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Adolescent baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury are often reinjured during demanding practice sessions or games. The physical characteristics of baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury have been reported in several previous studies, but the nature of their medial elbow stabilizers is unknown. This study investigated the difference in characteristics of elbow valgus laxity and medial elbow stabilizer parameters between baseball players with and without a history of medial elbow injury, prior to and during repetitive pitching.Sixteen high school baseball players with no history of medial elbow injury (No-Injury group) and 14 high school baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury (Injury History group) participated. The participants pitched 100 fastballs. Medial elbow joint-space gapping and strain ratio indicating tissue elasticity of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and forearm flexor-pronator muscles (FPMs) were measured by ultrasound before pitching and following each of five 20-pitch blocks. Student t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare each parameter between groups.Medial elbow joint-space gapping and UCL elasticity were not significantly different between the 2 groups in each pitching block (P .05). The strain ratio of FPMs before pitching and after 100 pitches in the Injury History group were significantly greater than that in the No-Injury group (No-Injury vs. Injury History group: before pitching, 0.47 ± 0.19 vs. 0.68 ± 0.26, P = .016; 100 pitches, 0.35 ± 0.12 vs. 0.53 ± 0.20, P = .007). In the other pitching blocks, there was no significant difference between groups, but the effect size was medium and showed a similar tendency (20 pitches, P = .069, Cohen d = 0.69; 40 pitches, P = .116, Cohen d = 0.59; 60 pitches, P = .102, Cohen d = 0.62; 80 pitches, P = .058, Cohen d = 0.72).The results of this study indicate that FPM elasticity at baseline and during repetitive pitching in players with a history of medial elbow injury was harder than in players without injury history. This may suggest that baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury increase support of their previously injured medial elbow by hardening FPM elasticity to counteract elbow valgus stress generated during pitching, which may lead to long-term change in the FPMs. Therefore, physical management for this change may be important to prevent reinjury in baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury.

Background Medial elbow injuries are common in baseball pitchers. This study investigated the reliability of medial elbow elastography measurement and the characteristics of the medial elbow stabilizers. Methods Medial elbow joint space gapping and the strain ratios of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and the forearm flexor-pronator muscle (FPM) were measured at rest and during gripping in 29 healthy college students. The intraclass correlation coefficients of elastography were calculated. The data were compared between tissues and between rest and gripping. Results The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC1,3) of the elastography measurements were 0.91 and 0.83 for the UCL and 0.80 and 0.85 for the FPM for each examiner. Medial elbow joint space gapping during gripping (3.1 ± 0.6 mm) was significantly less than that at rest (3.8 ± 0.8 mm, P Conclusions Elastography measurements of the UCL and FPM have almost perfect reliability. Gripping reduces medial elbow joint space gapping compared with rest. For both tissues, gripping reduces their elasticity compared with rest. The elasticity of the UCL is less than that of the FPM both at rest and during gripping.

Background: In recent years, the functional movement screen (FMS) and FMS training have attracted attention as a means of preventing injury, but no studies have examined the effect of such training in high-school baseball players. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of FMS training on FMS score, physical function and baseball performance in high-school baseball players. Methods: Subjects in this randomized controlled clinical trial were high-school male baseball players assigned to either an FMS training group (intervention group) or a control group. The intervention group performed FMS training 4 times per week for 12 weeks. FMS ability, physical function, and baseball performance were measured prior to the intervention, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after the intervention in the subjects’ school environment. Results: A total of 71 baseball players aged 15 to 17 years were recruited and assigned to either an intervention group (n = 37) or control group (n = 34). There was no significant difference in the characteristics of participants between the 2 groups. Most FMS scores improved to 12 weeks after continued training. In the intervention group compared with the control group, deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up and rotary stability FMS score, total FMS score and eyes closed single leg stance time significantly increased after 8 weeks of training. While hurdle step, inline lunge, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, total FMS score, and eyes closed single leg stance time significantly increased, pitching ball speed significantly decreased at the end of the 12 week training period. Eyes closed single leg stance time and feeling of fatigue significantly improved 12 weeks after training. The number of subjects who scored less than 14 for the total FMS score in the intervention group compared with control group were significantly less after 8 and 12 weeks of FMS training. Conclusion: FMS training for 8 weeks contributes to improving FMS scores for high-school baseball players, but FMS scores go down if FMS training is not continued. Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Center, Tokyo, Japan: UMIN000027553. Registered on May 30, 2017.

