Satellite glial cell P2Y12 receptor in the trigeminal ganglion is involved in lingual neuropathic pain mechanisms in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been reported that the P2Y₁₂receptor (P2Y₁₂R) is involved in satellite glial cells (SGCs) activation, indicating that P2Y₁₂R expressed in SGCs may play functional roles in orofacial neuropathic pain mechanisms. However, the involvement of P2Y₁₂R in orofacial neuropathic pain mechanisms is still unknown. We therefore studied the reflex to noxious mechanical or heat stimulation of the tongue, P2Y₁₂R and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistries in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) in a rat model of unilateral lingual nerve crush (LNC) to evaluate role of P2Y₁₂R in SGC in lingual neuropathic pain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The head-withdrawal reflex thresholds to mechanical and heat stimulation of the lateral tongue were significantly decreased in LNC-rats compared to sham-rats. These nocifensive effects were apparent on day 1 after LNC and lasted for 17 days. On days 3, 9, 15 and 21 after LNC, the mean relative number of TG neurons encircled with GFAP-immunoreactive (IR) cells significantly increased in the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular branch regions of TG. On day 3 after LNC, P2Y₁₂R expression occurred in GFAP-IR cells but not neuronal nuclei (NeuN)-IR cells (i.e. neurons) in TG. After 3 days of successive administration of the P2Y₁₂R antagonist MRS2395 into TG in LNC-rats, the mean relative number of TG neurons encircled with GFAP-IR cells was significantly decreased coincident with a significant reversal of the lowered head-withdrawal reflex thresholds to mechanical and heat stimulation of the tongue compared to vehicle-injected rats. Furthermore, after 3 days of successive administration of the P2YR agonist 2-MeSADP into the TG in naïve rats, the mean relative number of TG neurons encircled with GFAP-IR cells was significantly increased and head-withdrawal reflex thresholds to mechanical and heat stimulation of the tongue were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared to vehicle-injected rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present findings provide the first evidence that the activation of P2Y₁₂R in SGCs of TG following lingual nerve injury is involved in the enhancement of TG neuron activity and nocifensive reflex behavior, resulting in neuropathic pain in the tongue.</p

Basic research and clinical investigations of the neural basis of orofacial pain

Background: Trigeminal nerve injury or orofacial inflammation causes severe pain in the orofacial regions innervated by uninjured nerves or uninflamed tissues as well as injured or inflamed tissues. Pathological orofacial pain associated with trigeminal nerve injury or inflammation is difficult to diagnose and treat. Highlights: To develop appropriate treatments for patients with orofacial pathological pain, various animal models of trigeminal nerve injury or orofacial inflammation have been developed. Further, the possible mechanisms involving the trigeminal ganglion (TG), trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), and upper cervical spinal cord (C1-C2) have been studied. Conclusions: 1) Neurotransmitters released from the somata of TG neurons are involved in peripheral sensitization. 2) Neurotransmitter release from TG neurons is decreased by botulinum toxin-type A administration, suggesting that this toxin suppressed neurotransmitter release and alleviated the neuropathic pain-related behavior. 3) Altered states of glial cells and nociceptive neurons, in the Vc and C1-C2 are involved in pathological orofacial pain associated with trigeminal nerve injury or orofacial inflammation. 4) The trigeminal sensory nuclear complex, especially the trigeminal spinal subnucleus oralis, is involved in normal and pathological orofacial pain conditions after peripheral nerve injury. 5) Neuroimaging analyses have suggested functional changes in the central and peripheral nervous systems in neuropathic pain conditions

Involvement of peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors in orofacial thermal hyperalgesia in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms that may underlie the sensitization of trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) and upper cervical spinal cord (C1-C2) neurons to heat or cold stimulation of the orofacial region following glutamate (Glu) injection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Glu application to the tongue or whisker pad skin caused an enhancement of head-withdrawal reflex and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in Vc-C2 neurons. Head-withdrawal reflex and ERK phosphorylation were also enhanced following cold stimulation of the tongue but not whisker pad skin in Glu-injected rats, and the head-withdrawal reflex and ERK phosphorylation were enhanced following heat stimulation of the tongue or whisker pad skin. The enhanced head-withdrawal reflex and ERK phosphorylation after heat stimulation of the tongue or whisker pad skin, and those following cold stimulation of the tongue but not whisker pad skin were suppressed following ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists administration into the tongue or whisker pad skin. Furthermore, intrathecal administration of MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 caused significant suppression of enhanced head-withdrawal reflex in Glu-injected rats, heat head-withdrawal reflex in the rats with Glu injection into the tongue or whisker pad skin and cold head-withdrawal reflex in the rats with Glu injection into the tongue.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present findings suggest that peripheral Glu receptor mechanisms may contribute to cold hyperalgesia in the tongue but not in the facial skin, and also contribute to heat hyperalgesia in the tongue and facial skin, and that the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in Vc-C2 neurons may be involved in these Glu-evoked hyperalgesic effects.</p

