A relatively large amount of human liver tissue was required to determine the exact activity of human hepatic CYP3A. Although, the quantity of available human liver tissue samples is limited. We ...measured levels of CYP3A4 mRNA by RT-PCR with a radiolabeled primer specific for CYP3A4 and compared mRNA expression with CYP3A4 protein level and metabolic activity in liver. The level of CYP3A4 mRNA was correlated with the levels of CYP3A4 protein and activity. Our results suggest that CYP3A4 protein and activity levels can be predicted from CYP3A4 mRNA levels determined by RT-PCR and using a very small amount of liver tissue.
A new method was devised for the evaluation of medial and lateral splaying of the foot on dorsoplantar radiographs made while the patient is bearing weight. This method involves use of a ...two-dimensional coordinate system; the axis of the shaft of the second metatarsal is the x axis, the intersection of the x axis with the proximal end of the second metatarsal is the point of origin, and the perpendicular to the x axis that passes through the point of origin is the y axis. This method was used to study the radiographs of 177 feet of 112 female patients who had symptomatic hallux valgus and those of ninety-four normal feet of sixty-four female subjects. The site of origin of metatarsus primus varus in the patients who had hallux valgus was the first metatarsocuneiform joint. The great toe and first metatarsal of the patients who had hallux valgus were longer, on the average, than those of the normal subjects. However, the x coordinates at the tip of the great toe and at the end of the first metatarsal were larger only in the patients who were less than twenty years old, because of the progression of angulation of the great toe and of the first metatarsal in the older patients.
We previously created a self-assembled cartilage-like complex in vitro from only three cartilage components, hyaluronic acid (HA), aggrecan (AG) and type II collagen, without other materials such as ...cross-linking agents. Based on this self-organized AG/HA/collagen complex, we have created three novel types of biphasic cartilage and bone-like scaffolds combined with hydroxyapatite (HAP) for osteochondral tissue engineering. These scaffolds have been developed from self-assembled cartilage component molecules and HAP at the nanometer scale by manipulating the intermolecular relations.
The surface structure of each self-organized biphasic cartilage and bone-like scaffold was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the viscoelasticity was also analyzed in vitro. Three types of artificial cartilage-HAP conjugates were implanted into an osteochondral defect in rat knee joints, and bone and cartilage tissues of the implanted site were examined 4 and 8 weeks after implantation. The tissues were examined histopathologically to evaluate the effects of the implantation on the articular cartilage and subchondral bone tissues.
Our in vitro and in vivo data reveal that the self-organized biphasic cartilage and bone-like scaffold conjugated with HAP are superior to the scaffold with no HAP in both cartilage regeneration and subchondral bone regeneration.
Our present study indicates that the self-organized biphasic cartilage and bone-like scaffold, which is conjugated with an HAP layer, may have potential not only to repair articular cartilage defects but also to ameliorate the degeneration of subchondral bone in the diseases with osteochondral defect.
We investigated the effect of interferon on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and catecholamine levels in the brains of 12-week-old male Wistar rats. Interferon-α (300,000 IU/kg/day, s.c.) was administered ...to rats for 7 days. Locomotor activity of interferon-α-treated rats was significantly lower than that of control rats. Norepinephrine and dopamine levels and TH activities in the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and medulla oblongata of interferon-α-treated rats were significantly higher than those of control rats. Norepinephrine and dopamine levels and TH activities in the thalamus and hippocampus were not different between interferon-α treated and control rats. These results suggest that interferon-α-induced depression may be related to change in the catecholamine synthetic pathway in the central nervous system.
Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) in childhood can result in lateral malleolus avulsion fractures; additionally, bone nonunion may occur. Physical maturity relates to the development of bone morphology and ...physical functionality. It is unknown how changes in physical functionality attributable to physical maturity affect young soccer players with abnormal lateral malleolus (ALM) morphology. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the bone morphology of the lateral malleolus in young soccer players and to examine its relationship with physical functionality at different maturity levels.
Two hundred and ninety young soccer players aged 6-15 years were included. The presence of ALM was assessed using ultrasonography. The subjects were allocated to three groups based on physical maturity (Pre-, Mid-, and Post-peak height velocity age PHVA). The prevalence of ALM and the relationship between ALM and physical maturity were examined for body composition, foot pressure distribution, foot alignment, ankle mobility, and single-leg balance.
The prevalence of ALM was 17.6%. For physical maturity, the post-PHVA group showed a decrease in ankle dorsiflexion and eversion and an increase in one-leg hop distance compared to the Pre-PHVA group (P < 0.05). In the ALM group, the center of pressure during heel raising was distributed laterally in the Post-PHVA (P < 0.01), and the weight-bearing dorsiflexion angle was decreased in the Mid- and Post-PHVA (P < 0.05).
In the Post-PHVA young soccer players, decreased ankle dorsiflexion and eversion and increased one-leg hop distance were observed. The ALM group exhibited lateral loading during heel raising in the Post-PHVA group and decreased weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion angle in the Mid- and Post-PHVA groups. The findings indicate the importance of secondary prevention of LAS and ultrasonography. Prospective studies of LAS in young athletes are required in the future.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of a newly designed prosthesis to replace the body of the talus in patients with aseptic necrosis. Between 1999 and 2006, 22 tali in 22 ...patients were replaced with a ceramic prosthesis. A total of eight patients were treated with the first-generation prosthesis, incorporating a peg to fix into the retained neck and head of the talus, and the remaining 14 were treated with the second-generation prosthesis, which does not have the peg. The clinical results were assessed by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle/hindfoot scale. The mean follow-up was 98 months (18 to 174). The clinical results of the first-generation prostheses were excellent in three patients, good in one, fair in three and poor in one. There were, however, radiological signs of loosening, prompting a change in design. The clinical results of the second-generation prostheses were excellent in three patients, good in five, fair in four and poor in two, with more favourable radiological appearances. Revision was required using a total talar implant in four patients, two in each group. Although the second-generation prosthesis produced better results, we cannot recommend the use of a talar body prosthesis. We now recommend the use of a total talar implant in these patients.
To detect precise anatomical configuration of the first ray in feet with hallux valgus, a two-dimensional coordinate system was devised for evaluation of a weight-bearing dorsoplantar radiograph.
The ...radiographs, taken from 229 feet of 114 patients with symptomatic hallux valgus and 94 normal feet, were investigated. A comparative study showed the first metatarsal head of a foot with hallux valgus was located on the medial side of that of the normal foot and the base of the proximal phalanx of the hallux valgus foot was located on the same point of that of the normal foot. Lateral translation of the base of the proximal phalanx occurred only in cases with overlap toes. Our study shows that subluxation of the metatarsophalangeal joint in hallux valgus is primarily caused by metatarsus primus varus. This study indicated that first metatarsal osteotomies should be given the first priority in consideration for bunion surgery, because these procedures could move the first metatarsal heads laterally in a more normal position.
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