Mechanical load regulates bone growth via periosteal Osteocrin.

Mechanical stimuli including loading after birth promote bone growth. However, little is known about how mechanical force triggers biochemical signals to regulate bone growth. Here, we identified a periosteal-osteoblast-derived secretory peptide, Osteocrin (OSTN), as a mechanotransducer involved in load-induced long bone growth.

Task-Related c-Fos Expression in the Posterior Parietal Cortex During the "Rubber Tail Task" Is Diminished in Ca-Dependent Activator Protein for Secretion 2 ()-Knockout Mice.

Rubber hand illusion (RHI), a kind of body ownership illusion, is sometimes atypical in individuals with autism spectrum disorder; however, the brain regions associated with the illusion are still unclear. We previously reported that mice responded as if their own tails were being touched when rubber tails were grasped following synchronous stroking to rubber tails and their tails (a "rubber tail illusion", RTI), which is a task based on the human RHI; furthermore, we reported that the RTI response was diminished in knockout (-KO) mice that exhibit autistic-like phenotypes. Importance of the posterior parietal cortex in the formation of illusory perception has previously been reported in human imaging studies.

Interaction between spatial neglect and attention deficit in patients with right hemisphere damage.

Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) was originally regarded as a parietal syndrome, but it has become evident that USN is a disturbance in the widespread attention network. Here, we focused on an interaction between spatial neglect and non-spatial aspect of attention deficit, and aimed to establish a novel evaluation approach based on the characteristics of the spatial distribution of reaction times. We tested 174 patients with right hemisphere damage and divided them based on their prescreening scores on the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT): (1) USN++ (n = 79: BIT<131), (2) USN+ (n = 47: BIT≥131 with history of USN), and (3) RHD (n = 48: without neglect symptom).

Enhanced use of gaze cue in a face-following task after brief trial experience in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Eye movements toward sequentially presented face images with or without gaze cues were recorded to investigate whether those with ASD, in comparison to their typically developing (TD) peers, could prospectively perform the task according to gaze cues. Line-drawn face images were sequentially presented for one second each on a laptop PC display, and the face images shifted from side-to-side and up-and-down. In the gaze cue condition, the gaze of the face image was directed to the position where the next face would be presented.

Findings from recent studies by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency examining musculoskeletal atrophy in space and on Earth.

The musculoskeletal system provides the body with correct posture, support, stability, and mobility. It is composed of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissues. Without effective countermeasures, prolonged spaceflight under microgravity results in marked muscle and bone atrophy.

State anxiety modulates the effect of emotion cues on visual temporal sensitivity in autism spectrum disorder.

Atypical processing of stimulus inputs across a range of sensory modalities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is widely reported. Sensory processing is known to be influenced by bodily internal states such as physiological arousal and anxiety. As a sizeable proportion of ASD reportedly have co-morbid anxiety disorders that are linked with dysregulated arousal, we investigated if face emotion arousal cues influenced visual sensory sensitivity (indexed by temporal resolution) in ASD (n = 20) compared to a matched group of typically developed individuals (TD, n = 21).

Caries and Its Association with Infant Feeding and Oral Health-related Behavior in 18-month and 3-year-old Japanese Children.

The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries and its association with infant feeding and oral health-related behavior in Japanese children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. A total of 387 infants were initially examined at the age of 18 months (or 19 months in some cases) and then again at 3 years (or at 3 years 1 month in some cases). The primary objective was to identify factors contributing to the prevalence of caries in children aged 18 months.

Pathological structure of visuospatial neglect: A comprehensive multivariate analysis of spatial and non-spatial aspects.

Visuospatial neglect (VSN) is a neurological syndrome of higher brain functions in which an individual fails to detect stimuli on a space that is contralateral to a hemispheric lesion. We performed a comprehensive multivariate analysis based on the principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis in patients with right hemisphere stroke and then performed a determination of different elements of VSN. PCA-based cluster analysis detected distinct aspects of VSN as follows: cluster 1: low arousal and attention state, cluster 2: exogenous neglect, cluster 3: spatial working memory (SWM) deficit.

Graphomotor memory in Exner's area enhances word learning in the blind.

Handwriting is thought to impede vocabulary learning in sighted adults because the motor execution of writing interferes with efficient audiovisual processing during encoding. However, the motor memory of writing may facilitate adult word learning when visual sensory inputs are severely restricted. Using functional MRI, we show that late-blind participants, but not sighted participants, learned novel words by recruiting the left dorsal premotor cortex known as Exner's writing area and its functional coupling with the left hippocampus.

Effect of the Information Support Robot on the Daily Activity of Older People Living Alone in Actual Living Environment.

Information support robots (ISRs) have the potential to assist older people living alone to have an independent life. However, the effects of ISRs on the daily activity, especially the sleep patterns, of older people have not been clarified; moreover, it is unclear whether the effects of ISRs depend on the levels of cognitive function. To investigate these effects, we introduced an ISR into the actual living environment and then quantified induced changes according to the levels of cognitive function.

Perspectives of Multidisciplinary Professional Teams during Assessment Processes for ATD Selection in the Japanese Public Provision System.

Selection of assistive technology devices (ATDs), which are imperative for persons with disabilities to improve their quality of life, requires collaboration of users and multidisciplinary professionals. However, it is still unknown how to design and implement an adequate collaborative work flow and a professional team. Under Japanese governmental ATD provision system, based on the application by clients, ATDs are mainly selected through collaborative processes with the clients and health professionals in public organizations, rehabilitation counseling centers (RCCs).

Early escitalopram administration as a preemptive treatment strategy against spasticity after contusive spinal cord injury in rats.

