GENDER DIFFERENCES OF TRUNK AND LOWER LIMB POSITIONS DURING THE CUTTING MANEUVER

The purpose of this study was to analyze the gender differences in positions of the trunk and lower limb during the cutting maneuver. We captured the trunk and lower limb positions during shuttle-run cutting in 8 male and 7 female soccer players. The distance from the center of the trunk to the foot-plant point in the frontal and sagittal planes, knee flexion angle, knee valgus angle, femoral inclination angle, trunk forward-inclination angle, and trunk lateral-inclination angle were measured. Our results showed that female subjects demonstrated less femoral inclination, greater trunk lateral inclination away from the cutting limb, and smaller distance from the center of the trunk to the foot-plant point in the frontal plane than male subjects. The study results may reveal potential risks for ACL injury

SEX-BASED DIFFERENCES IN TRUNK ACCELERATION AND LANDING POSTURE DURING THE DROP VERTICAL JUMP TEST

The purpose of this study was to investigate sex-based differences in trunk acceleration and landing posture during the drop vertical jump test and to determine the relationships among relevant variables. Twenty college students (10 men and 10 women) performed drop vertical jumps from a 30cm high box. Trunk acceleration and the trunk, limb, knee, and ankle angles in the sagittal plane were measured. The unpaired Student t-test and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis. Female participants demonstrated greater vertical trunk acceleration and smaller trunk angles than male participants did. In addition, vertical acceleration correlated with trunk and limb angles. Therefore, these parameters, which can be estimated by using wearable sensors, may be useful for checking athletes at high risk for injury

Diphosphorylation of myosin light chain in smooth muscle cells in culture Possible involvement of protein kinase C

AbstractProstaglandin (PG) F2α (30 μM) stimulated both monophosphorylation and diphosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) in a smooth muscle cell line (SM-3). The diphosphorylation was significantly decreased by treatment with the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine (30 nM, 30 min) from 20.1% of total MLC to 4.5%. The protein kinase C down-regulation treatment of SM-3 cells with phorbol dibutyrate suppressed to 8.7% the MLC diphosphorylation activity in the SM-3 cells. This down-regulation treatment had little effect on the monophosphorylation. We propose that the MLC diphosphorylation in PGF2α-stimulated SM-3 cells in culture may be regulated through mechanisms sensitive to protein kinase C

Distinct roles of MLCK and ROCK in the regulation of membrane protrusions and focal adhesion dynamics during cell migration of fibroblasts

We examined the role of regulatory myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation of myosin II in cell migration of fibroblasts. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibition blocked MLC phosphorylation at the cell periphery, but not in the center. MLCK-inhibited cells did not assemble zyxin-containing adhesions at the periphery, but maintained focal adhesions in the center. They generated membrane protrusions all around the cell, turned more frequently, and migrated less effectively. In contrast, Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibition blocked MLC phosphorylation in the center, but not at the periphery. ROCK-inhibited cells assembled zyxin-containing adhesions at the periphery, but not focal adhesions in the center. They moved faster and more straight. On the other hand, inhibition of myosin phosphatase increased MLC phosphorylation and blocked peripheral membrane ruffling, as well as turnover of focal adhesions and cell migration. Our results suggest that myosin II activated by MLCK at the cell periphery controls membrane ruffling, and that the spatial regulation of MLC phosphorylation plays critical roles in controlling cell migration of fibroblasts

Probable Noonan syndrome in a boy without PTPN11 mutation, manifesting unusual complications.

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Evaluation of a new histologic staging and grading system for primary biliary cirrhosis in comparison with classical systems

Recently, our research team proposed a new histologic staging and grading system for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) that takes into account necroinflammatory activity and histologic heterogeneity. The present study aimed to confirm the usefulness of the new evaluation system. A total of 152 liver biopsy specimens and clinical data (including outcomes in patients with PBC before treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid) were analyzed with respect to the new system. Staging was evaluated on the basis of 3 histologic components (fibrosis, bile duct loss, and deposition of orcein-positive granules), and grading was assessed on the basis of chronic cholangitis activity and hepatitis activity. Concurrently, the classical systems, that is, the Scheuer and Ludwig staging systems, were also assessed and compared with our new system. PBC cases showed different distributions in each stage of the 3 systems. The new staging and grading system reflected liver dysfunctions before specific treatment. This was on a par with the results obtained using the classical systems. Development of cirrhosis-related conditions correlated well with the new staging system compared with the 2 classical staging systems, and in particular, the amount of deposition of orcein-positive granules could reflect development of cirrhosis-related conditions (scores 0-1 versus scores 2-3 groups, P < .0001). In conclusion, the new PBC staging system was demonstrated to reflect clinicolaboratory features, and its progression was associated with the development of cirrhosis-related conditions. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A Multicenter Phase 2 Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Preoperative Lenvatinib Therapy for Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LENS-HCC Trial)

Introduction: The phase III REFLECT trial demonstrated that lenvatinib was superior to sorafenib in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), time to progression, and objective response rate (ORR) for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assessed the efficacy and safety of preoperative lenvatinib therapy for patients with oncologically or technically unresectable HCC. Methods: In this multicenter single-arm phase II trial, patients with advanced HCC and factors suggestive of a poor prognosis (macroscopic vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastasis, or multinodular tumors) were enrolled. Patients with these factors, even with technically resectable HCC, were defined as oncologically unresectable because of the expected poor prognosis after surgery. After 8 weeks of lenvatinib therapy, the patients were assessed for resectability, and tumor resection was performed if the tumor was considered technically resectable. The primary endpoint was the surgical resection rate. The secondary endpoints were the macroscopic curative resection rate, overall survival (OS), ORR, PFS, and the change in the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min as measured before and after lenvatinib therapy. The trial was registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (s031190057). Results: Between July 2019 and January 2021, 49 patients (42 oncologically unresectable patients and 7 technically unresectable patients) from 11 centers were enrolled. The ORR was 37.5% based on mRECIST and 12.5% based on RECIST version 1.1. Thirty-three patients underwent surgery (surgical resection rate: 67.3%) without perioperative mortality. The surgical resection rate was 76.2% for oncologically unresectable patients and 14.3% for technically unresectable patients. The 1-year OS rate and median PFS were 75.9% and 7.2 months, respectively, with a median follow-up period of 9.3 months. Conclusions: The relatively high surgical resection rate seen in this study suggests the safety and feasibility of lenvatinib therapy followed by surgical resection for patients with oncologically or technically unresectable HCC