Role of raising the upper limb of the non-rising side when performing rising movements from bed.

Rising movements from bed comprise an important aspect of recovery from the bedridden state; however, they have not been sufficiently investigated using motion analysis studies. In particular, the effect of using the upper limb of the non-rising side before waist flexion on rising movements remains to be analyzed; this study aimed to clarify this effect. Accordingly, motion analyses were performed on rising movements under two constraint conditions, namely raising the upper limb of the non-rising side (upper limb use-condition) and keeping it in contact with the pelvis (upper limb non-use-condition); subsequently, the kinematics and kinematics parameters were compared. In comparison with the upper limb use-condition, in the upper limb non-use-condition, the distance traveled by the center of mass of the body (CoM trajectory, p < 0.01) increased while switching from the half-side-lying to on-hand postures, horizontal body movement (movement speed (Normalized time/total time), p < 0.01 and weight of center of body mass (CoM momentum in horizontal plane), p < 0.05) during the same period increased, and the half-side-lying time approached the peak value of the waist flexion angular velocity (Time lag between from half-side-lying to waist angler peak velocity, p < 0.05). The compensatory movement that occurred due to the upper limb non-use-condition denoted an increase in body momentum in the horizontal direction, rather than in the sagittal plane. Therefore, the upper limb on the non-rising side contributed to the smooth movement of the body in the horizontal direction. Moreover, this study demonstrated that asymmetrical rising movement in the diagonal direction is a characteristic movement wherein the horizontal movement of the body constitutes the main movement.

Usefulness of Muscle Synergy Analysis in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis During Gait.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether there are any muscle synergy changes in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, and to determine whether muscle synergy analysis could be applied to other musculoskeletal diseases. METHODS: Subjects in this study included 11 young controls (YC), 10 elderly controls (EC), and 10 knee osteoarthritis patients (KOA). Gait was assessed on a split-belt treadmill at 3 km/h. A non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF) was applied to the electromyogram data matrix to extract muscle synergies. To assess the similarity of each module, we performed the NNMF analysis assuming four modules for all of the participants. Further, we calculated joint angles to compare the kinematic data between the module groups. RESULTS: The number of muscle modules was significantly lower in the EC (2-3) and KOA (2-3) groups than in the YC group (3-4), which reflects the merging of late swing and early stance modules. The EC and KOA groups also showed greater knee flexion angles in the early stance phase. Contrarily, by focusing on the module structure, we found that the merging of early and late stance modules is characteristic in KOA. CONCLUSION: The lower number of modules in the EC and KOA groups was due to the muscle co-contraction with increased knee flexion angle. Contrarily, the merging of early and late stance modules are modular structures specific to KOA and may be biomarkers for detecting KOA. SIGNIFICANCE: Describing the changes in multiple muscle control associated with musculoskeletal degeneration can serve as a fundamental biomarker in joint disease.

Hydrocephalus due to marked enlargement of spinal roots in a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus or papilledema has rarely been reported in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). METHODS: We report a 65-year-old woman with a 12-year history of CIDP presenting with progressive dementia, hallucination and deterioration of gait. RESULTS: Neurological examination revealed cognitive impairment, symmetric proximal and distal weakness with areflexia and muscle atrophy in the distal four limbs. The cerebrospinal fluid examination showed marked elevation of protein concentration. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus and marked enlarged cervical and lumbar roots and plexus. The cervical cord and cauda equina were compressed by the swollen roots. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt resulted in reduction of the ventricles size along with improvement of her cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: In our patient with CIDP, hydrocephalus was likely caused by hypertrophic nerve roots. Our findings suggest that CIDP patients with pronounced hypertrophic nerve roots require careful observation.

Evaluation of non-Gaussian model-based diffusion-weighted imaging in oral squamous cell carcinoma: comparison with tumour functional information derived from positron-emission tomography.

