Follistatin alleviates synovitis and articular cartilage degeneration induced by carrageenan.

Activins are proinflammatory cytokines which belong to the TGFβ superfamily. Follistatin is an extracellular decoy receptor for activins. Since both activins and follistatin are expressed in articular cartilage, we hypothesized that activin-follistatin signaling participates in the process of joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration.

[Investigation of the educational effectiveness of including small group discussion as part of a drug abuse prevention program for junior high school students].

We evaluated the effectiveness of small group discussion (SGD) in association with a drug abuse prevention program for junior high school students. The students first received a lecture about drug abuse prevention, then participated in SGD. The discussion focused on how to take action when tempted to abuse drugs.

Advanced lung cancer: aggressive surgical therapy vertebral body involvement.

The NOMS considerations provide a dynamic decision framework to determine the optimal combination of systemic and radiation therapies and surgery. Generally, NSCLC metastases to the spine require SRS because cEBRT usually fails to provide consistent long-term local control. Patients with spinal cord compression secondary to NSCLC require surgical decompression to safely undergo SRS and to reduce the risk of radiation-induced spinal cord injury.

Neural and sympathetic activity associated with exploration in decision-making: further evidence for involvement of insula.

We previously reported that sympathetic activity was associated with exploration in decision-making indexed by entropy, which is a concept in information theory and indexes randomness of choices or the degree of deviation from sticking to recent experiences of gains and losses, and that activation of the anterior insula mediated this association. The current study aims to replicate and to expand these findings in a situation where contingency between options and outcomes is manipulated. Sixteen participants performed a stochastic decision-making task in which we manipulated a condition with low uncertainty of gain/loss (contingent-reward condition) and a condition with high uncertainty of gain/loss (random-reward condition).

Subclass-specific formation of perineuronal nets around parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic neurons in Ammon's horn of the mouse hippocampus.

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are closely associated with parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons, and play a major role in controlling developmental neural plasticity. Considering the recent advances in classification of PV+ neurons, here we aimed to clarify whether PNNs might be associated with specific subclasses of PV+ neurons in the hippocampus. In this study, we labeled PNNs by Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), and classified PV+ neurons based on the combination of cellular location, molecular expression (neuropeptide Y [NPY], somatostatin [SOM], special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 [SATB1]), and retrograde tracing through stereotaxic injection of Fluoro-Gold (FG) into the medial septum.

Perineuronal nets affect parvalbumin expression in GABAergic neurons of the mouse hippocampus.

Recent studies have suggested that the perineuronal net (PNN), a specialised extracellular matrix structure, and parvalbumin (PV), an EF-hand calcium-binding protein, are involved in the regulation of plasticity of neural circuits. Here, we aimed to quantitatively estimate the relationship between the two plasticity regulators, PV and PNNs, in the hippocampus of young adult mice. Dual fluorescence staining for PV and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (a broad PNN marker) showed that a substantial population of PV-expressing (PV(+) ) GABAergic neurons lacked PNNs.

High-density display of protein ligands on self-assembled capsules via noncovalent fluorous interactions.

Ligand display on self-assembled nanostructures is an important tool in generating bioactive materials. Here, we demonstrate the display of sugar and biotin molecules on sub-100 nm-sized capsules with a high surface coverage, which was achieved by the use of noncovalent fluorous interactions between a fluorous-tagged ligand molecule and a fullerene vesicle covered with fluorous chains. Even after the high-density ligand display and protein binding, the vesicle stably maintains its spherical structure because the fluorous binding of the sugar does not affect the structural integrity of the vesicle that originates from strong fullerene-fullerene interactions.

Mouse synovial mesenchymal stem cells increase in yield with knee inflammation.

Even though mouse studies have various advantages, harvesting an adequate number of synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is difficult in mice. We investigated whether the total yield of MSCs increased in synovium with inflammation in mice. Infrapatellar fat pads (IFPs) were harvested from 10 knees of 5 mice 3, 7, and 14 days after intraarticular injection of carrageenan.

Predictors of castration-resistant prostate cancer after dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy.

Background: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a near uniformly fatal form of prostate cancer; however, information on time to development and predictors for progression to CRPC is limited. We report a detailed longitudinal study for development of CRPC in men initially treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Methods: During 1991-2008, 2,478 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer were treated with dose-escalated EBRT at a single institution.

Re-irradiation of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme using 11C-methionine PET/CT/MRI image fusion for hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy by intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Background: This research paper presents a valid treatment strategy for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) using hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy by intensity modulated radiation therapy (HS-IMRT) planned with 11C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET)/computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fusion.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with recurrent GBM received HS-IMRT planned by MET-PET/CT/MRI. The region of increased amino acid tracer uptake on MET-PET was defined as the gross tumor volume (GTV).

[Treatment progress of large-size puncta and clinical investigation of the extrusion rate and other complications associated with large-size punctal plugs].

Purpose: One complication of punctal plug occlusion (PPO) is enlargement of the punctum. The purpose of the present study was to investigate large-size (over 1.0 mm) puncta after punctal plug extrusion.

