Neural Correlates of Attitude Change Following Positive and Negative Advertisements

Understanding changes in attitudes towards others is critical to understanding human behaviour. Neuropolitical studies have found that the activation of emotion-related areas in the brain is linked to resilient political preferences, and neuroeconomic research has analysed the neural correlates of social preferences that favour or oppose consideration of intrinsic rewards. This study aims to identify the neural correlates in the prefrontal cortices of changes in political attitudes toward others that are linked to social cognition. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments have presented videos from previous electoral campaigns and television commercials for major cola brands and then used the subjects' self-rated affinity toward political candidates as behavioural indicators. After viewing negative campaign videos, subjects showing stronger fMRI activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lowered their ratings of the candidate they originally supported more than did those with smaller fMRI signal changes in the same region. Subjects showing stronger activation in the medial prefrontal cortex tended to increase their ratings more than did those with less activation. The same regions were not activated by viewing negative advertisements for cola. Correlations between the self-rated values and the neural signal changes underscore the metric representation of observed decisions (i.e., whether to support or not) in the brain. This indicates that neurometric analysis may contribute to the exploration of the neural correlates of daily social behaviour

A Hepatocellular Adenoma in a Diet-induced Obese Mouse

A hepatic nodule was noted in a C57BL/6J mouse with diet-induced obesity at 53 weeks of age. Macroscopically, a protruding yellowish white nodule was observed on the visceral surface of the left lateral lobe. Light microscopy demonstrated clear demarcation from the compressed adjacent parenchyma, with loss of the distinct lobular pattern. The proliferating cells of the lesion varied in shape and showed cellular atypia and prominent nucleoli along with vacuoles of various sizes. Some of the cells contained various-sized eosinophilic inclusion bodies in their cytoplasm, and electron microscopy revealed the presence of lipid droplets in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Eosinophilic inclusions were observed as electron dense granular material in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, with one or a few low density central cores. A diagnosis of hepatocellular adenoma was made based on these findings

Co-transfection of EYFP-GH and ECFP-rab3B in an experimental pituitary GH3 cell: a role of rab3B in secretion of GH through porosome.

Recently, in order to elucidate the role of rab3B in porosome, we have observed the incorporation of rab3B in the secretion of GH through porosome under confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Transfected cells with GH-EYFP fusion protein and rab3B-ECFP fusion protein were observed under CLSM, which showed the colocalization of EYFP-GH and ECFP-rab3B in the budding configuration of secretory process. These structural and functional images of rab3B imply the incorporation of rab3B in the secretion of GH through porosome

A Clinical Study of Photodynamic Therapy for Superficial Esophageal Carcinoma by YAG-OPO Laser

A cooperative clinical study of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for superficial esophageal carcinoma was conducted at 6 medical institution. PHE (2mg/kg) with high tumor affinity was used as the oncotropic compound. The light source was a pulse wave YAG-OPO laser with high penetration into the tissue. Irradiation was performed at an energy density of 60–180 J/cm2 48–72 h after PHE administration. Eight lesions in 6 patients were treated. All were type 0-II superficial carcinomas. The depth of invasion was EP–MM for 6 lesions and SM for 2 lesions. A complete response (CR) was achieved in all patients after one session of PDT. Five adverse events, including anemia and fever, were reported by 4 patients, but all were WHO grade 2 or lower and transient. PDT using PHE and YAG-OPO laser was therefore considered effective as a curative therapy for superficial esophageal carcinoma

A study on self-efficacy which students have just before graduation ; a comparison between students of nursing universities and those of junior colleges

看護学生の卒業直前の自己効力感を明らかにし，入職後の教育や指導などへの示唆を得る目的で，看護大学４年生と看護短期大学３年生に一般性自己効力感尺度による調査を行った．その結果，看護学生の自己効力感は一般学生よりも高く，大学生は短大生よりも高い傾向が認められ，入職時には自己効力感をより高める教育や指導の重要性が示唆された．We conducted a survey of fourth-year students at a university nursing program and third-year students at a nursing junior college, using a general self-efficacy scale. Our purpose was to investigate self-efficacy beliefs among nursing students immediately before graduation and find out what sort of education and guidance should be offered to nurses after they are employed. This survey revealed that nursing students has higher self-efficacy belief than other university students and that self-efficacy tended to be even higher among university nursing program students than among junior college nursing students. The result suggest that education and guidance are important for improving even more the self-efficacy of newly employed nurses