To prevent elbow injury in baseball players, various methods have been used to measure medial elbow joint stability with valgus stress. However, no studies have investigated higher levels of elbow valgus stress. This study investigated medial elbow joint space gapping measured ultrasonically resulting from a 30 N valgus stress vs. gravitational valgus stress after a repetitive throwing task.The study included 25 high school baseball players. Each subject pitched 100 times. The ulnohumeral joint space was measured ultrasonographically, before pitching and after each successive block of 20 pitches, with gravity stress or 30 N valgus stress. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficient analysis were used.The 30 N valgus stress produced significantly greater ulnohumeral joint space gapping than gravity stress before pitching and at each successive 20-pitch block (P .01). For the 2 stress methods, ulnohumeral joint space gapping increased significantly from baseline after 60 pitches (P .01). Strong significant correlations were found between the 2 methods for measurement of medial elbow joint space gapping (r = 0.727-0.859, P .01).Gravity stress and 30 N valgus stress may produce different effects with respect to medial elbow joint space gapping before pitching; however, 30 N valgus stress appears to induce greater mechanical stress, which may be preferable when assessing joint instability but also has the potential to be more aggressive. The present results may indicate that constraining factors to medial elbow joint valgus stress matched typical viscoelastic properties of cyclic creep.

Objective. The study used a 3D digitizer to determine three-dimensional motion analysis of the 2nd cervical (C2) spinous process at end range cervical rotation with the scapula in different positions. Methods. 30 healthy adults participated in this study. Different scapula positions were adopted bilaterally and positioned passively at normal resting, depression, adduction, and abduction. Under each scapula position, bilateral end range cervical rotation and displacement of the C2 spinous process were analyzed by a 3D digitizer. Results. Displacement of the C2 spinous process relative to the occiput was significantly correlated with range of cervical rotation under all scapular positions (p Conclusion. These results suggest that measurement of upper cervical mobility using the 3D digitizer is a reliable method that holds promise in the evaluation of people with cervical spine disorders.

異なる感音難聴者群に話者の異なる57式語表を用いた明瞭度検査資料に基づき母音異聴 (誤答) を誤答図により分析した。1) 単独5母音異聴の主体は頭子音添加である。2) 単独5母音に比し子音の後続母音異聴は明らかに少ない。3) 単独母音と子音との誤答頻度はほぼ同等である。これは明瞭度50～20%台のすべての正答単音の各単音別累積正答率と日常会話における対応する単音の出現率との間に関連が認められず, 5母音が特に良聴といえない所見によっても裏付けられた。4) 頭子音添加の種類, 頻度 (%) は各母音で異なり, 録音の話者によっても異なる。5) 1, 2群の9段階別耳数構成に有意差がないので両群間の異聴データの差は録音話者の差と考える。6) 単独5母音の頭子音添加 (子音化) は今回用いた57, 57S, TY-89, 67Sに共通し, 無視できない率を示した。その機序は不明であるが, 末梢聴覚系における神経活動パターンの異常によると推測され, 今後解明すべき問題である。

A body of experimental evidence indicates that transcription and/or mRNA processing factors interacting with the polyglutamine disease gene products play crucial roles in the pathology. PQBP-1 is one of these factors and it has been shown to interact with the spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1) disease gene product, ataxin-1. Our previous data suggested that relatively high expression of PQBP-1 in the cerebellum might explain the selective neuronal degeneration of SCA1. To further test whether PQBP-1 expression level regulates neuronal death, we generated transgenic mice of human PQBP-1 driven by a regulatory element for ubiquitous gene expression. The mice showed a late-onset and gradually progressive motor neuron disease-like phenotype, which might be related to neurogenic muscular atrophy observed in SCA1 patients. Ataxia could not be discriminated from predominant progressive weakness. Pathological examinations of the transgenic mice revealed loss of Purkinje and granular cells in the cerebellum as well as that of spinal motor neurons, corresponding to the pathology of human SCA1. These findings show that excessive action of PQBP-1 causes neuronal dysfunction and support PQBP-1 being involved in the pathology of SCA1.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of formaldehyde solution on rat left ventricular function and compare it with those in hypertrophic hearts treated with isoproterenol by pressure-volume measurements with the catheter method. After 20-30 min. of intravenous infusion of 3.7% formaldehyde solution (FA) at 10 μl (3.7 mg)/kg/min, normal and hypertrophic hearts showed significant decreases in left ventricle end-systolic pressure (ESP), heart rate and cardiac out-put per minute, indicating an acute pumping failure. Hypertrophic hearts showed significantly smaller ESP, stroke volumes and cardiac output than those in normal hearts. Systolic pressure-volume area at midrange left ventricular volume (PVA mLVV : a mechanical work capability index) was significantly smaller than that in normal hearts and per cent of mean PVA mLVV versus pre-infusion mean value in hypertrophic hearts was significantly decreased compared to normal hearts 30 min. after FA infusion. The marked decrease in pH, base excess and no changes in PaO 2 and PaCO 2 suggest metabolic acidosis. The correction of metabolic acidosis with 9% NaHCO 3 did not influence on the acute pumping failure, indicating that metabolic acidosis did not cause it. Ultrastructural observations revealed marked dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum with intact sarcolemmal membranes and no disintegration of muscle myofibrils. Ryanodine receptors and calcium (Ca 2+ ) pumps (SERCA2A) located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum have major roles in the cytosolic Ca 2+ handling. Taken together, acute pumping failure by FA may derive from the impairment of Ca 2+ handling in the cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.

Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica at an institution for mentally retarded in Shizuoka Prefecture is reported. Five of the 50 patients showed E. histolytica cysts in their stools and 4 were positive serologically. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism revealed that the isolates were pathogenic-type E. histolytica. Epidemiological analysis revealed that the amebic infection was caused by the abnormal behavior of mentally retarded patients. Administration of diloxanide furoate and metronidazole for cyst-carriers eliminated cysts from the stool and lowered the antibody titer.

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma in the oropharynx of a 41 year-old woman is reported. Histologically, the tumor was plasmacytoma consisting mainly of matured plasma cells and showing a deposit of amyloid in the interstitial structure. Immunoelectrophoretic studies of the concentrated urine specimen revealed a kappa-type Bence-Jones protein even though there was no increase in blood M-protein. Lineac electron radiation of 5,100 rad was given over a period of eight weeks but no effect was noted. After the tumor was surgically removed, follow up of the patient was made for 2 years without evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

By the enzyme-labeled antibody method, Escherichia coli was examined for cellular localization of O antigen. Peroxidase was conjugated with γ-globulin which had been isolated from anti-O rabbit serum. Coupling was accomplished, by using p, p'-difluoro m, m'-dinitrophenylsulfone (FNPS).Conjugated antibody reacted with Escherichia coli cells or cell wall preparation. The electron microscope was used for observation of the reaction. Electron density increased in places unequally and mosaic-like in the three most external layers of the cell wall. This observation is interesting, since Petris has suggested that lipopolysaccharide may make mosaic with lipoprotein in the cell wall of Escherichia coli. When the conjugate reacted with heterogeneous Escherichia coli cells, there was no increase in electron density. The peroxidase-labeled antibody method seems to be excellent, as it has a high specificity and conjugate penetrates tissues more easily than ferritin.In addition, the ferritin-labeled antibody method, the cell fractionation method, and the Ouchterlony method were used to observe the cellular localization of O antigen.Endotoxin was extracted by the phenol-water method or with trichloracetic acid. When observed by electron microscopy, endotoxin showed a variety of shape and had an extremely large myelin-like structure. The section of endotoxin appeared as three layers, and had some similarities to the outer surface of the whole cell.

A six year follow-up study of the hearing acuity of children wearing hearing aids performed at a public school.It was found that in great majority of cases threshold flucutations remained within ±10dB during 6 years.Deterioration of hearing were observed in aided, in unaided and in some cases on both ears.One case showed reversible thresholod shift every time on the aided ear.

A rat brain P3 fraction enriched in ER derived microsomes was centrifuged through a 20-40% linear sucrose gradient in a Beckman Ti-14 Zonal rotor and 11 fractions were obtained. The distribution of marker enzyme activities and protein were determined in these 11 subfractions. NADPH-Cytochrome C reductase, choline phosphotransferase were employed for endoplasmic reticulum, Na+,K+-ATPase, 5'-nucleotidase, and acetylcholinesterase were employed for plasma membrane, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase was employed for myelin. The bulk of the protein was recovered in the 24-34% sucrose fractions, Na+,K+-ATPase, 5'-nucleotidase, and acetylcholinesterase were in the 22-38% sucrose fractions while NADPH-cytochrome C reductase and CNPase were enriched in the 20-22% sucrose fractions. The ethanolamine and the serine base exchange activities had a bimodal distribution, with highest specific activities in sucrose fractions 32-34% and 20-24%. Choline base exchange activity was nearly undetectable in all the fractions. The specific activities of CDP-choline phosphotransferase, and phospholipid-N-methyltransferase were highest in the 20-22% sucrose fraction. Phospholipid-N-methyltransferase activity was significantly stimulated in the presence of exogenous phospholipid acceptors as phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine or phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, however, the greatest response was with phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine. The rat brain P3 fraction yielded a population of a membrane at the light end of the sucrose gradient which has a buoyant density similar to myelin but seemed to be enriched with NADPH cytochrome C reductase and phospholipid modifying enzymes. This is in contrast to liver microsomes submitted to a similar fractionation.

