causing vasoconstriction or acetylcholine causing vasodilatation to enable comparison of its relative contributions to the affected mice. Mice were divided into 5 groups. Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine pathologic changes in nephron segments. The expression of V-ATPases B1, B2 subunits were examined by Q-PCR and western blotting correlated with the transcription and translation of V-ATPase. All NE treated mice exhibited pronounced renal tubular degradation. However, the tubular pathologies were reversed by ACh. In immunohistochemical studies, NE treated mice showed a higher density of staining in the collecting ducts. These changes were gradually diminished by the treatment with Ach after NE. In Q-PCR, V-ATPase B1 subunit showed a fair expression in all subsets. Western blotting analysis has shown V-ATPase B1 statistical significance in multiple groups treated by NE alone or ACh post to NE. The overdosage of norepinephrine in clinical treatment is harmful to the kidney by vasoconstriction caused hypoxia and acidosis. Our data demonstrated that acetylcholine as a vasodilating agent could aid the cells recovery from hypoxic condition. V-ATPase plays a role by removing H+ allowing cells to recover from cellular acidosis. These findings also help us understand the pathophysiology of renal tubular disorders.

Peri-prosthetic bone mineral density after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty under oral bisphosphonate therapy - A comparison between mobile- and fixed-bearing prostheses.

BACKGROUND: Peri-prosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) decreases after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We aimed to specifically compare peri-prosthetic BMD changes between mobile- and fixed-bearing prostheses in patients undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy, hypothesizing that mobile-bearing components would have a favorable effect on postoperative peri-prosthetic BMD. METHODS: This prospective cohort study investigated 30 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA for primary knee osteoarthritis between December 2007 and September 2012. All patients underwent mobile-bearing TKA in one knee and fixed-bearing TKA in the other and received oral alendronate therapy at a dosage of 35 mg/week. Peri-prosthetic and lumbar spine BMDs were measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry scans, with peri-prosthetic BMD changes being compared between the two prostheses in each patient at six months and one, two, three, and five years post-operation. RESULTS: Clinical results did not significantly differ between two prostheses. Relative change of lumbar spine BMD was significantly greater at five years post-operation than at one year post-operation (p = 0.01), and was significantly correlated at five years post-operation with peri-prosthetic BMD in the central femur (r = 0.39, p = 0.002), posterior femur (r = 0.39, p = 0.002), and medial tibia (r = 0.42, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in peri-prosthetic BMD changes between two prostheses in patients undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy. Our results suggest that the influence of oral bisphosphonate therapy might offset the influence of prosthetic design. Thus, oral bisphosphonate therapy may be more effective than prosthetic design selection in preventing post-TKA peri-prosthetic BMD loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Acute Kidney Injury with Hemolysis after Glycerin Enema-induced Rectal Injury in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes.

A 66-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was admitted for glycemic control and weight loss. The rectal mucosa was unfortunately injured during glycerin enema administration in preparation for colonoscopy, after which dark red urine and renal dysfunction were observed. Considering the clinical diagnosis of glycerol-induced hemolysis and acute kidney injury, intravenous hydration and haptoglobin administration were started, which successfully treated the dark red urine and renal dysfunction. This case highlights the importance of appropriate glycerin enema administration and emphasizes the need to recognize glycerol-induced hemolysis and acute kidney injury as complications of glycerin enemas. This case also provides insight into glycerol-induced hemolysis and acute kidney injury as complications of glycerin enemas.

Malrotation of the fixed-bearing posterior stabilized total knee prosthesis causes a postoperative rotational mismatch between the femur and tibia.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors associated with rotational mismatch after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using fixed-bearing posterior stabilized prosthesis and to evaluate the impact of the rotational mismatch on clinical outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 159 cases that underwent TKA. Whole-leg computed tomography images were obtained 2 weeks after TKA, with three-dimensional measures of alignment. Rotational alignment of the femoral and tibial components and rotational mismatch between components and between the femur and tibia bones were evaluated. The new Knee Society Score (KSS) was obtained at the final outpatient visit, which was defined as the final follow-up timepoint. Predictive factors were identified for rotational mismatch of the lower extremity and poor new KSS. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 42 ± 16 months. Rotational mismatch ≥ 10° between bones was identified in 56 cases (35%), with a mean mismatch angle of 5.0° ± 9.1° of external rotation of the tibia relative to the femur. Rotational mismatch ≥ 10° between components was identified in three cases (2%; mean 0.3° ± 3.6° of internal tibial rotation). A multivariate regression analysis showed that component malrotation was predictive of post-operative rotational mismatch between bones (p < 0.01) and rotational mismatch ≥ 10° associated with poor new KSS (odds ratio 4.22; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Malrotation of the fixed-bearing posterior stabilized TKA causes a rotational mismatch between the femur and tibia bones. Excessive rotational mismatch between bones greater than 10° is a risk factor for poor postoperative functional outcome. Precise component positioning is essential for improving TKA outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Design improvement in patient-specific instrumentation for total knee arthroplasty improved the accuracy of the tibial prosthetic alignment in the coronal and axial planes.

