11 research outputs found
Three-stage total knee arthroplasty combined with deformity correction and leg lengthening using Taylor spatial frames and conversion to internal fixation for severe intra- and extra-articular deformities and hypoplasia in a patient with hemophilic knee arthropathy : A case report
No full textBackground: Hemophilic arthropathy is a cause of severe knee deformity, because chronic synovitis due to repeated hemarthrosis affects the area of the epiphyseal plates in juvenile cases. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the standard treatment for end-stage knee arthropathy. However, it is difficult to perform one-stage TKA in patients with severe intra- and extra-articular deformities. Case presentation: We reported a case of hemophilic arthropathy in a 55-year-old male with leg length discrepancy of 4 cm, limited range of knee motion (40 degrees extension and 85 degrees flexion), intra-articular deformity (medial proximal tibial angle: 69 degrees; mechanical lateral distal femoral angle: 79 degrees), extra-articular deformity at the distal femoral metaphyseal (30 degrees valgus and 45 degrees flexion deformity), and varus malalignment (% mechanical axis: 33%). We planned a three-stage TKA. Firstly, we performed gradual correction and lengthening of the distal femur using Taylor spatial flame. Six months after surgery, we performed conversion surgery from external fixation to internal fixation. Finally, we performed TKA with rotating hinged type implant. Two years after surgery, physical examination showed a normal gait, leg length discrepancy of 2 cm (the right leg was shorter), improvement in the range of knee motion (0 degrees extension and 100 degrees flexion). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this presents the first combination of three-stage TKA with correction of femoral deformity and leg lengthening using a Taylor spatial frame and conversion to internal fixation in a patient with hemophilic knee arthropathy and severe intra- and extra-articular deformities
Core size effects of laser fusion subcritical research reactor for fusion engineering research
No full textA multi-purpose high repetition laser facility, the so-called Japan establishment for power-laser community harvest (J-EPoCH) is proposed as a next generation laser facility. J-EPoCH will operate at the maximum rate of 100 Hz. The omnidirectional 12 laser beams with 8 kJ would yield ∼1013 neutrons with a large high aspect ratio target. As one of the applications of J-EPoCH, a laser fusion subcritical research reactor has been conceptually designed based on existing technologies. Moreover, a variety of fusion engineering studies: energy conversion, tritium breeding, neutron irradiation effects, etc, can be conducted. The feasibility of the subcritical research reactor is considered in terms of neutron-thermal (n-t) conversion and tritium breeding. Lead–lithium alloy (Li17Pb83) and boron carbide (B4C) have the potential to be studied for preliminary fusion power generation. The subcritical reactor will generate 21.4 W and 20.0 W of the thermal fusion power with the Li17Pb83 and the B4C layers of the thickness of 80 cm, respectively at 1 Hz operation. The Li17Pb83 layer of a 5 mm thickness will achieve the temperature rise of 0.203 mK per shot. The thermal fusion energy is detectable with conventional measurement techniques. The core with the Li17Pb83 layer thickness of 100 cm will yield more than one tritium from a deuterium–tritium fusion neutron. However, laser windows reduce the efficiency of n-t conversion and tritium yield.** After this version, the author still has made a few minor corrections.journal articl
Turn-to-Turn Contact Resistance Measurement of No-Insulation REBCO Pancake Coils
No full textThe turn-to-turn contact resistance (characteristic resistance) is a very important factor to a no-insulation (NI)(RE)Ba-2 Cu3Oy (REBCO) pancake coil. It characterizes the stability and charging delay of NI REBCO pancake coils. However, the ordinary sudden-discharging method cannot measure the turnto-turn contact resistance under different conditions, such as an operating current, a temperature, and an external magnetic field. Although the turn-to-turn contact condition is strongly affected by the pressure inside of the NI REBCO coils, the feature of the contact resistance must he clarified to estimate the stability of NI REBCO coils. In this paper, we have proposed a new method to measure the turn-to-turn contact resistance applying ac current. The theory and the measurement results are also shown. The measured turn-to-turn contact resistance is reasonable, compared with that measured by the ordinary sudden-discharging method. In near future, we will measure the turn-to-turn contact resistance under different conditions by means of the proposed method
Production of two recombinant insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 subtypes specific to salmonids
No full textSalmonids have four subtypes of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1, termed -1a1, -1a2, -1b1 and 1b2, owing to teleost- and a lineage-specific whole-genome duplications. We have previously produced recombinant proteins of masu salmon IGFBP-1a1 and -1b2 and conducted functional analysis. To further characterize salmonid-specific IGFBP-1s, we cloned cDNAs encoding mature proteins of IGFBP-1a2 and -1b1 from the liver of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou). IGFBP-1a2 and -1b1 shared a 56% amino acid sequence homology whereas their homologies with their counterparts (i.e. -1a1 and -1b2) were 77% and 82%, respectively. We next expressed recombinant masu salmon (rs) IGFBP-1a2 and -1b1 with fusion partners thioredoxin (Trx) and a His-tag using the pET-32a(+) vector system in Escherichia coli. Trx.His.rsIGFBP-1s were detected in the insoluble faction, solubilized in a buffer containing urea, and isolated by Ni-affinity chromatography. They were refolded by dialysis and cleaved from the fusion partners by enterokinase. rsIGFBP-1a2 and -1b1 were purified by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Purified rsIGFBP-1a2 and -1b1 had the ability to bind digoxigenin-labeled human IGF-I on ligand blotting. We then examined the effects of rsIGFBP-1a1, -1a2, -1b1 and -1b2 in combination with human IGF-I on growth hormone (GH) release from cultured pituitary cells of masu salmon. IGF-I alone reduced GH release while the addition of rsIGFBP-1a1, -1b1 or -1b2, but not rsIGFBP-1a2, diminished the suppressive effect of IGF-I. Addition of rsIGFBP-1s without IGF-I had no effect on GH release. These results show that rsIGFBP-1b1, along with rsIGFBP-1a1 and -1b2, inhibits IGF-I action on the pituitary in masu salmon. The lack of the effect by rsIGFBP-1a2 suggests that salmon IGFBP-1 subtypes underwent subfunction partitioning and have different degrees of IGF-inhibitory action