AIM: To evaluate and compare diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters derived from a non-Gaussian fitting model and positron-emission tomography (PET) parameters derived from 18F-fluoromisonidazole-PET (FMISO-PET) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary sites were evaluated prospectively in 18 patients. DWI was performed using six b-values (0-2,500). Diffusion-related parameters of kurtosis value (K), the kurtosis-corrected diffusion coefficient (DK), diffusion heterogeneity (α), distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC), the slow diffusion coefficient (Dslow), and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated from four diffusion-fitting models. Maximal standardised uptake values (SUVmax), mean standardised uptake values (SUVmean), and the tumour-to-muscle ration (TMR) of the SUV value were calculated for FMISO-PET. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between each non-Gaussian diffusion model parameters and PET parameter. RESULTS: There was moderate correlation between FMISO-PET SUVmax and Dslow (ρ=-0.45, p=0.06). In addition, there was good correlation between TMRmax and five non-Gaussian diffusion model parameters (K: ρ=0.65, p=0.004, DK: ρ=-0.72, p=0.0008, DDC: ρ=-0.75, p=0.0003, ADC: ρ=-0.74, p=0.0005, and Dslow: ρ= -0.65, p=0.003), and between TMRmean and five non-Gaussian model parameters (K: ρ=0.64, p=0.005, DK: ρ=-0.61, p=0.007, DDC: ρ=-0.63, p=0.005, ADC: ρ=-0.61, p=0.007, and Dslow: ρ=-0.56, p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Non-Gaussian diffusion model parameters can be related to tumour hypoxia.

A Polymorphism rs6726395 in Nrf2 Contributes to the Development of Emphysema-Associated Age in Smokers Without COPD.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) contribute to airflow limitations in smokers without COPD. Although small airway lesions and emphysema contribute cooperatively to airflow limitation, the relationship between Nrf2 SNPs and the development of emphysema in smokers without COPD is not well understood. METHODS: Healthy subjects who underwent an annual health checkup with computed tomography (CT) of the chest at Osaka City University Hospital were prospectively recruited. The percentage of low-attenuation area (%LAA) on chest CT was quantified, and correlations between %LAA, Nrf2 SNP [rs6726395 (G/A)] genotypes, and clinical characteristics were examined. RESULTS: A total of 245 subjects without COPD [non-/light-smoker: 153 (62.4%) and smoker: 92 (37.6%)] were enrolled. The %LAA in the upper lung field was higher than that in the lower lung field (p < 0.001). The %LAA in smokers was significantly higher than that in non-/light-smokers (p = 0.021). The %LAA showed significant but weak correlation with age in all subjects (r = 0.141, p = 0.028). Divided by genotype, the %LAA of the upper lung field was significantly correlated with age in smokers with genotype GG (wild type) (r = 0.333, p = 0.022), but was not significantly correlated with age in smokers with genotype AG/AA. These correlations were not observed in non-/light smokers. CONCLUSION: A polymorphism rs6726395 in Nrf2 can contribute to the development of emphysema-associated aging in smokers. The Nrf2 SNP may be a predictive factor for smoking-induced emphysema, and genotyping of Nrf2 SNP may serve as biomarker for emphysema prevention.

A multiparametric MRI-based machine learning to distinguish between uterine sarcoma and benign leiomyoma: comparison with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

AIM: To compare the performance of machine learning using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) and positron-emission tomography (PET) to distinguish between uterine sarcoma and leiomyoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was waived. Sixty-seven consecutive patients with uterine sarcoma or leiomyoma who underwent pelvic 3 T MRI and PET were included. Of 67 patients, 11 had uterine sarcomas and 56 had leiomyomas. Seven different parameters were measured in the tumours, from T2-weighted, T1-weighted, contrast-enhanced, and diffusion-weighted MRI, and PET. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) with a leave-one-out cross-validation were used to compare the diagnostic performances of the univariate and multivariate logistic regression (LR) model with those of two board-certified radiologists. RESULTS: The AUCs of the univariate models using MRI parameters (0.68-0.8) were inferior to that of the maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of PET (0.85); however, the AUC of the multivariate LR model (0.92) was superior to that of SUVmax, and comparable to that of the board-certified radiologists (0.97 and 0.89). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of the machine learning using mp-MRI was superior to PET and comparable to that of experienced radiologists.

