CT-based morphological assessment of the hip joint in Japanese patients: association with radiographic predictors of femoroacetabular impingement

AIMS

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been highlighted and well documented primarily in Western countries and there are few large studies focused on FAI-related morphological assessment in Asian patients. We chose to investigate this subject.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We assessed the morphology of the hip and the prevalence of radiographic FAI in Japanese patients by measuring predictors of FAI. We reviewed a total of 1178 hips in 695 men and 483 women with a mean age of 58.2 years (20 to 89) using CT images that had been obtained for reasons unrelated to symptoms from the hip. We measured the lateral centre edge angle, acetabular index, crossover sign, alpha angle and anterior femoral head-neck offset ratio.

RESULTS

A total of 441 hips (37.4%) had pincer-type deformity (41.7% men, 31.3% women) and 534 (45.3%) had cam-type deformity (54.4% men, 32.3% women). Moreover, 773 hips (65.6%) had at least one parameter that predisposes to FAI (74.0% men, 53.6% women) and 424 hips (36.0%) had two or more parameters (43.6% men, 25.0% women).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of radiographic FAI was common in Japanese patients who are generally considered to have dysplastic hips. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1167-74.

Characterization and application of newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers in the Ezo red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki)

The Ezo red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki), a subspecies endemic to Hokkaido island, Japan, is a known host species for the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. To develop tools for molecular ecological studies, we isolated 28 microsatellite regions from the genome of Ezo red fox, and developed 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers. These markers were characterized using 7 individuals and 22 fecal samples of the Ezo red fox. The number of alleles for these markers ranged from 1 to 7, and the observed heterozygosity, estimated on the basis of the genotypes of 7 individuals, ranged from 0.29 to 1.00. All markers, except DvNok5, were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05), and no linkage disequilibrium was detected among these loci, except between DvNok14 and DvNok28 (P = 0.01). Moreover, six microsatellite loci were successfully genotyped using feces-derived DNA from the Ezo red fox. The markers developed in our study might serve as a useful tool for molecular ecological studies of the Ezo red fox.

Development of non-invasive method for assessment of hepatic steatosis

Steatosis is a critical feature of liver disease and is considered to play a pivotal role in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as being a surrogate marker of metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to develop a non-invasive diagnostic method for assessment of liver steatosis. It is well known that ultrasonic velocity depends on materials and temperature. For example, the ultrasonic velocity in water is 1530m/s at 37°C and 1534m/s at 39°C, while that in fat is 1412m/s at 37°C and 1402m/s at 39°C. On this basis, we thought that the percentage of fat in hepatic steatosis could be assessed by detecting changes of ultrasonic in the liver, caused by warming. In order to confirm the effectiveness of this method, we obtained the ultrasonic velocity changes of tissue phantom including lard oil and the liver of living rabbit by ultrasonic warming, and then succeeded in 2-D imaging of ultrasonic velocity changes of the phantom and the liver of living rabbit. We named this the ultrasonic velocity-change method. The experimental results show the possibility that hepatic steatosis could be characterized using our novel, non-invasive method.

Emission of low-energy positronium from alkali-metal coated single-crystal tungsten surfaces

We have measured the time-of-flight of ortho-positronium emitted from Cs-, Na- and Li-coated single-crystal tungsten surfaces. The data obtained after the coating show a new positronium energy component with a specific energy loss in addition to the component whose emission energy is simply determined by the positron and the electron work functions. We suggest that this new component is attributed to the formation of positronium accompanied by inter-band transition and/or surface plasmon excitation at the surfaces.

Safety assessment of the Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588® probiotic strain including evaluation of antimicrobial sensitivity and presence of Clostridium toxin genes in vitro and teratogenicity in vivo

Probiotics are live microorganisms ingested for the purpose of conferring a health benefit on the host. Development of new probiotics includes the need for safety evaluations that should consider factors such as pathogenicity, infectivity, virulence factors, toxicity, and metabolic activity. Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588® (CBM 588®), an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium, has been developed as a probiotic for use by humans and food animals. Safety studies of this probiotic strain have been conducted and include assessment of antimicrobial sensitivity, documentation of the lack of Clostridium toxin genes, and evaluation of CBM 588® on reproductive and developmental toxicity in a rodent model. With the exception of aminoglycosides, to which anaerobes are intrinsically resistant, CBM 588® showed sensitivity to all antibiotic classes important in human and animal therapeutics. In addition, analysis of the CBM 588® genome established the absence of genes for encoding for α, β, or ε toxins and botulin neurotoxins types A, B, E, or F. There were no deleterious reproductive and developmental effects observed in mice associated with the administration of CBM 588®. These data provide further support for the safety of CBM 588® for use as a probiotic in animals and humans.

