Contraction-specific differences in maximal muscle power during stretch-shortening cycle movements in elderly males and females

Elderly people (age 75 years; n=48 males and 34 females) were studied in order to elucidate gender differences in elderly subjects on the determinants of muscle power (force and velocity) during a stretch-shortening cycle. All subjects performed three maximal counter-movement vertical jumps using both legs, on a force platform (Kistler 9281 B). The eccentric (Ep) and concentric (Cp) phases of the jumps were analyzed. The Ep was further divided into an acceleration phase (Ep_acc: from the start of the downward movement to the maximal negative velocity) and deceleration phase (Ep_dec: from the maximal negative velocity to the end of the downward movement). Jump height for the men was higher than for the women (P < 0.001). During both Ep_acc and Ep_dec no significant differences were observed between males and females in force and power generation. However, the men had a higher peak muscle power during the Cp, which may be explained exclusively by the velocity determinant (P < 0.001). No specific gender-related strategy appeared to influence the motor pattern of the movement. The comparable eccentric force generation of the leg extensors in both genders suggests a similar ability to cope with eccentric muscle actions during everyday activities. In contrast, the marked lower capacity for concentric contractions in women may result in an impaired performance, especially in activities where intense and rapid movements are essential, for example when reversing a forward fall. This may be one reason why elderly women are more prone to falls than are elderly men. Accepted: 19 September 2000     

高压氧对人重症牙周炎牙龈血流量、血流速度和血浓度作用及机理研究

目的 :探讨高压氧 (HBO)对人重症牙周炎牙龈血流量 (GBF)、血流速度 (BCV)和血浓度 (BC)的作用及HBO治疗牙周炎的机理。方法 :选自口腔中心门诊的 3 0例重症牙周炎患者 ,随机分为二组 ,即治疗组和对照组 ,治疗组用HBO治疗 ,对照组用漱口液漱口。用激光多普勒血流仪测定二组治疗前后的GBF、BCV和BC。结果 :HBO能使牙周炎患者GBF增加 2 .1倍 ,BCV增加 6.7倍 ,BC降低为治疗前的 5 8.2 % ,与对照组比均有非常显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :HBO能使牙周炎患者GBF和BCV增加 ,BC减少 ,能改善牙龈微循环 ,对治疗牙周炎有积极意义     

颈静脉孔区计算机三维重建

目的　探讨计算机三维重建技术在颈静脉孔区研究中的应用。　方法　用生物塑化技术制作 1 2mm厚的薄层断面标本 ,在SGI工作站上对颈静脉孔及相关结构进行三维重建。　结果　计算机三维重建图像可显示颈静脉孔区重要神经、血管 ,能够清楚显示颈内动脉、颈内静脉及舌咽、迷走、副神经束与颅底骨结构的三维解剖关系。重建结构能够以单独或联合方式显示 ,并可绕任意轴进行旋转 ,任意径线及角度均可适时测量。　结论计算机三维重建技术对颈静脉孔区的解剖研究具有重要应用价值     

Physical loading and performance as predictors of back pain in healthy adults A 5-year prospective study

We investigated muscle strength, aerobic power, and occupational and leisure-time physical loading as predictors of back pain in a 5-year follow-up study. A cohort of 456 adults aged 25, 35, 45 and 55 years, free of back pain, participated in measurements of anthropometric characteristics, aerobic power and muscle strength characteristics at baseline. The subjects' levels and types of physical activity and occupational physical loading were also determined. At 5 years after the baseline examinations 356 of these subjects (78.1 %) were reached by mail, and 262 of them (73.6%) properly completed and returned a questionnaire including a detailed back pain history for the 5 years following the baseline measurements. Of this number 56 subjects (21 %) who reported back pain ( > 30 on a scale from 0 to 100) and functional impairment during the 5-year follow-up composed the marked back pain group. Other subjects (n = 71, 27%) noting lesser symptoms were included in the mild back pain group; 135 subjects (52%) reported having had no back pain. The subjects with marked back pain were on average taller than the subjects without back pain, while no such difference was found in body mass. Heavy occupational musculoskeletal loading (P = 0.005) and high general occupational physical demands (P = 0.036) predicted future back pain. Leisuretime physical activity, aerobic power or muscle strength characteristics were not predictive of future back pain.     

