Although 90%-100% of mouse oocytes can be fertilized in vitro with capacitated spermatozoa within 1 h after insemination, oocytes within the oviduct are fertilized one by one over a period of several ...hours. In vitro experiments showed that both acrosome-intact and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa entered the cumulus oophorus, but that acrosome-reacted spermatozoa reached the surface of oocytes more readily than acrosome-intact spermatozoa. During the period of fertilization within the oviduct, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa were seen throughout the isthmus, but with higher incidence in the upper than in the mid- and lower segments of the isthmus. Very few spermatozoa were present in the ampulla, and almost all were acrosome reacted. Although the cumulus oophorus and zona pellucida are known to be able to induce or facilitate the acrosome reaction of spermatozoa, this picture makes it likely that almost all fertilizing mouse spermatozoa within the oviduct begin to react before ascending from the isthmus to the ampulla. We witnessed a reacted spermatozoon that stayed on the zona pellucida of a fertilized oocyte for a while; it then moved out of the cumulus before reaching the zona pellucida of the nearby unfertilized oocyte. We noted that only a few spermatozoa migrate from the isthmus to the ampulla during the progression of fertilization, and this must be one of the reasons why we do not see many spermatozoa swarming around a single oocyte during in vivo fertilization.
Objectives
This study aimed to examine whether the decrease in muscular echo-intensity of the quadriceps by ultrasound in older inpatients is related to the improvement of gait independence than the ...increase of muscle thickness.
Design
Longitudinal study
Setting
Hospital-based study
Participants
This study included 171 inpatients aged ≥ 65 years (median age: 84.0 77.0–88.0, 56.1% female). Patients who were able to walk independently at hospital admission were excluded from the study.
Measurements
Improvement of gait independence during hospital stay was assessed using the change in Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gait score (i.e., FIM gait score at hospital discharge minus FIM gait score at hospital admission) and FIM gait score at hospital discharge. Muscular echo-intensity and muscle thickness of the quadriceps were assessed at hospital admission and discharge using ultrasound images, respectively. Muscular echo-intensity has been shown to be mainly related to intramuscular adipose tissue. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors independently associated with the change in FIM gait score and FIM gait score at discharge.
Results
Change in quadriceps echo-intensity was independently and significantly associated with the change in FIM gait score (β = −0.22, p = 0.017) and FIM gait score at hospital discharge (β = −0.21, p = 0.017). In contrast, change in quadriceps thickness was not independently and significantly associated with the change in FIM gait score (β = 0.16, p = 0.050) and FIM gait score at hospital discharge (β = 0.15, p = 0.050).
Conclusions
Our study indicates that a decrease in muscular echo-intensity of the quadriceps by ultrasound is more related to the improvement of gait independence than an increase of muscle thickness in older inpatients. Intervention for intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps may be important for improving gait independence in older inpatients.
Objectives
This study aimed to examine the relationship between muscle mass, intramuscular adipose tissue, and body mass index (BMI) in older inpatients.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
...Hospital-based study.
Participants
This study included 413 inpatients aged ≥ 65 years (186 men and 227 women).
Measurements
Muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps were assessed by measuring the muscle thickness and echo intensity on ultrasound images. To examine the relationship between quadriceps thickness and echo intensity and BMI in total participants and each sex, the Kendall rank correlation coefficient was used. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine whether BMI was independently and significantly related to the quadriceps thickness and echo intensity, even after adjusting for other variables for total participants and each sex. The independent variables in multiple regression analyses were BMI, age, disease, days from onset disease.
Results
The results of the correlation analyses showed that BMI was significantly related to the quadriceps thickness (total participants, τ = 0.431; men, τ = 0.491; women, τ = 0.388) and echo intensity (total participants, τ = −0.239; men, τ = −0.318; women, τ = −0.188). In the multiple regression analysis, BMI was independently and significantly associated with the quadriceps thickness (total participants, β = 0.535; men, β = 0.548; women, β = 0.519) and echo intensity (total participants, β = −0.287; men, β = −0.398; women, β = −0.210).
Conclusion
This study indicated that older inpatients with a higher BMI have greater muscle mass and less intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps. These results suggested that a higher BMI in older inpatients is related to higher quadriceps muscle quality.
A medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) is defined as an injury to the posterior meniscal insertion on the tibia. In MMPRT, the medial meniscus (MM) hoop function is damaged, and the MM ...undergoes a medial extrusion into the interior from the superior articular surface of the tibia. However, the details of MM position and movement during knee joint movement are unclear in MMPRT cases. The present study aims to evaluate MM position and movement via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the MM posterior extrusion (MMPE) at knee flexion angles of 10° and 90°. We hypothesized that, during knee flexion, the MM will shift to the posterior and the posterior extrusion will increase compared to that when the knee is extended.
Twenty-four patients were diagnosed with symptomatic MMPRT on open MRI examination. Preoperative MMPE, anteroposterior interval (API) of the MM, and MM medial extrusion (MMME) at knee flexion angles of 10° and 90° were measured.
For patients with MMPRT, the MMPE increased from −4.77±1.43mm to 3.79±1.17mm (p<0.001) when the knee flexion angle increased from 10° to 90°. Further, flexing the knee from 10° to 90° decreased the API of the MM from 20.19±4.22mm to 16.41±5.14mm (p<0.001). MMME showed no significant change between knee flexion angles of 10° and 90°.
