Biomedical subjects

Koichiro Morishita

Publications and source records attributed to Koichiro Morishita.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A new evaluation method for lumbar spinal instability: passive lumbar extension test.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although many studies have described clinical examination measures for the diagnosis of lumbar spinal instability, few of them have investigated the sensitivity and specificity of the measures that were used. The authors devised a passive lumbar extension (PLE) test for assessing lumbar spinal instability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratio of this test. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The PLE test as well as the instability catch sign, painful catch sign, and apprehension sign tests were done for 122 subjects with lumbar degenerative diseases. The subjects were divided into 2 groups-instability positive and instability negative-on the basis of findings on flexion-extension films of the lumbar spine. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and positive likelihood ratio of each test were investigated. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the PLE test were 84.2% and 90.4%, respectively. These values were higher than those of other signs. The positive likelihood ratio of the PLE test was 8.84 (95% confidence interval=4.51-17.33). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The PLE test is an effective method for examining patients for lumbar spinal instability and can be performed easily in an outpatient clinic.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Pre-and postoperative psychological characteristics in mothers of patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

The purpose of the present study was to clarify changes in the psychological state of mothers of patients with idiopathic scoliosis, and to clarify relationships between the psychological states of the mothers and patients. The Maudsley personality inventory (MPI) was administered to 30 patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent surgery and their mothers preoperatively and at about 1 year postoperatively. We investigated the relationships between preoperative MPI scores and postoperative scores in patients and their mothers, respectively, and the relationships between MPI scores for patients and mothers. The results of the present study revealed that patients became more extroverted following surgery, while mothers displayed reduced neurotic tendencies. In conclusion, the mothers of patients who undergo corrective treatment for scoliosis may have experienced a substantial psychological burden before surgery, and doctors who treat patients with scoliosis should bear this point in mind.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Assessment of gait and balance in patients with spinal diseases using the leg reposition test.

We devised a new leg reposition test, to assess gait and balance in patients with spinal diseases. This study included 344 patients who were scheduled to undergo spine surgery; 14 (4.1%) patients showed positive results. These 14 patients had worse gait status than leg reposition test-negative patients both preoperatively and postoperatively. The leg reposition test is a simple procedure, and requires no specialized equipment. This study showed that the leg reposition test has a strong relation with gait status, and therefore a high clinical significance regarding the assessment of preoperative gait and balance and prediction of postoperative gait status.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

PBS buffer solutions with different pH values can change porosity of DNA-chitosan complexes.

We examined the effect of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution with different pH values on the formation of porosity in the DNA/chitosan complexes, and evaluated the intercalation behavior of the complexes. Four different PBS solutions with pH = 6.0, 7.0, 7.4, and 7.8 were used for rinsing water-insoluble DNA-chitosan complexes. All complexes showed high porosities ranging from 83 to 95%. Rinsing with PBS at pH 7.0, 7.4, and 7.8 reduced the porosity of the DNA-chitosan complexes. Re-rinsing with PBS at pH 7.4 reduced the porosity of the DNA-chitosan complex rinsed with PBS at pH 6.0. The appearances for porous formation were influenced by the differences in pH of PBS. Daunorubicin hydrochloride intercalated and bound in the grooves of DNA within all of the DNA-chitosan complexes, indicating that DNA in the complexes maintained its double-stranded helical structure. These results suggested that PBS-rinsed DNA-chitosan complex is promising as a scaffold material in tissue engineering.

Biopolymers↗