Cooperative Clinical Trial of Photodynamic Therapy for Early Gastric Cancer With Photofrin Injection® and YAG-OPO Laser

Background and Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treats malignant tumors using photosensitizers and light. We employed a new pulse laser as the excitation light source for PDT, i.e. an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) system pumped by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, because it provides extremely high peak power

From Traditional Factor Analysis Model to Causal Modeling by SEM : Exemplifying the Scale for the Measurement of Anthrophobic Tendency and the Interpersonal Stress-coping Inventory

心理学研究分野での構成概念の次元は、因子間に相関がある因子分析モデルのもとで、主に探索されてきている。Cattell(1966) は、因子間の相関的な関係性を、同じ水準だけではなく異なった水準あるいは層における因子の間での因果モデルヘと発展させた。McArdle(1984) によって示されたように、Cattellのアイデイアは構造方程式モデリングの分野において実現されてきている。本稿の目的は、構成概念妥当性を確認することへの構造方程式モデリングの有効性を示すことである。研究Iでは、堀井・小川(1996、1997) による対人恐怖心性の6因子を探索的因子分析で抽出した。これらの6因子を確認するために、項目による7種類の因子分析的モデルと下位尺度による5つのモデルと1つの因果モデルがAomsによって推定された。研究Ⅱでは、加藤(2000) による対人ストレスコーピング尺度の6因子が同様に抽出された。この尺度からの15項目に対して、6種類の因子分析モデルと1つの因果モデルが分析された。2つの研究共に、最も適合度の高いモデルは因果モデルであった。これらの結果の意味が議論された。The dimensions of the constructs in the fields of psychological research have mostly been explored under the factor analysis model with correlations among factors. Cattell (1966) had expanded such correlational relationships among factors to the causal modeling between factors not only at the same level also at different levels or strata. As indicated by McArdle (1984) Cattell\u27s idea has been actual in the field of structural equation modeling. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of structural equation modeling for confirming the construct validities. In study I, the six factors of anthrophobic tendency by Hoii & Ogawa (1996, 1997) are extracted by the exploratory factor analysis. To confirm the structure of these six factors, seven kinds of factor analytical models using items and five models and one causal model using sub-scales are estimated by the Amos. In study II, the six factors of the interpersonal stress-coping inventory by Kato (2000) are also extracted. For the 15 items from this inventory, six kinds of factor analytical models and one causal model are analyzed. In both studies, the model that fits best is the causal model. The implications of these findings are discussed

Effects of locomotor training on the functional recovery from the spinal cord injury

This mini-review surveys several representative rehabilitation studies using a treadmill or other methods of locomotor exercises in humans and experimental animals with spinal cord injury. The methods and effect of locomotor training employed in individual studies are explained and the importance of the sensory input and body weight loading in the stimulation of the central pattern generator is emphasized. The establishment of neural networks by regenerating and/or spared axons is the basis of locomotor improvement. Although regenerating axons are found within the lesion, it is difficult to demonstrate the development of new neural connections. Muscle activity is another important factor in recovery from spinal cord injury. Robotic trainings of rats on a treadmill is not considered suitable for a rehabilitation study, because the robotic movement of the hind limbs differs from natural quadrupedal walking. Clinically, driven gait orthosis is used effectively for locomotor training of patients with SCI

GIRK Channels as Candidate Targets for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic, lifelong disorders that have serious consequences. Repeated substance use alters brain function. G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are expressed widely in the brain, including the reward system, and regulate neuronal excitability. Functional GIRK channels are identified as heterotetramers of GIRK subunits (GIRK1–4). The GIRK1, GIRK2, and GIRK3 subunits are mainly expressed in rodent brain regions, and various addictive substances act on the brain through GIRK channels. Studies with animals (knockout and missense mutation animals) and humans have demonstrated the involvement of GIRK channels in the effects of addictive substances. Additionally, GIRK channel blockers affect behavioral responses to addictive substances. Thus, GIRK channels play a key role in SUDs, and GIRK channel modulators may be candidate medications. Ifenprodil is a GIRK channel blocker that does not have serious side effects. Two clinical trials were conducted to investigate the effects of ifenprodil in patients with alcohol or methamphetamine use disorder. Although the number of participants was relatively low, evidence of its safety and efficacy was found. The present review discusses the potential of GIRK channel modulators as possible medications for addiction. Therapeutic agents that target GIRK channels may be promising for the treatment of SUDs