Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training on Anxiety Reduction and Brain Activity: a Randomized Active-Controlled Study Using EEG.

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) is a promising anxiety-reducing intervention that increases vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) through slow-paced breathing and feedback of heart rhythm. Several studies have reported the anxiety-reducing effects of HRVBF; however, some studies have reported such training as ineffective. Furthermore, the effects of training and underlying brain activity changes remain unclear. This study examined the anxiety-reducing effects of HRVBF training and related brain activity changes by randomly assigning participants, employing an active control group, and measuring anxiety-related attentional bias using the emotional Stroop task and electroencephalography (EEG). Fifty-five healthy students with anxiety were randomly assigned to the HRVBF or control groups, and 21 in the HRVBF group and 19 in the control group were included in the analysis. Both groups performed 10 training sessions of 20 min each within 3 weeks. They were assessed using resting vmHRV, event-related potential (ERP), time-frequency EEG, attentional bias, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-JYZ (STAI-JYZ) before and after training. The results demonstrated increased resting vmHRV in the HRVBF group compared to the control group after training. However, no differences were observed in ERP, time-frequency EEG, attentional bias, and STAI-JYZ. Participants with higher pre-training resting vmHRV achieved higher heart rhythm coherence in HRVBF training and had reduced attentional bias. This study suggests that individuals with higher resting vmHRV are more likely to be proficient in HRVBF training and benefit from its anxiety-reducing effects. The findings contribute to participant selection to benefit from HRVBF training and modification of the training protocols for non-responders.Clinical trial registrationOrganization: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), JapanRegistration number: UMIN000047096Registration date: March 6, 2022.

Prospective and Retrospective Metacognitive Abilities and Their Association with Impaired Self-awareness in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Metacognitive impairment often occurs in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is associated with clinical problems. The aim of this study was to clarify the pathology of metacognitive impairment in TBI patients using a behavioral task, clinical assessment of self-awareness, and lesion-symptom mapping. Metacognitive abilities of TBI patients and healthy controls were assessed using a modified perceptual decision-making task. Self-awareness was assessed using the Patient Competency Rating Scale and the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale. The associations between estimated metacognitive abilities, self-awareness, and neuropsychological test results were examined. The correspondence between metacognitive disabilities and brain lesions was explored by ROI-based lesion-symptom mapping using structural magnetic resonance images. Overall, 25 TBI patients and 95 healthy controls were included in the analyses. Compared with that in healthy controls, the prospective metacognitive ability of TBI patients was lower, with metacognitive evaluations revealing a bias toward overestimating their abilities. Retrospective metacognitive ability showed a negative correlation with self-awareness but not with neuropsychological test results. In the lesion-symptom mapping analysis, the left pFC was associated with lower retrospective metacognitive ability. This study contributes to a better understanding of the pathology of metacognitive and self-awareness deficits in TBI patients and may explain the cause of impaired realistic goal setting and adaptive behavior in these patients.

Transcranial direct current stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex enhances early dexterity skills with the left non-dominant hand: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in early-phase manual dexterity skill acquisition when cognitive control processes, such as integration and complexity demands, are required. However, the effectiveness of left DLPFC transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on early-phase motor learning and whether its effectiveness depends on the cognitive demand of the target task are unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether tDCS over the left DLPFC improves non-dominant hand dexterity performance and determine if its efficacy depends on the cognitive demand of the target task. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 70 healthy, right-handed, young adult participants were recruited. They were randomly allocated to the active tDCS (2 mA for 20 min) or sham groups and repeatedly performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) left-handed peg task and left-handed assembly task three times: pre-tDCS, during tDCS, and post tDCS. RESULTS: The final sample comprised 66 healthy young adults (mean age, 22.73 ± 1.57 years). There were significant interactions between group and time in both PPT tasks, indicating significantly higher performance of those in the active tDCS group than those in the sham group post tDCS (p < 0.001). Moreover, a greater benefit was observed in the left-handed assembly task performance than in the peg task performance (p < 0.001). No significant correlation between baseline performance and benefits from tDCS was observed in either task. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that prefrontal tDCS significantly improved early-phase manual dexterity skill acquisition, and its benefits were greater for the task with high cognitive demands. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of the left DLPFC in the modulation of early-phase dexterity skill acquisition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry in Japan (UMIN000046868), Registered February 8, 2022 https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000053467.

