Spontaneous Discriminative Response to the Biological Motion Displays Involving a Walking Conspecific in Mice

Recent translational studies using mice have contributed toward elucidating the neural, genetic, and molecular basis of social communication deficits. Nevertheless, many components of visual processes underlying mice sociality remain unresolved, including perception of bodily-movement. Here, we aimed to reveal the visual sensitivity of mice to information on bodily motion using biological motion displays depicted by simple geometric dots. We introduced biological motions extracted from walking mice vs. corresponding meaningless scrambled motions, in which the spatial configurations of each path of dots were shuffled. The apparatus was a three-chambered box with an opening between the chambers, and each side chamber had a monitor. We measured the exploration time of mice within the apparatus during the test, with two types of displays being presented. Mice spent more time in the chamber with the scrambled motion displays, indicating that animals spontaneously discriminated stimuli, with the scrambled motion being relatively novel. Furthermore, mice might have detected socially familiar cues from the biological motion displays. Subsequent testing revealed that additional mice showed no bias to the static versions of the stimuli used in the Movie test. Thus, we confirmed that mice modulated their behavior by focusing on the motion information of the stimuli, rather than the spatial configurations of each dot. Our findings provide a new perspective on how visual processing contributes to underlying social behavior in mice, potentially facilitating future translational studies of social deficits with respect to genetic and neural bases

Goal attribution to inanimate moving objects by Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Humans interpret others’ goals based on motion information, and this capacity contributes to our mental reasoning. The present study sought to determine whether Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) perceive goal-directedness in chasing events depicted by two geometric particles. In Experiment 1, two monkeys and adult humans were trained to discriminate between Chasing and Random sequences. We then introduced probe stimuli with various levels of correlation between the particle trajectories to examine whether participants performed the task using higher correlation. Participants chose stimuli with the highest correlations by chance, suggesting that correlations were not the discriminative cue. Experiment 2 examined whether participants focused on particle proximity. Participants differentiated between Chasing and Control sequences; the distance between two particles was identical in both. Results indicated that, like humans, the Japanese macaques did not use physical cues alone to perform the discrimination task and integrated the cues spontaneously. This suggests that goal attribution resulting from motion information is a widespread cognitive phenotype in primate species

A Case of Radiation Fibrosis Appearing as Mass-Like Consolidation after SBRT with Elevation of Serum CEA

We report a case of radiation fibrosis appearing as mass-like consolidation, which was difficult to distinguish from local recurrence. A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed as having primary lung cancer (cT1N0M0 stage IA) in the right upper lobe and was treated with SBRT of 48 Gy in 4 fractions. After 12 months, mass-like consolidation appeared around the irradiated area, and after 13 months, it had increased in size. FDG-PET revealed high uptake (SUV max = 5.61) for the consolidation. CT-guided biopsy was performed, but we could not confirm the diagnosis. Considering her poor respiratory function and her age, short-interval follow-up was performed. After 15 months, the consolidation enlarged at the dorsal side, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) became elevated (14.6 ng/mL). Serum KL-6 (436 U/mL) and SP-D (204 ng/mL) were also elevated. However, after 16 months, serum CEA slightly decreased. The consolidation gradually retracted on follow-up CT images. CEA, KL-6, and SP-D were also decreased by degrees. After 40 months, there is no evidence of local recurrence

Anti-stress effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Rosa gallica officinalis in mice

Rosa gallica, a plant of the Rosa genus, has been used widely since the 13th century and is cultivated in many areas as a medicinal plant for the preparation of herbal medicines. However, details of the neuropsychological effects of R. gallica remain unclear; therefore we aimed to investigate the neuropsychological effects of a water-soluble extract of R. gallica in male C57BL/6N mice under normal conditions and under chronic stress. We administered a water-soluble extract of R. gallica to mice and performed a series of behavioral experiments to compare the treated animals with the untreated controls. No significant differences in activity level, anxiety-like behavior, depression-like behavior, body weight, and body temperature were observed between R. gallica-treated mice and control mice. However, in mice subjected to chronic stress, the observed decrease in activity was smaller in the R. gallica-treated mice than in the control mice. The oral administration of R. gallica did not affect the normal behavior of mice. However, when the mice were subjected to stress, R. gallica exerted an anti-stress effect. Therefore, R. gallica has potential as a medicinal plant for the purpose of stress prevention

Alpha-pinene and dizocilpine (MK-801) attenuate kindling development and astrocytosis in an experimental mouse model of epilepsy

Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved during the onset of epilepsy is crucial for elucidating the overall mechanism of epileptogenesis and therapeutic strategies. Previous studies, using a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling mouse model, showed that astrocyte activation and an increase in perineuronal nets (PNNs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules occurred within the hippocampus. However, the mechanisms of initiation and suppression of these changes, remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the attenuation of astrocyte activation caused by dizocilpine (MK-801) administration, as well as the anticonvulsant effect of α-pinene on seizures and production of ECM molecules. Our results showed that MK-801 significantly reduced kindling acquisition, while α-pinene treatment prevented an increase in seizures incidences. Both MK-801 and α-pinene administration attenuated astrocyte activation by PTZ and significantly attenuated the increase in ECM molecules. Our results indicate that astrocyte activation and an increase in ECM may contribute to epileptogenesis and suggest that MK-801 and α-pinene may prevent epileptic seizures by suppressing astrocyte activation and ECM molecule production