Skin pigmentation is inversely associated with insulin resistance in healthy Japanese women

AIM

As a low-pigment skin type is prevalent in men and women with type 1 diabetes, it is possible that skin pigmentation may be associated with insulin resistance. This study aimed to cross-sectionally examine this association in healthy women.

METHODS

Study participants were 792 Japanese women who attended a health examination and were not taking any medication for diabetes. Skin pigmentation on the inner upper and lower arms and forehead was measured using a Mexameter^® skin colorimeter, a narrow-band reflective spectrophotometer. Data are expressed as a melanin index, which quantifies melanin content. Fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were also measured, and homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores were calculated. Information on medical history and lifestyle factors were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire, while data on sun exposure were collected through interviews. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured in a subsample of women (n=464).

RESULTS

Melanin indices at the inner upper and lower arms were significantly and inversely associated with fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR after controlling for age, body mass index, smoking status, indicators for rater effects, cumulative sun exposure and season at the time of measurement. Additional adjustment for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not alter the results.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that skin pigmentation is associated with insulin resistance, and encourage future studies into the potential role of melanin and related factors in glucose homoeostasis.

Airway intervention in cases of acute epiglottitis

Airway intervention in cases of acute epiglottitis.Problem/objectives: In cases of acute epiglottitis, indications for airway intervention have not been established. In the present study, we reviewed patients with acute epiglottitis to identify clinical factors, which suggest airway intervention should be performed.

METHODOLOGY

Patients with acute epiglottitis admitted to The Jikei University Daisan Hospital (Tokyo) from 2004 to 2013 were identified. Patients' characteristics, histories, laryngoscopic findings and laboratory findings were reviewed and analysed.

RESULTS

Of the 83 patients (82 adults and one adolescent) in the sample, 16 (19%) underwent airway intervention and conservative treatment. The factors that were significantly more likely to have been present in patients who received airway intervention were odynophagia, drooling, hoarseness, muffled voice, dyspnoea, swelling of the posterior side of the epiglottis, less than 50% of the glottis area being visible with laryngoscopy, and a high white blood cell (WBC) count. The only factor that was shown by multiple logistic regression analysis to be distinctively predictive of airway intervention was "less than 50% of the glottis area being visible" (P = .000, odds ratio = 23.630, sensitivity = 86.6%, specificity = 78.6%, predictive accuracy = 85.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

When considering whether airway intervention should be performed in cases of acute epiglottitis, the most important clinical factor is the laryngoscopic finding that "less than 50% of the glottis area being visible." Other important clinical factors to consider are odynophagia, drooling, hoarseness, muffled voice, dyspnoea, swelling of the posterior side of the epiglottis and a high WBC count.

Structure determination of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 × 2) surface using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD)

Detailed structure of the rutile-TiO₂(110)-(1 × 2) has been determined using the newly developed technique of total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD).

Study of hemostasis procedures for posterior epistaxis

OBJECTIVE

Hemostasis is difficult in patients with bleeding emanating from the deep regions in the nasal cavity; however, there is no standard treatment method. We studied hemostasis procedures in patients who visited our outpatient department and presented with idiopathic epistaxis extending from the posterior nasal cavity to Kiesselbach's area.

METHODS

The subjects were patients with epistaxis who visited our hospital between June 2008 and May 2010. We asked specific questions at the time of the hospital visit and examined patients using a nasal speculum, a flexible endoscope, and a rigid endoscope (0 or 70 degree) to identify bleeding sites. Hemostasis using electrocoagulation was selected as the first-line therapy for patients in whom a bleeding point had been identified, whereas hemostasis using a gauze tampon was performed in patients in whom the bleeding point was unknown. The subjects were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The bleeding point was unknown in most cases of recurrent posterior epistaxis. Electrocoagulation was the best hemostasis procedure. Identifying the bleeding points as much as possible and performing electrocoagulation at these sites was the preferred procedures.