In the majority of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, spasticity develops in the subacute phase and chronically persists with muscle hypertonia. Among various pathological conditions underlying spasticity, upregulated expression of 5-HT receptors (5-HTR) on the spinal motor neurons due to 5-HT denervation is considered one of crucial factors for hyperexcitability of the spinal circuit. As a 5-HT signal modulator, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are ordinarily prescribed for diseases associated with 5-HT in the CNS, and are known for their ability to increase 5-HT levels as well as to desensitize 5-HTR.

Prevalence and associated factors of pistol grip deformity in Japanese local residents.

Pistol grip deformity (PGD) may be the main factor in femoroacetabular impingement development. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiological indices and factors related to PGD in Japanese people. This population-based cohort study included 1575 local Japanese residents.

Atypical Effects of Visual Interference on Tactile Temporal Order Judgment in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Visual distractors interfere with tactile temporal order judgment (TOJ) at moderately short stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) in typically developing participants. Presentation of a rubber hand in a forward direction to the participant's hand enhances this effect, while that in an inverted direction weakens the effect. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have atypical multisensory processing; however, effects of interferences on atypical multisensory processing in ASD remain unclear.

Comprehensible instructions from assistive robots for older adults with or without cognitive impairment.

The purpose of this study was to reveal comprehensible instructions from an assistive robot for older adults, across cognitive levels and characteristics. Participants included 19 older adults with or without cognitive impairment. We administered cognitive tests assessing all major domains (e.

Effects of long-term plate fixation with different fixation modes on the radial cortical bone in dogs.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of long-term locking plate fixation on the cortical bone of the canine radius. Locking compression plates were fixed to the left and right radius in dogs (n = 3). The left radius was fixed with a locking head screw (Locking Plate group, LP).

Gravity sensing in plant and animal cells.

Gravity determines shape of body tissue and affects the functions of life, both in plants and animals. The cellular response to gravity is an active process of mechanotransduction. Although plants and animals share some common mechanisms of gravity sensing in spite of their distant phylogenetic origin, each species has its own mechanism to sense and respond to gravity.

Autistic Communication and Imagination Sub-Traits Are Related to Audiovisual Temporal Integration in the Stream-Bounce Illusion.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors; such traits are continuously distributed across nonclinical and clinical populations. Recently, relationships between ASD traits and low-level multisensory processing have been investigated, because atypical sensory reactivity has been regarded as a diagnostic criterion of ASD. Studies regarding an audiovisual illusion (the double-flash illusion) reported that social communication difficulties are related to temporal aspects of audiovisual integration.

Discrimination of standing postures between young and elderly people based on center of pressure.

Posturography is utilized to assess the influence of aging on postural control. Although this measurement is advantageous for finding group-level differences between the young and the elderly, it is unclear whether it has the potential to differentiate elderly individuals who are affected by various impacts of aging. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of posturography to discriminate elderly individuals from young adults.

Serial changes in serum phosphorylated neurofilament and value for prediction of clinical outcome after traumatic brain injury.

Background: Phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit (pNF-H) is a constituent protein of the nerve axon, which leaks into the peripheral blood in various central nervous disorders. This study examined the time course of pNF-H value up to 1 month after injury and investigated the correlation with clinical outcome.

Methods: Serum pNF-H concentration was measured on admission, and at 24 h, 72 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month after injury in 20 patients, 15 males and 5 females aged 35-68 years (mean 52 years), with traumatic brain injury (TBI) transported to our hospital between April 2016 and March 2017.

Attention-dependent switching between intrinsic-muscle and extrinsic-visual coordinates during bimanual movements.

Inter-limb coordination is achieved through multiple levels of motor control based on intrinsic-muscle and extrinsic-visual coordinates. Online visual feedback affects which of these coordinates is dominant, and visual perception is involved in the switching of motor coordination across the two hands; however, it remains unclear whether there is any role for attention in inter-limb coordination. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of attention on the dominance of intrinsic-muscle and extrinsic-visual coordinates by investigating inter-limb interference in the right or left hand during bimanual reaching movements, as induced by visual perturbations.

Neonatal irritable sleep-wake rhythm as a predictor of autism spectrum disorders.

Recently, it has been suggested that sleep problems in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) not only are associated symptoms, but may be deeply related to ASD pathogenesis. Common clinical practice relating to developmental disorders, has shown that parents of children with ASD have often stated that it is more difficult to raise children in the neonatal period because these children exhibit sleep problems. This study investigated the possibility that abnormal neonatal sleep-wake rhythms are related to future ASD development.

Cross-sectional survey of the replacement of the Japanese term for dementia: Did it reduce discomfort in family members?

Objectives: Decreasing discrimination and stigma of dementia is an international issue. In 2004, the Japanese government changed the previous Japanese stigmatic term of dementia ("Chiho") to the present one ("Ninchi-sho") a meaning near "neurocognitive disorder." This study aimed to examine cross-sectionally if the present term functioned well or not from the viewpoint of families of people with dementia (PWD), and to discover variables influencing their feelings of the term: the feelings about people surrounding PWD, and the family members' and PWD's attributes.

Human chorionic gonadotropin treatment: a viable option for management of secondary hypogonadism and male infertility.

: Low testosterone and its symptoms is a condition affecting many males with severe repercussions on health. Testosterone affects metabolism, bones, joints, and ligaments, the cardiovascular system, liver, sexual functions, muscle mass, and the nervous system. Nowadays, due to recent research showing the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, this treatment is gaining in popularity among aging men.

Effects of Tool Novelty and Action Demands on Gaze Searching During Tool Observation.

Technical reasoning refers to making inferences about how to use tools. The degree of technical reasoning is indicated by the bias of the gaze (fixation) on the functional part of the tool when in use. Few studies have examined whether technical reasoning differs between familiar and unfamiliar novel tools.