Restless legs syndrome is associated with headache-related disabilities in patients with migraine: a prospective 7-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: No prospective study has evaluated the impact of restless legs syndrome (RLS) on clinical factors in patients with migraine. We planned a prospective study to assess the impact of RLS comorbid status on clinical factors in patients with migraine. METHODS: A total of 101 patients with migraine who were evaluated for RLS twice at 7-year intervals in a university hospital setting were included in this study. The RLS group was defined as positive for RLS at either baseline or follow-up and the non-RLS group was defined as negative for RLS at both baseline and follow-up. The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were administered to all patients. RESULTS: The RLS prevalence was 16.8% at baseline and 20.8% at follow-up. Compared with the non-RLS group (n = 27), the RLS group (n = 74) showed a significantly higher rate of smoking and higher MIDAS and BDI-II scores at 7-year follow-up. A significant reduction in MIDAS and BDI-II scores at 7-year follow-up compared with those at baseline was observed in the non-RLS group, but not in the RLS group. The non-RLS group showed a significantly lower MIDAS score at 7-year follow-up than the RLS group after adjusting for confounding variables such as age, gender, smoking status, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and PSQI scores using analysis of covariance. The persistent RLS group (n = 11) (positive for RLS at both baseline and follow-up) showed a significantly higher rate of smoking and increased MIDAS, BDI-II and PSQI scores compared with the non-RLS group (n = 74) at 7-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our prospective study showed that RLS had a significant impact on headache-related disability in patients with migraine.

Integrating quantitative morphological and intratumoural textural characteristics in FDG-PET for the prediction of prognosis in pharynx squamous cell carcinoma patients.

AIM: To assess potential prognostic factors in pharynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients by quantitative morphological and intratumoural characteristics obtained by 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cases of 54 patients with pharynx SCC who underwent chemoradiation therapy were analysed retrospectively. Using their FDG-PET data, the quantitative morphological and intratumoural characteristics of 14 parameters were calculated. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) information was obtained from patient medical records. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the 14 quantitative parameters as well as the T-stage, N-stage, and tumour location data for their relation to PFS and OS. When an independent predictor was suggested in the multivariate analysis, the parameter was further assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In the assessment of PFS, the univariate and multivariate analyses indicated the following as independent predictors: the texture parameter of homogeneity and the morphological parameter of sphericity. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the PFS rate was significantly improved in the patients who had both a higher value of homogeneity (p=0.01) and a higher value of sphericity (p=0.002). With the combined use of homogeneity and sphericity, the patients with different PFS rates could be divided more clearly. CONCLUSION: The quantitative parameters of homogeneity and sphericity obtained by FDG-PET can be useful for the prediction of the PFS of pharynx SCC patients, especially when used in combination.

Cerebrospinal fluid orexin-A levels in systemic lupus erythematosus patients presenting with excessive daytime sleepiness.

Objective Involvement of the hypothalamus is rare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) orexin-A levels in SLE patients with hypothalamic lesions to investigate whether the orexin system plays a role in SLE patients with hypothalamic lesions who present with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Methods Orexin-A levels were measured in CSF from four patients with SLE who presented with hypothalamic lesions detected by MRI. Three patients underwent repeated CSF testing. All patients met the updated American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for SLE. Results Tests for serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies, CSF myelin basic protein and CSF oligoclonal bands were negative in all patients. All patients presented with EDS. Low to intermediate CSF orexin-A levels (92-180 pg/ml) were observed in three patients in the acute stage, two of whom (patients 1 and 2) underwent repeated testing and showed increased CSF orexin-A levels, reduced abnormal hypothalamic lesion intensities detected by MRI and EDS dissipation at follow-up. In contrast, CSF orexin-A levels were normal in one patient (patient 4) while in the acute stage and at follow-up, despite improvements in EDS and MRI findings. Patient 4 showed markedly increased CSF interleukin-6 levels (1130 pg/ml) and a slightly involved hypothalamus than the other patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the orexinergic system has a role in EDS in SLE patients with hypothalamic lesions. Furthermore, cytokine-mediated tissue damage might cause EDS without orexinergic involvement.

Association analysis of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism with passive muscle stiffness and muscle strain injury.

Passive muscle stiffness is considered to be a major factor affecting joint flexibility and is thought to relate to the occurrence of muscle strain injury. In skinned muscle fiber experiments, the R577X polymorphism of the α-actinin-3 gene (ACTN3) has been associated with passive muscle stiffness. Our primary purpose was to clarify whether the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism influences passive stiffness of human muscle in vivo. We also examined whether the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is associated with the occurrence of hamstring strain injury. Seventy-six healthy young male subjects were genotyped for the ACTN3 R577X (rs1815739) polymorphism. Shear modulus (an index of stiffness) of each hamstring muscle (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus) was assessed using ultrasound shear wave elastography, and history of hamstring strain injury was collected via a questionnaire. The muscle shear moduli of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus were significantly higher in R-allele (RR + RX genotype) carriers than in XX genotype carriers, whereas the shear modulus of the biceps femoris did not differ among the ACTN3 R577X genotypes. Frequency of past hamstring strain injury also did not differ between the 3 genotypes nor between the R-allele and XX genotype carriers. This study indicates that RR and RX genotypes of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism (corresponding to the presence of α-actinin-3 in type II muscle fibers) are associated with increased passive muscle stiffness of the human hamstring in vivo. However, this altered mechanical property might not affect the risk of hamstring muscle strain injury.

