還元型CoQ10が心理的要素に与える影響

本研究は,従来サプリメントとして普及してきたCoQ10が精神面などQOLの改善に効果がみられるという文献に着目し,その内容の検証を深めることを目的とした。 具体的にはCoQ10服用前(運動負荷前・負荷後)× CoQ10服用中(運動負荷前・負荷後)×サプリメント(CoQ10・プラセボ)の条件化による心理尺度の変容を分析することであった。 その結果服用によって快感情が高まるし(運動負荷前),運動負荷後では服用前よりも鎮静かつ快感情がみられた。POMS による情緒面では,服用中の運動負荷前の値が服用前よりも望ましい方向にあることが示唆された。これらに並行して推進されたプラセボによる一連の実験結果はいずれもNonの傾向を提示している

エアロビックダンスが心理的側面に与える影響(人間学部 , 聖泉大学)

本研究は,エアロビックダンスの授業が心理的側面にどのような影響を与えるのかを明らかにすることを目的とし,POMS,疲労の自覚症状,授業後の感想を用いて検討した。その結果,エアロビックダンス授業後は授業前に比べ,情緒が安定し,疲労が軽減されることが明らかになった。また,授業後の感想から,エアロビックダンスをすることにより,1.すっきりする,ストレスが解消される,2.身体に対するコントロール感を獲得する,3.日常生活や健康について考える,4.達成感が得られることが示唆された

Synchronized Expansion and Contraction of Olfactory, Vomeronasal, and Taste Receptor Gene Families in Hystricomorph Rodents

ヤマアラシ亜目における嗅覚・フェロモン・味覚受容体遺伝子の同調的進化～グルメな動物は鼻も良い！？～.京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-04-23.Chemical senses, including olfaction, pheromones, and taste, are crucial for the survival of most animals. There has long been a debate about whether different types of senses might influence each other. For instance, primates with a strong sense of vision are thought to have weakened olfactory abilities, although the oversimplified trade-off theory is now being questioned. It is uncertain whether such interactions between different chemical senses occur during evolution. To address this question, we examined four receptor gene families related to olfaction, pheromones, and taste: olfactory receptor (OR), vomeronasal receptor type 1 and type 2 (V1R and V2R), and bitter taste receptor (T2R) genes in Hystricomorpha, which is morphologically and ecologically the most diverse group of rodents. We also sequenced and assembled the genome of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus. By examining 16 available genome assemblies alongside the grasscutter genome, we identified orthologous gene groups among hystricomorph rodents for these gene families to separate the gene gain and loss events in each phylogenetic branch of the Hystricomorpha evolutionary tree. Our analysis revealed that the expansion or contraction of the four gene families occurred synchronously, indicating that when one chemical sense develops or deteriorates, the others follow suit. The results also showed that V1R/V2R genes underwent the fastest evolution, followed by OR genes, and T2R genes were the most evolutionarily stable. This variation likely reflects the difference in ligands of V1R/V2Rs, ORs, and T2Rs: species-specific pheromones, environment-based scents, and toxic substances common to many animals, respectively

Neurocognitive Function of Patients with Brain Metastasis Who Received Either Whole Brain Radiotherapy Plus Stereotactic Radiosurgery or Radiosurgery Alone

Purpose: To determine how the omission of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) affects the　neurocognitive function of patients with one to four brain metastases who have been treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Methods and Materials: In a prospective randomized trial between WBRT+SRS and SRS alone for patients with one to four brain metastases, we assessed the neurocognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Of the 132 enrolled patients, MMSE scores were available for 110. Results: In the baseline MMSE analyses, statistically significant differences were observed for total tumor volume, extent of tumor edema, age, and Karnofsky performance status. Of the 92 patients who underwent the follow-up MMSE, 39 had a baseline MMSE score of ≤27 (17 in the WBRT+SRS group and 22 in the SRS-alone group). Improvements of ≥3 points in the MMSEs of 9 WBRT+SRS patients and 11 SRS-alone patients (p = 0.85) were observed. Of the 82 patients with a baseline MMSE score of ≥27 or whose baseline MMSE score was ≤26 but had improved to ≥27 after the initial brain treatment, the 12-, 24-, and 36-month actuarial free rate of the 3-point drop in the MMSE was 76.1%, 68.5%, and 14.7% in the WBRT+SRS group and 59.3%, 51.9%, and 51.9% in the SRS-alone group, respectively. The average duration until deterioration was 16.5 months in the WBRT+SRS group and 7.6 months in the SRS-alone group (p = 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study have revealed that, for most brain metastatic patients, control of the brain tumor is the most important factor for stabilizing neurocognitive function. However, the long-term adverse effects of WBRT on neurocognitive function might not be negligible