Activation of nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor containing protein 3 inflammasome in dendritic cells and macrophages by Streptococcus sanguinis
No full textStreptococcus sanguinis is frequently isolated from the blood of patients with infective endocarditis and contributes to the pathology of this disease through induction of interleukin (IL)-1β responsible for the development of the disease. However, the mechanism of IL-1β induction remains unknown. In this study, S. sanguinis activated a murine dendritic cell (DC) to induce IL-1β and this activity was attenuated by silencing the mRNAs of nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1. S. sanguinis induced IL-1β production in murine bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM), but this activity was significantly reduced in BMMs from NLRP3-, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain-, and caspase-1-deficient mice. DC phagocytosed S. sanguinis cells, followed by the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The ATP-degradating enzyme attenuated the release of ATP and IL-1β. The inhibitors for ATP receptor reduced IL-1β release in DC. These results strongly suggest that S. sanguinis has the activity to induce IL-1β through the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophage and DC and interaction of purinergic receptors with ATP released is involved in expression of the activity
Activation of inflammasomes by oral mycoplasma
No full textInterleukin-1β (IL-1β) plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. IL-1β is produced after the processing of pro-IL-1β by caspase-1, which is activated by the inflammasome-a multiprotein complex comprising NLR, the adaptor protein ASC, and procaspase-1. Mycoplasma salivarium preferentially inhabits the gingival sulcus and the incidence and number of organisms in the oral cavity increase significantly with the progression of periodontal disease. To initially clarify the association of this organism with periodontal diseases, this study determined whether it induces IL-1β production by innate immune cells such as dendritic cells or macrophages by using Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a positive control. Both live and heat-killed M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells induced IL-1β production by XS106 murine dendritic cells as well as pyroptosis. The activities were significantly downregulated by silencing of caspase-1. Bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMMs) from wild-type and NLRP3-, ASC-, and caspase-1–deficient mice were examined for IL-1β production in response to these mycoplasmas. Live M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells almost completely lost the ability to induce IL-1β production by BMMs from ASC- and caspase-1– deficient mice. Their activities toward BMMs from NLRP3-deficient mice were significantly but not completely attenuated. These results suggest that live M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells can activate several types of inflammasomes including the NLRP3 inflammasome. M. salivarium as well as M. pneumoniae cells can activate THP-1 human monocytic cells to induce IL-1β production. Thus, the present finding that M. salivarium induces IL-1β production by dendritic cells and macrophages may suggest the association of this organism with periodontal diseases
Use of imaging plates at near saturation for high energy density particles
No full textCopyright 2008 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Review of Scientific Instruments, 79(10), 10E910, 2008 and may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.298767
Root surface conditioning with bone morphogenetic protein-2 facilitates cementum-like tissue deposition in beagle dogs
No full textBackground and objective: Modification of the root surface may play an important role in regenerating the periodontal attachment between the root and periodontal connective tissue. We speculated that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) application to root surface resulted in a novel attachment by cementum-like hard tissue, although non-osteogenic tissue proliferated to the root surface. The aim of this study was to examine whether BMP-2 guided cementum-like tissue deposition on a BMP-conditioned root surface.
Material and Methods: Root dentin on the buccal side of 24 teeth in four beagle dogs was surgically exposed. The denuded root dentin surfaces were demineralized with EDTA and washed with saline. Subsequently, 15 μl of BMP-2 solution (loading dose; 0.4 and 1.0 μg/μl) was applied to the root dentin surface. In the control, phosphate-buffered saline was applied to the root surface. Specimens were histologically analyzed 16 weeks after surgery.
Results: Formation of cementum-like tissue was frequently observed on the BMP-2-conditioned root at the coronal portion. Cellular cementum-like tissue was separated from the original cementum and encapsulated with gingival connective tissue. Cementum-like tissue formation with BMP at 1.0 μg/μl was significantly greater than those in the control and BMP at 0.4 μg/μl. Downgrowth of the junctional epithelium in the 1.0 μg/μl BMP group was significantly less than that in the control.
