Gait Analysis in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Hirosuke Nishimura,Kenji Endo,Hidekazu Suzuki,Hidetoshi Tanaka,Takaaki Shishido,Kengo Yamamoto 대한척추외과학회 2015 Asian Spine Journal Vol.9 No.3

Study Design: Gait analysis of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) by using a sheet-type gait analysis system. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the gait patterns of patients with CSM, evaluated by the Nurick grades, and to determine the threshold values of gait parameters predicting the occurrence of a fall by using a gait recorder. Overview of Literature: Gait disorder due to CSM may progress to severe paraplegia, following even a minor trauma such as a fall. The indications for the surgery of CSM without severe paralysis remain controversial. The quantitative gait analysis and the decision for decompressive surgery in patients with CSM are important in order to prevent severe paraplegia from a fall. Methods: One hundred thirty-two subjects (normal, 34; CSM, 98) underwent gait analysis by using a sensor sheet. Measurements of gait cycle parameters included the step and stride length, step width, foot angle, swing phase, and stance phase. CSM was assessed by Nurick grade. Results: Although the clinical symptoms were lacking, Nurick grade 1 had significant abnormalities in the parameters of velocity, step length, and step angle (p <0.05). Regarding the Nurick grade and walking phase, the length of the stance phase was increased to more than 70% of the entire walking cycle in Nurick grade 4. Conclusions: Gait analysis was an objective tool for evaluating the gait stability. Our results suggested that when the percentage of the stance phase in the gait cycle increases to above 70%, the CSM patients have an increased fall risk.

A Voltage Source Single-Ended High Frequency Edge Resonant Inverter with Tube Type Dielectric Barrier Discharge Lamp for Liquid Crystal Backlight

Kentaro Fujita,Hidekazu Muraoka,Tarek Ahmed,Eiji Hiraki,Mutsuo Nakaoka,Hyun Woo Lee,Kazunori Nishimura 전력전자학회 2004 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.- No.-

This paper presents two types of high frequency resonant inverters using power MOSFETs for driving the next generation rare gas fluorescent lamp based on the dielectric barrier discharge phenomenon for liquid crystal backlight in personal computer and car navigation equipment, which has no harmful influence for environment and human body. The high frequency resonant inverters, which include the royer type parallel resonant class D high frequency inverter using two power switches and class E edge resonant high frequency inverter using a single power switch, one is generally used as a light source driver and the other is newly introduced for the purpose of high efficiency and low cost in total system. The experimental performances are comparatively evaluated from the viewpoints of performance evaluations in these resonant<br/> inverters, are discussed as compared with the royer type and class E type high frequency resonant inverters. Moreover, this paper discusses wide and linear control characteristics on the basis of Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) control scheme for voltage source class E edge-resonant inverter.

Ambroxol inhibits rhinovirus infection in primary cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells

Mutsuo Yamaya,Hidekazu Nishimura,Lusamba Kalonji Nadine,Chiharu Ota,Hiroshi Kubo,Ryoichi Nagatomi 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.4

The mucolytic drug ambroxol hydrochloridereduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines andthe frequency of exacerbation in patients with chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, theinhibitory effects of ambroxol on rhinovirus infection, themajor cause of COPD exacerbations, have not been studied. We examined the effects of ambroxol on type 14rhinovirus (RV14) infection, a major RV group, in primarycultures of human tracheal epithelial cells. RV14 infectionincreased virus titers and cytokine content in the supernatantsand RV14 RNA in the cells. Ambroxol (100 nM)reduced RV14 titers and cytokine concentrations of interleukin(IL)-1b, IL-6 and IL-8 in the supernatants and RV14RNA in the cells after RV14 infection, in addition toreducing susceptibility to RV14 infection. Ambroxol alsoreduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the receptor for RV14, and the number ofacidic endosomes from which RV14 RNA enters thecytoplasm. In addition, ambroxol reduced the activation ofthe transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-jB) inthe nucleus. These results suggest that ambroxol inhibitsRV14 infection partly by reducing ICAM-1 and acidicendosomes via the inhibition of NF-jB activation. Ambroxol may modulate airway inflammation by reducingthe production of cytokines in rhinovirus infection.

