Role of anterior cingulate cortex inputs to periaqueductal gray for pain avoidance.

Although pain-related excessive fear is known to be a key factor in chronic pain disability, which involves the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), little is known about the downstream circuits of the ACC for fear avoidance in pain processing. Using behavioral experiments and functional magnetic resonance imaging with optogenetics at 15.2 T, we demonstrate that the ACC is a part of the abnormal circuit changes in chronic pain and its downstream circuits are closely related to modulating sensorimotor integration and generating active movement rather than carrying sensory information.

Goal-directed interaction of stimulus and task demand in the parahippocampal region.

The hippocampus and parahippocampal region are essential for representing episodic memories involving various spatial locations and objects, and for using those memories for future adaptive behavior. The "dual-stream model" was initially formulated based on anatomical characteristics of the medial temporal lobe, dividing the parahippocampal region into two streams that separately process and relay spatial and nonspatial information to the hippocampus. Despite its significance, the dual-stream model in its original form cannot explain recent experimental results, and many researchers have recognized the need for a modification of the model.

Impairment of Pattern Separation of Ambiguous Scenes by Single Units in the CA3 in the Absence of the Dentate Gyrus.

Theoretical models and experimental evidence have suggested that connections from the dentate gyrus (DG) to CA3 play important roles in representing orthogonal information (i.e., pattern separation) in the hippocampus.

Room Temperature Intrinsic Ferromagnetism in Epitaxial Manganese Selenide Films in the Monolayer Limit.

Monolayer van der Waals (vdW) magnets provide an exciting opportunity for exploring two-dimensional (2D) magnetism for scientific and technological advances, but the intrinsic ferromagnetism has only been observed at low temperatures. Here, we report the observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in manganese selenide (MnSe ) films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Magnetic and structural characterization provides strong evidence that, in the monolayer limit, the ferromagnetism originates from a vdW manganese diselenide (MnSe) monolayer, while for thicker films it could originate from a combination of vdW MnSe and/or interfacial magnetism of α-MnSe(111).

Cartilage Regeneration in Osteoarthritic Patients by a Composite of Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Hyaluronate Hydrogel: Results from a Clinical Trial for Safety and Proof-of-Concept with 7 Years of Extended Follow-Up.

Few methods are available to regenerate articular cartilage defects in patients with osteoarthritis. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of articular cartilage regeneration by a novel medicinal product composed of allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs). Patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 osteoarthritis and International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade 4 cartilage defects were enrolled in this clinical trial.

Restoration of a large osteochondral defect of the knee using a composite of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells and hyaluronic acid hydrogel: a case report with a 5-year follow-up.

Background: The treatment of articular cartilage defects is a therapeutic challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Furthermore, large osteochondral defects needs restoration of the underlying bone for sufficient biomechanical characteristics as well as the overlying cartilage.

Case Presentation: A symptomatic large osteochondral defect in the knee joint was restored using a composite of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) 0.

Antioxidant Activity of Brown Soybean Ethanolic Extracts and Application to Cooked Pork Patties.

The brown soybean extract (BE, extracted by distilled water, 50%, 75%, and 95% ethanol) were analyzed for their total phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin content, and DPPH radical-scavenging activity to determine antioxidant activities. Brown soybean extract with 75% ethanol showed significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity, total phenol and anthocyanin content compared to the other treatments (p<0.05).

Functional cross-hemispheric shift between object-place paired associate memory and spatial memory in the human hippocampus.

The hippocampus plays critical roles in both object-based event memory and spatial navigation, but it is largely unknown whether the left and right hippocampi play functionally equivalent roles in these cognitive domains. To examine the hemispheric symmetry of human hippocampal functions, we used an fMRI scanner to measure BOLD activity while subjects performed tasks requiring both object-based event memory and spatial navigation in a virtual environment. Specifically, the subjects were required to form object-place paired associate memory after visiting four buildings containing discrete objects in a virtual plus maze.

Effects of Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) Hydrates on Quality Characteristics of Reduced-salt, Reduced-fat Frankfurters.

This study evaluated the effects of adding glasswort hydrate containing non-meat ingredient (GM, carboxy methyl cellulose; GC, carrageenan; GI, isolated soy protein; GS, sodium caseinate) on the quality characteristics of reduced-salt, reduced-fat frankfurters. The pH and color evaluation showed significant differences, depending on the type of glasswort hydrate added (p<0.05).

Selective Medial Release Technique Using the Pie-Crusting Method for Medial Tightness During Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: The pie-crusting method is popular in releasing lateral tightness during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) but is not well described for medial release. We established a selective medial release technique using the pie-crusting technique and investigated the effectiveness and safety of the technique during primary TKA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 729 primary TKAs with varus deformity between October 2009 and June 2012.

Performing high flexion activities does not seem to be crucial in developing early femoral component loosening after high-flexion TKA.

Background: It is still unclear whether high flexion (HF) activities correlated with the early loosening of the femoral component and whether HF activities are possible. We investigated what is the capability for performing various HF activities, and whether high flexion activities increase the chance of aseptic loosening after HF-TKA.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 260 patients who underwent HF-TKA using the NexGen LPS Flex between 2001 and 2009.

Cartilage repair by human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells with different hydrogels in a rat model.

