Circannual Control of Hibernation by HP Complex in the Brain

SummarySeasonal hibernation in mammals is under a unique adaptation system that protects organisms from various harmful events, such as lowering of body temperature (Tb), during hibernation. However, the precise factors controlling hibernation remain unknown. We have previously demonstrated a decrease in hibernation-specific protein (HP) complex in the blood of chipmunks during hibernation. Here, HP is identified as a candidate hormone for hibernation. In chipmunks kept in constant cold and darkness, HP is regulated by an individual free-running circannual rhythm that correlates with hibernation. The level of HP complex in the brain increases coincident with the onset of hibernation. Such HP regulation proceeds independently of Tb changes in constant warmth, and Tb decreases only when brain HP is increased in the cold. Blocking brain HP activity using an antibody decreases the duration of hibernation. We suggest that HP, a target of endogenously generated circannual rhythm, carries hormonal signals essential for hibernation to the brain

Karyomorphological Studies in Some Species of Parnassia L. (Saxifragaceae s.l.) in East Asia and Intraspecific Polyploidy of P. palustris L.

Karyomorphological information is one of the most important characters for cytotaxonomy. We described karyomorphology of 14 species of Parnassia in East Asia. They had commonly the resting chromosomes of the simple chromocenter type and the mitotic prophase chromosomes of the proximal type. The somatic chromosome number of 2n=14 was shown in three species, that of 2n=18 was shown in six species, that of 2n=18 or 36 was shown in two species, that of 2n=32 was shown in one species, that of 2n=36 or 36+1∼8 s was shown in one species, and that of 2n=18, 27, 36 or 45 was shown in one species. They were commonly monomodal (gradual) decrease in length from the largest to the smallest chromosomes. However, their absolute chromosome sizes were different from each other. Average chromosome sizes were recognized as three types small (1.21 μm), medium (1.7–2.36 μm), and large (3.1–3.75 μm). Parnassia palustris showed four cytotypes that could be likely cytogeographically correlated with habitats, polyploidy, and sizes of pollen grains

Difference between physical therapist estimation and psychological patient-reported outcome measures in patients with low back pain.

Minimizing the number of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can reduce patient burden. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate whether physical therapists (PTs) can estimate psychological PROM scores in patients with low back pain (LBP) through physical therapy evaluation. The secondary aims were; 1) to investigate whether the clinical experiences of PTs influence correlations between PT estimates and psychological PROM scores, and 2) to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of PT estimates for the psychological features detected by the PROMs. We recruited hospitalized patients owing to LBP, who underwent evaluation by PTs on the initial day of hospitalization. Patients completed PROMs, including the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale immediately before the initial physical therapy session. PTs rated the magnitude of patient kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS; 0 = not detected at all, 10 = very highly detected) through physical therapy evaluation immediately after the initial session. The PTs were blinded to the PROM results. We categorized PTs into two subgroups (PTs with ≥4 years and those with .05) between the two subgroups of PTs in all measures. Low sensitivity and high specificity of PT estimates for psychological features through physical therapy evaluation were identified in all PROMs when PT NRS scores were categorized into the binary score by 5 (negative: <5; positive: ≥5)