Aichi Gakuin University (愛知学院大学, Aichi gakuin daigaku) is a private university in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It has campuses at the city of Nisshin, Aichi, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya and Meijō Park in Nagoya.The predecessor of the university, a Soto Zen college, was founded in 1876, and it was chartered as a university in 1953.
Gratitude serves as positive feedback for givers of kind acts, reinforcing their motivation for further such acts. However, this gratitude-kindness cycle depends on givers’ perception of recipients’ gratitude—a stage that has received little empirical attention. The present research examined whether givers of small acts of kindness to strangers underestimate recipients’ gratitude. Across three scenario-based studies, I found consistent evidence of gratitude underestimation. Study 1 revealed that givers predicted lower gratitude than recipients actually experienced, regardless of the type of kindness. Study 2 suggested that this underestimation was attributable to givers’ pessimistic inference rather than recipients’ overreporting. Study 3 further showed that this tendency disappeared when recipients verbally expressed their gratitude. These findings suggest that givers’ perception of recipients’ gratitude constitutes a bottleneck in the prosocial cycle, potentially undermining their prosocial motivation. Importantly, this bottleneck can be resolved through simple verbal acknowledgment. Exploratory mediation analyses did not yield consistent effects, suggesting that the mechanism underlying underestimation warrants further investigation.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) using red or near-infrared light modulates cellular functions, particularly mitochondrial activity, thereby contributing to tissue repair and angiogenesis. However, the impact of light-emitting diode (LED)based PBM on human pericytes remains unclear. Human placenta-derived pericytes were cultured and irradiated with red LED light (655 nm, 5.6 J/cm2) four times at 1.5-hour intervals. Cell proliferation was assessed using the WST-8 assay at 3, 6, and 24 hours post-irradiation. Immunocytochemical analysis for angiogenesis-related markers (angiopoietin-1 [Ang-1], cluster of differentiation 146 [CD146], platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta [PDGFR-beta], and vascular endothelial growth factor A [VEGF-A]) was performed at corresponding time points. Pericyte proliferation was significantly higher in the irradiated group than in controls at all time points (p < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry demonstrated greater expression of all four angiogenesis-related markers in the irradiated group, with peak levels at 24 hours post-irradiation. No temperature elevation was detected during LED exposure. Red LED PBM significantly stimulated metabolic activity and proliferation in human pericytes and upregulated key angiogenic markers, suggesting that PBM may promote wound healing and vascular regeneration by activating pericytes, thus offering a promising non-invasive strategy for tissue repair.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy using low-level lasers has been reported to promote wound healing and bone regeneration. However, fundamental studies on its effects in cortical bone healing remain limited. To investigate the effects of helium-neon (He-Ne) laser-induced PBM on cortical bone regeneration in a rat femoral defect model. Cylindrical cortical bone defects were surgically created in both femora of rats. One side received He-Ne laser irradiation (632.8 nm, 25 mW, 5 min per session, 5 consecutive days), while the contralateral side served as the control. Bone healing was evaluated at 7 and 14 days postoperatively using micro-computed tomography (& micro;-CT) and histological analysis of non-decalcified sections. At day 7, & micro;-CT analysis showed no significant differences between the groups. However, histological evaluation revealed immature collagen-rich bone in the control group, whereas the laser-irradiated group exhibited more advanced mineralization. By day 14, the laser-irradiated group demonstrated significantly greater bone surface area and trabecular number, along with reduced trabecular thickness and spacing, indicating the formation of a finer and more complex trabecular structure. PBM with He-Ne laser may enhance cortical bone regeneration by promoting microarchitectural remodeling of newly formed bone. These findings support its potential to accelerate bone healing in critical-size defects.
OBJECTIVES:The 1st Global Consensus for Clinical Guidelines (GCCG) in Implant Dentistry introduced an innovative, evidence-based approach to developing patient-centered and practical recommendations for the rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla. Within this framework, Group 2 aimed to formulate clinical recommendations on the use of short, standard-length, and zygomatic implants in atrophic maxillae. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Group 2 followed the S2k-level guideline framework of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF), applying a structured nominal group technique. The evidence base included two systematic reviews synthesizing patient-reported outcomes (PROs), clinician-reported outcomes (ClinROs), and their respective measures, as well as single-round international surveys involving expert clinicians, patients, and cross-disciplinary experts. Draft recommendations were discussed during the in-person consensus meeting in Boston (June 16-18, 2025) and finalized through anonymous plenary voting. Consensus thresholds were predefined at ≥ 75% and ≤ 95% agreement for consensus and > 95% agreement for strong consensus. RESULTS:The Group 2 participants formulated 6 clinical recommendations addressing the domains patient selection, surgical treatment options (short, standard-length, and zygomatic implants), and treatment planning. All 6 recommendations reached consensus. CONCLUSIONS:The Group 2 consensus provides practical guidance for the use of short, standard-length, and zygomatic implants in atrophic maxillae, balancing surgical complexity, prosthetic feasibility, and patient-centered care. Remaining evidence gaps-especially regarding standardized outcome sets, loading protocols, prosthetic strategies for zygomatic implants, the use of short implants for full-arch restorations and maintenance frameworks-should be prioritized in future research.
Objectives The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis produces Mfa1 fimbriae, which play an important role in biofilm formation and bacterial colonization. In P. gingivalis ATCC 33277, Mfa1 fimbriae are composed of the major Mfa1 subunit and the accessory proteins Mfa3, Mfa4, and Mfa5. Some P. gingivalis strains harbor an additional Mfa5-related gene (mfa5-2). However, mfa5-2 presence in the genome of P. gingivalis EM3 and 1439 and Mfa5-2 incorporation into the Mfa1 fimbriae in both strains remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated mfa5-2 presence in the genomes of the two bacterial strains and assessed Mfa5-2 incorporation into the Mfa1 fimbriae. Methods The genomic regions downstream of mfa5 in P. gingivalis EM3 and 1439 were sequenced. Subsequently, Mfa1 fimbriae were purified and analyzed using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by mass spectrometry and immunoblotting with an Mfa5-2-specific peptide antibody. Fimbrial morphology was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Results Sequencing results revealed that mfa5-2 was located immediately downstream of mfa5-1 in both strains. The purified fimbrial fractions contained Mfa1, Mfa3, Mfa4, Mfa5, and a protein of approximately 250 kDa, identified as Mfa5-2. Transmission electron microscopy showed that fimbrial architecture remained unchanged despite Mfa5-2 incorporation. Conclusions Mfa5-2 is expressed as a high-molecular-weight component and integrated into the Mfa1 fimbriae in P. gingivalis EM3 and 1439. These findings revealed previously unknown structural diversity of Mfa1 fimbriae.
