Comparison of flexion and extension protocol for testing knee joint position sense

新しい固有感覚測定装置使用のための基礎データを得る目的で膝関節の運動方向の違いが位置覚測定の結果に与える影響を調べた.対象は,膝関節疾患および外傷の既往がない大学生8名とした.位置覚測定は設定角度を膝屈曲15°として,設定角度まで膝屈曲30°から伸展させるタスクと,膝完全伸展位から屈曲させるタスクを行った.2つのタスク間で再現角度,定数誤差値および絶対誤差値の平均値に差があるかを確かめたが,いずれも有意差を認めなかった.その結果,運動方向の違いは,位置覚測定では測定結果に影響を与えないことが示唆された.これは,位置覚測定において運動方向を任意に選択しても結果に影響しないことを示している.膝関節構成体は運動方向の違い,即ち屈曲と伸展で異なった刺激を受けていると考えられるが測定結果に有意差を認めなかったことからメカノレセプターの機能を再考する必要があると考えた.今後はACL 損傷者と健常者とを比較することにより,位置覚測定で運動方向の違いがACL 中のメカノレセプターに与える影響を明らかにすることができると考える.It is reported that the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has a sensitive function that regulates proprioception. The partial or total rupture of ACL could reduce proprioception. In this study, we investigated whether the direction of joint motion has an affect on proprioceptive sensibility. Eight subjects (5 men and 3 women) who did not have any history of previous injury or surgery to either knee joint participated. Two kinds of tasks for knee joint position sense were examined using a specially made article to record target joint angles and to calculate reproduced angles after limb movement. Task A involved extension from a 30°flexed position and task B involved flexion from a totally extended position. The repositioning angle departed from target angle (15°) within one degree in each task. Mean real error indicated a tendency to underestimate reproduced joint angles in all tasks, although the magnitude of the error was small. Absolute error was around two degrees. No significant difference was found in repositioning angle, real error or absolute error between task A and task B. These data show that direction of joint motion does not affect knee joint position sense. It is suggested that joint direction can be chosen at will in the measurement of knee joint position sense. Further investigations may include measurements of ACL injured patients to clarify the influence of ACL mechanoreceptors by comparison with the present study as a control group

Nuclear Photoabsorption at Photon Energies between 300 and 850 Mev

We construct the formula for the photonuclear total absorption cross section using the projection method and the unitarity relation. Our treatment is very effective when interference effects in the absorption processes on a nucleon are strong. The disappearance of the peak around the position of the $D_{13}$ resonance in the nuclear photoabsorption can be explained with the cooperative effect of the interference in two-pion production processes,the Fermi motion, the collision broadenings of $\Delta$ and $N^*$, and the pion distortion in the nuclear medium. The change of the interference effect by the medium plays an important role.Comment: 22pages,7figures,revtex

Heterolytic Activation of Dihydrogen Molecule by Hydroxo-/Sulfido-Bridged Ruthenium–Germanium Dinuclear Complex. Theoretical Insights

Heterolytic activation of dihydrogen molecule (H₂) by hydroxo-/sulfido-bridged ruthenium–germanium dinuclear complex [Dmp­(Dep)­Ge­(μ-S)­(μ-OH)­Ru­(PPh₃)]⁺ (<b>1</b>) (Dmp = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl, Dep = 2,6-diethylphenyl) is theoretically investigated with the ONIOM­(DFT:MM) method. H₂ approaches <b>1</b> to afford an intermediate [Dmp­(Dep)­(HO)­Ge­(μ-S)­Ru­(PPh₃)]⁺-(H₂) (<b>2</b>). In <b>2</b>, the Ru–OH coordinate bond is broken but H₂ does not yet coordinate with the Ru center. Then, the H₂ further approaches the Ru center through a transition state <b>TS</b>_{<b>2</b>–<b>3</b>} to afford a dihydrogen σ-complex [Dmp­(Dep)­(HO)­Ge­(μ-S)­Ru­(η²-H₂)­(PPh₃)]⁺ (<b>3</b>). Starting from <b>3</b>, the H–H σ-bond is cleaved by the Ru and Ge–OH moieties to form [Dmp­(Dep)­(H₂O)­Ge­(μ-S)­Ru­(H)­(PPh₃)]⁺ (<b>4</b>). In <b>4</b>, hydride and H₂O coordinate with the Ru and Ge centers, respectively. Electron population changes clearly indicate that this H–H σ-bond cleavage occurs in a heterolytic manner like H₂ activation by hydrogenase. Finally, the H₂O dissociates from the Ge center to afford [Dmp­(Dep)­Ge­(μ-S)­Ru­(H)­(PPh₃)]⁺ (<b>PRD</b>). This step is rate-determining. The activation energy of the backward reaction is moderately smaller than that of the forward reaction, which is consistent with the experimental result that <b>PRD</b> reacts with H₂O to form <b>1</b> and H₂. In the Si analogue [Dmp­(Dep)­Si­(μ-S)­(μ-OH)­Ru­(PPh₃)]⁺ (<b>1</b>_<b>Si</b>), the isomerization of <b>1</b>_<b>Si</b> to <b>2</b>_<b>Si</b> easily occurs with a small activation energy, while the dissociation of H₂O from the Si center needs a considerably large activation energy. Based on these computational findings, it is emphasized that the reaction of <b>1</b> resembles well that of hydrogenase and the use of Ge in <b>1</b> is crucial for this heterolytic H–H σ-bond activation

Genetic variations in the CYP17A1 and NT5C2 genes are associated with a reduction in visceral and subcutaneous fat areas in Japanese women.

Visceral fat accumulation has an important role in increasing the morbidity and mortality rates, by increasing the risk of developing several metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. New genetic loci that are associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures have been identified by genome-wide association studies in Caucasian populations. This study investigates whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that confer susceptibility to high blood pressure are also associated with visceral fat obesity. We genotyped 1279 Japanese subjects (556 men and 723 women) who underwent computed tomography for measuring the visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) at the following SNPs: FGF5 rs16998073, CACNB2 rs11014166, C10orf107 rs1530440, CYP17A1 rs1004467, NT5C2 rs11191548, PLEKHA7 rs381815, ATP2B1 rs2681472 and rs2681492, ARID3B rs6495112, CSK rs1378942, PLCD3 rs12946454, and ZNF652 rs16948048. In an additive model, risk alleles of the CYP17A1 rs1004467 and NT5C2 rs11191548 were found to be significantly associated with reduced SFA (P=0.00011 and 0.0016, respectively). When the analysis was performed separately in men and women, significant associations of rs1004467 (additive model) and rs11191548 (recessive model) with reduced VFA (P=0.0018 and 0.0022, respectively) and SFA (P=0.00039 and 0.00059, respectively) were observed in women, but not in men. Our results suggest that polymorphisms in the CYP17A1 and NT5C2 genes influence a reduction in both visceral and subcutaneous fat mass in Japanese women