The single-joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL-SJ), an exoskeletal robotic suit, offers functional improvement. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we investigated the therapeutic effects ...of knee extension exercises using the HAL-SJ after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Seventy-six patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to HAL-SJ or conventional physical therapy (CPT) groups. The HAL-SJ group underwent exercise using the HAL-SJ for 10 days postoperatively, in addition to CPT; the CPT group underwent only CPT. Pain intensity and active and passive knee extension angles were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 1-10 and weeks 2 and 4. Performance tests and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative weeks 2 and 4. Statistical analysis showed that the HAL-SJ group significantly improved active and passive knee extension angles compared with the CPT group. The HAL-SJ group showed immediate improvement in active knee extension angle through day 5. There were no significant differences in results between the performance tests and KOOS. Knee extension exercises with the HAL-SJ improved knee pain and the angle of extension in the acute phase after TKA.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Recently, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare proposed that cervical cancer screening should be conducted for women aged 20 to 29 years old in Japan. However, there are insufficient data ...available in Japan concerning the screening conducted for women under the age of 30. Therefore, we made a survey of the results of cervical cytologic examination for pregnant women. 28 616 pregnant women were examined as subjects of a study group. A group of 108 289 women, subjected to group screening for cervical cancer in Miyagi Prefecture, were studied as a control group. The rate of subjects who required close examination in the pregnant women's group was significantly higher than that in the mass screening group (1.12% vs. 0.84%). The rate of close examination was significantly higher in the women 19 years old or younger compared to those in the age group of 25 to 39 years old. The rate was also significantly higher in women aged 20 to 24 years old than those who are 25 to 34 years old. Of the 321 subjects who required close examination, 34 cases underwent treatment, and 17 cases were under age 30. Moreover, all three cases of microinvasive and/or invasive carcinoma were under the age of 30 years (23, 23, 27 years old, respectively). Our results suggest that screening for cervical cancer in pregnancy is a useful means to find cervical neoplasia in young women and is effective in reducing the cervical cancer morbidity rate.
Tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) films were deposited by sputtering of sintered oxide targets, employing an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) microwave plasma system. The effects of Ar ion bombardment ...on crystallographic and electrical properties of the films were investigated with control of the ion energy by submagnetic field application. It was found that ion bombardment with energies lower than ∼ 40 eV enhances crystallization whereas bombardment with higher energies suppresses crystallization. The surface roughness of the film was below 50 Å. The smooth surface formation could be attributed to the microstructural modification arising from ion bombardment.
PDF