The two-level screening audiometry has been performed every year since 1980 in Kobe City. The method is as follows. When a child fails to respond to 30 dB at 1 kHz or 25 dB at 4 kHz, he is tested at a level 20 dB higher. Thus one can obtain more information as to the grade and type of the hearing impairment of a child than by the usual one-level screening method. According to the two-level test the hearing status of each child was classified into 9 types, i.e. , 0 (normal) to 8. Thus the hearing types of both ears of each child are described in two digits, for example 3–6. This method may be useful for statistical purposes as well as for individual care of hearing impaired school children, especially for children who need educational care but cannot consult the otological clinics for some reason. From the otological point of view, our method offers valuable information about the unawared * sensorineural deafness in children of school age. ( * The children themselves, school teachers, and parents do not aware of its presence.)

Two hundred and forty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue were reviewed. Most of them were initially treated by irradiation and then treated surgically for salvage. Cervical node metastases were frequently developed during or after the initial therapy. The patients in the advanced stage showed poor prognosis due to uncontrolled cervical node metastases and/or local recurrence. In the patients with no initial cervical node involvement, better local control and less frequent incidence of subsequently developed cervical node metastases were observed in the group treated by surgery than in those treated by irradiation. In the patients with initial cervical node involvement, no significant difference was noted in the survival yielded by either treatment modality. In advanced carcinoma, combined treatment with radiotherapy and surgical therapy seemed to give better results than with either radiotherapy or surgical therapy alone in this study.

Incorporation of ethanolamine and monomethylethanolamine into their corresponding phospholipid by the base exchange enzymes activated an Na+, K+-ATPase associated with a rat brain microsomes enriched preparation. The serine and dimethylethanolamine base exchange catalyzed incorporation reactions inhibited this particular Na+, K+-ATPase. These effects require Ca2+ and several other structural analogues which are not incorporated into phospholipid were without affect on this ATPase.

It had been previously demonstrated that the oleate activation of synaptosomal membrane phospholipase D liberated choline which was available for acetylcholine formation. The present investigations were undertaken to determine if oleate might have an effect on choline uptake by synaptosomes. It was observed that oleate interfered with choline uptake when incubations were carried out at 37 degrees C but uptake was stimulated at 3 degrees C. Oleate was the most effective fatty acid of several tested. Preliminary observations suggest the presence of a membranous form of choline acetyltransferase.

An attempt was made to create an active antilymphocytic immunity in dogs. Pooled niesenteric canine lymph nodes were harvested, processed, and coupled via bis-diazobenzidine to heterologous (rabbit, horse, cow, and human) gamma-globulin. Mongrel dogs were immunized by serial injection of this material. There was a decrease in the absolute lymphocyte count in animals receiving lymph node tissue coupled with rabbit, horse, and bovine gamma-globulin; however, this decrease was insignificant statistically (0.2 > P > 0.1). Twenty-eight to thirty days following initiation of the immunization course, kidneys were exchanged in paired animals without any attempt at immunosuppression except for continuation of the immunization regimen. The average survival of the transplanted kidney and of the recipients was not significantly different from that of a control group of animals. Although there was no strong evidence of an active antilymphocytic immunity in the present study, modification of such a technique might prove effective as a means of prevention of homograft rejection or in creating autoimmunity to neoplasms of the leukocytes or solid tissue.

Evoked responses to pure-tone pulses in normal cats under pentobarbital anesthesia were averaged by an electronic computer. One recording point which represents most effectively the auditory responses of a cat was determined on the middle ectosylvian gyrus. The typical averaged response consists of a diphasic wave (P 1 N 1 -complex). Mean thresholds and standard deviations of averaged cortical responses in 122 normal cats (128 ears) were determined at each frequency from 500 hertz to 8,000 Hz. Some examples of the audiograms of experimentally deafened cats obtained by this computer audiometry were shown. This averaged cortical response technique might serve as the most practical and useful method of measuring the auditory responses of animals.