Changes in Electroencephalography and Cardiac Autonomic Function During Craft Activities: Experimental Evidence for the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy often uses craft activities as therapeutic tools, but their therapeutic effectiveness has not yet been adequately demonstrated. The aim of this study was to examine changes in frontal midline theta rhythm (Fmθ) and autonomic nervous responses during craft activities, and to explore the physiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of occupational therapy. To achieve this, we employed a simple craft activity as a task to induce Fmθ and performed simultaneous EEG and ECG recordings. For participants in which Fmθ activities were provoked, parasympathetic and sympathetic activities were evaluated during the appearance of Fmθ and rest periods using the Lorenz plot analysis. Both parasympathetic and sympathetic indices increased with the appearance of Fmθ compared to during resting periods. This suggests that a relaxed-concentration state is achieved by concentrating on craft activities. Furthermore, the appearance of Fmθ positively correlated with parasympathetic activity, and theta band activity in the frontal area were associated with sympathetic activity. This suggests that there is a close relationship between cardiac autonomic function and Fmθ activity

渓流沿い植物タニガワコンギク(キク科) の形態学的および解剖学的比較

渓流沿い植物であるタニガワコンギク（Aster microcephalus var. ripensis）（ キク科） とその近縁の陸生種ノコンギク（A. microcephalus var. ovatus）を用いて形態学的および解剖学的比較を行った。形態学的解析の結果，タニガワコンギクはノコンギクよりも葉が細く，葉形指数は5.1 ± 1.9（タニガワコンギク）と2.3 ± 0.4（ノコンギク）であった。解剖学的解析の結果，タニガワコンギクの狭葉化は細胞の数と大きさの両方が減少していたことに起因していた。さらに，ノコンギクに対してタニガワコンギクは，孔辺細胞も小さく，単位面積あたりの気孔密度も有意に高かった。タニガワコンギクの葉形指数を各河川間で比較した結果，高知県の物部川水系は他の河川よりも有意に低い値となった。したがって，物部川水系では増水頻度などの選択圧が他の河川よりも低い可能性が示唆された

Radiocesium concentration in seeds of Japanese fir (<i>Abies firma</i> Sieb. et Zucc.) growing in Fukushima forests 4.5 years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

<p>Seed soundness is of paramount importance for all plants. Seed soundness of forest trees might have been negatively affected after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in March 2011, when a massive amount of artificial radionuclides deposited on forest areas. However, information on seeds of forest tree species contaminated with radionuclides is limited because they are rarely encountered in forest ecosystems. Japanese fir (<i>Abies firma</i> Sieb. et Zucc.) is a predominant tree in natural secondary forests in the Abukuma Mountains in Fukushima, and this species shows masting; cone production occurs every 2 or 3 years, meaning that the contamination levels of <i>A. firma</i> seeds remain unknown. We investigated the contamination levels of ¹³⁷Cs in cone components (seeds, wings and cone scales) of <i>A. firma</i> approximately 4.5 years after the FDNPP accident. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration in seeds showed the lowest contamination level of the three cone components. In addition, there was a difference in ¹³⁷Cs concentration between seeds and cone scales, suggesting a difference in ¹³⁷Cs contamination levels between strict seed feeders and seed-cone feeders. Our results indicate that the combination of observed low contamination levels of seeds of <i>A. firma</i> and expected small root uptake of ¹³⁷Cs from soil might lead to low contamination levels of ¹³⁷Cs in recruits of this species.</p

Two resected cases of benign adenomyoepithelioma

Abstract Background Adenomyoepithelioma (AME) of the breast is an uncommon tumor characterized by the proliferation of ductal epithelial and myoepithelial cells with the heterogeneity. Although benign AME is relatively easy to differentiate from breast cancer by core needle biopsy (CNB) alone, a definitive diagnosis is often difficult. The imaging findings of AME are also variable, and there are particularly few reports about radiological features, including contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in AME. Case presentation We present two cases of benign AME. Case 1 is a 30-year-old woman with a history of asthma. The cystic tumor shows smooth borders, and the intracystic solid component is irregular in shape and high vascularity. The pathological findings of the tumor were benign on CNB. The MRI scan showed a decreased ADC value. Case 2 is a 60-year-old woman with only a history of arrhythmia. The tumor shows a lobulated mass with cystic space and coarse calcifications. The pathological findings of the tumor were found to be benign by CNB. Dynamic MRI scan showed a fast washout pattern with a decreased ADC value. Both patients underwent excisional biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and the pathological diagnosis was benign AME in both cases. Conclusions The AME of the breast has little specific imaging information, so it can be difficult to diagnose based on pathological findings of biopsy specimen. In our case, the ADC values were exceptionally low, contrary to previous reports. It is essential to carefully diagnose AME, considering the discrepancies in imaging findings observed in this case

