Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) is an evergreen tree found worldwide. The aqueous ethanolic extract of the leaves (eucalyptus leaf extract; ELE) is used as a functional food, and its active constituents are generally polyphenols. Toxicity and mutagenicity of ELE have been previously assessed using rodents, and no adverse effects were observed. Although clinical trials of low-dose ELE ingestion have been conducted on humans, safety evaluation of high-dose ELE has not yet been conducted. We conducted an open-label clinical trial as a pilot study to assess the safety of excessive oral intake of ELE in Japanese adult men. A powdery preparation of ELE, commercially sold as Eucagrandin®, was prepared using spray drying method and contained approximately 80% ELE. Test capsules were packed with the powdery ELE. Six male subjects (aged 47.3 ± 12.4 years, mean ± SD) orally consumed 2,592 mg of ELE per day for 4 consecutive weeks. The subjects were examined at the start of the intervention, 4 weeks after the start, and 2 weeks after the last intake of test capsules. During the study period, 2 adverse events were reported. However, the causal relationship with the consumption of ELE was denied in both events because one event was attributed to a bruise and the other, which was elevated CPK levels, was due to excessive exercise. No unusual changes related to ELE consumption were observed in physical examination and during medical interviews. Further, blood and urine tests were normal during the trial period. These results demonstrated that oral consumption of ELE at the indicated dose is safe for humans.

PURPOSE: This study compared the analgesic effects of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) and femoral nerve block (FNB) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and assessed factors associated with analgesia obtained by these two methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study subjects included 66 patients (72 knees) who underwent TKA for osteoarthritis of the knee. Pain visual analogue scale (VAS), the amount of analgesics used, number of days to achieve 90° of flexion of the knee joint, date of initiating parallel-bar walking, range of motion of the knee joint at discharge, and adverse events were investigated. RESULTS: The VAS scores did not differ significantly between two groups, whereas the amount of analgesics used was significantly lower in the LIA group. Preoperative flexion contracture was significantly more severe in the LIA group with high VAS compared with low VAS. No serious adverse event occurred in the LIA or FNB group. CONCLUSIONS: The lower analgesic usage in the LIA group than the FNB group indicates that the analgesic effect of LIA was greater than that of singleshot FNB after TKA. There were no serious complications in either group. The postoperative analgesic effect of LIA was smaller in patients with severe than less severe preoperative flexion contracture.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Contracture ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Walking

Discoid menisci on both the medial and lateral sides are rare, and there are very few reports on cases involving both sides. We report a case of a 52-year-old female with medial and lateral discoid menisci in both knees. Arthroscopy revealed the lateral menisci of both knees were complete discoid menisci, and partial meniscectomy was performed. The medial menisci were incomplete discoid menisci, but there were no findings of abnormal mobility or injury; therefore, the medial menisci were observed without treatment. At six months postoperatively, her pain and range of motion restrictions disappeared.
Arthroscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular

PURPOSE: The fixed flexion view (FFV) of the knee is considered useful for evaluating the joint space when assessing the severity of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. To clarify the usefulness of FFV for evaluation of the joint space and severity of knee OA, this study evaluated changes in the joint space on the FFV and standing extended view (SEV) in patients with knee OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SEV and FFV images were acquired in 567 patients (1,102 knees) who visited the hospital with a chief complaint of knee joint pain. Medial joint space width (MJSW) and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) classification assessed using the SEV and FFV images were compared. RESULTS: Mean MJSW was significantly smaller when assessed on the FFV than on the SEV (3.02±1.55 mm vs. 4.31±1.30 mm; p<0.001). The K-L grade was the same or higher on the FFV than on the SEV. CONCLUSIONS: The FFV is more useful than the SEV for evaluating the joint space in OA knees. Treatment strategies in patients with knee OA should be determined based on routinely acquired FFV images.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Radiography