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This research investigated how to overcome temptations and protect high-order goals while pursuing a goal. We hypothesized that in order to promote self-regulation, individuals non-cousciously engage in asymmetric evaluative responses to goal-relevant and temptation-relevant stimuli. In an experiment, we manipulated either diet goal or academic goal. Then, we measured evaluations of either sugary drinks (e.g., Coke, Fanta) or healthy drinks (e.g., Healthya Green Tea, Black Oolong Tea). The results showed that participants who activated a diet goal had significantly more positive evaluations of healthy drinks than sugary drinks. In addition, this tendency was moderated by the means of dieting (i.e., only participants who cut down on sweets when going on a diet). The role of non-consious asymmetric evaluations for self-regulation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is one of the autoantibody-mediated neuroimmunological diseases. Autoantibodies to the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) were detected in more than 80% of MG patients. The gene structure and pathogenicity of some AChR antibodies produced in MG have already been identified and elucidated, respectively. Therefore, the AChR antibody is similar in nature to innovative drug development targets with respect to MG treatment. Here, we discuss the development of molecular target drugs for AChR antibody-positive MG.

Consumers have had concerns over the safety of Fukushima-produced foods since the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. To dispel these concerns, the public administration has distributed the informational leaflets, which guarantee the safety of Fukushima-produced foods in the marketplace. We investigated the effectiveness of the leaflets. Previous research showed that the activation of behavioral immune system exacerbated prejudice toward out-group members. Therefore, we investigated whether reading the leaflets about the safety of foods would increase prejudice toward foreigners. Participants (N = 50) were asked to read a leaflet either relevant or irrelevant to the safety of Fukushima-produced foods and then complete a Japanese-Foreigners Implicit Association Test and Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Scale. As predicted, participants high in chronic germ aversion (GA) were more prejudiced against foreigners when reading the leaflet relevant to the safety of Fukushima-produced foods than when reading the leaflet irrelevant to the issue. No such effect was observed among participants low in GA. These results indicated the possibility that the current leaflet about the safety of Fukushima foods might backfire.

In terms of goal management, this study examined whether progress toward one goal (health goal) leads to goal shifting to another goal (fulfill one's appetite). In the experiment, 47 participants were asked to drink the same quantity of vegetable juice out of either a large or a small cup. Then they rated how hungry they were at that moment. Results showed that participants who drank out of a small cup reported a sense of feeling hungrier than those who drank out of a large cup because the former perceived progress toward a health goal more than the latter. Furthermore, concern with daily intake of vegetables moderated this tendency. Participants who were less concerned with daily intake of vegetables were more likely to report feeling hungrier after drinking out of a small cup (versus a large cup). These results support our hypothesis. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these mechanisms for self-regulation.

This research investigated how to overcome temptations and protect high-order goals while pursuing a goal. We hypothesized that in order to promote self-regulation, individuals non-cousciously engage in asymmetric evaluative responses to goal-relevant and temptation-relevant stimuli. In an experiment, we manipulated either diet goal or academic goal. Then, we measured evaluations of either sugary drinks (e.g., Coke, Fanta) or healthy drinks (e.g., Healthya Green Tea, Black Oolong Tea). The results showed that participants who activated a diet goal had significantly more positive evaluations of healthy drinks than sugary drinks. In addition, this tendency was moderated by the means of dieting (i.e., only participants who cut down on sweets when going on a diet). The role of non-consious asymmetric evaluations for self-regulation is discussed.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused by the failure of neuromuscular transmission mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies (Abs) against acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK). The seropositivity rates for routine AChR binding Ab and MuSK Ab in MG are 80-85% and 5-10% for MG patients in Japan, respectively. The autoimmune target in the remaining patients is unknown. In 2011, autoantibodies against low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4) were identified in Japanese MG patients and thereafter have been reported in Germany and the USA. We developed a simple technique termed Gaussia luciferase immunoprecipitation for detecting antibodies to Lrp4. As a result, nine generalized MG patients from 300 lacking AChR Ab are positive for Lrp4 antibodies. Thymoma was not observed in any of these patients. These antibodies inhibit binding of Lrp4 to its ligand and are predominantly of the IgG1 subclass. In other reports of Lrp4 ab, Lrp4 ab positive sera inhibited agrin-induced aggregation of AChRs in cultured myotubes, suggesting a pathogenic role regarding the dysfunction of the neuromuscular endplate. These results indicate that Lrp4 is a third autoantigen in patients with MG, and anti-Lrp4 autoantibodies may be pathogenic. Further studies including neuromuscular junction biopsy are needed to clarify the pathomechanism of Lrp4 ab positive MG.

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a synapse between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle. The contraction of skeletal muscle is controlled by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh), which is released from the motor nerve terminal. To achieve efficient neuromuscular transmission, acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) must be densely clustered on the muscle membrane of the NMJ. Failure of AChR clustering is associated with disorders of neuromuscular transmission such as congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) and myasthenia gravis (MG). Motoneuronal agrin and muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) are known to play essential roles in the formation and maintenance of NMJs in the central region of each muscle. However, it had been unclear how agrin activates MuSK. Recent studies have elucidated the roles of several key molecules, including the cytoplasmic adaptor protein Dok-7 and LDL receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4), in agrin-induced MuSK activation. Moreover, new evidence indicates that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) regulates postsynaptic differentiation. In this review, we summarize the latest developments in molecular mechanisms underlying NMJ formation in vertebrates.