RESUMEN
To further develop three-dimensional (3D) applications, it is important to elucidate the negative effects of 3D applications on the human body and mind. Thus, this study investigated differences in the effects of visual fatigue on cognition and brain activity using visual and auditory tasks induced by watching a 1-h movie in two dimensions (2D) and 3D. Eighteen young men participated in this study. Two conditions were randomly performed for each participant on different days, namely, watching the 1-h movie on television in 2D (control condition) and 3D (3D condition). Before and after watching the 1-h movie on television, critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF: an index of visual fatigue), and response accuracy and reaction time for the cognitive tasks were determined. Brain activity during the cognitive tasks was evaluated using a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy system. In contrast to the control condition, the decreased CFF, and the lengthened reaction time and the decreased activity around the right primary somatosensory cortex during Go/NoGo blocks in the visual task at post-viewing in the 3D condition were significant, with significant repeated measures correlations among them. Meanwhile, in the auditory task, the changes in cognitive performance and brain activity during the Go/NoGo blocks were not significant in the 3D condition. These results suggest that the failure or delay in the transmission of visual information to the primary somatosensory cortex due to visual fatigue induced by watching a 3D movie reduced the brain activity around the primary somatosensory cortex, resulting in poor cognitive performance for the visual task. This suggests that performing tasks that require visual information, such as running in the dark or driving a car, immediately after using a 3D application, may create unexpected risks in our lives. Thus, the findings of this study will help outlining precautions for the use of 3D applications.
RESUMEN
We tested 259 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates and 2 USA300 ATCC type strains for susceptibility to bacitracin and neomycin contained in over-the-counter antibacterial ointments. Resistance to both bacitracin and neomycin was found only in USA300. The use of over-the counter antimicrobial drugs may select for the USA300 clone.
Asunto(s)
Antibacterianos/farmacología , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/efectos de los fármacos , Medicamentos sin Prescripción/farmacología , Antibacterianos/administración & dosificación , Bacitracina/farmacología , Humanos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/genética , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/aislamiento & purificación , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Neomicina/farmacología , Medicamentos sin Prescripción/administración & dosificación , Pomadas , Polimixina B/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the type 1a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR1a) that regulates energy balance. Ghrelin and obestatin, derived from the post-translational processing of preproghrelin, are involved in a diverse range of biological activities, yet their effect on the immune system is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the roles of ghrelin and obestatin on mast cell degranulation and found that both ghrelin and obestatin induce the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. This induced histamine release was inhibited by the pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Gα(i) protein, and extracellular Ca(2+). Rat peritoneal mast cells and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells did not express the ghrelin receptor GHSR1a, suggesting that histamine release induced by ghrelin occurs via a receptor-independent mechanism. We report here that ghrelin and obestatin, belonging to the family of basic secretagogues, stimulate mast cells independent of a receptor, and this may play a crucial role at the site of allergy or inflammation.
Asunto(s)
Ghrelina/farmacología , Liberación de Histamina/efectos de los fármacos , Mastocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Hormonas Peptídicas/farmacología , Animales , Hipersensibilidad/fisiopatología , Toxina del Pertussis/farmacología , Ratas , Receptores de Ghrelina/biosíntesisRESUMEN
Kaempferol is one of the most commonly found dietary flavonoids. The exposure to kaempferol is known to inhibit degranulation from mast cells, but the inhibitory mechanism of degranulation has not been clarified yet. In this study, we investigated the involvement of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in the anti-allergic action of kaempferol against degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Our results demonstrate upregulation of HO enzymatic activity after short (15 min) exposure to kaempferol, followed by the induction of HO-1 expression in protein. The involvement of HO-1 in the kaempferol-induced inhibition of degranulation was confirmed using tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a HO-1 inhibitor. These findings strongly suggest that kaempferol exerts anti-allergic actions via activation of the HO-1.