Radioisotope renography, which is a technique for extracorporeal examination of kidney utilizing radionuclides, can provide the data of renal dynamics such as blood flow and excretion of urine about individual kidney. Since this technique allowes simple and noninvasive examination of renal functions, it is now commonly used clinically.
The present study was designed to elucidate a relationship between renal function and meridian point by using radioisotope renography. In this paper the effect of acupuncture applied placing-needle wlth low frequency wave to Shenshu (UB-23) of the urinary bladder channel of foot-taiyang on renal function, especially excretion of urine, was observed.
It was found that urinary elimination of radioisotope after acupuncture increased, although no marked change was noted on the pattern of renogram curve.

This technical note demonstrates kinematically aligned Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty using the Microplasty instrumentation system with custom-made devices. The medial joint line is evaluated preoperatively; if it is aligned and parallel with the lateral joint line, they are considered to comprise the coronal knee joint line (CJL). In this case, the coronal inclination of a spoon gauge inserted into the medial joint space indicates the CJL. Otherwise, an accessory spoon is inserted and connected to the medial spoon to refer to the posterior condylar line, which is considered the CJL. The tibial cutting block is then connected without changing the inclination of the spoon and the coronal tilt of the tibial extramedullary rod is adjusted, which is implemented with a custom-made ankle yoke. The remainder of the steps is then identical to the conventional Microplasty procedure. This technique can imitate the cutting line to the CJL, which might be considered ideal from mechanical and kinematic perspectives.

Background: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and second-look arthroscopic findings after intra-articular adipose-derived regenerative cell (ADRC) injection as treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: ADRCs were administered to 11 patients (19 knees; mean age, 61.7 years) with knee OA. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was harvested by liposuction from both thighs, and arthroscopic lavage was performed, followed by ADRC injection (mean dose, 1.40 × 10 7 cells) into the synovial fluid. Outcome measures included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Lysholm score, and visual analog scale score. Arthroscopic examinations were performed to assess the International Cartilage Repair Society cartilage injury grade preoperatively and overall repair postoperatively. Noninvasive assessments were performed at baseline and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups; arthroscopic assessments were performed at baseline and at 6 months. Results: All outcome measures significantly improved after treatment. This improvement was evident 1 month after treatment and was sustained until the 6-month follow-up. Data from second-look arthroscopy showed better repair in low-grade cartilage lesions than in lesions with a greater degree of damage. No patients demonstrated worsening of Kellgren-Lawrence grade, and none underwent total knee arthroplasty during this period. Conclusions Clinical outcomes were improved in patients with knee OA after ADRC administration. Cartilage regeneration was more effective in smaller damaged lesions than in bigger lesions.

Background: Tibial fracture after cementless Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (OUKA) is a rare but serious complication. It is reported more frequently in Asian countries. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the morphological characteristics of the tibia by using a simple novel measurement method in patients with tibial fractures after OUKA. Methods: Six knees (all women) with tibial fractures after cementless OUKA (fracture group) and 150 knees without an obvious complication after cementless OUKA (control group) were examined retrospectively at our institution between January 2016 and April 2017. We drew a medial eminence line (ME line) defined as a line extending from the tip of the medial intercondylar eminence parallel to the tibial axis. The ME line was classified into two types (intramedullary type [type I] and extramedullary type [type E]), and the proportion of each type was compared between fracture patients and controls. Results: In the fracture group, there were four (66.7%) type E cases and two (33.3%) type I cases; in the control group, there were 18 (12%) type E cases and 132 (88%) type I cases. Fisher exact tests showed that the proportion of type E was higher in the fracture group than in the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions Measurement of the ME line can be recommended as a useful method to assess the risk of postoperative fracture after cementless OUKA.

Background/Aims: Digital single-operator cholangioscopy (DSOC)-guided mapping biopsy (DMB) and tube-assisted mapping biopsy (TMB) are two techniques used for preoperative evaluation of biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, data regarding the diagnostic performance of these techniques are limited. Methods: We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with BTC who underwent either technique at our institution between 2018 and 2020. We evaluated the technical success rate, adequate tissue acquisition rate, and diagnostic performance of these techniques for the evaluation of lateral spread of BTC. Results: A total of 54 patients were included in the study. The technical success rate of reaching the target sites was 95% for DMB and 100% for TMB. The adequate tissue acquisition rate was 61% for DMB and 69% for TMB. The adequate tissue acquisition rate was low, especially for target sites beyond the secondary biliary radicles. The sensitivity of DMB alone was 39%, which improved to 65% when combined with visual impression. Experts demonstrated a higher negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy with respect to both DSOC visual impression and DMB for the evaluation of lateral spread of BTC compared to trainees. Conclusions Adequate tissue acquisition rates were similar between the two techniques. Since DMB requires expertise, TMB may be an acceptable option when DSOC is unavailable or when DSOC expertise is limited.