PURPOSE: The accuracy of patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still controversial, especially in the tibial prosthesis. It was hypothesized that the design modification of PSI improved the tibial prosthetic alignment and reduced the associated complications. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of a conventional PSI with that of a newly designed PSI for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a new three-dimensional (3D) measurement method. METHODS: Thirty TKAs each using the conventional and newly designed PSIs were studied. The postoperative 3D-computed tomography (3D CT) image was superimposed on the preoperative 3D CT plan. The absolute differences in the tibial prosthetic alignment between the preoperative and postoperative 3D CT images were directly measured in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes. Knees in which the difference in the prosthetic alignment was > 3° were considered deviations. RESULTS: The new PSI showed less mean absolute differences and lower rate of deviations than the conventional PSI in the coronal and axial planes (p = 0.045 and p = 0.004, respectively). The deviations (> 3°) of the tibial prosthesis using the conventional PSI were 27, 30, and 63% and of those using the new PSI were 0, 20, and 20% in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to evaluate the effect of improvement in PSI design on the postoperative alignment using 3D method, and it clearly showed that the modification significantly improved the accuracy of alignment and reduced the deviations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, case-control study, Level III.

Changes in viscoelastic properties of articular cartilage in early stage of osteoarthritis, as determined by optical coherence tomography-based strain rate tomography.

BACKGROUND: Biomechanical changes in articular cartilage are associated with the onset of osteoarthritis. We developed an optical coherence tomography-based strain rate tomography method: stress relaxation optical coherence straingraphy (SR-OCSA). The purpose of this study was to establish an approach for measuring mechanical properties of articular cartilage using SR-OCSA, and to investigate the distribution of viscoelastic properties of articular cartilage in early osteoarthritis. METHODS: Anterior cruciate ligament transection surgery was performed on the left knees of 8-9-month-old New Zealand white rabbits. SR-OCSA was used to visualize and measure the viscoelastic properties of articular cartilage via attenuation coefficient of strain rate (ACSR). Using the same conditions as in the SR-OCSA test, an indentation test was conducted, and relaxation time was measured to evaluate the relationship between ACSR and relaxation time. RESULTS: SR-OCSA could nondestructively detect and visualize changes in the distribution of viscoelastic properties of articular cartilage in early osteoarthritis. SR-OCSA captured significant increases in ACSR in cartilage at 2 weeks after surgery, when a histologically slight osteoarthritis sign was present. As cartilage degeneration progressed, ACSR increased, whereas relaxation time decreased in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, ACSR negatively correlated with relaxation time. In particular, ACSR was elevated around the tidemark and the elevation tended to move as cartilage degeneration progressed. CONCLUSIONS: SR-OCSA could tomographically and nondestructively detect and visualize changes in the distribution of viscoelastic properties of articular cartilage in early osteoarthritis. The mechanical properties around the tidemark were degraded as cartilage degeneration progressed. Thus, SR-OCSA provides important data needed to understand the biomechanics of early osteoarthritis.

Ipragliflozin-induced adipose expansion inhibits cuff-induced vascular remodeling in mice.

BACKGROUND: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. It is unclear whether inhibition of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) could affect PVAT characters, and whether the SGLT2 inhibitors-induced changes of adipose tissue, especially the alternation of adipose tissue-derived secretory factors, affect vascular pathophysiology. METHODS: Western-type diet (WD) fed wild-type mice were treated with or without an SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin (Ipra) for 10 weeks. WEHI 274.1 and primary vascular smooth muscle cells were incubated with conditioned media (CM) of epididymal adipose tissue (Epi) or abdominal PVAT of Ipra- or vehicle-treated mice fed a WD. Epi of Ipra- or vehicle-treated mice fed a WD was implanted onto cuff-placed femoral arteries of apoE-deficient mice. RESULTS: Ipra increased adipocyte size associated with decreased expression of pro-inflammatory and fibrosis-related genes in abdominal PVAT of WD-fed mice. Ipra also suppressed WD-induced macrophages accumulation, fibrosis, and adipocyte death in abdominal PVAT. In CM of abdominal PVAT from Ipra-treated mice, concentration of leptin was significantly lower than that from vehicle-treated mice. In vitro, migration of WEHI 274.1 and primary vascular smooth muscle cells were more enhanced by CM of Epi or abdominal PVAT from vehicle-treated mice than that from Ipra-treated mice. Perivascular implantation of Epi from Ipra-treated mice to apolipoprotein E-deficient mice attenuated cuff-induced neointimal hyperplasia and vascular remodeling compared to that from vehicle-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: The Ipra-induced changes of abdominal PVAT will lead to a better understanding of unveiled mechanisms by which SGLT2 inhibitors prevent cardiovascular complications in T2DM, and the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting PVAT.

