[Development of free will and determinism scale in Japanese].

We developed a free will and determinism scale in Japanese (FAD-J) to assess lay beliefs in free will, scientific determinism, fatalistic determinism, and unpredictability. In Study 1, we translated a free will and determinism scale (FAD-Plus) into Japanese and verified its reliability and validity. In Study 2, we examined the relationship between the FAD-J and eight other scales. Results suggested that lay beliefs in free will and determinism were related to self-regulation, critical thinking, other-oriented empathy, self-esteem, and regret and maximization in decision makings. We discuss the usefulness of the FAD-J for studying the psychological functions of lay beliefs in free will and determinism.

Preoperative Motor Function Associated with Short-Term Gain of Health-Related Quality of Life after Surgery for Lumbar Degenerative Disease: A Pilot Prospective Cohort Study in Japan.

This study aimed to estimate the relationship between preoperative motor function and short-term recovery of health-related quality of life after lumbar surgery in patients with lumbar degenerative disease. This prospective cohort study involved 50 patients with lumbar degenerative disease at a general hospital in Japan. The primary outcome was the achievement of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for EuroQOL 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) at discharge. Preoperative demographic, medication, surgical, and physical function data were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the achievement of MCID for EQ-5D as the dependent variable and preoperative characteristics, including the Five Times Sit to Stand test (FTSTS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), as the independent variables. The logistic regression analysis showed that Model 1 had a moderate predictive accuracy (Nagelkerke R2: 0.20; Hosmer-Lemeshow test: p = 0.19; predictive accuracy: 70.0%). Among the independent variables in the logistic regression model, the FTSTS was the only independent variable related to the achievement of MCID for EQ-5D at discharge (odds ratio: 0.03; 95% CI: 1.79 × 10-3, 0.18). Our results highlighted the importance of baseline motor function in the postoperative recovery of health-related quality of life in individuals with lumbar degenerative disease.

Glycyrrhizin and its derivatives promote hepatic differentiation via sweet receptor, Wnt, and Notch signaling.

The acute liver disease is involved in aberrant release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Glycyrrhizin (GL), a traditional Chinese medicine for liver disease, binds to HMGB1, thereby inhibits tissue injury. However the mode of action of GL for chronic liver disease remains unclear. We investigated the effects of glycyrrhizin (GL) and its derivatives on liver differentiation using human iPS cells by using a flow cytometric analysis. GL promoted hepatic differentiation at the hepatoblast formation stage. The GL derivatives, 3-O-mono-glucuronyl 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (Mono) and 3-O-[glucosyl (1 â†’ 2)-glucuronyl] 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid increased AFP+ cell counts and albumin+ cell counts. Glucuronate conjugation seemed to be a requirement for hepatic differentiation. Mono exhibited the most significant hepatic differentiation effect. We evaluated the effects of (±)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (DP), a T1R3 antagonist, and sucralose, a T1R3 agonist, on hepatic differentiation, and found that DP suppressed Mono-induced hepatic differentiation, while sucralose promoted hepatic differentiation. Thus, GL promoted hepatic differentiation via T1R3 signaling. In addition, Mono increased ß-catenin+ cell count and decreased Hes5+ cell count suggesting the involvement of Wnt and Notch signaling in GL-induced hepatic differentiation. In conclusion, GL exerted a hepatic differentiation effect via sweet receptor (T1R3), canonical Wnt, and Notch signaling.