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Adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6) has been proposed as a potential vector candidate for specific gene expression in pain-related dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, but this has not been confirmed in nonhuman primates. The aim of our study was to analyze the transduction efficiency and target specificity of this viral vector in the common marmoset by comparing it with those in the rat. When green fluorescent protein-expressing serotype-6 vector was injected into the sciatic nerve, the efficiency of gene expression in DRG neurons was comparable in both species. We found that the serotype-6 vector was largely specific to the pain-related ganglion neurons in the marmoset, as well as in the rat, whereas the serotype-9 vector resulted in contrasting effects in the two species. Neither AAV6 nor AAV9 resulted in DRG toxicity when administered via the sciatic nerve, suggesting this as a safer route of sensory nerve transduction than the currently used intrathecal or intravenous administrative routes. Furthermore, the AAV6 vector could be an optimal serotype for gene therapy for human chronic pain that has a minimal effect on other somatosensory functions of DRG neurons., Graphical abstract, In nonhuman primates, we found that the adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6) vector applied via the intra-nerve route showed largely specific transduction in the pain-related dorsal root ganglion neurons. This result suggests that the AAV6 is an optimal viral vector for gene therapy with minimal off-target effects for human chronic pain.

Objective High-intensity and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor cortex was carried out in poststroke patients with increased spasticity, and the changes in F-wave parameters in comparison with M-wave parameters induced by rTMS were examined. Methods Ten-hertz rTMS pulses were delivered to the primary motor cortex of the lesion side at 110% intensity of the resting motor threshold, and F-waves were obtained from the first dorsal interosseous muscle. F-waves were recorded before (pre-stim) and immediately after the end of rTMS (post-stim) in poststroke patients. Results F-wave persistence and F/M Amp.Ratio increased significantly in patients with lesions in upper motor tract as compared with healthy subjects (Wilcoxon rank sum test, p = 0.00023 and p = 0.0073, respectively). After the rTMS application, both F-wave persistence and F/M Amp.Ratio decreased significantly (paired t-test, p = 0.0095 and p = 0.037, respectively). However, the F-wave amplitude did not show a statistically significant variance in poststroke patients. Conclusions High-frequency suprathreshold rTMS may suppress the F-waves by enhancing the inhibitory effect on spinal excitability through the corticospinal tract, and F-wave persistence and F/M Amp.Ratio can be used to determine the effect of rTMS on patients with increased spasticity.

人工太陽灯と蛍光灯の照明下において，1) 開眼 (視覚タスク有り)， 2) 開眼 (視覚タスクなし)， 3) 閉眼の状態で，脳波と脳酸素代謝の変化を比較し，照明が生体に及ぼす影響の違いについて検討した．対象は 12 例の大学生で，視覚的なタスクとしてレーヴン色彩マトリックス検査の日本語版を用いた．