Collagen peptide ingestion alters lipid metabolism-related gene expression and the unfolded protein response in mouse liver

Ingestion of collagen peptide (CP) elicits beneficial effects on the body, including improvement in blood lipid profiles, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CP ingestion on the liver, which controls lipid metabolism in the body. Male BALB/cCrSlc mice were bred with the AIN-93M diet containing 14 % casein or the AIN-93M-based low-protein diet containing 10 % casein or a diet containing 6 % casein+4 % CP for 10 weeks (n 12/group). Total, free and esterified cholesterol levels in the blood decreased in the CP group. DNA microarray analysis of the liver revealed that expressions of genes related to lipid metabolic processes such as the PPAR signalling pathway and fatty acid metabolism increased in the CP group compared with the 10 % casein group. The expressions of several genes involved in steroid metabolic process, including Cyp7a1 and Cyp8b1, were decreased, despite being targets of transcriptional regulation by PPAR. These data suggest that lipid metabolism in the liver is altered by CP ingestion, and the decrease in blood cholesterol levels in the CP group is not due to enhancement of the steroid metabolic process. On the other hand, expressions of genes related to the unfolded protein response (UPR) significantly decreased at the mRNA level, suggesting that CP ingestion lowers endoplasmic reticulum stress. Indeed, protein levels of phosphorylated inositol-requiring enzyme 1 decreased after CP ingestion. Taken together, CP affects the broader pathways in the liver – not only lipid metabolism but also UPR

Direct activation of platelets by addition of CaCl2 leads coagulation of platelet-rich plasma

Abstract Background Based on the notion that full activation of platelets is required for a growth factor release, in regenerative dentistry, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in liquid form is usually clotted by addition of CaCl2 in glassware before topical implantation. However, there has been no evidence as to which is better, full or partial activation of platelets, for minimizing the loss of growth factors and improving the controlled release of growth factors from coagulated PRP. To address this matter, here, we primarily examined direct effects of CaCl2 on platelets in PBS and on coagulation in citrated PRP. Methods PRP was prepared from healthy volunteers’ blood. Platelets’ actions were monitored by scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, digital holographic microscopy, and immunofluorescent staining. Clot formation was examined in plasma. Results In plasma-free PBS, 0.1% CaCl2 immediately upregulated CD62P and CD63, causing a release of microparticles and fibrinogen/fibrin; consequently, platelets aggregated and adhered to polystyrene culture dishes with enlargement of their attachment area. In a clot formation assay in plasma, CaCl2 initially induced platelet aggregation, which triggered loop-like matrix formation and subsequently induced coagulation on a watch glass. Such changes were not clearly observed either with PRP in a plastic dish or in platelet-poor plasma on a watch glass: coagulation was delayed in both conditions. Conclusions These findings indicate that besides the well-known coagulation pathway, which activates platelets via thrombin conversion in a coagulation cascade, CaCl2 directly activates platelets, which then facilitate clot formation independently and in cooperation with the coagulation pathway

健康運動心理学の発展過程と今後の展望(人間学部人間心理学科,聖泉大学)

本論は本学健康心理コースが主な研究・教育テーマとする健康運動心理学について,その発展過程と今後の展望を論じるものである。まず,学問の背景が社会,学術という2つの視点から検討された。社会的背景としては,高齢社会化とストレスの増大が挙げられた。また学術的背景としては,隣接領域との関係性,健康運動心理学が包含する研究テーマ,心理学から生まれた健康心理学との相違点を明らかにした。次いで,体育心理学に始まる健康運動心理学の発展過程を概観した。1950年代の体育心理学の発展,1960年代以降の運動心理学,スポーツ心理学の誕生と発展,そして2000年代に入ってからの健康運動心理学の誕生という系譜が考えられた。最後に,健康運動心理学の今後の課題として,わが国独自の研究知見の蓄積,隣接領域からの知見の応用,東洋思想との融合を提案した