Determination of the reference value and systematic bias of the functional reach test in Japanese elderly people by meta-analysis

AbstractBackground/PurposeThe functional reach test (FRT), which was developed as a clinical balance assessment tool, has been widely used as a fall risk assessment tool in elderly people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the reference value and the presence of systematic bias in the FRT using the methodology of meta-analysis in community-dwelling elderly people.MethodsRelevant research articles were sought from electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Igakucyuouzasshi. The search was conducted from January 1990 to August 2011, and the terms “functional reach” and “elderly” were used in combination in the search. The searches were limited to peer-reviewed research articles involving Japanese elderly people with good functioning, aged 60 years and older. Weighted means were calculated for the reference value of FRT by a fixed effect model and a random effect model. Furthermore, weighted least squares regression was performed to determine the presence of systematic bias in the reference value of FRT.ResultsA total of 19 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including 4274 participants whose mean age ranged from 69.0 to 81.4 years. The reference value of FRT was 29.44 cm (95% confidence interval: 27.60–31.27 cm) using the random-effect model, since the reference value using the fixed-effect model was found to have significant heterogeneity. Furthermore, multivariate weighted least squares regression was performed, and sex, age, height, and measurement method (one-arm or two-arm reach) were all independently associated with the FRT value (multiple R2 = 0.295, χ2 = 76.6, p < 0.001).ConclusionsSince participants' characteristics (sex, age, and height) and measurement method are probably related to systematic error in the FRT, judgment of physical function in elderly people using only the reference value determined in this study may have limitations

Impact of extracellular matrix on engraftment and maturation of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a rat myocardial infarct model

Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes show great promise in regenerating the heart after myocardial infarction; however, several uncertainties exist that must be addressed before clinical trials. One practical issue is graft survival following transplantation. Although a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel has been shown to enhance graft survival, the use of Matrigel may not be clinically feasible. The purpose of this study was to test whether a hyaluronan-based hydrogel, HyStem, could be a substitute for Matrigel. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes diluted with HyStem alone, HyStem plus pro-survival factors, or a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel (PSC/MG), were transplanted into a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. Histological analysis at 4 weeks post transplantation revealed that, among the three groups, recipients of PSC/MG showed the largest graft size. Additionally, the grafted cardiomyocytes in the recipients of PSC/MG had a more matured phenotype compared to those in the other two groups. These findings suggest that further studies will be required to enhance not only graft size, but also the maturation of grafted cardiomyocytes.ArticleScientific reports 7(1) : 8630-(2017)journal articl

Neurotropin protects rotator cuff tendon cells from lidocaine-induced cell death

Background Local anesthetics often are used in rotator cuff tears as therapeutic tools, although some cases have reported that they have detrimental effects. Neurotropin (NTP) is used widely in Japan as a treatment for various chronic pain conditions and is shown to have protective effects on cartilage and nerve cells. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of NTP against lidocaine-induced cytotoxicity. Methods Tenocytes from rotator cuff tendons were incubated with lidocaine, NTP, lidocaine with NTP, and a control medium. Cell viability was evaluated using the WST-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was detected via annexin V staining using flow cytometry. The expression of BCL-2 and cytochrome c, which are involved in the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, was evaluated via Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Results In the cell viability assay, lidocaine decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and NTP did not affect cell viability. Moreover, NTP significantly inhibited the cytotoxic effect of lidocaine. The flow cytometry analysis showed that lidocaine significantly induced apoptosis in tenocytes, and NTP considerably inhibited this lidocaine-induced apoptosis. Western blotting experiments showed that lidocaine decreased the protein expression of BCL-2, and that NTP conserved the expression of BCL-2, even when used with lidocaine. Immunohistochemical staining for cytochrome c showed that 0.1% lidocaine increased cytochrome c-positive cells, and NTP suppressed lidocaine-induced cytochrome c expression. Conclusions NTP suppresses lidocaine-induced apoptosis of tenocytes by inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Intra-articular/ bursal injection of NTP with lidocaine could protect tenocytes in rotator cuff tendons against lidocaine-induced apoptosis

Effect of suprascapular nerve injury on muscle and regenerated enthesis in a rat rotator cuff tear model

