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Consider observing two different waves with the same frequency and wavelength. When these waves are coupled, the amplitude alternates between the two waves periodically, a phenomenon called coherent beating oscillation. Such phenomena can be seen in familiar coupled pendulums and, on a cosmic scale, neutrino oscillations: the oscillation between different types of neutrinos. In solids, on the other hand, there are various wave excitations responsible for their thermal and electromagnetic properties. Here we report the observation of coherent beating between different excitation species in a solid: phonons and magnons. By using time-resolved magneto-optical microscopy, magnons generated in Lu 2 Bi 1 Fe 3.4 Ga 1.6 O 12 gradually disappear by transforming to phonons, and after a while, they return to magnons. The period of the oscillation as a function of the field is consistent with the prediction of the magnon-phonon beating. The experimental results pave a way to coherent control of magnon-phonon systems in solids. In the field of spintronics, coherent control of propagating magnons is considered a promising mechanism for information processing. Here, strong coupling between magnons and phonons in lutetium iron garnet gives rise to long-lived coherent beating.

Bacteria adapt to changes in their environment using a mechanism known as the two-component regulatory system (TCS) (also called “two-component signal transduction system” or “two-component system”). It comprises a pair of at least two proteins, namely the sensor kinase and the response regulator. The former senses external stimuli while the latter alters the expression profile of bacterial genes for survival and adaptation. Although the first TCS was discovered and characterized in a non-pathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli, it has been recognized that all bacteria, including pathogens, use this mechanism. Some TCSs are essential for cell growth and fitness, while others are associated with the induction of virulence and drug resistance/tolerance. Therefore, the TCS is proposed as a potential target for antimicrobial chemotherapy. This concept is based on the inhibition of bacterial growth with the substances acting like conventional antibiotics in some cases. Alternatively, TCS targeting may reduce the burden of bacterial virulence and drug resistance/tolerance, without causing cell death. Therefore, this approach may aid in the development of antimicrobial therapeutic strategies for refractory infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Herein, we review the progress of TCS inhibitors based on natural and synthetic compounds.

Community-acquired pneumonia is caused primarily by bacterial infection. For years, antibiotic treatment has been the standard of care for patients with bacterial pneumonia, although the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains is recognized as a global health issue. The traditional herbal medicine Kampo has a long history of clinical use and is relatively safe in treating various diseases. However, the antimicrobial effects of Kampo products against pneumonia-causative bacteria remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we investigated the bacteriological efficacy of 11 Kampo products against bacteria commonly associated with pneumonia. Sho-saiko-To (9), Sho-seiryu-To (19), Chikujo-untan-To (91) and Shin’i-seihai-To (104) inhibited the growth of S . pneumoniae serotype 3, a highly virulent strain that causes severe pneumonia. Also, the growth of S . pneumoniae serotype 1, another highly virulent strain, was suppressed by treatment with Sho-saiko-To (9), Chikujo-untan-To (91), and Shin’i-seihai-To (104). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against these strains ranged from 6.25–50 mg/mL and 12.5–25 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, Sho-saiko-To (9), Chikujo-untan-To (91), and Shin’i-seihai-To (104) suppressed the growth of antibiotic-resistant S . pneumoniae isolates. Additionally, Sho-saiko-To (9) and Shin’i-seihai-To (104) showed growth inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus , another causative agent for pneumonia, with MIC ranging from 6.25–12.5 mg/mL. These results suggest that some Kampo products have antimicrobial effects against S . pneumoniae and S . aureus , and that Sho-saiko-To (9) and Shin’i-seihai-To (104) are promising medicines for treating pneumonia caused by S . pneumoniae and S . aureus infection.

Perforation is a rare but fatal complication of pancreatic pseudocysts. It is generally diagnosed by computed tomography imaging with hemorrhagic ascites and pneumoperitoneum. Traditionally, surgery was the mainstream for treating this critical state. Recently, alternative therapies have also been deemed useful. Herein, we describe the case of a 54‐year‐old with perforation of pancreatic pseudocyst which was confirmed by endoscopy, and managed by endoscopic and percutaneous drainage. The patient was initially referred to our hospital for treatment of a pancreatic pseudocyst with hemorrhagic ascites and underwent endoscopic ultrasonographic‐guided stent placement. The next day, imaging demonstrated pneumoperitoneum and worsening ascites consistent with perforation, and the patient was treated conservatively. One week later, the patient developed severe abdominal pain. Endoscopy showed a large perforation site inside the pseudocyst connected to a large fluid collection and direct visualization inside the pseudocyst and fluid collection. The fluid collection was treated with percutaneous drainage, and the patient was discharged one week later with no complications.

