The effect of background music tempo on eating speed and food intake volume within in healthy women.

BACKGROUND: The effects of the different tempos of background music (BGM) on food intake and eating speed have not been fully studied. AIM: The study aimed to investigate the influence of changing the tempo of BGM during meals on food intake and to explore strategies to support appropriate eating behavior. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy young adult women participated in this study. In the experimental phase, each participant ate a meal under three separate conditions: fast (120% speed), moderate (original, 100% speed), and slow (80% speed) BGM. The same music was used for each condition, and appetite before and after eating, the amount of food consumed, and eating speed were recorded. RESULTS: The results showed that food intake (g, mean ± standard error (SE)) was slow: 317.9 ± 22.2, moderate: 400.7 ± 16.0, and fast: 342.9 ± 22.0. Eating speed (g/s, mean ± SE) was slow: 28.1 ± 2.8, moderate: 34.2 ± 2.7, and fast: 27.2 ± 2.4. The analysis showed that the moderate condition showed greater speed than the fast and slow conditions (slow-fast: p = .008; moderate-slow: p = .012; moderate-fast: p = .004). Moreover, the food intake in the moderate condition was significantly higher than that in the slow and fast conditions (moderate-slow: p < .001; moderate-fast: p < .001), and there was no significant difference between the slow and fast conditions in this regard (p = .077). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that original tempo BGM led to higher food intake compared to the faster and slower tempo conditions. These findings suggest that listening to music at an original tempo during meals may support appropriate eating behavior.

Synthesis of Chiral Tritylpyrrolidine Derivatives and Their Application to Asymmetric Benzoyloxylation.

An efficient synthesis of novel chiral tritylpyrrolidine derivatives has been developed. Single stereoisomers of various tritylpyrrolidine derivatives can be readily obtained through diastereomer separation by simple silica gel column chromatography. Representative compounds of this class have been shown to be efficient amine organocatalysts for asymmetric benzoyloxylation.

In situ generation of less accessible Boc-imines from aldehydes: construction of a quaternary carbon by the Mannich reaction or unprecedented aldol reaction.

In situ generation of less accessible N-Boc-protected imines from aldehydes and their application to the direct three-component Mannich reaction with ß-dicarbonyls were realized. The catalyst-free aldol reaction of ynals with ß-dicarbonyls was also developed.

Storage of volume-reduced washed platelets in M-sol additive solution for 7 days.

BACKGROUND: Volume-reduced washed platelets (VR-wPLTs), which are prepared by concentrating platelets (PLTs) into a smaller volume of additive solution (AS), may prevent not only circulatory overload, but also adverse reactions caused by plasma components. Although VR-wPLTs may be quickly degraded due to high PLT concentrations, few studies have examined the effects of storage on VR-wPLTs. We examined here the in vitro properties of VR-wPLTs prepared with M-sol AS during their storage for 7 days. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Platelet concentrates (PCs) were divided into two equal aliquots (control group and test group). After the centrifugation of both aliquots and removal of as much supernatant as possible, the pellet of the control group was resuspended in 160 mL of M-sol while that of the test group was resuspended in 80 or 40 mL of M-sol. The wPLTs of both groups were stored in polyolefin bags with agitation at 20 to 24°C for 7 days. RESULTS: The pH values of both groups were maintained at higher than 7.0 during the 7-day storage. Differences in %disk, CD62P, annexin V, percent hypotonic shock response, and aggregation values between the test group and control group were small for at least 2 days after washing. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro properties of VR-wPLTs were not markedly degraded for at least 2 days. Therefore, the storage properties of PLTs may be maintained in VR-wPLTs prepared at blood centers until they are administered to patients in hospitals.

Bifunctional amino sulfonamide-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition to alkenyl alkynyl ketimines as enone surrogates.

A bifunctional amino sulfonamide-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of aldehydes to alkenyl alkynyl ketimines as reactive surrogates for enones has been developed. Use of a phenylcyclopropane-based amino sulfonamide catalyst, which can activate and orient the ketimines through hydrogen bonding, affords the desired conjugate adducts with high chemo-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

X11-like protein deficiency is associated with impaired conflict resolution in mice.

Understanding how emotion is generated, how conflicting emotions are regulated, and how emotional states relate to sophisticated behaviors is a crucial challenge in brain research. Model animals showing selective emotion-related phenotypes are highly useful for examining these issues. Here, we describe a novel mouse model that withdraws in approach-avoidance conflicts. X11-like (X11L)/Mint2 is a neuronal adapter protein with multiple protein-protein interaction domains that interacts with several proteins involved in modulating neuronal activity. X11L-knock-out (KO) mice were subordinate under competitive feeding conditions. X11L-KO mice lost significantly more weight than cohoused wild-type mice without signs of decreased motivation to eat or physical weakness. In a resident-intruder test, X11L-KO mice showed decreased intruder exploration behavior. Moreover, X11L-KO mice displayed decreased marble-burying, digging and burrowing behaviors, indicating aberrant ethological responses to attractive stimuli. In contrast, X11L-KO mice were indistinguishable from wild-type mice in the open field, elevated plus maze, and light/dark transition tests, which are often used to assess anxiety-like behavior. Neurochemical analysis revealed a monoamine imbalance in several forebrain regions. The defective ethological responses and social behaviors in X11L-KO mice were rescued by the expression of X11L under a Camk2a promoter using the Tet-OFF system during development. These findings suggest that X11L is involved in the development of neuronal circuits that contribute to conflict resolution.

