132 research outputs found

    Prevention of Suppurative Knee Arthritis after Knee Ligament Reconstructive Surgery―“Povidone-iodine Pickled” Reconstructed Ligament―

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    Despite many reports describing the surgical procedure for knee ligament reconstruction, especially the anterior cruciate ligament, there have been few reports on infection prevention and none on sterilizing reconstruction materials using povidone-iodine during surgery. Here we report our surgical techniques for infection prevention. The participants included 522 patients who underwent arthroscopic knee ligament reconstruction at our hospital from April 2001 to October 2005. Despite taking various measures after cases of infection in 2001, such as the selection of sutures and artificial ligaments, and the use of indwelling intra-articular drains, the infection rate was not reduced to zero. Recently, we felt that soaking reconstruction ligaments in povidone-iodine and then washing with saline (“povidone-iodine pickling”) immediately prior to burr-hole insertion may prevent bacterial infections caused by surgical instruments and the surgery. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effects of our techniques for intraoperative and postoperative infection prevention, including “povidone-iodine pickling”. Although there were 6 cases of infection out of 100 in 2001, 3 out of 112 in 2002, 2 out of 121 in 2003, and 1 out of 121 in 2004, there were no cases of infection from September 2004 to October 2005 when “povidone-iodine pickling” was positively carried out. According to a 2015 study on the use of povidone-iodine, immersing a graft dropped on the floor during surgery in a chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone-iodine solution significantly reduced contamination of the graft. While the use of povidone-iodine for infection prevention may produce cytotoxicity, it is essential to mitigate the risk of septic arthritis. Going forward, we need to understand the specific pathologic basis of any cytotoxicity caused by the use of povidone-iodine on reconstructed ligaments

    Interactive Rakuchu Rakugai-zu (Views in and Around Kyoto)

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    This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First International Conference on Culture and Computing, C&C 2020, held as part of the 22nd International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2020, in July 2020. The conference was planned to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, but had to change to a virtual conference mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Rakuchu Rakugai-zu is a screen painting illustrating in and around Kyoto created from the beginning of 16th century until 17th century. As in the Funaki Version of Rakuchu Rakugai-zu everyday lives of over 2, 000 people in Kyoto are vividly painted, the painting is a good material to learn their customs in early 17th century in Kyoto. However, it is difficult to understand the details of the painting, if background information is not provided. How to document such information and how to provide people such information would be crucial for the future of museums. To cope with this, we are carrying out a project to develop the interactive Rakuchu Rakugai-zu, Funaki Version. Firstly, we digitize the painting with ultra-high resolution. Secondly, using historical books regarding the customs of that era., we identify clothes and behaviors of each person in the painting and linked them to the person in the painting. Thirdly, we develop the technology to provide such information interactively using text or voice. Fourthly, we develop present Funaki Version including various manga characters so that we can compare old and present customs of people. Integrating these contents and technologies we are now developing the interactive Rakuchu Rakugai-zu, Funaki Version

    Effects of 3 Years of Treatment with a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis on Markers of Bone Turnover and Bone Mineral Density

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    Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in long-term SERM. Methods: The study was performed on 25 female outpatients with primary osteoporosis treated at the Osteoporosis Department of Showa University School of Medicine. All patients had been on raloxifene (60mg/day) for ≥ 3 years. The mean patient age was 67.1 years and the women were, on average, 18.4 years postmenopausal. Levels of bone turnover markers (urinary naltrexone [NTX] and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase [BAP]) and bone mineral density (BMD; front lumbar vertebrae, three proximal femur sites, and two distal radius sites) were determined before and then annually after starting raloxifene for a period of 3 years. Results: Over the 3-year treatment period, significant decreases were seen in both urinary NTX and BAP levels. Although BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and distal radius was increased over the 3 years after initiation of raloxifene treatment, the difference failed to reach statistical significance. The BMD of the femoral neck decreased, whereas that of the femoral trochanter and femoral intertrochanter area increased. Conclusions: The selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene is suitable for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal patients because it reduces bone turnover while maintaining adequate bone density

    Melon diversity on the Silk Road by molecular phylogenetic analysis in Kazakhstan melons

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    To uncover population structure, phylogenetic relationship, and diversity in melons along the famous Silk Road, a seed size measurement and a phylogenetic analysis using five chloroplast genome markers, 17 RAPD markers and 11 SSR markers were conducted for 87 Kazakh melon accessions with reference accessions. Kazakh melon accessions had large seed with exception of two accessions of weedy melon, Group Agrestis, and consisted of three cytoplasm types, of which Ib-1/-2 and Ib-3 were dominant in Kazakhstan and nearby areas such as northwestern China, Central Asia and Russia. Molecular phylogeny showed that two unique genetic groups, STIa-2 with Ib-1/-2 cytoplasm and STIa-1 with Ib-3 cytoplasm, and one admixed group, STIAD combined with STIa and STIb, were prevalent across all Kazakh melon groups. STIAD melons that phylogenetically overlapped with STIa-1 and STIa-2 melons were frequent in the eastern Silk Road region, including Kazakhstan. Evidently, a small population contributed to melon development and variation in the eastern Silk Road. Conscious preservation of fruit traits specific to Kazakh melon groups is thought to play a role in the conservation of Kazakh melon genetic variation during melon production, where hybrid progenies were generated through open pollination

    Teriparatide Treatment for An Atypical Fracture of the Femoral Shaft: A Case Report

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    An 82-year-old woman had been taking alendronate for 5 years and 5 months, which had been prescribed for osteoporosis at a local clinic. Severe left thigh pain began without any trauma. X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings showed atypical femoral fracture(AFF). Treatment with teriparatide and weight-bearing therapy was selected. Bone union was achieved without surgery. Teriparatide has been reported to promote AFF healing. At four years and 9 months from the beginning of treatment, our patient has no left femoral pain and no impairment to activities of daily living. Careful follow-up will be necessary as long-term outcomes of conservative AFF treatment have not been reported to date

    Evaluation of efficacy and safety of lascufloxacin for nursing and healthcare associated pneumonia: single-arm, open-label clinical trial: A study protocol

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    Background: Lascufloxacin hydrochloride (LSFX) is a quinolone antibiotic that inhibits DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV of bacteria, it is anticipated to minimize antibiotic resistance in bacteria. It exhibits antibacterial activity against a relatively wide range of bacterial species, including anaerobic bacteria, and its efficacy and safety against community-acquired pneumonia have been shown; however, its efficacy and safety against nursing and healthcare associated pneumonia (NHCAP) have not been verified.Methods/Design: Here, a single-arm, open-label, uncontrolled study was conducted in which LSFX was administered to patients with NHCAP at 24 facilities. The research subjects (77 cases) were orally administered 75 mg of LSFX once a day for 7 days. The primary endpoint was the clinical efficacy at the time of test of cure (TOC) (TOC; 5–10 days after the end of LSFX administration), while the secondary endpoints were the efficacy at the time of end of treatment, early clinical efficacy, microbiological efficacy at the time of TOC and end of treatment, and safety evaluation of LSFX.Discussion: NHCAP is a common pneumonia in clinical settings and a notable pneumonia whose mortality is high compared to community-acquired pneumonia. The present study showed the efficacy and safety of LSFX against NHCAP, which could lead to a larger number of therapeutic options for NHCAP
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