Hippocampal CA1/subiculum-prefrontal cortical pathways induce plastic changes of nociceptive responses in cingulate and prelimbic areas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Projections from hippocampal CA1-subiculum (CA1/SB) areas to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which are involved in memory and learning processes, produce long term synaptic plasticity in PFC neurons. We examined modifying effects of these projections on nociceptive responses recorded in the prelimbic and cingulate areas of the PFC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Extracellular unit discharges evoked by mechanical noxious stimulation delivered to the rat-tail and field potentials evoked by a single stimulus pulse delivered to CA1/SB were recorded in the PFC. High frequency stimulation (HFS, 100 Hz) delivered to CA1/SB, which produced long-term potentiation (LTP) of field potentials, induced long-term enhancement (LTE) of nociceptive responses in 78% of cases, while, conversely, in 22% responses decreased (long-term depression, LTD). These neurons were scattered throughout the cingulate and prelimbic areas. The results obtained for field potentials and nociceptive discharges suggest that CA1/SB-PFC pathways can produce heterosynaptic potentiation in PFC neurons. HFS had no effects on Fos expression in the cingulated cortex. Low frequency stimulation (LFS, 1 Hz, 600 bursts) delivered to the CA1/SB induced LTD of nociceptive discharges in all cases. After recovery from LTD, HFS delivered to CA1/SB had the opposite effect, inducing LTE of nociceptive responses in the same neuron. The bidirectional type of plasticity was evident in these nociceptive responses, as in the homosynaptic plasticity reported previously. Neurons inducing LTD are found mainly in the prelimbic area, in which Fos expression was also shown to be inhibited by LFS. The electrophysiological results closely paralleled those of immunostaining. Our results indicate that CA1/SB-PFC pathways inhibit excitatory pyramidal cell activities in prelimbic areas.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pressure stimulation (300 g) applied to the rat-tail induced nociceptive responses in the cingulate and prelimbic areas of the PFC, which receives direct pathways from CA1/SB. HFS and LFS delivered to the CA1/SB induced long-term plasticity of nociceptive responses. Thus, CA1/SB-PFC projections modulate the nociceptive responses of PFC neurons.</p

Construction of Artificial Viral Capsids Encapsulating Short DNAs via Disulfide Bonds and Controlled Release of DNAs by Reduction

To construct an artificial viral capsid encapsulated short single-stranded DNA, a β-annulus peptide conjugated with ssDNA through a disulfide bond at the N-terminus (DNA-SS-β-Annulus) was synthesized. The DNA-SS-β-Annulus conjugate self-assembled into spherical structures ranging in the size of 36–60 nm. ssDNA was released from the capsids via the reduction of disulfide bonds

