Genetic polymorphism of pleiotrophin is associated with pain experience in Japanese adults Case-control study

Genetic factors play a role in individual differences in pain experience. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify novel loci regulating pain processing. We conducted a 2-stage GWAS and the candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) association study on pain experience using an exploratory cohort of patients with cancer pain. The confirmatory cohort comprised of participants from the general population with and without habitual use of analgesic medication. In the exploratory cohort, we evaluated pain intensity using a numerical rating scale, recorded daily opioid dosages, and calculated pain reduction rate. In the confirmatory cohort, pain experience was defined as habitual nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage. Using linear regression models, we identified candidate SNP in the exploratory samples, and tested the association between phenotype and experienced pain in the confirmatory samples. We found 1 novel SNP (rs11764598)—located on the gene encoding for pleiotrophin on chromosome 7—that passed the genome-wide suggestive significance at 20% false discovery rate (FDR) correction in the exploratory samples of patients with cancer pain (P = 1.31 × 10-7, FDR = 0.101). We confirmed its significant association with daily analgesic usage in the confirmatory cohort (P = .028), although the minor allele affected pain experience in an opposite manner. We identified a novel genetic variant associated with pain experience. Further studies are required to validate the role of pleiotrophin in pain processing

Effects of land-use change on groundwater recharge model parameters

Land development usually induces large changes in flood peak and infiltration properties, thus affecting the entire hydrological environment of the area. In order to evaluate such negative effects caused by land-use change, it is necessary to estimate the changes in surface runoff and groundwater recharge rate. The effects of land-use changes on the parameter values of a groundwater recharge model were studied and are presented. The response of groundwater level was examined at several observation wells for two different unconfined aquifers consisting of weathered granite. The spatially calibrated parameters of the groundwater recharge model were classified in order to evaluate the effects of land-use change. It was shown that the parameter values most affected by land-use change were the surface runoff coefficient, F-infinity, followed by the shape parameter, (r)(1/2). The field capacity parameter, R-0, was also greatly affected. By defining the land-use change for these three parameters the hydrological change can be predicted

Plasma Heme Oxygenase-1 Levels in Patients with Coronary and Peripheral Artery Diseases

Aims. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of heme to generate CO, biliverdin, and iron. Since these products have antiatherogenic properties, HO-1 may play a protective role against the progression of atherosclerosis. However, plasma HO-1 levels in patients with atherosclerotic diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), have not been clarified yet. Methods. We investigated plasma HO-1 levels by ELISA in 410 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography who also had an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test for PAD screening. Results. Of the 410 study patients, CAD was present in 225 patients (55%) (1-vessel (1-VD), n=91; 2-vessel (2-VD), n=66; 3-vessel disease (3-VD), n=68). PAD (ABI < 0.9) was found in 36 (9%) patients. Plasma HO-1 levels did not differ between 225 patients with CAD and 185 without CAD (median 0.44 versus 0.35 ng/mL), but they were significantly lower in 36 patients with PAD than in 374 without PAD (0.27 versus 0.41 ng/mL, P<0.02). After excluding the 36 patients with PAD, HO-1 levels were significantly higher in 192 patients with CAD than in 182 without CAD (0.45 versus 0.35 ng/mL, P<0.05). HO-1 levels in 4 groups of CAD(−), 1-VD, 2-VD, and 3-VD were 0.35, 0.49, 0.44, and 0.44 ng/mL, respectively, and were highest in 1-VD (P<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, HO-1 levels were inversely associated with PAD, whereas they were also associated with CAD. The odds ratios for PAD and CAD were 2.12 (95% CI = 1.03–4.37) and 0.65 (95% CI = 0.42–0.99) for the HO-1 level of <0.35 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions. Plasma HO-1 levels were found to be low in patients with PAD, in contrast to high levels in patients with CAD

Biofeedback effect of hybrid assistive limb in stroke rehabilitation: A proof of concept study using functional near infrared spectroscopy

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>Robot-assisted rehabilitation has been increasingly drawing attention in the field of neurorehabilitation. The hybrid assistive limb (HAL) is an exoskeleton robot developed based on the “interactive biofeedback” theory, and several studies have shown its efficacy for patients with stroke. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of the facilitative effect of neurorehabilitation using a single-joint HAL (HAL-SJ) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).</p><p>Materials and methods</p><p>Subacute stroke patients admitted to our hospital were assessed in this study for HAL eligibility. We evaluated motor-related cortical activity using an fNIRS system at baseline and immediately after HAL-SJ treatment on the same day. Cortical activity was determined through the relative changes in the hemoglobin concentrations. For statistical analysis, we compared the number of flexion/extension movements before and immediately after HAL-SJ treatment using paired t-test. fNIRS used both the methods of statistical parametric mapping and random effect analysis.</p><p>Results</p><p>We finally included 10 patients (eight men, two women; mean age: 66.8 ± 12.0 years). The mean number of flexion/extension movements within 15 s increased significantly from 4.2 ± 3.1 to 5.3 ± 4.1 immediately after training. fNIRS showed increased cortical activation in the primary motor cortex of the ipsilesional hemisphere immediately after HAL-SJ treatment compared to the baseline condition.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study is the first to support the concept of the biofeedback effect from the perspective of changes in cortical activity measured with an fNIRS system. The biofeedback effect of HAL immediately increased the task-related cortical activity, and this may address the functional recovery. Further studies are warranted to support our findings.</p></div

Results of group analysis comparing pre-versus post-HAL treatment.

<p>The cortical activity of change represents the comparing pre-and post-HAL treatments. For the left image, the numbers of NIRS channels were superimposed on the standardized brain according to the MNI coordinate system. For the right image, red and blue indicate increase and decrease in the HbO₂ level, respectively (FDR corrected, p < 0.01). Gray indicates that the channels were not significantly changed following HAL-assisted rehabilitation. The mean number of flexion/extension movements within 15 seconds is indicated as a graph on the right of the figure. Motor performance was statistically significantly improved compared to the baseline status. * p-value was set 0.05.</p

MRI/CT images presenting the stroke lesion of 10 study subjects.

<p>Diffusion-weighted images and CT images are presented to demonstrate the stroke lesions of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke cases, respectively.</p

A proposed biofeedback model of HAL treatment.

<p>A proposed biofeedback model of HAL treatment.</p