Restricting cervical spine movement after a collision and reducing its initial impact may prevent serious spinal cord injuries. This study aimed to use computer simulations to compare the head and neck behavior and spinal cord loading patterns with and without a neck stabilizer. A computer-simulated human body model was used to investigate this neck behavior in three collision directions (frontal, rear, and lateral) using an adult male at the 50th and 95th percentiles and an adult female at the 5th percentile. The angles of motion in the sagittal and coronal planes were measured with and without the neck stabilizer. Following frontal collision with the head and neck, the anterior surface loads at the upper and middle cervical levels (C2 and C5) increased during head and neck extension, and the loads increased with increasing extension angle. The neck stabilizer restricted the head and neck within the normal range of motion even after a frontal or rear collision in the 50th and 95th percentile adult male and 5th percentile female models, respectively. Thus, neck stabilizers may be effective in reducing cervical spinal cord loading by restricting the movement of the head and neck during collisions in this simulation study.

PurposeThe characteristic two-dimensional bone morphology in patients with a discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) has been described. However, the associated three-dimensional imaging findings have not been characterized. This study was performed to identify differences in the knee bone morphology between juvenile patients with a DLM and those with a normal meniscus using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.MethodsThe DLM group comprised 33 consecutive juvenile patients (33 knees) with a complete DLM, and the control group comprised 24 juvenile patients (24 knees) with normal menisci on the basis of MR imaging findings. Each MR image was evaluated to determine the anterior obliquity of the lateral tibial plateau (AOLTP), posterior obliquity of the lateral tibial plateau (POLTP), lowest point of the lateral femoral condyle (LPLFC), posterior lateral condylar angle (PLCA) and posterior medial condylar angle (PMCA). Statistical analyses were performed to determine the differences between the two groups.ResultsThe POLTP was significantly larger, the LPLFC was significantly more lateral, and the PLCA was significantly smaller in the DLM group than in the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the AOLTP or PMCA between the two groups (p = 0.429 and p = 0.148, respectively).ConclusionsHypoplasia of the lateral femoral condyle and posterior lateral tibial plateau is recognized in juvenile patients with a complete DLM on coronal and axial MRI images.Level of evidenceDiagnostic study, Level III.

Background In literature, studies evaluating the factors associated the postoperative progression of patellofemoral (PF) osteoarthritis (OA) following patellar stabilization surgery are limited. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) as an isolated procedure (iMPFLR) and in combination with anteromedialization (AMZ) of the tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) and investigate the factors related to the postoperative progression of PFOA after patellar stabilization surgery. Methods Between 2009 and 2020, 30 knees of 23 consecutive patients underwent MPFLR with or without AMZ, using an autologous semitendinosus tendon graft; they were followed up for more than 2 years in the retrospective nature of the study. iMPFLR was performed in cases of recurrent patellar dislocation with normal tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and no PFOA, and MPFLR+AMZ was performed for cases of excessive TT-TG distance, preoperative PFOA of recurrent patellar dislocation, or habitual patellar dislocation. Clinical findings and radiographs of the PF joint were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with PF alignment parameters and PFOA and were compared between surgical procedures. Factors for the postoperative progression of PFOA were compared between the OA progression and non-progression groups. Results Postoperative clinical score, radiographic parameters except for sulcus angle, TT-TG distance, and progression of PFOA were not significantly different between the iMPFLR and MPFLR+AMZ groups. Postoperative lateral patellar displacement ( p  = 0.001) and congruence angle ( p  = 0.017) were significantly different between the OA progression and non-progression groups. Conclusion Similar to MPFLR for recurrent cases, MPFLR with AMZ can improve the clinical and radiographic outcomes in severe cases. The remaining parameters of patellar instability could be affected in the postoperative progression of PFOA after MPFL reconstruction with or without AMZ of TTO for patellar instability.

