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Background: Health consciousness in daily life is very important because lifestyle habits, such as dietary and exercise habits, sleep, and smoking, are involved in the development and progression of lifestyle-related diseases, such as cancer, heart diseases, stroke, liver diseases, kidney diseases, and diabetes. Purpose: In this study, we surveyed to see if the health consciousness increased and what behaviors in daily life changed in students of a nursing school (Seiwa Nursing College, Tokyo, Japan) after they learned medical care knowledge required to become a nurse. Results: After learning medical care knowledge for 3 years, the students were found to have a higher level of health consciousness in the third year than they did in the first year. They applied the medical care knowledge they learned in daily life. All data were collected in 2019. Conclusions: The medical care knowledge learned in a nursing school was demonstrated to serve as information to increase the health consciousness.

Purpose We morphometrically analyzed human facial muscles, and evaluated the Yanagihara facial nerve grading system using our data. Methods We used 15 types of human facial muscle, 2 types of masticatory muscle and 2 types of skeletal muscle. The materials were obtained from 11 Japanese male cadavers aged 43–86 years. We counted the muscle fibers and measured the transverse area of the muscle fibers (TAMF), and then calculated the number of muscle fibers (NMF) per mm2 and the average TAMF. Results We found a significant correlation between average TAMF and NMF (r = − 0.70; p

Nanotechnology is developing rapidly and the production of novel man-made nanoparticles is increasing. However, the effects of these particles on human health are unevaluated. Depending on particle size and the surface properties, nanoparticles may have the potential to affect human health. In recent studies, several silica nanoparticles (

Advances have been made recently in neonatal nutrition in Japan, including a new donor human milk bank. However, little is known about the knowledge level of neonatal nutrition, donor human milk banks, and human milk fortifiers among Neonatal ICU (NICU) nurses. An anonymous survey was administered during an educational program to assess general knowledge. The overall response rate was 87.6% (219/250). About 60% reported working in the NICU for 1–5 years, and 42% reported that their NICU admitted more than 30 very low birth weight infants per year. Two-thirds (66.4%) acknowledged the existence of the new donor human milk bank. About half (46%) of NICU nurses incorrectly believed that the human milk fortifier available in Japan was derived from human milk rather than cow's milk. It would be beneficial to provide more education to NICU nurses on neonatal nutrition, donor human milk, milk banks, and the use of human milk fortifiers, both cow's milk-based and human milk-based.

BACKGROUND: The elucidation of the relationship between the morphology of the peripheral nerves and the diseases would be valuable in developing new medical treatments on the assumption that characteristics of the peripheral nerves in females are different from those in males. METHODS: We used 13 kinds of the peripheral nerve. The materials were obtained from 10 Japanese female and male cadavers. We performed a morphometric analysis of nerve fibers. We estimated the total number of myelinated axons, and calculated the average transverse area and average circularity ratio of myelinated axons in the peripheral nerves. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the total number, average transverse area, or average circularity ratio of myelinated axons between the female and male specimens except for the total number of myelinated axons in the vestibular nerve and the average circularity ratio of myelinated axons in the vagus nerve. CONCLUSIONS: The lower number of myelinated axons in the female vestibular nerve may be one of the reasons why vestibular disorders have a female preponderance. Moreover, the higher average circularity ratio of myelinated axons in the male vagus nerve may be one reason why vagus nerve activity to modulate pain has a male preponderance.

Background Branch atheromatous disease is an ischemic stroke, involving occlusion or severe stenosis of the perforating artery, causing neurologic symptoms and serious sequelae. We aimed to investigate initial morphometric and hemodynamic characteristics of the vertebral artery immediately post-onset to predict lesion expanding. Methods This case-control study collected demographic, historical, and physical examination data from 44 patients with branch atheromatous disease in the pons at admission. The maximum ischemic pons area and stenosis rate in the basilar artery were calculated using magnetic resonance images. Diameter, velocity, and flow volume of the vertebral arteries were measured using carotid artery ultrasonography. Correlations between ischemic lesion extent and these parameters were investigated. Results Patients were assigned to groups of less (Group 1) or more (Group 2) than the median maximum ischemic area in the pons, calculated from magnetic resonance images (121.6 mm2). Modified Rankin scale scores were significantly worse in Group 2. Blood pressure and blood findings were similar between groups. Group 2 showed significantly higher basilar artery stenosis rates. Flow volume, velocity, peak systolic velocity, and end-diastolic velocity in the vertebral artery on both sides were significantly decreased in Group 2. Conclusions Deteriorated vertebral artery hemodynamics caused a more extensive ischemic lesion in branch atheromatous disease in the pons. Evaluation of the vertebral using carotid artery ultrasonography in the acute phase may be useful for predicting disease progression.