The role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in automatic formation of impression and reflected impression.

Previous neuroimaging studies demonstrated that ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activity reflects how much an individual positively views each person (impression). Here, we investigated whether the degree to which individuals think others positively view them (reflected impression) is similarly tracked by activity in the vmPFC by using fMRI and speed-dating events. We also examined whether activity of the vmPFC in response to the faces of others would predict the impression formed through direct interactions with them. The task consisted of three sessions: pre-speed-dating fMRI, speed-dating events, and post-speed-dating fMRI (not reported here). During the pre-speed-dating fMRI, each participant passively viewed the faces of others whom they would meet in the subsequent speed-dating events. After the fMRI, they rated the impression and reflected impression of each face. During the speed-dating events, the participants had 3-min conversations with partners whose faces were presented during the fMRI task, and they were asked to choose the partners whom they preferred at the end of the events. The results revealed that the value of both the impression and reflected impression were automatically represented in the vmPFC. However, the impression fully mediated the link between the reflected impression and vmPFC activity. These results highlight a close link between reflected appraisal and impression formation and provide important insights into neural and psychological models of how the reflected impression is formed in the human brain.

Sub-classification of apraxia of speech in patients with cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Some studies have hypothesized that primary progressive apraxia of speech (ppAOS) consists of heterogeneous symptoms that can be sub-classified; however, no study has classified stroke-induced AOS (sAOS) and ppAOS according to common criteria. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the symptoms and relevant brain regions associated with sAOS and ppAOS for sub-classification. Participants included 8 patients with sAOS following lesions in the left precentral gyrus and/or underlying white matter, and 3 patients with ppAOS. All patients with sAOS could be classified into three subtypes: type I, with prominent distorted articulation; type II, with prominent prosodic abnormalities or type III, with similarly distorted articulation and prosodic abnormalities. This sub-classification was consistent with the subtypes of ppAOS proposed in previous reports. All patients with ppAOS were classified as type III, and exhibited three characteristics distinguishable from those of sAOS. First, they showed prominent lengthened syllables compared with the segmentation of syllables. Second, they could not always complete the production of multi-syllabic single words in one breath. Finally, they showed dysfunctional lesions in the bilateral supplementary motor area. We conclude that sAOS and ppAOS can be sub-classified and are universal symptoms that are common between the English and Japanese populations.

Clinical utility of neuropsychological tests for employment outcomes in persons with cognitive impairment after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively examine the clinical utility of neuropsychological tests (NPTs) for predicting employment outcomes in persons with cognitive impairment after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: 132 individuals of working age with cognitive impairment after moderate to severe TBI were classified into three groups by employment status: competitive employment (CE); supported employment (SE); and unemployed (UE). NPT scores were compared among groups. Using multinomial logistic regression with group allocation as the dependent variable, significant variables were identified, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated. RESULTS: Comparison of NPT results among the three groups showed significant differences for all NPTs (all items, p < 0.01). Using multinomial logistic regression analysis, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT) and Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome from CE versus SE and Trail Making Test-B and RBMT from SE versus UE were identified. ROC curve analysis indicated small to moderate accuracy (area under the curve, 0.63-0.84). CONCLUSION: NPT scores can predict future employment status in patients with cognitive impairment after TBI. These findings may lead to improved clinical assessments when providing work support. Future research should consider occupational categories, managerial categories, and types of re-employment.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Self-assembling Glycol-Split Glycosaminoglycan-Stearylamine Conjugates in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play important roles in various biological processes such as cell adhesion and signal transduction, as well as promote anti-inflammatory activity. We previously revealed that glycol-split heparin (HP)-aliphatic amine conjugates form self-assembled nanoparticles and suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages much more strongly than native HP (J. CONTROL: Release, 194, 2014, Babazada et al.). Considering that HP is not the only GAG to have anti-inflammatory activity, the present study was initiated to examine whether conjugation of GAGs with aliphatic amines is generally effective in their activity augmentation against LPS-stimulated macrophages. We newly synthesized the stearylamine conjugates of chondroitin sulfate (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), and low-molecular-weight heparin (LH), and investigated the effect of the position and degree of sulfation and molecular weight of GAGs on their anti-inflammatory activity. All of the conjugates formed self-assembled nanoparticles in aqueous solution. The IC50 value for suppression of TNF-α production from the macrophages was the smallest with the derivative of LH, followed by HP, CS, and HA. The degree of sulfation appeared to be important in determining their anti-inflammatory activity, which would correspond to previous results using the derivatives of site-selectively desulfated HP. Comparison of HP and LH derivatives revealed that fractionated smaller heparin has greater anti-inflammatory activity.

