Analgesic effect of Keishinieppiittokajutsubu on low barometric pressure-induced pain response in arthritic model rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that causes inflammation of joints, resulting in pain and swelling. Reduced barometric pressure induces painful symptom of RA, but there is no appropriate animal model and pharmacological evaluation. Keishinieppiittokajutsubu (KNEIJB), a Kampo medicine used to treat RA; however, its mechanism of action is not clear.

Similar but different: High prevalence of synesthesia in autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR).

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a complex sensory-emotional experience characterized by pleasant tingling sensations initiating at the scalp. ASMR is triggered in some people (called ASMR-responders) by stimuli including whispering, personal attention, and crisp sounds (termed ASMR triggers). Since its inception, ASMR has been likened to synesthesia, but convincing empirical data directly linking ASMR with synesthesia is lacking.

Follicular factors determining granulosa cell number and developmental competence of porcine oocytes.

Purpose: Granulosa cell (GC) number in follicles is a simple characteristic of follicles. The present study examined the hypothesis that follicular fluid (FF) determines GC number and oocyte developmental ability and revealed the molecular background determining the number of follicular GCs.

Methods: FF was collected from antral follicles (3-5 mm in diameter), after which the number of GCs per follicle was determined for each donor gilt using real time PCR targeting single copy gene.

Non-esterified fatty acid-associated ability of follicular fluid to support porcine oocyte maturation and development.

Purpose: The effect of supplementing maturation medium with follicular fluid (FF) was examined according to its non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) content or with a fatty acid mixture (FA-Mix) on the developmental competence of oocytes, as well as the mitochondrial quality and quantity in the oocytes and cumulus cells.

Method: Porcine oocytes from a slaughterhouse were used.

Results: The FF or FA-Mix in maturation medium increased the lipid content in both the oocytes and the cumulus cells, but the adenosine triphosphate content was differentially affected.

Immunohistochemical expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 in developing human cerebrum and epilepsy-associated malformations of cortical development.

To elucidate the biological significance of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expression in epilepsy-associated malformations of cortical development, immunohistochemical expression of FGF-2 was investigated in the developing human cerebral mantles obtained from 30 autopsy cases of fetuses, stillborn infants and children ranging from 12 weeks gestation to 15 years old, and 70 surgically-resected corticectomy specimens from patients with medically intractable epilepsy, including: group I, 12 tubers of tuberous sclerosis; group II, 24 cases of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) with balloon cells (BC); group III, 11 FCD without BC; group IV, 23 histologically normal-appearing neocortices from patients with Rasmussen encephalitis, cystic-gliotic encephalopathy, temporal lobe epilepsy; and group V, 14 normal-appearing neocortices adjacent to dysplastic lesions from groups I and II. FGF-2 expression was detected in a population of matrix cells and/or neuroblasts within the ventricular zone in fetuses younger than 19 weeks gestation. Nuclei of glioblasts and immature astrocytes were also positive for FGF-2 in cases older than 18 weeks gestation.

Immunohistochemical expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 in epilepsy-associated malformations of cortical development (MCDs).

To elucidate the biological significance of dysplastic cells in malformations of cortical development, an immunohistochemical study was performed to investigate fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expression in corticectomy specimens from epilepsy patients, including focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) with balloon cells (BCs) (n=4; age/sex=2M, 14F, 24M, 45M), tubers of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC-tubers) (n=2; 1F, 3F), FCD without BCs (n=3; 23F, 23M, 25M), and gliotic lesions (n=3; 12M, 25M, 29M). The nucleus and/or cytoplasm of astrocytes in all cases examined were positive for FGF-2; however, FGF-2 immunoreactivity was not detected in oligodendroglial cells. In all dysplastic lesions, FGF-2 was detected in the astrocytic nuclei, and cytoplasm and/or nuclei of BCs.

[Surveillance study about the use actual of prescription drugs from the viewpoint of gender].

In recent years, the concept of gender-specific medicine has become generalized in Japan. We need to understand gender differences in the pattern of use prescription drugs for the appropriate use of medications. We therefore investigated gender differences in the use of prescription drugs based on data form nine hospitals in Japan.

Arabidopsis glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase is an S-nitrosoglutathione reductase.

S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), an adduct of nitric oxide (NO) with glutathione, is known as a biological NO reservoir. Heterologous expression in Escherichia coli of a cDNA encoding a glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase of Arabidopsis thaliana showed that the recombinant protein reduces GSNO. The identity of the cDNA was further confirmed by functional complementation of the hypersensitivity to GSNO of a yeast mutant with impaired GSNO metabolism.