Arteries to the great and second toes based on three-dimensional analysis of 100 cadaveric feet

Summary Three-dimensional arteriography was used to analyse the arterial supply of the great and second toes of 100 cadaveric feet down to the microsurgical level. This information will aid in successful composite tissue transfers of these toes to the hand. The arterial blood supply of the great toe came principally from the first dorsal metatarsal a. (78%) and the first plantar metatarsal a. (22%), and secondarily from the medial tarsal aa. and the three terminal branches of the medial plantar a. For the second toe, the first dorsal metatarsal a. (78%) and the first plantar metatarsal a. (22%) supplied blood from the medial side, and the second dorsal metatarsal a. (78%) and the second plantar metatarsal a. (22%) supplied blood from the lateral side. Seven arterial patterns were found in the interdigital web space. The socalled general pattern was seen in the first web space in 65% of the feet examined. In the second web space it was found in 85%. The first intermetatarsal space sometimes contained a large artery arising directly from the dorsalis pedis or first proximal perforating a. as well as the first dorsal and first plantar metatarsal arteries. In this space, arterial patterns were classified into 4 types and 9 subtypes based on the origins and proximal courses of these arteries. The so-called standard pattern was found in only 19% of the feet, while an arterial pattern with a common proximal trunk on the plantar side for the first dorsal and first plantar metatarsal aa. was found most frequently (46%). In the second intermetatarsal space the second dorsal metatarsal a. was usually located on the dorsum.

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Les artères de l'hallux et du deuxième orteil. Analyse tridimensionnelle de cent pieds de cadavres

Résumé L'artériographie en trois dimensions a été utilisée pour analyser la vascularisation artérielle de l'hallux et du deuxième orteil de cent pieds de cadavres jusqu'au niveau microchirurgical. Ces renseignements aideront au succès des transferts de tissus composites de ces orteils vers la main. La vascularisation artérielle de l'hallux vient principalement de la première artère métatarsienne dorsale (78 %) et de la première artère métatarsienne plantaire (22 %) et secondairement des artères tarsiennes médiales et des trois branches terminales de l'artère plantaire médiale. Pour le deuxième orteil, la première artère métatarsienne dorsale (78 %) et la première artère métatarsienne plantaire (22 %) vascularisent le versant médial, la deuxième artère métatarsienne dorsale (78 %) et la deuxième artère métatarsienne plantaire (22 %) vascularisent le versant latéral. Sept dispositions artérielles ont été trouvées dans la commissure interdigitale. Une disposition dénommée commune a été vue dans la premiere commissure sur 65 % des pieds examinés, dans la deuxième commissure dans 85 % des cas. Le premier espace intermétatarsien contient parfois une volumineuse artère, naissant directement de l'artère dorsale du pied ou de la première artère perforante proximale, mais aussi des premières artères métatarsiennes dorsale ou plantaire. Dans cet espace, les dispositions artérielles sont classées en 4 types et 9 sous-types, basés sur l'origine et le trajet proximal de ces artères. La disposition standard a été trouvée seulement sur 19 % des pieds, alors qu'une disposition comprenant un tronc proximal commun situé sur le versant plantaire, fournissant les premières artères métatarsiennes dorsale et plantaire, a été trouvée plus fréquemment (46 %). Dans le deuxième espace intermétatarsien, la deuxième artère métatarsienne dorsale était habituellement située sur le versant dorsal.

     

Production and release of infectious hepatitis C virus from human liver cell cultures in the three-dimensional radial-flow bioreactor

Lack of efficient culture systems for hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been a major obstacle in HCV research. Human liver cells grown in a three-dimensional radial-flow bioreactor were successfully infected following inoculation with plasma from an HCV carrier. Subsequent detection of increased HCV RNA suggested viral replication. Furthermore, transfection of HCV RNA transcribed from full-length cDNA also resulted in the production and release of HCV virions into supernatant. Infectivity was shown by successful secondary passage to a new culture. Introduction of mutations in RNA helicase and polymerase regions of HCV cDNA abolished virus replication, indicating that reverse genetics of this system is possible. The ability to replicate and detect the extracellular release of HCV might provide clues with regard to the persistent nature of HCV infection. It will also accelerate research into the pathogenicity of HCV, as well as the development of prophylactic agents and new therapy.     

