Local Sagittal Alignment of the Lumbar Spine and Range of Motion in 627 Asymptomatic Subjects: Age-Related Changes and Sex-Based Differences

Yasutsugu Yukawa,Taro Matsumoto,Heiko Kollor,Akihito Minamide,Hiroshi Hashizume,Hiroshi Yamada,Fumihiko Kato 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.4

Study Design: Prospective cohort imaging study. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate lumbar sagittal alignment and range of motion (ROM) using radiographs in a large asymptomatic cohort and identify sex-based differences and age-related changes in the subjects. Overview of Literature: Several researchers have tried to establish normal alignment and kinematic behavior of the lumbar spine, using plain radiographs. Few studies have employed a large and sex-and age-balanced cohort. Methods: Total 627 healthy volunteers (at least 50 males and 50 females in each age decade, from the 3rd to the 8th decade) underwent whole spine radiography in the standing position; lumbar spine radiography was performed for all subjects in the recumbent position. Lumbar lordosis (LL, T12–S1) and ROM during flexion and extension were measured using a computer digitizer. Results: The mean LL was 36.8°±13.2° in the recumbent position and 49.8°±11.2° in the standing position. The LL was greater in the standing position than in the recumbent position; further, LL was higher in females as compared to that in males. Local lordosis at each disk level increased incrementally with distal progression through the lumbar spine in both the positions. Local lordosis at L4–S1 was 29.8°±8.0° in the recumbent position and 34.2°±8.3° in the standing position and occupied 85.1% and 70.8% of the total LL, respectively. However, local lordosis in the standing position decreased with age at L2–3, L3–4, and L4–5 levels. Total lumbar ROM (T12–S1) decreased with age. The ROM in females was higher than that in males. Conclusions: We established the standard value and age-related changes in the lumbar alignment and ROM in each age decade in asymptomatic subjects. These data will be useful and provide the normal values for comparison in clinical practice to identify sex-based differences and age-related changes.

Posterior Ligamentous Complex Injuries Are Related to Fracture Severity and Neurological Damage in Patients with Acute Thoracic and Lumbar Burst Fractures

Masaaki Machino,Yasutsugu Yukawa,Keigo Ito,Shunsuke Kanbara,Daigo Morita,Fumihiko Kato 연세대학교의과대학 2013 Yonsei medical journal Vol.54 No.4

Purpose: The proposed the thoracolumbar injury classification system (TLICS) for thoracolumbar injury cites the integrity of the posterior ligamentous complex (PLC). However, no report has elucidated the severity of damage in thoracic and lumbar injury with classification schemes by presence of the PLC injury. The purpose of this study was to accurately assess the severity of damage in thoracic and lumbar burst fractures with the PLC injuries. Materials and Methods: One hundred consecutive patients treated surgically for thoracic and lumbar burst fractures were enrolled in this study. There were 71 men and 29 women whose mean age was 36 years. Clinical and radiologic data were investigated, and the thoracolumbar injury classification schemes were also evaluated. All patients were divided into two groups (the P group with PLC injuries and the C group without PLC injuries)for comparative examination. Results: Fourth-one of 100 cases showed PLC injuries in MRI study. The load sharing classification score was significantly higher in the P group [7.8±0.2 points for the P group and 6.9±1.1 points for the C group (p<0.001)]. The TLICS (excluded PLC score) score was also significantly higher in the P group [6.2±1.1 points for the P group and 4.0±1.4 points for the C group (p<0.001)]. Conclusion: The presence of PLC injury significantly influenced the severity of damage. In management of thoracic lumbar burst fractures, evaluation of PLC injury is important to accurately assess the severity of damage.

