Possible involvement of vitamin K insufficiency in the progression of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral column (OPLL) is a disease characterised by ectopic bone formation in the spinal ligament that causes progressive neurological impairment. However, there are no suitable treatments for OPLL. Here, we compared the general characteristics and haemostasis of patients with OPLL and those with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Plate Hooking Transtibial Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Pull-Out Repair with Medial Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy for Knee Osteoarthritis with Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear.

Medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT) are a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) because it involves disruption of the hoop structure of the meniscus. In recent years, MMPRT pullout repair has been performed to restore the native anatomy of the meniscus attachment. In addition, medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) has been performed with MMPRT pullout repair to reduce the pressure on the medial compartment.

Finite Element Analysis of the Mechanical Strength of Phalangeal Osteosynthesis Using Kirschner Wires.

Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation is widely used to repair metacarpal and phalangeal fractures. In this study, we simulated K-wire osteosynthesis of a 3-dimensional (3D) phalangeal fracture model and investigated the fixation strength at various K-wire diameters and insertion angles to clarify the optimal K-wire fixation method for phalangeal fractures. The 3D phalangeal fracture models were created by using computed tomographic (CT) images of the proximal phalanx of the middle finger in five young healthy volunteers and five elderly osteoporotic patients.

Handgrip strength is correlated with activities of daily living, balance, and body composition in patients with thoracolumbar compression fracture.

This study assessed the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and activities of daily living, balance, walking speed, calf circumference, body muscle, and body composition in elderly patients with thoracolumbar vertebral compression fracture (VCF). A cross-sectional study in a single hospital was performed with elderly patients diagnosed with VCF. After admission, we evaluated HGS, 10-meter walk test (speed), Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), numerical rating scale of body pain, and calf circumference.

Restoration of the Knee Medial Collateral Ligament and Complete Soft-tissue Coverage After Medial Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy.

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. This surgical procedure is indicated in patients with medial osteoarthritis who are relatively young and active and have a good range of motion. In most medial open-wedge HTO cases, the fascia, medial collateral ligament (MCL), and part of the knee joint capsule are carefully separated and moved to expose the osteotomy site, but many patients experience postoperative swelling and pain in the affected limb due to bleeding from the osteotomy site and MCL failure.

Validation of a Handprint for Clinical Evaluation of Dupuytren's Contracture.

 We have developed a handprint-based method for visualizing and quantifying the palmar contact of patients with Dupuytren's contracture. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the generated handprint was useful for assessing the severity of flexion contracture of the fingers and for evaluating the therapeutic effects of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) injection for Dupuytren's contracture.  The handprint was created by applying medical-grade ethanol-containing hand sanitizer over the entire palmar surface of the affected hand and then pressing it on thermal paper for word processors.

A unidirectional porous beta-tricalcium phosphate promotes angiogenesis in a vascularized pedicle rat model.

Background: Various types of artificial bone have been developed as alternatives to autologous bone grafts. In designing artificial bone, a porous structure is essential for the infiltration of blood and cells, which promotes angiogenesis within the bone matrix and ultimately ossification. However, it remains unclear what kind of pore system best promotes ossification.

Process for the Purification of cis-p-Coumaric Acid by Cellulose Column Chromatography after the Treatment of the trans Isomer with Ultraviolet Irradiation.

A methanolic solution of trans-p-coumaric acid was exposed to ultraviolet radiation and a mixture solution of the trans and cis isomers was subjected to cellulose column chromatography, eluting with an aqueous 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid solution containing methanol (90:10, v/v). Separation of the trans and cis isomers was achieved.