Ambroxol inhibits rhinovirus infection in primary cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells

Yamaya, Mutsuo,Nishimura, Hidekazu,Nadine, Lusamba Kalonji,Ota, Chiharu,Kubo, Hiroshi,Nagatomi, Ryoichi 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.4

The mucolytic drug ambroxol hydrochloride reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the frequency of exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the inhibitory effects of ambroxol on rhinovirus infection, the major cause of COPD exacerbations, have not been studied. We examined the effects of ambroxol on type 14 rhinovirus (RV14) infection, a major RV group, in primary cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells. RV14 infection increased virus titers and cytokine content in the supernatants and RV14 RNA in the cells. Ambroxol (100 nM) reduced RV14 titers and cytokine concentrations of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-8 in the supernatants and RV14 RNA in the cells after RV14 infection, in addition to reducing susceptibility to RV14 infection. Ambroxol also reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the receptor for RV14, and the number of acidic endosomes from which RV14 RNA enters the cytoplasm. In addition, ambroxol reduced the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) in the nucleus. These results suggest that ambroxol inhibits RV14 infection partly by reducing ICAM-1 and acidic endosomes via the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Ambroxol may modulate airway inflammation by reducing the production of cytokines in rhinovirus infection.

Characteristics of Sagittal Spino-Pelvic Alignment in Japanese Young Adults

Kenji Endo,Hidekazu Suzuki,Hirosuke Nishimura,Hidetoshi Tanaka,Takaaki Shishido,Kengo Yamamoto 대한척추외과학회 2014 Asian Spine Journal Vol.8 No.5

Study Design: Radiological analysis of normal patterns of sagittal alignment of the spine. Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of normal sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in Asian people. Overview of Literature: It is known that there are differences in these parameters based on age, gender, and race. In order to properly plan for surgical correction of the spine for Asian patients, it is necessary to understand the normal spino-pelvic alignment parameters for this population. Methods: This study analyzed 86 Japanese healthy young adult volunteers (48 men and 38 women; age 35.9±11.1 (mean±standard deviation [SD]). The following parameters were measured on lateral standing radiographs of the entire spine: sagittal vertical axis (SVA), horizontal distance between the C7 plumb line and the posterior superior corner of the superior margin of S1, thoracic kyphotic angle (TK), lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI). Results: The values (mean±SD) of SVA, TK, LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 8.45±25.7 mm, 27.5±9.6°, 43.4±14.6°, 34.6±7.8°, 13.2±8.2°, and 46.7±8.9°, respectively. The Japanese young adults evaluated in this study tended to have a smaller PI, LLA, TK, and SVA than most Caucasian people. Regarding gender differences, SVA was significantly longer and TK was significantly smaller in men; however, there was no statistically significant difference in LLA, SS, PA, and PI. Conclusions: Japanese young adults apparently have smaller PI and LLA values than Caucasian people. When making decisions for optimal sagittal spinal alignment, racial differences should be considered.

Department of Neurosurgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Kenji Endo,Hidekazu Suzuki,Hirosuke Nishimura,Hidetoshi Tanaka,Takaaki Shishido,Kengo Yamamoto 대한척추외과학회 2014 Asian Spine Journal Vol.8 No.6

Study Design: Normal cervical sagittal length patterns were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of sagittal length patterns between the cervical cord and the cervical canal in flexion-extension kinematics. Overview of Literature: Cervical dynamic factors sometimes cause a cervical spondylotic myelopathy in elderly subjects and an overstretching myelopathy in juvenile subjects. Previous studies showed the length changing of the cervical cord in flexion and extension. However, there is no detailed literature about the relationship between cervical vertebral motion and cord distortion yet. Methods: Sixty-two normal subjects (28 male and 34 female, 42.1±8.5 years old) without neck motion disturbances and abnormalities on cervical X-ray and MRI were enrolled in this study. Results: The cervical cord length was significantly longer in flexion and significantly shorter in extension in all cervical cord sagittal lines. The cervical canal length pattern was also the same as the cervical cord. The elongation of the cervical cord and canal was the largest at the site of the posterior cervical canal and the shortest at the anterior canal site. The positions of the cerebellar tonsils were verified at each neck position. Conclusions: The posterior elements of the cervical canal were most affected by neck motion. Movement directions of the upper cervical cord were verified among the various neck positions.

Cell panel electrical test for evaluating the electrical characteristics of liquid crystal displays

Yasuhiro Miyake,Atsuto Ota,Hidekazu Nishimura 한국정보디스플레이학회 2015 Journal of information display Vol.16 No.1

Electrical models of liquid crystal display (LCD) have been studied and used in design simulation. Using the right LCD models is indispensable to accomplish high-quality and highly reliable LCDs. This paper presents a cell panel electrical test (Cell-E Test) for evaluating the electrical characteristics of LCDs. The Cell-E Test was derived from in-process electrical testing for thin film transistor arrays, and utilizes charge measurement for measuring the capacitance value of a pixel. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) and capacitance-time (C-t) characteristics can be measured using a sweeping-applied voltage and based on the period of applying voltage in the Cell-E Test. In this study, actual C-V and C-t characteristics were measured by applying the Cell-E Test to a twisted-nematic active-matrix LCD (TN AM-LCD). The parameters of liquid crystal models were extracted from the data measured using the least-squares method, to show that design models can be verified with the actual parameters of cell panels through the Cell-E Test.

