Inhibition of Ironic Errors and Facilitation of Overcompensation Errors Under Pressure: An Investigation Including Perceived Weakness.

The conflicting predictions of ironic process theory and the implicit overcompensation hypothesis have been presented as a framework to explain the characteristics of errors that occur when a certain behavior is prohibited. The former predicts that instructions prohibiting a particular behavior will increase the likelihood of an outcome that should be avoided (ironic error), whereas the latter predicts that the likelihood of an outcome opposite of that to be avoided (overcompensation error) will increase. We examined how these errors, which negatively affect performance, are influenced by pressure and perceived weakness.

Movement Modifications Related to Psychological Pressure in a Table Tennis Forehand Task.

Although many studies on choking under pressure used closed skills, such as golf putting, we examined the influence of pressure on movement during a dynamic skill by studying participants' kinematic and kinetic changes during a table tennis forehand task under pressure. Thirty novice table tennis players hit forehand shots toward a target for 135 practice trials and then performed 10 no-pressure and 10 pressure trials. We added psychological pressure by instructing participants they could earn monetary rewards for successful performance and by cancelling accumulated scores for a poor performance.

Spinal Reflexes During Postural Control Under Psychological Pressure.

This study investigated the effect of psychological pressure on spinal reflex excitability. Thirteen participants performed a balancing task by standing on a balance disk with one foot. After six practice trials, they performed one nonpressure and one pressure trial involving a performance-contingent cash reward or punishment.

The influence of monetary reward and punishment on psychological, physiological, behavioral and performance aspects of a golf putting task.

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine kinematic characteristics and force control during a golf-putting task under a pressure condition. The secondary purpose was to provide an exploratory investigation of the relationship between changes in behavior (kinematics and force control) and performance on the one hand, and psychological (attention and affect) and physiological (arousal level) changes on the other hand. Twenty male novices performed 150 acquisition trials, followed by 10 test trials during a pressure condition induced by performance-contingent distracters: a cash reward or punishment.

Fast-track postoperative care for neonatal cardiac surgery: a single-institute experience.

Purpose: Perioperative fast-track management has gained wide acceptance in the field of neonatal corrective heart surgery. We have examined its impact on morbidity outcomes.

Methods: Between 1997 and 2009, 52 consecutive neonates underwent corrective repair of congenital heart defects on cardiopulmonary bypass.

The influence of audience and monetary reward on the putting kinematics of expert and novice golfers.

We investigated changes in movement kinematics and attentional focus when expert and novice golfers performed a golf-putting task under pressure. Six male professional golfers and five male novice golfers performed 100 acquisition trials, followed by 10 trials in the pressure condition with a performance-contingent cash reward and small audience. After the 10 trials in the pressure condition, participants answered a questionnaire concerning attentional focus during both types of trial, including such aspects as conscious control of movements and the effects of distraction.

Multiple EMG activity and intracortical inhibition and facilitation during a fine finger movement under pressure.

The 1st purpose of this study was to examine multiple electromyography (EMG) during voluntary hand movements. A secondary purpose was to investigate possible effects of pressure on intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) functions of the motor cortex, using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Twelve participants traced a 15-cm diameter target circle using a small laser pointer attached to the right index finger.

Induction of high mobility group box-1 in dorsal root ganglion contributes to pain hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine high mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) is involved in inflammation in the central nervous system, but less is known about its biological effects in the peripheral nervous system. In the present study, the role of HMGB-1 in the primary afferent nerve was investigated in the context of the pathophysiology of peripheral nerve injury-induced pain hypersensitivity. Real-time PCR confirmed an increase in HMGB-1 mRNA expression in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal nerve at 1 day after spinal nerve ligation (SNL).

A portable blood analyzer that uses on-line data management to deliver higher-quality patient information.

We constructed an on-line data management system and linked it to the communication protocol of a portable blood analyzer (i-STAT) in each operating room of our institution. We developed a new program that integrates circulatory dynamics data from a monitor with laboratory data from the i-STAT. Our new program permits the results to be viewed through an intranet using a novel prototype communication device for the i-STAT 300F.

Five-day pain management regimen using patient-controlled analgesia facilitates early ambulation after cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Excessive pain may interrupt early rehabilitation after cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a longer patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) regimen for early ambulation after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study was designed to be a retrospective, single-institutional (focusing on an urban, university-affiliated hospital), pre-post intervention survey.

Ultrasound evidence of the optimal wrist position for radial artery cannulation.