Bushidō-Diskurs

Der Schwerpunkt meiner Hauptthematik, die Analyse der Diskrepanz zwischen Realität und Ideal im Bushidō-Diskurs aus dem Jahr 1904, liegt auf der „Reproduktivität“ einer neu „erfundenen“ Tradition (invented tradition) im Fall Japans. In Anlehnung an Hobsbawm's These richtet sich meine Fragestellung nach dem Wesen einer japanischen Moralform, die auch heutzutage in der japanischen Gesellschaft einen wichtigen Stellenwert einnimmt. Im Prozess der grundlegenden Reform des Staatswesens in der Meiji-Zeit (1868-1912) erkannte Japan die Notwendigkeit einer Moralform auf nationaler Ebene, der einst mit dem Aufstieg der Kriegerschicht um das 16. Jahrhundert entstandene Moralkodex der Samurai, das Bushidō. Dieser wurde in den Mittelpunkt der Überlegungen gestellt und sollte auch die rekonstruierte Loyalitätsstruktur in direkter Verbundenheit mit dem Tennō und dem Volk ermöglichen. Jedoch mussten sich die Intellektuellen in erster Linie mit der Diskrepanz zwischen Realität und Ideal konfrontieren. Bereits in der Phase der Verfeinerung des Bushidō während der Edo-Zeit (1603-1867) führte folgender Zwiespalt zur Problematik mit dem Wesen der Moral: Einerseits kreierten die herrenlosen Samurai ihre eigene Form von Moral, die zum Teil dem Shogunat kritisch gegenüber stand - ihre Kritik an die zeitgenössische Gesellschaftsform blieb zunächst auf „privater“ Ebene - andererseits strebte das Shogunat nach einer „öffentlichen“ Moralform. Dieser Zwiespalt zwischen der privaten und der öffentlichen Norm erforderte die Präzisierung der Bedeutung von „Privatheit“ und der „Öffentlichkeit“ im Zusammenhang mit der Bushidō-Konzeption. In deren Gegenüberstellung versucht meine Arbeit den Stellenwert des Bushidō-Diskurses in der Entwicklung von privater auf öffentliche Ebene zu etablieren. Insbesondere im Bereich der Geschichtswissenschaft ist der Aspekt vorherrschend, Bushidō als historisch bedingte Moralform zu determinieren, dessen Aktualität in der heutigen Gesellschaft nicht im Sinne ist. Jedoch weist meine Forschung darauf hin, dass zwei Bushidō-Diskurse für den Übergang von Tradition zur Gegenwart verantwortlich sind, welche Zweifel an der Diskontinuität des Bushidō hervorrief. Der erste Bushidō-Diskurs entflammte, als der Konflikt um das Wesen der Loyalität nach der Rache der 47 Samurai im Jahr 1703 ausbrach. Der Kampf um die Vormachtstellung Japans in der Meiji-Zeit führte zu erneuten Überlegungen um Ehre, Pflicht und Scham der Bushidō-Konzeption. Widersprüchliche Elemente in Bezug auf Selbstmord und Kriegsgefangenschaft während des Russisch-Japanischen Krieges (1904-1905) gaben den Anlass für den zweiten Bushidō-Diskurs im Jahr 1904. Infolgedessen konzentriert sich der erste Teil der Arbeit auf den ersten Bushidō-Diskurs während der Edo-Zeit und legt maßgebend das Wesen der Privatheit in der japanischen Herr-Untertan-Beziehung fest. Die Konfrontation mit dem Zwiespalt in der Loyalitätsstruktur stellte somit die Basis für den Wandel vom Moralbewusstsein der Krieger zur einheitlichen Moralkonzeption her. Der Hauptteil meiner Arbeit legt diesen Prozess der Nationalisierung der Moralform im Zuge der radikalen gesellschaftlichen Umorientierung dar und behandelt die Frage der Kontinuität des Moralbewusstseins anhand des zweiten Bushidō-Diskurses. Die Analyse des zweiten Bushidō-Diskurses stellt auch meine These unter Beweis, dass Bushidō in der „Formalität“ der Moral seine Traditionalität bewahrte. Jedoch trug die Auseinandersetzung mit dem im Bushidō konzipierten Moralbewusstsein, das sich im Einfluss der westlichen Moralphilosophien zum einheitlichen Bewusstsein (im Sinne einer gefühlsmäßigen Wahrnehmung des Irrationalen) der Japaner entwickelte, zur Kontinuität des Bushidō bei. Dies verleiht auch heutzutage dem Bushidō seine Gültigkeit. Diesbezüglich untersucht meine Arbeit nicht nur die Frage nach der „Reproduzierbarkeit“ einer Tradition, sondern auch das reziproke Verhältnis des Formalismus und des Idealismus in der rekonstruierten Bushidō-Konzeption.This dissertation analyzes the discrepancy between reality and ideal in Bushidō discourse from 1904, examining how invented Japanese traditions are “reproduced.” Following Hobsbawm, this thesis investigates the nature of the Japanese moral code, Bushidō, which continues to play an important role in contemporary Japanese society. During the period of modern state formation in the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japanese elites realized they needed a new moral code for the nation. With roots reaching back to the 16th century, Bushidō, the traditional doctrine of the Japanese warrior, was considered one of the most suitable moral codes for propagation. The nationalization of Bushidō was also aimed at forging a direct relationship between the emperor and the people in a reconstructed loyalty-structure. Meiji intellectuals, however, had to confront a discrepancy between ideal and reality. In the Edo period (1603-1867), this discrepancy had already surfaced in the process of conceptualizing Bushidō: On the one hand, masterless samurai had attempted to create their own moral code, which also implied a critique of the Tokugawa regime. That critique remained private, however. The Tokugawa shogunate, on the other hand, sought to establish a public moral code. The tension between public and private norms required the specification of the meanings of “private” and “public” in relation to Bushidō. In contrasting these two elements, this dissertation analyzes changes in discursive meaning as Bushidō developed from a private to a public moral code. Historical studies have tended to treat Bushidō as a moral code fixed in history. My research, however, demonstrates that two strands of Bushidō discourse are responsible for the transition from past to present. This transition also casts doubt on the notion of discontinuity in discourses of Bushidō. Bushidō discourse first began amidst debate about the nature of loyalty when forty-seven masterless samurai avenged their dead master in 1703. When Japan began to strive for world achievement in the Meiji period, Bushidō elements such as honor, shame, and duty were renewed and taken into consideration. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), contradictory philosophical ideas related to suicide and captivity created an opening for a second strand of Bushidō discourse. To illustrate this argument, the first part of my dissertation examines the first strand of Bushidō discourse in the Edo period and the meaning of privacy in the context of Japanese superior-subordinate relationships. The samurai loyalty structure contained paradoxical elements which formed the basis for extending the scope of the moral code from warriors to the nation as a whole in more standardized form. The main part of my dissertation explains how these moral norms were nationalized and demonstrates the continuity of the moral code in light of the second strand of Bushidō discourse. The analysis of the second strand of Bushidō discourse also provides evidence for my thesis that Bushidō kept its traditional elements as a formal code, but new ways of conceptualizing Bushidō tenets contributed to the perception that it was a moral code to be juxtaposed with Western moral philosophy. From this viewpoint, this dissertation examines not only how invented tradition is “reproduced,” but also how elements of rationality and irrationality have been combined through the reproduction of the Bushidō moral code