Association between mental health and bone mass among community-dwelling adults: Nagasaki Islands Study on bone health

Osteoporosis and its related fractures are important public health issues. This study examined the association between the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and low bone mass in middle-aged community-dwelling men and women. A crosssectional study was nested in a prospective observational study of 1,101 participants (median age: 57 [49-62] years in men and 58 [50-62] years in women) residing in a rural city in western Japan. Participants were recruited during medical check-ups in 2016 and 2017 from the community-dwelling population. The bone mass of the calcaneus was evaluated using quantitative ultrasound. Of the participants, 56 men (14.9%) and 144 women (19.9%) had a bone mass of less than 70% of the mean of young adults. Univariate analysis revealed that there was a trend toward lower body mass index (BMI) and higher prevalence of low bone mass with an increase in K6 scores in men but not in women. Logistic regression analysis, adjusting for possible confounders(age, BMI, smoking, drinking habits, exercise habits, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension), showed significant associations between the K6 scores and low bone mass (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66 for the men with 5 to 12 points of K6, OR = 7.51 for men with ≥ 13 of K6, not for women). We showed an association between psychological distress and low bone mass independent of cofounders among community-dwelling middle-aged men but not women. This suggests that healthy mental health in middle-aged men may be a possible target for the prevention of consequent osteoporosis or fragile bone fractures

キュウショク シセツ ジュウジシャ ノ シシツ セッシュ ニ カンスル イシキ チョウサ

　公衆栄養学分野の臨地実習の課題として健康教育を実施するにあたり、対象者である給食施設従事者の食生活の現状把握と、課題を見出すことを目的に調査を行った。給食施設従事者428 人を対象に自記式質問紙による調査を行った結果、体型の自己認識で「太っている」「やや太っている」と評価した者は、40 歳代が最も多く、国民健康・栄養調査の結果と比べても高い割合を示した。また、主菜の食材は、誰を主な対象として献立を立てるかにより差異がみられた。特に、「子供」中心の献立である者で「脂質の多い肉」「ハム・ソーセージなどの加工品」の使用が有意に高かった。40 歳代では、献立の中心者が「子ども」の者が多いことから、子どもと同様の食事を食べることが、脂質の過剰摂取につながっていると思われる。嗜好品の摂取状況では、飲酒者の割合、間食を摂る者の割合がともに、国民健康・栄養調査の結果よりも高かった。また、飲酒時のつまみや間食の内容で、脂肪の多い食品の利用があり、食事以外での脂質摂取についても注意が必要であることが示唆された。　As a public health nutrition on-site training project, we conducted a survey of canteen employees in order to better understand their diet and to identify any related problems, as well as to provide employees with health education. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 428 canteen employees. Employees in their 40s included the highest percentage of respondents who perceived their body shape to be“ plump” or“ a little plump”, and this percentage was higher than that obtained in the National Health and Nutrition ExaminationSurvey. The ingredients in the main dishes eaten by respondents varied according to the main target of the meal. In particular, respondents who prepared meals mainly for children used significantly more “fatty meats” and “processed foods such as ham and sausage”. Since many respondents in their 40s prepared meals mainly for children, eating the same food as children is likely to result in excessive fat intake. The percentage of respondents who regularly drank alcohol and the percentage of those who regularly ate between meals were both found to be higher than those obtained in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Many respondents alsofrequently ate fatty foods with alcohol or between meals, suggesting that it is necessary to monitor fat intake between meals as well as at mealtimes

