The purpose of this study is to obtain more information about the occurrence of sports injury and through this to prevent injury in handball players.
Aquestionnaire was delivered to Japanese and Korean company handball players totaling 244 women (8 Japanese teams, 136 women and 7 Korean teames, 108 women), during the period from December, 1996 through March, 1997. The return rate was 88.9%. Injury rate in Korean teams was 73.2% and 71.7% in Japanese teams ; no statistical differences were found among these two countries. The injury rate was high on ankle joint, knee joint and lumbar in that order. Korean teams presented higher occurrence of jumper's knee and stress fracture.

A study was conducted to clarify the occurrence of injuries among Japanese and Korean handball players, their present condition, and the response to prescribed treatments. It was also ascertained whether players, after receiving proper treatment, were less susceptible to injury sequelae. A questionnaire was delivered to Japanese and Korean company handball players totaling 244 women (8 Japanese teams, 136 women ; 7 Korean teams, 108 women), during the period from December 1996 through March 1997.
The rate of injuries and the treatment situation during and after the period when the injury was sustained, and the occurrence of sequelae in the lower limbs after the player had joined the team, were examined, and a comparison between the two countries was made. The return rate was 88.9%.
1. The emergency treatment rate after injury was similar in the twe countries. However, Japanese players usually used taping and cooling, whereas Korea players used heat treatment. 2. Both Japanese and Korean players' injuries were diagnosed at hospital, although Koreans also went to bonesetters. 3. Japanese players resumed playing upon receiving their doctors' consent, whereas some Korean players were forced to resume playing before fully recovering ; there was a significant difference between the two countries. 4. Many players in both countries, resumed playing even though they felt pain in daily life. 5. Players who had undergone cooling treatment immediately after the injury, and who resumed activities upon their doctors' consent, and only after the pain had disappeared during daily life, had a lower incidence of sequelae.

Stretching for the triceps surae muscle in the knee flexed position (medical stretching: MS) and knee extended position (static stretching: SS) were performed and the effect on the dorsiflexion angle of the ankle joint was examined. Five elderly females were selected as subjects. We measured the maximal dorsiflexion angle of the ankle joint in the following leg positions: (1) the maximal dorsiflexion angle in the extended knee position (EDF angle) and (2) the maximal dorsiflexion angle in the 90°flexed-knee position (FDF angle). There was a significant increase in the maximal dorsiflexion angle after MS and SS were carried out (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference between MS and SS. It was concluded that MS for triceps surae is equally effective as SS in increasing the maximal dorsiflexion angle of the ankle joint.

Brainstem gliomas are not common in adults, and the treatment strategies and their outcomes are limited. Immunotherapy is emerging as a promising new modality for the treatment of these gliomas. Here, we report the first case of brainstem glioma treated with a combination of radiotherapy and autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine (AFTV). A 32-year-old man presented with left facial numbness and right hemiparesis, and was referred to our department. MRI and open biopsy indicated brainstem glioma, and he was specifically diagnosed with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-mutant diffuse astrocytoma of WHO grade II. He was treated with stereotactic radiotherapy followed by AFTV three months later. MRI conducted at 42 months after the combination therapy showed a 91% decrease in tumor volume, and the regression was maintained for 5 years. Thus, combination treatment with radiotherapy and immunotherapy may prove to be a promising alternative for the treatment of brainstem glioma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the efficacy and safety of carbonate apatite (CO₃Ap) granules in 2-stage sinus floor augmentation through the radiographic and histomorphometric assessment of bone biopsy specimens.METHODS: Two-stage sinus floor augmentation was performed on 13 patients with a total of 17 implants. Radiographic assessment using panoramic radiographs was performed immediately after augmentation and was also performed 2 additional times, at 7±2 months and 18±2 months post-augmentation, respectively. Bone biopsy specimens taken from planned implant placement sites underwent micro-computed tomography, after which histological sections were prepared.RESULTS: Postoperative healing of the sinus floor augmentation was uneventful in all cases. The mean preoperative residual bone height was 3.5±1.3 mm, and this was increased to 13.3±1.7 mm by augmentation with the CO₃Ap granules. The mean height of the augmented site had decreased to 10.7±1.9 mm by 7±2 months after augmentation; however, implants with lengths in the range of 6.5 to 11.5 mm could still be placed. The mean height of the augmented site had decreased to 9.6±1.4 mm by 18±2 months post-augmentation. No implant failure or complications were observed. Few inflammatory cells or foreign body giant cells were observed in the bone biopsy specimens. Although there were individual differences in the amount of new bone detected, new bone was observed to be in direct contact with the CO₃Ap granules in all cases, without an intermediate layer of fibrous tissue. The amounts of bone and residual CO₃Ap were 33.8%±15.1% and 15.3%±11.9%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: In this first demonstration, low-crystalline CO₃Ap granules showed excellent biocompatibility, and bone biopsy showed them to be replaced with bone in humans. CO₃Ap granules are a useful and safe bone substitute for two-stage sinus floor augmentation.
Apatites ; Biopsy ; Bone Substitutes ; Carbon ; Dental Implants ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Humans ; Individuality ; Prospective Studies ; Sinus Floor Augmentation

