Traumatic Lumbosacral Dislocation Treated with Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Intersomatic Cages

A 35-year-old man was struck by a car on his right side and presented with paraparesis of both lower extremities. Radiographic examination revealed multiple transverse process fractures and anterior displacement of L5 on S1. Computed tomography revealed a bilateral anterior facet dislocation of the fifth lumbar vertebra on the sacrum. MRI showed rupture of the posterior ligamentous complex. A posterior lumbar interbody fusion using two intersomatic cages and pedicle screw instrumentation and posterior fusion were performed. Although no major disc lesion was found at the level of L5-S1 on preoperative MRI, a severely collapsed L5-S1 disc was found intraoperatively. Two years after surgery, the patient was asymptomatic with normal neurological findings, and has resumed normal activity. We believe that lumbosacral dislocation can be considered a three-column injury with an L5-S1 disc lesion, and, therefore, requires a solid circumferential segmental arthrodesis to improve fusion rate

Measurement and Modeling for the Mitigation of Organic Crystallization Fouling

One of the aromatic compound plants in Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has a heavy crystallization fouling problem. In order to solve this problem, using a low power gamma ray sensor, we found the location of heaviest fouling and measured the fouling growth rate. We also made a crystallization fouling laboratory test unit (simulator) to study the effects of some factors, such as temperature, liquid velocity, surface roughness and liquid composition. Fouling rates of the industrial plant cooler and the laboratory fouling test unit were modeled using a combination of Kern-Seaton and Reitzer models. However, the parameters of the plant and test unit did not agree with each other, perhaps because of scale up problems. We also measured the melting process (removal) of the fouling with the test unit. The heat flux necessary to melt the foulant was measured and used for the actual plant melting system. In the industrial plant, a steam trace melting system was installed at the position of heaviest fouling, and the plant now runs better than before

How Japanese Encodes Caused-Motion Events: Variations in the Coding Patterns According to the Means of Causation

本稿の目的は古賀 (to appear) に引き続き、日本語における使役移動事象の言語化を考察することにある。古賀 (to appear) では、使役移動事象のうちKICK を使役手段とする事象の言語化のみに焦点を絞り、特定の意味要素の表現頻度や表現パターンが自律移動事象のそれとは大きく異なることを指摘して、その理由を明らかにした。本稿では、KICK 以外にPUT、CARRY、CALL を加えて、より包括的に使役移動事象の言語化を分析する。分析を通して、日本語における使役移動事象の言語化が使役手段の種類に応じて大きく異なることを示し、そのような差異をもたらす言語個別的および普遍的要因を浮き彫りにする。Following up on Koga (to appear), which focused on the linguistic encoding of caused-motion events in Japanese, involving KICKING as a means of causation, this paper attempts to investigate how Japanese encodes caused-motion events more comprehensively, involving not only KICKING but PUTTING, CARRYING, and CALLING as means of causation. Drawing on the experimental data, I elucidate that i) the frequency of semantic components, particularly deixis, ii) the semantic component coded in the head position (i.e., main verb), and iii) the constructions used to depict motion events, vary significantly according to the means of causation, and probe into language-specific as well as universal factors that bring about such variations.論文 Article

Percutaneous Drainage Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Pyogenic Spondylitis with Iliopsoas Abscess

Study DesignA retrospective study.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes in patients with pyogenic spondylitis accompanied by iliopsoas abscess who were treated by percutaneous drainage combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy.Overview of LiteratureTo the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of the use of percutaneous drainage combined with HBO therapy for the treatment of this condition.MethodsTwenty-three patients (13 men, 10 women; mean age, 69.0 years; range, 45-85 years) were treated with percutaneous drainage combined with HBO therapy in addition to commonly used conservative therapy. Mean follow-up duration was 27.7 months (range, 12-48 months). Clinical outcomes and imaging examinations were retrospectively investigated.ResultsSymptoms such as low back pain, radicular pain, and hip pain resolved in all patients immediately after treatment. Mean time from the start of treatment to the return of C-reactive protein levels to normal or baseline values recorded before the onset of spondylitis was 28.3 days (range, 8-56 days). In the final set of follow-up radiographic studies, all patients were free from progressive destructive changes. Follow-up magnetic resonance images or computed tomography with contrast enhancement confirmed the disappearance or near-total resolution of the iliopsoas abscess cavity with healing of the pyogenic spondylitis in all 23 patients. No recurrences were observed during follow-up.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that patients with pyogenic spondylitis accompanied by iliopsoas abscess can be cured without a prolonged period of therapy or recurrence using this treatment