This study demonstrated that, in cases of MMPRT, the MMPE clearly increases when the knee is flexed to 90°, while MMME does not change. Our results suggest that open MRI examination can be used to evaluate the dynamic position of the posterior MM by scanning the knee as it flexes to 90°.
IV: retrospective cohort study.
DT+ ion irradiation with energy of 0.5 and 1.0keV was performed on helium pre-irradiated tungsten and the amount of retained tritium and the long-term release of retained tritium in vacuum was ...investigated using an IP technique and BIXS. Tritium retention and long-term tritium release were significantly influenced by helium pre-irradiation. The amount of retained tritium increased until it reached 1×1017He/cm2, and at 1×1018He/cm2 it became smaller compared to 1×1017He/cm2. The amount of retained tritium in tungsten without helium pre-irradiation largely decreased after several weeks preservation in vacuum, and the long-term release rate during vacuum preservation was retarded by helium pre-irradiation. The results indicate that the long-term tritium release and the helium irradiation effect on it should be taken into account for more precise estimation of tritium retention in the long-term use of tungsten in fusion devices.
Chronic periodontitis is a silent infectious disease prevalent worldwide and affects lifestyle-related diseases. Therefore, efficient screening of patients is essential for general health. This study ...was performed to evaluate prospectively the diagnostic utility of a blood IgG antibody titer test against periodontal pathogens. Oral examination was performed, and IgG titers against periodontal pathogens were measured by ELISA in 1,387 individuals. The cut-off value of the IgG titer was determined in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and changes in periodontal clinical parameters and IgG titers by periodontal treatment were evaluated. The relationships between IgG titers and severity of periodontitis were analyzed. The best cut-off value of IgG titer against Porphyromonas gingivalis for screening periodontitis was 1.682. Both clinical parameters and IgG titers decreased significantly under periodontal treatment. IgG titers of periodontitis patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls, especially in those with sites of probing pocket depth over 4 mm. Multiplied cut-off values were useful to select patients with severe periodontitis. A blood IgG antibody titer test for Porphyromonas gingivalis is useful to screen hitherto chronic periodontitis patients (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01658475).
Summary Background Neurogenic components, such as neurotrophic factors and neuropeptides, are probably involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) via the neuroimmunocutaneous system. ...Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that nerve growth factor (NGF), the best‐characterized member of the neurotrophin family, modulates the synthesis of the neuropeptide substance P (SP), both of which may be associated with the pathogenesis of human allergic diseases.
Objectives To evaluate the levels of NGF and SP in the plasma of patients with AD and to examine their possible correlation with disease activity.
Methods We measured plasma levels of NGF by an immunoenzymatic assay and of SP by aradioimmunoassay in 52 patients with AD, and compared them with 35 normal non‐atopic controls. The severity of the disease in AD patients was evaluated using validated clinical scoring systems.
Results Patients with AD had significant increases in plasma levels of NGF and SP compared with controls (P < 0·0005 and P < 0·0001, respectively). A positive correlation between the plasma levels of NGF and SP was found in AD patients (correlation coefficient, Cc = 0·920, P < 0·0001). There was a significant correlation of plasma NGF and SP levels with disease activity evaluated using three different scoring systems: the grading system of Rajka and Langeland (P < 0·001 and P < 0·01, respectively), the objective Severity Scoring of AD (Cc = 0·656, P < 0·005 and Cc = 0·752, P < 0·0005, respectively) and the Eczema Area and Severity Index (Cc = 0·740, P < 0·001 and Cc = 0·765, P < 0·005, respectively).
Conclusions These data represent the first reported evidence of increased plasma levels of NGF and SP in an allergic human skin disease. They suggest that these neurogenic factors systemically modulate the allergic response in AD, probably through interactions with cells of the immune‐inflammatory component. In addition, NGF and SP may be useful markers of disease activity in patients with AD.
Abstract Introduction Injuries to the medial meniscus (MM) posterior root lead to accelerated cartilage degeneration of the knee. An anatomic placement of the MM posterior root attachment is ...considered to be critical in transtibial pullout repair of the medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT). However, tibial tunnel creation at the anatomic attachment of the MM posterior root is technically difficult using a conventional aiming device. The aim of this study was to compare two aiming guides. We hypothesized that a newly-developed guide, specifically designed, creates the tibial tunnel at an adequate position rather than a conventional device. Materials and methods Twenty-six patients underwent transtibial pullout repairs. Tibial tunnel creation was performed using the Multi-use guide (8 cases) or the PRT guide that had a narrow twisting/curving shape (18 cases). Three-dimensional computed tomography images of the tibial surface were evaluated using the Tsukada's measurement method postoperatively. Expected anatomic center of the MM posterior root attachment and tibial tunnel center were evaluated using the percentage-based posterolateral location on the tibial surface. Percentage distance between anatomic center and tunnel center was calculated. Results Anatomic center of the MM posterior root footprint located at a position of 78.5% posterior and 39.4% lateral. Both tunnels were anteromedial but tibial tunnel center located at a more favorable position in the PRT group: percentage distance was significantly smaller in the PRT guide group (8.7%) than in the Multi-use guide group (13.1%). Discussion The PRT guide may have great advantage to achieve a more anatomic location of the tibial tunnel in MMPRT pullout repair. Level of evidence III.
PDF