Photosynthetic Performances of Temperate Sargassum and Kelp Species Growing in the Same Habitat

Murakami, Hiroshige,Serisawa, Yukihiko,Kurashima, Akira,Yokohama, Yasutsugu The Korean Society of Phycology 2004 ALGAE Vol.19 No.3

Characteristics of photosynthesis-light and photosynthesis-temperature relationships were seasonally compared among 4 species, two temperate Sargassurn (S. ringgoldianum and S. spathulophyllum) and two temperate kelp (Ecklonia cava and Eisenia bicyclis), growing in the same habitat in Oura Bay, Shimoda, central Japan. The photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) curve of each species at the in situ temperature and the photosynthesis-temperature (P-T) curve at near saturation irradiance (400μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1)) were determined by using differential gas-volumeters. Maximum photosynthetic rates (Prnax) for P-I curves of the two Sargassurn species were higher from summer to autumn than from winter to spring, while those of the two kelp species showed little difference among seasons. Net photosynthetic rates (Pn) at 100-400μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1) of the Sargassurn species were higher than those of the kelp species in autumn, spring and summer, while in winter the rates were about the same between the Sargassurn and kelp species. Among seasons, the light saturation index (1k) values, dark respiration rates and light compensation points of Sargassurn species differed more than those of kelp species. Optimum temperature for P-T curves of Sargassurn species was 29℃ and that of kelp species was 27℃ in summer, while in winter the former was 27℃ and the latter was 25℃. Pn at 400 μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1) at 10-33℃ of Sargassurn species were considerably higher than those of kelp species from spring to summer, while from autumn to winter the rates at 5-27℃ were about the same between the two. At supra-optimum temperatures, Pn of kelp species decreased more sharply than those of Sargassurn species in each season. These facts indicate that the two temperate Sargassurn species have a higher potential photosynthetic performance under warmer conditions than the two temperate kelp species even though they grow in the same habitat.

Electrophysiological Characteristics Related to Outcome after Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Ventricular Arrhythmia Originating from the Papillary Muscle in the Left Ventricle

반지은,이현수,이대인,박환철,박재석,Yasutsugu Nagamoto,최종일,임홍의,박상원,김영훈 대한심장학회 2013 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.43 No.12

Background and Objectives: The electrophysiological properties associated with favorable outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia (VA) originating from the papillary muscle (PM) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of electrophysiological characteristics and predictors with the outcome of RFCA in patients with VAs originating from PM in the left ventricle (LV). Subjects and Methods: Twelve (4.2%) of 284 consecutive patients with idiopathic VAs originating from LV PM were assessed. The electrophysiological data were compared between the patients in the successful group and patients in the recurrence group after RFCA. Results: In 12 patients with PM VAs, non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (VTs, n=6), sustained VTs (n=4) and premature ventricular complexes (n=2) were identified as the presenting arrhythmias. Seven of eight patients showing high-amplitude discrete potentials at the ablation site had a successful outcome (85.7%), while the remaining four patients who showed low-amplitude fractionated potentials at the ablation site experienced VA recurrence. The mean duration from onset to peak downstroke (Δt) on the unipolar electrogram was significantly longer in the successful group than in the recurrence group (58±8 ms vs. 37±9 ms, p=0.04). A slow downstroke >50 ms of the initial Q wave on the unipolar electrogram at ablation sites was also significantly associated with successful outcome (85.7% vs. 25.0%,p=0.03). Conclusion: In PM VAs, the high-amplitude discrete potentials before QRS and slow downstroke of the initial Q wave on the unipolar electrogram at ablation sites were related to favorable outcome after RFCA.

Photosynthetic performanc of temperate Sargassum and kelp species growing in the same habitat

Hiroshige Murakami,Yukihiko Serisawa,Akira Kurashima,Yasutsugu Yokohama 한국조류학회I 2004 ALGAE Vol.19 No.3

Clinical Relevance of ¹⁸F-Sodium Fluoride Positron-Emission Tomography in Noninvasive Identification of High-Risk Plaque in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Lee, Joo Myung,Bang, Ji-In,Koo, Bon-Kwon,Hwang, Doyeon,Park, Jonghanne,Zhang, Jinlong,Yaliang, Tong,Suh, Minseok,Paeng, Jin Chul,Shiono, Yasutsugu,Kubo, Takashi,Akasaka, Takashi American Heart Association, Inc. 2017 Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging Vol.10 No.11

<P>Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02388412.</P>