Background: Dual SC screw (DSCS) is a unique concept internal fixation device consisting of a sliding screw and barrel assembly that enables compression force to be applied to the femoral neck fracture side. There are two types of barrels: a thread barrel and a plate barrel that has a one-holed side plate to prevent varus deformity. We report clinical results of the application of a DSCS with combined use of a thread barrel screw as an anti-rotational screw and a plate barrel screw as a compression hip screw. Methods: We used DSCS for femoral neck fractures in 196 hip joints of 190 patients between November 2005 and June 2017. Among them, 70 hips in 66 patients (13 men and 53 women; mean age, 73.2 years) were followed up for at least 24 months. There were 53 nondisplaced fractures (Garden’s classification stage 1 or 2) and 17 displaced fractures (stage 3 or 4). We evaluated the postoperative walking ability of the patients who were followed up for at least 24 months and examined details of all complications. Results: The mean follow-up period was 37.4 months (range, 24–144 months). Forty-two (64%) out of the 66 patients who were followed up for at least 2 years were able to walk independently with or without a cane. The incidence of complications was 11.5% in nondisplaced fractures and 17.5% in displaced fractures, and arthroplasty was required in 5.8% and 5.0%, respectively. The most frequent complication was secondary displacement including cutout and shortening of the femoral neck, but no implants showed varus displacement. Conclusions The application of DSCS for the treatment of femoral neck fractures had satisfactory results. The complication rate was low, and there was no postoperative varus displacement of DSCS in either displaced or nondisplaced fractures. We suggest DSCS is a reliable option for both displaced and nondisplaced femoral neck fractures.

To reduce the stress on the medial tibial cortex and to decrease the risk of fracture, a varus cut of the tibia appears to be a reasonable alternative to the orthogonal cut by conventional methods. We present a new instrument and procedure, which enables a varus tibial cut for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. We used a custom-made, slidable fixator instead of the standard fixator to set the extramedullary rod on the leg. We also made a numeric formula and a chart to arrange the varus cutting angle using the length of the mediolateral shift of the distal end and the longitudinal extension length of the extramedullary tibial rod. A varus cut up to 4.5° can be controlled. This technique is a simple and useful means of obtaining a varus tibial cut for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

The term, propagated sensation along the channels (PSC) means the peculiar sensation expeerienced by some people along thier meridians when given acupunctural stimulation of acupoints.
In the present study, the incidence of PSC in outpatients who were undergoing acupuncture treatment was investigated.
Low frequency electrical stimulation was performed through press needles at twenty-six points: the twelve terminal points of the twelve regular meridians and the Inner-Zhiyin points of both sides. PSC was assessed on a four-grade basis after the manner carried out in China.
The incidence of PSC was significantly high among the outpatients compared with that among healthy youth. Patients with hypertension or posttraumatic neck syndrome showed higher incidence of PSC than the other patients.

The under-vastus approach (UVA) is a modification of the conventional subvastus approach for knee arthroplasty. Our modified UVA allows the muscles to be spared while offering good exposure of the operative field and facilitating anatomical repair of the capsule and fascia. A medial parapatellar incision is made and the vastus medialis fascia is incised along the same line. The muscle belly is not incised but detached from the surrounding fascia and retracted laterally. The suprapatellar pouch capsule is then laterally incised under the vastus muscles. The patella can then be easily retracted laterally and adequate exposure is possible. After the procedure, both capsule and fascia can be anatomically repaired. We use this approach for all primary arthroplasties in our practice. There has been no case in which an additional muscle incision was required, and there were no intraoperative complications. The modified UVA allows for excellent exposure of the operative field as well as muscle retention in both primary total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Fascia ; Intraoperative Complications ; Knee ; Muscles ; Osteoarthritis ; Patella ; Quadriceps Muscle

Background/Aims: Selective bile duct or pancreatic duct cannulation remains a significant initial hurdle in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) despite advances in endoscopy and accessories. This study evaluated our experience with a rotatable sphincterotome in cases of difficult cannulation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed ERCP cases using TRUEtome, a rotatable sphincterotome, as a rescue device for cannulation at a cancer institute in Japan from October 2014 to December 2021. Results: TRUEtome was used in 88 patients. Duodenoscopes were used for 51 patients, while single-balloon enteroscopes (SBE) were used for 37 patients. TRUEtome was used for biliary and pancreatic duct cannulation (84.1%), intrahepatic bile duct selection (12.5%), and strictures of the afferent limb (3.4%). Cannulation success rates were similar in the duodenoscope and SBE groups (86.3% vs. 75.7%, p=0.213). TRUEtome was more commonly used in cases with steep cannulation angles in the duodenoscope group and in cases requiring cannulation in different directions in the SBE group. There were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions The cannulation sphincterotome was useful for difficult cannulations in both unaltered and surgically altered anatomies. It may be an option to consider before high-risk procedures such as precut and endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous techniques.