Distinct neural correlates of the preference-related valuation of supraliminally and subliminally presented faces.

Recent neuroimaging studies have investigated the neural substrates involved in the valuation of supraliminally presented targets and the subsequent preference decisions. However, the neural mechanisms of the valuation of subliminally presented targets, which can guide subsequent preference decisions, remain to be explored. In the present study, we determined whether the neural systems associated with the valuation of supraliminally presented faces are involved in the valuation of subliminally presented faces. The subjects were supraliminally and subliminally presented with faces during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Following fMRI, the subjects were presented with pairs of faces and were asked to choose which face they preferred. We analyzed brain activation by back-sorting the fMRI data according to the subjects' choices. The present study yielded two main findings. First, the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex predict preferences only for supraliminally presented faces. Second, the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex may predict preferences for subliminally presented faces. These findings indicate that neural correlates of the preference-related valuation of faces are dissociable, contingent upon whether the subjects consciously perceive the faces.

Clinical Usefulness of Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 for Detecting Chronic Aspiration in Children with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the serum level of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), a circulating high-molecular weight glycoprotein and a diagnostic biomarker of interstitial lung diseases, is a clinically useful biomarker for detecting chronic aspiration in children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMIDS). STUDY DESIGN: Children with SMIDS undergoing videofluorography for assessment of dysphagia were prospectively evaluated. Based on the videofluorography results, the participants were classified into aspiration and non-aspiration groups. Age, sex, white blood cell count, and serum levels of C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, and KL-6 were compared between the 2 groups. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with the presence of aspiration. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients participated in this study, 37 who were classified as the aspiration group and 29 as the non-aspiration group. The serum KL-6 level in the aspiration group was significantly higher than that in the non-aspiration group (median, 344 U/mL vs 207 U/mL, P < .01). Logistic regression modeling showed that the number of prescribed antiepileptic drugs (OR, 1.978; 95% CI, 1.217, 3.214; P < .01) and serum KL-6 level (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.005, 1.019; P < .01) were independent predictors of aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that the KL-6 level is significantly higher in children with SMIDS who aspirate than in those who do not. KL-6 shows promise as a biomarker for chronic lung disease due to aspiration in these children.

Active inhibition of task-irrelevant sounds and its neural basis in patients with attention deficits after traumatic brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine active inhibition of irrelevant stimuli and evaluate its neural basis using functional near infrared spectroscopy in patients with attention deficits after traumatic brain injury (TBI). RESEARCH DESIGN: Case control study. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Ten patients with TBI and 10 healthy control subjects participated in this study. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) was performed with (distracting PASAT) and without (PASAT) distracting Japanese kana phonetic characters presented between each number. A block design was used. Subjects alternately performed each task three times. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Healthy controls performed better than patients with TBI on both the tasks. When performing the PASAT, healthy controls showed significant activity in every region of interest except the right lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), but patients with TBI showed significant activity only in the left anterior PFC and left lateral PFC. When performing the distracting PASAT, the right lateral PFC was active in healthy controls, but not in patients with TBI. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that patients with moderate-to-severe TBI were affected by distractors that influenced order processing. It is suggested that the working memory of patients with TBI was affected by distracting stimuli, whereas that of healthy individuals was not.

The effects of rehabilitative interventions on reading disorders caused by homonymous visual field defects: a meta-analysis focusing on improvement in reading speed.

