Association between somatosensory sensitivity and regional gray matter volume in healthy young volunteers: a voxel-based morphometry study.

Two-point discrimination (2PD) test reflects somatosensory spatial discrimination ability, but evidence on the relationship between 2PD and cortical gray matter (GM) volume is limited. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between cortical GM volume and 2PD threshold in young healthy individuals and to clarify the characteristics of brain structure reflecting the individual differences in somatosensory function. 2PD was measured in 42 healthy (20 females) volunteers aged 20-32 years using a custom-made test system that can be controlled by a personal computer.

GlyCEST: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Glycine-Distribution in the Normal Murine Brain and Alterations in 5xFAD Mice.

The glycine level in the brain is known to be altered in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several studies have reported the measurement of glycine concentrations in the brain using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS), but H-MRS is not capable of imaging the distribution of glycine concentration with high spatial resolution. Chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST-MRI) is a new technology that can detect specific molecules, including amino acids, in tissues.

Cortical signature related to psychometric properties of pain vigilance in healthy individuals: A voxel-based morphometric study.

The Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ) is a questionnaire for non-clinical and clinical cases of patients, such as those suffering from chronic pain. Moreover, it is used for evaluation of two aspects of habitual attention to pain: attention to pain and attention to changes in pain. As the PVAQ assesses two different aspects of attention function, different neural basis may present.

Induction of Relaxation by Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is used by young people to induce relaxation and sleep and to reduce stress and anxiety; it comprises somatosensation caused by audiovisual stimuli (triggers) that lead to positive emotions. Auditory stimuli play the most important role among the triggers involved in ASMR and have been reported to be more triggering than visual stimuli. On the other hand, classical music is also known to have a relaxing effect.

Gray Matter Volume Variability in Young Healthy Adults: Influence of Gender Difference and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genotype.

Although brain gray matter (GM) plastically changes during short-term training, it is still unclear whether brain structures are stable for short periods (several months). Therefore, this study aimed to re-test the short-term variability of GM volumes and to clarify the effect of factors (gender and BDNF-genotype) expected to contribute to such variability. The subjects comprised 41 young healthy adults.

Contribution of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurometabolites to the motor performance.

Individual motor performance ability is affected by various factors. Although the key factor has not yet completely been elucidated, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype as well as neurometabolites may become contibuting factors depending on the learning stage. We investigated the effects of the Met allele of the BDNF gene and those of the neurometabolites on visuomotor learning.

Influence of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genotype on Short-Latency Afferent Inhibition and Motor Cortex Metabolites.

The Met allele of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene confers reduced cortical BDNF expression and associated neurobehavioral changes. BDNF signaling influences the survival, development, and synaptic function of cortical networks. Here, we compared gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic network activity in the human primary motor cortex (M1) between the Met (Val/Met and Met/Met) and non-Met (Val/Val) genotype groups.

Longitudinal GluCEST MRI Changes and Cerebral Blood Flow in 5xFAD Mice.

Many of the focal neurological symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are due to synaptic loss. Glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a candidate method to assess synaptic dysfunction. We assessed chronological changes in GluCEST in a 5xFAD mouse model of AD, comparing Glucest effects and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Visualizing the Distribution of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Ischemic Brain Using In Vivo F-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) damage the neurovascular unit, promote the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption following ischemic stroke, and play essential roles in hemorrhagic transformation (HT), which is one of the most severe side effects of thrombolytic therapy. However, no biomarkers have presently been identified that can be used to track changes in the distribution of MMPs in the brain. Here, we developed a new F-molecular ligand, TGF-019, for visualizing the distribution of MMPs in vivo using F-magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (F-MRSI).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Neurotransmitter-Related Molecules.

Molecular imaging implies the method capable of pictorially displaying distribution of target molecules and their relative concentration in space. In clinical medicine, where non-invasiveness is mandatory, diagnostic molecular imaging has been considered virtually identical to positron emission tomography (PET). However, there is another powerful, apparently underutilized molecular imaging, namely, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (H-MRSI).

Accuracy of lung nodule density on HRCT: analysis by PSF-based image simulation.

A computed tomography (CT) image simulation technique based on the point spread function (PSF) was applied to analyze the accuracy of CT-based clinical evaluations of lung nodule density. The PSF of the CT system was measured and used to perform the lung nodule image simulation. Then, the simulated image was resampled at intervals equal to the pixel size and the slice interval found in clinical high-resolution CT (HRCT) images.

Screening for androgen receptor activities in 253 industrial chemicals by in vitro reporter gene assays using AR-EcoScreen cells.

Recently, there has been great concern about the potential of industrial chemicals to act as endocrine disrupters. In this report, we conducted a pilot study to validate the use of AR-EcoScreen cells for tier 1 screening of androgen receptor (AR) agonist and antagonist activities. From 253 test compounds, we identified two AR agonists and nine antagonists.

Evaluation of a rapid in vitro androgen receptor transcriptional activation assay using AR-EcoScreen cells.

An accurate and reliable in vitro assay system has been needed for first tier screening of endocrine disrupting chemicals. For the purpose, we previously developed stable AR-EcoScreen cell lines to assess androgen receptor (AR)-mediated transcriptional activation. In this report, we evaluated AR-EcoScreen cell lines as the phase I of prevalidation study by determining the intra-laboratory reproducibility, assay stability, and overall protocol performance of AR-EcoScreen assays.

A novel nonradioactive method for measuring aromatase activity using a human ovarian granulosa-like tumor cell line and an estrone ELISA.

Aromatase is a key enzyme in steroidogenesis and plays an important role in sexual differentiation, fertility, and carcinogenesis. Importantly, a variety of chemicals in the environment may influence its activity and thereby disrupt endocrine function. In the current studies, we developed a novel nonradioactive method for measuring aromatase activity that uses a specific ELISA for estrone along with KGN human ovary granulosa-like carcinoma cells.