In this study, the results of our previously reported technique of quantitative analysis by using microscopic image analysis of tissue image slices to calculate the proportion of the area of the tunica media occupied by of elastic fibers was compared with Janzen et al.'s technique at the carotid bifurcation. This particularly analyzed the area of transition between the common carotid and the internal carotid, to observe the quantitative changes in elastic fiber content. The data obtained from our quantitative analysis of elastic fibers were clearly at variance with those obtained by counting the number of elastic fibers. The amount of elastic fibers in the tunica media (the elastic fiber ratio) decreased from the proximal carotid artery (the common carotid) to the bifurcation, then peaked in the internal carotid immediately after the bifurcation before declining again.

Objectives There are few research reports providing a comparison of the muscle fiber morphometry between human fetuses and adults. Data on fetal and adult muscle fibers would be valuable in understanding muscle development and a variety of muscle diseases. This study investigated human muscle fiber growth to clarify the difference between the facial muscles and other skeletal muscles. Methods The materials were obtained from three male fetuses (6-month-old) and 11 Japanese male cadavers aged 43–86 years (average: 71.8). Human buccinator muscles (facial muscles), masseter and biceps brachii muscles (skeletal muscles) were resected. We counted the muscle fibers and measured their transverse area. We also calculated the number of muscle fibers per mm 2 (NMF) and the average transverse area of the muscle fibers (TAMFs). Results The average of the NMF of the buccinator, masseter and biceps brachii muscles in fetuses had, respectively, 19, 37, and 22 times as many fibers as those in adults. The average fetus/adult ratios of the TAMF of the buccinator, masseter and biceps brachii muscles were 4.0%, 2.4%, 4.1%, respectively. Conclusions The average NMF for all kinds of muscles decreased after birth; however, the peak in life-span or decreases with the aging process tended to vary with the kind of muscles examined. The average TAMF for all kinds of muscles enlarged after birth. We considered that the enlargement of the TAMF was connected with the emergence of fetal movements and functional demands after birth.

Introduction The human azygos vein (AV) generally runs on the right side of the vertebral column. However, a shift in its course to the middle/left side of the vertebral column, potentially as a result of aging, has been reported. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between AV displacement and aging. Materials and methods Forty-seven adult cadavers were dissected. When an AV left shift was observed, long axis AV length was measured by calculating the number of vertebral bodies under the vein. We also investigated whether a crossover vein existed between AV and hemiazygos vein at the extreme left shifting point, and whether osteophytes existed along the vertebral column. Results Forty-four cadavers (94%) had left-shifted AVs. A weak positive correlation between age and the length of the left shift was observed (r = 0.3061, P = 0.0364). Thirty cadavers (64%) had crossover veins at the extreme left shifting point, and 24 cadavers (51%) had osteophytes along the vertebral column. There was no significant relationship between the length of left-shifted AVs and the existence of crossover veins or osteophytes. Conclusion The possibility of AV displacement to the left as part of the aging process is suggested.

OBJECTIVE Details regarding the molecular biological features of Bell's palsy have not been widely reported in textbooks. We genetically analyzed facial muscles and clarified these points. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed genetic analysis of facial muscle specimens from Japanese patients with severe (House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system V) and moderate (House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system III) dysfunction due to Bell's palsy. Microarray analysis of gene expression was performed using specimens from the healthy and affected sides, and gene expression was compared. Changes in gene expression were defined as an affected side/healthy side ratio of >1.5 or

The middle meningeal artery (MMA) can play an important role in the surgical revascularization. However, the MMA can be easily injured if it passes through a bony canal. We investigated the morphological and histological features of the bony canal to improve surgical results. Materials and methods Fifty adult dry skulls were investigated. The length of the bony canal and the distance from the orbital rim to the bony canal were measured. Additionally, 28 cadaveric heads were examined histologically. Results Sixty-three bony canals were found in 43 skulls. The mean length of bony canals was 9.2 mm, and the mean distance from the orbital rim was 24.0 mm. The bony canal ran mainly from the sphenoid bone (69.8%) to the parietal bone (73.0%). Histologically, both sides of the meningeal grooves gradually closed the distance, and formed the bony canal. The MMA inside the bony canal was enveloped with collagen tissues, divided into branches, and was accompanied by the vein. Conclusions The bony canal is located around the pterion and is formed during bone growth. The MMA is covered with collagen tissues inside the bony canal. It is possible to safely expose and preserve the MMA during craniotomy with careful drilling.