Hypoxic volume evaluated by 18F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography (FMISO-PET) may be a prognostic factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: preliminary analyses.

Tumour hypoxia can be detected by 18F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography (FMISO-PET). Few studies have assessed the relationships of new PET parameters, including hypoxic volume (HV), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), with 5-year survival of patients treated surgically for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study evaluated the relationships between these PET parameters and 5-year survival in OSCC patients. Twenty-three patients (age 42-84 years; 15 male, eight female) with OSCC underwent FMISO- and 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG)-PET computed tomography before surgery. All of them underwent radical surgery and were followed up for more than 5 years. The FDG-PET maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), HV, MTV, and TLG were measured. The ability of PET parameters to predict disease-free survival (DFS) and loco-regional recurrence (LR) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. During the follow-up period, five of the 23 patients (22%) died and six (26%) experienced LR. Although FDG-PET SUVmax was not significantly associated with DFS or LR, HV correlated significantly with both DFS and LR. TLG, but not MTV, was significantly associated with DFS; however neither MTV nor TLG was related significantly to LR. In conclusion, tumour HV may predict outcomes in patients with OSCC.

Effects of hamstring stretching on passive muscle stiffness vary between hip flexion and knee extension maneuvers.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the effects of hamstring stretching on the passive stiffness of each of the long head of the biceps femoris (BFl), semitendinosus (ST), and semimembranosus (SM) vary between passive knee extension and hip flexion stretching maneuvers. In 12 male subjects, before and after five sets of 90 s static stretching, passive lengthening measurements where knee or hip joint was passively rotated to the maximal range of motion (ROM) were performed. During the passive lengthening, shear modulus of each muscle was measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography. Both stretching maneuvers significantly increased maximal ROM and decreased passive torque at a given joint angle. Passive knee extension stretching maneuver significantly reduced shear modulus at a given knee joint angle in all of BFl, ST, and SM. In contrast, the stretching effect by passive hip flexion maneuver was significant only in ST and SM. The present findings indicate that the effects of hamstring stretching on individual passive muscles' stiffness vary between passive knee extension and hip flexion stretching maneuvers. In terms of reducing the muscle stiffness of BFl, stretching of the hamstring should be performed by passive knee extension rather than hip flexion.

Characterization of secondary ion emission processes of sub-MeV C60 ion impacts via analysis of statistical distributions of the emitted ion number.

We report probability distributions of the number of secondary ions (SIs) emitted by sub-MeV C60 ion impacts on an organic polymer target and the characterization of their emission processes through the analysis of the distributions. The probability distributions were obtained by analyzing experimental SI counting data obtained by a time-of-flight SI mass spectrometer combined with pulsed primary ion beams, using an analytical model developed to derive the distributions from the experimental data. A series of probability distribution functions was investigated for ion impacts of C60 with sub-MeV energies (0.12-0.54 MeV), which can provide sufficient SIs per impact to determine the functions. Their complicated and undefined SI emission processes were characterized based on the determined functions.

Subacute sarcoid myositis with ocular muscle involvement; a case report and review of the literature.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that can affect multiple organs. The lungs, eyes, and skin are known to be highly affected organs in sarcoidosis. There have been reports based on random muscle biopsy that 32-80% of systemic sarcoidosis comprises noncaseating granulomas; however, muscle involvement in sarcoidosis is generally asymptomatic and has an unknown frequency. We describe a case of acute to subacute sarcoid myositis of the skeletal and extraocular muscles. Typical ophthalmic involvement (manifested by infiltration of the ocular adnexa, intraocular inflammation, or infiltration of the retrobulbar visual pathways) and extraocular sarcoid myositis (as with the present case) is infrequently reported. It is important to keep in mind the rare yet perhaps underestimated entity of sarcoid myositis, and to utilize muscle biopsy and imaging tests for appropriate diagnosis and management of patients with sarcoidosis.