Effects of calcium channel blockers on glucose tolerance, inflammatory state, and circulating progenitor cells in non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension: a comparative study between Azelnidipine and amlodipine on glucose tolerance and endothelial function - a crossover trial (AGENT)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypertension is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Medical treatment that interferes with various steps in the renin-angiotensin system improves glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. However, it remains unclear if long-acting calcium channel blockers (CCBs) such as azelnidipine and amlodipine affect glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in clinical practice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seventeen non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension who had controlled blood pressure levels using amlodipine (5 mg/day) were enrolled in this study. After randomization, either azelnidipine (16 mg/day) or amlodipine (5 mg/day) was administered in a crossover design for 12-weeks. At baseline and the end of each CCB therapy, samples of blood and urine were collected and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. In addition, hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) were measured at each point by flow cytometry and endothelial functions were measured by fingertip pulse amplitude tonometry using EndoPAT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although blood pressure levels were identical after each CCB treatment, the heart rate significantly decreased after azelnidipine administration than that after amlodipine administration (<it>P </it>< 0.005). Compared with amlodipine administration, azelnidipine significantly decreased levels of glucose and insulin 120 min after the 75 g OGTT (both <it>P </it>< 0.05). Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (<it>P </it>= 0.067) and interleukin-6 (<it>P </it>= 0.035) were decreased. Although endothelial functions were not different between the two medication groups, the number of circulating HPCs was significantly increased after azelnidipine administration (<it>P </it>= 0.016).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that azelnidipine treatment may have beneficial effects on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, the inflammatory state, and number of circulating progenitor cells in non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension.</p

Comprehensive behavioral study of the effects of vanillin inhalation in mice

Vanillin is widely used in food and cosmetics, among other substances, for its sweet smell. However, the neuropsychological effects of vanillin inhalation have not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of vanillin inhalation on mouse behavior. First, we investigated whether the aroma of vanillin was attractive or repulsive for mice. Thereafter, the mice inhaled vanillin for 20 min before each test in a series of behavioral tests (elevated plus maze, open field, Y-maze, tail suspension, cotton bud biting, and Porsolt forced swim tests). In these tests, the mice showed a neutral response to vanillin. Mice that inhaled vanillin had a suppressed pain response in the hot plate test. In addition, the grip strength of the forelimbs of mice that inhaled vanillin was decreased. No significant differences were found between the mice inhaling vanillin and control mice in the open field, Y-maze, tail suspension, forced swimming, and aggression tests. These results show that vanillin inhalation has anti-nociceptive effects, similar to other routes of administration. The results also show that vanillin inhalation does not cause significant behavioral effects

Research on Pupils' Progress of Mathematical Ability at Lower Secondary School Level (4) : Considering the "Number" of Test Points

Kassel-Exeter Projectによって開発された共通問題を用いて, 日本の中学生の数学的能力の発達・変容を調査し, その検討を通して, よりよい数学教育に向けての示唆を得ることが本研究の目的である。「数」調査問題をもとに1019名の公立中学校2, 3年生を対象とする調査を行ったところ, 日本の中学生の「数」得点は1年次からすでに高いレベルにあり, そのレベルを維持したままで, イギリス・ドイツなどと比して遜色のない程度の伸びを示していることがわかった。さらに, 問題ごとの正答率の変容に着目すると同時に, 被験者を3つの群に層化することによって, 正答率の変容の要因を分析した。その結果, 数学学習に対する「潜在力」の高い生徒および「潜在力」の低い生徒の「数」得点の変容に関する特徴が洗い出され, 個に応じた数学指導を考慮していく際の示唆が得られた。, The authors administered the "number" of test composed of 50 problems developed by Kassel-Exeter Project to students in Tokyo, Nara, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Nagasaki prefectures a year earlier to identify the students' progress in mathematical ability at lower secondary school level. Analysis of the test shows that Japanese students' progress is almost comparable with the students from other countries like England and Germany, which can be attributed to the effective teaching of Mathematics.Aside from the overall analysis of the test scores, a longitudinal analysis of each problem was made. The analysis showed that Japanese pupils made remarkable progress in many problems but they showed corresponding regression on estimation of problems. Based on their points in a "potential" test, students were grouped as potentially high (PH), potentailly medium (PM) or potentially low (PL). PH students exhibited high points in comparatively difficult problem items while PL students' showed progress in comparatively easy problem items. The observed regression could be attributed to the same kind of problem items. Important implications for the improvement of the teaching of Mathematics were identified