CONCLUSION

We propose the treatment procedure for refractory epistaxis. When it is difficult to identify a bleeding point in a patient with refractory epistaxis due to a deviated nasal septum, a bleeding point should be identified after septoplasty; for bleeding from the sphenopalatine artery region, electrocoagulation or endoscopic cauterization of the sphenopalatine artery should be performed.

New techniques for producing aesthetic, direct full-crown composite resin restorations for primary molars: a 24-month follow-up study of eight cases

AIM

Although the demand for aesthetic restoration of primary molars has increased, techniques for producing aesthetic, direct full-crown restorations using light-cured composite resin for primary molars and the associated clinical outcome are not well established. The aim of this study was to describe the use of new techniques to produce aesthetic, direct full-crown restorations using light-cured composite resin for primary molars. The authors evaluate the clinical outcomes of the restoration method and investigate whether this technique could be used as an alternative to conventional methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two new techniques, the resin block and the clear matrix, were studied by treating 8 teeth. The occlusal surface of stainless steel crowns was used for impression-taking to facilitate accurate reproduction of the anatomic structure, and the aesthetic restoration was obtained simply and consistently.

RESULTS

At the 24-month follow-up evaluation, these new direct techniques were completely satisfactory. Marginal discoloration was observed in one tooth treated with the clear matrix technique, and a small partial wear was observed in another tooth treated with the resin block.

CONCLUSION

The new techniques for restoration resulted in functional and aesthetic reproduction of occlusal morphology. Therefore, these techniques could be considered a practical alternative to conventional methods.

Stress tuning of the fundamental absorption edge of pure germanium waveguides

One-dimensional stress dependence on the fundamental absorption edge of pure germanium (Ge) waveguide has theoretically and experimentally been studied, considering built-in two-dimensional stress-tensile Ge grown on Si. Based on the results, we have designed Ge Franz-Keldysh (FK) electroabsorption (EA) modulators to work at 1550 nm. Application of one-dimensional [110] compressive stress above -350 MPa on a pure Ge [-110] waveguide should allow 1550 nm light transmission, unless otherwise a pure Ge modulator can only operate at 1600 nm or longer due to the built-in two-dimensional tensile stress in Ge. The prediction has experimentally been verified using a SiNx stressor film. This concludes that the presented stress-tuning approach of the pure Ge waveguides should expand the operation wavelength of Ge FK-EA modulators to C band. Since stress tuning can be locally done in the back-end-of-line of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process, the presented stress-tuning method should enable "field-programable" control of the operation wavelengths of the monolithically integrated Ge modulators in Si photonics platform.

IgG4-related disease in the sinonasal cavity accompanied by intranasal structure loss

IgG4-related disease was recently proposed under the classification of systemic chronic inflammatory disease. In the field of otolaryngology, organ-specific diagnostic criteria have been established for the occurrence of this condition in the salivary glands, but not in the sinonasal cavity. Here we report a case involving a 70-year-old man with IgG4-related disease in the sinonasal cavity. The patient, with the chief complaint of nasal bleeding, first visited a physician. However, the patient experienced recurrent bleeding with intranasal structure loss and was subsequently referred to our hospital. His IgG4 level was elevated, and histopathological examination of a tissue sample obtained from the edematous sphenoid sinus showed increased IgG4-positive plasma cells and storiform fibrosclerosis. A definitive diagnosis of IgG4-related rhinosinusitis was made on the basis of comprehensive criteria for IgG4-related disease. The disease showed a progressively destructive course that was clearly different from that of chronic sinusitis and represented a very rare case of IgG4-related rhinosinusitis. IgG4-related disease originating in the sinonasal cavity is rare, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first primary case of IgG4-related disease that originated in one side of the sinonasal cavity and showed progressive destruction.

Identification of Onodi cell and new classification of sphenoid sinus for endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND

There is no effective classification method for the opening of the sphenoid sinus. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of identification of the Onodi cell and classification of the sphenoid sinus using sagittal computed tomography (CT) for sphenoidotomy.