Purpose With regard to the incidence of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage after an IAN block or following oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, there are reports of sexual dimorphism, no sexual dimorphism, and little sexual dimorphism. However, details of the morphology and sexual dimorphism in the characteristics of the IAN have not been available in textbooks. We morphometrically analyzed the human IAN and clarified these issues. Materials and Methods The materials were obtained from 22 cadavers (11 female and 11 male), aged 59 to 84 years (average age: 74.1 yr), and dentulous. The causes of death did not influence the nervous system, so the IANs were considered to be normal. Human IANs were resected at the mandibular foramen. We counted the myelinated axons and measured the transverse area, perimeter, and circularity ratio of the myelinated axons. Results We estimated the average total number of myelinated axons in the female IAN to be 25,230, with an average transverse area of 34.1 μm2, an average perimeter of 21.8 μm, and an average circularity ratio of 0.86, with the same measurements in the male IAN being 20,278, 31.7 μm2, 20.7 μm, and 0.87, respectively. Our data showed no significant difference between the female and male specimens in any measured item (P Conclusions We assumed that the sex difference in the incidence of IAN damage was not affected by the morphometric findings. Our findings might partly explain why there is no significant sex difference in the incidence of IAN damage.

BACKGROUND The gastroepiploic artery (GEA) has been described in various ways by anatomical texts and surgical manuals. Currently, there are no studies that have investigated the thickness and length of GEA using gross anatomical methods. In the present study, we measured the length, circumference, area, and major axis of GEA, and quantitatively evaluated the differences between right and left GEA (RGEA and LGEA), using gross anatomical and morphometric methods for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHOD Seventeen cadavers were selected. The median age of the cadavers was 82 years. We observed and evaluated GEA with naked eyes, as well as under a stereoscopic microscope. RESULTS RGEA was significantly longer than LGEA (p < 0.0001). The mean length of RGEA and LGEA were 26.51 ± 5.15 cm and 14.05 ± 3.12 cm, respectively. The mean area of RGEA, LGEA, and the anastomotic point were 3.31 ± 1.71 mm(2), 1.33 ± 1.01 mm(2), and 0.51 ± 0.28 mm(2) respectively. CONCLUSION RGEA was significantly longer and thicker than LGEA. The results also showed that in almost all of the cases RGEA and LGEA anastomosed with each other and grew thinner as they approached the middle of the greater curvature of the stomach.

The aim of this study was to analyze myelinated axons in the human vestibular nerve (VN). We assumed that a smaller total number and average transverse area of myelinated axons in the female than male VN, would partly explain the female preponderance of vestibular disorders. The materials were obtained from 24 cadavers (12 females and 12 males) aged 54-90 years (average 74.8 years). We counted the myelinated axons, measured the transverse area of the myelinated axons, and analyzed morphological differences between the female and male specimens. The total number differed significantly between the female and male specimens. The older generation of both sexes tended to have lower total counts, but there was no significant difference among the generations. The average transverse area of the myelinated axons did not differ significantly between the female and male specimens. The older generation of both sexes tended to have a smaller average transverse area, and there was a significant difference among the generations. The presented results indicated that the lower total number, not the average transverse area, of myelinated axons in the female VN might be one of the reasons why vestibular disorders have a female preponderance.

The neuropathologic findings of the Wistar ataxic rat brain were reported after making serial sections of the brain and studying the cerebellum with an electron microscope. Twenty-five adult Wistar rats from a mutant strain were used: 14 were ataxic and 11 were normal. In the brains of the Wistar ataxic rats, neuropathologic abnormalities were present only in the Purkinje cells. The possibility of a new model animal with autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia is discussed.

Myelinated nerve fibers of the human abducent nerve were analyzed with a new staining method that permits simultaneous observation of the axon and surrounding myelin sheath. The following equipment was employed for the measurements: an image-analyzing digitizer, a microscope equipped with a drawing tube (or camera lucida), and a computer for data storage and statistical analysis. The numbers, transverse areas, and circularity ratios of axons were measured in 10 human abducent nerves. The average number was 1,997 with a definite decrease with age, and the average area was 3.90 micron 2.

