483 research outputs found
Medial Meniscal Tears in Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knees: Effects of Posterior Tibial Slope on Medial Meniscal Tear
PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of meniscal tears in patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees, and to determine the influence of posterior tibial slope (PTS) on medial meniscal tears in ACL-deficient knees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 174 patients (174 knees) with a mean age of 30.7 years who underwent ACL reconstruction for chronic ACL tears. We divided the patients into two groups: low group (135 knees with a PTS or =13degrees). RESULTS: The incidence of medial meniscus tears was 44% (77/174), and that of lateral meniscus tears was 35% (61/174). The mean PTS in patients with medial meniscal tears was 11.4degrees+/-3.0degrees, whereas that in patients without medial meniscal tears was 9.8degrees+/-2.4degrees. The incidence of meniscal tears was 57.8% (78/135) in the low group and 89.7% (35/39) in the high group (p or =13degrees is a risk factor for secondary medial meniscal tears in ACL-deficient knees. So, we suggest that PTS is one of the considerations for determining early ACL reconstruction to prevent secondary meniscal tears.ope
Solid–liquid interface temperature measurement of evaporating droplet using thermoresponsive polymer aqueous solution
The present study aims to measure the solid–liquid interface temperature of an evaporating droplet on a heated surface using a thermoresponsive polymer. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) was used owing to its sensitive optical and mechanical properties to the temperature. We also measured the refractive index variation of the pNIPAM solution by using the surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi). In particular, the present study proposed a new method to measure the solid–liquid interface temperature using the correlation among reflectance, refractive index, and temperature. It was found that the reflectance of a pNIPAM solution decreased after the droplet deposition. The solid–liquid interface temperature, estimated from the reflectance, showed a lower value at the center of the droplet, and it gradually increased along the radial direction. The lowest temperature at the contact line region is present because of the maximum evaporative cooling. Moreover, the solid–liquid interface temperature deviation increased with the surface temperature, which means solid–liquid interface temperature should be considered at high temperature to predict the evaporation flux of the droplet accurately
Optical spectroscopic investigation on the coupling of electronic and magnetic structure in multiferroic hexagonal RMnO3 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) thin films
We investigated the effects of temperature and magnetic field on the
electronic structure of hexagonal RMnO3 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) thin films
using optical spectroscopy. As the magnetic ordering of the system was
disturbed, a systematic change in the electronic structure was commonly
identified in this series. The optical absorption peak near 1.7 eV showed an
unexpectedly large shift of more than 150 meV from 300 K to 15 K, accompanied
by an anomaly of the shift at the Neel temperature. The magnetic field
dependent measurement clearly revealed a sizable shift of the corresponding
peak when a high magnetic field was applied. Our findings indicated strong
coupling between the magnetic ordering and the electronic structure in the
multiferroic hexagonal RMnO3 compounds.Comment: 16 pages including 4 figure
Characteristics of Radial Tears in the Posterior Horn of the Medial Meniscus Compared to Horizontal Tears
BACKGROUND: The clinical and radiologic features of radial tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn were compared with those of horizontal tears.
METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2008, 387 consecutive cases of medial meniscal tears were treated arthroscopically. Among these, 91 were radial tears in the medial meniscus posterior horn, and 95 were horizontal tears in the posterior segment of the medial meniscus. The patients' data (age, gender, duration of symptom, body mass index, and injury history), radiographic findings (Kellgren and Lawrence score, posterior tibial slope, and femorotibial angle), and chondral lesions were recorded.
RESULTS: The patient factors of age, gender, and body mass index were related to radial tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn. Radial tears were significantly correlated with Kellgren and Lawrence score, varus alignment, posterior tibial slope, and severity of the chondral lesion.
CONCLUSIONS: Radial tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn are a unique clinical entity that are associated with older age, females and obesity, and are strongly associated with an increased incidence and severity of cartilage degeneration compared to horizontal tears.ope
Экологический мониторинг влажности почвы бесконтактным методом по точке росы
Разработан новый измерительный комплекс для определения влажности почвы методом точки росы. В результате, разработанная установка (опытный образец) обеспечит значительно более высокую степень автоматизации, по сравнению с весовыми методами лабораторного анализа, а так же снизит расходы предприятия, позволит контролировать качество полива различных видов растений.The new measuring complex is developed for definition of humidity of the soil by a dew point method. As a result, the developed installation (prototype) will provide much higher extent of automation, in comparison with weight methods of the laboratory analysis, and will also cut expenses of the enterprise, will allow to control quality of watering of different types of plants
Electronic structures of hexagonal RMnO3 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) thin films
We investigated the electronic structure of multiferroic hexagonal RMnO3 (R =
Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) thin films using both optical spectroscopy and
first-principles calculations. Using artificially stabilized hexagonal RMnO3,
we extended the optical spectroscopic studies on the hexagonal multiferroic
manganite system. We observed two optical transitions located near 1.7 eV and
2.3 eV, in addition to the predominant absorption above 5 eV. With the help of
first-principles calculations, we attribute the low-lying optical absorption
peaks to inter-site transitions from the oxygen states hybridized strongly with
different Mn orbital symmetries to the Mn 3d3z2-r2 state. As the ionic radius
of the rare earth ion increased, the lowest peak showed a systematic increase
in its peak position. We explained this systematic change in terms of a
flattening of the MnO5 triangular bipyramid
Vascular Protective Role of Samul-Tang in HUVECs: Involvement of Nrf2/HO-1 and NO
Samul-Tang (Si-Wu-Tang, SMT), composed of four medicinal herbs, is a well-known herbal formula treating hematological disorder or gynecologic disease. However, vascular protective effects of SMT and its molecular mechanisms on the vascular endothelium, known as the central spot of vascular inflammatory process, are not reported. The aim of this study was to investigate vascular protective effects of SMT water extract in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Water extract of SMT was prepared and identified by HPLC-PDA analysis. Expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were determined by western blot. Nuclear localization of NF-κB and Nrf2 was visualized by immunofluorescence and DNA binding activity of NF-κB was measured. ROS production, HL-60 monocyte adhesion, and intracellular nitric oxide (NO) were also measured using a fluorescent indicator. SMT suppressed NF-κB translocation and activation as well as expression of CAMs, monocyte adhesion, and ROS production induced by TNF-α in HUVECs. SMT treated HUVECs showed upregulation of HO-1 and NO which are responsible for vascular protective action. Our study suggests that SMT, a traditionally used herbal formula, protects the vascular endothelium from inflammation and might be used as a promising vascular protective drug
Characteristics of P wave in Patients with Sinus Rhythm after Maze Operation
Maze operation could alter P wave morphology in electrocardiogram (ECG), which might prevent exact diagnosis of the cardiac rhythm of patients. However, characteristics of P wave in patients with sinus rhythm after the operation have not been elucidated systematically. Consecutive patients who underwent the modified Cox Maze operation from January to December 2007 were enrolled. The standard 12-lead ECG and echocardiography were evaluated in patients who had sinus rhythm at 6 months after the operation. The average axis of P wave was 65±30 degrees. The average amplitude of P wave was less than 0.1 mV in all 12-leads, with highest amplitude in V1. The most common morphology of P wave was monophasic with positive polarity (49%), except aVR lead, which was different from those in patients with enlarged left atrium, characterized by large P-terminal force in the lead V1. There were no significant differences in P-wave characteristics and echocardiographic parameters between patients with LA activity (30.6%) versus without LA activity (69.4%) at 6 months after the operation. In conclusion, the morphology of P wave in patients after Maze operation shows loss of typical ECG pattern of P mitrale: P wave morphology is small in amplitude, monophasic and with positive polarity
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