Creating compassion in a picture book within conservation effort

The Anoa Breeding Centre, established by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2005, is a wildlife conservation institution focuses on saving an Indonesian endangered endemic mammal, anoa, from extinction due to deforestation and poaching in the region. The Centre has operated multiple programs from sheltering individual animals, restoring the population in their natural habitat, to educating the people in the local community to seek their understanding and support in am attempt to terminate poaching. However, despite the continuous effort, there has still been a lack of awareness amongst the public regarding the plight of the anoa. In order to help to solve the awareness issue as part of the education and outreach activities at the Centre, this practice-based thesis developed the illustrations for a picture book to share the sense of concern among the community and further the conservation effort in collaboration with the institution. In particular, the thesis examines the various factors which contribute to enhancing humans’ compassionate and empathetic response for others, especially non-human beings. The creative practices in the thesis aim to apply these factors to the development of animal character illustrations through purposeful anthropomorphism so that the images convey their emotions to the readers, who are expected to become supporters of the conservation efforts with sense of empathy. The thesis also discusses the role of other components of illustrations in a picture book, such as colors and compositions, as tools of storytelling that communicate the characters’ emotions and feelings to readers in addition to the application of the anthropomorphic interpretation. The outcome is a complete series of finalized analog illustrations that comprise the picture book made with acrylic gouache and pencils, including the cover image. The research suggests using a picture book as a way to discuss social issues while providing the aesthetic value of the art and design as an entertaining and enjoyable medium.Media files notes: Adventure of Anna Description: A picture book developed through the MA thesis project Media creators: This is a draft of a picture book currently brought to a publishing house in Indonesia and the draft is under the process of reviewing. My responsibility within the publication project only included making illustrations, so the current book design and choice of the font in the draft submitted as Image and Media Appendices are only temporary ones. The languages used in the book are in Indonesian and English at this moment, however, this can be only either one of them eventually. Media rights: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.

Factors Associated With Parental Readiness Amongst Japanese Female Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Trends towards a nuclear family unit, a decline in birth rate, and lack of community relationships make it difficult for adolescents to improve parental readiness in Japanese society. Low parenting skills will be a risk factor for high parenting stress or child abuse. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors associated with parental readiness amongst Japanese female undergraduate nursing students. Methods: The study design is cross-sectional. An anonymous self-reported questionnaire survey was distributed to 225 female undergraduate nursing students from Kyushu, Japan, and the factors associated with parental readiness were examined. Results: Of the 225 recipients, 208 responded to the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the parental readiness score was significantly higher in the following groups: students who lived alone or without parents (regression coefficient: β = 1.82, p = .027), students who often interacted with children (β = 1.88, p = .018), students who wanted to give birth (β = 5.72, p = .007), and students who wanted to rear children as their own parents did (β = 2.73, p = .009). Conclusions: The factors associated with parental readiness were living without parents, experiences interacting with children, desire to give birth, and desire to rear children as their own parents did

Factors Associated With Parental Readiness Amongst Japanese Female Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Trends towards a nuclear family unit, a decline in birth rate, and lack of community relationships make it difficult for adolescents to improve parental readiness in Japanese society. Low parenting skills will be a risk factor for high parenting stress or child abuse. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors associated with parental readiness amongst Japanese female undergraduate nursing students. Methods: The study design is cross-sectional. An anonymous self-reported questionnaire survey was distributed to 225 female undergraduate nursing students from Kyushu, Japan, and the factors associated with parental readiness were examined. Results: Of the 225 recipients, 208 responded to the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the parental readiness score was significantly higher in the following groups: students who lived alone or without parents (regression coefficient: β = 1.82, p = .027), students who often interacted with children (β = 1.88, p = .018), students who wanted to give birth (β = 5.72, p = .007), and students who wanted to rear children as their own parents did (β = 2.73, p = .009). Conclusions: The factors associated with parental readiness were living without parents, experiences interacting with children, desire to give birth, and desire to rear children as their own parents did

Morphological Characterization of Tetraploids of Limonium sinuatum (L.) Mill. Produced by Oryzalin Treatment of Seeds

Limonium sinuatum (L.) Mill. (2n = 2x = 16) is a popular ornamental plant with dimorphism of pollen grains (type A and type B) and stigmas (papilla and cob-like). We applied polyploidy breeding to this species in order to introduce desirable traits. Tetraploid and mixoploid L. sinuatum plants were successfully obtained with oryzalin treatment of L. sinuatum ‘Early Blue’ seeds. All three tetraploids had increased leaf width, stomatal size, flower length, and pollen width compared to those of the diploid, and tetraploids had four germinal pores of pollen grains, whereas the diploid had three. All tetraploids had type A pollen grains and cob-like stigmas. Furthermore, the growth of cultivated tetraploid plants was slow, with later bolting and flowering times. Mixoploids Mixo-1 and Mixo-3 were estimated to be polyploidy periclinal chimeric plants consisting of a tetraploid L1 layer and diploid L2 layer, and Mixo-2 was estimated to be a polyploidy periclinal chimeric plant consisting of the diploid L1 layer and tetraploid L2 layer. Mixo-4 had tetraploid L1 and L2 layers. Mixoploids, except Mixo-4, had type A pollen grains and cob-like stigmas, whereas Mixo-4 had type B pollen grains and papilla stigmas. These polyploids will be useful as polyploidy breeding materials