The development and anatomy of the spinal cord are described. From the end of the third gestational week, the spinal cord sustains three developmental stages: neurulation, caudal differentiation and retrogressive differentiation. The anatomy of the spinal cord is discussed from the perspective of macroscopic findings, classification, level diagnosis, cytoarchitecture and white matter structures; especially variations of the pyramidal tract, and errors in textbook descriptions of the spinocerebellar tract.

Morphometric analyses were carried out to reveal a relation between age and axonal changes in the lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) at the L1 level of the human spinal cord. Histological preparations of the spinal cord were made after embedding in celloidin to stain with Luxol fast blue-periodic acid-Schiff-hematoxylin or Kluver-Barrera methods. The number, average transverse area, total area and diameter of axons of the LCST were counted and measured using an image-analyser combined with a computer. The morphometric analyses revealed that (1) there was a significant decrease in the axonal number of the LCST with age (p < 0.001); (2) the axons were not partially nor completely accompanied by surrounding myelin sheaths, and increased in number with age; (3) the diameter and average area of axons in the LCST became significantly reduced with age (p < 0.01); (4) the total area decreased significantly with age in a unit area of 2,700 microns2; and (5) the circularity ratio showed no significant change with age.

The ghost tangles (GTs) in usual Alzheimer's disease are separated into small bundles of abnormal straight filaments by many invading astrocytic processes lacking a basal lamina (BL). An electron microscopic study of GTs in the Ammon's horn of a case of juvenile Alzheimer's disease of 25 years' duration, however, revealed that only a small number of astrocytic processes had infiltrated the GTs, resulting in the GTs being composed of large bundles. Moreover, the majority of glial processes that had invaded or apposed GTs possessed an interrupted but still fairly well-developed BL with hemidesmosome-like profiles. Although pia-arachnoid cells are required for astrocytes to form a continuous BL, astrocytes can have a segmental BL on their surface facing even empty intercellular spaces within the brain parenchyma. The much greater frequency and better development of the GT-associated BL in our case indicate that the GT filaments somehow increased the ability of astrocytes to form a BL. On the other hand, the scarcity of GT-invading astrocytic processes implies that many of the glial processes that had once penetrated GTs had been withdrawn, with the result that GTs escaped expectable endocyto-phagocytosis by astrocytes.

There have been inconsistencies among reports of age-related differences in human peripheral nerves (PNs). For such studies, normal control values are necessary. Moreover, the diversity of methods employed makes it difficult to compare results. We used the same histological procedures and methods to measure 12 PNs: 8 in the cranial nerves, 2 motor nerves in the lower limb, and 2 nerves in the autonomic system. We performed a morphometric analysis of nerve fibers and estimated the change in the total number (TN) and average transverse area (ATA) of myelinated axons from adulthood to old age. The spinal nerves demonstrated notable age-related changes in TN and ATA. Most of the cranial nerves also demonstrated notable age-related changes in TN and ATA. However, some nerves demonstrated no such age-related changes and were affected more by other factors. With regards to the autonomic nerves, the lesser splanchnic nerve indicated age-related changes in TN, but the greater splanchnic nerve indicated no age-related changes in either TN or ATA. The autonomic nerves were affected not only by the aging process but also by the pathological changes to the peripheral tissues that they innervate.

Unmyelinated nerve fibers of the abducent nerve have occasionally been observed with electron microscopes, but, to our knowledge, they have never been evaluated from the morphometric point of view. We analyzed the aging process of the unmyelinated nerve fibers in the human abducent nerve with the help of a new staining method suitable for morphometric research on the nervous system. We studied numbers and transverse areas of unmyelinated fibers of the abducent nerve in 10 cadavers. Our findings were that (1) these fibers were distributed diffusely, (2) their number decreased with age, and (3) the mean transverse area did not change with age. Most of the unmyelinated axons were thinner than the myelinated axons. These results may be important for analysis of clinical signs in relation to aging and ophthalmologic functions.

The subcellular localization of CD38 in the rat cerebral and cerebellar cortices was studied using immunoelectron microscopy. In the cerebral cortex, immunoreactivity was present in a subset of pyramidal neurons, and was distributed predominantly in the perikarya and dendrites. It was found in association with rough endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, small vesicles, mitochondria and the plasma membrane including the postsynaptic densities. In the cerebellum, labeling was observed in several types of neuron such as granule, Golgi, basket and Purkinje cells. In contrast to the cerebrum, immunoreactivity was accentuated in the perikarya or axon terminals, and the synaptic vesicles represented another organelle that was immunopositive for CD38. In both of these CNS regions, the nuclear envelope, particularly the outer membrane, showed constant labeling. Diffuse immunoreactivity was also present in the astrocytes from the perikarya to the processes including the perivascular glia limitans. Oligodendrocytes and microglia were immunonegative for CD38. The pattern of distribution of CD38 in the CNS is suggestive of multiple roles for this molecule at various functional sites in both neurons and astrocytes.