Preoperative Morphology of the Proximal Femoral Canal Did Not Affect the Postoperative Bone Mineral Density Change Around the Zweymüller-Type Stem.

The bone mineral density (BMD) around a femoral component changes after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the morphology of the preoperative proximal femoral canal on the postoperative BMD change of the femur around a Zweymüller-type stem. The authors performed a retrospective review of their institutional arthroplasty database. Patients were classified into following 3 groups according to canal flare index (CFI): CFI<3.0, stovepipe group; 3.04.7, champagne-flute group. This study included 120 hips of 112 patients (26 hips with stovepipe femurs, 72 hips with normal femurs, and 22 hips with champagne-flute femurs) in patients who had undergone THA using the Zweymüller-type stem. The BMD of the proximal femur (Gruen's zones 1-7) was measured at 3 weeks and 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. At each follow-up period, the differences in the relative change in the BMD were not statistically significant in any regions of interest among the 3 groups. This study showed the lack of significant differences in the relative change in the BMD among the different morphologies of the proximal femoral canal. The preoperative morphology of the femoral canal did not affect the postoperative BMD change around the Zweymüller-type stem at 2 years postoperatively. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(5):e449-e453.].

Improvement of salivary flow and oral wetness by a lip trainer device and sonic toothbrush in older Japanese men and women with dry mouth.

Dry mouth, caused by decreased salivary gland function and/or weak salivary stimulation, can severely affect oral health in older individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether a lip trainer device and sonic toothbrush can improve salivary flow and oral wetness in older patients complaining of dry mouth. Overall, 39 subjects aged ≥60 years who had at least 20 natural teeth were randomly assigned to use a lip trainer device (group P, n = 13) or a sonic toothbrush (group S, n = 13). The subjects who did not experience oral dryness were included as controls (group C; n = 13). The unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates and oral wetness were measured at baseline, 1 and 6 months. The unstimulated salivary flow significantly increased in both groups at 1 and 6 months (P < 0.05). The stimulated salivary flow was also significantly increased in group P (P < 0.01) compared with the level at baseline. However, no significant difference was observed over time in group S. Oral wetness of the tongue and buccal mucosa in group P had significantly improved at 1 and 6 months (P < 0.05). Dry mouth in older individuals may be improved by using a lip trainer device or a sonic toothbrush.

Two-dimensional measurement misidentifies alignment outliers in total knee arthroplasty: a comparison of two- and three-dimensional measurements.

PURPOSE: Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) measurements of prosthetic alignment and "outliers" after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) might not necessarily be comparable. The aim of this study was to compare the use of 2D and 3D measurements in the identification of prosthetic alignment and outliers after TKA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 159 consecutive TKAs. All patients underwent plain radiography, fluoroscopy-guided radiography, and computed tomography after TKA. The same baseline was used for 2D and 3D measurements. The reliability of prosthetic alignment and outlier identification (> 3° from neutral alignment) was compared between the 2D and 3D measurements. RESULTS: The mean prosthetic alignment and rate of outliers were not significantly different the between 2D and 3D measurements. The inter- and intra-observer reliabilities were higher for the 3D measurements than for the 2D measurements. The agreement between 2D and 3D measurements in outlier identification was poor, except for femoral coronal alignment. Cohen's κ coefficients were 0.19 in femoral sagittal (poor), 0.02 in tibial coronal (poor), and 0.10 in tibial sagittal (poor) on plain radiography. The values were 0.23 in tibial coronal (poor) and 0.002 in tibial sagittal (poor) on fluoroscopy-guided radiography. CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between 2D and 3D measurements in the identification of outliers was poor, even on fluoroscopy-guided radiography. Since 2D measurements have an inherent risk of misidentifying alignment outliers, this finding is clinically relevant. To properly analyze the correlation between outliers and clinical results, such as longevity, patient satisfaction, and patient-reported outcome, 3D measurements for prosthetic alignment are desirable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