Construction of chiral α-tert-amine scaffolds via amine-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reactions of alkyl-substituted ketimines.

Stereoselective Mannich reactions of aldehydes with ketimines provide chiral ß-amino aldehydes that bear an α-tert-amine moiety. However, the structural variation of the ketimines is limited due to the formation of inseparable E/Z isomers, low reactivity, and other synthetic difficulties. In this study, a highly diastereodivergent synthesis of hitherto difficult-to-access ß-amino aldehydes that bear a chiral α-tert-amine moiety was achieved using the amine-catalyzed Mannich reactions of aldehydes with less-activated Z-ketimines that bear both alkyl and alkynyl groups.

The effect of an image of watchful eyes on the evaluation of the appearance of food.

It is known that an eye-like image promotes generosity. It is also known that the evaluation of the visual deliciousness of food is improved in the presence of an emotionally positive stimulus. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the presence of open eyes (OPEN) causes generous behavior altering the evaluation of the visual deliciousness of food, and how the images of open and closed eyes (CLOSED) affect human emotions. Seventeen women participated in the present study. A picture of food was presented on a computer screen, and the participants predicted and evaluated its visual deliciousness. An image of OPEN or that of CLOSED was presented simultaneously with a picture of food. There was a significant difference between the OPEN and CLOSED conditions, as demonstrated by the scores on a nine-point Likert scale for visual deliciousness; the ratings in the OPEN condition were significantly higher than those in the CLOSED condition (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in the image of watchful eyes for the perceived relaxation state; the ratings in the OPEN condition were not significantly higher than those in the CLOSED condition (p = 0.716). The results of the present study revealed that the evaluation of the visual deliciousness of food based on its appearance was likely due to the presence of an image of open watchful eyes, increasing the perceived visual deliciousness of the food without any changes in the participants' emotions.

Mastication of Hard Gumi Decreases the Gustatory Threshold for Sodium Chloride.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of hypertensive diseases and the various diseases associated with them. A major cause of these is excessive salt intake. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether chewing hard foods lowers the saltiness threshold. Fifteen subjects (fourteen women and one man) participated in the present study. Two types of gummies are available as ingredients: hard and soft gummies. The saltiness thresholds before and after chewing of each gummi were studied using 11 different NaCl solutions. Then, points of subjective equality (PSEs) were calculated to detect changes in the saltiness for each subject. In the soft Gumi condition, there was no significant difference in PSE for the saltiness between before and after ingesting Gumi (p>0.05), while in the hard Gumi condition, the PSE for the saltiness significantly decreased after ingesting Gumi compared with the value of before ingesting Gumi (p=0.001). From these results, we concluded that sensitivity to saltiness would increase after mastication of hard foods such as hard Gumi.

Reduction in adverse reactions to platelets by the removal of plasma supernatant and resuspension in a new additive solution (M-sol).

BACKGROUND: Leukodepletion reduces but does not eliminate adverse reactions to platelet concentrate (PC). As an alternative strategy, plasma reduction or washing of platelets should be considered. However, the efficacy of this strategy is still unclear. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 12 patients who experienced adverse reactions at a 29 to 100 percent reaction rate for plasma-PC were enrolled. The reactions were allergic reactions and nonhemolytic transfusion reactions, such as chills. Plasma-removed PC (W/R-PC), which was suspended in a recently developed additive solution (M-sol) containing less than 20 mL plasma, was prepared. W/R-PCs in M-sol were then transfused into patients after an overnight storage period; the occurrence of adverse reactions was monitored and 1- and 24-hour corrected count increment (CCI) values were evaluated. RESULTS: Although plasma-PC caused reaction in 12 patients, W/R-PC prevented reactions in 11 of 12 patients, with 1 patient having one minor allergic reaction of 15 transfusions. There was a significant difference in the incidence of reaction (p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). On a per-transfusion basis, the reaction rate for W/R-PC (1/156, 0.64%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02%-3.5%) was reduced significantly compared to that for plasma-PC (117/276, 42%; 95% CI, 36%-48%; p < 0.0001). W/R-PC gave findings of satisfactory CCI at 1 hour (22,400 +/- 8,000/microL) and 24 hours (15,400 +/- 8,000/microL). No clinically evident bleeding episodes were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: W/R-PC suspended in M-sol in the presence of less than 20 mL plasma can be transfused safely and eliminate a wide range of adverse reactions to plasma-PC.

Catalyst-controlled diastereoselectivity reversal in the formation of dihydropyrans.

An enantioselective synthesis of cis-dihydropyrans as the formal HDA reaction products was achieved through the catalyst-controlled anti-selective conjugate addition of aldehydes to ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters. The observed unusual cis-selectivity could be attributed to the stabilization of the less favorable transition state for anti-conjugate adducts by the hydrogen bonding between the hydroxy group of the amino diol catalyst and ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters.