Hypofractionated high-dose irradiation with positron emission tomography data for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

This research paper presents clinical outcomes of hypofractionated high-dose irradiation by intensity-modulated radiation therapy (Hypo-IMRT) with (11)C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) data for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). A total of 45 patients with GBM were treated with Hypo-IMRT after surgery. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was defined as the area of enhanced lesion on MRI, including MET-PET avid region; clinical target volume (CTV) was the area with 5 mm margin surrounding the GTV; planning target volume (PTV) was the area with 15 mm margin surrounding the CTV, including MET-PET moderate region.

New quantitative method to diagnose coronary in-stent restenosis by 64-multislice computed tomography.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed quantitative method using 64-multislice computed tomography angiography (CTA) to detect coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods And Results: CTA was performed in 45 patients who underwent stent implantation (79 lesions) and the accuracy to diagnose ISR was evaluated by comparing with invasive coronary angiography (ICA). CTA was evaluated both visually and quantitatively using a new stent restenosis index (SRI) utilizing CT densities at proximal and distal artery lumen from the stented region and the correction value depending on the stent diameter.

Age-related differences in oligodendrogenesis across the dorsal-ventral axis of the mouse hippocampus.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) continue to divide and generate new oligodendrocytes (OLs) in the healthy adult brain. Although recent studies have indicated that adult oligodendrogenesis may be vital for the maintenance of normal brain function, the significance of adult oligodendrogenesis in brain aging remains unclear. In this study, we report a stereological estimation of age-related oligodendrogenesis changes in the mouse hippocampus: the dorsal subdivision is related to learning and memory, while the ventral subdivision is involved in emotional behaviors.

Observation of orbital resonance Hall effect in (TMTSF)2ClO4.

We report the observation of a Hall effect driven by orbital resonance in the quasi-1-dimensional (q1D) organic conductor (TMTSF)2ClO4. Although a conventional Hall effect is not expected in this class of materials due to their reduced dimensionality, we observed a prominent Hall response at certain orientations of the magnetic field B corresponding to lattice vectors of the constituent molecular chains, known as the magic angles (MAs). We show that this Hall effect can be understood as the response of conducting planes generated by an effective locking of the orbital motion of the charge carriers to the MA driven by an electron-trajectory resonance.

Genetic variations in the human cannabinoid receptor gene are associated with happiness.

Happiness has been viewed as a temporary emotional state (e.g., pleasure) and a relatively stable state of being happy (subjective happiness level).

The kick-in system: a novel rapid knock-in strategy.

Knock-in mouse models have contributed tremendously to our understanding of human disorders. However, generation of knock-in animals requires a significant investment of time and effort. We addressed this problem by developing a novel knock-in system that circumvents several traditional challenges by establishing stem cells with acceptor elements enveloping a particular genomic target.

Test of a Process Evaluation Checklist to improve neonatal pain practices.

The Evidence-Based Practice Identification and Change (EPIC) strategy is a multifaceted knowledge translation intervention. Although the intervention promoted evidence-based practice, the process of delivering the intervention components is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity of the Process Evaluation Checklist developed for monitoring the fidelity of implementing the intervention to improve neonatal pain practices (i.

Morphologic changes of dendritic spines of striatal neurons in the levodopa-induced dyskinesia model.

Maladaptive plasticity at corticostriatal synapses plays an important role in the development of levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Recently, it has been shown that synaptic plasticity is closely linked to morphologic changes of dendritic spines. To evaluate morphologic changes of dendritic spines of two types of striatal medium spiny neurons, which project to the internal segment of globus pallidus or the external segment of globus pallidus, in the levodopa-induced dyskinesia model, we used 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats chronically treated with levodopa.

3D optical coherence tomography: new insights into the process of optimal rewiring of side branches during bifurcational stenting.

Aims: We describe three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) guided bifurcation stenting and the clinical utility of 3D-OCT.

Methods And Results: Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent OCT examination to confirm the recrossing position after stent implantation in a bifurcation lesion were enrolled. Frequency domain OCT images were obtained to check the recrossing position and 3D reconstructions were performed off-line.

The premature infant pain profile-revised (PIPP-R): initial validation and feasibility.

Objectives: To describe revisions to the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) and initial construct validation and feasibility of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R).

Methods: The PIPP was revised to enhance validity and feasibility. To validate the PIPP-R, data from 2 randomized cross-over studies were utilized to: (1) calculate and compare PIPP and PIPP-R scores in extremely low gestational age infants undergoing a painful and nonpainful event (N=52; dataset #1) and (2) calculate and compare PIPP and PIPP-R scores in assessing the effectiveness of (a) sucrose, (b) non-nutritive sucking (NNS)+sucrose, and (c) facilitated tucking+NNS+sucrose during heel lance (N = 85; dataset #2).

Validation of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R).

Objectives: To examine the construct validity, inter-rater reliability, and feasibility of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised in infants of varying gestational ages, diagnoses, and procedures.

Methods: A prospective cross-over study with infants in three gestational age groups (26-31, 32-36, and ≥37 weeks) at three university-affiliated Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Canada. One hundred and ninety five bedside nurses and expert raters rated 202 hospitalized infants' pain during scheduled procedures using the measure.

Pediatric clinical practice guidelines for acute procedural pain: a systematic review.

Background: Procedural pain assessment and management have been extensively studied through multiple research studies over the past decade. Results of this research have been included in numerous pediatric pain practice guidelines.

Objective: To systematically review the quality of existing practice guidelines for acute procedural pain in children and provide recommendations for their use.