CD38 is a lymphocyte differentiation antigen which is involved in the cyclic ADP-ribose-mediated second messenger system. We provide immunochemical and immunohistochemical evidence for the expression of CD38 in the adult human brain. We used six polyclonal antibodies against synthetic CD38 polypeptides, in addition to four monoclonal antibodies already available. Brain CD38 was detectable by Western blotting after immunoaffinity purification of the brain extracts. Immunoperoxidase staining localized CD38 immunoreactivity to the perikarya and dendrites of many neurons, such as the cerebellar Purkinje cells, implying that CD38 is involved in the signal transduction within the central nervous system neurons.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and accumulation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in cortical and subcortical regions of brain. The trophic factor hypothesis by Appel has explained neuronal loss in AD brain: failure of hippocampus and cerebral cortex to supply the neurotrophic factors for basal forebrain cholinergic neurons might lead to impairment of basal forebrain neurons.1 In addition to the degenerative characteristics, however, aberrant somatodendritic sprouting has been observed in cerebral cortex2,3,4,5 and basal forebrain6 of AD patients. The trophic factor hypothesis cannot explain the aberrant sprouting responses in AD brain. We have therefore investigated why cortical neurons exhibit higher plasticity under degenerative conditions of AD. Recently, we presented that AD brain contains higher neurotrophic activities for neonatal rat cortical neurons in vitro than non-demented aged brain,7 and that the apparent increase in neurotrophic activities is due to the decrease in growth inhibitory factor (GIF); which is a 68 amino acid metallothioneinlike protein and would suppress neurotrophic activities in normal brain.8,9 Over the last few years, we have investigated whether or not a decrease in GIF is a specific phenomenon for AD, and what kind of signals lead to the decrease in GIF. We review here the evidence to answer the above question.

Brains of rats that had received needle stab wounds were examined sequentially for 72 h by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Immunoreactivity appeared 0.5 h after the injury in axons adjacent to the needle tract, becoming stronger over 15 h in neighboring swollen axons. APP-immunoreactive glial cells appeared 6 h after the injury around the needle tract and persisted throughout the experiment. Morphologically, these cells were thought to be mainly astrocytes.

Background Hippocampal neurons in the brain polarize to form multiple dendrites and one long axon. The formation of central synapses remains poorly understood. Although several of the intracellular proteins involved in the clustering of central neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels have been identified, the signals involved in pre- and postsynaptic differentiation remain elusive. Synaptotagmin1 is an abundant and important presynaptic vesicle protein that binds Ca2+ (J Biol Chem 277:7629–7632, 2002) in regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis at the synapse. Synapse consists of the formation of synaptic connections and requires precise coordination of Synaptotagmin1. It was reported Synaptotagmin1 plays an important roles in the formation of axonal filopodia and branches in chicken forebrain neurons (Dev Neurobiol 73:27–44, 2013). To determine if Synaptotagmin1 could have a role in formation of axon in hippocampal neurons, we investigated the effects of Synaptotagmin1 overexpression and knockdown using the shRNA on the growth and branching of the axons of primary hippocampal neurons. We showed that overexpression of Synaptotagmin1 leads to abnormal multiple axon formation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Results We first examined the effects of Synaptotagmin1 on the numbers of axon and dendrites. We found that the overexpression of Synaptotagmin1 led to the formation of multiple axons and induced an increase in the number of endogenous postsynaptic protein Homer1c clusters in cultured hippocampal neurons. Endogenous initial segment of axon was detected with anti-sodium channel (anti-NaCh) antibody and with anti-Tau1 (J Neurosci 24: 4605–4613, 2004). The endogenous initial segment of axon was stained with anti-NaCh antibodies and with anti-Tau1 antibodies. Then the numbers of prominence dyed positive were counted as axon. We attempted to specifically knockdown the endogenous Synaptotagmin1 with small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). To further dissect the functions of endogenous Synaptotagmin1 in neuronal polarity, we used the shRNA of Synaptotagmin1 that specifically blocks the existence of endogenous Synaptotagmin1. When the shRNA of Synaptotagmin1 was introduced to the cells, the number of axons and dendrites did not change. Conclusions These results indicate that the accumulation of Synaptotagmin1 may play an important role in axon/dendrite differentiation.