Dread of uncertain pain: An event-related potential study

<div><p>Humans experience more stress about uncertain situations than certain situations. However, the neural mechanism underlying the uncertainty of a negative stimulus has not been determined. In the present study, event-related potential was recorded to examine neural responses during the dread of unpredictable pain. We used a cueing paradigm in which predictable cues were always followed by electric shocks, unpredictable cues by electric shocks at a 50/50 ratio and safe cues by no electric shock. Visual analogue scales following electric shocks were presented to quantify subjective anxiety levels. The behavioral results showed that unpredictable cues evoked high-level anxiety compared with predictable cues in both painful and unpainful stimulation conditions. More importantly, the ERPs results revealed that unpredictable cues elicited a larger P200 at parietal sites than predictable cues. In addition, unpredictable cues evoked larger P200 compared with safe cues at frontal electrodes and compared with predictable cues at parietal electrodes. In addition, larger P3b and LPP were observed during perception of safe cues compared with predictable cues at frontal and central electrodes. The similar P3b effect was also revealed in the left sites. The present study underlined that the uncertain dread of pain was associated with threat appraisal process in pain system. These findings on early event-related potentials were significant for a neural marker and development of therapeutic interventions.</p></div

Mean subjective anxiety level ratings for cues (UC-with shock, UC-without shock, PC, SC).

<p>The x-axis indicates independent variables: UC-with shock, UC-without shock, PC versus SC. The y-axis indicates the mean anxiety level ratings by all subjects (mean±S.E.). Error bars depict the standard errors.</p

Amplitudes of LPP at nine electrodes.

<p>Amplitudes of LPP at nine electrodes.</p

Grand-averaged ERP waveforms at nine electrodes evoked by cue pictures.

<p>The black line indicates ERP waveforms evoked by UC, the long-dashed line illustrates ERP waveforms elicited by SC, the short-dashed line shows ERP waveforms in the PC condition. The x-axis indicates the time scale, which is marked in intervals of 200 ms. The time scale started 200 ms pre-stimulus onset. The y-axis indicates the amplitudes, which are marked in intervals of 2μv.</p

Supplementary document for Multi-wavelength multi-distance diffuse correlation spectroscopy system for assessment of premature infants’ cerebral hemodynamics - 6792838.pdf

Supplemental Materia

Supplementary document for Multi-wavelength multi-distance diffuse correlation spectroscopy system for assessment of premature infants’ cerebral hemodynamics - 6737731.pdf

Supplementary Materia

Bone mineral density of femora and bone mineral content of tibiae and teeth of F2 generation female rats after three generations of continuously drinking the four water types.

<p>A shows the bone mineral density of femora, B shows the calcium content of both the tibiae and teeth, and C shows the magnesium content of both the tibiae and teeth. TW: Tap water, bNW: bottled natural water, bMW: bottled mineralized water, bPW: bottled purified water.</p

Supplementary document for Multi-wavelength multi-distance diffuse correlation spectroscopy system for assessment of premature infants’ cerebral hemodynamics - 6841536.pdf

Multi-wavelength multi-distance diffuse correlation spectroscopy system for assessment of premature infants’ cerebral hemodynamic

Multi-Generational Drinking of Bottled Low Mineral Water Impairs Bone Quality in Female Rats

<div><p>Background</p><p>Because of reproductions and hormone changes, females are more sensitive to bone mineral loss during their lifetime. Bottled water has become more popular in recent years, and a large number of products are low mineral water. However, research on the effects of drinking bottled low mineral water on bone health is sparse.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To elucidate the skeletal effects of multi-generational bottled water drinking in female rats.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Rats continuously drank tap water (TW), bottled natural water (bNW), bottled mineralized water (bMW), or bottled purified water (bPW) for three generations.</p><p>Results</p><p>The maximum deflection, elastic deflection, and ultimate strain of the femoral diaphysis in the bNW, bMW, and bPW groups and the fracture strain in the bNW and bMW groups were significantly decreased. The tibiae calcium levels in both the bNW and bPW groups were significantly lower than that in the TW group. The tibiae and teeth magnesium levels in both the bNW and bPW groups were significantly lower than those in the TW group. The collagen turnover markers PICP (in both bNW and bPW groups) were significantly lower than that in the TW group. In all three low mineral water groups, the 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D levels were significantly lower than those in the TW group.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Long-term drinking of low mineral water may disturb bone metabolism and biochemical properties and therefore weaken biomechanical bone properties in females. Drinking tap water, which contains adequate minerals, was found to be better for bone health. To our knowledge, this is the first report on drinking bottled low mineral water and female bone quality on three generation model.</p></div

Biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in F2 generation female rats after 3 generations of continuously drinking the 4 water types.

<p>A shows the level of PICP, B shows the level of BALP, C shows the level of ICTP and D shows the level of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in serum. TW: Tap water, bNW: bottled natural water, bMW: bottled mineralized water, bPW: bottled purified water.</p