When a light wave is refracted at a boundary between two different media, it may split into two rays due to optical anisotropy, a phenomenon called birefringence. On the other hand, for a reflected light wave in an ordinary medium, the angle of reflection is always the same as the incident angle as expected from the law of reflection. Here, we report the observation of a split of reflected spin-waves, or bi-reflection of spin-waves, where a spin-wave refers to a wavy motion of electron spins in a magnetic material. We measured the spin-wave propagation in a magnetic garnet Lu 2 Bi 1 Fe 3.4 Ga 1.6 O 12 by using time-resolved magneto-optical microscopy and found that the spin-wave splits in two as a result of reflection at the sample edge of an out-of-plane magnetized film. Systematic measurements combined with calculations unveiled that the bi-reflection is due to the hybridization with elastic waves. Refracting light waves can split at two different angles, a phenomenon called birefringence, whereas for reflected waves the incident and reflected angle are usually the same. Here, using time-resolved magneto-optical microscopy the authors report the bi-reflection of magnetic spin waves when hybridising with elastic waves.

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the meniscal size of asymptomatic discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) and compare it with that of normal lateral meniscus (LM) and to compare changes in meniscal dimensions with age among patients with asymptomatic DLM and those with normal LM using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records, including MRI data, of patients with asymptomatic DLM (DLM group) or normal LM (control group). Width and extrusion of both DLM and normal LM and tibial length were measured and compared using mid-coronal and mid-sagittal MR images. Meniscal size and sagittal and coronal meniscal ratio according to age, as well as differences between DLM and normal menisci, were also evaluated. Results Thirty-four knees were included in the DLM group, whereas the control group comprised of 50 patients. The DLM group showed significantly less meniscal extrusion, greater coronal width, posterior capsule distance, sagittal meniscal length, and sagittal meniscal ratio than the control group (DLM: 0.1 ± 0.3 mm, 23.3 ± 2.2 mm, 5.4 ± 2.4 mm, 25.1 ± 2.8 mm, 61 ± 6%, and control: 0.4 ± 0.4 mm, 9.5 ± 2.3 mm, 2.5 ± 1.2 mm, 30.2 ± 2.6 mm, 71 ± 4%, respectively). The coronal meniscal ratio decreased with age in both the control (p = 0.001) and DLM (p = 0.037) groups. The sagittal meniscal ratio (p = 0.001) and minimum height (p = 0.04) decreased and the anterior capsule distance (p = 0.035), posterior capsule distance (p = 0.026), and entire sagittal length (p = 0.005) increased with age in the DLM group, while the distance between the meniscal inner margins (p = 0.019) increased with age in the control group. Conclusions The meniscal ratio in the sagittal plane of the DLM group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The sagittal meniscal ratio of asymptomatic DLM decreased with age, indicating that the size of asymptomatic DLM does not change with age. Level of evidence III: Retrospective comparative study.

IntroductionDiscoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is an anatomic knee variant associated with increased tears and degeneration. This study aimed to quantify meniscal status with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping before and after arthroscopic reshaping surgery for DLM.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the records of patients undergoing arthroscopic reshaping surgery for symptomatic DLM with ≥ 2-year follow-up. MRI T2 mapping was performed preoperatively and at 12 and 24 months postoperatively. T2 relaxation times of the anterior and posterior horns of both menisci and of the adjacent cartilage were assessed.ResultsThirty-six knees from 32 patients were included. The mean age at surgery was 13.7 years (range 7–24), and the mean follow-up duration was 31.0 months. Saucerization alone was performed on five knees and saucerization with repair on 31 knees. Preoperatively, the T2 relaxation time of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus was significantly longer than that of the medial meniscus (P < 0.01). T2 relaxation time significantly decreased at 12 and 24 months postoperatively (P < 0.01). Assessments of the posterior horn were comparable. The T2 relaxation time was significantly longer in the tear versus non-tear side at each time point (P < 0.01). There were significant correlations between the T2 relaxation time of the meniscus and that of the corresponding area of the lateral femoral condyle cartilage (anterior horn: r = 0.504, P = 0.002; posterior horn: r = 0.365, P = 0.029).ConclusionsThe T2 relaxation time of symptomatic DLM was significantly longer than that of the medial meniscus preoperatively, and it decreased 24 months after arthroscopic reshaping surgery. The meniscal T2 relaxation time of the tear side was significantly longer than that of the non-tear side. There were significant correlations between the cartilage and meniscal T2 relaxation times at 24 months after surgery.