METHODS

CT images of the sinuses of surgical patients (n = 261; 522 sides) were studied. Using sagittal CT, the relationships between the lateral side of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus and the optic nerve, and between the middle of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus and the skull base or pituitary gland were studied. Images were classified as demonstrating skull base (without the Onodi cell), optic canal, sella, or infra-sella (all with the Onodi cell) type.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifty-eight sides (49.2%) were of the skull-base type, 181 (34.7%) were of the optic-canal type, 58 (11.1%) were of the sella type, and 26 (5.0%) were of the infra-sella type; ie, the Onodi cell was present in 50.8% of sides. The width of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus became narrower as it shifted from the skull-base type to the infra-sella type.

CONCLUSION

Classification of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus based on the Onodi cell allows 3-dimensional assessment of the shape of the sphenoid sinus. We believe that the sphenoid sinus can be opened safely by full preoperative assessment of the anterior wall type, the position of the superior turbinate, and the position of the ostium of the sphenoid sinus.

Homozygous deletions of UGT2B17 modifies effects of smoking on TP53-mutations and relapse of head and neck carcinoma

Background

Smoking induces oncogenic TP53-mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Disruptive mutations of TP53-gene and expression of p16 protein [p16 (+)] in tumor tissue associate with worse and better prognosis, respectively. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2 family, polypeptide B17 (UGT2B17) detoxifies smoking-related metabolites. Differences among ethnic groups in UGT2B17 are extremely high. Homozygous deletions of UGT2B17 gene (UGT2B17-deletion) are a common copy number variant (CNV) among Japanese, but not a common CNV among Africans and Europeans. Thus, we examined Japanese patients with HNSCC to explore if UGT2B17-deletion and/or p16 (+) modify effects of smoking on TP53-mutations and affect relapse.

Methods

We conducted a posthoc analysis of a prospective cohort. Polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and direct sequencing were used to determine UGT2B17-deletion, p16 (+), and detailed TP53-mutations, respectively.

Results

UGT2B17-deletion was observed in 80% of this study population. For this 80%, TP53-mutations were significantly more common among smokers than non-smokers (P = 0.0016), but this difference between smokers and nonsmokers was not significant for the 20% with UGT2B17. In patients with UGT2B17-deletion and p16 (+), simultaneously, TP53-mutations were much more common among smokers than among non-smokers (81% versus 17%; P = 0.0050). Patients with both UGT2B17-deletion and disruptive TP53-mutations had higher relapse rates than other patients (hazard ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.30 to 3.80, P = 0.004) in a stepwise method.

Conclusions

These results suggest that UGT2B17-deletion interacting with p16 (+) may modify effects of smoking on TP53-mutations and may further interact with the disruptive TP53-mutations to raise relapse rates among Japanese patients with HNSCC.

Sources of organic matter in first flush runoff from urban roadways

This study aims to explore the influential sources of organic matter in first flush runoff from urban roadways by comparing organic carbon content and particle size distribution in road dust with those from discharge from vehicles during rainfall. Samples on first flush runoff and road dust were collected from urban roadways. In addition, vehicle drainage was assumed to flow from vehicles during rainfall events, so vehicle wash-off water was collected by spraying water onto the top and from the underside of vehicles to simulate accumulation during a vehicle run. In road dust, the organic carbon content in the <0.2 mm fraction was about twice that of the 0.2-2 mm fraction. The particle size distributions of both first flush runoff and vehicle wash-off water were similar, and particles <0.2 mm contributed to over 95% of the total volume. The dissolved organic carbon concentration in the vehicle wash-off water was considerably higher than that in the road dust/water mixture. The total organic carbon content in road dust was positively correlated with annual daily traffic. Therefore, vehicles were thought to strongly influence the nature of road dust.

Exoplanet detection. A terrestrial planet in a ~1-AU orbit around one member of a ~15-AU binary

Using gravitational microlensing, we detected a cold terrestrial planet orbiting one member of a binary star system. The planet has low mass (twice Earth's) and lies projected at ~0.8 astronomical units (AU) from its host star, about the distance between Earth and the Sun. However, the planet's temperature is much lower, <60 Kelvin, because the host star is only 0.10 to 0.15 solar masses and therefore more than 400 times less luminous than the Sun. The host itself orbits a slightly more massive companion with projected separation of 10 to 15 AU. This detection is consistent with such systems being very common. Straightforward modification of current microlensing search strategies could increase sensitivity to planets in binary systems. With more detections, such binary-star planetary systems could constrain models of planet formation and evolution.