Many neuroscientific theories explain consciousness with higher order information processing corresponding to an activation of specific brain areas and processes. In contrast, most forms of meditation ask for a down-regulation of certain mental processing activities while remaining fully conscious. To identify the physiological properties of conscious states with decreased mental and cognitive processing, the electrical brain activity (64 channels of EEG) of 50 participants of various meditation proficiencies was measured during distinct and idiosyncratic meditative tasks. The tasks comprised a wakeful “thoughtless emptiness (TE),” a “focused attention,” and an “open monitoring” task asking for mindful presence in the moment and in the environment without attachment to distracting thoughts. Our analysis mainly focused on 30 highly experienced meditators with at least 5 years and 1000 h of meditation experience. Spectral EEG power comparisons of the TE state with the resting state or other forms of meditation showed decreased activities in specific frequency bands. In contrast to a focused attention task the TE task showed significant central and parietal gamma decreases (p < 0.05). Compared to open monitoring TE expressed decreased alpha and beta amplitudes, mainly in parietal areas (p < 0.01). TE presented significantly less delta (p < 0.001) and theta (p < 0.05) waves than a wakeful closed eyes resting condition. A group of participants with none or little meditation practice did not present those differences significantly. Our findings indicate that a conscious state of TE reached by experienced meditators is characterized by reduced high-frequency brain processing with simultaneous reduction of the low frequencies. This suggests that such a state of meditative conscious awareness might be different from higher cognitive and mentally focused states but also from states of sleep and drowsiness.

Background: Bergamot essential oil (BEO) is commonly used against psychological stress and anxiety in aromatherapy. The primary aim of the present study was to obtain first clinical evidence for these psychological and physiological effects. A secondary aim was to achieve some fundamental understanding of the relevant pharmacological processes. Methods: Endocrinological, physiological, and psychological effects of BEO vapor inhalation on 41 healthy females were tested using a random crossover study design. Volunteers were exposed to 3 experimental setups (rest (R), rest + water vapor (RW), rest + water vapor + bergamot essential oil (RWB)) for 15 min each. Immediately after each setup, saliva samples were collected and the volunteers rested for 10 min. Subsequently, they completed the Profile of Mood States, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Fatigue Self-Check List. High-frequency (HF) heart rate values, an indicator for parasympathetic nervous system activity, were calculated from heart rate variability values measured both during the 15 min of the experiment and during the subsequent 10 min of rest. Salivary cortisol (CS) levels in the saliva samples were analyzed using ELISA. Results: CS of all 3 conditions R, RW, and RWB were found to be significantly distinct (p = 0.003). In the subsequent multiple comparison test, the CS value of RWB was significantly lower when compared to the R setup. When comparing the HF values of the RWB setup during the 10 min of rest after the experiment to those of RW, this parameter was significantly increased (p = 0.026) in the RWB setup for which scores for negative emotions and fatigue were also improved. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that BEO inhaled together with water vapor exerts psychological and physiological effects in a relatively short time.

We describe 18 individuals from five unrelated families with various manifestations of the Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome. Pedigree analysis was performed on the 5 families and on another 19 families in the literature, each of which included more than one affected person. The following findings were obtained: 1) the clinical manifestations among the affected individuals were highly variable--those obvious in infancy tended to become less distinct with increasing age; 2) the syndrome was transmitted directly and vertically through three generations in four families, and through two generations in seven families; 3) male-to-male transmission was noted once; 4) the sex ratio in the affected individuals was not significantly different from 1; 5) the segregation ratio of the trait among the sibs of the probands was 0.571 +/- 0.066; 6) the affected + carrier/normal ratio was one among the offspring of the affected individuals and obligate carriers; 7) phenotrance (the expected presence of the trait in a generation) of the syndrome in the sibship of probands was complete, whereas that in earlier generations appeared low. The discrepancy is attributable to the lessening of the clinical features with increasing age as well as to a possibly less aggressive search for abnormalities in older generations. These findings indicate that the syndrome is an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity. High-resolution chromosome banding analysis in seven affected individuals and their respective parents showed no abnormalities.

We examined changes in brain waves and blood levels of serum cortisol during yoga exercise in 7 yoga instructors and found that alpha waves increased and serum cortisol decreased. These two measures were negatively correlated (r = -.83). Comparison with a control group of nonpractitioners is desirable.

Although there are several hypotheses explaining the mechanisms of immune-privileged status of malignant tumor, the exact pathway has yet to be explored. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 plays a vital role in prognosis of cancer patients in terms of contribution to neoangiogenesis and apoptosis inhibition; however, the impact of COX-2 in immunomodulation has not been reported. We have evaluated the expression of COX-2 and its impact on infiltration of immune-competent cells into the tumor cell nest in endometrial carcinoma. Tissue specimens from 70 endometrial carcinoma patients who had undergone a curative resection were evaluated for COX-2 expression and host immune status (CD8 ؉ T cells). COX-2 expression was associated with FIGO stage and myometrial invasion, but there was no statistically significant impact. CD8 ؉ T cells within cancer cell nest (Nest CD8) were inversely correlated with the expression level of COX-2 (p ‫؍‬ 0.0006). Nest CD8 became an independent predictor of patient survival (Hazard ratio ‫؍‬ 10.300, p ‫؍‬ 0.0304) in Cox's multivariate analysis. The expression level of COX-2 was found to be a significant predictor of disease relapse in univariate analysis (p ‫؍‬ 0.0294) but not in multivariate analysis (p ‫؍‬ 0.5949). In conclusion, increased nest CD8 produced a survival advantage in endometrial carcinoma patients. Moreover, tumor-produced COX-2, which reduces the infiltration of CD8 ؉ T cells into cancer cell nests, may allow tumors to avoid immune surveillance.