Conclusions: Root dentin surface conditioning with BMP-2 stimulated cementum-like tissue formation and inhibited epithelial downgrowth
Sustained Increase in the Incidence of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure After the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
No full textThis study investigated the long-term impact of the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami on the incidence of acute decompensated heart failure (HF) in the disaster area. This was a population-based study using comprehensive registration for all hospitals within the study area. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for new onset of HF during the disaster year (2011) and postdisaster years (2012 to 2014) were determined. When SIR were compared between the low- and high-impact areas, as defined by the extent of tsunami inundation in residential areas, SIR showed a significant increase in high-impact areas in 2011 (1.67, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.88) and tended to return to baseline in 2012, the first postdisaster year (1.25, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.43). The rate again increased in 2013 (1.38, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.57) and 2014 (1.55, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.75). In low-impact areas, no such increase was apparent during either the disaster year or the postdisaster years. Mean postdisaster period SIR for municipalities significantly correlated with the percentage of tsunami flooding in residential areas (r = 0.52, p <0.05) and with the percentage of refugees within the population (r = 0.74, p <0.01). There was no significant relation between maximum seismic intensity and mean SIR in these municipalities. In conclusion, these results suggest that the catastrophic tsunami but not the earthquake per se resulted in a prolonged increase in the incidence of HF among the general population living in tsunami-stricken areas
<Articles>The Reorganization of the Ise shingun (伊勢神郡) : An Exploration of Territoriality in Eighth and Ninth Century Japan
No full text個人情報保護のため削除部分ありいわゆる伊勢神宮の維持基盤のひとつである伊勢神郡の歴史的展開については、従来多くの研究が積み重ねられてきた。その中でも、八世紀末頃の神郡の変化は神郡の神域化としてとらえられ、時系列的な分析が行われている。この点に関して筆者は領域性という視座を導入することによって、より議論を深化することができると考えている。領域性とはR. D. Sack によれば「地理的範域に対して制限を加え制御を主張することによって人々・諸現象・諸関係に作用・影響を及ぼし、管理しようとする個人ないし集団の性質」であり、地理学においてはこのような視角に立った研究が近年盛んである。よってこのような研究動向を踏まえて、具体的な分析をおこなう。まず、神郡における人間の編成の問題を取り上げ、成立期においては様々な属性の人問が存在した可能性ないし一般民戸から成り立っていた可能性のある神郡が、八世紀中の或る時点までに神郡領域を単位とした分類に基づいて編成されるようになったとも考えられることを述べる。そして、これが神郡領域の領域性の性質に基づくものであることを指摘する。次に神堺という神郡領域を画する境界を取り上げ、神堺の実体、神堺をめぐる排除などを検討する。その結果を受けて、神堺に強く現れる規制の形成を具体的に把握する。さらに、それらを基礎として帰属意識の創出といった領域性の戦略的使用がなされた可能性を想定する。以上の分析を通じて、八・九世紀伊勢神郡の再編成過程における領域性という空間の論理が伊勢神郡という社会を形づけている有り様と伊勢神郡の社会の構造が空間を規定する有り様の連接を明らかにする。It is widely known that Ise Shrine was a very important shrine in ancient Japan. The shrine's properties consisted of shinden (神田), or shrine paddy fields; kanbe (神戸), a group of households attached to the shrine; and the shingun (神郡), a district that served as the basis for religious services and associated with special shirines such as Ise Shrine and lzumo Shrine. Recently, there have been many studies of the Ise shingun (伊勢神郡). Among others, Ryousuke Kumada maintains that the development of the Ise shingun at the end of the eighth century was characterized by the sacralization of land belonging to the shrine. It is useful to consider the development of the Ise shingun with reference to the concept of territoriality, defined by R.D. Sack as "the attempt to affect, influence, or control actions, interactions or access by asserting and attempting to enforce control over a specific geographic .area." In this paper, the author will adopt Sack's definition, and try to explain the reorganization of the Ise shingun in the 8th and 9th centuries according to the three essential characteristics of territoriality. First, the author considers the organization of the Ise shingun, and proposes that residents of the Ise shingun, who had been classified by type (such as the kanbe) in the seventh and eighth centuries, came to be organized instead according to their place of residence. This change can be understood as a basic tendency of territoriality: classification by area rather than by type. Second, the author investigates the kamusaleae (神堺), which bounded the territory of the Ise shingun, and suggests that the kamusakae was defined by an ideological perception of and a movement of exclusion from the Ise shingun. This discourse can be as an indispensable aspect of territoriality. Third, the author discusses the feeling of attachment to a specific geographic location manifested in the integrated system of local shrines in the Iseshingun, and shows that this strategic use of territoriality could be a most efficient tool for controlling the residents of the Ise shingun. Finally, the author concludes that the socio-political reorganization of the Ise shingun was intimately tied to spatial logic: the three fundamental attributes of territoriality and their interactions