Development of a non-invasive treatment system for urinary incontinence using a functional continuous magnetic stimulator (FCMS)

A system composed of a functional continuous magnetic stimulator (FCMS) and a saddle-type coil has been developed for non-invasive treatment of urinary incontinence, especially stress incontinence and urge incontinence. The FCMS conditions were as follows: 2 kW maximum electrical power consumption, 800 V maximum capacitor voltage, 720 μs pulsewidth (180 μs rise time), and 5–30 Hz frequency. A frequency between 5 and 10 Hz is used to treat urge incontinence and a frequency between 25 Hz and 30 Hz is used to treat urge incontinence. The coil (120 mm long, 90 mm wide and 50 mm thick) fits the most suitable region for this treatment, the region from the anus to the perineum. The coil is cooled to maintain a coil temperature between 20 and 25°C so that it can be used efficiently and safely. In experiments with anaesthetised dogs, it was confirmed that the urethral pressure increased when the circumference of the perineum received continuous magnetic stimulation of 720 μs pulsewidth (180 μs rise time), 10Hz frequency and about 520 V capacitor voltage. This result suggests that magnetic stimulation can be effective as a urinary incontinence therapy.     

The three-dimensional microvascular arrangement around rat dorsal hairs as revealed by scanning electron microscopy

The three-dimensional microvascular arrangement around the dorsal hairs in vascular corrosion casts of adult Wistar rats was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Each anagen dorsal hair was surrounded by a basket-like capillary network, which was supplied by the branches of the subcutaneous artery and drained into the veins continuous with the subcutaneous vein. The capillary network surrounding the anagen dorsal hair was denser at its lower part, and became more sparse at its upper part. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the capillaries around the hair bulb possessed fenestrations. Our findings indicate that the microvascular arrangement around the anagen dorsal hair is so organized as to supply the hair bulb, which is the most important area for hair growth, with abundant blood. This study was presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Clinical Electron Microscopy Society of Japan, Okayama, September 17–19, 1992.     

Volume variation of mastoid pneumatization in different age groups: a study by three-dimensional reconstruction based on computed tomography images

Although there have been some reports that measured the size of mastoid pneumatization, only a few studies have reported the age-related variations in the mastoid air cell system using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques of computed tomography (CT) images. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study. A 3D reconstruction based on CT images was performed on 199 ears of 102 patients (age range 6–84 years) without otologic disease by a surface-rendering algorithm. The results showed that mastoid pneumatization continued to grow until the third decade. Thereafter, it declined slowly, and then rapidly after the seventh decade. No statistically significant difference was found between male and female or between right and left sides. There was a significant difference between the larger and smaller sides of individuals. The volume measurement technique based on the 3D reconstruction technique reported here is widely available, highly accurate and easy to perform.     

多曲方丝弓生物力学特性的三维有限元研究

采用三维有限元法比较分析后倾弯多曲方丝弓、理想弓和 Ni Ti弓在无牵引力、长 类牵引力作用下的矫治效果 ,在此基础上研究多曲方丝弓的整体力学特性 ,揭示多曲方丝弓技术矫治特点 ,探讨其作用机理。结果表明 :(1)无牵引力时 ,以第一、二前磨牙之间为界 ,多曲方丝弓矫治分别使前后牙向前后倾斜 ,且对前牙有压低作用 ;理想弓 (ss方弓 )与 Ni Ti弓矫治力的方向相同但大小不同 ,Ni Ti弓的作用更趋柔和 ,对前牙有轻微伸长作用 ,对后牙有一定压低作用 ,且使磨牙后倾、其余牙前倾。 (2 )长 类牵引时 ,三种弓丝对后牙的后倾作用有所增大 ,但 Ni Ti弓增加比例最大 ;多曲弓使切牙前倾 ,其余牙均向后倾 ;理想弓和 Ni Ti弓则没改变牙的倾斜方向。 (3)无论是预应力单独作用或预应力与牵引力同时作用 ,在牙根上产生的最大压应力均呈现出理想弓矫治时最大、Ni Ti弓居中而多曲弓最小。由此从理论上证明 ,多曲方丝弓矫治技术有利于下颌 Spee氏曲线的整平和牙齿的个别调控 ;对牵引力的传递作用强 ;同时矫治力柔和持久。