Chiral amine-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of aldehydes to α-phenylselenoenones as formal Z-allylating agents.

α-Selenoenones could be employed as Z-allyl precursors in the chiral amine-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of aldehydes. The obtained formal allylation product, a Z-olefin having a sulfonate leaving group, was employed as a synthetically useful chiral alkylating agent.

A Top-Down Cortical Circuit for Accurate Sensory Perception.

A fundamental issue in cortical processing of sensory information is whether top-down control circuits from higher brain areas to primary sensory areas not only modulate but actively engage in perception. Here, we report the identification of a neural circuit for top-down control in the mouse somatosensory system. The circuit consisted of a long-range reciprocal projection between M2 secondary motor cortex and S1 primary somatosensory cortex. In vivo physiological recordings revealed that sensory stimulation induced sequential S1 to M2 followed by M2 to S1 neural activity. The top-down projection from M2 to S1 initiated dendritic spikes and persistent firing of S1 layer 5 (L5) neurons. Optogenetic inhibition of M2 input to S1 decreased L5 firing and the accurate perception of tactile surfaces. These findings demonstrate that recurrent input to sensory areas is essential for accurate perception and provide a physiological model for one type of top-down control circuit.

Effects of helicopter transport on red blood cell components.

BACKGROUND: There are no reported studies on whether a helicopter flight affects the quality and shelf-life of red blood cells stored in mannitol-adenine-phosphate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven days after donation, five aliquots of red blood cells from five donors were packed into an SS-BOX-110 container which can maintain the temperature inside the container between 2 °C and 6 °C with two frozen coolants. The temperature of an included dummy blood bag was monitored. After the box had been transported in a helicopter for 4 hours, the red blood cells were stored again and their quality evaluated at day 7 (just after the flight), 14, 21 and 42 after donation. Red blood cell quality was evaluated by measuring adenosine triphosphate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, and supernatant potassium, as well as haematocrit, intracellular pH, glucose, supernatant haemoglobin, and haemolysis rate at the various time points. RESULTS: During the experiment the recorded temperature remained between 2 and 6 °C. All data from the red blood cells that had undergone helicopter transportation were the same as those from a control group of red blood cell samples 7 (just after the flight), 14, 21, and 42 days after the donation. Only supernatant Hb and haemolysis rate 42 days after the donation were slightly increased in the helicopter-transported group of red blood cell samples. All other parameters at 42 days after donation were the same in the two groups of red blood cells. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that red blood cells stored in mannitol-adenine-phosphate are not significantly affected by helicopter transportation. The differences in haemolysis by the end of storage were small and probably not of clinical significance.

Deletion of RAGE causes hyperactivity and increased sensitivity to auditory stimuli in mice.

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a multi-ligand receptor that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface receptors. In diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, pathological progression is accelerated by activation of RAGE. However, how RAGE influences gross behavioral activity patterns in basal condition has not been addressed to date. In search for a functional role of RAGE in normal mice, a series of standard behavioral tests were performed on adult RAGE knockout (KO) mice. We observed a solid increase of home cage activity in RAGE KO. In addition, auditory startle response assessment resulted in a higher sensitivity to auditory signal and increased prepulse inhibition in KO mice. There were no significant differences between KO and wild types in behavioral tests for spatial memory and anxiety, as tested by Morris water maze, classical fear conditioning, and elevated plus maze. Our results raise a possibility that systemic therapeutic treatments to occlude RAGE activation may have adverse effects on general activity levels or sensitivity to auditory stimuli.

Storage of platelets in a novel additive solution (M-sol), which is prepared by mixing solutions approved for clinical use that are not especially for platelet storage.

BACKGROUND: To reduce adverse reactions due to platelet (PLT) transfusion, medical solutions on the market, such as saline and ACD-A, are used to replace the plasma of PLT concentrates in Japan; however, they are not strongly preservative. Here, an attempt was made to develop a novel additive solution (M-sol) having the ability to preserve PLTs stably, with only approved solutions for clinical use. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: M-sol is a mixture of solutions for medical use, which consists of 77 mmol per L NaCl, 3 mmol per L KCl, 1 mmol per L CaCl2, 21 mmol per L Na acetate, 15 mmol per L glucose, 9.4 mmol per L Na3 citrate, 4.8 mmol per L citric acid, 44 mmol per L NaHCO3, and 1.6 mmol per L MgSO4. The in vitro variables of PLTs stored in M-sol, Seto-sol, PASIIIM, or 100 percent plasma were compared during 14 days of storage. RESULTS: The in vitro parameters (pH, P-selectin, %hypotonic shock response, %disk, mean PLT volume, aggregability) of PLTs were better maintained in M-sol containing 3 percent plasma than in 100 percent plasma, PASIIIM with 31 percent plasma, and Seto-sol with 3 percent plasma during 14 days of storage. CONCLUSION: The 2-week storage of PLTs in M-sol is feasible in terms of the in vitro PLT function. Our results here show that the additive solution, with a high ability to preserve PLTs, can be prepared by mixing solutions approved for clinical use that are not specifically for PLT storage.