INTRODUCTION: Reading disorders caused by homonymous visual field defects (HVFDs) have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. However, no review has been conducted to evaluate the available evidence on the effects of rehabilitative interventions on reading disorders caused by HVFDs. Thus, the aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of rehabilitative interventions on reading disorders caused by HVFDs. METHODS: We searched the MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect databases for relevant articles. Relevant search terms were used to identify reports of randomized controlled trials or randomized crossover trials published between January 1990 and December 2021. Only studies that included reading-speed-related outcomes were analyzed. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, and standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Ι2 statistic. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that rehabilitative interventions significantly improved reading disorders caused by HVFDs (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI 0.08-0.51; P < 0.01; Ι2 = 0.0%). Subgroup analysis showed that reading training significantly improved reading disorders (SMD = 0.35; 95% CI 0.05-0.66; P = 0.02; Ι2 = 0.0%). CONCLUSION: Reading disorders caused by HVFDs can be improved through rehabilitation. In addition, reading training for the improvement of eye movement and fixation to compensate for foveal and parafoveal visual field defects may improve reading speed.

Improvement of the Green-Red Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Based Ca2+ Indicator by Using the Green Fluorescent Protein, Gamillus, with a Trans Chromophore as the Donor.

To monitor the Ca2+ dynamics in cells, various genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GECIs) based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between fluorescent proteins are widely used for live imaging. Conventionally, cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins have been often used as FRET pairs. Meanwhile, bathochromically shifted indicators with green and red fluorescent protein pairs have various advantages, such as low toxicity and autofluorescence in cells. However, it remains difficult to develop them with a similar level of dynamic range as cyan and yellow fluorescent protein pairs. To improve this, we used Gamillus, which has a unique trans-configuration chromophore, as a green fluorescent protein. Based on one of the best high-dynamic-range GECIs, Twitch-NR, we developed a GECI with 1.5-times higher dynamic range (253%), Twitch-GmRR, using RRvT as a red fluorescent protein. Twitch-GmRR had high brightness and photostability and was successfully applied for imaging the Ca2+ dynamics in live cells. Our results suggest that Gamillus with trans-type chromophores contributes to improving the dynamic range of GECIs. Therefore, selection of the cis-trans isomer of the chromophore may be a fundamental approach to improve the dynamic range of green-red FRET indicators, unlimited by GECIs.

Does the human dorsal stream really process a category for tools?

Previously, Almeida et al. (2008) used a technique called Continuous Flash Suppression to show that human dorsal stream cortical areas specifically responded to a "tool category." Here, we used the same technique to clarify what attributes of tools are processed in the dorsal stream. We examined surface attributes and shape. A significant priming effect was found when we removed surface attributes by using line drawings instead of photographs. In a second experiment, we manipulated shape and we found that there were no significant priming effects when we used nonelongated tool pictures as tool prime stimuli. To better clarify the effect of shape attributes on priming effects, we conducted a further experiment using elongated stick-like rectangles as prime stimuli and found that elongated shapes significantly shortened the reaction time to the tool pictures as target stimuli. Additionally, when elongated vegetables were used as prime stimuli, the reaction time to the tool pictures as target stimuli was also significantly shortened, but there was no effect when stubby vegetables were used. Finally, when we controlled for orientation by presenting rotated elongated stick-like rectangles, diamond shapes, and cut circles as prime stimuli, we found that rectangles replicated the same significant priming effect as previous experiments, but the others did not. These results suggest that the dorsal stream processes elongated shapes but does not process the tool category specifically.

Detecting inattentiveness caused by mind-wandering during a driving task: A behavioral study.

This study aims to investigate whether behavioral variability and participants' self-ratings can be used to detect mind-wandering while driving and to examine their effects on braking performance during a driving task. We created a novel driving task and added a sustained attention response task (SART). We examined the effects of mind-wandering on braking performance and whether mind-wandering could be detected from SART response variability. The within-subjects results showed that self-reports of inattentiveness during driving correlated significantly with SART response variability. Multiple regression analysis with brake reaction time as the dependent variable revealed a significant relationship between self-reports of inattentiveness and mind-wandering. However, there were no other consistent linear associations between mind-wandering and SART response variability. Our results not only suggest that inattentiveness to driving caused by mind-wandering impairs braking performance but also emphasize the importance and difficulty of detecting this state from behavioral data alone.

