LEG AND VERTICAL STIFFNESS OF TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES USING RUNNING-SPECIFIC PROSTHESES

Since running-specific prostheses (RSPs) emulate spring-like leg functions, human musculoskeletal system is often modelled as a spring-mass model. In the model, the leg (KM) and vertical stiffness (KM) is known to strongly influence running performance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the asymmetry in stiffness between the intact limbs and prosthetic limbs during sprinting. Eight sprinters with unilateral transfemoral amputation performed overground sprinting at maximum speed. & and Kw,t were calculated from vertical ground reaction force data in both the intact and prosthetic limbs. & was significantly greater in intact limbs than prosthetic limbs. Although there was no significant difference on Kvert, cohen's d of Kvert between legs was 1.28. Therefore KM might have potential significant difference

COMPARISON OF GROUND REACTION FORCES IN TWO RUNNING-SPECIFIC PROSTHESES (SPRINTER 1 E90 AND CHEETAH XTREME): A CASE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to describe the difference in ground reaction forces (GRF) between tvm different running-specific prostheses (RSPs) during maximal sprinting in a transfemoral amputee. One male sprinter performed maximal sprinting with two types of RSP (Sprinter 1E90 and Xtreme) on over 40 m runway with 7 force plates located halfway. Sprint velocity was found to be greater in the trials performed with Sprinter 1 E9O than with Xtreme. The peak VGRF, zero fore-aft shear and impulse of the anteriorposterior component of the GRF with PST limb differed among the two RSPs. These results suggest that the participant in this study would show the differences in variables influencing on the sprint velocity between two types of RSPs

JOINT MOMENTS OF UNILATERAL TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES USING RUNNING-SPECIFIC PROSTHESIS DURING SPRINTING

The aim of this study was to investigate the bilateral difference of the joint moments between an intact leg (INT) and a prosthetic leg (PST) in unilateral transfemoral amputees (TFAs) wearing running-specific prosthesis during sprinting. Eight sprinters with unilateral TFAs performed maximal sprinting on a 40-m runway with 7 force platforms located in between. Hip and knee joint extension and flexion moments during stance phase in INT were significantly greater than those of PST. However, ankle plantarflexion moment in PST was significantly greater than that of INT. Since kinetic asymmetry between legs is thought to be related with running-related injury, sprinter with unilateral TFAs may have a higher risk of musculoskeletal injury at hip and knee joints

Hyperbaric Oxygen Exposure Reduces Age-Related Decrease in Oxidative Capacity of the Tibialis Anterior Muscle in Mice

The effects of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen on the oxidative capacity of the skeletal muscles in mice at different ages were investigated. We exposed 5-, 34-, 55-, and 88-week-old mice to 36% oxygen at 950 mmHg for 6 hours per day for 2 weeks. The activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which is a mitochondrial marker enzyme, of the tibialis anterior muscle in hyperbaric mice were compared with those in age-matched mice under normobaric conditions (21% oxygen at 760 mmHg). Furthermore, the SDH activities of type IIA and type IIB fibers in the muscle were determined using quantitative histochemical analysis. The SDH activity of the muscle in normobaric mice decreased with age. Similar results were observed in both type IIA and type IIB fibers in the muscle. The decrease in the SDH activity of the muscle was reduced in hyperbaric mice at 57 and 90 weeks. The decreased SDH activities of type IIA and type IIB fibers were reduced in hyperbaric mice at 90 weeks and at 57 and 90 weeks, respectively. We conclude that exposure to hyperbaric oxygen used in this study reduces the age-related decrease in the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscles

Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum after trauma

Intra-abdominal free gas is a finding of extra-intestinal gas in the abdominal cavity on radiography or CT, mainly suggesting gastrointestinal perforation and necessitating emergency surgery. Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is diagnosed when there is no obvious gastrointestinal perforation, but there is presence of free gas in the abdominal cavity with an unidentifiable cause. Herein, we report a case of idiopathic pneumoperitoneum secondary to high-energy trauma following a car rollover accident. A 95-year-old man was transferred to our clinic after a car-to-car rollover accident. He had abrasions on his right upper arm and left abdomen that appeared to be the result of the accident ; however, no other apparent traumatic injuries were noted. There was no pain in the abdomen, and peritoneal irritation symptoms were also not noted. A CT scan showed fine free air. Although idiopathic pneumoperitoneum could not be ruled out, considering the patient’s background and the possibility of traumatic small bowel perforation, emergency surgery was performed. A thorough search of the abdominal cavity was performed ; however, the surgery was completed without an obvious perforation site. Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum should be considered as a differential disease in cases who have free air on abdominal CT but clinically lack obvious inflammatory reaction findings

Development and scale-up of perfusion cell culture process for higer productivity

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Clinical significance of PMI with GC patients

Aim : We investigated whether preoperative or postoperative inflammatory markers and psoas muscle index (PMI), and their change after surgery, could predict postoperative recurrence in gastric cancer (GC). Methods : Thirty-five patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for pStage II and III GC were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), and PMI, as well as postoperative recurrence, was analyzed presurgery and at 6 months after surgery. Results : In the preoperative data, there was a significant association between postoperative recurrence and high NLR, low total protein, low albumin, low PNI, and high GPS. In the data from 6 months after surgery, there was a significant association between postoperative recurrence and high NLR, high C-reactive protein, and high GPS. The reduction in PMI at 6 months after surgery relative to preoperative data was significantly greater in the cases with recurrence than in those without recurrence. No patients whose PMI increased compared with presurgery had recurrence. Conclusions : The postoperative reduction in PMI at 6 months after surgery relative to presurgery could be a predictive marker of recurrence after curative gastrectomy for patients with pStage II and III GC

Treatment for recurrence after esophagectomy

Background : With regard to the recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery, the prognosis has improved with the progress of multimodal perioperative treatment. In this study, the recurrence pattern, treatment method, and prognosis of recurrent cases following esophageal cancer surgery were retrospectively examined. Materials and Methods : Three hundred seven patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and others were enrolled in the study. With respect to clinicopathologic factors and recurrence patterns, recurrence risk factors, recurrence period, treatment for recurrence, and prognosis were investigated. Results : Ninety two percent of all recurrent cases were observed within two years after radical esophagectomy. Locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and mixed recurrence were observed in 38 (35%), 56 (51%), and 16 (14%) cases, respectively. Patients with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly longer survival in comparison to those with metastasis to other organs (p = 0.0032). When analyzed using the treatment method, patients who underwent surgery (only surgery or additional postoperative chemotherapy) exhibited better survival in comparison to those who underwent other treatments. Discussion : Detailed and strict follow-up within two years are necessary in cases with deeper than muscular invasion, cases with extensive lymph node metastasis, or cases with lymphatic or vascular invasion

Environmental Load Evaluation of Reuse Parts for Automobiles

Abstract Reuse parts are parts removed from scrap automobiles that can be still used. In general, reuse parts reduce not only the cost for replacement of failed parts but also the environmental load. This study quantitatively evaluates environmental loads, such as the amount of CO2 emission during the production of brand new parts, in order to quantify the beneficial effect of the reuse parts. The amount of CO2 emission can be calculated from the power consumption and operating time of each tool and machine employed. Reuse parts generate 0.62 kg of CO2 per automobile when produced, which corresponds to 1,212 kg per year. However, the amount of CO2 emitted from scrapping automobiles without producing new replacement parts is 3,063 kg per year. Therefore, the production of replacement parts emits three times less CO2 than scrapping

At-wavelength figure metrology of total reflection mirrors in hard x-ray region

Hirokatsu Yumoto, Hidekazu Mimura, Satoshi Matsuyama, Soichiro Handa, Akihiko Shibatani, Keiko Katagishi, Yasuhisa Sano, Makina Yabashi, Yoshinori Nishino, Kenji Tamasaku, Tetsuya Ishikawa, and Kazuto Yamauchi "At-wavelength figure metrology of total reflection mirrors in hard x-ray region", Proc. SPIE 6317, Advances in X-Ray/EUV Optics, Components, and Applications, 631709 (29 August 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.681587