A Proposed Molecular Mechanism for Physical Analgesia in Chronic Pain

Although pain is indispensable for survival, chronic pain places a heavy burden on humans. As the efficacy of opioid treatment is limited, the development of alternative methods of pain relief without medication is desirable. Recently, we have developed a novel method of physical analgesia using an adhesive “pyramidal thorn patch.” When we apply about 3 trials of these patches on the skin of a pain region, the pain region moves toward the spinal cord like a “cutaneous rabbit,” and finally, the pain vanishes. In the present review, we propose a molecular mechanism for this analgesic method or pain relief following application of the pyramidal thorn patch where firstly the mechanoreceptors and their related nerves under the skin are activated in response to touch. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels serve as mechanosensitive channels within these mechanoreceptors. We further propose that activation of the nerves connected with the mechanoreceptors releases oxytocin, which has an antinociceptive function and activates TRP channels to hyperpolarize the pain signal nerves. We believe that our system will pave the way for alternative pain treatment

Quantum Monte Carlo and high-level ab initio molecular orbital investigation of dissociation channels of the positronic alkali-metal hydrides, [XH;e

Energy thresholds for dissociation channels of positronic alkali-metal hydrides, [XH;e+] (X = Li, Na, and K), to XH + e+(positron dissociation), XH+ + Ps (positronium dissociation), and X+ + [H−;e+] (positronic hydride ion dissociation) have been calculated using quantum Monte Carlo and high-level ab initio molecular orbital methods, and including quantum zero-point vibrational energy of all of the particles. As the atomic number of X increases from Li to K, the dissociation energy to XH + e+ increases because the dipole moment of XH increases with the atomic number of X, while the dissociation energy to XH+ + Ps decreases. The energy threshold for the ionic dissociation to X+ + [H−;e+] is also reduced, and we obtain 0.975 (3) eV, 0.573 (12) eV, and 0.472 (19) eV for [LiH;e+], [NaH;e+], and [KH;e+], respectively, for this channel. Our results strongly support the conclusion that, among these three channels, the lowest energy dissociation for [XH;e+] is the pathway to X+ + [H−;e+], where X = Li, Na, and K

Recent Progress on Genetically Modified Animal Models for Membrane Skeletal Proteins: The 4.1 and MPP Families

The protein 4.1 and membrane palmitoylated protein (MPP) families were originally found as components in the erythrocyte membrane skeletal protein complex, which helps maintain the stability of erythrocyte membranes by linking intramembranous proteins and meshwork structures composed of actin and spectrin under the membranes. Recently, it has been recognized that cells and tissues ubiquitously use this membrane skeletal system. Various intramembranous proteins, including adhesion molecules, ion channels, and receptors, have been shown to interact with the 4.1 and MPP families, regulating cellular and tissue dynamics by binding to intracellular signal transduction proteins. In this review, we focus on our previous studies regarding genetically modified animal models, especially on 4.1G, MPP6, and MPP2, to describe their functional roles in the peripheral nervous system, the central nervous system, the testis, and bone formation. As the membrane skeletal proteins are located at sites that receive signals from outside the cell and transduce signals inside the cell, it is necessary to elucidate their molecular interrelationships, which may broaden the understanding of cell and tissue functions

Activation of the orbitofrontal cortex by both meditation and exercise: A near-infrared spectroscopy study.

In some types of meditation, such as mindfulness and Zen, breathing is the focus of attention, whereas during an excessive, short-period of anaerobic exercise, the muscles become the focus of attention. Thus, during both efforts, one's attention is focused on a certain feature of the body. Both meditation and exercise generally provide mental refreshment to humans. We hypothesized that the same brain regions are activated by both efforts in humans. To examine this hypothesis, we engaged participants in 3 tasks: meditation, exercise, and a control task. After each task, the participants underwent a 2-back test to concentrate their thoughts, while changes in their blood hemoglobin levels were simultaneously monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Seventeen participants (20-24 years of age; 11 men, 6 women) were enrolled. We applied a fast-Fourier transform (FFT) analysis to the NIRS wave data and calculated the correlation coefficients of the FFT data between (1) meditation and control, (2) exercise and control, and (3) meditation and exercise, at the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), brain areas that are generally involved in mental refreshment. A significant difference in the correlation coefficients between the OFC and DLPFC was detected in the meditation and exercise analysis, and signal source analysis confirmed that the NIRS waves spread from the right and left OFC edges (i.e., right and left temples) toward the center. Our results suggest that both meditation and exercise activate the OFC, which is involved in emotional reactions and motivation behavior, resulting in mental refreshment