Clinical Evaluation of Adenosine Triphosphate Disodium Hydrate (ATP-2Na) for Asthenopia

To investigate the effect and the safety of Adenosine triphosphate disodium hydrate (ATP-2Na) for asthenopia. 40 subjects [35 females and 5 males, 25~87 years old (average: 62.5 years old)] with asthenopia ingested 200~300 mg/day ATP-2Na for 3 months. Before and after 1 and 3 months ingestion, subjects completed a questionnaire to determine their asthenopia symptom and fatigue symptom by visual analog scale (VAS). The scores were compared between before and after ingestion. 31 subjects completed a questionnaire for 1 month. The scores of asthenopia symptom before ingestion, 1 and 3 months were 4.05 ± 3.22, 2.67 ± 2.19 and 2.41 ± 2.16, respectively. The scores of fatigue symptom were 4.76 ± 3.05, 3.08 ± 2.93 and 3.10 ± 3.19, respectively. Both scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.005) at 1 month compared before ingestion. Three subjects had side effects (diarrhea for two, nausea for one), and all subjects improved by oral discontinuation. These results suggest that ATP-2Na is relatively early effective in improving asthenopia and accompanying fatigue symptoms

Encapsulation of mRNA into Artificial Viral Capsids via Hybridization of a β-Annulus-dT20 Conjugate and the Poly(A) Tail of mRNA

Messenger RNA (mRNA) drugs have attracted considerable attention as promising tools with many therapeutic applications. The efficient delivery of mRNA drugs using non-viral materials is currently being explored. We demonstrate a novel concept where mCherry mRNA bearing a poly(A) tail is encapsulated into capsids co-assembled from viral β-annulus peptides bearing a 20-mer oligothymine (dT20) at the N-terminus and unmodified peptides via hybridization of dT20 and poly(A). Dynamic light scattering measurements and transmission electron microscopy images of the mRNA-encapsulated capsids show the formation of spherical assemblies of approximately 50 nm. The encapsulated mRNA shows remarkable ribonuclease resistance. Further, modification by a cell-penetrating peptide (His16) on the capsid enables the intracellular expression of mCherry of encapsulated mRNA

The meaning of life for an elderly man living alone : a narrative approach

Aim: To improve nursing care for the elderly in order to allow them to live independently. This study has used the narrative of an elderly man to learn about what has given his life meaning.Method: Fifteen key concepts were extracted from interviews using the narrative approach.Results and Conclusions: Mr. A, now near the end of his life, has found meaning in living his life, not only for himself, but also for those around him. The elderly support their own physical and mental health,and adjust to day-to-day life. Nursing care for the elderly should watch for and support these self-supporting efforts

Gestational Outcomes and Birth Weight in Japanese Women at the Upper and Lower limits of the Normal BMI range

To examine the outcome of gestational blood pressure and birth weight in women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI (18.5-25 kg/m2) who are at the lower and upper limits of this range, i.e., slightly underweight or slightly overweight. Overall, 2,038 Japanese women with low -risk who had delivered during January 2014–December 2016 were classified according to their pre-pregnancy BMI: underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), slightly underweight (18.5≤BMI<21 kg/m2), normal (21≤BMI<23 kg/m2), slightly overweight (23≤BMI<25 kg/m2) and overweight (≤ 25 kg/m2). Their blood pressure during each trimester and birth weight was evaluated. The slightly overweight group showed a significantly higher blood pressure than the underweight and slightly underweight groups. Birth weight was lower in the slightly underweight than in the slightly overweight group (p<0.01). The incidence rate of “heavy for dates” (HFD) infants was significantly higher in the slightly overweight and overweight groups than in the other groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Weight gain of < 7 kg significantly increased the rate of “light for dates” (LFD) infants, while a weight gain of ≥13 kg significantly increased the rate of HFD infants (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Blood pressure during pregnancy was ssociated with pre-pregnancy BMI. The birth weight of infants of low-risk pregnant women is affected by both pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain

In-situ micro-FTIR Study of Thermal Changes of Organics in Tagish Lake Meteorite: Behavior of Aliphatic Oxygenated Functions and Effects of Minerals

Systematic in-situ FTIR heating experiments of Tagish Lake meteorite grains have been performed in order to study thermal stability of chondritic organics. Some aliphatic model organic substances have also been used to elucidate effects of hydrous phyllosilicate minerals on the thermal stability of organics. The experimental results indicated that organic matter in the Tagish Lake meteorite might contain oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbons which are thermally stable carbonyls such as ester and/or C=O in ring compounds. The presence of hydrous phyllosilicate minerals has a pronounced effect on the increase of the thermal stability of aliphatic and oxygenated functions. These oxygenated aliphatic organics in Tagish Lake can be formed during the aqueous alteration in the parent body and the formation temperature condition might be less than 200 C, based especially on the thermal stability of C-O components. The hydrous phyllosilicates might provide sites for organic globule formation and protected some organic decompositio