When performing a knee replacement surgery or total knee arthroplasty, doctors traditionally try to align the hip, knee, and ankle in a straight line, forming a neutral alignment, rather than replicating the patient’s original alignment. To understand which approach is better, researchers from Kyushu University have conducted a post-operation questionnaire comparing patient-reported outcomes to changes in knee alignment before and after surgery. Their findings may improve current surgical guidelines and patients’ long-term quality of life.

Physicians often work for extended hours to provide medical care for patients, which can result in sleep loss and affect their optimal functioning. Researchers from Juntendo University have conducted a national survey and used a computer-based psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) to assess the impact of long work hours and sleep duration on alertness and the psychological health of Japanese physicians. Poor PVT performance was significantly associated with physician depression and burnout.