Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury often occurs as a result of knee valgus collapse during landing or pivoting in sports activity. Previous studies reported that the risk of ACL injuries was reduced by jump and balance training, and those training can be effective as the prevention program for the ACL injuries. But those studies often focused on only adult athletes, and there are few studies focused on junior athletes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pattern of landing movement in junior athletes, and to verify the effect of the prevention program. One-hundred and ten junior basketball players (boys; 61, girls;49, age ranging 12 to 15) were subjected in this study. We measured the knee flexion, valgus angles and jump height during continuous vertical jump. After measuring, they executed a prevention program for 12 weeks. The motion pattern of the knee during jump test were compaired between before and after prevention program. Female athletes showed greater knee valgus angle at initial landing phase and grater maximum knee valgus angle than those of males. As a result of the prevention program, maximum knee valgus angle was significantly decreased in female athletes. The greater angle of knee valgus in female may increase the risk of ACL injuries. Present study suggests that the prevention program is useful for reducing the risk of ACL injury. Increment of jump height in male players after this program might be considered that this training program has also an effect of performance improvement.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the state of eating -related distress and struggle in the daily lives of cancer outpatients in cancer center hospital. Methods: Cancer outpatients who consented to participate in the study filled out self-administered questionnaires regarding eating distress and the means of coping with them. The data were qualitatively analyzed via content analysis method. Results: Data from 176 patients who responded that they experienced eating difficulties were analyzed. A total of 222 codes were extracted for eating-related distress, and these were classified into five categories, which included eating-related symptoms accompanying the disease and its treatment, difficulties related to food preparation, and concerns about eating outside food. A total of 224 codes were extracted for eating-related struggle made by the patients, and these were classified into eight categories, which included adjusting eating methods to make food easier to eat, controlling one’s feelings when unable to eat certain foods, and adjustments related to food preparation. Conclusions: The study results suggested that cancer outpatients require care not only at early stages after treatment for eating-related symptoms but also related to food preparation and concerns when eating outside food.

Objective: Acute mechanical thrombectomy (AMT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (LVO) is performed without directly identifying the occluded vessels. In this study, we evaluated whether 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3D-fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA) could visualize the occluded intracranial middle cerebral artery (MCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) before AMT. Methods: This retrospective study included 21 consecutive patients who underwent time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF MRA) and 3D-FIESTA MRI immediately before AMT. The patients also underwent TOF MRA after AMT and achieved TICI 2b or 3 by AMT at our hospital between February 2018 and April 2019. When LVO in the anterior circulation was detected by TOF MRA, 3D-FIESTA MRI was additionally performed. Then, the occluded intracranial MCA and ICA, including their branches, were constructed on the workstation with volume rendering. The obtained images were fused with the TOF MRA images to create combined 3D images. Results: The length and top-to-bottom distance of the affected M1 segment (calculated by the ipsilateral-to-contralateral ratio) were 1.29 and 1.17, respectively, on 3D-FIESTA MRI before AMT and 1.34 and 1.24, respectively, on TOF MRA after AMT. We assessed the number of M2 segments branching from the affected M1/M2 junction and visualized the affected anterior temporal artery. The 3D-FIESTA MRI before AMT and TOF MRA after AMT were consistent in all patients, except for two who moved vigorously during imaging. Conclusions Images acquired by 1.5T 3D-FIESTA MRI can visualize to predict the existing path of the occluded MCA and ICA before AMT in patients with LVO of the anterior circulation.

Objective: Acute mechanical thrombectomy (AMT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (LVO) is performed without directly identifying the occluded vessels. In this study, we evaluated whether 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3D-fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA) could visualize the occluded intracranial middle cerebral artery (MCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) before AMT. Methods: This retrospective study included 21 consecutive patients who underwent time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF MRA) and 3D-FIESTA MRI immediately before AMT. The patients also underwent TOF MRA after AMT and achieved TICI 2b or 3 by AMT at our hospital between February 2018 and April 2019. When LVO in the anterior circulation was detected by TOF MRA, 3D-FIESTA MRI was additionally performed. Then, the occluded intracranial MCA and ICA, including their branches, were constructed on the workstation with volume rendering. The obtained images were fused with the TOF MRA images to create combined 3D images. Results: The length and top-to-bottom distance of the affected M1 segment (calculated by the ipsilateral-to-contralateral ratio) were 1.29 and 1.17, respectively, on 3D-FIESTA MRI before AMT and 1.34 and 1.24, respectively, on TOF MRA after AMT. We assessed the number of M2 segments branching from the affected M1/M2 junction and visualized the affected anterior temporal artery. The 3D-FIESTA MRI before AMT and TOF MRA after AMT were consistent in all patients, except for two who moved vigorously during imaging. Conclusions Images acquired by 1.5T 3D-FIESTA MRI can visualize to predict the existing path of the occluded MCA and ICA before AMT in patients with LVO of the anterior circulation.