Purpose: Radial artery cannulation is a common medical procedure for anesthesia and critical care. To establish the ideal wrist position for radial artery cannulation, we performed ultrasound examinations of the radial artery to investigate the effect of the angle of wrist extension on radial artery dimensions.

Clinical Features: Measurements were performed in 17 healthy subjects and 17 surgical patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Clinical and hemodynamic factors associated with the outcome of early extubation attempts after right heart bypass surgery.

Fast-track anesthesia with early extubation (EE) is playing an increasingly important role in pediatric cardiac surgery. We examined the pre- and intra-operative factors contributing to successful EE, and outcomes after right heart bypass surgery (RHB). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 71 consecutive children (median age=14 months) admitted over a 4-year period to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of our university-based hospital, after RHB.

Microscopic hematuria is associated with low bone mineral density in aged women and men.

Little is known concerning renal or urological risk factors for osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to explore an association between urinalysis and bone mineral density (BMD) in 4,835 Japanese adults. Participants were 4,835 individuals (female 3,683; male 1,152) aged 50 years and over who received a health check-up between January 1995 and March 2006 in Japan.

Effect of synthetic cell-penetrating peptides on TrkA activity in PC12 cells.

As TrkA, a high-affinity receptor of nerve growth factor (NGF), is a potential target for relieving uncontrolled inflammatory pain, an effective inhibitor of TrkA has been required for pain management. To identify a specific inhibitor of TrkA activity, we designed cell-penetrating peptides combined with amino-acid sequences in the activation loop of TrkA to antagonize tyrosine kinase activity. To select a peptide inhibiting TrkA activity, we examined the effect of cell-penetrating peptides on tyrosine kinase activity of recombinant TrkA in vitro and studied their effects on NGF-stimulated neurite outgrowth and protein phosphorylation in PC12 cells.

Repeated exposures to hyperbaric air suppress neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Hyperbaric exposure induces lesions of the CNS in scuba divers. Repeated exposures to hyperbaric air at 0.5 MPa for 30 min with short intervals suppressed NGF-stimulated neurite outgrowth, concomitant with a decrease in the protein expression of ERK in PC12 cells.

Induction of CB1 cannabinoid receptor by inflammation in primary afferent neurons facilitates antihyperalgesic effect of peripheral CB1 agonist.

Cannabinoids act on various regions in the nervous system to modulate neuronal activity including nociception. Here, we investigated CB1 receptor expression in primary afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the efficacy of a local (intraplantar) application of the selective CB1 agonist, 2-arachidonyl-2-chloroethylamide (ACEA), on inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia. In situ hybridization showed normal CB1 mRNA expression in 28% of DRG neurons.

[Airway obstruction caused by massive swelling of the tongue following bilateral tonsillectomy for sleep apnea syndrome].

A case of airway obstruction caused by the tongue swelling is reported. The patient is a 5-year-old boy scheduled for bilateral tonsillectomy for sleep apnea syndrome. Anesthesia was slowly induced by sevoflurane and maintained with nitrous oxide, fentanyl and sevoflurane.

Evaluation of cuff-wrapping methods for the determination of ankle blood pressure.

Objective: The ankle-brachial index, which is calculated by dividing ankle systolic blood pressure by brachial systolic blood pressure, is useful in diagnosing peripheral arterial disease. Consensus has not been reached, however, on a standard method for measuring ankle systolic blood pressure. This study evaluated two cuff-wrapping methods for measuring ankle systolic blood pressure, compared with intra-arterial pressure as a gold standard.

Peripheral inflammation induces up-regulation of TRPV2 expression in rat DRG.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 2 (TRPV2) is a cation channel activated by temperatures above 52 degrees C. To analyze the contribution of TRPV2 to the development of inflammation-induced hyperalgesia, the expression of TRPV2 in primary sensory neurons was analyzed after intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Using specific antibodies, an increase in TRPV2-expressing neurons was identified after inflammation.

[Perioperative management of a neonate with a retroperitoneal giant teratoma who underwent its extirpation under general anesthesia: a case report].

We gave anesthesia to a neonate with a retroperitoneal giant teratoma who underwent its extirpation. Even if patients have a prenatal diagnosis of teratoma like this case, there are many patients, especially infants, with severe general condition. We report the difficulty for management during anesthesia because of severe respiratory acidosis due to pressure from diaphragmatic pleura by tumor, severe circulatory disorder due to massive bleeding during operation and severe hyperkalemia due to renal failure.