Postoperative Radiographic Early-Onset Adjacent Segment Degeneration after Single-Level L4–L5 Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Patients without Preoperative Severe Sagittal Spinal Imbalance

Yuji Matsuoka,Kenji Endo,Hidekazu Suzuki,Yasunobu Sawaji,Hirosuke Nishimura,Taichiro Takamatsu,Osamu Kojima,Kazuma Murata,Takeshi Seki,Shinji Horie,Takamitsu Konishi,Kengo Yamamoto 대한척추외과학회 2018 Asian Spine Journal Vol.12 No.4

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between preoperative total spinal sagittal alignment and the early onset of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients with normal sagittal spinal alignment. Overview of Literature: Postoperative early-onset ASD is one of the complications after L4–L5 PLIF, a common surgical procedure for lumbar degenerative disease in patents without severe sagittal imbalance. A better understanding of the preoperative characteristics of total spinal sagittal alignment associated with early-onset ASD could help prevent the condition. Methods: The study included 70 consecutive patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disease who underwent single-level L4–L5 PLIF between 2011 and 2015. They were divided into two groups based on the radiographic progression of L3–L4 degeneration after 1-year follow-up: the ASD and the non-ASD (NASD) group. The following radiographic parameters were preoperatively and postoperatively measured: sagittal vertebral axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence (PI). Results: Eight of the 70 patients (11%) experienced ASD after PLIF (three males and five females; age, 64.4±7.7 years). The NASD group comprised 20 males and 42 females (age, 67.7±9.3 years). Six patients of the ASD group showed decreased L3–L4 disc height, one had L3–L4 local kyphosis, and one showed both changes. Preoperative SVA, PI, and TK were significantly smaller in the ASD group than in the NASD group (p<0.05). Conclusions: A preoperative small SVA and TK with small PI were the characteristic alignments for the risk of early-onset ASD in patients without preoperative severe sagittal spinal imbalance undergoing L4–L5 single-level PLIF.

Driver's Functions Definition in System of Systems Surrounding Automated Vehicles

Kinoshita, Satoko,Yun, Sunkil,Kitamura, Noriyasu,Nishimura, Hidekazu The Korean Society of Systems Engineering 2015 시스템엔지니어링학술지 Vol.11 No.2

This paper addresses the definition of the driver's functions for an automated vehicle of level 3, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers. By combining the constituent systems surrounding the automated vehicles in specific use cases, their interactions could be refined in a stepwise approach. This approach enables traceability of interactions between drivers, automated driving systems, and other constituent systems.

Clarithromycin decreases rhinovirus replication and cytokine production in nasal epithelial cells from subjects with bronchial asthma: effects on IL-6, IL-8 and IL-33

Mutsuo Yamaya,Kazuhiro Nomura,Kazuya Arakawa,Mitsuru Sugawara,Xue Deng,Nadine Lusamba Kalonji,Hidekazu Nishimura,Mitsuhiro Yamada,Ryoichi Nagatomi,Tetsuaki Kawase 대한약학회 2020 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.43 No.5

Rhinoviral infection is associated with anincreased risk of asthma attacks. The macrolide clarithromycindecreases cytokine production in nasopharyngealaspirates from patients with wheezing, but the effectsof macrolides on cytokine production in nasal epithelialcells obtained from asthmatic subjects remain unclear. Here, human nasal epithelial cells were infected with type-14 rhinovirus (RV14), a major RV group. Titers and RNAof RV14 and cytokine concentrations, including IL-1b andIL-6, were higher in the supernatants of the cells obtainedfrom subjects with bronchial asthma (asthmatic group) thanin those from the non-asthmatic group. Pretreatment withclarithromycin decreased RV14 titers, viral RNA andcytokine concentrations, and susceptibility to RV14infection. Pretreatment with clarithromycin also decreasedIL-33 production, which was detected after infection. Pretreatment with clarithromycin decreased the expressionof intercellular adhesion molecule-1, the receptor forRV14, after infection, the number and fluorescence intensityof the acidic endosomes through which RV RNAenters the cytoplasm, and the activation of nuclear factorkappa-B proteins in nuclear extracts. These findings suggestedthat RV replication and cytokine production may beenhanced in nasal epithelial cells obtained from subjectswith bronchial asthma and may be modulated byclarithromycin.