Objective: We attempted to identify the locus of cerebral blood flow reduction to clarify the functional neuroanatomical basis of the first-episode schizophrenia. A secondary objective was to evaluate the diagnostic value a new analytical program, easy Z-score Imaging System (eZIS). Method: We performed single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99-Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimmer (^<99m>Tc-ECD) of the brains of patients with the first-episode schizophrenia (n=30) and normal controls (n=37) and evaluated the diagnostic value of brain perfusion SPECT using eZIS on patients with schizophrenia. Result: In comparison with normal controls, the patients with schizophrenia were found to have reduced blood flow in bilateral frontal and temporal areas. Conclusion: In our study, patients with the first-episode schizophrenia appeared to have significant bilateral fronto-temporal hypoperfusion. Demonstration of abnormality of frontal and temporal lobe blood flow may assist in the diagnosis of schizophrenia and determination of appropriate treatment for individuals with schizophrenia.

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Objective: This study examined the correlations between the development of cognitive/behavioral skills, and spontaneous magnetoencephalogram (MEG) in 3-4-year-old healthy children. Although MEG is non-invasive and easier for applying to infants, there has been no previous study relating cognitive/behavioral development of preschool children with MEG data. Methods: The cognitive skills were evaluated by the Japanese adaptation of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC). The behavioral skills were assessed by Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Society Japan Rating Scale (PARS). Spontaneous brain activity was measured from 52 children (23 male subjects and 29 female subjects) in an eye-closed condition. Results: The power spectral densities were calculated from the MEG data. We found frequency-band correlations between the power spectral densities and some cognitive/behavioral scores for the eye-closed condition. In female subjects, there was a significant negative relationship between cognitive skill scores and the theta power spectral density of the frontal/temporal area. In male subjects, there was a significant negative relationship between the maladaptive behavior score and the beta power spectral density of the frontal/central area. Conclusions: These results demonstrate interesting differences in the cognitive/behavioral development between 3-4-year-old males and females. We are continuing further research especially focused on maladaptive behaviors, including Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) symptoms, and related gender differences.

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Leukemia inhibitory factor-receptor (LIFR) is known to play a major role in neurogenesis promotions and stem cell self-renewal via binding to their ligands, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). We hypothesized that LIFR may also play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. To test this, we performed clinical and animal studies. First, we measured the mRNA levels of LIFR, LIF and CNTF in peripheral lymphocytes from drug-naive patients with schizophrenia (n=22) and from age-and gender- matched healthy controls (n=44) using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Levels of LIFR mRNA in patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than those of controls. Expression of LIF mRNA was below the detectable level in both patients and controls. Levels of CNTF mRNA were similar between patients and controls. Second, we evaluated behavioral features in heterozygous LIFR knockout (LIFR^<+/->) mice, in which adult neurogenesis is known to be altered. Interestingly, LIFR^<+/-> mice showed dopaminergic hypersensitivity, which was shown by exacerbated methamphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, compared to wildtype mice. These findings appear to support our hypothesis and suggest that LIFR may play a role in dopaminergic hypersensitivity.

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Objective: To observe the change of small intestine myoelectric activity after electric stimulus of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Method: To measure jejunal myoelectric activity during digestion period of both before and after the electric stimulus of the DMV. Result: The frequency of the slow waves in the myoelectric activity of the jejunum increased (p<0.05) and the amplitude of the slow waves in the myoelectric activity of the jejunum incresased (p<0.05) after simulus; During the period of stimulus, the frequency of the slow waves in the myoelectric activity of the jejunum degrade (p<0.01) and the amplitude of the slow waves in the myoelectric activity of the jejunum incresased (p<0.01). Conclusion: The myoelectric activity of the jejunum changed after electric stimulus of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus

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Objective Modeling a surgery hypertensive rat model, observe the changes of the expression of ACE and ACE2 in various groups, thus for further research of the pathogenesis of hypertension. Methods Twenty-eight Sprague- Dawley rats were used, which were divided randomly into four groups. One group served as control (n=7), others as hypertensive group (n=7), enalapril group [n=7,15mg/(kg・d)] and losartan group [n=7,15mg/(kg・d)]. All rats were operated as surgery hypertension except rats of control group. Renal artery was ligated. Enalapril and losartan were used as treatments of rats of enalapril group and losartan group after surgery. Blood pressure of rats was measured by arteria caudilis uninjured. The expression of renal ACE and ACE2 mRNA were measured by RT-PCR. The expression of renal ACE and ACE2 protein were measured by immunohistochemistry. Results Blood pressure of rats was increased after operation. The expression of ACE and ACE2 mRNA and protein in various groups were different. The expression of ACE mRNA and protein of Hypertensive group were higher than others. The expression of ACE2 mRNA and protein of losartan group were higher than others. Conclusion Model of surgery hypertensive rats were success by the ligation of renal artery. It's a Simple, reliable and cheap method of hypertensive rat model. The imbalance between the expression of ACE and ACE2 is one of the important roles of pathogenesis of hypertension.

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Obesity has increased at an alarming rate in recent years. Evidence indicates that obese animals have blunted satiety, raising the possibility that defective satiety signaling in the brain may contribute to the etiology of obesity. Therefore, food intake suppression is considered crucial for preventing obesity. Food intake suppression via the peripheral nervous system mainly focuses on cholecystokinin and enterostatin relaying to the central nervous system (CNS). The mechanism of food intake coordination via the CNS per se is extremely complex. In this article, leptin, insulin, melanocortin receptor, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, cannabinoid-1 receptor blocker, cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, lipopolysaccharide, interleukin, cholecystokinin, enterostatin, estrogen, testosterone and apolipoprotein E will be discussed. Most of them have definite effect on food intake, while a few of them are elusive. There is still a great challenge in obesity treatment by way of suppressing food intake. Future appetite-suppressing medications should selectively affect the desire to eat, with minimal adverse effects from these medications.

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Trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials (TSEP) arising from the trigeminal nerve branches is triggered by nerve impulse that stimulates receptors of skin and mucous membrane in trigeminal nerve distribution area and can be recorded as the reflection of the trigeminal nerve lesions in or around the branches. This study reflected the TSEP changes in nerve injury and the process of recovery through the comparison between the healthy and injured side and also different times, providing evidences for the diagnosis of the trigeminal injury

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Objective: In order to find problems and provide reference for the standardization of application of Morita therapy in China, we preliminarily investigated the overview of how Morita therapy was taken in China. Object and method: Questionnaire survey was performed to inquiry eight representative medical institutions which had department of psychiatry by sending e-mail and assigning person during half year. The questionnaire was completed by psychiatric physicians. Result: During the half year, all medical institutions have adopted Morita therapy and used the method of diary therapy, and accompanied drugs. In the clinic Morita therapy, the maximum frequency was up to 20 times during a session, while the general was between 4 to 20 times. The longest treatment period per time of Morita therapy was 1 to 2 hours accounting for 62.5% of all institutions. 25% took 40 to 60 minutes per time. And 12.5% took about 30 minutes each time. In the resident Morita therapy, it was different in the treatment period of each session and the treatment method among the eight institutions. Discussion: The results indicated that Morita therapy did have been widely used and developed in some extent in China. But the survey also showed that the standard of Morita therapy in China varied and the concept was not uniform. This may be because that mental illness itself is a behavioral disorder which is difficult to strictly distinguish and there is no strict period division in Morita therapy, as well as the level of awareness on Morita therapy varies from physician to physician. Herein, it's necessary to carry out more training on Morita therapy and invite professional Japanese experts to lecture in China. The popularization of Morita therapy has practical significance.

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