This study was carried out to assess the feasibility of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) in articular cartilage repair and to further determine a suitable delivering hydrogel in a rat model. Critical sized full thickness cartilage defects were created. The hUCB-MSCs and three different hydrogel composites (hydrogel A; 4% hyaluronic acid/30% pluronic (1:1, v/v), hydrogel B; 4% hyaluronic acid, and hydrogel C; 4% hyaluronic acid/30% pluronic/chitosan (1:1:2, v/v)) were implanted into the experimental knee (right knee) and hydrogels without hUCB-MSCs were implanted into the control knee (left knee).

Comparison of articular cartilage repair with different hydrogel-human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell composites in a rat model.

Introduction: The present work was designed to explore the feasibility and efficacy of articular cartilage repair using composites of human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) and four different hydrogels in a rat model.

Methods: Full-thickness articular cartilage defects were created at the trochlear groove of femur in both knees of rats. Composites of hUCB-MSCs and four different hydrogels (group A, 4% hyaluronic acid; group B, 3% alginate:30% pluronic (1:1, v/v); group C, 4% hyaluronic acid: 3% alginate: 20% pluronic (2:1:1, v/v}; and group D, 4% hyaluronic acid:3% alginate:20% pluronic;chitosan (4:1:1:2, v/v).

Application of Ganghwa Mugwort in Combination with Ascorbic Acid for the Reduction of Residual Nitrite in Pork Sausage during Refrigerated Storage.

The application of ganghwa mugwort (GM), ascorbic acid (AC), and their combinations for reduction of residual nitrite contents was analyzed in pork sausages during storage of 28 d. Six treatments of pork sausages contained the following: Control (no antioxidant added), AC (0.05% AC), GM 0.

Contextual behavior and neural circuits.

Animals including humans engage in goal-directed behavior flexibly in response to items and their background, which is called contextual behavior in this review. Although the concept of context has long been studied, there are differences among researchers in defining and experimenting with the concept. The current review aims to provide a categorical framework within which not only the neural mechanisms of contextual information processing but also the contextual behavior can be studied in more concrete ways.

A novel patellofemoral scoring system for patellofemoral joint status.

Background: We were not aware of a well-validated patellofemoral joint-specific scoring system. We performed this study to develop and validate a scoring system (Samsung Medical Center [SMC] patellofemoral scoring system) suitable for the evaluation of patellofemoral joint status.

Methods: We recruited 179 individuals consisting of a study group of 123 patients with anterior knee pain but without pain in another part of the knee, twenty-eight patients with knee pain other than anterior knee pain (group A), and twenty-eight healthy volunteers without knee pain (group B).

Comparison of robot-assisted and conventional total knee arthroplasty: a controlled cadaver study using multiparameter quantitative three-dimensional CT assessment of alignment.

Introduction: A functional total knee replacement has to be well aligned, which implies that it should lie along the mechanical axis and in the correct axial and rotational planes. Incorrect alignment will lead to abnormal wear, early mechanical loosening, and patellofemoral problems. There has been increased interest of late in total knee arthroplasty with robotic assistance.

A new high-flexion knee scoring system to eliminate the ceiling effect.

Background: Various scoring systems document improvement after TKA, but most are associated with a ceiling effect that may fail to distinguish between patients having different levels of knee function after TKA. We therefore developed a new scoring system for patients with higher levels of flexion to eliminate ceiling effects observed with current systems.

Questions/purposes: The purposes of this study were (1) to determine whether the high-flexion knee score eliminates the ceiling effect, (2) to assess the validity and responsiveness of the high-flexion knee score, and (3) to determine whether the high-flexion knee score can aid in differentiation of the knee status of patients at the ceiling level.

Establishment and characterization of Mardin-Darby canine kidney cells stably expressing human organic anion transporters.

Organic anion transporters (OATs) play essential roles in the renal elimination of clinically important anionic drugs. The purpose of this study was to establish an efficient in vitro assay system to screen the transport characteristics of drugs and to examine drug interaction potentials of drugs with OATs. First, we established Mardin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells stably expressing OAT1, OAT3, and OAT4 (MDCK-OAT1, -OAT3, and -OAT4, respectively).

Identification of genetic polymorphisms of human OAT1 and OAT2 genes and their relationship to hOAT2 expression in human liver.

Background: Organic anion transporters (OATs) play an essential role in the disposition of numerous organic anions. To clarify the interindividual variation in the function of OATs, genetic polymorphisms of the SLC22A6 and SLC22A7 in Korean subjects were investigated and associated with hepatic hOAT2 expression and the SLC22A7 genotype.

Methods: The genetic variants and their frequencies for the SLC22A6 and SLC22A7 genes in 50 Korean subjects were investigated by direct sequencing.

Identification and functional characterization of genetic variants of human organic cation transporters in a Korean population.

Genetic variants of three human organic cation transporter genes (hOCTs) were extensively explored in a Korean population. The functional changes of hOCT2 variants were evaluated in vitro, and those genetic polymorphisms of hOCTs were compared among different ethnic populations. From direct DNA sequencing, 7 of 13 coding variants were nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including four variants from hOCT1 (F160L, P283L, P341L, and M408V) and three from hOCT2 (T199I, T201M, and A270S), whereas 6 were synonymous SNPs.