The impact of musculoskeletal diseases on the presence of locomotive syndrome

Objectives: We assessed the impact of musculoskeletal diseases, depressive mental state, and hypertension on locomotive syndrome, a condition of reduced mobility requiring nursing care. Since locomotive syndrome is a major public health issue that needs attention, its relationship with functional inconvenience in performing daily activities was also investigated.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using an Internet panel survey, comprising 747 persons aged 30–90 years. Demographics, personal medical history, and daily activity data were assessed. The 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale was used to diagnose locomotive syndrome. Stepwise linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the association between locomotive syndrome, musculoskeletal diseases, and functional inconvenience.

Results: Aging, osteoporosis, and low back pain significantly increased the risk of locomotive syndrome, followed by knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spinal stenosis. Locomotive syndrome was significantly related to depressive mental state and hypertension, and led to functional inconvenience in Seiza sitting, cleaning, shopping, and strolling.

Conclusion: Locomotive syndrome was associated with functional inconvenience in performing common daily activities involving the lower extremities and spine. Osteoporosis and aging were significantly associated with locomotive syndrome. The risk of locomotive syndrome may be decreased by treating comorbid osteoporosis and instituting exercise and diet-related modifications.     

Effects of chlorogenic acid on carbachol-induced contraction of mouse urinary bladder

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenol found in coffee and medicinal herbs such as Lonicera japonica. In this study, the effect of CGA-induced relaxation on carbachol (CCh)-induced contraction of mouse urinary bladder was investigated. CGA (30–300 μg/ml) inhibited CCh- or U46619-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. SQ22536 (adenylyl cyclase inhibitor) recovered CGA-induced relaxation of CCh-induced contraction; however, ODQ (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) did not have the same effect. In addition, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) enhanced CGA-induced relaxation; however, forskolin or sodium nitroprusside did not have the same effect. Moreover, Ro 20–1724, a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 inhibitor, enhanced CGA-induced relaxation, but vardenafil, a selective PDE5 inhibitor, did not have the same effect. In the presence of CCh, CGA increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level, whereas SQ22536 inhibited the increase of cAMP levels. Moreover, higher cAMP levels were obtained with CGA plus IBMX treatment than the total cAMP levels obtained with separate CGA and IBMX treatments. In conclusion, these results suggest that CGA inhibited CCh-induced contraction of mouse urinary bladder by partly increasing cAMP levels via adenylyl cyclase activation.     

Effect of different knee flexion angles with a constant hip and knee torque on the muscle forces and neuromuscular activities of hamstrings and gluteus maximus muscles

European Journal of Applied Physiology - This study examined the effect of different knee flexion angles with a constant hip and knee torque on the muscle force and neuromuscular activity of the...     

New method for evaluation of tongue-coating status

The purpose of this study was to determine the viability of Tongue Coating Index, which is a new method for evaluating tongue-coating status. To determine the reliability and reproducibility of our new evaluation criteria (Score 0: Tongue coating not visible; Score 1: Tongue coating thin, papillae of tongue visible; Score 2: Tongue coating very thick, papillae of tongue not visible), 10 observers evaluated 20 photographs of tongues. Each tongue surface was divided into nine sections. Observers evaluated each section according to our new criteria and each score for tongue-coating status was recorded in the pertinent section of the Tongue Coating Record form. They repeated the same evaluation 2 weeks after the first evaluation. The relationship between the scores obtained and number of oral microorganisms was investigated in 50 edentulous patients. Tongue coating was collected from the tongue surface after evaluation of tongue-coating status. The total number of anaerobic bacteria and the number of Candida species were counted from the specimens collected. Interobserver agreement and intraobserver agreement were 0.66 and 0.80 by Cohen's kappa, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the number of Candida species among the three scores. The number of total anaerobic bacteria, however, was significantly different among the scores (P < 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that our method for evaluating tongue-coating status offers new criteria that are superior in reliability and reproducibility, and that also reflect the total number of anaerobic bacteria present on the dorsum of the tongue.     