Objective: In many medical institutions in Japan, 10% lidocaine gel is prepared as an in-hospital formulation to treat intractable neuropathic pain. Clinical studies have reported the short-term efficacy of topical lidocaine therapy for neuropathic pain, while there are few reports in real-world practice. To clarify the clinical usage and its usefulness, in this study, we investigated the duration of use, amount, effectiveness, and safety of 10% lidocaine gel.Design: We conducted a retrospective study investigating the actual usage of 10% lidocaine gel using electronic medical records.Methods: This study included 74 patients treated with 10% lidocaine gel in Kyoto University Hospital between July 2019 and January 2022. Information about disease (purpose of use), concomitant medications and other background information of the patients were collected. In addition, the duration of use, amount, adverse events, and discontinuation of 10% lidocaine gel were investigated. Effectiveness was determined by physician interviews and the pain visual analogue scale (VAS).Results: Ten percent lidocaine gel was used primarily to treat postherpetic neuralgia and, in some cases, other types of chronic pain for a median duration of use of 3.2 months (0.03-118.5). Pain relief was achieved in 73.3% of patients according to physician interviews, with a significant decrease in the VAS score. Although adverse events were observed in 12 patients (16.2%), including skin problems (12.2%), paralysis (4.1%), and somnolence (1.4%), eight patients continued to use 10% lidocaine gel after their occurrence. Three patients discontinued it due to adverse events, and their symptoms subsequently improved thereafter.Conclusion: The present results suggest that 10% lidocaine gel is effective and safe even when used for a long-time. Although this is a single-center study, it is the first systematic investigation of real-world usage of an in-hospital formulation of 10% lidocaine gel and is expected to assist clinical practice and drug development.

Objective: In patients with specific backgrounds, comprehensive identification of health problems and proactive pharmacist intervention are crucial to providing safe and effective medical care. However, there are insufficient reports on chemotherapy regimen selection and supportive care management in patients taking immunosuppressants. In this study, to circumvent adverse events, pharmacists intervened with a patient administering tacrolimus (TAC) using known information, focusing on multiple factors attributable to the patient in addition to drug interactions.Methods: The patient was a male in their 70s who received palliative chemotherapy for gastric cancer during their dermatomyositis treatment with TAC. Pharmaceutical support for cancer chemotherapy was provided using the following four procedures: (1) Patient information was collected from interviews and electronic medical records to identify patient-specific problems; (2) Basic pharmacological information was collected from tertiary sources, focusing on the interaction between TAC and aprepitant (APR). Furthermore, clinical reports were collected, and the pharmacokinetic drug interaction significance classification system was used for quantitative predictions; (3) The information obtained in steps 1) and 2) was evaluated, and comprehensive proposals linked to the patient information were presented; (4) Adverse events, TAC blood level, and patient outcomes were monitored after treatment initiation.Results: A chemotherapy regimen consisting of S-1/oxaliplatin therapy without APR was selected. The adverse effects were controllable, and the treatment was completed without many adverse events. Meanwhile, TAC adherence was unaffected by cancer chemotherapy, and the TAC blood concentration or dose ratios were controlled within the same range as previously reported.Conclusion: In cancer chemotherapy, for cases with limited evidence or information, comprehensive pharmaceutical support was provided using known patient information, considering multiple patient factors. This report is beneficial as an example of supportive care management by a pharmacist and contributes to providing optimal service in cases with specific backgrounds.