[Questionnaire survey conducted on the parents of patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 in Japan regarding switch devices, language development, upper extremity function and QOL].

OBJECTIVE: As information required to rehabilitate, we aimed to clarify the use of switch devices, language development, upper extremity function, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 in Japan. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on the parents of these patients. RESULTS: A total of 48 completed questionnaires were collected. The median age of patients with SMA type 1 was 8 years (range, 13 months to 27 years). The patients used a switch device were 46.5%. Their language development was delayed, and their voluntary movement in the distal upper extremities was relatively retained. In QOL, parents' labor and burden for the care of patients were high. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to provide specialist support that contributes to the spread of communication devices, which improve their motor function, language development and overall QOL.

The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex in Preferential Decisions for Own- and Other-Age Faces.

Own-age bias is a well-known bias reflecting the effects of age, and its role has been demonstrated, particularly, in face recognition. However, it remains unclear whether an own-age bias exists in facial impression formation. In the present study, we used three datasets from two published and one unpublished functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that employed the same pleasantness rating task with fMRI scanning and preferential choice task after the fMRI to investigate whether healthy young and older participants showed own-age effects in face preference. Specifically, we employed a drift-diffusion model to elaborate the existence of own-age bias in the processes of preferential choice. The behavioral results showed higher rating scores and higher drift rate for young faces than for older faces, regardless of the ages of participants. We identified a young-age effect, but not an own-age effect. Neuroimaging results from aggregation analysis of the three datasets suggest a possibility that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) was associated with evidence accumulation of own-age faces; however, no clear evidence was provided. Importantly, we found no age-related decline in the responsiveness of the vmPFC to subjective pleasantness of faces, and both young and older participants showed a contribution of the vmPFC to the parametric representation of the subjective value of face and functional coupling between the vmPFC and ventral visual area, which reflects face preference. These results suggest that the preferential choice of face is less susceptible to the own-age bias across the lifespan of individuals.

Explicit and implicit attitudes toward smoking: Dissociation of attitudes and different characteristics for an implicit attitude in smokers and nonsmokers.

Smoking is a global health risk for premature death and disease. Recently, addictive behaviors, like smoking, were considered to be guided by explicit and implicit processes. The existence of a dissociation between the two attitudes in nonsmokers and the causes of the differences in implicit attitudes toward smoking have not been fully investigated. We investigated the explicit and implicit attitudes toward smoking via a self-reported scale and the single category implicit association test (SC-IAT), respectively, among undergraduate and graduate health sciences students. In addition, we applied the drift-diffusion model (DDM) on the SC-IAT and examined the behavioral characteristics that caused differences in implicit attitude toward smoking between smokers and nonsmokers. The results showed the existence of a dissociation between explicit and implicit attitudes toward smoking among nonsmokers. In addition, nonsmokers had a higher decision threshold than smokers and a higher drift rate in the condition where negative words were associated with smoking. Nonsmokers engaged in SC-IAT with more cautious attitudes and responded more easily in a negative condition since it was consistent with their true attitudes. Conversely, smokers did not show a significant difference in the drift rate between the conditions. These results suggested that the differences in an implicit attitude between smokers and nonsmokers were caused by differences in evidence accumulation speed between the positive and negative conditions. The existence of dissociation between implicit and explicit attitudes toward smoking may indicate the difficulty of measuring true attitude in nonsmokers in a questionnaire survey. Additionally, the DDM results explained the difference of implicit attitude between smokers and nonsmokers; it may provide information on the mechanisms of addictive behaviors and a basis for therapy. However, whether these results are affected by cultural differences requires further investigation.