An accelerometer-based portable navigation system improved prosthetic alignment after total knee arthroplasty in 3D measurements.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare prosthetic alignment using three-dimensional (3D) measurements following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed using an accelerometer-based portable navigation system (KneeAlign2) versus the conventional technique. METHODS: A total of 159 patients who had primary osteoarthritis of the knee with varus deformity underwent TKA. The KneeAlign2 system was used for distal femoral resection and tibial resection in 78 knees, and the conventional instrumentation (intramedullary for the femur and extramedullary for the tibia) was used in 81 knees. 3D computed tomography (CT) scans of the whole leg were taken after TKA. Femoral and tibial prosthetic alignments in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes were measured using computer software. The operation time and estimated blood loss were calculated. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were evaluated using the contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT at 1 week after TKA. RESULTS: In the femoral coronal plane, the mean and standard deviation of prosthetic alignment from neutral alignment were 1.2° [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0°-1.4°) in the navigation group and 1.6° (95% CI 1.3°-2.0°) in the conventional group (p = 0.03). The femoral component outliers (> 3° away from the goal alignment) using the navigation system and the conventional technique were 3 and 15%, respectively, in the coronal plane (p < 0.01), and 15 and 43%, respectively, in the sagittal plane (p < 0.01). The outliers in tibial coronal and tibial sagittal planes were not statistically different between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operation time, blood loss, DVT, and PE. CONCLUSION: Using an accelerometer-based portable navigation system decreased the outliers of prosthetic alignment in femoral coronal and sagittal planes, and did not increase the complications such as operation time, blood loss, DVT, and PE. To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the usefulness of an accelerometer-based portable navigation system using the validated 3D measurement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Porphyromonas gingivalis hydrogen sulfide enhances methyl mercaptan-induced pathogenicity in mouse abscess formation.

Porphyromonas gingivalis produces hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from l-cysteine. However, the role of H2S produced by P. gingivalis in periodontal inflammation is unclear. In this study, we identified the enzyme that catalyses H2S production from l-cysteine and analysed the role of H2S using a mouse abscess model. The enzyme identified was identical to methionine γ-lyase (PG0343), which produces methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) from l-methionine. Therefore, we analysed H2S and CH3SH production by P. gingivalis W83 and a PG0343-deletion mutant (ΔPG0343) with/without l-cysteine and/or l-methionine. The results indicated that CH3SH is produced constitutively irrespective of the presence of l-methionine, while H2S was greatly increased by both P. gingivalis W83 and ΔPG0343 in the presence of l-cysteine. In contrast, CH3SH production by ΔPG0343 was absent irrespective of the presence of l-methionine, and H2S production was eliminated in the absence of l-cysteine. Thus, CH3SH and H2S production involves different substrates, l-methionine or l-cysteine, respectively. Based on these characteristics, we analysed the roles of CH3SH and H2S in abscess formation in mice by P. gingivalis W83 and ΔPG0343. Abscess formation by P. gingivalis W83, but not ΔPG0343, differed significantly in the presence and absence of l-cysteine. In addition, the presence of l-methionine did not affect the size of abscesses generated by P. gingivalis W83 and ΔPG0343. Therefore, we conclude that H2S produced by P. gingivalis does not induce inflammation; however, H2S enhances inflammation caused by CH3SH. Thus, these results suggest the H2S produced by P. gingivalis plays a supportive role in inflammation caused by methionine γ-lyase.

Clinical results of alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasty at a minimum follow-up of 10years.

BACKGROUND: The medial pivot total knee prosthesis with alumina ceramic femoral components was introduced to reproduce physiological knee kinematics and reduce polyethylene wear. The five-year clinical outcomes of alumina medial pivot total knee arthroplasties (TKA) have previously been reported. The purpose of this study was to provide the longer-term clinical results at a minimum follow-up of 10years. METHODS: The clinical results of 70 alumina medial pivot TKA in 51 consecutive patients, with a minimum follow-up period of 10years, were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 11.8years (range 10 to 13). Alumina medial pivot TKAs improved the patients' Knee Society knee scores, function scores, and postoperative ranges of motion compared with their pre-operative statuses (P<0.05 for each). Revision surgery was required in one knee due to a postoperative fracture of the tibial plateau after a fall that occurred two years postoperatively. Osteolysis and femoral component loosening was identified in one case after the initial five-year time point of analysis. The survival rate was 99.1% at 10years. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated excellent clinical results for patients receiving the alumina medial pivot prosthesis at a minimum follow-up period of 10years.