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The flexor pronator muscles (FPMs) have been reported to act as dynamic stabilizers against valgus forces in overhead-throwing athletes. Several studies have demonstrated the anatomic, biomechanical, and clinical effects of the FPMs. However, no studies have investigated the in vivo kinematics of the FPMs against the valgus forces on the elbow. This study aimed to clarify the clinical contribution of the FPMs as dynamic stabilizers in medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) insufficiency. Eighteen baseball players with MUCL injury participated in this study. The elbow was flexed to 90°, and the forearm was placed in the supinated position. Manual valgus stress was applied to the elbow joint until maximal shoulder external rotation was achieved. The width of the ulnohumeral joint space was measured using ultrasonography, and any changes in medial elbow pain were recorded before and after isometric forearm pronation. All the subjects had MUCL tenderness and felt medial elbow pain when elbow valgus stress was applied. The width of the medial joint space was significantly larger on the injured side than on the healthy side (5.1 ± 1.0 mm vs. 3.2 ± 1.0 mm) with elbow valgus stress. During isometric forearm pronation, the width of the medial joint space was significantly decreased (3.1 ± 0.9 mm vs. 2.6 ± 1.0 mm) and medial elbow pain had completely diminished. Isometric forearm pronation reduces valgus stress–induced widening of the medial joint space and medial elbow pain in patients with MUCL insufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthroscopic debridement for elbow osteoarthritis has been widely used as a minimally invasive treatment; however, in some cases, it can be a technically demanding procedure, such as in patients with severe osteoarthritis with large spur formation and severe synovitis. The anterocentral transbrachialis portal is a recently developed portal for elbow arthroscopy, which allows easy and convenient access to the anterior compartment for sufficient debridement. This report describes in detail the anterocentral transbrachialis portal and its usefulness for debridement of the elbow joint in osteoarthritis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several guidelines for the prevention of throwing injuries recommend a sufficiently long off-season; however, few studies providing scientific evidence to support these recommendations exist. Our study aimed to clarify the association between off-season duration and throwing elbow injuries among elementary school–aged baseball players. This study enrolled 680 elementary school–aged baseball players who underwent medical checkups. The experience with elbow pain and the off-season duration were investigated via the administration of a self-completed questionnaire. Ultrasonographic assessment of the elbow joint was performed on the day of the medical checkup to assess for morphologic abnormalities. The prevalence of elbow pain and morphologic abnormalities of the medial epicondyle (medial epicondyle lesions) was significantly decreased when the subjects' off-season duration was longer. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of elbow pain was significantly lower in the group whose off-season lasted 1 to 2 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.62; P =.0006) and in the group whose off-season lasted longer than 2 months (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.95; P =.0316). The risk of medial epicondyle lesions was also significantly lower in the group whose off-season lasted 1 to 2 months (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.22-0.67; P =.0005) and in the group whose off-season lasted longer than 2 months (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.23-0.56; P <.0001). On the contrary, no significant correlation was found between capitellar osteochondritis dissecans and off-season duration. Off-season duration has a significant correlation with elbow pain and morphologic abnormalities of the medial elbow joint in elementary school–aged baseball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A limited number of studies have shown a decline in antibody titers in healthcare workers beyond six months after the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, and has been insufficiently investigated yet in the respective Asian ethnic groups. We conducted a longitudinal observational study on 187 healthcare workers and other personnel and healthy adults at least eight months after vaccination at the International University of Health and Welfare. The baseline (before the third dose of BNT162b2) anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG level was 569[377–943] AU/mL 245[240–250] days after the second dose. The mean antibody titer of participants aged 20–29 years was 4.6 times higher than that of participants aged 70–79 years. After booster vaccination, serum anti-RBD antibody levels were elevated in all participants with a median titer of 23,250[14,612–33,401] AU/mL 21[19–23] days after the third dose. The median post-booster antibody titers in the 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70–79 years age groups were 30.6, 33.0, 33.8, 27.4, 50.1, and 90.3 times, respectively, higher than the pre-booster ones. Antibody levels were 15% lower in daily drinkers compared to nondrinkers, suggesting that daily alcohol consumption can prevent antibody levels from increasing after vaccination. Our results show decreased antibody titers after two doses of the vaccine, especially in the elderly; however, the third dose of the vaccine resulted in a significant increase in antibody titers in all age groups. We provided information on antibody responses following primary and booster doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]