Our previous study demonstrated that the paraventricular organ (PVO) in the hypothalamus of the Japanese grass lizard (Takydromus tachydromoides) showed immunoreactivity against the light signal-transducing G-protein, transducin. This finding suggested that the PVO was a candidate for the deep-brain photoreceptor in this species. To understand functions of the PVO, we investigated distributions of transducin, serotonin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) in the lizard's brain. We immunohistochemically confirmed co-localization of transducin and serotonin in PVO neurons that showed structural characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting neurons. GnRH-immunoreactive (ir) cells were localized in the posterior commissure and lateral hypothalamic area. Some of the serotonin-ir fibers extending from the PVO to the lateral hypothalamic area contacted the GnRH-ir cell bodies. GnIH-ir cells were localized in the nucleus accumbens, paraventricular nucleus, and upper medulla, and GnIH-ir fibers from the paraventricular nucleus contacted the lateral processes of serotonin-ir neurons in the PVO. In addition, we found that serotonin-ir fibers from the PVO extended to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and the retrograde transport method confirmed the PVO projections to the SCN. These findings suggest that the PVO, by means of innervation mediated by serotonin, plays an important role in the regulation of pituitary function and the biological clock in the Japanese grass lizard.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine whether or not circuit training at home affects the calcaneus quantitative ultrasound status as well as other indices of body composition among undergraduate female students.MethodsForty-one adolescents were recruited (18.5 ± 0.6 years old). The stiffness index of the calcaneus, broadband ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneus, speed of sound of the calcaneus, and body frame index. This was a three-month intervention study, so the measurements were conducted at baseline, 2 months later, and 3 months later while the subjects underwent circuit training at home. The subjects were divided into two groups: namely, the exercising group and non-exercising group.ResultsIn the exercising group, broadband ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneus was higher 2 months later (p = 0.033) as well as 3 months later (p = 0.036), and the speed of sound of the calcaneus was higher 3 months later (p = 0.018). In addition, the muscle mass was strongly positively correlated with the calcaneus QUS-SOS (p = 0.004), while the body fat percentage was a strongly negatively correlated with the calcaneus QUS-BUA (p = 0.043). In the non-exercising group, the stiffness index of the calcaneus was higher 2 months later (p = 0.002) as well as 3 months later (p = 0.002). Furthermore, the body percentage was strongly positively correlated with the calcaneus QUS-SI (p = 0.009).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the calcaneus quantitative ultrasound status and muscle mass while losing fat mass may be improved by means of a simple exercise regimen within a short period among undergraduate female students.

This study aimed to characterize the relationship between the ratio of the length of the second and fourth fingers (2D:4D value) and the speed of sound of the calcaneus by quantitative ultrasound (QUS-SOS) in undergraduate female students. We recruited 138 young women with a mean age of 19.6 ± 1.4 years. The participants’ calcaneus QUS-SOS was measured using an ultrasound bone densitometer. We also measured the participants’ weight, height, and grip strength. A self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain information on participants’ secondary sexual characteristics, and exercise habits. The present study showed that the 2D:4D value of both hands was significantly correlated with the calcaneus QUS-SOS. The 2D:4D value of the left hand was also positively associated with the calcaneus QUS-SOS results in several respects. These findings suggest that the 2D:4D value may be useful for the screening of risk for a low bone quality in undergraduate female students.

Comprehensive homecare assessment has been determined to be essential in the context of care management for community-dwelling older adults. However, the effectiveness of assessment tools for adherence and health outcomes is yet to be fully elucidated. Thus, in this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effects of comprehensive homecare assessment tools on adherence and other health outcomes among community-dwelling older adults. Database searches were performed using CINAHL Plus with full text, PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Ichushi. Randomized controlled trials search were conducted until September 2020. Studies comparing interventions using comprehensive homecare assessment tools were assessed using the Cochrane's risk of bias 2 for quality; in randomized trials, a meta-analysis was performed. Nine articles, including eight studies, were included in this review. All interventions involved comprehensive homecare assessment tools such as CGA, SEISAR, RAI-HC, TARGET combined with interRAI-HC, MDS-HC, and the Omaha system. As per the results of the metaanalysis, no difference was observed with regard to adherence (p =.11), hospital admission (p =.29), nursing home admission (p =.70), and mortality (p =.96) compared with the non-use of the assessment tools. The mental quality of life showed a significant effect in the comprehensive assessment group (standardized mean difference = 0.26; 95% confidence interval = 0.06 to 0.46; p =.01); however, certainty of the evidence (GRADE) was assessed to be moderate. Comprehensive homecare assessment tools may be particularly useful for enhancing the psychological quality of life beyond a comprehensive assessment. This review presents insufficient evidence to support adherence to homecare and the enhancement of other health outcomes for community-dwelling older adults.