Effect of Audiovisual Cross-Modal Conflict during Working Memory Tasks: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

Cognitive conflict effects are well characterized within unimodality. However, little is known about cross-modal conflicts and their neural bases. This study characterizes the two types of visual and auditory cross-modal conflicts through working memory tasks and brain activities. The participants consisted of 31 healthy, right-handed, young male adults. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and the Paced Visual Serial Addition Test (PVSAT) were performed under distractor and no distractor conditions. Distractor conditions comprised two conditions in which either the PASAT or PVSAT was the target task, and the other was used as a distractor stimulus. Additionally, oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration changes in the frontoparietal regions were measured during tasks. The results showed significantly lower PASAT performance under distractor conditions than under no distractor conditions, but not in the PVSAT. Oxy-Hb changes in the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and inferior parietal cortex (IPC) significantly increased in the PASAT with distractor compared with no distractor conditions, but not in the PVSAT. Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between Δtask performance accuracy and ΔOxy-Hb in the bilateral IPC only in the PASAT. Visual cross-modal conflict significantly impairs auditory task performance, and bilateral VLPFC and IPC are key regions in inhibiting visual cross-modal distractors.

The impact of visual cross-modal conflict with semantic and nonsemantic distractors on working memory task: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Cross-modal conflicts arise when information from multisensory modalities is incongruent. Most previous studies investigating audiovisual cross-modal conflicts have focused on visual targets with auditory distractors, and only a few studies have focused on auditory targets with visual distractors. Moreover, no study has investigated the differences in the impact of visual cross-modal conflict with semantic and nonsemantic competition and its neural basis. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the impact of 2 types of visual cross-modal conflicts with semantic and nonsemantic distractors through a working memory task and associated brain activities. The participants were 33 healthy, right-handed, young male adults. The paced auditory serial addition test was performed under 3 conditions: no-distractor and 2 types of visual distractor conditions (nonsemantic and semantic distractor conditions). Symbols and numbers were used as nonsemantic and semantic distractors, respectively. The oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration in the frontoparietal regions, bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal cortex (IPC) were measured during the task under each condition. The results showed significantly lower paced auditory serial addition test performances in both distractor conditions than in the no-distractor condition, but no significant difference between the 2 distractor conditions. For brain activity, a significantly increased Oxy-Hb concentration in the right VLPFC was only observed in the nonsemantic distractor condition (corrected P = .015; Cohen d = .46). The changes in Oxy-Hb in the bilateral IPC were positively correlated with changes in task performance for both types of visual cross-modal distractor conditions. Visual cross-modal conflict significantly impairs auditory working memory task performance, regardless of the presence of semantic or nonsemantic distractors. The right VLPFC may be a crucial region to inhibit visual nonsemantic information in cross-modal conflict situations, and bilateral IPC may be closely linked with the inhibition of visual cross-modal distractor, regardless of the presence of semantic or nonsemantic distractors.

Relationship between pretreatment FDG uptake and local control after stereotactic body radiotherapy in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: the preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: Relationship between pretreatment uptake of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose and local control after stereotactic body radiotherapy in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer was examined. METHODS: Between June 2006 and June 2009, 90 clinically diagnosed stage I primary lung cancer in 86 patients were treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy in Shikoku Cancer Center. Among these, 51 tumors in 51 patients were evaluated by positron emission tomography using (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose before treatment. Twenty-six tumors of histopathologically confirmed non-small-cell lung cancer were reviewed in this study. Tumors were divided into two groups by the threshold maximum standardized uptake value of 5.0 (high-uptake tumors, 9; low-uptake tumors, 17). One tumor with low uptake was pure ground-glass opacity. Typically, 48 Gy in four fractions was given at the isocenter. RESULTS: Follow-up time was 4-44 months (median, 21 months). Local failure-free rates at 15 months of the high-uptake group and the low-uptake group were 40% and 93% for all tumors (P= 0.0001), 0% and 91% for tumors 3 cm or less (P= 0.0004), 50% and 100% for tumors larger than 3 cm, and 40% and 89% for the mainly solid tumors (P= 0.0010). There were no statistically significant differences of local failure-free rates according to age, sex and tumor size (P= 0.4804, P= 0.4170 and P= 0.3638, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: High uptake of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose in a primary tumor was the significant unfavorable factor for local control after stereotactic body radiotherapy in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.