Background: Multifidus muscle stiffness decreases in patients with lumbar intervertebral disk herniation; however, age-related changes in humans have not been reported. Objectives: The reliability of ultrasound shear wave elastography in dogs, and changes in the shear elastic modulus of the thoracolumbar multifidus muscle with aging in dogs, were investigated. Methods: Twelve beagle dogs were divided into 2 groups based on the age of onset of intervertebral disk herniation: young (aged not exceeding 2 years; 1.3 ± 0.6 years old, n = 5) and adult (4.9 ± 1.2 years old, n = 7). The shear elastic modulus of the multifidus muscle, from the thirteenth thoracic spine to the fourth lumbar spine, was measured using ultrasound shear wave elastography. The length, cross-sectional area and muscle to fat ratio of the multifidus muscle, and the grade of intervertebral disk degeneration, were assessed using radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging examinations. Results: The length and cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle increased caudally.In the young group, the shear elastic modulus of the multifidus muscle of the thirteenth thoracic spine was less than that of the third lumbar spine. In the adult group, the shear elastic modulus of the multifidus muscle of first and third lumbar spine was lower than that of the same site in the young group. Conclusions Ultrasound can be used to measure shear wave elastography of the thoracolumbar multifidus in dogs. If the multifidus muscle stiffness decreases, we should consider age-related change.

OBJECTIVETeeth can serve as records of environmental exposure to heavy metals during their formation. We applied a new technology - synchrotron radiation microbeams (SRXRF) - for analysis of heavy metals in human permanent teeth in modern and historical samples.

METHODSEach tooth was cut in half. A longitudinal section 200 mum in thickness was subjected to the determination of the heavy metal content by SRXRF or conventional analytical methods (ICP-MS analysis or reduction-aeration atomic absorption spectrometry). The relative concentrations of Pb, Hg, Cu and Zn measured by SRXRF were translated in concentrations (in g of heavy metal/g of enamel) using calibration curves by the two analytical methods.

RESULTSConcentrations in teeth in the modern females (n = 5) were 1.2 +/- 0.5 mug/g (n = 5) for Pb; 1.7 +/- 0.2 ng/g for Hg; 0.9 +/- 1.1 mug/g for Cu; 150 +/- 24.6 mug/g for Zn. The levels of Pb were highest in the teeth samples obtained from the humans of the Edo era (1603-1868 AD: ) (0.5-4.0 mug/g, n = 4). No trend was observed in this study in the Hg content in teeth during 3,000 years. The concentrations of Cu were highest in teeth of two medieval craftsmen (57.0 and 220 mug/g). The levels of Zn were higher in modern subjects (P < 0.05) than those in the Jomon (~1000 BC: ) to Edo periods [113.2 +/- 27.4 (mug/g, n = 11)]. Reconstruction of developmental exposure history to lead in a famous court painter of the Edo period (18th century) revealed high levels of Pb (7.1-22.0 mug/g) in his childhood.

CONCLUSIONSSRXRF is useful a method for reconstructing human exposures in very long trends.

Objective: Eye drops may contain certain preservatives, and there is concern in patients who use them on a daily basis for the treatment of diseases, including corneal epithelial disorder and glaucoma. PF eye drops (Rohto Nitten Co., Ltd.) are used widely; however, their usability may be difficult in patients prescribed these medications for the first time. Therefore, fact-finding was performed on the usability of PF eye drops, particularly the difficulty in squeezing out these eye drops. Methods: The squeezing forces for various eye drops in 11 different shapes were determined. A sensuality evaluation examination on “the easiness of pushing out the eye drops” was performed in addition to a questionnaire survey targeting patients who used eye drops at a community pharmacy. Results: The squeezing forces ranged from 2.0 to 17.1 N. This study showed that the squeezing force tended to increase as the drop got closer to the opening of the container. Significant differences in the sensuality examination scores were found: 3.09 points for Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; 3.07 points for Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; 2.47 points for Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; and 1.37 points for PF eye drops for any place other than Santen and Senju (p<0.001). Conclusion: When eye drops were prescribed for an elderly individual, the pharmacist considered it necessary to suggest an alternative agent to the doctor depending on body function. In addition, it is important to explain to the patient that an additional squeezing force is required to push out the drop as it gets closer to the opening of the container.