Background Massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are complicated by muscle atrophy, fibrosis, and intramuscular fatty degeneration, which are associated with postoperative tendon-to-bone healing failure and poor clinical outcomes. We evaluated muscle and enthesis changes in large tears with or without suprascapular nerve (SN) injury in a rat model. Methods Sixty-two adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into SN injury (+) and SN injury (–) groups (n=31 each), comprising tendon (supraspinatus [SSP]/infraspinatus [ISP]) and nerve resection and tendon resection only cases, respectively. Muscle weight measurement, histological evaluation, and biomechanical testing were performed 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Ultrastructural analysis with block face imaging was performed 8 weeks postoperatively. Results SSP/ISP muscles in the SN injury (+) group appeared atrophic, with increased fatty tissue and decreased muscle weight, compared to those in the control and SN injury (–) groups. Immunoreactivity was only positive in the SN injury (+) group. Myofibril arrangement irregularity and mitochondrial swelling severity, along with number of fatty cells, were higher in the SN injury (+) group than in the SN injury (–) group. The bone-tendon junction enthesis was firm in the SN injury (–) group; this was atrophic and thinner in the SN injury (+) group, with decreased cell density and immature fibrocartilage. Mechanically, the tendon-bone insertion was significantly weaker in the SN injury (+) group than in the control and SN injury (+) groups. Conclusions In clinical settings, SN injury may cause severe fatty changes and inhibition of postoperative tendon healing in large RCTs. Level of evidence Basic research, controlled laboratory study

Intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy in treating peritoneal carcinomatosis of colon cancer in mice compared with systemic radioimmunotherapy

医薬保健研究域医学系Peritoneal spread is one of major causes of mortality in colorectal cancer patients. In the current investigation, the efficacy of radio-immunotherapy (RIT) with i.p. administration of an anti-colorectal cancer IgG1, 131 I-A7, was compared to that with i.v. administration in BALB/c female mice bearing peritoneal nodules of LS180 human colon cancer cells, at the same toxicity level. Distribution of either i.p. or i.v. administered 131 I-A7 and i.p. administered irrelevant 131 I-HPMS-1 was assessed. Based on the results of toxicity determination at increments of 2 MBq and estimated dosimetry, an i.p. dose of 11 MBq and an i.v. dose of 9 MBq were chosen for treatment. Mice were monitored for long-term survival: untreated mice (n=11), mice undergoing i.p. RIT with 131 I-A7 (n=11), mice undergoing i.v. RIT with 131 I-A7 (n=11) and mice undergoing non-specific i.p. RIT with 131 I-HPMS-1 (n=5). Intraperitoneal injection of 131 I-A7 produced faster and greater tumor accumulation than i.v. injection: 34.2±16.5% of the injected dose per g (% ID/ g) and 11.1±3.6% ID/g at 2 h, respectively (P<0.0001). Consequently, cumulative radioactivity in tumors was 1.73-fold higher with i.p. injection. 131 I-HPMS-1 did not show specific accumulation. Non-specific RIT with 131 I-HPMS-1 (mean survival, 26.0±2.5 days) did not affect the survival as compared to no treatment (26.7±1.9 days). Intravenous RIT with 131 I-A7 prolonged the survival of mice to 32.8±1.8 days (P<0.01). Intraperitoneal RIT with 131 I-A7 improved the survival more significantly and attained cure in 2 of 11 mice (P<0.05 vs. i.v. RIT). In conclusion, i.p. RIT is more beneficial in treating peritoneal carcinomatosis of colon cancer than i.v. RIT in a murine model

Complex orbital state in manganites

The $e_g$-orbital states with complex coefficients of the linear combination of $x^2-y^2$ and $3z^2-r^2$ are studied for the ferromagnetic state in doped manganites. Especially the focus is put on the competition among uniform complex, staggered complex, and real orbital states. As the hole-doping $x$ increases, the real, the canted complex, and the staggered complex orbital states appears successively. Uniform complex state analoguous to Nagaoka ferromagnet does not appear. These complex states can be expressed as a resonating state among the planer orbitals as the orbital liquid, accompanied by no Jahn-Teller distortion.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Direct electron transfer biosensor for hydrogen peroxide carrying nanocomplex composed of horseradish peroxidase and Au-nanoparticle – Characterization and application to bienzyme systems

A reagentless electrochemical biosensor for hydrogen peroxide was fabricated. The sensor carries a monolayer of nanocomplex composed of horseradish peroxidase and Au-nanoparticle, and responds to hydrogen peroxide through the highly efficient direct electron transfer at a mild electrode potential without any soluble mediator. Formation of the nanocomplex was studied with visible spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. The sensor performance was analyzed based on a hydrodynamic electrochemical technique and enzyme kinetics. The sensor was applied to fabrication of sensors for glucose and uric acid through further modification of the nanocomplex-carrying electrode with the corresponding hydrogen peroxide-generating oxidases, glucose oxidase and urate oxidase, respectively