A histopathological study of the morphological changes at the apical seat and in the periapical region after irradiation with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser

In this study, the effects of pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation on the apical seat and periapical region of instrumented root canals were investigated. One hundred and ninety-two teeth, including incisors and molars (239 root canals), in 18 healthy adult beagle dogs were used. After extirpation of the pulp under anaesthesia, each root canal was shaped up to at least a size 40 K-file, and then laser irradiated using the following parameters: 1 W, 15 pps for 2, 3, and 4 s; 2 W, 15 pps for 2 s. The effectiveness of debris removal and carbonization on the root canal walls immediately laser irradiation were examined and inflammation of the periapical region at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after laser irradiation was examined using light microscopy. Effective debris removal was observed in most cases in the laser-treated groups and was dependent on irradiated energy. Carbonization was observed in the irradiated root canals except at the parameter of 1 W for 2 s. Periapical inflammation was observed at 1 W for 2 s to the same extent as in the control group (P > 0.01). These results suggest that the pulsed Nd:YAG laser is useful for debris removal with no adverse effects immediately after extirpation of the pulp if appropriate parameters are selected.     

Effect of tension-force on plasminogen activator activity from human periodontal ligament cells

The plasminogen activator (PA)-plasmin proteolytic system has recently received considerable attention because of its participation in a wide variety of biological activities and in pathological conditions involving tissue destruction. Excessive mechanical stress such as occlusal trauma is associated with alveolar bone loss in severe periodontitis. Therefore, mechanical stress may involve degradation of the extracellular matrix by occlusal trauma through activation of the PA-plasmin proteolytic system. We examined the effects of mechanical stress on PA activity, gene expressions of tissue type (t) PA, urokinase type (u) PA and PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in human PDL cells. Human PDL cells were cultured on flexible-bottomed culture plates and placed on a Flexercell Strain Unit. The cells were flexed at 6 cycles (5 s strain, 5 s relaxation) at 9% and 18% elongation for 5 d. Application of tension-force induced significantly higher PA activity in stressed PDL cells than in non-stressed controls, and did so in a time- and magnitude-dependent manner (p<0.001, ANOVA). Western-blot analysis revealed that the high level of activity was due to tPA and not uPA. Gene expression of tPA mRNA in stressed PDL cells, as examined by RT-PCR, increased on d 5. These findings suggest that tPA may be involved in periodontal metabolism in response to mechanical stress.     

Effect of compressive force on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and their receptors in osteoblastic Saos-2 cells

OBJECTIVE: In orthodontic tooth movement, some cytokines released from periodontal ligament fibroblasts and alveolar bone osteoblasts on the pressure side can alter the normal processes of bone remodelling, resulting in physiological bone resorption. We examined the effect of compressive force and interleukin (IL)-1 type I receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) on the expression of inflammatory cytokines that promote osteoclast formation, as well as on their receptors, in osteoblastic Saos-2 cells. DESIGN: The cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum with or without continuous compressive force (0.5-3.0 g/cm(2)) and/or IL-1ra for up to 24h. The gene expression levels of the cytokines and their receptors were estimated by determining mRNA levels using real-time PCR; the protein levels were determined using ELISA or immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The expression of IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor, IL-6, IL-6 receptor, IL-8 receptor, IL-11 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) increased depending on the strength and duration of the compressive force, whereas the expression of IL-8, IL-11 receptor and TNFalpha receptor did not change with the application of compressive force. The expression of cytokines and their receptors produced by 3.0 g/cm(2) of compressive force decreased with the simultaneous addition of IL-1ra and the decrease was remarkable in IL-8 receptor, IL-11 and TNFalpha. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that mechanical stress induces the production of inflammatory cytokines and their receptors in osteoblasts and the phenomenon is enhanced by the autocrine action of IL-1beta, which is increased in amount by mechanical stress.